A PERSONAL NOTE- TONI ROWLAND. MY ST FRANCIS.  Like many others I believe my introduction to St Francis had been through the Peace Prayer and knowing he loved animals and nature.  But what about him as a person, what makes him particularly attractive and yet challenging?  Having done a fair amount of further reading about him I have been able to see many personal and relationship qualities too, along with his spiritual quest to follow as closely as he could, as “the little poor man” in the steps of Jesus, who he recognised as poor and full of compassion, preaching God’s love and peace.  Was Francis a true imitation of Jesus, like Jesus a model still for our time ?      

Francis was loving and loveable, even before his conversion, and his early followers were loyal him till the end. Even those others who rejected his strict Rule of utter poverty continued to love him and he continued to love them deeply after he had relinquished his leadership. He loved all of creation and animals responded to his preaching.   He was humble and peace-loving, avoiding conflict and accepting of everyone, even with those who disagreed.   In his humility, he called himself a most vile sinner  and humbled himself before God and others.  He was nevertheless determined and utterly committed to the vision and calling God had given him of complete poverty, surrender and dependence on God.

He has been described as God’s jester. He was an actor, a poet and did like grand gestures, sometimes impulsive ones. He played jokes on his followers, giving them nick-names and even when reprimanding them was kind.   He loved music and singing, and had wanted to be God’s troubadour.  After a time of great emotional and physical suffering, he composed his Canticle of the Creatures and made his brothers sing it, often, and even as he lay dying singing with the brothers was his source of comfort and joy. 

Although he seemed to avoid women he did have some special friendship like with St Clare and another lady who care for him when he was on his deathbed.

The source of his joy as he described it to a special friend, Brother Leo was not to achieve success but to accept his total freedom from self-love and humble and patient endurance of suffering for the love of Jesus and identifying totally with Jesus in every way, of living, thinking and acting.  Receiving the stigmata – having the wounds of Jesus on his own body – was Jesus’ gift to him.  He accepted the gift by composing the Canticle of the Creatures, a hymn of praise, blessing, thanksgiving and perfect joy.   May some of my personal thoughts, in addition to the THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY  be a helpful companion during this Holy Week and Easter time, in the Year of St Francis.   Toni

HOLY WEEK.   

Some of the reflections this week are built on the Songs of the Servant of the Lord from the prophet Isaiah which are part of the liturgy of the days of Holy Week.   Some parishes hold a Paschal Meal at this time.  Families can do so too, or in a simpler format as a Family Prayer Meal.  A Family Reconciliation Moment can also prepare for Confession.   donwload from website.

29 March. Palm Sunday. SEE:B ruce, the parish scripture scholar offered to facilitate the reflections. Starting with an extract from one of the Songs of the Servant, he explained that it is not known for whom they were originally composed.  It could have been Israel or a person of the time but in New Testament times they are most often applied to Jesus. For meditation purposes they can also be applied to others like St Francis, who was himself deeply engrossed in meditating on aspects of the life and the passion of Jesus Christ at this time. 

JUDGE, reflect and share. Scripture:  From the 3rd Song of the Servant of the Lord. The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard. I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God helps me.   Isaiah 50:4-7  

From The Little Flowers of St Francis of Assisi.  St Francis and his companions responded to a calling from God to carry the cross of Christ in their hearts, to practise it in their lives, and to preach it by their words. They were truly crucified men both in their actions and in their works. Out of love for Christ they sought after shame and contempt, rather than the honours of the world, the respect and praise of men. They rejoiced to be despised, and were grieved when honoured.  Thus they went about the world as pilgrims and strangers, carrying nothing with them but Christ crucified; and because they were of the true Vine, which is Christ, they produced great and good fruits in many souls they gained to God. 

In the beginning of the Order St Francis sent Brother Bernard to Bologna, to accomplish many good works, according to the grace which God had given him. So Brother Bernard, in the name of holy obedience, set out but when he arrived in that city, the little children in the streets, seeing him dressed so strangely and so poorly, laughed and scoffed at him, taking him for a madman. All these trials Brother Bernard accepted for the love of Christ, with great patience and with great joy, and seeking to be despised yet more, he went to the market-place, where, having seated himself, a great number of children and men gathered round him, and taking hold of his hood pushed him here and there, some throwing stones at him and others dust. To all this Brother Bernard submitted in silence, his countenance bearing an expression of holy joy, and for several days he returned to the same spot to receive the same insults.

Now, patience being a work of perfection and a proof of virtue, a learned doctor of the law, seeing such virtue and constancy in Brother Bernard, who had endured  such contempt and such injuries without losing his temper, said within himself: “Without doubt this man must be a great saint”; and going up to him, he asked who he was, and whence he came. Brother Bernard put his hand into his bosom, and taking out the Rule of St Francis, gave it to him to read. The doctor, having read the Rule, was struck with wonder and admiration at the sublime perfection  described, and turning to his friends, he said: “Truly this is the most perfect state of Religion I have ever heard of, and this man and his companions are the holiest men I have met in all the world; guilty indeed are those who insult him; we ought, on the contrary, to honour him as a true friend of God.” 

REFLECT – SHARE – ACT – PRAY.  How does this story speak to you?