Did not the Lord's flock actually follow him in tribulation and persecution, shame and hunger, sickness and trial and all the rest, and thereby receive eternal life from the Lord? What a great shame, then, that while the saints actually followed in the footsteps of the Lord, we, today's servants of God, expect glory and honor simply because we can recite what they did.
Admonition 6
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Brother Fly
In the beginning, when the Order was new and the brothers were living at Rivotorto, there was a brother who didn't pray much, who did no work, and who wouldn't go begging because he was ashamed to. But he did eat, and quite well.
So St. Francis said to him: "Good-bye, Brother Fly. All you want is to eat what your brothers work for and to idle away your time instead of working in God. You're like Brother Drone, refusing to work or to produce, but eating what the good bees work for, what they produce." So that brother left, and flesh-minded man that he was, he didn't even ask forgiveness.
Legend of Perugia
So St. Francis said to him: "Good-bye, Brother Fly. All you want is to eat what your brothers work for and to idle away your time instead of working in God. You're like Brother Drone, refusing to work or to produce, but eating what the good bees work for, what they produce." So that brother left, and flesh-minded man that he was, he didn't even ask forgiveness.
Legend of Perugia
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
A Tepid Soul
When soul is tepid and little by little cools to grace, then flesh and blood leap forward to impose their needs.
Mirror of Perfection, 15
Mirror of Perfection, 15
By Word And Example
The Apostle says, "The written letters kill, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor 3:6).
They are killed by the written letter who desire to know words so that they might seem wiser than others and be able to acquire riches to leave to their relatives and friends.
And those religious are killed by the letter who do not care to follow the Spirit of Holy Scripture, but desire to know only the words and to explain them to others.
And they are brought to life by the Spirit of Holy Scripture who do not attribute to themselves everything they know and desire to know, but in word and example give credit to the Most High to whom belongs everything that is good.
Admonition 7
They are killed by the written letter who desire to know words so that they might seem wiser than others and be able to acquire riches to leave to their relatives and friends.
And those religious are killed by the letter who do not care to follow the Spirit of Holy Scripture, but desire to know only the words and to explain them to others.
And they are brought to life by the Spirit of Holy Scripture who do not attribute to themselves everything they know and desire to know, but in word and example give credit to the Most High to whom belongs everything that is good.
Admonition 7
Monday, August 28, 2006
Conformed To Christ
In everything he did, St. Francis was conformed to Christ. When he began his Order, he did as the Blessed Christ had done when he chose the twelve Apostles to despise the things of this world and follow him in poverty and the other virtues. He too had twelve chosen companions who were followers of total poverty.
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Sunday, August 27, 2006
God Affixed His Own Seal
The Lord was pleased to endorse the teaching and Rule of St. Francis, not only by miraculous signs, but also by marks of his own stigmata, so that no true believer could possibly question them on external or internal evidence. And in his goodness God was pleased to affix his own seal to the Rule and teaching of St. Francis, who would never have presumed to teach or write anything other than what he received from the Lord. As he himself testifies, it was God who revealed to him the entire Rule.
From a sermon of St. Bonaventure, October 4, 1255
From a sermon of St. Bonaventure, October 4, 1255
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Sacred Vessels
"Whoever comes from God listens to the words of God." We who have been commissioned to deal with things divine should not only hear and fulfill what God says, but, what is more, in order to root in ourselves the transcendence of our Creator and our obedience to him, we should take reverent care of the sacred vessels and the liturgical books which contain his holy words.
Letter to the Whole Order
Letter to the Whole Order
Friday, August 25, 2006
In What Can We Glory?
Likewise, if you were more handsome and more rich than others and also could work wonders, like driving out demons, all these things are only obstacles to you and none of them blongs to you, and in none of them can you glory.
Admonition 5
Admonition 5
Offer No Resistance To Injury
The brothers should offer no resistance to injury; indeed if someone slaps them on the cheek, they should offer to other as well. And if one should take their cloak, let them not hang on to their tunic.
Let them give to everyone who begs of them; and let them not seek to retrieve what someone takes away from them.
Rule 1221 - Chapter XIV
Let them give to everyone who begs of them; and let them not seek to retrieve what someone takes away from them.
Rule 1221 - Chapter XIV
Thursday, August 24, 2006
St. Francis's Devotion To Mary
St. Francis embraced the Mother of Jesus with an inexpressible love because she it was who made the Lord of Majesty our brother. He composed special songs of praise in her honor, he poured out prayers and offered her his affection. He made her the Advocate of the Order and placed under her wings the sons he was about to leave, that she might cherish and protect them to the end.
Celano - Second Life
Celano - Second Life
Guard Against Pride, Vanity, Envy, Avarice...
Guard against pride, vanity, envy, avarice, the cares and worries of this world, detraction and complaining. And if you do not have book-learning, do not be eager to acquire it, but pursue insted what you should desire above all else, namely, to have the Spirit of the Lord and his grace working in you, to pray always with purity of heart and to have humility, patience in persecution and infirmity, and to love those who persecute and rebuke and slander you...
Rule of 1223 - Chapter X
Rule of 1223 - Chapter X
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Burning With Love For The Eucharist
With every fiber of his being, Francis burned with love for the Sacrament of the Body of the Lord. It left him overcome with wonder for so great a condescension and merciful love...He rendered every reverence to so venerable a sacrament, offering the sacrifice of his whole self; and when he received the Immolated Lamb of God, he immolated his own spirit in that fire which was always on the altar of his heart.
Celano -Second Life
Celano -Second Life
Lesser Brothers
Francis, the model of humility, wanted his brothers to be called Lesser and the superiors of the Order to bear the name "servants," thereby preserving the very words used in the Gospel which he promised to observe. At the same time he enabled his followers to learn from their name that they had come to the school of the humble Christ to learn humility. .."Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27).
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Image Of The Mirror
Because the vision of Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, the radiance of eternal light and the mirror without stain, look upon that mirror each day...
Fourth Letter of St. Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague
Fourth Letter of St. Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague
Vision Of The Lord
Immediately after his conversion and before St. Francis had any brothers or companions, he spent time repairing the church of San Damiano. There he received that vision of the Lord, which filled him with heavenly consolation, there he made his final decision to leave the world...
The Testament of St. Clare
The Testament of St. Clare
Monday, August 21, 2006
Choosing Perfect Obedience
If you choose to suffer persecution rather than choose to be seperated from your brothers and sisters, you truly stand firm in perfect obedience, for you are laying down your life for them.
Admonition 3
Admonition 3
Voluntary Poverty Is A Royal Dignity
God is well pleased with poverty, and above all with voluntary poverty. For my part I posess royal dignity and special nobility, in that I follow the Lord, who was rich but became poor for our sakes.
Celano - Second Life
Celano - Second Life
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Compassion For Christ Our Savior
Such was St. Francis's feeling, his compassion for Christ, he wanted somehow to suffer with Jesus, and so, two years before he died, this prayer rose from the depths of his love for the crucified Christ: "O Lord, I beg of you two graces before I die - to experience personally and in all possible fulness the pains of your bitter Passion, and to feel for you the same love that moved you to sacrifice yourself for us."
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Patience And Humility
Where there is patience and Humility, there is neither anger nor worry.
Admonition 27
Admonition 27
Humility: The Root Of Perfection
Poverty is an extraordinary way of salvation, since it nourishes humility, the root of perfection. Its fruits are manifold, though hidden. This is the Gospel treasure hidden in the field. To buy it we have to sell everything, and what we cannot sell, we should consider worthless in comparison to the treasure.
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Where There Is Poverty And Joy
Where there is poverty and joy, there is neither cupidity nor avarice.
Admonition 27
Admonition 27
An Eternal Kingdom Is Being Made Ready For You
St. Francis used to say to his brothers, "Go, announce peace to all people; preach repentance for the remission of sins. Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer, and steadfast in weariness. Be modest in your speech, responsible in your actions, and grateful to your benefactors. And know that in return an eternal kingdom is being made ready for you."
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
St. Bonaventure - Major Life
Friday, August 18, 2006
Contemplation
On its part let (the soul) simply, lovingly fix its attention upon God, without specific acts. Let it occupy itself...in loving attention, quite simply, as one who opens his eyes and fixes them upon a beloved object.
St. John of the Cross - Living Flame of Love
St. John of the Cross - Living Flame of Love
Don't Say It's Impossible
St. Francis said to his brothers:
"My dear brothers, obey a command immediately without waiting for it to be repeated. And don't say that it is impossible, for if you are commanded something beyond your strength, holy obedience will give you the strength you lack."
Celano - Second Life
"My dear brothers, obey a command immediately without waiting for it to be repeated. And don't say that it is impossible, for if you are commanded something beyond your strength, holy obedience will give you the strength you lack."
Celano - Second Life
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Why Do You Allow Poverty?
I recall one of our brothers describing a long prayer walk he took on the mountain paths surrounding our Little Portion Hermitage. The brother asked God, "Why do you allow poverty?" After a long silence, God answered the brother with a still, small voice that shook his soul: "Why do you allow poverty?"
John Michael Talbot
The Lessons of St. Francis
John Michael Talbot
The Lessons of St. Francis
It Is God Who Purifies Us
"God is teaching us over and over again that it is He who is puryfying us, not we ourselves. He does this in His own way, His own pace. When we run ahead or Him he leaves us on our own and we usually stumble. When He leaves us to depend on our own strength, we soon learn that there is little strength in us. We may suffer one humiliation after another, until it begins to dawn on us that he is everything. We either gradually learn to trust Him or we continue to trust ourselves."
Father John Catoir
"Enjoy the Lord A Path To Contemplation"
Father John Catoir
"Enjoy the Lord A Path To Contemplation"
Fear Of The Lord
Where there is fear of the Lord to guard the house, there the enemy cannot find a way to enter.
Admonition 27
Admonition 27
Prepare Yourselves
You will encounter some who are faithful, meek, and well disposed; they will joyfully receive you and your words. But there will be more who are skeptical, proud, and blasphemous, and who will insult you and resist your message. Prepare yourselves, therefore, to bear everything with patience and humility.
Legend of the Three Companions
Legend of the Three Companions
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Quiet And Meditation
Where there is quiet and meditation, there is neither preoccupation nor dissipation.
Admonition 27
Admonition 27
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