October 4 2021 - St. Francis of Assisi - Pilgrimage, Stigmata, and Holy Poverty

 As I’ve shared in the past, a few years ago, I was able to make pilgrimage to Rome with our Bishop at the time, Bishop Perez, with my priest classmate on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of our priestly ordination. After our time in Rome, we made a spiritual retreat in Assisi.

Daily we celebrated mass and visited the churches and locations that were significant in the life of St. Francis. We visited and prayed at the Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi where both Francis and Clare were baptized. We visited the town square where Francis famously stripped off his clothes, renounced his inheritance, claiming to belong only to Christ. The group went to the Portiuncula, the tiny chapel in which Francis heard the Lord speaking to him to rebuild his church.

And of course, I visited his tomb. I had taken with me about 150 prayer requests from our parishioners, and I offered each of them at the holy tomb of St. Francis.

One of my favorite parts of the retreat was when we ventured to La Verna, the mountain where Francis took his retreat, withdrawing from the world to pray. It is there that in 1224, Francis received the Holy Stigmata. We had the great privilege of celebrating mass in the chapel built on the very spot where he received those holy wounds.  

Like St. Paul, Francis received the marks of the Jesus on his Body. In this way he was conformed even more to his Lord, who he sought to imitate in, preaching, prayer, and of course poverty. For his embrace of holy poverty, he was given the title “Il poverello”—the little poor one. Among all his works, even probably more than bearing the stigmata, francis is known for his poverty.

“Poverty” Francis shared with his brothers, “is that heavenly virtue by which all earthy and transitory things are trodden under foot, and by which every obstacle is removed from the soul so that it may freely enter into union with the eternal Lord God. It is also the virtue which makes the soul, while still here on earth, converse with the angels in Heaven. It is she who accompanied Christ on the Cross, was buried with Christ in the Tomb, and with Christ was raised and ascended into Heaven, for even in this life she gives to souls who love her the ability to fly to Heaven, and she alone guards the armor of true humility and charity.”

If anything, St. Francis reminds us of the great importance of stripping away that which keeps us from loving Christ. There needs to be an element of holy poverty in the life of every Catholic, where strip away what is not necessary, what hinders us in the spiritual life, and keeps us from imitating our Savior. Through the intercession of il poverello of Assisi, may we be generous in seeking simplicity, practicing poverty, and carrying our crosses, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis on this his patronal feast, for the grace to bring renewal to those parts of the Church which are crumbling—a renewal of true faith, where faith has diminished or been corrupted.

For blessings upon all members of the Franciscan Orders, for vocations and that their witness may bring renewal to the Church.

For hope for the despairing and all those who suffer.

For the grace of perfect charity to fill our hearts for those in need.

That all God’s Holy People will be filled with the wisdom and discernment needed to know and obey God’s Holy Will.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.