Untitled Document


In Quiet Moments
I found a greeting card in a second-hand book, which said: "In Quiet Moments I am so happy to have you." I'm sure this is something a man would say to a woman, or vice-versa. It is also true about Jesus. "In quiet moments, I am so happy to know and love Jesus!" And, "I am so happy that he loves me." Countless people have included these words in almost all languages, to honor Jesus, to express what is in their hearts and what they feel about the Lord. He invented love. God is love and intelligence itself. There is no one more loving than God. In quiet moments, I think about these things, and then I feel whole. I feel complete. And, I feel very happy. This happiness is not a feeling of a grin or a laugh. It goes deeper than that. It is what Franciscans call "perfect joy," an expression used by St. Francis of Assisi. This morning, in today's "Vatican Information Bulletin," there is an article by the name of "Francis of Assisi, a Giant of Sanctity." As a Franciscan, I cannot pass that up, and so I would like to say a few words on this catechesis by the Holy Father. I am not sure why he spoke of St. Francis of Assisi particularly today, except that today is the feastday (an optional memorial in USA) of St. Angela Merici, who was a Franciscan tertiary, but later she founded the Congregation of Ursulines. This has happened a lot in history, where a person first found a vocation to the SFO/Third Order of St. Francis, and later was led by the Holy Spirit to do greater things like founding an Order, Congregation, School, Hospital, etc. [Pope Benedict XVI refers to St. Francis as] "a "true 'giant' of sanctity who continues to enthral many people of all ages and religious beliefs". "Francis," the Pope explained, "was born into a rich family and passed a carefree youth. At the age of twenty he took part in a military campaign and was taken prisoner. On his return to Assisi he began a process of spiritual conversion that gradually led him to abandon worldly life. In the hermitage of St. Damian, Francis had a vision of Christ, Who spoke to him from the crucifix inviting him to repair His Church." "This call "contains a profound symbolism", said the Holy Father, because the ruinous condition of the hermitage also represented "the dramatic and disquieting situation of the Church at that time, with her superficial faith that neither formed nor transformed life, her clergy little committed to its duties, ... and the interior decay of her unity due to the rise of heretical movements. Yet nonetheless, at the middle of that Church in ruins was the Crucifix, which spoke and called for renewal, which called Francis". "Pope Benedict also remarked upon the coincidence between that event in Francis' life and the dream of Pope Innocent III in the same year of 1207. The Pope had dreamt that the basilica of St. John Lateran was about to collapse, and a "small and insignificant" friar held it up to prevent its fall. Pope Innocent recognised the friar in Francis, who came to see him in Rome two years later. "Innocent III", said Benedict XVI, "was a powerful Pontiff, who possessed profound theological culture as well as great political power, but it was not he who renewed the Church. It was the 'small and insignificant' friar, it was Francis, called by God. Yet it is important to recall that Francis did not renew the Church without the Pope or against the Pope, but in communion with him. The two things went together: Peter's Successor, the bishops and the Church founded on apostolic succession, and the new charism that the Spirit had created at that moment to renew the Church". Note: Like St. Francis, Franciscans seek to be in communion with the Holy Father, and the Secular Franciscan Order is no exception. We support the Magisterium, that is, the Bishops and, of course, the teachings of the Church. "Having renounced his paternal inheritance in 1208, the saint elected to live in poverty and dedicate himself to preaching. A year later, accompanied by his first followers, he travelled to Rome to present his project for a new form of Christian life to Pope Innocent III. "Referring then to the philosophical debate concerning, on the one hand, the Francis of tradition and, on the other, the Francis some scholars define as historical, the Pope explained that the saint "wished to follow the Word of Christ ... in all its radical truth", but at the same time "he was aware that Christ is never 'mine' but 'ours', that 'I' can never possess Him, that 'I' can never rebuild against the Church, her will and her teaching". "It is also true that at first Francis "did not wish to create a new order" with all the due canonical procedures. However, not without disappointment, he came to understand "that everything must have its order and that the law of the Church is necessary to give form to renewal. Thus he entered ... with all his heart into communion with the Church, with the Pope and the bishops". "The Holy Father recalled how St. Clare also joined the school of St. Francis, and he praised the fruits that the Second Order of St. Francis, the Poor Clares, has brought to the Church. He then went on to speak of Francis' 1219 voyage to Egypt, where he met the Sultan Melek-el-Kamel and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "In an age marked by an ongoing conflict between Christianity and Islam, Francis, armed only with the faith and his personal gentleness, effectively followed the path of dialogue. ... His is a model which even today must inspire relations between Christian and Muslims: promote dialogue in truth, in reciprocal respect and mutual understanding". "The Pope also referred to the possibility that Francis might have visited the Holy Land and pointed out that the saint's spiritual children have made the Holy Places a privileged place for their mission. "I think with gratitude", he said, "of the great merits of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land". (Mural of the passing of St. Francis on the rear of the Porziuncola in Assisi) "Francis, who died in 1226, "lying on the bare earth" of the Porziuncola, "represents an 'alter Christus'", and this "was, in fact, his ideal, ... to imitate Christ's virtues. In particular, he wished to give fundamental value to interior and exterior poverty, also teaching this to his spiritual children. ... The witness of Francis, who loved poverty in order to follow Christ with complete devotion and freedom, continues to be, also for us today, an invitation to cultivate interior poverty so as to develop our trust in God, with a sober lifestyle and a detachment from material goods. "In Francis", the Pope added, "love for Christ was expressed in a special way in the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist". He also mentioned the saint's great admiration for priests "because they have received the gift of consecrating the Eucharist. ... Let us never forget", he said, "that the sanctity of the Eucharist requires us to be pure, to live in a manner coherent with the Mystery we celebrate". "Another characteristic of the saint's spirituality was "the sense of universal fraternity and love for nature which inspired him to write the 'Laudes Creaturarum'. ("Praise of the Creatures, cf. "Canticle of the Sun") This is a very relevant message because ... the only form of sustainable development is that which respects creation and does not harm the environment", and "even the construction of lasting peace is linked to respect for the environment. Francis reminds us that that the creation reflects the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator". "The Holy Father concluded by describing Francis as "a great saint and a joyful man. ... There exists, in fact, an intimate and indissoluble bond between sanctity and joy. A French author once wrote that only one sadness exists in the world: that of not being saints". (VIS 100127. Quoted Portions from VIS Bulletin 100127. Used with Permission) Thank you, Holy Father, for this beautiful teaching. Even though his words stand by themselves and need no amplification from me, let me say just a few more words. I began by talking about "quiet moments," and about God's reciprocal love for us. St. Francis lived a strict life of evangelical poverty. Are we, sons and daughters of St. Francis expected to live that way too? Yes, we are but not to the extend that St. Francis practiced poverty. But on the other hand, not too much less than St. Francis did in his lifetime. Francis set the example, now let us follow him by being frugal with what we have. When I bought my third computer, and came to realize that I really only used one most of the time, I knew I was becoming a glutton - and how many people are living a lifestyle unbecoming their income and status in life. You know, there are a dozen of 2nd hand or 'used goods' stores in many a town - they sell everything other people do not want to keep. How many times have you purchased some item, something that looks cute but ends up in some corner very fast. It occurs to me that we can have a lot of money left over for the less fortunate when we quit buying all this junk we never needed in the first place. Yes, I am guilty of that, to come extent, too. Another thing, in my place, a very small place at that, every room (except the bathroom and kitchen) has a radio and/or stereo. But the fact is that I do not use them that often anymore. Why would I need a stereo set (small) in the bedroom that is barely large enough for the bed that occupies it. I came to the conclusion that is ludicrous, and a waste of money that could have been used in a better way. Get rid of the clutter. It's junk! Let us be strong Franciscans. We have a mentor, a Seraphic Father who lived a strict life of service and penance. He was, indeed, "a Giant of Sanctity" as the Holy Father calls St. Francis of Assisi today. 1/27/2010 /fss
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service. Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City Used with permission

I found a greeting card in a second-hand book, which said: "In Quiet Moments I am so happy to have you." I'm sure this is something a man would say to a woman, or vice-versa. It is also true about Jesus. "In quiet moments, I am so happy to know and love Jesus!" And, "I am so happy that he loves me." Countless people have included these words in almost all languages, to honor Jesus, to express what is in their hearts and what they feel about the Lord. He invented love. God is love and intelligence itself. There is no one more loving than God. In quiet moments, I think about these things, and then I feel whole. I feel complete. And, I feel very happy. This happiness is not a feeling of a grin or a laugh. It goes deeper than that. It is what Franciscans call "perfect joy," an expression used by St. Francis of Assisi.

This morning, in today's "Vatican Information Bulletin," there is an article by the name of "Francis of Assisi, a Giant of Sanctity." As a Franciscan, I cannot pass that up, and so I would like to say a few words on this catechesis by the Holy Father. I am not sure why he spoke of St. Francis of Assisi particularly today, except that today is the feastday (an optional memorial in USA) of St. Angela Merici, who was a Franciscan tertiary, but later she founded the Congregation of Ursulines. This has happened a lot in history, where a person first found a vocation to the SFO/Third Order of St. Francis, and later was led by the Holy Spirit to do greater things like founding an Order, Congregation, School, Hospital, etc.

[Pope Benedict XVI refers to St. Francis as] "a "true 'giant' of sanctity who continues to enthral many people of all ages and religious beliefs". "Francis," the Pope explained, "was born into a rich family and passed a carefree youth. At the age of twenty he took part in a military campaign and was taken prisoner. On his return to Assisi he began a process of spiritual conversion that gradually led him to abandon worldly life. In the hermitage of St. Damian, Francis had a vision of Christ, Who spoke to him from the crucifix inviting him to repair His Church."

"This call "contains a profound symbolism", said the Holy Father, because the ruinous condition of the hermitage also represented "the dramatic and disquieting situation of the Church at that time, with her superficial faith that neither formed nor transformed life, her clergy little committed to its duties, ... and the interior decay of her unity due to the rise of heretical movements. Yet nonetheless, at the middle of that Church in ruins was the Crucifix, which spoke and called for renewal, which called Francis".

"Pope Benedict also remarked upon the coincidence between that event in Francis' life and the dream of Pope Innocent III in the same year of 1207. The Pope had dreamt that the basilica of St. John Lateran was about to collapse, and a "small and insignificant" friar held it up to prevent its fall. Pope Innocent recognised the friar in Francis, who came to see him in Rome two years later.

"Innocent III", said Benedict XVI, "was a powerful Pontiff, who possessed profound theological culture as well as great political power, but it was not he who renewed the Church. It was the 'small and insignificant' friar, it was Francis, called by God. Yet it is important to recall that Francis did not renew the Church without the Pope or against the Pope, but in communion with him. The two things went together: Peter's Successor, the bishops and the Church founded on apostolic succession, and the new charism that the Spirit had created at that moment to renew the Church".
Note: Like St. Francis, Franciscans seek to be in communion with the Holy Father, and the Secular Franciscan Order is no exception. We support the Magisterium, that is, the Bishops and, of course, the teachings of the Church.
"Having renounced his paternal inheritance in 1208, the saint elected to live in poverty and dedicate himself to preaching. A year later, accompanied by his first followers, he travelled to Rome to present his project for a new form of Christian life to Pope Innocent III.

"Referring then to the philosophical debate concerning, on the one hand, the Francis of tradition and, on the other, the Francis some scholars define as historical, the Pope explained that the saint "wished to follow the Word of Christ ... in all its radical truth", but at the same time "he was aware that Christ is never 'mine' but 'ours', that 'I' can never possess Him, that 'I' can never rebuild against the Church, her will and her teaching".

"It is also true that at first Francis "did not wish to create a new order" with all the due canonical procedures. However, not without disappointment, he came to understand "that everything must have its order and that the law of the Church is necessary to give form to renewal. Thus he entered ... with all his heart into communion with the Church, with the Pope and the bishops".

"The Holy Father recalled how St. Clare also joined the school of St. Francis, and he praised the fruits that the Second Order of St. Francis, the Poor Clares, has brought to the Church. He then went on to speak of Francis' 1219 voyage to Egypt, where he met the Sultan Melek-el-Kamel and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "In an age marked by an ongoing conflict between Christianity and Islam, Francis, armed only with the faith and his personal gentleness, effectively followed the path of dialogue. ... His is a model which even today must inspire relations between Christian and Muslims: promote dialogue in truth, in reciprocal respect and mutual understanding".

"The Pope also referred to the possibility that Francis might have visited the Holy Land and pointed out that the saint's spiritual children have made the Holy Places a privileged place for their mission. "I think with gratitude", he said, "of the great merits of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land".

(Mural of the passing of St. Francis on the rear of the Porziuncola in Assisi)

"Francis, who died in 1226, "lying on the bare earth" of the Porziuncola, "represents an 'alter Christus'", and this "was, in fact, his ideal, ... to imitate Christ's virtues. In particular, he wished to give fundamental value to interior and exterior poverty, also teaching this to his spiritual children. ... The witness of Francis, who loved poverty in order to follow Christ with complete devotion and freedom, continues to be, also for us today, an invitation to cultivate interior poverty so as to develop our trust in God, with a sober lifestyle and a detachment from material goods.

"In Francis", the Pope added, "love for Christ was expressed in a special way in the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist". He also mentioned the saint's great admiration for priests "because they have received the gift of consecrating the Eucharist. ... Let us never forget", he said, "that the sanctity of the Eucharist requires us to be pure, to live in a manner coherent with the Mystery we celebrate".

"Another characteristic of the saint's spirituality was "the sense of universal fraternity and love for nature which inspired him to write the 'Laudes Creaturarum'. ("Praise of the Creatures, cf. "Canticle of the Sun") This is a very relevant message because ... the only form of sustainable development is that which respects creation and does not harm the environment", and "even the construction of lasting peace is linked to respect for the environment. Francis reminds us that that the creation reflects the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator".

"The Holy Father concluded by describing Francis as "a great saint and a joyful man. ... There exists, in fact, an intimate and indissoluble bond between sanctity and joy. A French author once wrote that only one sadness exists in the world: that of not being saints". (VIS 100127. Quoted Portions from VIS Bulletin 100127. Used with Permission)

Thank you, Holy Father, for this beautiful teaching. Even though his words stand by themselves and need no amplification from me, let me say just a few more words. I began by talking about "quiet moments," and about God's reciprocal love for us. St. Francis lived a strict life of evangelical poverty. Are we, sons and daughters of St. Francis expected to live that way too? Yes, we are but not to the extend that St. Francis practiced poverty. But on the other hand, not too much less than St. Francis did in his lifetime. Francis set the example, now let us follow him by being frugal with what we have.

When I bought my third computer, and came to realize that I really only used one most of the time, I knew I was becoming a glutton - and how many people are living a lifestyle unbecoming their income and status in life. You know, there are a dozen of 2nd hand or 'used goods' stores in many a town - they sell everything other people do not want to keep. How many times have you purchased some item, something that looks cute but ends up in some corner very fast. It occurs to me that we can have a lot of money left over for the less fortunate when we quit buying all this junk we never needed in the first place. Yes, I am guilty of that, to come extent, too. Another thing, in my place, a very small place at that, every room (except the bathroom and kitchen) has a radio and/or stereo. But the fact is that I do not use them that often anymore. Why would I need a stereo set (small) in the bedroom that is barely large enough for the bed that occupies it. I came to the conclusion that is ludicrous, and a waste of money that could have been used in a better way. Get rid of the clutter. It's junk!

Let us be strong Franciscans. We have a mentor, a Seraphic Father who lived a strict life of service and penance. He was, indeed, "a Giant of Sanctity" as the Holy Father calls St. Francis of Assisi today.

1/27/2010 /fss