Saint for the Day

• October 4 – Saint Francis of Assisi

  

  Saint Francis, the son of a merchant of Assisi, was born in the year 1182 in a poor stable, his birth already prophesying the Saint who would preach poverty to a world seduced by luxury. Though chosen by God to be for the world a living manifestation of Christ’s poor and suffering life on earth, in his youth he was generous, always of equal humor, and much appreciated by his friends; he was fond of splendors, fine clothing, and good company, and easily won the affection of all who knew him. More than once various holy persons foretold for him a future of glory, but in veiled terms. Francis did not understand these predictions, and supposed he would become the leader of a large militia.

  The military life he had adopted ended when Jesus told him he was destined to fight another kind of combat, one against the demon and sin; that the grandeurs predicted were spiritual, not temporal — and to return home. He became inspired with a great esteem for poverty and humiliation. The thought of the Man of Sorrows, who had nowhere to lay His head, filled him with holy envy of the poor, and constrained him to renounce the wealth and the worldly station which he had come to abhor. One day, while on horseback, he met a leper begging alms who inspired him with repugnance, and he took a path to avoid him. Then, repenting, he turned his horse around and returned to embrace him and give him a generous alms, as was his custom for all beggars. He continued on his way, but looked back, and nowhere on the plain could the stranger be seen, though there were no trees, no refuges anywhere. He was from that day a completely transformed person.

  He decided to use his wealth to care for the poor and the sick, and dedicate himself in person to the same works. When he prayed one day in the little chapel to do only what God willed of him, the Saviour spoke again to him, repeating three times the mysterious words: Go, Francis, and repair My house which is falling into ruin. He then undertook to repair the old church of San Damiano where he had heard these words, retiring for refuge to a grotto. He was regarded as a fool by the people, when he returned to the city in the clothing of a poor beggar. This was indeed the folly of the Cross.

  Francis renounced his heritage definitively, to beg thereafter his daily sustenance and what he needed for the repair of the church, and left the city singing the praises of God. He repaired two other churches. The love of God which was burning brightly in the poor man of Assisi began to give light and warmth to many others also, and it was not long before several came to join him. One of them was a very wealthy man of Assisi, the second a Canon of the Assisi cathedral, and the third the now Blessed Brother Gilles. They adopted the absolute poverty of Francis, and the foundations of the Franciscan Order were laid. They were first called the penitents of Assisi. No counsels could make Francis change his resolution to possess nothing at all. God revealed to him then that he was to found a religious Order.

  Pope Innocent III, when Francis with his first twelve companions journeyed to Rome, after first rebuffing them, recognized him as the monk God showed him in a vision, supporting on his shoulders the Church of Saint John Latran, which was growing decrepit. He received the profession of Francis and his twelve companions, and in 1215 they were formally constituted as a religious Order, which then spread rapidly throughout Christendom.

  In 1216, Saint Francis after assembling his religious, sent them out to preach in France, Spain, England and Germany, where they established monasteries, lasting proofs of the efficacy of their missions. A second general Chapter was held in 1219 on the feast of Pentecost, and the little Brothers gathered from all over the world at Saint Mary of the Angels, the church which Francis and his first twelve disciples had received only nine years earlier. Cabins of reeds and tents were put up all over the countryside. The Cardinal who visited them exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, O Brother, truly this is the camp of the Lord! They were more than 5,000 in number. Saint Francis exhorted his brethren: My Brothers, above all, let us love the Holy Church; let us pray for her exaltation, and never abandon poverty. Is it not written, Trust in the Lord, and He Himself will sustain you’?

  Francis, after visiting the Orient in a vain quest for martyrdom, spent his life like his Divine Master — now in preaching to the multitudes, now amid the desert solitudes in fasting and contemplation. His constant prayer was My God and my All! During one of these retreats on Mount Alverno, he received on his hands, feet, and side the imprints of the five wounds of Jesus. With the cry, Welcome, sister Death! he passed to the glory of his God, October 4, 1226, at the age of 44 years.

  Reflection: The prayer of Saint Francis, My God and my All! explains both his poverty and his wealth.

  Stationery of Saint Francis of Assisi

  Stationery of Saint Francis of Assisi without

  Saint Francis colouring

Sunday Sermon

• Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost ~Bad Company

  

  ” I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.”

  The history of Tobias, one of the most beautiful narratives of the Old Testament, teaches us many lessons. There we find a charming picture of home-life. The father of the family is at once the example and teacher of virtue to his young son ; the son, a model of filial devotion to his aged parents, succoring them in their need, submissive to their will, delighted to give them pleasure.

  The life of the family is full of peace. Even in affliction they recognize the finger of God, and His blessing rests upon them. He is the sunshine of their home. To serve Him — to keep themselves free from sin — is their chief care. When, there fore, it became necessary that the younger Tobias should make a long journey, the first thought of his father was to find him a suitable companion. He would not trust his child to the guardianship of every man. He felt the necessity of great care in the choice he made. Such a choice is indeed not a trifling matter, not so unimportant an affair as some seem to think it ; the happiness of a whole lifetime, perhaps even eternal salvation itself, may be at stake. Young people especially are very susceptible to the influence of those who are about them. They are open-hearted, unsuspecting, too ready often to give their confidence and friendship to those unworthy of either. They are slow to abandon those upon whom they have bestowed their regard, unwilling to believe evil of them because of their affection for them. And so the danger to their virtue is very great when they fall into bad company, their ignorance of the world and their guilelessness leaving them open to many temptations.

  The bad companion is he who is trying to rob us of our virtue — to rob us of the best we possess.

  Virtue is a precious thing. It is a treasure beyond price. To have virtue is to possess nobility of soul, elevation of mind, a close likeness to’ God. To have habits of virtue marks us out as true men, men who have made their animal nature subject to reason through God’s grace. Virtue is not acquired in a day. The getting of it means work, constant work for a time, perhaps a long time ; but it is worth all it costs. When we have virtue, we have something of a great value ; and because it is so valuable it must be carefully guarded lest we lose it, for we may be robbed of our virtue as well as of our money.

  The bad companion wants to destroy our innocence ; he wants to disturb our peace of soul ; he wants to unman us, to make beasts of us. Where are these bad companions ? How shall we know them ? “By their works you shall know them.” You shall know them when you hear their filthy speech, when they make their dirty jokes and tell their smutty stories. You shall know them when they invite you to low drinking saloons, to places where purity is lost ; when they tell you how to make money at the expense of honesty ; when, in a word, they suggest evil to you. Flee from them ; they are robbers ; they are worse : they are murderers ; they seek to take the life of your soul.

  The Angel Raphael on the other hand, teaches us the offices of a good companion. We find him guiding his young charge, warning him of dangers, instructing him how to overcome difficulties. He is by his side in the hour of need ; his counsel is always at his service ; his advice is good ; his example is good. He is constantly striving to advance the best interests of Tobias and to further the object of his journey. This is true friendship ; this is right companionship. It is unselfish, conscientious endeavor to promote the friend’s welfare. Young people, find yourselves a Raphael, but trust not every man.