Transformed by St Francis' humble LOVE/poverty

I was greeted by this on facebook today, and thought that it was a good way to begin my sharing  with this thought provoking statement by today's great Saint Francis!  It so encapsulates his life of leaving his wealth behind and looking at the world with a heart filled with love for creation - "St Francis' love for creation was neither sentimental nor superficial.  He understood in true humility what glory lies in being a creature of so great and loving a God.  From that perspective, there is no greater joy than to give praise and thanks."  see www.magnificat.com   Armed with that vision of God - St Francis then served the poor - seeing Christ there.  Not only that, but he himself embraced a very radical life of poverty and humility.... seeing that in leaving it all behind, he was then free to give his all without looking back, or counting the cost!  For us that are called to be a wife/mother with a home and children, grand-children, husband... it seems that we are very weighted down by the world and all that fills it!  It is very wonderful to have a nice home and fill it with uplifting things... yet, it is a very big distraction to be adding to that and yearning for new or more wonderful things.  Sometimes I wish that I could be in a mud hut in Africa and away from all the stuff!

 To have a daughter, who has embraced a call to poverty... we were blessed with a very special tour of the private sister's quarters after the dedication of the monastery for just that day.  After that day it will be forever closed to the public, and their private domain!  Here David and his dad, Paul, come out of one of their tiny cells - behind David is the wooden storage box, which holds their few possessions and on which they sleep at night.  Yes!  They sleep on a board! 

Ruth checking out the storage they have, a small table for studies and private time in prayer, and behind the door their bed.  How simplifying would it be to get down to such a small amount of possessions?  When Hallel came to visit us for her 3 days of home visit.   She had a backpack with her work habit, and prayer books, and a pair of old boots to wear outside on the farm.  I also recall when Maria left to join the Poor Clares - she had two Walmart bags - O, how wonderful to get life down to simplicity and cut all our attachments to stuff/things/the world!

David looking inside their bed/box/storage.  When Little Sister Marie was asked why they did not sleep on a mattress - what is the point? asked a mother of a postulant.  "We are remembering the poor, and we have it much better than many of them.  Most of the world sleeps on the ground in horrible poverty, and in some of the poor countries they come to join us as an improvement on their lives.  In our lives of following St Dominic and St Francis - we become the poor/humble."  Little Sister Marie, the foundress of the Community of the Lamb. 

The doorways are to be "little" humble height...

Today in the news Pope Francis went to Assisi for the first time ever!  He said some powerful things there - here is the article from the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/world/europe/pope-francis-assisi.html?_r=0 

from the article.."Later, in the room where St. Francis famously stripped off his clothes to dedicate his life to Christ, living in poverty, the pope used similar warm gestures addressing a group of poor people challenged “by this savage world, that doesn’t give work, doesn’t help, doesn’t care if there are children in the world who are dying of hunger.”

Then, in an impromptu moment — one of several delivered Friday — he appealed to the Roman Catholic Church and to all Christians to divest themselves of worldliness, which leads to “vanity, arrogance and pride,” because “it is bad for us,” he said. “It is the cancer of society and the enemy of Christ.” Pope Francis in St Francis birthplace, Assisi, today!

Hand me down dress from a thrift store and hand me down boots makes for a special humble cuteness factor...

Jesus, we are reminded today of leaving our pride and all the trappings of the world behind.  May St Francis' example of humility show us how freeing it is to leave our selfishness and the worldliness behind.  Pope Francis has taken up the baton of Truth and the message of the poor to the world from the champion of poverty - St Francis!  "Vanity, arrogance and pride are the cancer of our society and the enemy of Jesus."  Pope Francis  Today John and I read the Gospel together and commented on how hard it is to read angry and condemning words from Christ - may we take to heart all the mighty deeds done in our midst and turn away from the darkness and lies of the world...  We need to humbly embrace the Truth that will set us free!  Knowing that we are nothing without Christ, who is our Way, our Truth, and our LIFE!  We are called to pray without ceasing for all that we face in LIFE.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

An appropriate picture for St Francis feast day!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.  Hallelujah!"  Psalm 150:6

 A Hallel psalm extraordinary! 

"Everything growing from the earth: bless the Lord.

All beasts wild and tame: bless the Lord.

You sons of men: bless the Lord.

Holy men of humble heart: bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Praise and exalt him above all forever."

Daniel 3

Make me a channel of your peace