What You See

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.  I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.  I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you.  Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.  Job 42:1-3, 5-6

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”  Luke 10:23-24

Piety

A FRANCISCAN PRAYER FOR MISSIONERS 

Lord, make our sisters and brothers serving in other countries instruments of your Peace...
...In the midst of conflict give them serene spirits.

Where there is hatred, let them sow love...
...Grant that our missioners be bridges of reconciliation

Where there is injury, pardon...
...Make our missioners a truly healing presence.

Where there is doubt, faith...
...Give our missioners absolute trust in your Providence.

Where there is despair, hope...
...Keep our missioners ever-mindful of your empowering presence in the world.

Where there is darkness, light...

...Grant that the witness of our missioners illumine the way for all they encounter.

Where there is sadness, joy...
...Keep the spirits of our missioners lifted by the grace of their vocation.

O Divine Master, may our missionary sisters and brothers not so much
seek to be consoled as to console...
...In the midst of the pain which they witness.

To be understood, as to understand...
...In the trying reality of their missionary lives.

To be loved, as to love...
...Each person without thought of class, race or religion.

Help our missioners believe the all-important truth: That in giving they receive that in pardoning they are pardoned.  And that in dying they are born to eternal life.  Amen.

(From Franciscan Mission Service web site)

Study

In our Good News Monday, Jesus blessed Nathanael with the vision that he would see great things like Jacob’s ladder descending from and ascending to the heavens.  And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  John 1:51

Today, Jesus extends that blessing to all the disciples.  “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”  Luke 10:23-24

In a week painted joyfully white on the liturgical calendar, we have celebrated the archangels and guardian angels, St. Therese, St. Jerome, and today, the calendar brings to our mind and hearts St. Francis of Assisi.  Through our study, we can experience in our minds and hearts the great missions these witnesses have had for the Church and for our inspiration. 

Outside of the Christmas and Easter seasons, there is no other week in Ordinary Time where the liturgical calendar is packed with more memorials and feast days.  Today brings us to the peak of these days in a similar way that pilgrims to Assisi climb to the top of the ancient Italian hill and walk down to the Cathedrals of first St. Clare and then St. Francis and get in touch with how this humble saint made his faith and visions of the church a reality. 

Just like faith helped Job to rebuild his life after losing everything, it also help Francis get the important work done to rebuild the physical and metaphysical church. In his prayer, Francis was asked to rebuild the church, a mission he first undertook architecturally.  However, he realized that the Lord also was asking him to rebuild it spiritually – and he founded an order of men and women who to this day bring his rule to life in the world.

Action

The Franciscan movement is the largest movement in the Catholic Church and also extends into several protestant denominations. 

Among the many groups which carry out the spirit of Francis to the poor in the world are the young women and men who comprise the Franciscan Mission Service, where lay people work for peace, justice, and hope.  As an international lay Franciscan mission program in North America, Franciscan Mission Service helps Catholics prepare to serve on two-year international, one-year domestic and one- or two-week short-term mission opportunities.  Missioners live a simple life in solidarity with their partners:  the poor and oppressed in Africa, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean.

Please support them with your prayers and more. 

** If you would like a vision of the crypt of St. Francis, visit the webcam at:  http://www.sanfrancescopatronoditalia.it/web-cam-cripta-di-san-francesco-assisi