|
|
Posted By Teresa Redder, on May 4th, 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
May 2025
O virgin mother, daughter of your Son, humble beyond all creatures and more exalted;
predestined turning point of God’s intention;
Your merit so ennobled human nature
that its divine Creator did not scorn to make Himself the creature of His creature.
The Love that was rekindled in Your womb sends for the warmth of the eternal peace
within whose ray this flower has come to bloom.
Here to us, you are the noon and scope of Love revealed;
and among mortal men, the living fountain of eternal hope.
Lady, you are so near God’s reckonings
that who seeks grace and does not first seek you
would have his wish fly upward without wings.
Not only does your sweet benignity flow out to all who beg,
but oftentimes your charity arrives before the plea.
In you is pity, in you munificence, in you the tenderest heart,
in you unites all that creation knows of excellence!
****************
Daily reflections from Franciscan Sources continue from Assisi Compilation nos. 47-56
51 – HE PERSUADES THE BROTHERS TO GO JOYFULLY BEGGING FOR ALMS
1 – When Francis began to have brothers, he was so happy about their conversion and that the Lord had given him good company, that he loved and revered them so much that he did not tell them to go for alms, especially because it seemed to him that they would be ashamed to go.
– Father, bless me with a love that will motivate me to want to journey with Jesus as closely as possible.
2 – Rather, sparing them shame, he himself would go alone for alms every day. His body was worn out by this, especially since in the world he had been a refined man, and of a weak constitution; and he had become weaker from the day when he left the world because of the excessive fasting and suffering he endured.
– Father, bless me with a love to follow Jesus to the point of experiencing poverty and dishonor, as he did, if this be for your greater glory.
3 – He considered that he could not bear so much labor, and that they were called to this, even though they would be ashamed, and did not fully understand; but neither had they been discerning enough to tell him: “We want to go for alms.”
– Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I hold dear.
4 – So he talked to them. “My dearest brothers and sons, don’t be ashamed to go for alms, because the Lord for our sake made Himself poor in this world.
– To be Christian is to be like Christ.
5 – Therefore, because of His example, we have chosen the way of the most genuine poverty and that of His most holy Mother. This is our inheritance, which the Lord Jesus Christ acquired and bequeathed to us and to all who want to live in holy poverty according to His example.”
– What we need is not more Christianity but more Christians who practice it.
6 – And he told them: “I tell you the truth: many of the noblest and wisest of this world will come to this congregation and they will consider it a great honor to go for alms.
– The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.
7 – Therefore, go for alms confidently with joyful hearts with the blessing of the Lord God. And you ought to go begging more willingly and with more joyful hearts than someone who is offering a hundred silver pieces in exchange for a single penny, since you are offering the love of God to those from whom you seek alms.
– If a person does not keep pace with his companions perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
8 – Say to them: ‘Give alms to us for the love of the Lord God: compared to this, heaven and earth are nothing!’” They were still few in number so that he could not send them out two by two, so he sent each one separately through the towns and villages.
– To reach the port of heaven we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail and not drift nor lie in anchor.
9 – When they returned, each one showed blessed Francis the alms he had collected, one saying to the other, “I collected more alms than you!” This gave blessed Francis reason to rejoice, seeing them so happy and cheerful. From then on each of them more willingly asked permission to go for alms.
– It is possible to give without loving, but it is not possible to love without giving.
52 – HE DOES NOT WANT THE BROTHERS TO THINK ABOUT TOMORROW, FOLLOWING THE GOSPEL
10 – At that time, as Blessed Francis was with his brothers whom he had then, he was of such purity that, from the hour the Lord revealed to him that he and his brothers should live according to the form of the holy Gospel, he desired and strove to observe it to the letter.
– Choice, not chance, determines destiny.
11 – Therefore he told the brother who did the cooking for the brothers, that when he wanted the brothers to eat beans, he should not put them in warm water in the evening for the next day, as people usually do. This was so the brothers would observe the words of the holy Gospel: “Do not be concerned about tomorrow.”
– Lord, bless me with the clarity of vision to discern your will for me and the courage of heart to carry it out.
12 – So that brother used to put them in water to soften after the brothers said matins. Because of this, for a long time many brothers observed this in a great many places where they stayed on their own, especially in cities. They did not want to collect or receive more alms than were enough for them for one day.
– Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.
53 – HE EATS GRAPES WITH A SICK BROTHER
13 – One time when blessed Francis was at that same place, a certain brother, a spiritual man, an elder in religion, was staying there. He was very sick and weak. Considering him, blessed Francis was moved to piety toward him. The brothers back then, sick and healthy, with cheerfulness and patience took poverty for abundance.
– Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand.
14 – They did not take medicines in their illnesses, but more willingly did what was contrary to the body. Blessed Francis said to himself: “If that brother would eat some ripe grapes early in the morning, I believe it would help him.”
– We are our choices.
15 – One day, therefore, he secretly got up early in the morning, and called that brother and took him into the vineyard which is near that same church. He chose a vine that had grapes that were good and ready for eating. Sitting down with that brother next to the vine, he began to eat some grapes so that the brother would not be ashamed to eat alone, and while they were eating them, that brother praised the Lord God. As long as he lived, he always recalled among the brothers, with great devotion and flowing tears, the mercy the holy father had done to him.
– Who does not stay in his littleness loses his greatness.
54 – A SURPRISING VISIT FROM THE BISHOP OF ASSISI
16 – One time when blessed Francis was at that same place, he stayed at prayer in the cell that was in the back, behind the house. One day while he was staying in it, the bishop of Assisi came to see him.
– Who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.
17 – It happened that as he came into the house, he knocked on the door to approach blessed Francis. He opened the door himself, and immediately entered the cell in which there was another small cell made of mats where blessed Francis stayed.
– If it is going to be, it is up to me.
18 – And because he knew that the holy father treated him with friendliness and love, he entered without hesitation, and opened for himself the little cell of mats to see him. As he quickly stuck his head inside the little cell, all of a sudden, by the will of the Lord, because he was not worthy to see him, he was forcefully pushed outside, willy-nilly, stumbling backwards.
– God’s kingdom is within; only by searching within, will I find it.
19 – He immediately came outside the cell, trembling and stunned, and told the brothers his fault, and said he was sorry for coming there that day.
– Fans don’t boo nobodies.
55 – HIS FRIENDSHIP FREES A BROTHER FROM DEPRESSION
20 – There was a certain brother, a spiritual man, an elder in religion, and close to blessed Francis. It happened one time that for many days he suffered the most severe and cruel suggestions of the devil, so that he was almost cast into the depths of despair.
– He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.
21 – And even though he was tormented daily, he was ashamed to confess it every time. And, because of this, he afflicted himself with fasting, with vigils, with tears, and with beatings. While he was being tormented daily for many days, blessed Francis came to that place by divine guidance.
– With complete truthfulness, everything we have learned through life, everything that has truly enhanced our life and enlightened our experiences has been through affliction and not through happiness.
22 – And when blessed Francis was walking one day not too far from that place with one brother and with the brother who was so tormented, he left the other brother behind and walked with the one who was being tempted. He said to him: “My dearest brother, I wish and tell you that from now on you are not bound to confess these suggestions and intrusions of the devil to anyone.
– Character is a victory, not a gift.
23 – Don’t be afraid, because they have not harmed your soul. But I give you my permission just to say seven Our Father’s as often as you are troubled by these suggestions.”
– Jesus cannot be our Savior unless he is first our Lord.
24 – That brother was overjoyed at what he said to him, that he was not bound to confess those things, especially because, since he would have had to confess daily, he was quite upset, and this was the main reason for his suffering.
– In Jesus Christ, true God and true man rests our hope for real humanity.
25 – He marveled at the holiness of the holy father, how he knew his temptations through the Holy Spirit, since he had not confessed to anyone except priests. And he would frequently switch priests because of shame, since he was ashamed that one priest would know all his weakness and temptation.
– The Lord your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God.
26 – From the very moment blessed Francis spoke to him, he was immediately freed both in spirit and body from that great trial which he endured for such a long time. And, through the grace of God and the merits of blessed Francis, he remained in great serenity and peace of soul and body.
– Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children.
56 – HE RECEIVES THE PORTIUNCULA FROM THE ABBOT OF THEMONASTERY OF SAINT BENEDICT; HE TRIES TO DESTROY A HOUSE BUILT THERE; SPECIAL NORMS FOR BROTHERS WHO LIVE THERE
27 – Seeing that the Lord willed to increase the number of brothers, blessed Francis told them: “My dearest brothers and sons, I see that the Lord wants us to increase. Therefore, it seems good and religious to me to obtain from the bishop, or the canons of San Rufino, or from the abbot of the monastery of Saint Benedict, some small and poor little church where the brothers can say their Hours and only have next to it a small and poor little house built of mud and branches where they can sleep and care for their needs.
– The Will of God – Nothing More, Nothing Less.
28 – This place is not suitable, and this house is too small for the brothers to stay in, since it pleases the Lord to increase them, especially because here we do not have a church where the brothers can say their Hours. And, should any brother die, it would not be proper to bury him here or in a church of the secular clergy.”
– Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.
29 – This speech pleased the other brothers. So blessed Francis got up and went to the bishop of Assisi. The same speech he made to the brothers he made to the bishop. “Brother,” the bishop answered him, “I do not have any church that I can give you.”
– We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, intention fervent, courage steadfast and our trust is fixed firmly on God.
30 – Then he went to the canons of San Rufino and said the same thing to them. But they gave him the same answer as the bishop. He went, therefore, to the monastery of Saint Benedict on Mount Subasio, and made the same speech to the abbot he had made to the bishop and the canons, informing him also of how the bishop and the canons had responded.
– Prayer does not change God, but changes him who prays.
Alleluia! He is Risen! Alleluia! He is Truly Risen! Alleluia!
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Posted By Teresa Redder, on April 12th, 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
April 2025
Wherever we are, in every place,
at every hour, at every time of the day, every day and continually,
let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love, honor, adore, serve,
praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks
to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God, Trinity and Unity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Creator of all, Savior of all who believe and hope in Him, and love Him,
Who, without beginning and end, is unchangeable, invisible, indescribable, ineffable,
incomprehensible, unfathomable, blessed, praiseworthy, glorious, exalted,
sublime, most high, gentle, lovable, delightful,
and totally desirable above all else for ever.
Amen.
(Prayer of Saint Francis taken from the Earlier Rule, chapter 23)
Daily reflections from Franciscan Sources continue from Assisi Compilation nos. 47-50
47 – THE BROTHERS AND STUDY
1 – It grieved the blessed Father when brothers sought learning while neglecting virtue, especially if they did not remain in that calling in which they were first called. He said: “Those brothers of mine who are led by curiosity for knowledge will find themselves empty-handed on the day of reckoning.
– Gratitude is a sign of noble souls.
2 – I would prefer that they grow strong in virtue, so that when the times of tribulation arrive they may have the Lord with them in their distress. For, he said, a tribulation is approaching, when books, useful for nothing, shall be thrown into cupboards and closets!”
– God has two dwellings. One is in heaven and the other in a meek and humble heart.
3 – He did not say these things out of dislike for the study of Scriptures, but to draw all of them back from excessive concern for learning, because he preferred that they be good through charity rather than be dilettantes through curiosity. Besides, he could smell in the air that a time was coming, and not too far away, when he knew learning would be an occasion of ruin.
– What we need is people who know God other than by hearsay.
4 – After his death he appeared in a vision to one of the companions who was once tending toward preaching, and he forbade it, commanding him to walk on the way of simplicity.
– People want to know how much you care before they care how much you know.
48 – HE DETESTED LAZINESS AND WANTED ALL THE BROTHERS TO WORK
5 – He used to say that the lukewarm who do not apply themselves constantly to some work, would quickly be vomited out of the Lord’s mouth. No idler could appear in his presence without feeling the sharp bite of his criticism.
– Disciples care more than others think necessary.
6 – This exemplar of every perfection always worked, and worked with his hands, not allowing the great gift of time to go to waste. And so he would often say: “I want all my brothers to work and keep busy, and those who have no skills to learn some so that we may be less of a burden to people, and that in idleness the heart and tongue may not stray.”
– Disciples trust more than others think wise.
7 – But he would not have profit or payment for work left to the whim of the worker, but entrusted it to the guardian or the family.
– Disciples serve more than others think practical.
49 – SAINT FRANCIS AND SAINT DOMINIC ARE GUESTS OF CARDINAL HUGOLINO
8 – Those two bright lights of the world, namely, Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, were once in the City with the Lord of Ostia, who later became Supreme Pontiff. As they took turns pouring out honey-sweet words about the Lord, the bishop finally said to them: “In the early Church the Church’s shepherds were poor, and men of charity, not on fire with greed. Why don’t we make bishops and prelates of your brothers who excel in teaching and example.”
– Disciples expect more than others think possible.
9 – There arose a disagreement between the saints about answering, neither wishing to go first, but rather each deferring to the other. Each urged the other to reply. Each seemed superior to the other, since each was devoted to the other.
– You see things as they are and ask, “Why?” But I dream things that never were and ask, “Why not?”
10 – At last humility conquered Francis as he did not speak first, but it also conquered Dominic, since in speaking first, he humbly obeyed Francis. Blessed Dominic therefore answered the bishop, My lord, my brothers are already raised to a good level, if they will only realize it, and as much as possible I would not allow them to obtain any other appearance of dignity.”
– What are riches compared to skill, wisdom, and understanding?
11 – As this brief response ended, Blessed Francis bowed to the bishop and said: “My lord, my brothers are called ‘lesser’ precisely so they will not presume to become ‘greater.’ They have been called this to teach them to stay down to earth, and to follow the footprints of Christ’s humility, which in the end will exalt them above others in the sight of the saints. If you want them to bear fruit in the Church of God, keep them in the status in which they were called and hold them to it.
– Until we lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.
12 – Bring them back down to ground level even against their will. Never allow them to rise to become prelates” These were the replies of the saints. When they finished their replies, the Lord of Ostia was greatly edified by the words of both and gave unbounded thanks to God. And as they left that place, blessed Dominic asked Saint Francis to be kind enough to give him the cord he had tied around him.
— Lord, help me to let go of whatever is keeping me from following you.
13 – Francis was slow to do this, refusing out of humility what the other was requesting out of charity. At last the happy devotion of the petitioner won out, and he devoutly put on the gift under his inner tunic. Finally they clasped hands and commended themselves to each other with great sweetness. And so one saint said to the other: “Brother Francis, I wish your Order and mine might become one, so we could share the same form of life in the Church.”
– Those who know others are learned. Those who know themselves are wise.
14 – At last, when they had parted from each other, Saint Dominic said to the many bystanders: “In truth I tell you, the other religious should follow this holy man Francis, as his holiness is so perfect”.
– Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.
50 – HE EATS WITH A BROTHER WHO CLAIMS HE IS DYING OF HUNGER; AUSTERE WITH HIMSELF, HE WAS COMPASSIONATE WITH OTHERS
15 – One time in the very beginning, that is, at the time when blessed Francis began to have brothers, he was staying with them at Rivo Torto. One night, around midnight, when they were all asleep in their beds, one of the brothers cried out, saying: “I’m dying! I’m dying!”
– To ease another’s heartbreak is to forget one’s own.
16 – Startled and frightened all the brothers woke up. Getting up, blessed Francis said: “Brothers, get up and light a lamp.” After the lamp was lit, blessed Francis said: “Who was it who said, ‘I’m dying?’ ” “I’m the one,” the brother answered. “What’s the matter, brother?” blessed Francis said to him. ‘Why are you dying?”
– To love is to know the sacrifices which eternity exacts from life.
17 – “I’m dying of hunger,” he answered. So that that brother would not be ashamed to eat alone, blessed Francis, a man of great charity and discernment, immediately had the table set and they all ate together with him. This brother, as well as the others, were newly converted to the Lord and afflicted their bodies excessively.
– The only things necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
18 – After the meal, blessed Francis said to the other brothers: “My brothers, I say that each of you must consider his own constitution, because, although one of you may be sustained with less food than another, I still do not want one who needs more food to try imitating him in this.
– When my spirit soars, my body falls on its knees.
19 – Rather, considering his constitution, he should provide his body with what it needs. Just as we must beware of overindulgence in eating, which harms body and soul, so we must beware of excessive abstinence even more, because the Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice.”
– The face of Christ shows us the one thing we need to know, the character of God.
20 – And he said: “Dearest brothers, great necessity and charity compelled me to do what I did, namely, that out of love for our brother we ate together with him, so he wouldn’t be embarrassed to eat alone. But I tell you in the future I do not wish to act this way because it wouldn’t be religious or decent.
– Who lives for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps.
21 – Let each one provide his body with what it needs as our poverty will allow. This is what I wish and command you.”
– We are rich in proportion to the number of things we can do without.
22 – The first brothers and those who came after them for a long time mortified their bodies excessively, not only by abstinence in food and drink, but also in vigils, cold, and manual labor.
– Ignore people who try to belittle you, they’re only trying to cut you down to their size.
23 – Next to their skin, those who could get them wore iron rings and breastplates and the roughest hair shirts, which they were even better able to get.
– Serve one another with what every gift each of you has received.
24 – Considering that the brothers could get sick because of this, and in a short time some were already ailing, the holy father therefore commanded in one of the chapters that no brother wear anything next to the skin except the tunic.
– Where love is, there is God also.
25 – We who were with him bear witness to this fact about him: from the time he began to have brothers, and also during his whole lifetime, he was discerning with the brothers, provided that in the matter of food and other things, they did not deviate at any time from the norm of the poverty and decency of our religion, which the early brothers observed.
– There is no security on earth, there is only opportunity.
28 – Nevertheless, even before he had brothers, from the beginning of his conversion and during his whole lifetime, he was severe with his own body, even though from the time of his youth he was a man of a frail and weak constitution, and when he was in the world he could not live without comforts.
– Pray to God, but row to the shore.
29 – One time, perceiving that the brothers had exceeded the norm of poverty and decency in food and in things, he said in a sermon he gave, speaking to a few brothers, who stood for all the brothers: “Don’t the brothers think that my body needs special food?
– Prayers travel more strongly when said in unison.
30 – But because I must be the model and example for all the brothers, I want to use and be content with poor food and things, not fine ones.”
– If you haven’t got charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.
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
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. Amen.
(Prayer of St. Francis before the Crucifix)
(Franciscan Sources Daily thought from Assisi Compilation 37-46,
daily quotes from various sources)
1 – [He used to pierce eyes that are not chaste with this parable. “A powerful] and pious king sent two messengers to his queen, one after the other. The first returned and simply reported her words verbatim. Truly the eyes of the wise man stayed in his head and did not dart elsewhere. The other returned and, after reporting in brief words, launched into a long story about the lady’s beauty. ‘Truly, my lord, I saw a lovely woman; happy is he who enjoys her!’
– When I will what God wills, then I know my heart is right.
2 – And the king said, ‘You evil servant, you cast your shameless eyes on my wife? It is clear that you would like to buy what you inspected so carefully!’ He then called back the first messenger and asked: ‘What did you think of the queen?’ And he answered: ‘I thought very highly of her, for she listened gladly and then replied wisely.’ ‘And don’t you think she’s beautiful?’ the king said. ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘this is for you to see; my job was simply to deliver messages.’
– Lord, enlighten my mind to see my sinfulness.
3 – And the king then pronounced his sentence: ‘You, chaste of eyes, even more chaste in body, stay in my chamber. Let that other man leave my house, so he does not defile my marriage bed.’ ” He used to say: Who would not fear to look at the bride of Christ?
– Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
38 SOMETIMES HE BROKE OUT SINGING IN FRENCH, ENDING IN ECSTASY
4 – Sometimes he used to do this: a sweet melody of the spirit bubbling up inside him would become on the outside a French tune; the thread of a divine whisper which his ears heard secretly would break out in a French song. Other times—as I saw with my own eyes—he would pick up a stick from the ground and put it over his left arm, while holding a bent bow in his right hand, drawing it over the stick as if it were a viola, performing all the right movements, and in French would sing] about God.
– Body of Christ, save me.
5 – All of this dancing often ended in tears, and the cry of joy dissolved into compassion for Christ’s suffering. Then the saint would sigh without stopping and sob without ceasing. Forgetful of lower things he had in hand, he was caught up to heaven.
– Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
39 HIS PRAYER FOR THE ORDER
6 – In order to preserve the virtue of holy humility, a few years after his conversion, at a chapter, he resigned the office of prelate before all the brothers of the religion, saying: “From now on, I am dead to you. But here you have Brother Peter of Catanio; let us all, you and I, obey him.” And bowing down immediately, he promised him obedience and reverence.
– Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
7 – The brothers were weeping, and sorrow drew deep groans from them, as they saw themselves orphaned of such a father. As blessed Francis got up, he joined his hands and, lifting his eyes to heaven, said: “Lord, I give back to You the family which until now You have entrusted to me. Now, sweetest Lord, because of my infirmities, which You know, I can no longer take care of them and I entrust them to the ministers.
– Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
8 – If any brother should perish because of their negligence, or example, or even harsh correction, let them be bound to render an account for it before You, Lord, on the day of judgment.” From that time on, he remained subject until his death, behaving more humbly than any of the others.
– O Good Jesus, hear me.
40 HE REFUSES TO HAVE COMPANIONS CHARGED WITH CARING FOR HIM
9 – Another time he consigned all his companions to his vicar, saying: “I don’t want to seem singular because of this privilege of freedom; any brothers can go with me from place to place ‘as the Lord inspires them.’” And he added: “Why, I have seen a blind man who had no guide for his journey except one little dog.” This indeed was his glory: he gave up any appearance of being singular or important, so that the power of Christ might dwell in him.
– Within Your wounds hide me, Good Jesus.
41 GOOD BROTHERS PUNISH THEMSELVES FOR AN OFFENSE AGAINST CHARITY
10 – He used to affirm that the Lesser Brothers had been sent from the Lord in these last times to show forth examples of light to those wrapped in the darkness of sins. He would say that he was filled with the sweetest fragrance and anointed with strength from precious ointment whenever he heard of the great deeds of holy brothers in faraway lands. It happened that a brother once threw out an insulting word at another brother in the presence of a nobleman of the island of Cyprus.
– Good Jesus, do not allow me to be separated from you.
11 – But when he saw that his brother was rather hurt by the impact of that word, he took some donkey manure and, burning with rage against himself, put it into his mouth to chew, saying: “Let the tongue that spat the poison of anger on my brother now chew manure!”
– Lord Jesus, defend me from the wicked enemy of my soul.
12 – At seeing this, that man was thunder-stuck, and went away greatly edified; from that time on, he put himself and all he had at disposal of the brothers. All the brothers observed this custom without fail: if any of them spoke an upsetting word to another, he would immediately fall to the ground and embrace the feet of the one he had offended, even if unwilling, with holy kisses.
– Good Jesus, at the hour of death call me to Yourself.
13 – The saint rejoiced over such behavior, when he heard the examples of holiness that his sons themselves produced, and he would heap blessings worthy of full acceptance on those brothers, who, by word or deed, led sinners to the love of Christ. Zeal for souls, which filled him completely, made him want his sons to resemble him as a true likeness.
– Grant, good Jesus, that I may praise You with all the saints forever and ever.
42 A DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL MINISTER
14 – As he neared the end of his call to the Lord, a brother said to him: “Father, you will pass on, and the family of your followers will be left behind in this vale of tears. Point out someone in the Order, if you know one, on whom your spirit may rest, and on whom the weight of the general ministry may safely be laid.” Saint Francis, drawing a sigh with every word, replied as follows: “Son, I find no one adequate to be the leader of such a varied army, or the shepherd of such a widespread flock. But I would like to paint one for you to show clearly what kind of person the father of this family should be.
– No one can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.
15 – “He must be a person of very dignified life, of great discernment, and of praiseworthy reputation. He must be without personal favorites, lest by loving some more than others, he create scandal for all. He must be a committed friend of holy prayer, who can distribute some hours for his soul and others for the flock entrusted to him. He must put the sacrament of the Mass first, early in the morning, and with prolonged devotion commend himself and his flock to divine protection.
– My sense of sin is linked to my sense of God.
16 – “After prayer, he must make himself available for all to pick at him, and he should respond to all and provide for all with meekness. He is someone who does not create sordid favoritism toward persons, but will take as much care of the lesser and simple brothers as of the learned and greater ones. Even if he should be allowed to excel in gifts of learning, he should all the more bear in his behavior the image of holy simplicity and nourish this virtue. He should loathe money, the principal corrupter of our profession and perfection. As the head of our [religion, offering himself to others as someone to be imitated, he must never engage in the abuse of using any money pouch.” – The closer I am to God, the more aware I am of my sinfulness.
17 – “For his needs,” he said, “a habit and a little book should be enough for him and, for the brothers’ needs he should have a pen case and seal. He should not be a book collector or too intent on reading, so he does not take away from his duties what he spends on his studies.
– Distance from God reduces the contrast necessary for me to recognize my true condition.
18 – Let him be someone who comforts the afflicted, and the final refuge of the distressed, so that the sickness of despair does not overcome the sick because he did not offer healing remedies. In order to bend rebels to meekness, let him lower himself and let go of some of his rights that he may gain a soul for Christ.
– They are two kinds of people: the righteous who believe themselves sinners, and the rest who believe themselves righteous.
19 – As for runaways from the Order, let him not close the heart of mercy to them, for they are like lost sheep; and he knows how overpowering the temptations can be which can push someone to such a fall.”
– O Lord, reform our world, beginning with me.
20 – “I want all to honor him as standing in Christ’s place, and to be provided for in everything with all the kindness of Christ. He must not enjoy honors, nor delight in approval more than insults. If he should need more substantial food, he should not eat it in secret but in a public place, so that others may be freed from embarrassment at having to provide for their weak bodies.
– Voice of Jesus, you called me when I strayed from You.
21 – It especially pertains to him to discern what is hidden in consciences and to draw out the truth from its hidden veins. Let him never weaken the manly norm of justice, and he must feel such a great office more a burden than an honor. And yet, excessive meekness should not give birth to slackness, nor loose indulgence to a breakdown of discipline, so that, loved by all, he is feared nonetheless, by those who work evil.
– Arms of Jesus, you raised me when I slipped and fell.
22 – I would like him to have companions endowed with honesty, who], with him, [show themselves an example of all good works, strong against difficulties, and yet friendly in the right way, so that they receive all who come to them with holy cheerfulness. There,” he concluded, “the general minister of the Order should be like this”.
– Heart of Jesus, You loved me even when I sin.
43 HE RESPONDS TO A BROTHER ASKING WHY HE ABANDONED GOVERNING THE ORDER
23 – Once a brother asked him why he had renounced the care of all the brothers and turned them over into the hands of others, as if they did not belong to him. He replied: “Son, I love the brothers as I can, but if they would and would not make myself a stranger to them. For, there are some among the prelates who draw them in a different direction, placing before them the examples of the ancients and paying little attention to my warnings. But what they are doing will be seen in the end.”
– The great thing in this world is not where we are, but in what direction we are going.
24 – A short time later, when he was suffering a serious illness, he raised himself up in bed in an angry spirit: “Who are these people? They have snatched out of my hands my religion and that of the brothers. If I go to the general chapter, I’ll show them what is my will.”
– God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but scars
45 HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO BEG EVEN MEAT FOR SICK BROTHERS
25 – Blessed Francis [was not embarrassed to go through the city’s public places to find some meat for a sick brother. However, he also advised the sick to be patient when things were lacking and not stir up a scandal if everything was not to their satisfaction.
– It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are held accountable.
26 – Because of this he had these words written in one of the Rules: “I beg all my sick brothers that in their illness they do not become angry or upset at the Lord or the brothers. They should not anxiously seek medicines, nor desire too eagerly to free the flesh that is soon to die and is an enemy of the soul.
– Lord, teach me about death, that it may teach me about life.
27 – Let them give thanks for all things and let them desire to be however God wills them to be. For God teaches with the rod of punishments and sicknesses those whom he has destined to eternal life as he himself has said: ‘Those whom I love I correct and chastise.’
– One cannot prepare for death too soon, because one cannot be sure when too soon will be too late.
46 PRAISE OF THE RULE
28 – He burned with great zeal for the common profession and Rule, and endowed those who were zealous about it with a special blessing. He called it their Book of Life, the hope of salvation, the marrow of the Gospel, the way of perfection, the key of Paradise, the pact of an eternal covenant. – Ever notice how everybody wants to go to heaven and nobody wants to die?
29 – He wanted all to have it, all to know it, in all places to let it speak to the inner man, as encouragement in weariness and as a reminder of a sworn oath. He taught them to keep it always before their eyes as a reminder of the life they should lead, and, what is more, that they should die with it.
– Unexpressed gratitude is like winking at someone in the dark, You know how you feel about them, but they don’t.
30 – This teaching was not forgotten by a certain lay brother whom we believe should be venerated among the martyrs, since he gained the palm of glorious victory. When he was taken by the Saracens to his martyrdom, he held the Rule in his uplifted hands, and kneeling humbly, said to his companion: “Dear brother I proclaim myself guilty before the eye’s of Majesty of everything I ever did against this holy Rule!”
– Some complain that God put thorns on roses; others give thanks that God put roses among the thorns.
31 – The stroke of the sword followed this short confession, and with his martyrdom he ended his life, and afterwards shone with signs and wonders. This brother had entered the Order so young that he could hardly bear the Rule’s fasting, yet even as a boy he wore a harness next to his skin. Oh happy child, who began happily to end even happier!
– Gratitude is a sign of noble souls.
Prayer of King Mannasseh
Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, You made heaven and Earth with all their beauty.
You set limits for creation by Your powerful and glorious Name.
All things stand in awe in Your presence,
because no one can endure the splendor of Your glory.
Your promised mercies are beyond measure and imagination, because You are the highest,
Lord, kind, patient, and merciful, and You care for Your children who suffer.
You, Lord, according to Your gentle grace,
promised forgiveness to those who are sorry for their sins.
In Your great mercy, You allowed sinners to turn from their sins and find salvation.
Lord, God of those who do what is right,
You always offer us chances to change our hearts and lives.
You offer me, the sinner, the chance to change my heart and life.
My sins are many, Lord. I am not worthy to look up, to gaze into heaven.
I bow down before You from deep within my heart, imploring Your kindness.
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me. For You, Lord, are God of those who turn from their sins.
In me You’ll show how kind You are.
Although I’m not worthy, You’ll save me according to Your great mercy.
I will praise You continuously all the days of my life,
because all the hosts of heaven praise You.
The glory is Yours forever and ever. Amen
(adapted abbreviated form of the Penitential Prayer of King Manasseh of Judah,
an apocryphal Scripture found in St. Jerome’s translation)
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
Pope Francis Prayer for the Holy Year 2025
From within both humanity and the Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in Your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity
enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of Your Kingdom.
May Your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
Your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace
spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To You our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Daily excerpts continue from the Assisi Compilation 23-36, daily quotes from various sources
23-26 THE DWELLINGS OF THE BROTHERS SHOULD BE POOR; ABOUT FURNISHINGS, BOOKS, AND BEDS
1 – He taught his] brothers to make poor little dwellings out of wood, and not stone, and how to build these huts according to a crude sketch. He did not want the brothers to live in any place unless it had a definite owner who held the property rights. He always wanted to have the law of pilgrims for his sons.
– God says to us: With your very wounds I will heal you.
2 – This man not only hated pretense in houses; he also abhorred having many or fine furnishings in them. He disliked anything, in tables or dishes, that recalled the ways of the world. He wanted everything to sing of exile and pilgrimage.
– Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s light shining somewhere nearby.
3 – He taught that in books the testimony of the Lord, not value, should be sought, edification rather than elegance. He wanted few books kept, and these should be available to the brothers who needed them.
– All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
4 – Finally, beds and coverings abounded in such plentiful poverty that if a brother had a ragged sheet over some straw he considered it a bridal couch.
– Give me faith, Lord, and let me help others find it.
27 HE REBUKES A BROTHER WHO TOUCHED COINS LEFT AT THE PORTIUNCULA
5 – While this true friend of God completely despised all worldly things, he detested money above all. From the beginning of his conversion, he despised money particularly and encouraged his followers to flee from it always as from the devil himself. He gave his followers this observation: money and manure are equally worthy of love.
– Lord teach me to be generous.
6 – Now it happened one day that a layman came to pray in the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula and placed some money by the cross as an offering. When he left, one of the brothers simply picked it up with his hand and threw it on the windowsill. What the brother had done reached the saint, and he, seeing he had been caught, ran to ask forgiveness, threw himself to the ground, and offered himself to be whipped.
– A humble knowledge of myself is a surer way to God than a search after learning.
7 – The saint rebuked him and reprimanded him severely for touching coins. He ordered him to pick up the money from the windowsill with his own mouth, take it outside the fence of that place, and with his mouth to put it on the donkey’s manure pile.
– If I saw myself as my friends and other people see me, I would need an introduction.
8 – While that brother was gladly carrying out this command, fear filled the hearts of the rest who heard it. From then on, all of them held in even greater contempt what had been so equated with manure and were encouraged to despise it by new examples every day.
– It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it I a calamity not to dream.
28-30 HIS EXHORTATIONS ABOUT AVOIDING SOFT CLOTHING AND ENDURING LACK OF NECESSITIES
9 – Clothed with power this man was warmed more by divine fire on the inside than by what covered his body on the outside. He detested those in the Order who dressed in three layers of clothing or who wore soft clothes without necessity.
– It is better to be patient than powerful.
10 – As for “necessity” not based on reason but on pleasure, he declared that it was a sign of a spirit that was extinguished. “When the spirit is lukewarm,” he said, “and gradually growing cold as it moves from grace, flesh and blood inevitably seek their own interests.
– It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities.
10 – When the soul finds no delight, what is left except for the flesh to look for some? Then the base instinct covers itself with the excuse of necessity, and the mind of the flesh forms the conscience.”
– I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.
11 – And he added: ”Let’s say one of my brothers encounters a real necessity: he is affected by some need. If he rushes to satisfy it, what reward will he get? He found an occasion for merit, but clearly showed that he did not like it.”
– Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things “turn out”!
12 – With these and similar words he pierced those who would not tolerate necessity. He taught that not bearing patiently with need is the same as returning to Egypt. He did not want the brothers to have more than two tunics under any circumstances, and these he allowed to be mended with patches sewn on them. He ordered the brothers to shun fine fabrics, and those who acted to the contrary he rebuked publicly with biting words.
– Bing shots are only little shots who keep shooting.
13 – To confound them by his example, he sewed sackcloth on his own rough tunic and at his death he asked that the tunic for his funeral be covered in cheap sackcloth. But he allowed brothers pressed by illness or other necessity to wear a soft tunic next to the skin, as long as rough and cheap clothing was kept on the outside. For he said: “A time will come when strictness will be relaxed, and tepidity will hold such sway, that sons of a poor father will not be the least ashamed to wear even velvet cloth, just changing the color.
– Make sure the thing that you’re living for is worth dying for.
31 HE GIVES AWAY A MANTLE TO A POOR WOMAN
14 – In Celano at winter time, Saint Francis was wearing a piece of folded cloth as a cloak, which a friend of the brothers had lent him. While he was at the palace of the bishop of the Marsi, an old woman came up to him begging for alms. He quickly unfastened the cloth from his neck, and, although it belonged to someone else, he gave it to the poor old woman, saying: “Go and make yourself a tunic; you really need it.”
– Nothing is profane down here for those who know how to see. On the contrary everything is sacred.
15 – The old woman laughed; she was stunned—I don’t know if it was out of fear or joy—and took the piece of cloth from his hands. She ran off quickly, so that delay might not bring the danger of having to give it back, and cut it with scissors.
– A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands.
16 – But when she saw that the cut cloth would not be enough for a tunic, she returned to the saint, knowing his earlier kindness to a degree, and showed him that the material was not enough. The saint turned his eyes on his companion, who had just the same cloth covering his back. “Brother,” he said, “do you hear what this old woman is saying? For the love of God, let us bear with the cold! Give the poor woman the cloth so she can finish her tunic.”
– God’s presence is not discerned at the time that it is upon us, but afterward when we look back.
17 – He gave his; the companion offered his as well; and both were left naked, so the old woman could be clothed.
– God exists within us even more intimately than we exist within ourselves.
32 RETURNING FROM SIENA HE GIVES A MANTLE TO A POOR MAN
18 – Another time, when he was coming back from Siena, he met a poor man, and said to his companion: “We must give back to this poor man the mantle that is his. We accepted it on loan until we should happen to find someone poorer than we are.”
– God is an unutterable sigh, lying in the depth of the heart.
19 – The companion, seeing the need of his pious father, stubbornly objected that he should not provide for someone else by neglecting himself. But he said to him: “I do not want to be a thief; we will be accused of theft if we do not give to someone in greater need.” So his companion gave in, and he gave up the mantle.
– Lord, put into my heart an unshakeable conviction that you have a place for me, even though I might not yet know it.
33 AT THE “LE CELLE” DI CORTONA THE BROTHERS HAVE TO RANSOM HIS MANTLE FROM A POOR MAN
20 – A similar thing happened at “Le Celle” of Cortona. Blessed Francis was wearing a new mantle that the brothers had gone to some trouble to find for him. A poor man came to the place weeping for his dead wife and his poor little family that was left desolate. The saint said to him: “I’m giving you this cloak for the love of the Son of God, but on the condition that you do not hand it over to anyone unless they pay well for it.”
– Ideal are like stars, you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but following them you will reach your destiny.
21 – The brothers immediately came running to take the mantle away and prevent this donation. But the poor man, taking courage from the father’s look, clutched it with both hands and defended it as his own. In the end the brothers had to redeem the mantle, and the poor man left after getting his price.
— Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon succumb to that which is about us.
34 HE GIVES A MANTLE TO A POOR MAN, ON THE CONDITION THAT HE PARDON HIS MASTER
22 – Once when he was at Colleb in the county of Perugia, Saint Francis met a poor man whom he had known before in the world. He asked him: “Brother, how are you doing?” The man malevolently began to heap curses on his lord, who had taken away everything he had. “Thanks to my lord, may the Almighty Lord curse him, I’m very bad off!” Blessed Francis felt more pity for the man’s soul, rooted in mortal hatred, than for his body.
– All people should learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.
23 – He said to him: “Brother, forgive your lord for the love of God, so you may set your soul free, and it may be that he will return to you what he has taken. Otherwise you will lose not only your property but also your soul.” He replied: “I can’t entirely forgive him unless he first gives back what he took.”
– People may doubt what we say, but they will believe what we do.
24 – Blessed Francis had a mantle on his back, and said to him: “Here, I’ll give you this cloak, and beg you to forgive your lord for the love of the Lord God.” The man’s mood sweetened, and, moved by this kindness, he took the gift and forgave the wrongs.
– Lord, put into my heart the desire to get involved in your plan, regardless of what it may cost me.
35 – 36 HE EXPLAINS A PASSAGE FROM EZECHIEL TO A BROTHER PREACHER
25 – While he was staying in Siena, someone from the Order of Preachers happened to arrive; he was a spiritual man and a Doctor of Sacred Theology. He visited blessed Francis, and he and the holy man enjoyed a long and sweet conversation about the words of the Lord.
– What most people tend to forget is that we have unbelievable control over our destiny.
26 – This teacher asked him about the words of Ezekiel: If you do not warn the wicked man about his wickedness, I will hold you responsible for his soul. I’m acquainted with many people, good father, who live in mortal sin, as I’m aware. But I don’t always warn them about their wickedness. Will I then be held responsible for their souls?”
– Today’s decision is tomorrow’s reality.
27 – Blessed Francis then said that he was an unlettered man, and it would be better for him to be taught by the other rather than to answer a question about Scripture. But that humble teacher replied: “Brother, it’s true I have heard these words explained by some wise men; still, I’d be glad to hear how you understand it.”
– The enemy of the best is not the worst but the good enough.
28 – So blessed Francis said to him: “If that passage is supposed to be understood in a universal sense, then I understand it to mean that a servant of God should be burning with life and holiness so brightly, that by the light of example and the tongue of his conduct, he will rebuke all the wicked. In that way, I say, the brightness of his life and the fragrance of his reputation will proclaim their wickedness to all of them.” That man went away greatly edified, and said to the companions of blessed Francis: “My brothers, the theology of this man, held aloft by purity and contemplation, is a soaring eagle, while our learning crawls on its belly on the ground”.
– Life is God’s novel. Let God write it.
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
O admirable heights and sublime lowliness!
O sublime humility! O humble sublimity!
That the Lord of the universe,
God and the Son of God,
so humbles Himself
that for our salvation
He hides Himself
under the little form of bread!
Look, brothers, at the humility of God
and pour out your hearts before Him!
Humble yourselves, as well,
that you may be exalted by Him.
Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves
so that He Who gives Himself totally to you
may receive you totally.
(St. Francis of Assisi)
(excerpts continue from the Assisi Compilation and daily quotes from various sources)
14 A FLOCK OF LARKS SING ABOVE THE HUT WHERE HE IS DYING
1 – Saturday evening before nightfall, after vespers, when blessed Francis passed to the Lord, many birds called larks flew low above the roof of the house where blessed Francis lay, wheeling in a circle and singing. We, who were with blessed Francis, and who wrote these things about him, bear witness that we often heard him say: “If I ever speak to the emperor, I will beg him, for the love of God and by my entreaties, to enact a written law forbidding anyone to catch our sister larks or do them any harm.
— Time never takes time off.
2 – Likewise, all mayors of cities and lords of castles and villages should be bound to oblige people each year on the Nativity of the Lord to scatter wheat and other grain along the roads outside towns and villages, so that all the birds, but especially our sister larks, may have something to eat on such a solemn feast.
– It’s magnificent to grow old if one keeps young.
3 – Also, out of reverence for the Son of God, whom His Virgin Mother on that night laid in a manger between an ox and ass, everyone should have to give brother ox and brother ass a generous portion of fodder on that night. Likewise, on the Nativity of the Lord, all the poor should be fed their fill by the rich.”
– The voice of Time cries out “Advance”.
4 – For blessed Francis held the Nativity of the Lord in greater reverence than any other of the Lord’s solemnities. For although the Lord may have accomplished our salvation in his other solemnities, nevertheless, once He was born to us, as blessed Francis would say, it was certain that we would be saved. On that day he wanted every Christian to rejoice in the Lord and, for love of Him who gave Himself to us, wished everyone to be cheerfully generous not only to the poor but also to the animals and birds.
– Time is too slow for those who wait.
5 – Concerning larks, blessed Francis used to say, “Our Sister Lark, has a capuche like religious, and is a humble bird, who gladly goes along the road looking for some grain. Even if she finds it in the animals’ manure, she pecks it out and eats it. While flying, she praises the Lord, like good religious who look down on earthly things, and whose life is always in heaven.
– Time is too swift for those who fear.
6 – Moreover, her clothes, that is, her feathers, resemble earth, giving an example to religious not to wear clothes that are colorful and refined, but dull, like earth.” And because blessed Francis considered all these things in sister larks, he loved them very much and was glad to see them.
– Tim is too long for those who grieve.
15 TAKING ALMS CAN ROB THE POOR
7 – Blessed Francis often said these words to the brothers: “I have never been a thief, that is, in regard to alms, which are the inheritance of the poor. I always took less than I needed, so that other poor people would not be cheated of their share. To act otherwise would be theft.”
– Time is too short for those who rejoice.
16 THE MINISTERS AND POVERTY
8 – When the brother ministers urged him to allow the brothers to have something at least in common, so that such a great number would have some resources, Saint Francis called upon Christ in prayer and consulted Him about this. Christ immediately responded that He would take away everything held individually or in common, saying that this is His family for whom He was always ready to provide, no matter how much it might grow, and He would always cherish it as long as it would put its hope in him.
– Time is short, but those who love, Time is eternity.
17 HE RESPONDS TO BROTHER ELIAS AND THE MINISTERS WHO OBJECTED TO THE RULE HE WAS WRITING AT FONTE COLOMBO
9 – When blessed Francis was on a mountain with Brother Leo of Assisi and Brother Bonizo of Bologna to make the Rule,—because the first, which he had written at Christ’s instruction, was lost — a great many ministers gathered around Brother Elias, who was the vicar of blessed Francis. “We heard that Brother Francis is making a new rule,” they told him, “and we fear that he will make it so harsh that we will not be able to observe it. We want you to go to him and tell him that we refuse to be bound to that Rule. Let him make it for himself and not for us.”
– God wants the heart.
10 – Brother Elias replied to them that he did not want to go because he feared the rebuke of Brother Francis. When they insisted that he go, he said that he refused to go without them; so they all went. When Brother Elias, with those ministers, was near the place where blessed Francis was staying, he called him.
– My worth to God in public is what I am in private.
11 – Blessed Francis responded and, seeing those ministers, he said: “What do these brothers want?” “These are ministers,” Brother Elias answered, “who heard that you are making a new rule. They fear that you are making it very harsh, and they say, and say publicly, that they refuse to be bound by it. Make it for yourself and not for them.”
– The measure of a person’s character is what he would do if he were never found out.
12 – Then blessed Francis turned his face to heaven and spoke to Christ in this way: “Lord! Didn’t I tell you they wouldn’t believe you?” The voice of Christ was then heard in the air, saying “Francis, nothing of yours is in the Rule: whatever is there is mine.
– Power is never good unless the one who has it is good.
13 – And I want the Rule observed in this way: to the letter, to the letter, to the letter, and without a gloss, without a gloss, without a gloss.” And He added: “I know how much human weakness is capable of, and how much I want to help them. Those who refuse to observe it should leave the Order.”
– A good name is better than wealth.
14 – Then blessed Francis turned to the brothers and said: “Did you hear? Did you hear? Do you want me to have you told again?” Then the ministers, confused and blaming themselves, departed.
– Patient endurance attains all things.
18 HIS RESPONSE TO CARDINAL HUGOLINO AND TO THE BROTHERS ABOUT TAKING AN EXISTING MONASTIC RULE
15 – When blessed Francis was at the general chapter called the Chapter of Mats, held at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, there were five thousand brothers present. Many wise and learned brothers told the Lord Cardinal, who later became Pope Gregory, who was present at the chapter, that he should persuade blessed Francis to follow the advice of those same wise brothers and allow himself to be guided by them for the time being.
— Great works are performed not only by strength but perseverance.
16 – They cited the Rule of blessed Benedict, of blessed Augustine, and of blessed Bernard, which teach how to live in such order in such a way. Then blessed Francis, on hearing the cardinal’s advice about this, took him by the hand and led him to the brothers assembled in chapter, and spoke to the brothers…
— Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.
17 – God has called me by the way of simplicity and showed me the way of simplicity. I do not want you to mention to me any Rule, whether of St. Augustine, or St. Bernard, or St. Benedict. And the Lord told me what He wanted.
– What can’t be cured, must be endured.
18 – He wanted me to be a new fool in the world. God did not wish to lead us by any other way other than this knowledge. But God will confound you by your knowledge and wisdom. But I trust in the Lord’s police that through them He will punish you, and you will return to your state, to your blame, like it or not”. The Cardinal was shocked and said nothing and all the brothers were afraid.
– The Word of God became man that you also may learn from a man how a man becomes a God.
19 – HIS EXPLANATION OF THE BROTHERS’ RELATIONSHIP TO CLERICS
19 – Although blessed Francis wanted his sons to keep peace with all and to behave as little ones toward everyone, he taught them to be particularly humble toward clerics by his word and showed them by his example.
– Real unselfishness consists in sharing the interests of others.
20 – He used to say: “We have been sent to help clerics for the salvation of souls so that we may make up whatever may be lacking in them. Each shall receive a reward, not on account of authority, but because of the work done.
– The secret of being lovely is in being unselfish.
21 – Know then, brothers, that the profit or good of souls is what pleases God the most, and this is more easily obtained through peace with the clergy than fighting with them. If they should stand in the way of the people’s salvation, revenge is for God, and he will repay them in due time.
– Living in our selfishness prevents our transformation into divine love.
22 – So, be subject to prelates so that, as much as possible on your part no jealousy arises. If you are children of peace, you will win over both clergy and people for the Lord, and the Lord will judge that more acceptable than only winning over the people, while scandalizing the clergy.
— The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of oneself to others.
23 – Cover up their failings, make up for their many defects, and when you have done this, be even more humble.”
– It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
20 HIS REFUSAL TO REQUEST PRIVILEGES FROM THE ROMAN CURIA
24 – Some of the brothers told blessed Francis: “Father, don’t you see that sometimes bishops do not permit us to preach, allowing us to remain idle in an area for many days before we can preach to the people? It would be better if you arranged for the brothers to get a privilege from the Lord Pope: it would be the salvation of souls.
– The man who is poor in the spirit realizes things mean nothing and God means everything.
25 – ” He answered them with a stern rebuke, telling them: “You, Lesser Brothers, you do not know the will of God, and will not allow me to convert the whole world as God wills. For I want to convert the prelates first by humility and reverence. Then, when they see your holy life and your reverence for them, they will ask you to preach and convert the people.
—He is not poor who has little, he that desires much.
26 – These will attract the people to you far better than the privileges you want, which would lead you to pride. And if you are free of all avarice, and lead the people to give the churches their due, they will ask you to hear the confessions of their people.
– People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy.
27 – Although you should not be concerned about this, for if they are converted, they will easily find confessors.
– If we behaved like true Christians, there would be no pagans.
28 – For my part, I want only this privilege from the Lord: not to have any privilege from any human being, except to show reverence to all, and, by the obedience of the holy Rule, to convert everyone more by example than by word”.
– The hope of the future lies not in better human inventions, but in better human relations.
21 CHRIST COMPLAINS TO BROTHER LEO ABOUT THE INGRATITUDE OF THE] BROTHERS
29 – One time the Lord Jesus Christ said to Brother Leo, the companion of blessed Francis: “I have a complaint about the brothers.” “About what, Lord?” Brother Leo replied. And the Lord said: “About three things. They do not recognize My gifts which, as you know, I generously bestow on them daily, since they neither sow nor reap. All day long they are idle and complain. And they often provoke one another to anger, and do not return to love, and do not pardon the injury they receive.”
– Nothing is a greater impediment to being in good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself.
22 HE BLESSES THE BROTHERS AND SHARES BREAD WITH THEM WHEN HE WAS VERY ILL
30 – One night blessed Francis was so afflicted with the pains of his illness that he could barely rest or sleep that night. In the morning, when his pain eased a bit, he had all the brothers staying in that place called to him, and when they were seated around him, he considered them and regarded them as representatives of all the brothers.
– God did not make human beings perfect. He made human beings pilgrims after perfection.
31 – Beginning with one brother, he blessed them, placing his right hand on the head of each one, and he blessed all who were in the religion and all who were to come until the end of the world. He seemed to feel sorry for himself because he was not able to see his sons and brothers before his death.
– Ideals are like stars-we never reach them but we chart our course by them.
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
Wherever we are, in every place, at every hour, at every time of the day,
every day and continually,
let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love, honor, adore, serve,
praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks
to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God, Trinity and Unity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Creator of all, Savior of all who believe and hope in Him, and love Him,
Who, without beginning and end, is unchangeable, invisible, indescribable, ineffable,
incomprehensible, unfathomable, blessed, praiseworthy, glorious, exalted,
sublime, most high, gentle, lovable, delightful,
and totally desirable above all else for ever.
Amen.
The excerpts are taken from the Assisi Compilation and daily quotes are from various sources.
[10] [HIS HUMILITY TOWARD THE BISHOP OF TERNI “I MAY YET HAVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS”]
1 – One day he was preaching to the people of Terni in the piazza in front of the bishop’s residence. The bishop of that city, a discerning and spiritual man, attended that sermon. When the sermon was over, the bishop stood up and, among the other words of God that he spoke to them, he said: “From the beginning, when the Lord planted and built His church, He always beautified it with holy men who would improve it by word and example. Now, in this final hour, God has beautified his Church with this little poor man, lowly and unlettered,” pointing all the while to blessed Francis.
– Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.
2 – “And because of this,” he continued, “you should love and honor the Lord and avoid sin ‘for He has not done this for every nation.’ ” After the sermon, blessed Francis came down from the place where he was preaching, and together the Lord Bishop and blessed Francis entered the bishop’s church.
– If you can find a path with no obstacles it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.
3 – Then blessed Francis bowed down before the Lord Bishop and fell down at his feet, saying to him: “I tell you the truth, my Lord Bishop: no person in this world has yet honored me as much as you have today. Other people say: ‘That man is a saint!’ They attribute glory and holiness to the creature, not to the Creator.
– The most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt.
4 – You, however, like a discerning man, have separated what is precious from what is vile.” Often when blessed Francis was honored and people said, “This man is a saint,” he would respond to such expressions by saying: “I’m still not sure that I won’t have sons and daughters.” And he would say: “If at any moment the Lord wanted to take back the treasure He has loaned to me, what would I have left except just body and soul, which even non-believers have?
– People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.
5 – I must believe, rather, that if the Lord had granted a thief and even a non-believer as many gifts as He has given me, they would be more faithful to the Lord than I.” He continued: “As in a painting of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin on wood, it is God and the Blessed Virgin who are honored, and God and the Blessed Virgin are held in memory.
– The first law of history is not to dare to utter falsehood; the second, not to fear to speak the truth.
6 – The wood and the paint attribute nothing to themselves because they are merely wood and paint. In the same way, a servant of God is a painting, that is, a creature of God, in whom God is honored because of His goodness. Like wood or paint, he must not attribute anything to himself, but give all honor and glory to God.
– You are deceived if you think that Christians can live without persecutions.
7 – He should not attribute anything to himself while he is alive except shame and trouble, because, while he is alive, the flesh is always opposed to God’s gifts.”- What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.
[11] [HE RESIGNS FROM OFFICE IN THE ORDER AND ALWAYS WANTS TO HAVE A GUARDIAN]
8 – Blessed Francis wanted to be humble among his brothers. To preserve greater humility, a few years after his conversion he resigned the office of prelate before all the brothers during a chapter held at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula. “From now on,” he said, “I am dead to you. But here is Brother Peter di Catanio: let us all, you and I, obey him.”
– Setting an example is the only means of influencing another.
9 – Then all the brothers began to cry loudly and weep profusely, but blessed Francis bowed down before Brother Peter and promised him obedience and reverence. From that time on, until his death, he remained a subject, like one of the other brothers. He wished to be subject to the general minister and the provincial ministers, so that in whatever province he stayed or preached, he obeyed the minister of that province.
– In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.
10 – What is more, a long time before his death, for the sake of greater perfection and humility, he said to the general minister: “I ask you to put one of my companions in your place regarding me, so that I may obey him as I would obey you. For the sake of good example and the virtue of obedience, in life and in death I always want you to be with me.”
– No one really becomes a fool until they stop asking questions.
11 – From that time until his death, he always had one of his companions as a guardian whom he obeyed in place of the general minister. One time he said to his companions: “Among other favors, the Most High has given me this grace: I would obey a novice who entered our religion today, if he were appointed my guardian, just as readily as I would obey him who is the first and the eldest in the life and religion of the brothers.
– It’s not until quite late in life that many discover how easy it is to say: I don’t know.
12 – A subject should not consider his prelate, a human being, but God, for love of Whom he is subject to him.” He likewise said: “There is no prelate in the whole world who would be as feared by his subjects and brothers as the Lord would make me feared by my brothers, if I wished. But the Most High gave me this grace: that I want to be content with all, as one who is lesser in the religion.”
– Life’s greatest tragedy is to lose God and not miss Him.
13 – We who were with him witnessed this often with our own eyes. Frequently, when some of the brothers did not provide for his needs, or said something to him that would ordinarily offend a person, he would immediately go to prayer.
– Visitors should always make us happy: some when they come and others when they leave.
14 – On returning, he did not want to remember it by saying “Brother so and so did not provide for me,” or “He said such and such to me.” The closer he approached death, the more careful he became in complete perfection to consider how he might live and die in complete humility and poverty.
– One can fail many times, but they are not a failure until they begin to blame somebody else.
[12] [AS HE IS DYING HE BLESSES BROTHER BERNARD AND PREDICTS HIS HOLY DEATH]
15 – The day Lady Jacoba prepared that confection for blessed Francis, the father remembered Bernard. “Brother Bernard likes this confection,” he said to his companions. Calling one of his companions, he told him: “Go, tell Brother Bernard to come to me immediately.”
– It is safer to err on the side of mercy.
16 – The brother went at once and brought him to blessed Francis. Sitting next to the bed where blessed Francis was lying, Brother Bernard said: “Father! I beg you, bless me and show me your love. I believe that, if you show me your love with fatherly affection, God Himself and the other brothers of the religion will love me more.”
– You cannot unsay a cruel word.
17 – Blessed Francis was not able to see him, since many days earlier he had lost his sight. Extending his right hand, he placed it on the head of Brother Giles, the third of the first brothers, who at that moment was sitting next to Brother Bernard. He thought he was placing it on the head of Brother Bernard.
– Every path has a few puddles.
18 – Feeling the head of Brother Giles, like a person going blind, he immediately recognized him by the Holy Spirit, and said, “This is not the head of my Brother Bernard.” Brother Bernard immediately drew closer to him. Blessed Francis, placing his hand on his head, blessed him.
– The best sermons are lived, not preached.
19 – “Write what I tell you,” he then said to one of his companions. “Brother Bernard was the first brother the Lord gave me. He began first and most perfectly fulfilled the perfection of the holy Gospel, distributing all his goods to the poor. Because of this and his many other prerogatives, I am bound to love him more than any other brother in the whole religion.
– Most of the things people worry about are never going to happen anyway.
20 – As much as I am able, it is my will and command that whoever becomes general minister should love and honor him as he would me. Let the other provincial ministers and the brothers of the whole religion hold him in my place.”
– Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
21 – Because of this, Brother Bernard was greatly consoled as were the other brothers who saw this. Another time, considering the outstanding perfection of Brother Bernard, blessed Francis prophesied about him in the presence of some of the brothers:
– Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
22 – “I tell you, some of the greatest and most cunning devils have been sent to test Brother Bernard. They will send him many trials and temptations. The merciful Lord, however, will deliver him toward the end of his life from all troubles and temptations, internal and external. And He will place his spirit and body in such peace, quiet, and consolation that all the brothers who see or hear of this will be greatly astonished, and consider it a great miracle.
– The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
23 – In this peace, quiet, and consolation of both body and soul, he will pass from this world to the Lord.” The brothers who heard this from blessed Francis were greatly astonished, since everything he predicted about him through the Holy Spirit came true, to the letter, point by point. In his last illness Brother Bernard was in such great peace and quiet of spirit that he did not want to lie down.
– One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day had been.
24 – if he lay down, he lay in a sitting position so that not even the lightest mist of humors would reach his head, inducing fantasies or dreams, rather than thoughts of God. And if this happened, he would immediately get up and strike himself, saying “What was that? Why was I thinking that way?”
– Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
25 – For relief, he gladly used to smell rose water, but as he drew closer to death, he refused to do even this, for the sake of constant meditation on God. He would say to anyone offering it: “Don’t distract me.” In order to die more freely, peacefully, and quietly, he deprived himself of care for his body, putting himself in the hands of one of the brothers who was a doctor and who was taking care of him.
– We find in life exactly what we put into it.
26 – “I do not wish to be concerned about eating or drinking,” he would say, “but I entrust myself to you. If you give me something, I’ll take it. If you don’t, then I won’t.” When he any thought entered his mind for which his conscience reproached him, he immediately confessed it and then said his penance.
– Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.
27 – After his death, his flesh became white and soft and he seemed to be smiling, so that he appeared more handsome after death than before. Whoever gazed on him experienced more delight in seeing him this way than when he was alive, because he looked like a saint who was smiling began to grow weaker, he wanted to have a priest brother with him at all times, until the hour of his death.
– Humor is to life what shock-absorbers are to automobiles.
[13] [BEFORE DYING HE SENDS A LETTER TO LADY CLARE, PROMISING THAT SHE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN]
28 – During the week in which blessed Francis died, Lady Clare was seriously ill. She was the first plant of the Order of Sisters, the abbess of the Poor Sisters of the monastery of San Damiano in Assisi, who emulated Saint Francis in observing always the poverty of the Son of God She feared that she would die before blessed Francis. She wept in bitterness of spirit and could not be comforted, because she would not be able before her death to see her only father after God, that is, blessed Francis, her comforter both internally and externally, and her first founder in God’s grace.
– To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.
29 – She sent word of this to blessed Francis through one of the brothers. Blessed Francis heard this and was moved to piety, since he loved her and her sisters with fatherly affection because of their holy manner of living, and especially because, a few years after he began to have brothers, she was converted to the Lord through his advice, working with the Lord. Her conversion not only greatly edified the religion of the brothers, but also the entire Church of God.
– Jesus can turn water into wine, but He cannot turn your whining into anything.
30 – Blessed Francis considered that what she desired, that is, to see him, could not be done then since they were both seriously ill. To console her, he wrote his blessing in a letter and also absolved her from any failings, if she had any, regarding his commands and wishes or the commands and wishes of the Son of God. Moreover, so that she would put aside all her grief and be consoled in the Lord, he, or rather the Spirit of God speaking through him, spoke to the brother she had sent. “Go and take this letter to Lady Clare, and tell her to put aside all her grief and sorrow over not being able to see me now. Let her be assured that before her death, both she and her sisters will see me and will receive the greatest consolation from me.”
– People are like tea-bags. You have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.
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
Wherever we are, in every place, at every hour, at every time of the day,
every day and continually,
let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love, honor, adore, serve,
praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks
to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God, Trinity and Unity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Creator of all, Savior of all who believe and hope in Him, and love Him, Who,
without beginning and end, is unchangeable, invisible, indescribable, ineffable,
incomprehensible, unfathomable, blessed, praiseworthy, glorious, exalted,
sublime, most high, gentle, lovable, delightful,
and totally desirable above all else for ever.
Amen.
(Prayer of Saint Francis taken from the Earlier Rule, chapter 23)
The daily excerpts from The Assisi Compilation
1 – FRANCIS DOES NOT WANT COMMANDS UNDER OBEDIENCE TO BE GIVEN LIGHTLY
1 – His opinion was that only rarely should something be commanded under obedience, for the weapon of last resort should not be the first one used. As he said, “The hand should not reach quickly for the sword.”
– The things that count most in life are the things that cannot be counted.
2 – He who does not hurry to obey what is commanded under obedience neither fears God nor respects man. Nothing could be truer. For what is command in a rash leader, but a sword in the hands of a madman? And what could be more hopeless than a religious who despises obedience?
– The intellect of the wise is like glass. It admits the light of heaven and reflects it.
2 – HE FORETELLS THE FUTURE OF THE ORDER
3 – Saint Francis also said: “A time will come when the religion loved by God will have such a bad reputation because of bad examples that it will be embarrassing to go out in public. Whoever comes to enter the Order at that time will be led only by the working of the Holy Spirit; flesh and blood will put no blot on them; they will be truly blessed by the Lord.
– I am more afraid of my good deeds that please me, than of my bad deeds that repel me.
4 – Although they will not do works of merit, for the love that makes saints work fervently will have grown cold, still they will undergo temptations; and whoever passes the tests of that time will be better than those who came before.
– Is anything too hard for the Lord?
5 – But woe to them who congratulate themselves over the appearance of a religious way of living, those numbed by idleness, those who do not firmly resist the temptations which are permitted to test the chosen! Only those who are tested will receive the crown of life, those who in the meantime are disturbed by the malice of the wicked.”
– To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil then you are overdoing it.
3 – THE LORD SHOWS HIM WHEN HE IS BEING A TRUE SERVANT OF GOD
6 – “Brothers,” he would also say, “I prayed to the Lord that he might deign to show me when I am his servant and when I am not, for I want to be nothing except his servant. And now the gracious Lord himself in his mercy is giving me this answer: ‘Know that you are in truth my servant when you think, speak, and do things that are holy.’ And so I have called you brothers because I want to be shamed in front of you if ever I am not doing any of those three”. – No one is more confusing than the one who gives good advice while setting a bad example.
4 – A BROTHER TELLS HIM THAT HIS BODY WILL BE HONORED AFTER HIS DEATH
7 – One day when blessed Francis lay sick in the palace of the bishop of Assisi, one of the brothers, a spiritual and holy man, smiling and playfully, said to him: “You will sell all your sackcloth to the Lord for a good price! Many canopies and silk coverings will hang over this body of yours now clothed in sackcloth.” At the time Saint Francis, on account of his illness, wore a fur cap covered with sackcloth as well as a tunic of sackcloth. With great fervor of spirit and joy blessed Francis—not himself, but the Holy Spirit through him—answered: “You’re right because that’s how it will be.”
– If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.
5 – HE BLESSES ASSISI AS HE IS BEING CARRIED TO SAINT MARY OF THE PORTIUNCULA
8 – While he was staying in that palace, blessed Francis, realizing that he was getting sicker by the day, had himself carried on a litter to the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, since he could not ride horseback because of his severe illness. When those who were carrying him passed by the hospital along the road, he asked them to place the litter 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.
– If I have no love, no matter what fabulous things I may be able to do, I am nothing.
9 – Raising himself up slightly on the litter, he blessed the city of Assisi. “Lord,” he said, “just as I believe that at an earlier time this city was the abode of wicked and evil men, with a bad reputation throughout all this region; so now I realize that, because of Your abundant mercy and in Your own time, You have shown an abundance of mercies to it. – It is impossible for the Church to remain on its feet if it doesn’t get on its knees.
10 – Now it has become the abode of those who acknowledge You, give glory to Your name, offer the fragrance of good life, doctrine, and good reputation to the whole Christian people. I ask you, therefore, Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies, not to consider our ingratitude.
– The more the world is at its worst, the more we need the Church at its best.
11 – May it always be mindful of the abundant mercies which You have shown to it, that it always be an abode for those who acknowledge You, and glorify Your name blessed and glorious throughout the ages. Amen.” After saying these things, he was carried to Saint Mary of the Portiuncula.
– The family was before the Church or rather the first form of the Church was the family.
6 – AT THE NEWS OF HIS COMING DEATH HE HAS THE BROTHERS SING THE CANTICLE OF BROTHER SUN, WITH A WITH A NEW VERSE FOR SISTER DEATH
12 – From the time of his conversion till the day of his death, blessed Francis, whether healthy or sick, was always concerned to know and follow the will of the Lord.
– We see things not as they are but as we are.
7 – PRAISE BE YOU, MY LORD, THROUGH OUR SISTER BODILY DEATH
13 – One day a brother said to blessed Francis: “Father, your life and manner of living were and are a light and a mirror not only for your brothers but also for the entire Church of God, and your death will be the same. Although for the brothers and many others your death will mean great grief and sorrow, for you it will rather be a great consolation and infinite joy.
– We are not completely born until we are dead.
14 – You will pass from great toil to the greatest rest, from many sorrows and temptations to infinite happiness, from your great poverty, which you always loved and carried from the beginning of your conversion till the day of your death, to the greatest, true, and infinite riches, from death in time to life in eternity. There you will forever behold face to face the Lord your God whom you have contemplated in this world with so much desire and love.”
– In the end it will not matter with what we fought. It will matter on what side we fought.
15 – After saying these things he said to him openly: “Father, you should know the truth: unless the Lord sends his own remedy from heaven to your body, your sickness is incurable and, as the doctors already said, you do not have long to live.
– Children, especially, set their watches by our clock.
16 – I told you this to comfort your spirit, that you may always rejoice in the Lord, inside and out; especially so that your brothers and others who come to visit you may find you rejoicing in the Lord, since they know and believe that you will die soon. Thus, as they see this and, after your death, others hear about it, your death, like your life and manner of living, may be held in remembrance by all.”
– Never let anything so fill you with sorrow that you forget the joy of the Risen Christ.
17 – Although racked with sickness, blessed Francis praised God with great fervor of spirit and joy of body and soul, and told him: “If I am to die soon, call Brother Angelo and Brother Leo that they may sing to me about Sister Death.”
– Prayer is talking something over with God, rather than trying to talk God out of something.
18 – Those brothers came to him and, with many tears, sang the Canticle of Brother Sun and the other creatures of the Lord, which the Saint himself had composed in his illness for the praise of the Lord and the consolation of his own soul and that of others.
– The more we depend on God, the more dependable God becomes.
19 – Before the last stanza he added one about Sister Death: “Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.”
– When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord.
8 – LADY JACOBA, INSPIRED IN PRAYER, COMES FROM ROME TO PROVIDE FOR HIS BURIAL
20 – One day blessed Francis called his companions to himself: “You know how faithful and devoted Lady Jacoba dei Settesoli was and is to me and to our religion. Therefore, I believe she would consider it a great favor and consolation if you notified her about my condition.
– We must constantly guard against forming our belief to our behavior rather than our behavior to our belief.
21 – Above all, tell her to send you some cloth for a tunic of religious cloth the color of ashes, like the cloth made by Cistercian monks in the region beyond the Alps. Have her also send some of that confection which she often made for me when I was in the City. This confection, made of almonds, sugar or honey, and other things, the Romans call mostacciolo.
That spiritual woman was a holy widow, devoted to God. She belonged to one of the more noble and wealthy families of the entire City.
– An empty meaningless faith may be worse than none.
22 – Through the merits and words of blessed Francis she had obtained such grace from God that she seemed like another Magdalene, always full of tears and devotion for love of God. After the letter was written, as dictated by the holy father, while one brother was looking for another one to deliver the letter, there was a knock at the door. When one of the brothers opened the gate, he saw Lady Jacoba who had hurried from the City to visit blessed Francis. With great joy the brother immediately went to tell blessed Francis that Lady Jacoba had come to visit him with her son and many other people.
– People find their way to heaven more by a path of footprints than by a pack of road maps.
23 – “What shall we do, Father,” he said, “shall we allow her to enter and come in here?” He said this because blessed Francis a long time ago had ordered that in that place no women should enter that cloister out of respect and devotion for that place. Blessed Francis answered him: “This command need not be observed in the case of this lady whose faith and devotion made her come here from so far away.”And in this way, she came in to see blessed Francis, crying many tears in his presence. It was amazing: she brought with her shroud-cloth, that is, gray-colored cloth, for a tunic, and all the other things that were written in the letter. This made the brothers greatly marvel at the holiness of blessed Francis.
– A mistake doesn’t make an error until I refuse to correct it.
24 – “While I was praying,” Lady Jacoba told the brothers, “a voice within me said ‘Go, visit your father, blessed Francis, without delay, and hurry, because if you delay long you will not find him alive. Moreover, take such and such cloth for his tunic, as well as the ingredients for making that particular confection. Take with you also a great quantity of wax and incense.’”
– Every bigot was once a child free of prejudice.
25 – Blessed Francis did not have incense written in the letter, but the Lord Himself willed to inspire that lady as a reward and consolation for her soul. In this way we would more easily recognize the great holiness of that saint, that poor man, whom the heavenly Father wished to honor so greatly in the days he was dying.
– Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.
26 – He inspired the Kings to travel with gifts to honor the child, His beloved Son, in the days of His birth and His poverty.
So too He willed to inspire this noble lady in a faraway region to travel with gifts to honor and venerate the glorious and holy body of His servant the saint, who loved and followed the poverty of His beloved Son with so much fervor and love in life and in death. One day that lady made that confection the holy father wanted to eat.
– Going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.
27 – He ate only a little of it, however, since he was near death, and daily his body was becoming weaker on account of his illness. She also had many candles made which would burn around his holy body after his death. From the cloth she had brought for his tunic, the brothers made him the tunic in which he was buried. He himself ordered the brothers to sew pieces of sackcloth on the outside of it as a sign and example of most holy humility and poverty. It happened, as it pleased God, that during the same week that Lady Jacoba arrived, blessed Francis passed to the Lord.
– No Christian escapes a taste of wilderness on the way to the Promised Land.
9 – HE WANTS HIS BROTHERS TO SERVE LEPERS AS A SIGN OF HUMILITY AND POVERTY
28 – From the beginning of his conversion blessed Francis, with God’s help, like a wise man, established himself and his house, that is, the religion, upon a firm rock, the greatest humility and poverty of the Son of God, calling it the religion of “Lesser Brothers.”
– All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.
29 – On the greatest humility: thus at the beginning of the religion, after the brothers grew in number, he wanted the brothers to stay in hospitals of lepers to serve them. At that time whenever nobles and commoners came to the religion, they were told, among other things, that they had to serve the lepers and stay in their houses.
– Christianity is feet on the ground going God’s way.
30 – On the greatest poverty: as stated in the Rule, let the brothers remain as strangers and pilgrims in the houses in which they stay. Let them not seek to have anything under heaven, except holy poverty, by which, in this world, they are nourished by the Lord with bodily food and virtue, and, in the next, will attain a heavenly inheritance. He established himself on the greatest poverty and humility, because, although he was a great prelate in the church of God, he wanted and chose to be lowly not only in the church of God, but also among his brothers.
– Have courage and patience through the sorrows of life. Go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
Thank God ahead of time when praying
For the past we learned from,
For the present we live based on what we learned
For the future in God’s all-providing love and providence
Laudato Si’ my Lord God for being 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
During the centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures it could be a brief meditative opportunity for us to recite the Canticle some time each day as an act of Thanksgiving and Praise for the Gift of Life.
Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You
and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they 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.
(excerpts taken from the Three Companions and the sayings from various sources)
HOW HE DID NOT WANT TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE, OR ALLOW IT TO BE EXTINGUISHED, THAT WAS BURNING HIS BREECHES
1 – Among all the lesser and inanimate creatures, he loved fire with singular affection because of its beauty and usefulness. That is why he never wanted to impede its function. – Time never takes time off.
2 – Once when he was sitting close to a fire, without being aware of it, his linen pants or breeches next to the knee caught fire. – Time is the deposit each one has in the bank of God and no one knows the balance.
3 – Although he felt the heat of the fire, he did not want to extinguish it. His companion, however, seeing that the fire was burning his pants, ran to him, wanting to put out the fire. – It is magnificent to grow old, if one keeps young.
4 – Blessed Francis prohibited him saying: “No, dearest brother, do not hurt Brother Fire.” And thus, in no way did he want him to extinguish it. – We live in deeds not years.
5 – So the brother quickly ran to the brother who was his guardian, and brought him to blessed Francis. At once, contrary to the will of blessed Francis, he began to extinguish the fire.
– We live in thoughts not breaths.
6 – Because of this, however urgent the need, he never wanted to extinguish a fire, a lamp, or a candle, moved as he was with such piety for it.
– God wants the heart.
7 – He also did not want a brother to throw fire or smoldering wood from one place to another, as is usually done, but wanted him simply to place it on the ground, out of reverence for Him who created it.
– A person of integrity, sincerity, and good nature can never be concealed.
HOW HE DID NOT WANT TO USE A PELT BECAUSE HE DID NOT ALLOW IT TO BE BURNED BY FIRE
8 – While he was keeping a lent on Mount La Verna, his companion built a fire at mealtime one day in the cell where he ate.
– My worth to God in public is what I am in private.
9 – Once the fire was lit, he went for blessed Francis to another cell where he usually prayed, carrying with him a missal in order to read to him the Gospel of the day.
– Nothing is of any worth is it causes one to break one’s word or lose their self-respect.
10 – Whenever he was unable to hear Mass, he always wanted to hear the Gospel that was read on that day, before he would eat.
– The measure of one’s true character is what they would do if they were never found out.
11 – When blessed Francis came to eat in the cell where the fire was lit, the flames had already reached the roof of the cell and were burning it.
– The freedom to communicate for a Christian requires integrity and love.
12 – His companion tried his best to extinguish the fire but could not do it by himself. But blessed Francis did not want to help him: he took the hide that he used to cover himself at night, and went into the forest with it.
– Power is never good unless the person who has it is good.
13 – The brothers of the place, who stayed some distance from this cell, seeing that the cell was burning, immediately came and extinguished the fire.
– A good name is better than wealth.
14 – Afterwards, blessed Francis returned to eat. After the meal, he said to his companion: “From now on, I don’t want this hide over me since, because of my avarice, I did not want Brother Fire to consume it.”
– Patience can attain all things.
THE EXCEPTIONAL LOVE HE HAD FOR WATER, STONES, WOOD AND FLOWERS
15 – Next to fire he had a singular love for water through which holy penance and tribulation is symbolized and by which the filth of the soul is washed clean and because of which the first cleansing of the soul takes place through the waters of Baptism.
– By perseverance the snail reached the ark.
16 – Because of this, when he washed his hands, he chose a place where the water that fell to the ground would not be trampled underfoot.
– Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.
17 – Whenever he had to walk over rocks, he would walk with great fear and reverence out of love for Him who is called “the rock.” Whenever he recited the verse of the psalm, “You have set me high upon the rock,” he would say, out of great reverence and devotion: “You have set me high at the foot of the rock.”
– Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.
18 – He also told the brother who cut and prepared the wood for the fire never to cut down the whole tree, but to cut the tree in such a way that one part always remained intact out of love for Him Who willed to accomplish our salvation on the wood of the cross.
– The Word of God became man that you also may learn from a man how a man can become a God.
19 – In the same way he used to tell the brother who took care of the garden not to cultivate all the ground in the garden for vegetables, but to leave a piece of ground that would produce wild plants.
– Real unselfishness consists in sharing the interests of others.
20 – Thus, in their season, they would produce “Brother Flowers” out of love of Him Who is called “the flower of the field” and “the lily of the valley.”
– They that deny themselves for Christ shall enjoy themselves in Christ.
21 – Moreover, he used to tell the brother gardener that he should always make a beautiful flower bed in some part of the garden, planting and cultivating every variety of fragrant plants and those producing beautiful flowers.
– The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of oneself to others.
22 – Thus, in their time they would invite all who saw those herbs and those flowers to the praise of God.
– You give little when you give of your possessions.
23 – For every creature says and exclaims: “God made me for you, O mortal!” We who were with him saw him rejoice so much, inwardly and outwardly, in all creatures, that touching and looking at them, his spirit seemed no longer on earth but in heaven.
– You truly give when you give of yourself.
24 – And because of the many consolations he had and continued to have in creatures, shortly before his death, he composed the Praises of the Lord in His creatures to move the hearts of his listeners to the praise of God, and so that in His creatures the Lord might be praised by everyone.
– The first creature of God was the light of sense, the last was the light of reason.
HOW HE PRAISED THE SUN AND FIRE OVER OTHER CREATURES
25 – More than all creatures lacking reason, he most affectionately loved the sun and fire.
– When you walk towards the light, the shadow of your burden falls behind you.
26 – For he used to say: “At dawn, when the sun rises, everyone should praise God, who created it for our use, because through it our eyes are lighted by day.
– People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy.
27 – And in the evening, when it becomes night, everyone should praise God for another creature, Brother Fire through whom the eyes are lighted at night.
– If we behaved like true Christians, there would be no pagans.
28 – For we are all almost blind, and the Lord lights up our eyes through these two brothers of ours. And, therefore, we should always give special praise to the glorious Creator for these and for His other creatures which we use every day.”
– God did not make us perfect but pilgrims searching after perfection.
29 – He always did this until the day of his death. Indeed, when his illness grew more serious, he himself began to sing the Praises of the Lord that he had composed about creatures, and afterwards had his companions sing it, so that in reflecting on the praise of the Lord, he could forget the sharpness of his pains and illnesses.
– To possess all, desire to possess nothing.
30 – And because he considered and said that the sun is more beautiful than other creatures, and could more easily be compared to God, especially since, in Scripture, the Lord Himself is called the sun of justice;
– Read the Bible to know what people ought to do and the newspaper to know what they are doing.
31 – he therefore called those Praises he composed for creatures when the Lord had assured him of His kingdom the “Canticle of Brother Sun.”
– Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them.
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
O loving one
bear in mind your poor children for whom, without you, their one and only consolation,
there is little comfort… they still .. tearfully cry out to you:
O father,
place before Jesus Christ, son of the Most High Father, His sacred stigmata;
and show Him the signs of the cross on your hands, feet, and side,
that He may mercifully bare His own wounds to the Father,
and because of this the Father will ever show us in our anguish His tenderness.
Amen.
Prayer to St. Francis from the End of the Second Book of the Life of St. Francis by Bl.Thomas of Celano
Random quotes from various sources
OF THE FIFTH AND LAST CONSIDERATION OF THE MOST HOLY STIGMATA
(taken from the Little Flowers of St. Francis)
1 – The fifth and last consideration regards certain visions and revelations and miracles God made known after the death of St. Francis, in confirmation of his most holy Stigmata, and for a declaration of the day and the hour when Christ gave them unto him. Concerning this, in the year of our Lord 1282 on the . . . day of the month of October, Friar Philip, Minister of Tuscany, at the commandment of Friar John Buonagrazia, Minister-General, in the name of holy obedience, asked Friar Matthew of Castiglione Aretino, a man of great devotion and sanctity, to tell what he knew concerning the day and the hour when the most holy Stigmata were imprinted by Christ on the body of St. Francis; because he heard that he had had a revelation about this matter. – Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.
2 – Whereupon Friar Matthew, compelled by holy obedience, answered him saying: “While I was in the community of Alvernia, last year in the month of May, I went one day to prayer in my cell, which is on the spot where it is believed that that seraphic vision took place. In my prayer I asked God most devoutly that He would reveal to some person the day and the hour and the place that the most holy Stigmata were imprinted upon the body of St. Francis; and, when I had continued in prayer the first watch, St. Francis appeared to me with very great radiance, and said unto me: ‘Son, for what are you praying to God?’ – There is nothing small in the service of God.
3 – And I said unto him: ‘Father, I pray for such and such a thing’. And he said unto me: ‘I am your Father Francis. Do you know me well?’ ‘Father,’ I said, ‘yes.’ Then he showed me the most holy Stigmata in his hands and feet and side, and said: ‘The time has come when God wills that that, which for a time the friars have not been curious to know, shall be made known for His glory. – Accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.
4 – Know that He Who appeared unto me was not an angel, but was Jesus Christ, in the form of a Seraph, who, with his own hands, imprinted on my body these wounds, even as He received them in His body on the Cross. – Hope is the first thing to take some sort of action.
5 – And this is how it happened: On the day before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, an angel came to me, and, in God’s name, told me to be ready and patient and to receive what God might will to send me. And I answered that I was ready to receive and to endure everything that in God’s good pleasure He desired to send me. Thereafter, on the following morning, the morning of [the festival of the] Holy Cross, which that year fell on a Friday; at daybreak I came forth from my cell, in very great fervor of spirit, and went to pray in this place where thou now are and where I often prayed, and, as I prayed, through the air, there came down from heaven, with great swiftness, a young man crucified, in the form of a Seraph with six wings; at which marvelous sight I humbly kneeled down and began to contemplate devoutly the boundless love of Jesus Christ crucified, and the boundless pain of His passion. – Hope ever urges us on and tells us tomorrow will be better.
6 – The sight of Him engendered in me such pity that I verily seemed to feel His passion in my own body; and, at His presence, all this mountain shone as the sun; and, so descending, He approached me. And, standing before me, He said certain secret words to me, which I have not yet revealed to anyone; but the time approaches when they shall be revealed. Then, after a while, Christ departed, and returned to heaven, and I found myself thus marked with these wounds. – Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.
7 – Go then,’ said St. Francis, ‘and tell these things to your minister doubting nothing; for this is the operation not of man but of God.’ And, when he had said these words, St. Francis blessed me and went back to heaven with a great multitude of youths, exceeding bright.” All these things Friar Matthew said he had seen and heard, not sleeping but awake. And he swore that he had truthfully told these things to the said minister in his cell at Florence, when he inquired of him concerning the same for obedience’ sake. – To be a sinner is our distress but to know it is our hope.
HOW A HOLY FRIAR, READING THE LEGEND OF ST. FRANCIS IN THE CHAPTER OF THE MOST HOLY STIGMATA, PRAYED SO MUCH TO GOD CONCERNING THE SECRET WORDS, WHICH THE SERAPH SPOKE TO ST. FRANCIS. WHEN HE APPEARED TO HIM, THAT ST. FRANCIS REVEALED THEM UNTO THE SAID FRIAR
8 – At another time, a devout and holy friar, while reading the legend of St. Francis in the chapter of the most holy Stigmata, began with great trouble of spirit to consider what those so secret words could have been, which St. Francis said that he would not reveal to any one while he lived, which the Seraph had spoken to him when He appeared to him. And this friar said within himself: “St. Francis willed not to speak those words to any one during his lifetime; but now, after his bodily death, perchance he would tell them, if he were prayed devoutly so to do”.- Every child comes into the world with a message that God does not yet despair of man.
9 – And from then on, the devout friar began to pray God and St. Francis that they would vouchsafe to reveal those words. This friar continued eight years praying thus. In the eighth year he merited to be heard. One day, after eating, thanks having been given in the church, he was in prayer in a certain part of the church, and was praying to God and St. Francis concerning this matter, more devoutly than he usual wont, and with many tears; when he was called by another friar, who commanded him in the name of the Guardian to accompany him to the town for the good of the Place. Not doubting that obedience is more meritorious than prayer, as soon as he had heard the commandment of his superior, he humbly left off praying and went with the friar that called him. – Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, but nothing can be done without hope.
10 – And, as God willed it, he, by this act of ready obedience, merited what he had not merited by his long praying. No sooner than they had gone from the gate of the Place, they met two strange friars, who appeared to have come from a far country; and one of them seemed a young man and the other old and lean; and, by reason of the bad weather, they were all muddy and wet. Wherefore that obedient friar had great compassion for them, and said unto the companion, with whom he was going: “Mt dear brother, if the business we are going on may wait a little, since these strange friars have great need to be charitably received, I ask you to permit me first to go and wash their feet, and especially those of this aged friar, who has the greater need, and you will be able to wash those of this younger one, after we will go about the business of the convent”. – All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.
11 – Then this friar consenting to the charitable desire of his companion, went back and received those strange friars very charitably, and took them into the kitchen to the fire to warm and dry themselves. At the fire eight other friars of the Place were warming themselves. And, after they had been a little while at the fire, they took (the two friars) aside to wash their feet, as they had agreed to do. – Love means to love that which is unlovable.
12 – And while that obedient and devout friar was washing the feet of the older friar, and removing the mud the feet, for they were very muddy, he looked and saw that his feet were marked with the most holy Stigmata and for joy and wonder he embraced them closely, and began to cry aloud: “Either thou art Christ, or thou art St. Francis”. – Forgiving means to pardon the unpardonable.
13 – At that cry and at those words, the friars at the fire, arose and approached with great fear and reverence to see those glorious stigmata. And then, at their prayer, this ancient friar permitted them clearly to see and touch and kiss them. And, while they marveled yet more for joy, he said to them: “Doubt not and fear not, dearest friars and sons; I am your father Friar Francis, who, according to the will of God, founded three Orders. And seeing that, for eight years, I have been entreated by this friar, who is washing my feet, and to-day more fervently than ever before, that I would reveal unto him those secret words which the Seraph spoke to me when He gave me the stigmata, the words I resolved never to reveal in my lifetime, to-day, by the commandment of God, by reason of his perseverance and the ready obedience with which he left the sweetness of contemplation, I am sent by God to reveal to him, before you all, that which he asks.” – Faith means believing the unbelievable.
14 – And then, turning to that friar, St. Francis spaid: “Know, dearest friar, that, when I was upon the mountain of Alvernia, wholly absorbed in the remembrance of the passion of Christ in that seraphic apparition, I was by Christ thus marked on my body with the Stigmata, and then Christ said to me: ‘Do you know what I have done to you? I have given you the tokens of My passion, so that thou may be My standard-bearer. – If it were not for hope the heart would break.
15 – And even as I, on the day of My death, descended into Limbo, and, in virtue of these My Stigmata, drew out from there all the souls I found there, and took them to Paradise; so to you do I grant even from this hour, to the end that thou may be conformed to Me in death as thou hast been in life, that, after thou shall have passed from this life, every year on the day of your death, thou shall go to Purgatory, and, in virtue of your Stigmata which I have given youe, shall draw out from there all the souls of your three Orders, minors, sisters and continents, and, beyond this, those others whom thou shall find there, who were devoted to you, and shall lead them to Paradise.’ – Thought and feeling do not matter. We shall be judged only by our will.
16 – And these words I never spoke while I lived in the world.” And, when he had said these words, St. Francis and his companion suddenly vanished away. Many friars afterwards heard this from those eight friars who were present at this vision and at these words of St. Francis. – Don’t wait for the Last Judgment. It takes place every day.
HOW ST. FRANCIS, AFTER HIS DEATH, APPEARED TO FRIAR JOHN OF ALVERNIA, WHILE HE WAS PRAYING
17 – Once, on the mountain of Alvernia, St. Francis appeared to Friar John of Alvernia, a man of great sanctity, while he was praying, and stayed and spole with him for a very long time; and, at the last, desiring to depart, he said: “Ask of me what you wish”. Said Friar John: “Father, I pray you tell me what I have long desired to know: What were you doing, where were you, when the Seraph appeared to you”. – Human beings judge one another by their external actions. God judges them by their moral choice.
18 – St. Francis answered: “I was praying in that place where the chapel of Count Simon da Battifolle now is, and I was requesting two graces of my Lord Jesus Christ. The first was that He would grant me to feel, in this life, in my soul and in my body, as far as might be possible, all that pain which He Himself felt at the time of His most bitter passion. The second grace which I asked of Him was likewise that I might feel in my heart that intense love He was enkindled to bear so great passion for us sinners. – Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory.
19 – And then God put it in my heart that He would grant I feel both one and the other, as much as was possible for a mere creature, and this was abundantly fulfilled in me at the imprinting of the Stigmata.” – No one is truly alive in the art of living till they have been well tempted.
20 – Then Friar John asked him whether those secret words which the Seraph had spoken to him had been even such as were rehearsed by that holy friar aforesaid, who declared that he had heard them from St. Francis in the presence of eight friars. St. Francis replied that the truth was even as that friar had said. – You cannot run away from a weakness. You must sometime fight it or perish.
21 – Thereupon, Friar John, encouraged by the liberality of the granter, took heart to ask yet more, and said: “O father, I beseech thee most earnestly that thou grant me to behold and to kiss your most holy and glorious Stigmata; not because I doubt in any way, but only for my consolation; for this have I always yearned”.- God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength.
22 – And, St. Francis freely showing them and offering them to him, Friar John clearly saw and touched and kissed them. And, at the last, he asked him: “Father, how great consolation had your soul, beholding Christ the Blessed coming to you to give you the marks of His most holy Passion? Now would to God that I might feel a little of that sweetness!” – Happiness in this life consists in the mastery of our passions.
23 – Then St. Francis made answer: “See these nails?” Said Friar John: “Father, yes”. “Touch again,” said St. Francis, “this nail which is in my hand.” Then Friar John, with great reverence and fear, touched that nail, and immediately, as he touched it, so great a perfume issued from it, as though it were a thin spiral of smoke, like of incense, and, entering through the nose of Friar John, filled his soul and body with so much sweetness, that he was rapt in God in ecstasy, and became insensible; and he remained rapt from that hour, which was the hour of Terce, even until Vespers. – A possibility is a hint from God.
24 – And of this vision and familiar conversation with St. Francis Friar John never spoke to any man, save only to his confessor, until he was about to die; but, being near his death, he revealed it to many friars. – God’s will is not an itinerary but an attitude.
OF A HOLY FRIAR WHO SAW A WONDERFUL VISION
OF ONE OF HIS COMPANIONS WHO WAS DEAD
25 – In the Province of Rome, a very devout and holy friar saw this marvelous vision. A certain friar, a very dear companion of his, having died one night, was buried, in the morning, before the entrance of the chapter-house; and, on the same day, after dinner, that friar went to a corner of the chapter-house to pray God and St. Francis devoutly for the soul of that dead friar his companion. And, as he persevered in prayer with supplications and tears, at noon, when all the others were gone away to sleep, he heard a great noise as of one being dragged through the cloister; whereat immediately with great fear he turned his eyes toward the grave of his companion, and saw St. Francis standing there at the entrance of the chapter-house, and behind him a great multitude of friars round about the said grave. – Prayer is no other but the revelation of the will or mind of God.
26 – He looked beyond, and saw in the midst of the cloister a very great flaming fire, and in the flames was the soul of his companion who was dead. He looked round the cloister and he saw Jesus Christ walking round the cloister with a great company of angels and of saints. And, while he gazed upon these things and marveled much, he saw that, when Christ passed before the chapter-house, St. Francis kneeled down with all those friars and spoke thus: “I beseech You, my dearest Father and Lord, that, through the inestimable charity which You showed Yourself to the human race in Your Incarnation, – What is most often asked of God is not His Will or Way but His approval of our way.
27 – Thou wilt have mercy on the soul of this my friar, who is burning in that flame”; and Christ answered him never a word but passed on. And, when He returned, the second time, and passed before the chapter-house, St. Francis again kneeled down with his friars, as the first time, and begged Him: “I pray You, merciful Father and Lord, through the boundless charity which You showed the human race when You died upon the wood of the cross, that Thou will have mercy on the soul of this my friar”. – Do not live in the past nor be anxious about the future, but quietly live the present in the hands of God.
28 – And Christ passed on as before and did not answer him. And going round the cloister He returned the third time and passed before the chapter-house, and then St. Francis, kneeling down as before, showed Him his hands and his feet and his side and said: “I beseech You, merciful Father and Lord, by that great pain and great consolation which I endured when You set these Stigmata in my flesh, that You have pity on the soul of this my friar who is in that fire of purgatory”. – If you want to disobey God, look for a place where He cannot see you.
29 – O wonderful thing! No sooner was Christ prayed that third time by St. Francis in the name of his Stigmata, than He forthwith stayed His steps and, looking upon the stigmata, gave ear to his prayer and said: “To you, Francis, I grant the soul of your friar”. And in this, of a surety, He willed to honor and confirm the glorious Stigmata of St. Francis, and openly to signify that the souls of his friars, who go to Purgatory, can in no way be more easily delivered from their pains and brought to the glory of Paradise, than by virtue of his Stigmata, according to the words which Christ spoke to St. Francis when He imprinted them upon him. – I cannot receive now what God will offer me tomorrow.
30 – Wherefore, as soon as these words had been spoken, that fire in the cloister vanished, and the dead friar came to St. Francis: and, together with him and with Christ, all that blessed company went up into heaven with their glorious King. For the which cause, this friar his companion, who had prayed for him, was exceeding glad when he saw him delivered from his pains and taken to paradise; and thereafter he told all that vision in order to the other friars, and together with them gave praise and thanks to God. – Nothing is small or great in God’s sight, whatever He wills becomes great to us.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on June 7th, 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
May 2024
Though reflecting each month of the Jubilee Year celebrating the 800th anniversary of the reception of the Stigmata of the Christ by St. Francis of Assisi, the following prayer, composed by St. Francis, mat be recited is each day of this month to the Mother and Queen of our Seraphic Family.
Hail, O Lady,
Holy Queen,
Mary, holy Mother of God,
Who are the Virgin made Church,
Chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
Whom he consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
And with the Holy Spirit and Paraclete,
In whom there was and is
All fullness of grace and every good.
Hail His Palace!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!
Daily excerpts from the Little Flowers of St. Francis, Fourth Consideration of the Stigmata.
Daily quotes from various spiritual writers.
Of the Fourth Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
1 – As for the fourth consideration, it is worth knowing that, after the true love of Christ perfectly transformed Saint Francis into God and the true image of Christ crucified, the forty-day Lent in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel in the saint Mount Alverna, after the solemnity of Saint Michael, the angelic man Francis came down from the mountain with Brother Leo and a devout farmer, on whose donkey he was riding, since, because of the nails in his feet, he could not walk, but with great difficulty. – Do not have Jesus on your lips and the world in your heart.
2 – Having, therefore, descended from Mount Alverna, the fame of his holiness had already spread throughout the region and the shepherds had spread the fact of having seen Mount Alverna in flames, which was a sign that God had performed some miracle. To Saint Francis, all the people of the country, upon hearing that he was passing, came to see him. Men and women, small and large, all strove to touch him and kiss his hand with great devotion. – Carry the cross patiently and in the end it will carry.
3 – Not being able to escape the devotion of the people, although he had his palms bandaged, however, to better hide the sores, he still wrapped them and covered them with his sleeves, and only allowed the exposed fingers to be kissed. But, no matter how much he tried to hide and conceal the secret of the glorious wounds to flee from every occasion of worldly glory. – Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.
4 – It pleased God to manifest his glory with many miracles performed by the virtue of said wounds. Above all, on this journey from Mount Alverna to Santa María degli Ángeli, and later, with many others in different parts of the world, both during his life and after his death, so that his hidden and wonderful virtue and the measureless charity and mercy of Christ towards him through clear and evident wonders, of which we enumerate some here. – Which are you: a stumbling block or a stepping stone?
5 – It happened that, as Saint Francis approached a village on the edge of the Arezzo region, a woman stood before him, crying bitterly and carrying in her arms her eight-year-old son, who had been suffering from dropsy for four years; His belly was so disproportionately inflated that, standing upright, his feet could not be seen. The woman put the son in front of her, begging St. Francis to ask God for him. Saint Francis put himself first in prayer; Once this was finished, he placed his hands on the child’s belly. Immediately all the swelling disappeared and he was perfectly healthy, and he returned him to his mother, who received him with great joy and took him home, giving thanks to God and his saint. And she very gladly showed the cured son to the entire neighborhood who came to her house to see him. – Life can be understood backward but it must be lived forward.
6 – That same day Saint Francis passed through Borgo San Sepolcro. Before he reached the town, a crowd of people from the city and neighboring villages came out to meet him; Many of them went before him with olive branches in their hands and shouting loudly: — Here comes the saint, here comes the saint! – Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
7 – And people crowded and pressed on him in their desire to touch him out of devotion. But he went with his mind so elevated and absorbed in God through contemplation, that, no matter how much they touched him, pulled him, and squeezed him, as if he were insensitive, he did not feel anything that happened or was said around him, and He didn’t even realize that he was passing through the city or the region. – To repent is to take God’s point of view rather than my own.
8 – In fact, when they had passed Borgo and the crowd had returned to their homes, upon reaching a leprosarium a mile beyond Borgo, he came to himself from the celestial contemplation, and, as if coming from the other world, asked his companion: — When do we get to Borgo? – We see things not as they are but as we are.
9 – In truth, his spirit, fixed and absorbed in the contemplation of heavenly things, had not realized the things of earth, nor the diversity of places and times, nor the people he met. This also happened to him other times, as his companions could clearly verify. – How else but through a broken heart can the Lord Christ enter in?
10 – That night Saint Francis arrived at the hermitage that the brothers had in Monte Casale, where there was a brother so pitifully ill and horribly tormented by a disease, that his illness seemed more like tribulation or torment from the devil than a natural illness. He sometimes threw himself on the ground with great convulsions and foaming at the mouth; other times all the members of his body would contract, or they would distend or retract and twist until they touched the back of his neck with his heels; or else he would throw himself up and then fall on his back. – The effect of our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ is to change us into what we receive.
11 – While Saint Francis was at table with his people, he heard them talk about this brother, a hopeless victim of such a pitiful illness, and he had compassion for him; He took a slice of bread that he was eating, made the sign of the cross on it with his holy stigmatized hands and sent it to the sick brother. As soon as he had eaten it, the patient was perfectly cured and never felt that illness again. – Knowing the truth and not doing it is as foolish as writing a love letter and not sending it.
12 – The next morning, Saint Francis sent two of the brothers who were in that hermitage to live in Alverna, and with them he sent along the farmer who had come with him, so that he could return to his home. The brothers went along with the farmer, and when they reached the territory of Arezzo, some of the inhabitants saw them from afar and were filled with joy thinking that Saint Francis was coming, who had passed through there two days before. – Our lives belong not to us alone but to all who need us.
13 – Now, the wife of one of them had been in childbirth pain for three days and she was about to die. They hoped that she would recover her health if they managed to get Saint Francis to place his holy hands on her. But, as the brothers approached, they were saddened that Saint Francis was not among them. But although the Saint was not physically present, his power was not lacking, because the faith of those men was not lacking. Admirable thing! The woman was dying and she already had all the signs of death. They asked the brothers if they had anything that had been touched by the most holy hands of Saint Francis. – Prayer is an expression that we are living incompleteness.
14 – The brothers searched with interest, and found nothing else that Saint Francis had touched but what he was seated on while riding the donkey. They took it with great reverence and devotion and placed it on the body of the pregnant woman, devoutly invoking the name of Saint Francis and entrusting her to him with faith. As soon as the object touched the woman, she immediately felt out of danger and gave birth easily with joy and health. – When you betray somebody else, you betray yourself.
15 – After a stay of several days in the hermitage, he left there and headed to Città di Castello. Here the inhabitants presented him with a woman who had been possessed by the devil for some time, and humbly begged him to free her from the devil, because she had the entire region in an uproar with her screams, her ferocious screams, and her dog’s barking. Saint Francis, after praying, drew the sign of the cross on her and ordered the demon to come out of her. He left immediately, leaving her body and spirit healthy.- The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
16 – When this miracle spread throughout the town, another woman with great faith brought her little boy, seriously ill with a malignant sore, to him and devoutly begged him to make the sign of the cross over the boy. Saint Francis, agreeing to his devotion, took the little boy, removed the bandage from the wound, blessed him by making the sign of the cross over him three times, and then bandaged him again with his hands and gave him to his mother. Since it was late, she simply put him to sleep in bed. In the morning she went to get the child out of bed, and found him without the bandage. He was completely cured, as if he had never had any illness. At the site of the sore the flesh had formed like a red rose, as if to bear witness to the miracle rather than as a scar from the sore. That rose, in fact, having remained with him throughout his life, often incited him to devotion to Saint Francis, who had cured him. – Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There is no courage without being scared.
17 – Saint Francis stayed in that city for a month, acceding to the devout prayers of the inhabitants, and during that time he performed many other miracles. Afterwards he resumed the journey to Santa María degli Ángeli with Brother Leo and with a good man who lent him his little horse so that Saint Francis could ride on it. And it happened that, because of the bad roads and the extreme cold, having walked all day, they could not reach any place where they could stay. They were forced by night and bad weather to take shelter in a cave, to protect themselves from the snow and the night. – God often visits us, but most of the time we are not at home.
18 – Finding himself out in the open and poorly sheltered, the good man who owned the donkey, unable to sleep because of the cold and without the possibility of making a fire, began to lament and grumble within himself and cry, and almost murmured about Saint Francis, who had led him to that place. Then, Saint Francis, noticing him, had compassion for him, and with fervor of spirit he stretched out his hand over him and touched him. Admirable thing! As soon as he had touched him with his hand, scorched and pierced by the fire of the seraph, the cold completely disappeared, and he felt filled with so much heat inside and out, that it seemed to him that he was standing at the mouth of a burning furnace. – The age old struggle: the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of conscience on the other.
19 – Thus, comforted in soul and body, the man surrendered to sleep, and, according to him, he slept that night among stones and snow until dawn more softly than he had ever slept in his own bed. The next day they continued their journey to Santa María degli Ángeli. When they were close, Brother Leo raised his eyes and looked towards the hermitage of Saint Mary. Then he saw a most beautiful cross, with the image of the Crucified, which was walking in front of Saint Francis, who was walking in front of him. – Knowing God is a question of opening one’s heart and loving God.
20 – That cross went in such a way before the face of Saint Francis that, when he stopped, it also stopped, and, when he walked, it walked; and its brilliance was such that it not only shone on the face of Saint Francis, but also illuminated the entire environment around it, and it remained until Saint Francis entered the hermitage of Saint Mary. – Religion is not a list of things to do but a person to be followed.
21 – Upon arriving at the hermitage, Saint Francis and Brother Leo were received by the brothers with great joy and charity. From then on, Saint Francis lived most of the time in the place of Saint Maris degli Angeli until his death. From day to day the fame of his holiness and his miracles spread more and more throughout the Order and the world, even though he, due to his profound humility, hid as much as he could the gifts and graces of God and proclaimed himself to be very great sinner. – What comes from the heart touches the heart.
22 – Brother Leo was surprised by this, and he began to think about his simplicity: This man calls himself a very great sinner in public. He entered the Order as an adult. God distinguishes him with so many favors. Nevertheless, in secret he never confesses to carnal sin. Could he be a virgin? And a vehement desire came to him to know the truth about it, but he did not dare to ask Saint Francis; So he turned to God, begging him to assure him of what he wanted to know, and he deserved to be heard for his insistent prayer, and he received certainty that Saint Francis was truly a virgin in the body through the following vision: he saw Saint Francis sitting on a elevated and exalted place, to which no one could go or approach, and it was revealed to him that that lofty and singular place meant the height of virginal chastity in Saint Francis, as was appropriate for a flesh destined to be adorned with the sacred wounds of Christ. – All that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.
23 – Saint Francis seeing that, because of his wounds, his physical strength was gradually failing and that he could no longer continue to take care of the government of the Order, hastened the convocation of the general chapter. When he had gathered in full, he humbly apologized to the brothers for the impossibility in which he found himself of continuing to care for the Order as general minister, although he did not renounce the office of generalship. This, in fact, he could not do, because he had been appointed general by the pope, for which reason he could neither leave the office nor establish a successor without express permission from the pope. But he appointed brother Peter Cattani as his vicar. – God is much more anxious to communicate with us than we are to listen.
24 – Once this was done, Saint Francis, comforted in spirit, raised his eyes and hands to heaven and said: To you, Lord and my God, I recommend this your family, which you have entrusted to me until now, and of which I can no longer continue taking care of myself due to my illnesses that you well know, my sweet Lord. I also recommend it to the provincial ministers. They will be obliged to report to you on the day of judgment if, due to their negligence, or their bad example, or their rigor in correcting, any brother is lost. – God dwells wherever we let Him in.
25 – God wanted all the brothers to realize that with those words he was referring to the wounds when excusing himself because of illness; and none could contain themselves without crying out of devotion. From then on he left all the care and government of the Order in the hands of his vicar and the provincial ministers; and he said: Now, having left the care of the Order because of my illnesses, I pray to God for our Order that I may give a good example to the brothers. And I know very well that, if weakness allowed me, the best service I could do to the Order would be to continually pray for it to God, so that He may govern, defend and preserve it. – The same fence that shuts others out, shuts us in.
26 – Even though, as has been said, Saint Francis tried, as far as he could, to hide the most sacred wounds and always walked, from the moment he received them, with his hands bandaged and his feet shod, he could not prevent many brothers from seeing them. They could see and touch them in different ways, especially the wound on his side, which he tried to hide with greater care. Thus, a brother who assisted him once induced him, with a pious trick, to take off his habit to shake off the dust; and, as he took it off in front of him, the brother clearly saw the wound on his side, and, quickly passing his hand over his chest, he touched it with three fingers, being able to measure its greatness and dimensions. – Hope is putting faith in work, when doubting would be easier.
27 – His vicar also looked at that time. But Brother Rufino verified it even more clearly, who was a man of great contemplation. Saint Francis even said about him that there was no one in the world holier than him. Because of his great holiness, he professed an intimate love for him and pleased him with everything he desired. – Where the human spirit fails, the Holy Spirit fills.
28 – This brother Rufino was able to verify and assure others in three ways about the truth of the wounds, and especially the one on the side. The first was that, having to wash his pants, which Saint Francis wore so big that he could stretch them at the top until covering the sore on the right side, Brother Rufino looked at them and observed them attentively, and always found them bloody on the right side, with which he realized with certainty that it was blood flowing from that wound. – If God loves us as much as we love God, where would we all be?
29 – Therefore, when Saint Francis saw that he spread his pants to observe that footprint, he reprimanded him. The second occasion was once when Brother Rufino was rubbing the back of Saint Francis. He intentionally took his hand and put his fingers on the sore on his side. Saint Francis then gave a cry of pain and said: God forgive you, brother Rufino. Why did you do that? – Without love and compassion for others , our own apparent love for Christ is fiction.
30 – The third occasion was the time when he asked Saint Francis, with great insistence and as a particular grace, to give him his habit and keep his out of love of charity. Condescending, although not willingly, to such a request, the charitable Father took off his habit, gave it to him, and put on his. With that taking off and putting on, brother Rufino clearly saw the wound. Likewise, brother Leo and many other brothers saw the wounds of Saint Francis while he lived. And although these brothers, due to their holiness, were men worthy of giving faith and credit to their word, yet, to remove all doubt in their hearts, they swore on the holy book that they had seen them clearly. – Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.
31 – Some cardinals who treated him with great familiarity also saw them, and, in veneration of the wounds of Saint Francis, they composed beautiful and devout hymns, antiphons and prose. The Supreme Pontiff, Pope Alexander, preaching to the people before all the cardinals, among whom was the holy brother Bonaventure, who was a cardinal, said and affirmed that he had seen with his own eyes the sacred wounds of Saint Francis when he still lived. – Nothing here below is profane for those who know how to see. On the contrary, everything is sacred.
|
|
Comments are closed 
