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Posted By Teresa Redder, on March 2nd, 2025 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
March 2025
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord grant you His peace.
With Lent already upon us, we have probably determined the “penances” we are going do, the prayers we are going to say (pray?), the charitable acts and donations we budgeted our time and “treasures” to be able to “afford to donate” to those in need. Careful praiseworthy planning leads to an effective charitable demeanor that may be of help to others, but how helpful to us? The question does not doubt the value of both attitudes. The question is how well it truly helps us to grow in the Lord. The attitude and heart underlying the practices is what makes them spiritually effective.
Lent is a time for us to recognize that we have come from “ashes”, or if you will, the dust of the earth. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2: 7). The truth of Genesis offers a reality check that is intended to humble not humiliate. The beauty of the story reminds us that no matter how low our origin, God breathed His own Life into us. We are His creation, called to existence and life in grace. The abuse of the great gift of free will – Original Sin – interferes with this intimacy and thus, through history, challenges us to be and do what is necessary for us to regain the gift. God always loves us. We must respond to God’s Love by seeking to know His Will and striving to live it. The penances, prayers, and acts of charity are the spiritual and practical “tools” we make use of during a lifetime to be restored to the person we were created to be.
Lent is a more intense period in the life of the Church for us to focus on this responsibility. Advent as well, though in a less intense way for most, offers us the same spiritual opportunity. Two penitential seasons each year call us to reflect, repent, repair, and be fully restored in our relationship with God.
We understand this intense yearly journey offered by the Church’s establishment of these two seasons. Taking time each day to see the world and people around us and also the world and people we may never see, and the beauty and awesomeness of God’s Loving Presence and Providence become overwhelming, almost frightening. Oh, we are not frightened of the Goodness of God but of our own stubborn pride that puts humanity into the “mess” life seems to be at times.
The Canticle of the Creatures, we Franciscans are meditating upon this Franciscan Jubilee Year of the Canticle, is the expression of the heart of a penitent, our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi. He never forgot his past. He always was aware of God’s immense love. He bore the signs of God’s loving response to the prayer Francis offered so often: My Lord Jesus Christ, two graces I beg you to grant me before I die: the first is that in my lifetime I may feel, in my soul and in my body, as far as possible, that sorrow which you, tender Jesus, underwent in the hour of your most bitter passion; the second is that I may feel in my heart, as far as possible, that abundance of love with which you, son of God, were inflamed, so as willingly to undergo such a great passion for us sinners. Amen
Only in heaven with God can we ever experience as much as we are capable of experiencing, by God’s grace, the love of which St. Francis speaks. Nevertheless, Francis understood that the Passion-Death of Jesus was the human-divine sign of the extreme love of total self surrender. Through Jesus’ suffering and death, the depth of His love is manifest. St. Francis was willing to experience “death” – death to himself, death to the world and all its allurements – that he might rejoice in Jesus’ Life, Eternal Life with God. Daily dying to ourselves as well, though less recognized or understood by most, helps us to praise, bless, and glorify God in, with, and through life for all God is. Praise be you, my Lord God. Again we see the spirit of the Canticle at this juncture in St. Francis’ life.
His body is deteriorating rapidly. The pain from the Wounds, as years later our brother St. Pio of Pietrelcina would say about his wounds, were not given to him as ornaments. No pain no gain, to put it bluntly. There can be no Resurrection with no death. Francis’ pains and proximity to eternity, help him to view creation from a totally different perspective. The Canticle we are meditating is an example of this.
Having praised God in the mighty signs of the heavens – sun and moon and stars – Francis praises the Wind that is a sign and synbol of the transforming presence of God and empowering “breath” of the Holy Spirit. Having come from the heavens to the winds and air that surround us, Francis now praises another element so necessary for life: Sister Water.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful, and humble, and precious and chaste.
We have several ways to consider the praise of God for Sister Water. We consider water as essential element for the origin of life. We consider the various ways water is useful to humanity and how we learn to respect what it gives and even more what it can do. We consider water from a sacramental as well as liturgical perspective. Sister Water has so much to tell us, if we would only listen to her speaking in the rain, the snow, the rivers, the lakes, the streams, the vastness of the oceans and so much more. Do we take time to really open our eyes to listen? What we see speaks volumes, and loudly. Water is so common that we fail to recognize and value “her” as we should.
The praises that Francis gives to God for the gift of Sister Water really needs no explanation at first. We know that the body cannot live without water. We can live much longer without food than we can without water. Water and other properties is the environment in which a baby lives before he/she is born. Without this fluid there is no life. But there is also another reality that goes beyond this essential truth.
The poet in St. Francis remembers his walks through the hills and mountains. If you have ever seen the source of a spring, or cupped your hands to drink from a mountain spring, unadulterated by the care-less-ness of humanity, you would understand the adjectives Francis uses. They express his respect for the gift of water. They express his awareness of how God speaks to us through creation. In use, misuse or abuse, we reap the harvest of how we treat God’s gifts. God is the source of good. Use what is good badly and the consequences can be devastating.
Praise to you, my Lord, for all your gifts. May we be grateful enough for your goodness to respect and use appropriately all you entrusted to us.
Francis says that Sister Water is humble, precious, and chaste. Just think of Water here as a symbol of our lives each consecrated to the vocation we have received and accepted: humble obedience to God’s Word, precious poverty and detachment, chaste acceptance of the dignity and respect due of all human beings. The crystalline freshness of water at its source is a sign and symbol of the spiritual freshness and transparency of the love of those who surrender themselves totally consecrated to the Will of God: single, married, religious, priest, and so on. For the transparency and freshness of a life consecrated to fulfilling God’s Will, we all are called to listen to one another (obedience), to value the person more than things (poverty) and to respect the dignity of each person (chaste).
Humble – Water surrounds and protects us from the beginning of our existence. It cleanses our bodies, helps in cooking, needed for drinking to stay allive. The water that cleanses helps to heal certain injuries, and helps to avoid contracting some illnesses and diseases. St. Francis was quite aware of the tragedy of leprosy that destroyed lives because of filth and malnutrition, among other things. Water is soothing, refreshing, restores life. Without water you die! Hospitals learned relatively recently in medicine that the washed clean hands of a doctor was the cause of many patients be saved. This is why politicians in developing countries promise to bring clean water and water purifying plants. Even the uneducated in science and medicine know that water can save lives for the reasons given above, and so much more. Water is so humble because it lets itself be used in many versatile ways for the benefit of others who often take it for granted.
Precious – Suffice the few examples above to note how precious water is to life and the well being of people and animals.
Whether minimal moisture or the rains at the proper season, without water, food that sustains the world and keeps animals healthy and alive dies. What can be more precious than this?
St. Francis knew how cutting a water supply to a city was the beginning of its downfall during the city-state wars, in which he also took part. His first-hand knowledge remained more vivid.
Water was not destroyed in Noah’s time. Water was God’s the instrument of His purifying will.
The water creatures continued to live, and the world was submerged (cfr Genesis 6 and 7) until such time as the purification by water had succeeded.
The Waters of the Red Sea that opened for the People of God to pass safely to freedom from slavery, the purifying baths of the High Priests and Levites, the water turned into wine at Cana, the healing waters of Bethesda, and other examples, all point to the sacredness of water as well as its power.
But a word St. Francis uses can be somewhat revealing of deeper thoughts regarding this essential in life. She is chaste.
Chaste – The word itself may be used in various ways. Chaste may mean to be totally itself with nothing extra. It also can meantransparent, clear, pristine, lucid, and more. Nevertheless, praising the transparency and freshness of the waters from on high that refresh the body and give pleasure to the soul, one cannot help but imagine St. Francis seeing St. Clare in this imagery. She truly lived her name. According to Thomas of Celano, Clare was Clara nomine, vita clarior, clarissima moribus (clear by name, brighter by lifestyle, resplendent in character). Clare was Clara in natura, clarior in fama, clarissima in gratia (transparent by nature, brighter by fame, and resplendent in grace). How could St. Francis not have thought of St. Clare whom he and the friars admired and loved as a sister? They often asked her advice and readily sought her prayers and that of the sisters with her.
The Order came from a number of individuals, each with his own story. Clare seeks the solitude of the Gospel Life in the clarity of its basic form, to live Jesus. Consider St. Francis nearing death. His eyesight fails but not his foresight and insight. He recognizes the clarity of soul in Clare. The crystalline water is a reminder of the beauty and freshness of creation unadulterated by human disregard and that of Clare’s beautiful soul.
His soul takes flight thinking of God’s goodness in creating the refreshing gift of water that is also the means of our Re-birth in Baptism. Water is necessary for human life, and it is so also essential for our Spiritual Life. In the waters of Baptism we become children of God blessed to share in the redeeming Blood of Jesus.
The following reflection on the Biblical Meaning of Water: A Deep Dive into Its Spiritual Significance is worth reading for its simplicity and depth. It was posted by Sophia Rose on 02/21/2025
Water is one of the most recurring and powerful symbols in the Bible. It’s everywhere—from the creation story in Genesis to the final vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation. But what does water really mean in a biblical context? Why does it hold such a profound spiritual significance? If you’ve ever wondered about the deeper meaning behind this essential element, you’re in the right place.
Let’s explore the biblical meaning of water together, and by the end, you’ll see it in a whole new light.
Water as a Symbol of Life
When you think of water, what comes to mind? For most of us, it’s the essence of life. Without water, nothing can survive. The Bible echoes this truth. In the very beginning, in Genesis 1:2, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. Water is present even before light, land, or living creatures. It’s the foundation of creation.
In John 4:14, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Here, water symbolizes eternal life—a gift from God that quenches our deepest spiritual thirst.
Think about it: just as your body needs water to survive, your soul needs the living water of Christ to thrive. It’s a beautiful reminder that God is the source of all life, both physical and spiritual.
Water as a Symbol of Cleansing and Purification
Have you ever felt the need for a fresh start? Water in the Bible often represents cleansing and purification. In the Old Testament, water was used in rituals to purify people and objects. For example, Leviticus 14:8-9 describes how a person cleansed from a skin disease must wash their clothes, bathe in water, and be pronounced clean.
This theme continues in the New Testament with baptism. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17), it wasn’t just a symbolic act—it was a powerful declaration of repentance and new beginnings. Baptism represents the washing away of sin and the start of a new life in Christ.
Even today, when you see water used in baptism, it’s a reminder that God can wash away your past and give you a fresh start. It’s a tangible expression of His grace and forgiveness.
Water as a Symbol of God’s Provision
Have you ever been in a desert—literally or figuratively? In the Bible, water often appears in moments of desperation, symbolizing God’s provision. Take the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. After fleeing Egypt, they found themselves in a barren land with no water. They cried out to Moses, and God provided water from a rock (Exodus 17:6).
This miracle wasn’t just about physical survival; it was a lesson in trust. God was showing His people that He would provide for their needs, even in the most impossible situations. When you feel like you’re in a desert season, remember this story. God can bring water—hope, provision, and relief—even in the driest places of your life.
Water as a Symbol of Chaos and Judgment
While water often symbolizes life and blessing, it can also represent chaos and judgment. In the story of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-9), God uses a flood to cleanse the earth of its wickedness. The waters here are both destructive and purifying—a reminder that God is sovereign over all creation.
Similarly, in Revelation 21:1, John sees a vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where “there was no longer any sea.” Some scholars interpret this as the absence of chaos and evil in the new creation. Water, in this context, serves as a reminder that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.
Water as a Symbol of the Holy Spirit
One of the most profound meanings of water in the Bible is its connection to the Holy Spirit. In John 7:37-39, Jesus stands up on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and declares, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The Gospel writer explains that Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit.
This imagery is powerful. Just as water sustains life, the Holy Spirit sustains our spiritual lives. He refreshes, renews, and empowers us to live out our faith. When you feel spiritually dry, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you like a flowing river.
To help you visualize the different meanings of water in the Bible, here’s a handy table:
| Symbolism |
Biblical Example |
Key Verse |
| Life |
Creation, Jesus as living water |
John 4:14 |
| Cleansing/Purification |
Baptism, ritual washings |
Matthew 3:13-17 |
| Provision |
Water from the rock, Elijah and the widow |
Exodus 17:6 |
| Chaos/Judgment |
Noah’s flood, parting of the Red Sea |
Genesis 7:11-12 |
| Holy Spirit |
Rivers of living water |
John 7:37-39 |
1.Why is water so important in the Bible? – Water is a universal symbol of life, cleansing, and renewal. In the Bible, it’s used to illustrate spiritual truths, such as God’s provision, the cleansing of sin, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
- What does “living water” mean in the Bible? – “Living water” refers to the spiritual life and refreshment that comes from Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It’s a metaphor for eternal life and the transformative power of faith.
- How does baptism relate to the biblical meaning of water? – Baptism uses water as a symbol of repentance, cleansing, and new life in Christ. It represents the washing away of sin and the believer’s identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- What does water from the rock symbolize? – Water from the rock (Exodus 17:6) symbolizes God’s provision and faithfulness. It reminds us that God can meet our needs, even in the most challenging circumstances.
- Why is there no sea in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1)? – The absence of the sea in the new creation symbolizes the end of chaos, evil, and separation from God. It represents the perfect peace and order of God’s eternal kingdom. (here ends the work of Sophia Rose)
Francis was a man whose whole life was centered on the Word of God in Jesus, the Gospel. The words of the Word Incarnate confect, through the priest, the bread and wine to become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. The waters of Baptism brought us into not only the proximity of friendship with God but also the intimacy of being one with the Son of God Whose very Person becomes one with those who receive Him in the Eucharist. Francis knew the awesome power of water, both physically and above all spiritually. How could he not remember the beauty God manifests, celebrate it in his canticle, and surrender himself to the Great I AM yesterday, today, and always? Through the purity of water, he saw the vastness of the transforming revelation of God and His Word, clarification of our relationship with Him through Christ in the Holy Spirit, and the promise of future glory that is for all who receive the saving waters.
Praise be You, my Lord God, for the freshness of the waters of your grace that cleanses us, refreshes us, and make us whole.
May the Lenten Season be a journey of joy fulfilled in Him with Whom we share the journey from Ashes to Golgotha. As we die with Him to ourselves, may the Easter joy we will celebrate in April be an ever-resounding hymn in our hearts and lives.
Happy Lent to all the Penitents of Assisi.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on February 11th, 2025 St. Katharine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
February 2025
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord grant you His peace.
An author was describing a childhood experience that left a lasting remembrance in him. He recounted that while walking one summer camp evening he became aware of the silence and how beautifully the birds were singing. He wondered why he had never heard them sing like this before. Continuing to walk, he came to a field. Everything was quiet and still. As he stood there, watching the sun slip into the horizon, he felt inclined to kneel down. It was as though God were there in a tangible way. He wrote later: “Now that I look back on it, it seems to me it was one of the decisive moments of my life”.
Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush aflame with God, and only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries (E.B.Browning).
What a wonderful world we live in, yet it can get so complicated and even frightening. The Act of Creation was majestic yet quite simple. God spoke and everything came into being. The exact way is not really important. What matters is the fact that Creation is the gift of God’s overflowing love. All elements of God’s creation worked in harmony with the will of the Creator. The elements we take for granted, in their pristine state, formed a wonderful image and likeness of the Creator. Each element enhanced the wonder and magnificence of the One Who spoke them into existence with His original let it be… and so it is … world without end.
In a world as beautiful as it was created to be, and as confusing as it seems to have become, we continue to strive, tripping along the way, to regain what we lost. God’s mercy knows no limits. Nevertheless, we must never presume God will treat us as “robots” who have no say in their own destiny, even if it concerns the eternal. God is with us all the way. God wills we be saved for eternity, not as puppets, but as His children informed and fully equipped to choose correctly whatever we truly will. We are awesomely made a little less than the angels (Psalm 8: 5), with a wonderful and dangerous personal power to say “no”, even to God, Our Father (Matthew 6: 9-13) and Creator (cfr 2 Maccabees 7: 23).
The Canticle of St. Francis praising God “in” and “through” God’s Creation follows a rather simple, yet logical and powerful procession of elements that are the foundation of life. The Canticle of the Creatures is an act of Faith St. Francis of Assisi puts into words. He reminds us that all creation speaks of God. The harmony in creation reminds us how everything works to lead us closer to a God Who is always with us. The sacredness of every time, place, thing, creature, and human is expressed so simply and beautifully in the Canticle of Brother Sun.
When St. Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures, he was blind, in constant pain, and knew that his days were numbered. Yet his heart was filled with joy. The inner serenity and peace were with him because he recognized the awesome beauty of God and His creation. The Canticle is St. Francis of Assisi seeing with the eyes of his heart and singing the Lord’s praises. He understood that Brother Wind helps us to regain our composure by “shaking us up” from the lethargy of boredom, indifference, discouragement, and the like.
St. Francis praises God for being God. His praise soars to heaven. Similar to the Gospel of St. John, St. Francis acknowledges the eternity of God and praises the Lord for all He is as Eternal God. St. Francis praises God for being God: Highest, omnipotent good Lord! Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No human lips are worthy to pronounce Your name. St. Francis recognizes the attributes of the Creator in all creation. Their very existence manifests God’s overwhelming and Self-extending Love, God’s Mercy that encourages everything and everyone to support and complement one another in the diversity of creation and all creatures, God’s Providence establishes instinct and reason to seek what sustains and enhances life and all creation. He praises the God of Life in whom life is assured not just for survival in time but for fulfillment for all eternity. The Eternal One, Origin and Goal of all life, is present in mystery and history as creation journeys in time to a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21) in eternity. Praise be You my Lord God in all creation!
Once St. Francis acknowledges God’s wonder from above (Brother Sun and Sister Moon and the stars), he now turns to the created world in which he concretely lives. Praised be You, my Lord Through Brothers Wind and air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
The Brother Wind often signifies God’s presence, strength, and will for His people. The wind has an undeniably significant role to play in the life of all creation. The wind is a powerful sign of God’s sovereign power, capable of bringing about significant change in the world and people’s lives.
-When the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land (Exodus 14: 21). The Israelites walked between the water columns to safety and liberation from slavery ready to begin a new life. (freedom)
-Elijah, feeling alone and discouraged, sought the Lord. A great wind tore the mountains and broke rocks to pieces. It preceded the still small voice (1Kings 19: 12) of God’s reassuring presence. (security)
-The mighty winds over the Sea of Galilee threatened the lives of the Apostles riding in the boat. Jesus walks on the water toward the boat and with a word calms the storm for the Apostles (Mark 4: 35-41, Matthew 8: 23-27, Luke 8: 22-25) demonstrating his authority over creation and his ability to bring peace in the midst of life’s storms. (safety)
-The Acts of the Apostles describes a sound like a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2: 2) shaking the place where the disciples were gathered and marked the outpouring of the Spirit and the birth of the Church preparing believers for their mission in the world. (empowerment)
-The Book of Revelation speaks of the four angels holding back the four winds of the earth (Revelation 7: 1) symbolizing God’s control over the forces of judgment and His timing in bringing about the end of the age. (fulfillment)
St. Francis was quite aware of the power of the wind and a certain sequence of events when the Wind leads the way. After the storm comes the calm. Struggling through and challenged by the strength of the “transforming breath of God in nature”. The atmosphere calms, the air is cleansed of debris. The freshness, calm and serenity that follow allow us to be grateful the tense moments have passed. We understand the invisible yet tangible nature of the Lord’s work in the world and in our lives. We become more attentive to the subtle movement of God’s Spirit and we marvel at His awesome power.
The word for wind, found in the original manuscripts of the Bible, refer to wind of nature, breath of life, and spirit of God or of the soul. The intimate connection in Scripture between God’s Spirit and the wind suggests that wherever we experience the wind, we can be reminded of God’s presence.
–The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). We are reminded of God’s creative power and His active presence at the very beginning of all things. (creative)
-The Prophet Ezekiel at God’s command cries out: Come forth from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live (Ezekiel 37: 9). (resurrection)
–The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (John 3: 8). The sovereign unpredictable nature of God’s work in our lives, reminds us that while we may not always understand or control the Spirit’s movement, we can trust in its transformative power. (transformation)
-Pentecost manifests the most dramatic power of the wind. The Holy Spirit is described as a sound like a mighty rushing wind that filled the entire house (Acts 2: 2). This marked the fulfillment of Christ’s promise and empowering the Church for Her mission. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28: 19-20).
(great commission)
As we cultivate a sensitivity to the “divine wind (breath)” in our lives, we learn to discern God’s guidance and empowerment. This Divine Breath of God’s Spirit drives us even into the unknown. The “Wind” has cleared the way for us. We experience the “air” through which we live and move and have our being (Acts 17: 28). The “air” praised in God by St. Francis, can be seen as nothing less than our lives cleared by the powerful breath (wind) of the Spirit of God. Gifted with that Spirit we minister in His Name.
Both wind and air often refer to the Holy Spirit. One speaks of the power to transform. The other speaks of the simplicity in which we can minister. The clouds darken the power of the sun and are usually dissipated quickly because of the sun’s rays. We accept the challenges of each day. We accept even those days that are not as clear and fulfilling as we would hope. Nevertheless, the winds have cleared the atmosphere and with the freshness of the air that surrounds us, we continue to witness our faith. Even the storms of life like the storms of nature are actually helpful at their own time. Had we only stopped trying to artificially affect and had respected the God-given powers of nature, we may not have seen as many tragic “natural” tragedies. Nature follows “its nature”. If we respect the forces of nature created by God, nature will respect us.
St. Francis was composing his Canticle not as a meteorologist but as a faith-filled poet and lover of God. His song was the exuding joy of a heart enamored with God. The Winds of earth no doubt reminded him of the contentious “winds of dissention” he encountered among the brotherhood concerning the Rule: these “winds” demanded he alter aspects of the life God asked be lived without gloss, without gloss, without gloss; these “winds” that shook the hearts of those struggling with authenticity, austerity, and adaptability made St. Francis even prophesy the severe shake up of the Order through the centuries; the winds of Church assistance/interference which challenged the authority of the founder concerning the authenticity of his spiritual experiences with God; the winds of growth in the Order that demanded a more global awareness of the Brotherhood and the modifications being demanded by friars, which seemed to “prompt Jesus” to give our Seraphic Father (feeling sad for what seemed a rejection of the Gospel Life the Lord him to live) what he heard-believed-was living) a “stand-up-for-Jesus-talk”. The voice of Jesus spoke to St. Francis saying: Francis whose Order is this, mine or yours? The winds that shake the very roots of a person, family, Order, Church, world are not always evil. These moments and experiences serve to open our minds and hearts to see clearly the truth of what we believe, and offer us the opportunity to be transparent and candid in our response.
Once we’ve “weathered the storm”, we are able to enjoy the freshness of the air, calm and serene, even on cloudy and inclement days, because we bask in the light of the Son of God. He fills our lives with a freshness that is like wings under our feet raising us to new heights that praise God in all His varied ways of being present to us. Once the spiritual air we breathe has been rid of all that could stifle us, we can now walk swiftly with soft step (St. Clare letter to St. Agnes of Prague) in the gentleness of the atmosphere that surrounds us wherever we go. The air we breathe, freed by the powerful wind of God’s Spirit, envelopes us with God’s providence, refreshes us with God’s mercy, and restores us in God’s love. The wind changes the atmosphere of clutter, so the air may caress the soul and one’s very life with new spirit and life (cfr. Ezekiel 36: 26; Romans 8: 2).
The Canticle of the Creatures has so many thoughts that fill the hearts of the spiritual children of St. Francis of Assisi. What an encouragement it must have been for St. Francis to write at least part if not all of the Canticle at San Damiano. The gentleness and love of our holy Mother St. Clare was a strength and consolation for St. Francis. Like gentle breeze, Clare gave a sense of serenity and peace to Francis. She was a woman of strength. Her faithfulness to the Gospel Life and total surrender to God in prayer, contemplation, and distancing from the world, were and encouragement for St. Francis not to doubt what he believed and suffered for, even from his own friars. Clare had given all she had to follow the ideal of the Gospel Life. Now, resting and reflecting in this place of contemplation, his body was worn, but his spirit took flight into God as he saw God everywhere. You cannot experience what you are not willing to bear and offer. To reflect and summarize so beautifully an expression of such love for God in all creation, one must be in love with love and see all as loveable.
Praise be you, my Lord, for all that is. In You we live and move and have our being. Through the simplest to the most complex You are the one constant that makes all be, happen, become, live!
May we Franciscans never lose that childlike “lunacy” of the Poverello of Assisi. He challenges us to see the world with the eyes of Christ. God-made-man sees creation as a part of let-it-be and knows that all is a participation in the life of the Great I Am!
My Sisters and Brothers, may God bless us in Himself and all creation. May our Mother Mary and good St. Joseph intercede for us. May our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi and our Holy Mother St. Clare guide, guard, and protect us and all our loved ones.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, OFM Cap
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on January 1st, 2025 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
January 2025
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
New Year 2025 begins with the blessing God gave Moses for Aaron to bless God’s People. This blessing our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi made his own and our Mother St. Clare embellished. May the blessing serve as a prayer and deep desire for all. The blessing is filled with hope for all people of good will on whom the Father’s favor rests (Luke 2: 14). Our hope that God bless us, our loved ones, all creation with His peace, is the yearning of the human heart (cfr Romans 8:22). The peace the world seeks is a peace the world cannot give unless we disarm our hearts. Then only will we be able to see and recognize the Lord among and within each one of us, God’s beloved children.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
May He live with you. May you always with Him!
In this Holy Jubilee Year of Grace we say Praise Be You, My Lord in the words of the Canticle of the Creatures. We are Pilgrims of Hope (words of Pope Francis). The Jubilee Year calls us to Christian Hope, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness. Christian Hope encourages us to see and recognize the goodness of God in all His children. Yes, we are faulty. Created in God’s Love, we still lose our way at times. God offers us a lifetime to get “back on track”.
We experience the goodness of God in repentance and reconciliation with God through the sacramental life of the Church. Once we receive the grace of God’s forgiveness, we are “spirited” to bring the grace we received to forgive those with whom we may be at odds. Reconciliation through forgiveness and grace leads to the ultimate intimacy with God in the Eucharist. Reconciliation and Eucharist open closed hearts and lives and allow the goodness of God to touch others through us. Sincere friendship with God challenges us to search for goodness, and we find it in some of the most unexpected moments and persons!
St. Francis of Assisi would often greet people with: Buon Giorno Buona Gente (Good Day Good People). The goodness of God manifest in the People of God is what we strive to live and grow in every day
If our Seraphic Father were here in the flesh, this is most likely one of the ways he would greet us as well. His love for God and all creation opened the eyes of his heart to look beyond the flaws that envelop all human beings. He seemed to see a ray of goodness in everyone. We can see this in his Canticle of the Creatures. Everything and everyone speak to the “Poverello of Assisi” of the wonder and goodness of God.
When a young man knelt before Jesus and said: Good Teacher! What must I do to inherit everlasting life? Jesus immediately replied with a question that subtly challenges us to ponder more deeply our response: Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone (Mark 10: 18).
We all know that only God is truly good, all good, the highest good, the Lord God living and true (Praises of God by St. Francis). But the question of Jesus and the greeting of Saint Francis should make us realize that in each of us, fruit of God’s eternal love through the love of those who gave us birth, there is an image of the goodness of God. We are challenged to recognize, accept, and manifest the image and likeness of God (cfr Genesis 1: 26) as a gift and responsibility entrusted to humanity at the very beginning of the world. The strength of the reflection of God in us is determined by the intensity of our relationship with God. The greater we conform ourselves to Jesus, the more we reflect the goodness of God. God’s Word-made-man, Jesus the Christ, challenges us to listen to God’s Word and to live His Holy Will. I have come not to do my own will but the will of Him Who sent me (John 6: 38-40).
After praising the beauty and majesty of God in Brother Sun, Francis continues: Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven. You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
The sun Francis praises, resplendent with light, power, brilliance of majesty and glory speaks to us of the majesty and power of God. It is that power that enables us to look for and see the goodness of God in everyone and everything. Even when His light is hidden from view, He, the Son of God, is there.
Goodness by nature is forever overflowing with newness of life. The sun is a created source of maintenance and development, together with other factors, of all life in our world. St. Francis understands that as nature follows its daily course, God provides the necessary continuity of the sun’s powerful presence even when it seems to “hide from us” during the night. Then it is that the light of the sun shines by its reflection on the heavenly body we call the moon. We know the stars are suns in their own areas of the vast universe. Nevertheless, their distant flickering lights are like so many “Christmas lights” that dispel the total darkness of the universe. They “twinkle” with hope. The moon and stars brighten the hearts of those who look at the heavens. Look and see with the eyes of faith and you will recognize the splendor, magnificence, power, and care of the Creator in His inimitable work of Creation.
Sister Moon reflects the brilliance of Brother Sun who is a sign of the Creator. The first work of God created the light and separated light from darkness. The sun rules the day, and the moon reflects the hidden light of the sun at night (cfr Genesis 1: 1-6). The moon becomes, as it were, the sun’s mirror that enlightens the darkness of night. The goodness of God can never be matched or equaled! It can be reflected in the hearts and lives of those who accept to reflect God and His Most Holy Will in their lives.
The moon reflects the power, warmth, and brilliance of the sun. We too stand with the Son, the Son of the Father, and seek to reflect the strength of His reassuring presence, the warmth of His compassionate selfless love, and the simplicity and clarity of His truth about God and all creation. We follow in His footsteps and hope to reflect the goodness of the Lord Jesus in all we are and do. He is Son of God and Redeemer of Humanity. His birth in Bethlehem signaled the beginning of Jesus’ Ministry of Redemption of all God’s children. We can never hope to be as resplendent as Christ. We are however expected to reflect the image and likeness of Christ, the Son of God, at every moment of our lives.
How much goodness there is these days! How much goodness there is in our fraternities! How much goodness there is in our world?! Yes, in our world! A world filled with violence, war, death, natural disasters, disease, illnesses of all kinds, terminal illness. How much goodness there is in our fraternities, regions, national fraternities and Order! There is so much goodness – Godliness – in all creation. There are times when the actions of human frailty seem to cover or even smother the goodness we seek. The challenge at those times is to “reflect the light and shine the darkness away”.
We will never find what we do not carry within our hearts. Peaceful hearts find peace even in the midst of confusion. Merciful hearts show mercy even when it is not reciprocated. Loving hearts always love regardless of the response given. The Brothers and Sisters of the Gospel Life, Instruments of God’s Peace, strive to live the godliness we profess. Thus, we strive to become a means of encouragement for others to discover, re-discover, uncover, appreciate and live the goodness all people truly desire.
Like the moon, we are commissioned to be conformed to and reflect the person of Jesus, the Son of God. The light of His truth, the warmth of His love, the dignity of His person, the affirming impact of his words, and crucial meaningfulness of His very presence and teaching, become the fruits we share with Jesus. These are signs of our unconditional acceptance of the mission entrusted to us, God’s children. Jesus reminds us: The sun shines on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). We reflect the warmth of the Son (of God), thus we too must reflect the same benefits we receive. We are instruments called to shine with those gifts on all creation. No exceptions permitted!
The following paraphrase of a Chinese Proverb could be a gentle reminder of how much we are truly capable of when we allow God and His goodness to reign in our hearts:
- If there is goodness in our souls, we will shine with God’s grace.
- If we shine with God’s grace, there will be harmony in our fraternities (homes, workspace, etc.).
- If there is harmony in our fraternities, we will discover order in our lives (homes, workspace, etc.).
- If there is order in our lives, there will be peace, joy and love in our hearts, (homes, workspace, etc.).
- and in the entire Secular Franciscan Family.
- So, Let goodness shine with the brilliance of the Son!
Goodness, grace, harmony, order, peace, and joy in love! What greater gifts could we hope for from God as we begin a new calendar year, a Jubilee Year of Grace as well! God grants us these wonderful gifts that make Life Worth Living. Thus, even our Franciscan Way is meaningful, fruitful, attractive and welcoming to others. God invites and expects us to be collaborators with Him in achieving this fullness of Spirit and Life (cf. John 6:63). Without God’s presence in our endeavors, we would be unable to witness the truth, beauty, and personal fulfillment the Franciscan Gospel Life effectively offers anyone seeking to “Live Jesus”. Our God can do all things. Yet, God binds Himself to our collaboration. Such is the goodness of God. God desires we be His ambassadors, as if God were appealing through us (2 Corinthians 5: 20) that goodness and godliness be accessible and appealing to others.
God is first, even in our search. The more we discover God in our lives, the more we know ourselves. That I may know You so that I may know myself (Confessions, St. Augustine). Once the reflection of God shines within me, I see others more clearly from God’s perspective of love, mercy, providence, and forgiveness.
Get back in touch with God. It cannot be we first. It must be God first! Then we can let God burst through in our lives to shine in such a way that those who see us, see not us, but the God that lives within (Luke 17: 20-21).
The words of our Seraphic Father in the First Rule, sound true for all Franciscans: For if a mother loves and cares for her son (or daughter) according to the flesh, how much more diligently must someone love and care for his brother (and sister) according to the Spirit!
– The Spirit will challenge us to recognize and affirm goodness within everyone. Since goodness is Godliness, you will recognize a Divine Presence mysteriously yet powerfully present and active within and among you.
– Goodness will allow the gifts of one another to shine beyond the limitations that we create. These limitations separate and destroy – negative criticism, jealousy, pride, manipulation, lack of cooperation, and so many other traits we can all see in some way in ourselves. The ‘brightness’ of those who seek the ‘good’ excels in ways that manifest the wonder of God’s grace. God offers us our unique gifts from Him for the sake of the whole body. Our Franciscan Family is a ‘little church’, and as such, a type of the great Mystical Body of Christ. Goodness encourages us to work together, accepting, affirming, appreciating, supporting, cooperating and collaborating with one another. Thus we bring the spiritual sign of our consecration in Baptism and our Franciscan Profession to a concrete reality that overflows from us through the Spirit into the lives of others.
– Harmony begins to reign, where once competitiveness and suspicion may have been present. Harmony allows us to enjoy one another and truly share our hearts and souls in the Lord, as the early followers of Saint Francis did. We rejoice with those who rejoice, and encourage and support those in difficulty.
– No longer is there separation and confusion, but Order. Order of itself leads to serenity and peace. An ordered life knows where it is going and the means at its disposal to achieve the goal sought. There is no confusion or fear. An ordered life offers clarity of direction and leads to serenity of heart.
– Peace of soul and peace in life follow. This peace, the peace that only God can give to those who are open to His Spirit, ultimately leads to inner joy. It can be noticed in our pleasant demeanor with everyone.
– The end result of all this is Love. Not the fuzzy feeling we talk about so often without really realizing what we’re saying or talking about. True God-centered ‘love’ is fearless, faith-filled, confident, surrendered to God. He is the God we have discovered and recognized in our search for goodness. He is the God who strengthens us that we may disarm our hearts to one another. We thus live in the bond of Love in the Spirit that fulfills the words of our Father St. Francis in the Rule cited before.
In the beginning of the First Version of the Letter to the Faithful, our Seraphic Father writes:
All those who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, and with their whole strength and love their neighbor as themselves, who hate their bodies with their vices and sins, who receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who produce worthy fruits of penance. O how happy and blessed are these men and women while they do such things and persevere in doing them, because the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon them and makes its home and dwelling place among them, and they are children of the heavenly Father Whose works they do.
My dear Brothers and Sisters, Saint Francis had such confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit. He reminded the friars that Holy Spirit is the true Minister General of the Order and St. Francis only the Vicar of the Spirit. As the Lord told St. Francis what to do, St. Francis was the voice encouraging others who sought to follow the Gospel Life the Lord had called him to follow. Saint Francis continues to have that same confidence in each one of us. He sought, and achieved the desire of his heart, to be conformed to Christ. To see St. Francis was to see the image of Jesus. He mirrored the image of Christ. What about us? The moon follows laws of God in nature. We decide whom we will follow and to whom, if anyone, we wish to conform ourselves. Surrendering to Christ is not a defeat but a true victory. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2: 20).
Without the sun the world, life itself, could not exist. Without the Son, the Son of God, life would have no meaning. We reflect the Son so that the light of His words and resplendent glory of His Death and Resurrection may shine brightly through us who seek to conform ourselves to Him and reflect His presence in our world, the Theater of Redemption.
The Gospel Life we have professed in the spirit of the Poverello of Assisi, challenges us to commit each day to take time out of our routine to: spend quality time with the Lord in Prayer both personal and liturgical, participate in and receive the Eucharist faithfully and when not possible to at least read the scriptures of the day and reflect upon them in union with the Church and make a Spiritual Communion, grow in the fraternal spirit that is essential to the Franciscan charism and our particular fraternities.
Let us be aware and grateful to the Lord Who is effectively working for and through each one of us. May we open our hearts in praise of God and in trust of one another. Let us be open to the Spirit Who speaks to the very depths of our soul. This is a time for us to grow in spirit and truth (John 4: 24). The Spirit is at work among us. May we not stifle the work of the Holy Spirit!
In this Jubilee Year of Grace, may the Holy Spirit breathe His life-giving breath more powerfully into our mind and heart. Let us take time to pray, really pray, even without words! We are Pilgrims of Hope called and sent to encourage anyone and everyone to open the doors of their hearts to Jesus hidden among us and within everyone.
In the Eucharist, see yourself on the journey with Jesus. Climb Calvary and experience the fulfillment of the Covenant in His Body and Blood. Re-commit yourselves to that Lord who offers to make you His image in a world so much in need of a living presence of the Savior. In Communion, be truly in communion with Christ and His Church. Let the One you consume consume you. Be in communion with the Christ we all become spiritually and mystically when we allow His precious Body and Blood to perform its ‘sacred invasion’. He conquers us that we may become Victims with the Victor. Be willing to continue to “be Christ” as best you are able. Let the world encounter Him in you and that it may rekindle its faith, hope, and love of God Who creates, redeems, and sanctifies.
As the New Year 2025 begins on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, we entrust our world and time itself to our Mother’s almighty motherly intercession. May Mary see in each one of us the image and likeness of Her Son our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
Have a Blessed and Joy-filled New Year 2025
Where the Prince of Peace reigns
And all creation praises the Creator
For having created us
Who are who we are before God and nothing more and
Nothing less than God’s children redeemed in the Blood of Christ and
Called from limited time to an eternity of God’s Love.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis, OFM Cap
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 30th, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
December 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord give you his peace!
Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, to You praise, glory and honor and all benediction. To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and there is no one worthy to mention You. St. Francis of Assisi thus begins the beautiful Canticle of the Creatures.
Throughout the praises offered in the Canticle, St. Francis of Assisi describes the gifts given by God to each as a means of praise. (cfr. Writings of St. Francis, Ignatius Brady OFM)
The Canticle of Brother Sun, was written over a period of time. St. Francis began the Praise of the Creatures while at San Damiano. Others suggest that it might have been at Greccio. Either place inspired a beauty and depth of spirit of St. Francis in recognizing and praising the wonder of God. Regardless of his impaired physical health, St. Francis saw with the eyes of his heart and soul the beauty and majesty of the Creator in all His creation. A person in love cannot help but see only beauty in the beloved.
Francis was severely visually impaired. He was “legally blind”. Nonetheless, his physical condition could not keep his soul from making leaps and bounds to praise the Creator. There is no blindness when you see with the eyes of the heart.
In the Confessions of St. Augustine we read: “Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”
Francis saw the greatness, beauty, power, love of God in all creation. He knew the Lord was with him. He praised God in the various elements of creation and encouraged those who heard the words of the Canticle to do likewise. Francis sensed the fragrance of the presence of God and yearned to be enveloped by His love. He hungered and thirsted for the Lord of creation and experienced His simplicity and strengthening grace in the Eucharist – Sacrament of created things and human labor transformed by the Spirit into the very Real Presence of Christ Jesus. God touched his body with the ailments he bore till death, and they were transformed in so many gifts Francis offered to the Father. God touched Francis into Life in life’s journey from time to eternity. His soul was set aflame by love of a fire that put the final touches on a man conformed now to the Christ who had commissioned him at San Damiano years before to Rebuild my Church, for as you can see it is falling into ruin. Francis bore the cross he was entrusted to bear with surrender and poetic acceptance. With total abandonment to the Will of the Father, he reconfirmed his own acceptance of God’s will. He lived with full conviction a saying he was noted for: Such is the good that awaits me, that all pain is a delight.
Conformed to Christ with the “seal of approval” of the Father with the Sacred Stigmata of the Passion of Jesus, Francis knew his time on earth was very limited. The quest of his journey would soon be fulfilled. He saw the end as the true beginning. The song he composed during these months was an explosion of gratitude. He gratefully acknowledged the Creator for the magnificence of all creation, and saw with the eyes of his heart that he might love back with his life the love he had received from God. The journey of discovery resembled the words of John the Baptist to the crowds: I must decrease. He must increase (John 3: 30). Christ increased to such a point that Francis now bore the signs of the totality of the offering of Jesus to the Father on the altar of the Cross. Thus, Francis became a living image of the Crucified. Signed with the Stigmata, Francis sensed the proximity of Sister Death. Francis asked to be brought to Assisi that he might be called to Life where his life and rebirth in the Gospel Life had begun.
Seeking solace and rest at San Damiano, Francis went through challenging nights. He was alone in the dark, not able to see, bothered by the mice that ran all over him (cfr. Assisi Compilation). He began to feel a sense of self-pity. When morning came, he berated himself for having given in to such discouragement. Countering his self-pity, Francis’ heart conceived the Canticle of the Creatures.
Francis could not see with his bodily eyes what he was praising. He saw with his memory and the eyes of the heart. The memory and the heart see, remember, and recognize more deeply the beauty even of times when we questioned God’s presence and love. The journey is the dream with all the pitfalls, failures, challenges, and successes. The memory of what Francis had experienced, seen and felt through his entire life was imprinted in his soul. He began to praise God. God lights the day for our souls like Brother Sun brings light to our bodies. Even when the sky is cloudy and we cannot see the sun, we know he is there. (cfr. Writings of St. Francis, Ignatius Brady OFM)
The Sun, that heralds a new day, shines through the blindness that darkens the view of his eyes. The view of the heart is strong and bright. Praised be my Lord, by means of all Your creatures, and most especially by Sir Brother Sun, who makes the day, and illumines us by his light: for he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; and is a symbol of You, God most High.
Born after a night that was dark and discouraging, the Canticle explodes into a song of love, trust and total abandonment Into God whose light penetrates the darkness of a soul. He brings the soul to see from above the mystery of a love that enlightens even the darkest moments of any life open to the reality of the Creator’s love. Things were beginning to come together again. In the midst of his spiritual darkness, Brother Sun was a powerful reminder and sign of hope. The brilliant sun of the heavens was a mere twinkle compared to the brilliance of the Son of God Whose Incarnation came to brighten the darkness of centuries of waiting, and millions of people passing to eternity wondering when…when would God finally keep His promise?
God’s delay is not God’s denial. What a beautiful testimony to the spirit of St. Francis. He was broken in body but not in his soul. His spirit soared to the heights in a hymn of praise that allowed all who heard it to experience in the simplicity of song the magnificence of the glory and love of God for all creation. The love Francis experienced was a love offered in gratitude to the Giver of all good gifts.
The liturgical refrain during the Season of Advent is Come, Lord Jesus! This invitation and hope also concludes the Book of Revelation and thus the entire body of Sacred Scripture. The story of the experiences, the hopes, the fears, the successes, the failures, the life of the People of God is always a time of great expectations. It is our story. It is the story of a people created and called to be uniquely a People of God. It is the story of a people whose millennial journey through time has experienced the awesome presence of a God always near and available to carry us in the palm of His hands (Isaiah 49: 16). The experiences of millennia of human history challenge our faith to believe Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3: 20) It is the story of a people who walk in the bright darkness of hope that leads by the heart where faith indicates we will arrive. Praise be You my Lord for Sir Brother Sun who makes the day, and illumines us by his light. He is the mere reflection so small of the true Son, Your Son, so brilliant, Who enlightens the way that leads to You, Father and God of the Universe.
Come, Lord Jesus can also challenge our trust that He is a personal God interested in a world affected by so many troubling and devastating experiences. These may even challenge our acceptance of a God of Love Who truly cares for His creation. These thoughts and feelings are like the mice that ran all over Francis in his most vulnerable moments. We call, pray, plead, and God waits! All seems dark. We cannot see where to turn, but each day demands we keep moving forward in the Light of the Son, while feeling the darkness of the spirit. We call on this God in many ways to Come! and to be with us, and to embrace us, and to love us, and to save us, and to give us new life forever. We call out Come, Lord Jesus! Be my long-awaited Savior!
Don’t be afraid. Open the doors of your heart to Christ (Pope St. John Paul II). “You cannot hold back the dawn”. Remember the words of Jesus to the disciples on the road to Emmaus on the first Easter morning: Why are you downcast? Oh, how slow are you to believe. Was it not necessary that the Messiah experience all He did? Then He began to explain to them (Luke 24: 25-27). He could say the same to us when we do not allow the Son of God to shine in our hearts. This holds true for the darkest moments of life. This holds true for the dreary humdrum experiences that seem to affect enthusiasm. This is true for the unexpected failures. This holds true for any moment in our lives, maybe even life itself (?) for some, when the challenges overshadow hope. It is then, like Francis, that we see with the eyes of the heart of faith. Then it is we allow the Son of God to break through our spiritual darkness with a brightness that not even the sun can compare with.
It is at the beginning of time that the Eternal Father comes into the darkness and confusion of nothingness and breathes a Word of Life. The Father comes among the bands of wandering nomads and gathers them into a people peculiarly His own. The Father comes to an oppressed nation and powerfully liberates them from their slavery and makes them a people free to trustingly call upon Him. The Father comes at the various moments of an erring and sinful people, and He leads them back to a confident and adoring awareness of His presence in their midst. The Father comes into a world divided and troubled and He speaks His Word that enfleshes Itself in the natural order so that nature can one day regain and experience its lost dignity as one created in the image and likeness of its Creator. And that Word is JESUS!
The birth of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, illuminated the darkness of expectation or doubt with the brilliance of a revelation of God’s mercy and forgiveness. The brilliance and splendor of the Son of God gives clarity of vision, clearness and depth of understanding, and transparency of life that enables the light of Christ to shine through and embrace the lives of others. Praise be You my Lord for our Brother, the Son of the Father, Whose enlightenment reveals, clarifies, and glorifies the Father in His creation. They enrich others with the knowledge of the splendor they manifest in the light of the Son.
Jesus is Word made flesh … who came to his own, and his own did not receive him…but to as many as did receive Him, He gave them the power to become children of God (John 1: 11) born of the Spirit. And so we say, Come, Lord Jesus! Descend into time that we may ascend into eternity. Become one with us in creation so that one day we can share with you the eternal glory of our Creator.
Jesus is the focal point of all humanity. Though billions of people still do not accept Jesus as Lord, Redeemer, God, still the entire world regulates its activities around the birth of this one life that came into history as an infant, and comes every moment into the hearts and lives of those who invoke Him with faith. His was a life of constant coming into. The Word made flesh became a creature that all creation might be restored to God through the Spirit.
Advent begins the Year of Grace. We begin the re-presentation in our Liturgy of the whole history and mystery of our salvation in the life of Jesus and the Church. As we journey through the brief period of Advent, we anticipate our joy at the birth of the Savior at Bethlehem. There is no need for Him to come in opulence, power and comfort; He comes poor, helpless and placed in a manger. The total emptying of Himself for the sake of us all tells us that He Comes to make us rich in grace, strong in His Spirit, and joyful in His kingdom of justice, love and peace. This is the Condescension of Compassion (St. Leo the Great Sermon for Nativity) of God. God descends (condescension) to share life in all its facets (compassion) with humanity. He illumines the way that leads once again to God.
Every child that comes into this world is God=s gift to creation. What that child becomes is his/her gift to God. We have probably heard these words before. We should consider them more intensely as we prepare for the birthday of Jesus the Christ, the King of Creation, the Incarnate Word of God. We pray for Him to come, do we recognize him? Is our vision clouded or even blinded by the glitz and cacophony of consumerism and materialism, and so many other “isms”? Or do we allow the Great God of the Universe to enlighten our minds and hearts as the Son of God makes clear the road from the Crib of Bethlehem to the Cross of Calvary to the Commission of Mt. Olivet in the warmth and love of the Holy Spirit that indicates the way. The Sun shines through His Spirit that we might assist others through this light to recognize and follow the Son of God, Christ the Lord? No one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel basket. He puts it on a stand for all to see (Matthew 5: 15).
Our Seraphic Father loved the Feast of the Nativity. The Incarnation in the womb of our Blessed Mother Mary of the Divine Word, the Son of God, and the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, was a reality that he lived every moment of his grace-filled life. His faith in Jesus was a vibrant acceptance and availability to the present as he sought to Live Jesus in Whom he believed not as born two thousand years ago, but as re-born every moment in his life. The Profession of Faith we make each time we recite the Creed was not for him merely a formula that reiterated a theological dogma or historical fact to be remembered. Jesus was not a past event to be spoken of with nostalgia, but a present reality, a fact, a person, to be lived in the present. Jesus led Francis to an eternal future of Life. St. Francis gazed upon the mystery of the Incarnation at each Eucharist and lived Jesus. The whole story of the Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, and the time that leads up to it, is an opportunity for us to follow the example of St. Francis and enter into the song of creation once again as we become players in the great symphony of life that God has written. Praise be You my Lord God for Sir Brother Sun – and our Brother the Son of God – who brightens our day and shows us the way that leads to You.
As spiritual Children of the Poverello of Assisi, have we allowed the precious Body and Blood of the Savior to flow through and take over every fiber of our being? Have we allowed the Lord to be enfleshed in our lives so that each Christmas we celebrate not just some past event but the Savior truly present and alive within and among us? Do we say with Mary, Jesus= Mother, and with Jesus, Your Will and not mine be done? (Luke 22: 42) Do we recognize our own incompleteness, vulnerability, and susceptibility so that we can share, support and encourage one another? Are we as enthused about our being Spiritual Children of St. Francis of Assisi and all that entails? Do we see the gift that we are to each other?
Let us recognize the gift we are and are called to be. Let us become a joy-filled, life-giving, sister and brother in the family of the Seraphic Father of Assisi and our Holy Mother Clare. For this intention and whatever ones you may hold most dear in your hearts, be assured that you and your loved ones will be remembered in a special way in all the Masses I celebrate during this holy season. May God bless you; Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard and protect you; and St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi watch over each one of you and your loved ones with loving care.
In the Name of Jesus I wish all of you a Spirit-filled Advent and a Holy and Happy Christmas Season. As you enter the new calendar year with all its expectations and uncertainties, may your hopes be fulfilled in a world renewed in Jesus and filled with His Spirit. A Child is born to us! A Savior is given to us! Come, let us adore Him!
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Prince of Peace!
Blessed and Merry Christmas to all
and a New Year 2025 filled with Peace and Blessings
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 3rd, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
November 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord give you his peace!
The Franciscan Family celebrated on September 17th the 8th centenary of the reception of the Sacred Stigmata of the Wounds of the Passion of Jesus by our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi. What happened to him then was an extraordinary moment not only in the life of St. Francis but also for the entire Church. This awesome event of such an intense experience of conformity to the person of Jesus Christ was the first such occurrence recorded in the history of the Church. It was also the first time such an unprecedented event was recognized as such by the secular authorities as well.
This sign of God’s approval for all St. Francis did in obedience to the God’s call, happened only two years before St. Francis died. Quite ill and infirm, what does our Seraphic Father do when he realizes what has happened to him? He asks to be brought to the Portiuncula, birthplace of the Order. While there, rather than focus on his obviously failing health, he begins to compose a hymn of wonder and praise for the gift of God’s Creation.
As the time passed and approaching death was not far away, he asked the friars to add a stanza to his already magnificent Canticle of Brother Sun. He desired to praise God for the last moment in time that accompanies every human being into the beginning of the timelessness of eternity. The poet in Francis personified Death as his “sister” (the word for “death” is the feminine noun ‘morte’ in the Italian language) who would come to gently accompany him on the last stage of his journey to God.
The brothers were saddened at the thought of his death. Francis, however, joyful that he had done what was mine to do (words of St. Francis to the friars), requested the brothers sing these words composed by him as the last stanza of the Canticle: Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Bodily Death, from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they whom She finds doing Your Will. No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility. Even in his last days, not even death could change his boyish wonder, enthusiastic anticipation, and engaging personality. What has remained as one of the poetic literary examples of the Italian language in its beginning is still an object of study and reflection by many.
The reality of our mortality looms over many with a sense of foreboding, caution, and even fear and uncertainty of what to expect. Faith plays a powerful role at this time, but there is so often that “What if?” feeling from whom no one can escape. With faith as the strong and sure guide of a person’s life, mortality and the end of time introduce one to a new and everlasting beginning.
Everlasting beginning?! When the achievement of one’s life is eternity with God, time ceases and Life begins forever with an unending freshness and excitement. There is no time in eternity. There is only God and the image and likeness of God – God’s created human beings – that have achieved the purpose for their own creation. Now they exist in the splendor of timelessness, Who is God! Thus the existence is always fresh, always new, always exciting, always magnificently fulfilling. What more can be said? To speak of eternity it must be lived. Once there, it is no longer necessary to question or understand. We know!
The month of November offers the opportunity to reflect upon the praise of “Sister Death”. This is the month traditionally dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. These are “holy” souls. They are truly saved as they await the fullness of eternal life. Their salvation and Eternal Life are assured. The state in which we believe most souls must pass is a sign of God’s everlasting merciful love. As faulty as human beings are, God’s knows and loves us. If we deny him, He will deny us. But if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2: 13). Purgatory is the term we use to remind us that there is always hope for those who sincerely strive, regardless of the many “falls” in life, to be faithful to God’s love. Acknowledging one’s own responsibility before God is an act that leads to repentance, forgiveness, restoration to grace. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them… they are in peace. (cfr. Wisdom 3: 1-7).
Like Francis, the anticipated end of life challenges all of us to open our hearts and minds and reflect on our personal history, all we lived until that moment. When the eternal future becomes evident as it approaches us, our past life seems to become vividly present. The beginning and course of one’s life is seen now in the perspective of eternity. For St. Francis, the last stanza of the Canticle he composed and had the brothers sing was the sign of an eager anticipation. Praised be you my Lord God! Laudato Si’!
There was not fear or dread of the encounter with the Creator. The Poverello lived the mystery of faith in abandonment to the Father’s Will. The inner excitement of hope soon to be fulfilled enveloped him with gratitude and praise for all that had led him to this moment. What he had lived in faith, believing what he did not see so that he could see what he believed (cfr. John 20: 29) would soon be revealed. He knew that he would experience what no one could ever imagine. The magnificence and wonder that awaited him were the promise of future glory in the God for Whom he longed.
Nevertheless, St. Francis was concerned about others. As he lay praising the goodness and beauty of God, St. Francis realized not everyone experienced the inner peace and serenity he felt. He was inspired to add a warning and hope to his Canticle of praise. So, St. Francis praised Sister Death but also warned all God’s children who jeopardize their eternal joy when they distance themselves from God through sin and fail to seek reconciliation. Till the end, our Seraphic Father lived the response of Mother Clare and Sylvester to a question he had posed years before concerning how to live the call he had received from God: contemplation or ministry to others. The response was simple, direct and the same from each one, though neither Sylvester nor Clare was aware that Francis had asked the same question of the other. God responded through them telling St. Francis that what he received from God was not for him alone. He was to share the gifts of his charism with others. He was faithful till the end.
His end was truly the beginning. It was the “springboard” that launched St. Francis into his beautiful poetic hymn of praise. Awareness of the depths of God’s creating love, loving mercy and forgiveness, and God’s faithfulness to the Covenant with His People redeemed in the Blood of Jesus must have been overwhelming. Respond in gratitude and love to God’s work, and you cannot help but realize we are all called to collaborate with God to restore all things in Christ (Ephesians 1: 10). We are God’s “backup plan” in keeping everything in order, lovingly protecting and caring for what/who we are, the high-point, but creatures nonetheless, of God’s creative love.
How we accept the end, will usually determine how we welcome – or not – the “new beginning”. Remembrances of the early followers tell us of the last days, words and actions of St. Francis of Assisi and how he “celebrated” his swift approach to the “finish line” of life’s journey. The poetic insights the “Troubadour of Christ” sang in the Canticle of Brother Sun praised the magnificence of God’s Love expressed in myriads of tangible ways. How could St. Francis not sing, even in his physical sufferings, at the thought of leaving the mystery of faith to enter the immense reality of the eternal vision of God?
St. Francis begins the Canticle praising God through God’s works of Creation. Praising Sister Bodily Death from whom no one can escape, was the ultimate praise a child of God offers after recognizing the wonder of creation. Death is no longer the dreaded enemy that destroys everything. Death is the long-awaited sister/brother, an intimate member of the family, who gently and lovingly accompanies one home. The accompaniment through his life took St. Francis through his history in time, into the awesome mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, to the eventual fulfillment in mystical union with God forever.
The Capuchin friars, known as “friars of the people”, often take on the “ministry” of Simon of Cyrene. Helping others understand and bear the cross make the words of St. Paul come alive: No one lives alone and no one dies alone (Romans 14: 7-9). The encounter with God forever is hidden in God’s Will. The reality of its approach however, is a constant “friend” that has to be recognized and accepted for its immense spiritual value. Even saints must be encouraged and accompanied at this most solemn moment in life. We are surrounded by God’s love and myriads of God’s holy ones, together with our own Guardian Angel, to lead us in the serenity of our hearts to the great encounter with I AM.
St. Teresa of Avila once jokingly said to God when the cart in which she was traveling overturned and she fell in a creek: If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few. Said in love and honesty, the words of this great saint, called “The Seraphic Mother”, remind us that select souls are called to a witness that most might not be able to accept. Called to be companions on the journey with many, we help others not to “pray the problem away”, unless it is God’s will. We attempt to help others to see the finger of God (Luke 11: 20; Matthew 11: 28) and assist them to surrender in abandonment to the Holy Will that leads them into a serenity that lifts the soul up even as the body seems to be put down.
God is on our side. God is actually offering us all we need to keep our spiritual balance without losing sight of the goal. Assured of the end/beginning, the journey and all its beauty and difficulties begins to make sense. St. Paul reminds us so simply: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). God is for us. God waits patiently and quietly for us. He is there for us as we struggle through life’s storms. Surrendering to God does not mean giving up. Spiritual surrender is giving over, not giving up. It is our life-line to the One who is already the victor, and with whom we are called to share the victory.
We have walked through the valley of darkness (Psalm 23) many times. We may have fallen so deep that we feared never being able to rise up again. We sought God through prayer, and felt that God “put us on hold”. We may have read God’s Word to find where we were and where we were heading, and felt confused. We may have spent time with the Blessed Sacrament hoping for an inner voice to direct us, and entered a silence we feared to let continue. We may have prayed to Our Heavenly Mother or some Saint for a “miracle”, and still we felt overwhelmed, perhaps even abandoned. At times such as these, remember the words of St. Paul to the Colossians: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. (Colossians 3:15-16)
The key to that phrase is in the word “let”. If we freely “let” Christ take over, we can give Him our burdens and cares. Christ, who is our peace, will take up the situation for us. Surrendering to Christ produces oneness with Him and enables us to recognize that He is for us, not against us. There was a religious sister who, whenever she was in a difficult situation or would encounter another roadblock or even setback on her way, disappointment in her life, failure in an endeavor she had worked so long on, negative results to numerous health problems, and the like, her response, with a smile, was always “Jesus, take over!” And He did! She never expressed a sadness for herself from what we might consider negatives. Hers was a spirit of trust and gratitude. If only we could be that way!
When we let go and let God, our burdens are His and our cares are in His hands. He makes known what we need to know and guides us in the direction we need to go. God knows what is best and right for us, better than we know ourselves. He knows what it will take to accomplish His good and perfect will in our lives. Let go! Let God do what is best and right. The outcome will be beyond your best imagining.
The choice to surrender is an intentional one. It’s the deliberate act of releasing our lives, hearts, and circumstances to God and asking Him to take over all control. Often what we do however is to use the words of surrendering as a bargaining chip when seeking for God’s help. We suggest an outcome and then offer up a temporary version of agreement to God’s purpose. How often have we thought, “God, get me out of this situation and I will do (fill in the blank)”. But this isn’t surrender, and it certainly isn’t a way to experience the freedom of entering into God’s strength and love. It’s a halfhearted negotiation. Real surrender is allowing God to be God on his terms, not ours.
The most powerful picture of surrender is found in Jesus, hanging on the cross. Jesus hangs between heaven and earth, fixed by nails to the wood and crowned with thorns. His eyes are open as he says, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46). Jesus did not give up when he died on the cross. He gave himself over to the will of the Father. Living in surrender is a continual process. Learning to give our cares and concerns over to God is not a one-time decision that settles things once and for all. Every single day, we have to consciously decide to give the outcomes, choices, and people in our lives over to God. These daily “Sister Death” encounters are liberating and elevating in God.
May we never forget that the “yes” of Mary, the highest honor of our race, (cfr. Judith 13) was an acceptance of the impossible. Jesus is the declaration of who God is and what God wants us to know about Him and His great love for us. He is the God of surprises. The Eucharist is His Divine Presence that waits for us so He can strengthen our relationship with Him at Mass, at Adoration, and also at our daily tasks when we remember the Lord who consumes us as we consume Him.
Sister Death of the Canticle reminds us that we must live a constant life of reflection, repentance, renewal. The best way to experience peace and serenity in the various storms of life is to surrender our expectations. Take a second look at them. Willingly lay them down before the Lord. Make it a deliberate act of surrender. The end truly helps us see the beauty and value of all that has gone before us. Be restored and reformed by the grace of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist. Then we will understand how the end brings us to the beginning that helps us see the past in truth and all its true beauty, and the future in the fullness of God and God’s Provident Love. With God always expect a ride you will never forget, one that will give you more than you could ever have hoped for or imagined.
We end our reflection together, with the reminder not to forget the Holy Souls in Purgatory during November, the month especially dedicated to them. May we remember them every day of our lives. A sobering thought can help: they were where we are; we will be where they are – God’s mercy and will permitting. They live in the certainty of glory because they were willing to let go and let God take over. Their end was truly their hope-filled anticipation of the true beginning in God’s Eternal Love.
May God bless you; may Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect you; and may our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi and our Holy Mother St. Clare of Assisi watch over each one of us, their Spiritual Children, and our loved ones, with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Happy Thanksgiving
Thank God for being God and for creating you.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 9th, 2024 St. Katharine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
October 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord give you His peace!
On September 17th of this year the entire Franciscan Order celebrated the 800th anniversary of our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi receiving the Stigmata of the Passion of Jesus visibly present on his body. This painful gift, unexpected answer in this form, to a prayer St. Francis prayed for many years, marked him with the visible and painful wounds of the Passion of Jesus. The reception of the Stigmata is not only the third of the first three centenaries, but also, and more so, the “pivotal” experience of his journey into God. What follows in our celebrations for two more years are the Canticle of the Creatures (1225) and the Transitus (Death) of St. Francis (1226).
There seems to be a progression among these celebrations. From Confirmation of the Rule of the Gospel Life of the Franciscan (1223), to the visible representation of the Birth of Jesus at Greccio. The spiritual journey begins at the confirmation of a Life to be lived (Gospel Life), based on the Condescension of Compassion (term used by St. Leo the Great concerning the Incarnation of the Divine Word) of God. The Condescension presents visibly the Good News Incarnate (the Divine Word) born at Bethlehem, Whose presence in time St. Francis re-enacted in tangible form at Greccio. This journey others shared with St. Francis leads to his Spiritual and Physical Conformity to Jesus in the reception of the Stigmata. St. Francis reached the visible heights of conformity to Jesus at La Verna in 1224. As we are told by the Franciscan Sources: What was impressed on his heart at San Damiano was imprinted on his body at La Verna. At La Verna St. Francis received, as it were, the “Seal of Approval” of God for his response to the call at San Damiano and faithfulness to his response.
Physically exhausted and seriously ill, bearing the beauty and the burden of the Stigmata of Jesus, St. Francis “explodes” into a hymn of Joy and Praise in the Canticle of the Creatures (1225). Unable to “do”, St. Francis can truly “be” the Troubadour of the Great King. Filled with the joy of fulfillment, the Poverello sings the Praises of Creation in and of a God Who becomes one with us that we might share the fullness of God’s life for eternity. The Canticle Year (2025) celebrates the Franciscan awareness of the Goodness of God and our call to make the whole world aware of the ever–present Goodness of the God of Creation. All the earth and what is in and around and beyond it, called into existence by God, praise and glorify God each according to their own nature.
Inanimate creatures, living things, and human beings form a part of this Hymn of Praise. All have by nature of their being the ability to manifest a joy for being present by the Creator’s Will. Human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, are uniquely mentioned for their ability to be like God in offering the mercy of forgiveness in imitation of God’s merciful love, and the ability to live life fully in view of the fullness of life that we seek in God’s grace. The Canticle of the Creatures celebrates Francis’ immersion into the dignity of life and being. All share in praising the Creator in time until the promise of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1) is fulfilled.
The Canticle of the Creatures celebrates:
-the wonder and beauty of every created being that gives glory to God by just being who/what it is,
-the interaction of all creation that complements the uniqueness of the other,
-the magnificent attributes each shares in its own way with the God Who created everything, directly or indirectly,
-Mary, Mother of Creation, Who allowed God to enter human history as a human being, thus allowing Mary to become Mother God’s children,
-children of God in harmony with creation disarming their hearts to one another, especially to those who seek or need pardon,
-the soul who recognizes the awesomeness of God and the responsibility to live in grace avoiding what leads away from God, our Creator,
-the soul’s immersion into the beauty and wonder of God through the human experience and who accepts the invitation of “Sister Death” to enter the fullness of life in the New Heaven and New Earth promised the faithful children of God.
Words of praise are rather simple. Living sincerely what our “Praises” convey and celebrate can often be a struggle. We desire but often struggle to be what God wills for our good. We trip or fall along the way. We should be at peace. The joy and even serenity is in the hope-filled struggle for the goal.
The Symphony of Life began with the Father’s Let there be (Genesis 1:3). The Symphony of Redemption at one point sounded a note that soured the great symphony, the Fall of Adam and Eve, Original Sin. They distorted the sound of God’s Masterpiece of Creation. Then, millennia later, through Mary’s “yes”, that sour note became the first note of a new symphony. The Letter to the Hebrews states: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5: 21). Jesus is the note of the Fall that becomes the first harmonious note of the Symphony of Redemption that sets the tone and direction for all that follows. Jesus is the beginning without end, the Alpha and Omega, of the glorious praise of re-creation in grace through His Death and Resurrection. Is there any wonder that St. Francis of Assisi, even as he prepared for Sister Death, could sing in anticipation of the glory that awaited him? Remember his saying: So great is the good I expect that all pain is to me a delight.
From the lens of God’s grace, our Seraphic Father sang the glories of a world in harmony with God. He was conformed now to the Christ he loved and sought to emulate. He went even further by imitating Jesus in a manner he would never have presumed to achieve. Intimacy with God brings the soul to express a holiness that goes beyond the mere external. He desired that his brothers and sisters and all who sought his counsel:
-seek peace in understanding rather than tranquility through aggression, war, destruction, death,
-justice in mercy rather than retribution in violent reprisal,
-availability to all rather than judgmental distancing from those who do not share the same ideas and values as we,
-serenity in life even through the turbulence of occurrences where God’s providence reigns through faith,
-joy of being and great anticipation for the moment of the eternal encounter.
Two years before his death, already very sick and suffering especially from his eyes, (St. Francis ) was living in a cell made of mats near San Damiano. … During his stay … blessed Francis could not bear the light of the sun during the day or the light of the fire at night. He constantly remained in darkness in his cell … One night, as he was thinking of all the tribulations he was enduring, he felt sorry for himself and prayed interiorly: ‘ Lord help me in my infirmities so that I may have the strength to bear them patiently”… (A voice spoke to him and said): …be glad and joyful in the midst of your infirmities and tribulations; as of now, live in peace as if you were already sharing my kingdom”… The next morning on rising, he said to his companions: … I should be full of joy in my infirmities and tribulations, seek my consolations in the Lord, and give thanks to God the Father, to His Only Son Our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit … Therefore, for His glory, for my consolation, and the edification of my neighbor, I wish to compose a new “Praises of the Lord,” for His creatures … He called these “Praises of the Lord” which opened with the words: “Most high all-powerful, and good Lord, the “Canticle of the Sun”… He often intoned this canticle and had his companions take it up; in that way he forgot the intensity of his sufferings and pains by considering the glory of the Lord. He did this until the day of his death. (Legend of Perugia, 42-43)
The Poverello of Assisi was one of the wealthiest persons to ever live. His wealth went far beyond the treasures that human beings consider desirable. The power he wielded over thousands of his day and millions over the centuries make him also one of the most influential and effective individuals to ever live.
-He was simple, surely not what the authoritative and commanding seek.
-He was poorly dressed, surely not what attracts the people of this world.
-He was not much to look at, surely not a figure that imposed himself by physical stature.
-He had a basic education for his times, surely not an ‘intellectual giant’ to dialogue with the ‘learned’ and prominent of his day.
-He had no bands of armed guards and militant forces, surely not what the dominant forces sought out.
What he had was a ‘treasure’ that far surpasses all others: He was a man in love with God, and God’s presence in all creation. He was passionately in love with life. His spirit was contagious. Many originally considered him out of his mind, most believed him to be eccentric, but all eventually recognized the uniqueness of a soul in love with God, life, and all people. Our Seraphic Father, St. Francis of Assisi, is a constant reminder and image of a life in love with Life.
In the beginning … God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good. (Genesis 1: 1-30) The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) Life is the first gift of God’s Eternal Love. Goodness, of its very nature, cannot be contained. Goodness overflows its own limits and reaches out in all directions. Eternal Goodness offers the greatest gift of Himself: the gift of being. During a lifetime conditioned and limited by time, we who share the ‘breath of God’, His Holy Spirit, enter a journey that leads us from living in the mystery on earth to living its fulfillment in eternity. In Christ Jesus we recognize Him Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). What seemingly begins as a merely natural process is now transformed into a ‘Journey of Faith’ that places us in a relationship with our Creator and eternal Life-giving Father, Who continues to ‘breathe’ His Holy Spirit into our hearts, because of the Redemptive Life-Death-Resurrection of His Incarnate Son, Jesus, Who made the Father ‘real’ for us by showing us the merciful and loving Face of God.
Men and women are on a journey of discovery which is humanly unstoppable – a search for the truth and a search for a person to whom they might entrust themselves. Christian faith comes to meet them, offering the concrete possibility of reaching the goal which they seek. (Pope John Paul II – Relationship Between Faith and Reason, Encyclical of September 14, 1998). Life is that period of time we have been allotted to know, love, and serve our God both in Himself and in each other. We follow Jesus Who invites us to walk this journey of faith as ‘pilgrims and strangers’.
St. Francis of Assisi’s ‘Canticle of the Creatures’ is his prayer of praise to God Who can be seen in all creation, and at every moment of life’s journey. Many ‘cradle Catholics’ often take their Christianity too much for granted. There is a tendency to forget that external religious practices, to be authentic, must be an expression of the greater gift of Faith infused at Baptism and to which they are called to be convinced and committed.
Faith is not a list of dogmas to believe, but a Person to accept and follow. Faith, strengthened through Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church, accompanies and encourages life in the midst of a world that hears the words of Jesus but often closes its heart to the message that must be personally accepted and lived to be effective and fruitful. Although we are all called to be saved, there is no such thing as ‘global salvation’. Jesus died for all humanity and His redemption is once-for-all; it is ‘global’ in that sense. However, it is the personal responsibility of each individual to cooperate with the graces he/she receives from the Redemptive Sacrificial Blood of Jesus poured out for us all, if that person hopes to be ‘saved’ and share in Eternal Life.
St. Francis’ desire to live the Gospel ‘without gloss’ is his way of reminding us that Jesus’ words must be taken to heart and lived. Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. (James 2: 17-18) Our journey of faith begins in the accounts of the Old Testament Scriptures with the call of Abraham, when he responded in faith to God’s urging to leave Ur of the Chaldeans. Abraham may not have completely understood his unique relationship with God and the role he was called to fulfill, nonetheless he had all the necessary elements for faith. He promptly responded ‘yes’ to God’s call, a divine call that more often than not turned Abraham’s own plans upside down. Faith reaches its fulfillment in the New Testament in the Son of God Who manifested Himself and proclaimed the kingdom of God. This proclamation of God’s will and invitation to believe requires the same response as that of Abraham, our ‘Father in Faith’.
Faith becomes victory over the isolation we create in our lives when we close ourselves to the ‘Other’. Faith helps us to gratefully accept life as a marvelous experience. Filled with challenges that may try us to the limit of our strength, life is supported, nourished, and ennobled by a faith that trusts in an ever-loving and all-providing God. From the very beginning of our existence, God calls each one of us from the nothingness of ‘not being’ to an existence that bursts into time and is ultimately transformed into the immortal gift of unending Life for all. Isn’t the Canticle of Creatures an act of joy-filled faith in an unseen presence pervading everything, everyone, everywhere? Faith flourishing in the joy of the unseen seen in the depths of the heart energizes life’s journey and opens the spiritually blinded eyes to the brightness of an eternal goodness that envelopes all willing to see.
One of the greatest Gospel witnesses we can offer the family of St. Francis of Assisi flows from living in the Presence of God. Convinced of this, tranquility and peace overtake us because God is in control. Together we focus on the Lord Who calls us to share Life in our Eternal Homeland after having sought to Restore all things in Christ (Ephesians 1: 10). Life’s journey for all Christians, even more for Franciscans, should be a “Canticle of Praise” to the Lord for every facet of life. Each step we take is a step forward surrendering ourselves unconditionally to the ever-loving providence of God, Who never leaves His children unaided.
Faith and life walk hand-in-hand. It is our Faith that strengthens our spirit and nourishes our life. Jesus reminds us: It is the spirit that gives life … The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63) When we allow the Spirit of Faith to fill our minds and hearts, when we accept the words of Jesus in truth, when we live today where God and we encounter one another, we live in hope, free from fear, trusting in divine providence that clears all intimidating imaginings from our minds and hearts. Peace, joy, and serenity become a reality. And, they become ‘contagious’ for those whom we encounter.
Spiritual Children of St. Francis of Assisi live every moment of life fully! The spirit of prayer that enveloped our Seraphic Father who ‘became prayer’ encourages us to pass through whatever crucible of life we encounter. Thus we become one with the Suffering Servant Who became One with us. Let us be grateful to God for the life He has called us to live, and make our prayer You are my God…I trust in You…be my refuge…I fear nothing…(for I seek to be in You as You are within me).
May God bless you; my Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect you; and may our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi and our holy Mother St. Clare, look upon each one of us, and our loved ones, with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on June 7th, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
June 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord give you His peace!
While Francis was still staying in (the palace of the Bishop), the most holy father was already assured of his imminent death, both by the Holy Spirit and the prognosis of the doctors. He felt himself growing steadily worse and his physical strength was waning. He had himself carried on a litter to Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, so that there the life of his body would come to an end where he had begun to experience the light and life of his soul. When those who were carrying him arrived at the hospital halfway between Assisi and Saint Mary, he asked those carrying the litter to place it on the ground. Since he could hardly see because of the serious and prolonged eye disease, he had the litter turned so that he would face the city of Assisi. Raising himself up slightly on the litter, he blessed the city.
“Lord, just as, at an earlier time, this ancient city was, I believe, the place and abode of wicked and evil men, now I realize that, because of Your abundant mercy and in Your own time, You have singularly shown an abundance of Your mercies to it. Solely on account of your goodness, you have chosen it for Yourself so that it may become the place and abode of those who, in truth, acknowledge You, give glory to Your name, exude the fragrance of a holy life, of the truest doctrine, of a good reputation, and of evangelical perfection to the whole Christian people. I ask you, therefore, Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies, not to consider our ingratitude. Be mindful of Your most abundant piety which You have shown to it, that it always be an abode for those who truly acknowledge You, and glorify Your name blessed and most glorious forever and ever. Amen.” (Mirror of Perfection, #124)
Francis prays these heartfelt words as he faces his birthplace knowing that he will never see it again on earth. Francis’ humanity was always, and still is, a striking sign of his holiness. You are who you are before God and nothing more (words of St. Francis). We could add, “and nothing less than a child of God redeemed in the Blood of Jesus”. He acknowledges that the ancient city was the place of wicked and evil (M.P.#124) but that now You has shown an abundance of Your mercies to it (M.P.#124).
The beauty of our Franciscan charism (spirit) is very accessible and unattainable. It is so much a part of being human that it is called “incarnational”. We could say “earthy” or “human”. Unfortunately, both words would be understood incorrectly and would diminish the more profound and positive meaning. The word “incarnational” is rooted in the reality of the body God created at the beginning of time and that God saw as very good (Genesis 1) and saw fit to become in the fullness of time (cfr. Galatians 4:4). God creates all things to share in His eternal goodness and limitless being. Though infinitely less than God, we participate, body and soul, in His Spirit of Life that breathed all things into existence (cf. Genesis, 1:1). Thus, it follows that we are created inherently good, though prone to decisions that lead into what lacks goodness and thus leads into sin.
At that time, a certain priest of the city of Assisi, Sylvester by name, a man of honorable life, received of the Lord a vision not to be passed over in silence. In his finite judgment, he had looked askance at the manner of life of Francis and his Brethren, he was visited,—lest he should be imperiled by his rash verdict,—by the regard of the heavenly grace. For in a dream he beheld the whole city of Assisi beset by a great dragon, whose huge bulk seemed to threaten all the countryside with destruction. Then he saw a Cross of gold proceeding out of the mouth of Francis, the top whereof touched heaven, and its arms outstretched at the side seemed to reach unto the ends of the world, and at its glittering aspect that foul and loathly dragon was utterly put to flight. When this had been shown three times to him, he deemed it a divine portent, and related it in order unto the man of God and his Brethren; and no long time thereafter he left the world, and clave so constantly unto the footsteps of Christ as that his life in the Order rendered true the vision that he had received while yet in the world. (Legenda Major, chapter 3, par. 5, St .Bonaventure)
Evil is a reality that affects all creation. History and our lives are surrounded by the effects of evil every day, when more when less. Challenges can be good or bad. Why and how we respond or react usually determines the personal responsibility for the good or evil we choose. Though created in God’s goodness yet we are prone to sinful decisions as inheritors of Original Sin, Grace is compromised and often we distance ourselves spiritually from God by our sins. The struggle between good and evil is an ongoing reality. Original Sin brings about the disharmony of spirit and the sinful decisions we make that cry out for God’s forgiveness. The spiritual warfare being waged has been waged from the beginning of time. The reality of the battle is similar to the image brother Sylvester had during the life of our Seraphic Father. The image of the cross and the response made to its proclamation from the mouth of the Poverello, determine in the vision, what happens to the people of the city of Assisi.
Sylvester was misled by his own bias. He already made his own conclusions about Francis without knowing the person of St. Francis well. Sylvester was a good man but who allowed his biases to control his judgement. This time the bias aimed at Francis. A basic thought of Sylvester could have been: “Why would a well-to-do young man, who had the world at his fingertips, live so foolishly?” Or there was also the dramatic moment most Assisians remembered when Francis stripped off all his clothes and laid them at the feet of his father declaring: Before I called you ‘father,’ but now I only have one Father who is in heaven. These were other moments as well that left indelible memories on the hearts and minds of the people.
In saying he would no longer call Pietro Bernadone his “father” on earth, Francis entered into solidarity with all the children of the One who call God Our Father Who are in heaven (Matthew 6: 9-13; Luke 11: 2-4). His example and words became an invitation to some. Many, like Sylvester, thought he was an arrogant adolescent “grandstanding”. Through the vision, Sylvester began to see more clearly the simplicity, poverty, deep relationship with Christ Crucified of Francis. The conformity of Francis to Christ was reaching the moment when it is consummated (John 19: 3). Sylvester too, like many others, was soon won-over to Francis.
In Sylvester’s vision the dragon is huge, terrifying, and encircles the city of Assisi. The dragon of the dream/vision is satan. Evil is always huge, even when one makes it seem small and insignificant “in order to rationalize it away”. Evil does not discriminate. Evil seeks anyone and everyone it can seduce and possess. This root of eternal darkness is intent on seducing others: For the people of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light (Luke 16: 8). The people who struggle every day to be good often do not even recognize the “little things” that slowly creep in and overwhelm the unsuspecting. In the vision the dragon is surrounding Assisi, ready to devour it. Remember the words of St. Peter to the Churches: Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5: 8).
Although the dragon encircles the city, ready to devour Assisi, it seems impeded from being able to do so. Evil cannot overwhelm and overcome us unless we surrender and forget that: you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 John 4:4). The image of Assisi’s foremost citizen, Francis, stands his ground. From his mouth emanates a golden Cross. The vertical beam comes from his mouth and reaches to the heavens – greater the one within the depths rising to the heavens. The horizontal beam of the cross envelopes the city. The dragon is incapable of hurting the city or its inhabitants in any way. It eventually leaves Assisi and its people in peace. Nevertheless the threat is always there when we let our guard down.
The Word of God directs its strength and power from the heart of Francis in faith, through the mouth of the Poverello in an active proclamation of faith in the grace of the Crucified. Thus, the people strengthened and instructed by God’s Word in the simplicity of Francis’ and his brothers’ manner of evangelizing overcome the lurking evil. What emanates from Francis’ mouth is the Word that comes from the depths of his heart. Francis has received, believed and is convinced of the saving power of the Word Incarnate and the Word spoken. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. (Matthew 7: 7). The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14: 26). Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. (Matthew 10: 19)
The golden virtue of prayer and intimacy with God reaches from earth to heaven. The golden beam of charity and fraternal love stretches its golden beams encircling all God’s children. The simplicity of the Word Francis preached with his humility and personal way of life, and the encouraging and empowering embrace the brothers lived as “universal brothers” to everyone, encouraged the people and lessened the insidiousness of satan and his power over them. The Cross of Christ and His words are the strength of our faith, conviction and relationship with God through Jesus in the Spirit. Openness to any and all people in whom we see Christ hidden and whom they see hidden in us, will always be a strength and sure sign of victory over “the dragon that encircles the city” of our heart. We can never loosen our guard. The opponent is always stronger than we when we stand alone. The Lord must always be our Center. We cannot afford to distance ourselves from the Lord ever.
When this vision was related to him, the man of God was not puffed up with the glorying of men, but recognizing the goodness of God in the favors shown him, he was more keenly incited to repel the craft of the ancient enemy, and to preach the glory of the Cross of Christ. And, while in a certain lonely place Francis was bitterly reflecting on the remembrance of past years. The joy of the Holy Spirit came upon him, and he was assured of the full remission of all his offences. Then, carried out of himself, and wholly wrapped into a marvelous light, the horizons of his mind were enlarged, and he clearly beheld the future story of himself and of his sons. Returning after this to the Brethren, he said Be consoled my dearest, and rejoice in the Lord, and be not sad for that ye be few in number, nor let my simplicity nor your own make you fear, for the Lord has verily shown me that God will cause us to wax into a great host, and will enlarge us in manifold wise with the grace of His blessing. (Legenda Major, chpt.3, St. Bonaventure)
Indeed, we are also part of this vision of Sylvester. Here we are, called to play our part in the Theater of Redemption. And there’s always the “disruptor” or “heckler” – that ominous figure of the evil one – somewhere trying to foul us up and ruin the story. We can’t simply stand by and let things happen. With God’s grace we can control the outcome. The incident Sylvester saw in vision of St. Francis reminds us of the power of the Word and the strength of a willingness to open ourselves to others. Bear in mind that the profound connection between prayer and our times does not consist in a sterile condemnation of evil or regretting nostalgically a past that no longer exists. Whether by vow or promise, recognizing our common origin as children of God strengthens our perspective of life. Today more than ever, our charism is to pray and become a living Gospel by “living Christ”. We find power in Jesus the Word and His words. The Eucharist is His Word sacramentally enfleshed in us. Thus it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2: 20) who confronts, confounds and conquers the enemy. The meeting point between hearing the Word and saving the world is our mission; it is the mission of the Church. We are the living stones who are the Church. We are the living Mystical Body of Christ. He continues to keep the evil one in His sites, and to face him empowering us with the strength of truth, mercy and love. We can say where is your sting? where is your victory? But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15: 55-57)
May this month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus keep us rooted in His Tremendous Love. May the Cross truly be our boast in the Lord and a sign of our victory over the “dragon who waits”. Through His Word that directs us and His Eucharist Who strengthens us daily, may we be conformed ever more deeply to Christ.
May God bless us all; Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect us; and our beloved Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi watch over us with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on June 7th, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
May 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis of Assisi,
The Lord grant you the gifts of Easter Joy:
The Peace of the Father’s abiding Life
The Paraclete of the Holy Spirit’s Presence
The Pardon of the Incarnate Son’s Mercy
Divine Love within and around you
and
The warmth of Mary’s Motherly Love
Who accepted us as Her children at the foot of the Cross
The month of May continues the joy of the Easter Good News of the Resurrected Savior. This month also celebrates the “Woman” whose total surrender to the Will of the Father allowed what we celebrate in the Sacred Triduum to happen. Simple statement. Yes. But true!
Scripture confirms Mary’s response to the Angel’s offer: let it be done to me as you have said (Luke 1: 38). At Mary’s let it be done, God entered the human scene as a distinct human being, a man. The Life-Ministry-Passion-Death-Resurrection-Glorification of the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus, depended on Mary’s “yes”. God sought humanity’s collaboration through Mary. Mary’s response was the beginning of a new experience of God for humanity. She, Mother of the Redeemer, stood at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. The Presentation ritual performed in Jerusalem for the Infant Jesus years before was now the reality, in fact and not in ritual, fulfilled for all humanity and every age on the Altar of the Cross. The Mother confirmed and offered the bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh, blood of her blood (Genesis 2: 23) to the Father, Whose Spirit overshadowed (Luke 1: 35) Mary that the flesh became man and dwelt among us (John 1: 14).
The Cross was a reality that followed Mary every moment of her life with Jesus. The ultimate gift of herself saw the humanity of all God’s children on the Cross in and with Christ. The Cross now signaled the consummation (John 19: 28) of the Father’s Promise to redeem us by One like us Who is also One with the Father. Mary’s life journey with Jesus offered her the time to allow her to enter more deeply into the Father’s Will that she accepted unconditionally years before. The mystery of the Cross prophesied through the prophets was now revealed in fact to Mary at Golgotha and the Empty Tomb.
As in the life of our Blessed Mother, the Mystery of the Cross for St. Francis led him gradually into a knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of the desire of his life:
My Lord Jesus Christ, I beg You to grant me two graces before my death: first, that for the rest of my life I may experience in my soul and in my body, as much as possible, the same pain that you suffered, O sweet Jesus, during the time of Your most cruel Passion; and second, that I may feel in my heart, as much as possible, the same love which inflamed You, the Son of God, and led You to suffer Your passion gladly for us sinners.
Eventually Francis became a living expression of the Cross that followed him his entire life. The joy of the journey of discovery was leading to the glory of total union in conformity to Christ. This ultimate gift would be conferred years later on Mount La Verna.
The Incarnation was not a static moment in history. It began a process that God envisioned from all eternity. Human in every way but sin, Jesus, the Son of God, known as son of Mary and Joseph, began a journey of fulfillment through total surrender to the Father’s Will, that was fulfilled 33 years later on the Cross when Jesus said: It is consummated (John 19: 28). The mystery began at Nazareth in Mary’s womb, was first seen at Bethlehem in a manger, continued preaching-teaching-healing throughout Israel and Judah, and consummated triumphant on Golgotha. The empty tomb confirms the truth of Jesus’ identity and verifies the faith of the disciples in Him.
We are witnesses to that truth. We are ambassadors of the message and messenger through the centuries. The Cross! Even in the joyful periods of our Christian lives, the bright shadow of the Cross is always, and must be, present. The problem is that some portray the Cross without Jesus, and that only promotes pain, suffering, and slavery. Some want only Jesus the Resurrected One without the Cross. That is a lie. We need both together in order to express what the joy of Resurrection morning is all about. Thus, we understand more the depth of the prayer of St. Francis, Lord I beg You to grant me two graces, and so on, that we read above. The stage is now set for Francis Bernardone to encounter Jesus in the Cross of San Damiano.
One day when Francis went out to meditate in the fields, he walked near the church of San Damiano which was threatening to collapse because of age. Impelled by the Spirit, he went inside to pray. Prostrate before an image of the Crucified, he was filled with no little consolation as he prayed. While his tear-filled eyes were gazing at the Lord’s cross, he heard with his bodily ears a voice coming from that cross, telling him three times: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is all being destroyed.” Trembling, Francis was stunned at the sound of such an astonishing voice, since he was alone in the church; and as he absorbed the power of the divine words into his heart, he fell into an ecstasy of mind. At last, coming back to himself, he prepared himself to obey and pulled himself together to carry out the command of repairing the material church, although the principal intention of the words referred to that which Christ purchased with his own blood, as the Holy Spirit taught him and as he himself later disclosed to the brothers. (Legenda Major, chpt. 2, 1)
At San Damiano, the Crucified Christ challenged Saint Francis to Go rebuild My house. That task meant Francis had to transform himself first. The prayer Francis prayed before the Crucifix was from a heart ready and willing to listen and live the mystery of love the Cross conveyed to him:
O most high, glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me
True faith, certain hope, and perfect charity,
Sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.
At first Francis interpreted his experience in a literal manner, doing all he could to provide the means, with stones and mortar, to rebuild the physical structure of San Damiano, which actually was in ruins. Although this may have been part of the intent of the revelation, Francis quickly realized that the rebuilding process of a building had to include also the transformation of his heart. He would have to rebuild his inner self, and in doing so, discover his true identity. A simultaneous vocation unfolded: rebuilding the place and rebuilding his person. He had to be focused on Christ so that he could rebuild, renew, restore, with the help of God, the person he was created to be.
The story of every transformation is to rebuild and fix what is missing or broken. In so doing we add a freshness to what seemed old and useless. Thus we restore beauty, pleasure, purpose and give hope, encouragement and joy. This little phrase Francis heard three times, Go rebuild my house, affected the rest of his life and that of those who sought to live the Gospel Life as Francis envisioned.
How did Francis go about rebuilding his life? The process slowly unfolded from his gazing upon the Crucified Savior over time. What were the steps? Saint Clare of Assisi described it best in her Second Letter to Saint Agnes of Prague, when she wrote: Gaze upon Christ, consider Christ, contemplate Christ, imitate Christ. Those four steps – gaze, consider, contemplate, imitate – became the pathway into the discovery of a new heart, a new power and a new self.
Gaze to see, consider to know, contemplate to understand, and imitate as the result of a spiritual process of conviction that leads to a life to be lived. To live Jesus is to be totally conformed to Him that it is no longer I who live but He Who lives in me (Galatians 2: 20).
To imitate Christ is the key to understand what happened to Francis at San Damiano and the key to an effective rebuilding of one’s life. To imitate relates to the word image. In our context here, it means to become the image of the one upon whom I gaze. Francis learned that his self-image, that is, his identity, was to become that of Christ on the cross. Both Francis and Clare must have spent countless hours contemplating this mystery. The change that would take place within Francis’ heart was imaged by what he gazed upon, and this new self would become his tool for renewing the house of God. The key to all this is the Incarnation. The condescension of compassion (St. Leo Great sermon on Nativity of Jesus) presents the sublime humility and humble sublimity of Jesus in being human that we might share in the awesome graces of divinity.
In the Incarnation, God revealed to us Who He is. The Incarnation showed us the face of God. But what does this image portray? What do we see? What Francis and Clare saw in the person of the Incarnate Christ was humility, poverty and charity. The most visible, tangible expression of this was the cross.
In the Incarnation, Francis saw that becoming human was the basis for humility. In embracing our humanness, Jesus did not cling to being God. This choice was the epitome of humility. In so choosing, Jesus could accept everything to which human nature is prone, even death. This image of Christ as seen on the cross became an essential component of Francis’ new self.
Like Jesus, humility for Francis meant not to cling to anything or appropriate any goods, titles, honors or position. It meant to be a servant to all, even to inanimate creatures. Both the Canticle of the Creatures of St. Francis and the Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis remind us of this servanthood It means generosity of spirit and generosity of heart, the willingness to let all others be first. It means obedience to all, being subject to all, just like Jesus, the Word made flesh, who did not cling to honor, status or power. In recognizing himself in this image, Francis embraced the essence of his being and the realization that he needed nothing else to give him worth.
The poverty Francis saw in the Crucified was the poverty of being a human creature. In letting go of divinity, Jesus accepted to be dependent, powerless, helpless and empty, and to “be on his own”. This is the essence of poverty. This true picture of humanity, modeled in the Incarnation, enabled Saint Paul to write that Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus, as God, chose to become human and poor, in order to reveal God’s self, which is love, and teach us our true identity. This poverty of God was most visible by the fact of God’s Son dying on the cross. Here Jesus embraced powerlessness, emptiness and utter helplessness and opened himself to complete abandonment and trust in his Father. These were, and are, essential components of the human makeup.
The other element that the image of Christ on the cross portrayed was that of charity, compassionate love, all-embracing Love. Jesus’ outstretched arms drew in all humanity, welcoming every creature into the embrace of God’s tender love through mercy, forgiveness and acceptance of all. This meant recognizing and accepting the worth and dignity of each person.
The cross is a mirror. In seeing myself in that mirror, I see Christ Crucified, and in seeing Christ Crucified, I see my most authentic self. As I am transformed into that image, I become the person God has always intended me to be. The distinguishing marks that identify me are the same I see in Jesus: poverty, humility and charity, which are identifying marks of the face of God. Then I am my true and genuine self. This reflection is difficult to describe and I’m sure equally difficult to understand or accept. Yet it lies at the heart of Francis’ spirituality and mission.
It also ties in most intimately with his experience before the San Damiano Crucifix and the invitation to rebuild the Church. It was a transformed heart, a transformed self, into the image of Christ that became the tools by which society, the Church and all life could be rebuilt. As we embrace this process, we take a major step towards discovering who we are as a disciple of Christ. We are also well on the way to rebuilding our inner life and ultimately rebuilding the house of God.
How can we make “God’s Project” real and concrete? We must come to a moment in life where, like Francis, we say: This is what I want and desire with all my heart. (Words o St. Francis at the Portiuncula after hearing the gospel of the sending out of the disciples) Once that is clear, then the rhythm of daily prayer is essential. We need to beg God for the kind of transformation of heart needed to have a dwelling place for humility and poverty and charity. We cannot achieve this on our own power. It is God’s project, God’s work, and only grace can make it happen.
The other arena is that of relationships, whether in the family, among friends, community life or one’s workplace. It is here that humility, poverty and compassionate charity are brought to life and nowhere else.
Francis’ biographers point out that, when people met up with Francis or heard him preach, it was not simply a question of listening to words of peace and joy. Nor were people merely persuaded to reflect upon reasons for forgiving each other, doing penance or thanking and praising God. Rather, they were confronted with these realities in the person of Francis. They were in the living presence of forgiveness, peace, faith and love. Francis had integrated these values into his person by taking on the image of Christ on the cross.
Francis became conformed to the Crucified to such a degree that at the end of his life he appeared like the Crucified with the wounds of Christ engraved into his flesh. This would complete what began at San Damiano when the wounds of the sacred Passion were impressed deep in his heart, though not yet on his flesh (Second Life, #10, Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 2: The Founder),
Francis sought repeatedly for ways to encourage the brothers to give birth to these essentials, to strive for purity of heart, and thus give birth to Christ in their own lives. This is the transformation that must go hand in hand with all other endeavors in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. This is the inner rebuilding that gives life and spirit to any outward effort.
This image of Christ in Francis was very real, as we read in Celano: The brothers who lived with him know that daily, constantly, talk of Jesus was always on his lips, sweet and pleasant conversations about Him, kind words full of love. Out of the fullness of his heart his mouth spoke. So the spring of radiant love that filled his heart within gushed forth. He was always with Jesus: Jesus in his heart, Jesus in his mouth, Jesus in his ears, Jesus in his eyes, Jesus in his hands, he bore Jesus always in his whole body…. With amazing love he bore in his heart and always held onto Christ Jesus and Him crucified. (Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 1: The Saint, New City Press, p. 283)
May the Jesus we seek to imitate, truly be in our mouth, ears, lips, our whole being. The Cross that spoke to Francis is for us a reminder of the Jesus Who speaks to our hearts daily inviting us to rebuild, refresh, and restore the Christ that time, circumstance, or whatever may have distorted or covered over. The challenge of San Damiano is an offer and gift as fresh and vibrant today for us as it was for our Seraphic Father 800 years ago.
May the gift of the Holy Spirit, Whose descent into the heart of the Early Church at Pentecost, fill us with the gifts necessary to Live Jesus. We are Heralds of the Great King. In a world so desperately in need of the Good News, Who is a Person, Jesus the Christ, we preach Christ, and Christ Crucified and Risen (1 Corinthians 1: 23).
God bless you; our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect you; and Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi watch over all of us and our loved ones with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, OFM Cap
Regional Spiritual Assistant
(NB – Part of this month’s letter is taken from an article in St. Anthony’s Messenger in 2022. There are deletions, modifications, insertions not by the author, but the substance of the article from Roch Niemier, OFM. In gratitude and recognition for our brother’s article, I offer it for our consideration of the Third Cross of Saint Francis, the Cross of San Damiano, as presented by St. Bonaventure in his Legenda Major of St. Francis.)
Posted By Teresa Redder, on March 3rd, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
March 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
The Lord grant us the gift of His peace.
A prayer card honoring the Holy Family portrayed St. Joseph at his work bench, our Blessed Mother Mary preparing something in the background, and the Boy Jesus in the doorway of the house. Jesus was standing with His arms wide open and smiling at Joseph and Mary. Mary and Joseph looked at Jesus with subtle joy. There seemed also to be a meditative glance they both had as they looked at Jesus. The brightness of the sun caused a shadow to be formed in the house. The shadow was in the form of a cross that started at the feet of Jesus and extended toward Joseph and Mary. From the beginning of His earthly life the shadow of the cross followed Jesus, it was “fastened” to His Person. In fact it was at the very “root” of the Incarnation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1: 14) with the mission to preach the Gospel of God’s love and mercy and to show the extent of His love even to death and death on a cross (Philippians 2: 8).
The fact is that the Word is one of us in all things but sin (Hebrews 4: 15). He began His public ministry preaching, teaching and openly preparing His disciples that the Son of Man must first suffer and be put to death, and then be raised on the third day (Luke 9: 22-27). People search for meaning and purpose to their lives: why am I here? Why was I born? What am I expected to do” Who am I? It sounds like psychotherapy. These questions come from the depths of a searching heart.
Our objective in life is to become one with the One in Whose image and likeness we are created. The Incarnation speaks to us of the humility of God willing to become an integral member of humanity as a human so that humanity, through-with-in Him might become one with God more intimately. Collaborating with God’s grace we are “conformed” to Christ – more deeply. As St. Paul states: It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2: 20). Some, more privileged are given a share in the life of grace through the “Mystical Union” we read so often about in the spiritual writings of many saints. The mystical union, a unique divine gift of God alone, transforms the person in various ways. For St. Francis of Assisi, the reception of the Stigmata of Jesus was the ultimate sign of his “one-ness” with Christ. The fullness of this union, begun years before, took a lifetime of willingly surrendering to God’s will.
The conformity of St. Francis with Jesus the Christ was made visible only two years before his death. What began in his heart at San Damiano (Go Francis rebuild my Church, for as you can see it is falling into ruin) was visibly imprinted on his body for the world to see and reflect upon years later on Mount La Verna.
The stages of this process/journey are traditionally referred to as the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways. Terminology may differ, but the gradual transformation follows the same order. St. Augustine reminds us, when speaking to God in his Confessions: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. The “restlessness” initiates a dialogue with God that leads to a more profound awareness of our relationship with Him. God’s word penetrates more deeply than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4: 12). A difficulty often encountered is recognizing and understanding God Who speaks to our hearts. Our response is vital. It determines whether we continue along the road offered or seek another path. God breathed us into life and created us to the image and likeness (cfr.Genesis 1: 26) of Himself. The image remains alive and develops as we cooperate with grace.
Thus: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step. Immeasurably more than a thousand miles is life’s journey from time to eternity. We must set priorities, overcome obstacles, and trust enough to let go of fear. Fear is useless. What is needed is faith (Mark 5: 36). Do we understand the gift of being alive as God’s gift to Himself and to us? Have we ever considered the fact that if we are that “gift”, we must share our gifts with others who themselves are “gifts”. Even the height of “conformity” to Jesus, is not solely for the gifted one, but intended to encourage others on the road to divine intimacy.
The Cross, always seen as a symbol of hatred and death, is also a sign of love, hope and challenging transformation. The cross indicates, embraces, determines, explains, challenges, nourishes, fills, fulfills, calls, distances, and much more.The cross elevates and presents to the whole world the depth of God’s love in Jesus, His Incarnate Son. Viewing and accepting the events and encounters of our lives, from the perspective of the cross of Christ, leads us to a greater conformity with Christ. The “one-ness” we desire, according to our collaboration with grace, conditions us to be prepared for God to enter a mystical union with us, should God so will. This is for anyone, but definitely for the one blessed with the charism (gift) to live as a witness for everyone.
The early years of St. Francis’ life journey spoke to him so candidly of the power riches wield over others. He experienced how easily we are possessed and controlled by our wealth and possessions. He saw how often society distances and rejects its own who have fallen into dire straits of any kind. He was paralyzed by his own fear of lepers, a fear that haunted him until he embraced the leper on the road and overcame the last hurdle he needed to overcome in order to let go and let God form him into the new man the old having passed away (cfr. Corinthians, Romans, 1 John, and others). Realizing, understanding, accepting and responding to the challenge of “being Jesus” – being a “living Gospel” – St. Francis took the road of conformity to Christ more deliberately.
The Little Poor Man became the “Universal Brother”. He embodied the image of a Christ Whose cross as a symbol of total giving for the sake of the other, was the support of his life. The cross of the naked crucified Jesus was a vivid reminder to him of those “crucified” each day by the distorted values of society. Like the image of the Byzantine Christ of San Damiano the poor are nailed to their crosses yet they are fully alive to the demands of a world that fails to acknowledge their value as equals. It is the contradiction of the cross: image of hatred indicates love, image of death indicates life. It is a love that overcomes hatred and violence (Pope Francis).
Francis, whom is it better to serve the master or the servant? The Master, Lord. Then why do you run after the servant. Return home. The “dialogue” with the God within his very soul encouraged him to face humiliation, criticism, parental punishment and public ridicule of being a coward so that he might surrender to God rather than his dreams of a confused greatness. Until we break with what keeps us bound, we are still a slave. The Seraphic Mother, St. Theresa of Avila, tells us that whether it be with a cord or a thread as long as a bird does not break the bond that keeps it from flying away, the bird is still bound.
Unless we break with what keeps us from letting go, we are still a “prisoner”. The “old self” is not necessarily evil. We often become prisoners of complacency, and that keeps us from becoming better or even the best we can be. That is what “perfection” is all about. Faith reminds us that perfection is achieving the purpose for which we were created. You are who you are before God and nothing more (St. Francis), The acceptance of this truth is a most liberating awareness. Thus, with St. Clare, we can gratefully say: Thank you, God, for creating me.
Grateful and available to God introduces us to a journey that accompanies us to total “Journey into God”. “Oneness” with God brightens our every moment: good, less good, challenging, and so on. Regardless of the external challenges, the heart is at peace. St. Francis’ early life and the individuals who opened his eyes and heart to the Christ within them – beggar, knight, leper, and others – encouraged detachment, selflessness, and unconditional love beyond his greatest fear. It is the agony of Gethsemane by participation: Father if it is possible, let this chalice pass from me. However, not my will but Yours be done. (Matthew 26: 39)
Running through the streets of Assisi with his friends Francis began feeling a tension to something else, something more, Someone better. The secret affection and love he was beginning to feel for the “love of his life” confused him and took hold of his heart. The struggle and confusion, the fear and final “plunge” into the baptism of a new life created the new man, the old having passed away, a new creation (2 Corinthians: 5: 17) The tension to “live” or “die”, is the story of most sincere people. It is the challenge of the cross. The challenge of the cross directs our spiritual sights from bottom to top vertically and our horizontal awareness of what surrounds. The conjunction of the two beams is Christ. In Him we find balance in our lives. The Cross maintains everything in the perspective of eternity and accompanies us on our journey through time to eternity.
During prayer before the Byzantine Crucifix of San Damiano, St. Francis heard a voice addressed to him: Francis, go and repair my Church, which, as you can see, is falling into ruin. The message was clear enough. How was he to do this? There were still hurdles to overcome. Growing requires moving forward and leaving things of the past in the past. We break with the “way it was” and move forward to “the way it must be”. Now Francis’ vision of life was seen and decided in the light of the “voice of God” he heard. He was beginning to understand the more intimate yearnings of his heart and soul.
St. Francis knew and believed God was leading him. Nonetheless, he needed strength and decisiveness to go beyond the “line of demarcation”. We could even call it the “red line”. It placed him at odds with so many, including his loved ones. The first move in the direction of conformity is a wrestling match, not with God but within ourselves. The first big step into the “wholeness of perfection” can be painful and confusing. The cross is vivid and true, and can be frightening.
On the feast of the Apostles, Mass was being celebrated in the Portiuncula Chapel. The celebrant read the Gospel. The words struck Francis so deeply that he requested the priest explain them to him. On receiving the explanation Francis’ reply was This is what I want. This is what I desire with all my heart. The goal of his heart now empowered his desires to will with all his heart and strength to walk the walk of intimacy with God. The focus of his life would always be the Cross, sign of the sublimity and humility of God. These words expressed the condescension of compassion (St. Leo the Great) at the Incarnation, birth, ministry, Passion-Death-Resurrection, and the Eucharist. At each moment the greatest of all God’s children, loved by St. Francis and always in his heart, is present. She is there with Her “yes” to the impossible to the foot of Cross to Her “yes” to the unthinkable and horrific ingratitude, to the joy of new life at the Resurrection.
Focus on the Crucified. The love of Jesus enlightens us to see more clearly who we really are. We are impassioned to love Him more dearly, empowered to follow Him unconditionally, almost as His “other self” if that were possible. We learn to Love that continues loving (Hymn Pescador). Surrendering ourselves to the One Who surrendered Himself for us on the Cross leads to a growth in the spirit and a conversion of heart thus making Easter a true Resurrection Day.
We fail so often to surrender ourselves to God Who speaks to us in and through His Word and His Church. Love is expressed fully in the total surrender of those who surrender to each other totally and unconditionally without counting the cost. Total surrender allows us to investigate and question, without doubting. Total surrender strengthens us when we are suffering or burdened, so that we persevere in trust. Total surrender gives us courage in the face of persecution of any kind and even death, with serenity, peace and joy. There is so much that we could enumerate, but the basic truth that makes the rest meaningful is as the Apostle John states in his letter: God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4: 16). Isn’t that what conformity and mystical union is? We become, as it were, the Other.
The first followers of our Seraphic Father were known as ‘The Penitents of Assisi’. The true spirit of penance guides us during this season that seeks to help us be more conformed to Christ and the Paschal Mystery. The moment of our Baptism begins the road of conformity to Christ, gradually, through life, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Penance is a gradual liberating experience that leads us to a “re-forming” in the person of Jesus, as we strive to live the Gospel – “Live Jesus” – each day more deeply. During Lent the Church us to take more time to reflect on God’s words and inspirations, to do the necessary to reform our doubtful, questionable, or even grace-less ways we may have acquired, so that we may renew our lives becoming more like Jesus. Thus, we may re-establish a deeper relationship with God and all creation.
This is a season of joy-filled expectations. We live in the awareness of the reality of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. ‘Reconstruction’ and re-birth are for those who seriously take advantage of the spiritual opportunities available.
Lent can lead us, who seek to be conformed to Christ as best we can, to a renewal, of the ‘edifice of the Spirit’, ‘the Temple of God’ that we are ‘. We come alive’ in the Resurrection of Christ Jesus and our greater conformity to Him. Spiritually signed with the Sacred Marks of His Passion on our hearts and soul, the power of God’s loving grace allows us to truly become the “Alleluia People” we are called to be..
May God bless you; may Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect you; and may our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi and our Mother St. Clare of Assisi look over each one of us, their spiritual children, with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on February 1st, 2024 St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
February 2024
Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi,
May the Most high, glorious Lord, enlighten the darkness of your hearts and give you a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense, and knowledge, so that you may carry out His holy and true command and may the Lord grant you His peace, as we enter the Mystery of the Cross of Christ that our Father St. Francis bore in his heart and on his body.
The Universality of the Cross cannot be denied. Besides the Cross of Jesus, there is the cross each one of us has to bear. Seen in the light of Jesus’ words, the Mystery of the Cross, accepted in faith, can help us have a perspective on life that encourages us to confidently accept the challenge to change. Unless we die to ourselves, we can never hope to really live. We want to live, and live fully, but there is something that holds us back from making strides that forge ahead.
An expression often used by Jesus in the Gospels, repeated by Pope St. John Paul II innumerable times, and taken up by his successor Pope Benedict XVI is: Do not be afraid. We need to remember these words and take them to heart. Fear seems to be the universal common denominator that seeks to control the lives of so many.
The ultimate fear for most people is the fear of death. There are also the ‘minor-yet-no-less crippling’ fears: fear of uselessness, fear of failure, fear of being forgotten, fear of being a ‘no one’. These, and many others, are all valid for those who have not yet been able to believe fully and take Jesus at His word. Among these are many Catholic Christians whose faith has been reduced to mere practices that no longer help them find a deeper meaning to life. Even the wonderful gift of the Eucharist becomes for many just ‘another pious devotional tool’ rather than the Real empowering Presence of the God-among-and-within-us. How tragic it would be had there not been a way out of this devastating situation that many camouflage so well.
The Church offers us a wonderful opportunity each year to review, reflect and renew our lives: Lent. We are called to deepen our relationship with God, Who in turn strengthens and enables us to live our lives more fully. Lent is a time for us to look at ourselves and the world in a powerful light – the Light of the Cross. This is not just any cross, but the Cross of Christ. The Drama of the Cross of Jesus is the Greatest Act of Love humanity could ever imagine. This Act of Love begun in the silence of the womb of Mary was made visible with the wooden Manger/Crib at Bethlehem. St Francis of Assisi immortalized for the eyes of the faithful the event of Bethlehem at Greccio in Italy. The Franciscan Family celebrated the 800th anniversary of the Greccio Nativity scene setup by St. Francis of Assisi.
From the simplicity of Bethlehem, the “Drama of the Cross” reached its climax on the wooden Cross of Calvary. The Crib embraced the Infant for all to see in wonder and joy, and the Cross on Golgotha lifted up the Man for all to approach with adoring reverence and gratitude. The Crib offered the Infant for all to embrace; the Cross extended the arms of the Man and opened His heart for all to be embraced and enter into the Love of the Father. Do not be afraid. This loving reminder, “Do Not Be Afraid”, is repeated over 300 times in Sacred Scripture. Why be afraid, what do we fear, if He shares life with each one of us at every moment?
Since it was first hoisted into place on the Hill of the Skull, the Cross has accentuated the Sign of Contradiction first seen at Bethlehem in the Infant and then throughout Judah/Israel two thousand years ago, during the ministry of the Man. Myriads of peoples have heard of and responded to the Cross of Christ. Some have accepted and proclaimed the message. Others have rejected and sought to eliminate its impact on the world in a variety of ways. There are the open acts of physical violence that have given the Church Her holy martyrs, outstanding witnesses of uncompromising faith and love. There are the subtle allurements and enticements that seek to mislead souls from the values and principles of our faith, thus jeopardizing the very core of the person and the strength of the believing community. This is the more devious and devastating of the two. Do not be afraid. Jesus has conquered the world.
The Cross is the Truth to our questions. The Cross offers balance to our confusion. The Cross indicates the sure Way to follow. The Cross reminds us that the One Solitary Life that accepted and surrendered to the Cross in death, is the greatest image of the only Life that really matters, no matter the cost. The Universality of the Cross makes it the determining Instrument of Success and Fulfillment for all who lovingly and confidently accept the challenge to take up your cross and follow in My footsteps (cfr. Matthew 16: 24-26).
Following Greccio’s celebration, we prepare to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the reception of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi on Mount La Verna. At the mount of Greccio and the Crib of Jesus we celebrate the humility of God’s birth as a human. In this Year of the 800th anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Francis, we are transported in the spirit to the “sublimity” of God’s exaltation in His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary, and the gift imprinted on the body of our Seraphic Father. The journey of the Christian is always From the Crib to the Cross…and beyond! Jesus is born to die that we may be re-born to live. Jesus becomes mortal and shares time with humanity so that we may become immortal and co-eternal with Christ in His eternity.
What do we see and hear from the Cross? From the Cross of Jesus we see the anguish of the sick, the tears of the frustrated. We hear the laments of those struggling as they climb the winding road of their Golgotha. From the Cross of Jesus we see the nations of the ‘fourth’ world condemned to die of hunger, as a large crowd carries its insignia of concern for the fundamental rights of all human beings, but keeps silent when faced with the ultimate challenge to act. From the Cross of Jesus can be seen nations considered marginal and destined for extinction by the great powers of the world whose only concern is their own economic growth at the expense of others nations, most of whom are either patronized or considered ‘expendable’. From the heights of the Cross of Jesus, can be seen the newly-forming nations still struggling to be ‘free’, those massacred in the various hot-beds of war throughout the world. From the Cross of Christ we recognize the stranger in search of a homeland, those longing to make a difference in a troubled world, the segregated and oppressed of society. Do not be afraid, for I am with you (Isaiah 41: 10), in this sign (of the Cross) you will conquer (These are words of the vision to the Emperor Constantine at the battle of the Milvian Bridge, a battle that led to the end of the persecution of Christians and freedom for the Christian Church.)
Please don’t think that I am talking politics. Some may even comment that I should ‘stick to spiritual things’. Our Faith must be concretized. Unless we make our faith visible in our lives, we are nothing more than plastic images, not to say ‘hypocrites’. Our faith is not a Policy, it is a Person. Faith must be concretized if it is to go beyond mere ‘lip service’. Until our faith can be translated into an awareness of those ‘crucified’ around us and in the world, we are walking with our eyes closed and are in danger of falling ourselves into the very ditches we refuse to acknowledge.
It is true that every Christian must accept his/her own cross, but it is also true that each one of us must seek to unfasten those who have been hung on the cross. One cross is our challenge in life; another is the cross that is placed upon us by others. In both cases, however, the cross becomes the challenge that says: Do not be afraid. Now is the time for us to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own (Isaiah 58: 6).
We have a tendency to speak about “spirituality” and we are enthused when we hear of extraordinary mystical experiences. Nevertheless, we hesitate or even refuse to come to the aide of our brother or sister who groans under the weight of their personal cross. Even Jesus was given a Simon of Cyrene. It is Christ Who suffers in them! Not only must we seek to alleviate their burdens, but we must also begin to identify those who construct the crosses for others to bear, and attempt to eradicate their hurtful influence in the life of others. We don’t have to go far. The opportunities to be Christ to others are all around us. Open your eyes and your heart! Do not be afraid at what you see and whom you invite into your love. It might just be the Lord knocking who waits for us to Open the Door to Christ. What a tragedy if just that one time we were busy, tired, annoyed, and we failed to let Him into our “disarmed heart”. The Cross disarmed Jesus totally And we?
Faithfulness to the Cross of Jesus demands much from us. It expects us to see in the Cross the instrument of our salvation. It presumes we recognize the Cross as a sign that redemption is near. It urges us to lift our hands and not just our hearts to help make a burden bearable if we cannot eliminate it. It is the only way – the Way of the Cross – that leads us with and through Jesus, to a more complete life. Why? Because the Way of the Cross does not lead to death, but to a total commitment and surrender to the One Who Alone is the Source of New Life for ourselves and all with whom we share the journey to the Hill of Redemption. In so many areas of the world new hope begins to dawn because of those who have met Christ on the way and have heeded His words: Do not be afraid. For the Franciscan it could sound “do not be afraid to embrace the leper”, “do not be afraid to accept the Cross”, “do not be afraid to die…to yourself”
The certitude of a soul filled with a faith that lets go of itself to trust in the Lord, can be seen in the following words. The words are taken from correspondence between a spiritual director and the directee. I only know one thing for certain, that the Lord will never fall short of his promises. ‘Do not fear, I will make you suffer, but I will also give you the strength to suffer’, Jesus tells me continually. ‘I want your soul to be purified and tried by a daily hidden martyrdom; do not be frightened if I allow the devil to torment you, the world to disgust you and your nearest and dearest to afflict you, for nothing will prevail against those who groan beneath the Cross for love of me and whom I have taken care to protect. Beneath the Cross one learns to love and I do not grant this to everyone, but only to those souls who are dearest to me’. May the same Cross always be our bed of rest, our school of perfection, our beloved heritage. The surest sign of love is the capacity to suffer for the beloved. We must keep our eyes fixed on the noble, majestic and holy company of those who follow Jesus to Golgotha. Each one of them without exception bears the profession of the true faith on his countenance, self-denial in his heart, and the cross on his shoulders.
The Cross is our insignia, our sign of victory, our pledge of unity with the Master, our remedy for the ills of humanity, our hope for eternity, our certitude of God’s inimitable and eternal Love for us in Jesus.
When St. Francis had disrobed of his earthly clothes and was given the poor tunic to wear, the first thing he did, we are told, was trace a cross on it. He was to bear the cross as his daily garment. The cross he wore was the dignity he shared with Jesus Himself. The cross he wore on his tunic, the cross who spoke to him at San Damiano, was the cross imprinted spiritually on his heart until it was emblazoned on his body for all to see on Mount La Verna.
Mindful of the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel telling the angel to sign the elect with the sign of the “tau,” Francis made the “tau” his signature. It became the “Franciscan Cross”. Just as the “tau” is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so the Franciscans signed with the “tau” of the elect, herald the end of an age that introduces the Cross, the “new tau”, as the sign of the beginning of a new age. The sign of the cross and the body of the one who would be physically imprinted with its marks heralded a new age when hearts grown cold were once again enkindled with the fire of God’s love (loose translation of the old prayer for the Mass of the Stigmata) to proclaim a world of peace and blessings for all.
The holy season of Lent is upon us. We search for more ways to make the Cross of Jesus a more present and reflective reminder of the meaning of the Mystery of the Cross of Christ in our life, not just in our liturgical and devotional practices, but also more deeply in our own personal lives. The Cross must be a sign of encouragement as we seek ways of assisting others who are burdened with their crosses.
We envision and even invent devotional practices each Lent to “deepen our prayer life”. The desire is to celebrate more intensely the penitential spirit of Lent. There is however a practice many pray about sincerely with their lips, but not so much with the full affirmation of their hearts. Why? because The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It may seem simplistic. Do we ever realize that what God wants is us, our hearts, our wills? God asks and waits for one thing, and we beat around the bush without getting to the heart of it all. How many have prayed and maybe still pray the famous prayer of St.Alphonsus Liguori after each station of the Cross: Grant that I may love you always, then do with me as you will. We mean the words “devotionally and sincerely”. Nevertheless, in the concrete, we hesitate to desire to be convinced and determined to accept whatever Cross God may permit. Yet, that would be the perfect prayer and devotion since it is not the one I want but the one the Father Himself is offering to me. Even Jesus prayed: Father if it is possible let this cross pass from me. (So we can feel hesitant) Yet not my will but Yours be done (Yet realizing it’s God Who wills, isn’t acceptance a “sure thing”?). Jesus understood the Father’s answer. His anguish of what awaited Him made Him sweat blood. Nonetheless, trusting in the Father’s Will, He faced the Cross with loving surrender. And we are redeemed.
The Father never asks His children to do anything beyond their strength. The greatest penitential practice for Lent is living each moment with loving surrender to the Father’s Will. Thus, we open our hearts to others, assisting them in their needs. Prayers and devotional practices are necessary to keep our hearts and minds focused. We remember our dignity as Christians and the spiritual treasury of our Catholic Faith. In a simpler and more serene manner we are enabled to advance swiftly and effectively on our Lenten journey. We need not try to figure out what to do. All we have to do is be willingly, trustingly, and cheerfully available at all times in every way to God’s Will. The Cross is always a sure thing for a Christian. When more than during Lent?
Have a blessed and spiritually fruitful beginning to Lent. Let go of your hesitancy. Go beyond yourself to others. Take up the daily challenge of your cross. Look beyond the difficulties of the moment. Trust in the One Who gave Himself for us all. Do not be afraid to deepen your relationship with God (Prayer), to distance yourself from all you allow to possess you (Penance), and to open your heart and surrender to the Christ Who suffers in others and awaits your love (Almsgiving). These three elements help make for a fruitful Lent. Have confidence and courage. Do not be afraid!
In this Year of the Stigmata of St. Francis, let us keep alive in our hearts the message God offers us through the writings of St. Paul as we celebrate the Stigmata of Christ imprinted on the body of our Seraphic Father: It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. Therefore let no one trouble me for I bear the brandmarks of Jesus in my body.
May God bless you; Our Lady and good St. Joseph guide, guard, and protect you; and our Seraphic Father St. Francis and our Mother St. Clare of Assisi watch over each one of you and your loved ones with loving care.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
February 2024-Monthly Spiritual Asst Greetings
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