RECEIVING THE STIGMATA 1224
REFLECTION
The Eucharist is the continuing presence of Jesus in our lives. Daily we are reminded of the Lord’s sacrifice, His Resurrection, and our redemption. Daily Scripture reminds us of God’s love for us. The saints help us in this earthly journey, to fall in love with the Eucharist, and through their example we stay on the right path. They show us how they were transformed by the Holy Spirit and how we, too, can learn from them and see how powerful the Holy Spirit can be in our own life.
St Francis of Assisi used the Scriptures to be his guide for following Jesus. He is an example of what God can do in our lives. “What do you want me to do” he asked the Lord, when the Lord spoke to him in a dream. Going against his father’s wishes and material possessions, St Francis publicly renounced his father, his inheritance, all he owned and stripped himself naked. He was a revolutionary and changed the world by inventing a whole new way of dedicating ourselves to God. Freedom and joy can be found when one is no longer overcome by possessions. St Francis of Assisi fell in love with poverty, unlike the rich young man in the Gospel. Hence, total dependence on God for everything.
Amidst the peace and serenity of Assisi, I was drawn to this quixotic man who embraced poverty and with humility in his suffering shows us how to live, and see God’s creation as we should.
There are so many books, lectures, seminars and movies on St Francis. We share in his experiences, his joys and his difficulties, his love for God and his trust in Him. He had a natural generosity, giving away money and goods to the poor. Trained as a knight for war and battle, he is now known as a peacemaker:
"Through the things God has made we are led to the invisible God who made them all". (Romans 1:20). His Canticle of the Creatures led to the conviction that all brother and sister creatures make up one family under God’s loving care!
The Canticle of the Creatures
by St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, yours is the praise, the glory and the honor and every blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no one is worthy to speak your name.
Praised be you, my Lord with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day through whom you bring us light.
And he is lovely, shining with great splendor, for he heralds you, Most High.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and heaven you have formed them, lightsome and precious and fair.
And praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind, through air and cloud, through calm and every weather by which you sustain your creatures.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water, so very useful and humble, precious and chaste.
Praised be you, my Lord through Brother Fire, by whom you light up the night, and he is handsome and merry, robust and strong.
Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains us and directs us bringing forth all kinds of fruits and colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be you, my Lord through those who forgive for your love and who bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death from whom no living being can escape.
How dreadful for those who die in mortal sin! How blessed are those she finds in your most holy will for the second death can do them no harm.
O praise and bless my Lord, thank him and serve him humbly but grandly!
~
He worked among the lepers. The Lord had changed St Francis. He repaired churches such as San Damiano, St Mary of the Angels (Portiuncula). His prayer life came from the Scriptures. He concentrated to what was in front of him, the things he saw were a gateway to God who cannot be seen. He founded the Franciscan orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order. He invented the Christmas creche: He arranged for the first live nativity scene in 1223. He is the patron saint of Italy, and he is also the patron saint of ecology and of animals
On September 14, 1224, the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross, while he was on retreat on the high mountain La Verna, he received the Stigmata from a seraph while he was praying. He suffered from an eye infection which caused him to go blind. He died on October 4, 1226 at the age of 44.
It is God Himself we exalt when we praise the virtues of St Francis of Assisi, His beautiful creation.
God bless you
References:
Francis of Assisi, Gianmaria Polidoro
Francis of Assisi, A Meditation on His Life and Writings, Joshua Bendon
The Writings of St Francis, translated by Ignatius Brady, OFM
BASILICA OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Comments