St. Francis of Assisi
LIFE:
Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) was born into a wealthy family at Assisi, Italy, the son of a cloth merchant. Francis received little formal education and during his youth was mostly preoccupied with having fun. As a young man, he was popular, charming, enjoyed practical jokes and was usually the life of the party. Because of his wealth, he generally picked up the tab and thus attracted a following of fun loving, rowdy young men and promiscuous women.
When armed conflict broke out between the men of Assisi and a neighboring city in 1202, Francis eagerly volunteered for the cavalry but wound up getting captured after the first big battle and spent a year in captivity.
Francis returned to Assisi hailed as a hero, but unknown to his friends he had undergone a transformation in his outlook during his captivity. Although he was once again the life of the party, he was now questioning his reason for existence.
After much contemplation, including vivid dreams and mystic visions, he turned away from the pursuit of all worldly pleasures, sold all of his property and donated the money to the Church. He then began a lifelong passion of caring for society's castoffs, the sick and poor, including lepers.
His wealthy father reacted to his son's odd new lifestyle by disinheriting him. Thus Francis lived in utter poverty and even went without shoes. But his humbleness, extraordinary kindness and love for humanity attracted the attention of other young men and they also chose to give up worldly pleasures and follow him to spread the gospel and serve the poor.
Eventually, as the brotherhood grew, its members traveled to other parts of Europe to preach, including France, Germany, Spain and England. A separate order for women was formed, now known as the Franciscan Nuns or Poor Clares.
Francis had much love for animals with special fondness for the birds. He liked to refer to animals as his brothers and sisters. Legend has it that wild animals had no fear of Francis and even came to him seeking refuge from harm.
In 1224, Francis went up onto a mountain and began a 40-day fast. During that time he is said to have had a miraculous vision and received the marks of the nails and spear exactly as they appeared on the body of Jesus during his crucifixion.
After his death in 1226, Francis was declared a saint by Pope Gregory IX. For several centuries thereafter, his Franciscan order experienced continuous growth and is still active today caring for the poor, educating youth, and performing many other good deeds.
Preachings:
In the name of the Lord!
Those Who Do Penance ....
All who love the Lord with their whole heart, their whole soul and mind, and with their strength, (Mt. 12.-30) and love their neighbor as themselves, (Mt. 22.-39) and who despise the tendency in their humanity to sin, receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring forth from within themselves fruits worthy of true penance.
How happy and blessed are these men and women when they do these things, and persevere in doing them because "the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon them," (Is. 11:12) and the Lord will make "His home and dwelling place (Jn. 14.-23) with them."
They are the children of the Heavenly Father (Mt. 5:45) whose works they do. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 12:50).
We are his spouses when the faithful soul is united by the Holy Spirit with Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are brothers when we do the will of the Father who is in Heaven (Mt. 12:50). We are mothers when we bear Him in our hearts and bodies (I Cor 6:20) with divine love and with pure and sincere consciences; and we give birth to him through a holy life which should enlighten others because of our example (Mt. 5:16).
How glorious it is to have so holy and great a Father in Heaven; and to have such a beautiful and admirable Spouse, the Holy Paraclete; and to have a Brother and Son, so holy, beloved, blessed, humble, peaceful, sweet, lovable and desirable over all things: Our Lord Jesus Christ who gave up his life for his sheep (Jn. l0:15) and prayed to the Father, saying: Holy Father, keep in your name (Jn. 17:11) those whom you gave me in the world; they are yours and you gave them to me (Jn. 17:6). And the word which you gave me I gave to them, and they accepted it and truly believed that it came forth from you. And they have accepted that you sent me (Jn. 17:8). I pray for them and not for the world (Jn. 17:9). Bless them and sanctify them. I sanctify myself for their sakes, (Jn. 17:19). I do not pray only for these but also for those who, through their word, will believe in me (Jn. 17:20); may they be holy in oneness as we are (Jn. 17:11). Father, I wish that where I am they too may be and that they may see my glory (Jn. 17:24) in your kingdom (Mt. 20-21).
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your
love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in
you.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring
hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal
life.
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