Today October 4, 2011 I had the blessing of celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis in Assisi. This was not just another pilgrimage. This was my opportunity once again to confront the paradox of the Cross. To once again challenge myself on making more space for the Lord. How much less I have to say and more to do!
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" (Lk 9:23-24).
Blessed John Paul II once said of Francis. He embraced the whole truth of this paradox. The Gospel was his daily bread. He did not confine himself to reading its words, but through the expressions of the revealed text he set out to discover the One who is the Gospel itself. In fact, in Christ the divine economy is revealed in full: "losing" and "gaining" in their definitive, absolute sense. By his life Francis proclaimed and continues to proclaim today the saving word of the Gospel. It is difficult to find a saint whose message could withstand so deeply "the test of time".
Let’s pray with the “poverello” of Assisi:
Blessed John Paul II once said of Francis. He embraced the whole truth of this paradox. The Gospel was his daily bread. He did not confine himself to reading its words, but through the expressions of the revealed text he set out to discover the One who is the Gospel itself. In fact, in Christ the divine economy is revealed in full: "losing" and "gaining" in their definitive, absolute sense. By his life Francis proclaimed and continues to proclaim today the saving word of the Gospel. It is difficult to find a saint whose message could withstand so deeply "the test of time".
Let’s pray with the “poverello” of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
 |
| Crowds outside Saint Francis Basilica before the Mass this morning |
 |
| Procession of Banners from different Italian municipalities. Saint Francis is the patron saint of Italy. |
 |
| Tomb of Sain Francis. It could not be simpler. |
 |
| One more pilgrim. |
 |
| Garden in front of the Basilica |
 |
| Lamp above Saint Francis' tomb. It burns all year round. A different Italian town has the opportunity to offer the oil for it. |
 |
| The basilica in the back. Our brother sun in front of me. |
 |
| Evening procession. I did not even tried to get in this time! |
 |
| Blessing of Saint Francis |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.