MARFAM WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 30 APRIL 2025  

I have been a fan of Pope Francis for most of his pontificate and through his influence also became a greater fan of St Francis of Assisi himself. St Francis’ life and mission were used in MARFAM’s Advent and Lenten programmes for some years, reflecting daily with extracts from different writings especially an early biography THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI by brother Ugolino and more recently Care for Creation – A Franciscan spirituality of the Earth edited by ilia Delio et al. St Francis Uncensored by wellknown Irish/South African priest/writer Paddy Noonan was a favourite. The pope firmly entrenches the saint’s spirituality in LAUDATO SI & FRATELLI TUTTI  which are consistently used with in quotations in THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY and the booklets FAMILIES CARING FOR GOD’S CREATION  and BECOMING ECO-FRIENLDY FAMILIES. Both of these are recommended for leading up to LAUDATO SI WEEK  and the 10th anniversary of the document from 24-31 May.  In other words both Francisses have clearly been part of my own spiritual journey in recent years. The theology and particularly the practical spirituality of Pope Francis over this time has presented many new and unique insights into the Church as a whole, on social justice – the option for the poor, peace, care of creation and family life, more specifically from AMORIS LAETITIA – THE JOY OF LOVE in the family.

Most of the Pope Francis tributes one hears and reads on social media and emails refer to his compassion and concern for the poor, marginalized and migrants but not very much mention appears to have been made of his model St Francis, except of course the choice of name.   The very title of the document “Laudato si’ = “praise God,” i.e the  opening words of the Canticle of the Creatures of St Francis, his outburst of praise to God for all the elements of creation. This song of praise, composed almost from his deathbed gives humble but joyous praise to God and also deals with love and forgiveness: “Praised be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You, and, bearing sickness and trials, blessed are those who endure in peace.”   And the last phrase of the Canticle no doubt expresses some thoughts Pope Francis will have reflected on in his own final hours:  “Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death from whom no one living can escape. Blessed are they she finds doing your will.”

Although St Francis was and is greatly admired and widely venerated his life was not easy, but his characteristic response was his special kind of joy.  He suffered from near blindness, possibly as a result of his visit to the Muslim sultan through the desert to Damietta in Egypt  to bring his message of peace.  The stigmata, the wounds of Jesus on his body, were very painful.  However he welcomed and received them as a great gift of love from Jesus granting him a share in his Passion.  Many men left everything and followed him into a life of poverty and simplicity.  Women too, like St Clare,  were attracted to him personally and chose to follow his ways. However others were sceptical, or challenged by the radical nature of his life view and in time his leadership was questioned.   The joy of the Franciscan way was special and even unique in the way Francis himself described it, not a feel-good happiness, but the joy of God’s love. ……..

Francis was an enigma and a determined idealist.   His life choices to give up everything and identify with the poor and outcasts such as  lepers, and his natural love for and fascination with the wonders of creation are his outstanding qualities.  Responding to the challenge to follow his way has been done by millions of men and women in the last 800 years.  Everywhere in the world Franciscan priests, brothers and religious women have joined different related congregations.  Already in his own time Francis allowed for lay people living in the world and in families to follow a secular path. This appears to be less common still today.   The Laudato si Movement is essentially Franciscan although it follows the teaching of Pope Francis directly.

The Franciscan way of complete poverty is rewarding but nevertheless difficult to follow for most ordinary mortals, at least to the degree which Francis and after him, in our day, Pope Francis, although a Jesuit, also adopted and for which he is greatly admired.  The pope’s vows in some way address that issue, but this is challenging for families in the world, who have the burdens of feeding, clothing and housing their members, who may well have their own views about a frugal way of life, the need for the best possible education, and a taste for nice food and clothes.       

Migrancy is a sore point almost everywhere.  People may admire Pope Francis for his views and his actions but not many are willing to fully adopt them.  All kinds of practical implications enter the picture about work, housing, and acceptance of strangers.

Some afterthoughts. 1. In my imagination I saw St Peter appointing St Francis to go to the pearly gates to  welcome Pope Francis into his eternal home.

Interreligious dialogue was a big feature of Pope Francis and also followed St Francis action of striving for peace through his visit to Damietta.  

2.  Did he have a dog, who loved him until the end, and refused to move from the grave of his master?   The answer is No, the lovely and very moving images shown on TV of Pope Francis with a dog are fake news.   Sad but true, That is a real reflection of the complicated AI world we inhabit in 2025.

Both social encyclicals LAUDATO SI and FRATELLI TUTTI grapple with the reality of social life out in the world where the laity is building the kingdom.  It is my view that together, possibly using the LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM 7 goals, formation and synodal dialogue – as presented by Pope Francis in the 2021-2024 synod process – could and should be vehicle for ongoing adult formation to live a life in response to the call and the example of the two Francises as best we can.  The other document AMORIS LAETITIA – THE JOY OF LOVE, captures the realities of family life and relationships.   The problems that exist are recognized and a statement such as “we are c alled to form consciences not replace them” AL36  does call bishops and pastors to account, to provide the setting and opportunity for this adult ongoing formation together with trained laity.  Maybe an easy question is, “What would Jesus do, here and now?”   The difficult answer is discernment into the reality of life in the public domain – the responsibility of the laity and families – guided by prayer to the Holy Spirit, mutual life-giving decision-making and decisions to love our neighbour, constant integral conversion.  Our call from Pope Francis this Jubilee year is as Pilgrims of Hope on a journey and becoming Signs of Hope in the world.  Will Pope Francis be canonised a saint, any time soon? St Francis was canonised 2 years after his death in 1226.  TR WEEKLY.  

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY. THE CHALLENGE TO A SIMPLE LIFE

April 30.  Busi picked up the sharing from the day before.  “Can you see that not everyone thought like those followers did who were willing to give up everything. What intrigues me as that the Jewish leaders were jealous that there were people so committed to their beliefs and to each other that they were prepared to give up what they owned.  I wonder if the Jews had a guilty conscience because they were not living the way they should.” “In a peculiar way I can learn something from that too. I do feel jealous or rather resentful sometimes when I see really good committed people and wish I had that same will to do good.” 

Reflect, share and act. Scripture Filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in prison. At night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,  ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.’  Acts 5:17-19 Pope Francis:  JUBILEE.  Echoing the age-old message of the prophets, the Jubilee reminds us that the goods of the earth are not destined for a privileged few, but for everyone. The rich must be generous and not avert their eyes from the faces of their brothers and sisters in need. I think especially of those who lack water and food: hunger is a scandal, an open wound on the body of our humanity, and it summons all of us to a serious examination of conscience. I renew my appeal that “with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favour development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory situations, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life”. SNC 16. Choose an appropriate action.