The Siege of Orleans

 

  Congratulations

to the New Orleans Saints!

Writers, Mystics and Visions

In my class, Franciscan Spirituality, we have studied the beginnings of the Franciscan order by looking at the life of Saint Francis. In order to have something to compare it too, avoiding the trap of thinking Franciscan-ism is the only spirituality, I am introducing the students to other, less known figures like, Hildegard of Bingen. She died in 1179 - just a few years before Francis was born in 1181.  She was a powerful Benedictine and had the support of the ecclesiastical community who approved and affirmed her spiritual writings and visions.  The pope even sought her out for spiritual direction because of her powerful spirituality.  Her visions were unique, and the image of the blue Christ is something I use today as a means of meditation.

In class today, we watched, "Play of the Virtues" which was written by Hildagard and is the oldest surviving European music-drama, and the greatest musical work by the visionary mystic.  It depicts Christian virtues as women singers who sing in perfect harmony.  They are living virtues which are given as gifts, unlike Aristotle's virtues which are obtained by working for them.  The Christian virtues, in this play, come to the aid of a young female community member who is struggling with temptation.  The young women is seduced by the  deceiver (Satan).  Satan does not sing in the play because he is the embodiment of all dis-harmony.  Eventually, the young women sees sin for what it is, and decides to returns to the company of  the virtues.  They embrace her and assure her of God's forgiveness and support.  They do not judge or condemn, instead they are aware of the source of sin - Satan. the great deceiver, and they are able to render him powerless - giving the young women the courage to find her voice, and confront Satan, her accuser, which empowers her, and Satan fails to get back her allegiance. 

 

I really enjoyed introducing this powerful, Catholic women, who's experience had a strong impact on the church in the medieval age.  At the same time, she also experienced the harsh reality of not always being in agreement with the powers-that-be in the church.  Yet, Hildagard is a model of perseverance, not quieting on her faith by leaving the church.  Instead, she engages the hierarchy while standing her ground, and was successful in changing the edict which was place on her signing community.   

The Grace of Substitution

When St. Francis was undergoing his initial conversion his father would berate and abuse him verbally because Francis was changing his allegiance from his biological father to his heavenly Father. Most of us are familiar with the story of how Francis was brought before the civil and ecclesiastic courts by his father in order to get back the money or material which was used to fund the repair work at San Damiano's church.

However, what strikes me about Francis was the grace he exhibited in dealing with the rejection he endured by his father who would "cursed Francis" when he saw him. To buffer such rejection Francis would find a poor old beggar and ask him, "When you hear my father curing me, I shall turn to you saying: 'Bless me, Father'; and then you will sign me with the cross and bless me in his place." And when this happened, the beggar did indeed bless him; and Francis turned to his father, saying: "Do you not realize that God can give me a father whose blessing will counter your curses?" (Legend of the Three Companions p. 913)

I call this, "The Grace of Substitution."  Many students in my Franciscan Spirituality class were intrigued by this story because often they find their family relations less then perfect. St. Francis, the symbol of universal peace, was not able to salvage his relationship with his father.  However, Francis didn't become a victim or fall into self pity. Instead he was resourceful and realized God could, and would, fulfill the fatherly role with others.

Preach The Gospel In Everything You Do

St. Francis would tell the brothers to preach the gospel in everything they did, and if necessary, to use words. He knew the brothers wanted the power of an audience, and so one day he told them they would go to town and preach. They were excited and eagerly followed St. Francis through the village of Assisi. When they arrived at the end of town they asked St. Francis when were they going to preach to the people? St. Francis responded, “We just did.”

St. Francis believed preaching was about the way you conducted yourself. It was an action, a behavior, and  he knew people paid little attention to what they had to say if they couldn’t live what they believed. This is true  when trying to account for why God allows things to happen in the world.  The danger in using words to try to describe why God allows bad things to happen is that you can make horrible mistakes like Pat Roberson made in trying to explain why an earthquake leveled Haiti.  When “ministers” speak such destructive words they add to the pain of a horrific situation, and they distance anyone considering Christianity because it adds to the stereotype that Christians are all the same.   St. Francis told the brothers to preach the gospel in every thing they do, and if necessary use words.  Three words - I don't know - would have been sufficient in this case.   

The Wedding At Cana

The wedding at Cana is a very human story because even two thousand years ago things had a way of going aye. Even with careful planning, something went wrong; they ran out of wine. Not the worst thing that can happen we might think, but in their day, it’s not like they could make a run to the local liquor store and pick up a few bottles of burgundy.

Mary comes to Jesus with a need and a want. Jesus reaction is almost dismissive; He must have chucked wondering who planed this wedding - just goes to show that even if the Savior of the world is at your wedding, it still does no guarantee things won’t go wrong.

How we hate it when things go wrong. That is why we do our best to make sure people don’t get the wrong impression of us: when it comes to being engaged; when courting another, we always put our best foot forward. We bring out our very best when we are seeking employment, building a career or asking for a promotion. Everyone puts their very best effort into getting what they love…until, that is…they love it no longer.

Human love is a funny thing - it really is wonderful, fulfilling, and exciting - however, it doesn’t seem to last very long. People can love you one minute and hate you in the next.  The wedding at Cana is an important story because it shows us that human love; the best tasting wine we use to win friends and influence people - runs out! It’s enviable!

The wedding at Cana shows us God’s love is the real wine that lasts! It has the power to transform not only water into wine, but a cold heart into a warm one. The wine of God’s love is inexhaustible, freely given and poured out for us in the blood of Christ. Most importantly, we can trust in God’s love because it's never ending.

The wedding at Cana is an important story because it helps us to understand where our ultimate trust needs to be. Mary, realizing she is getting know where by her own efforts falls back on her faith and trust by saying to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” She has to let go of control and places all her trust in the Lord. She knows that such a trust will never end in disappoint. Not doing what we know Christ calls us to do does lead to disappointment and often inner impoverishment.

As we watch events unfold in Haiti, we see the need for so much help and assistance. The circumstances may not be as trivial as having a wine shortage, but a miracle is needed never-the-less. We may wonder what we can do when what to do is not clear. Being open to the gospel challenges to do what ever He tells us might be a good starting point.

A New Semester and Ordinary Time

The view out the front door of St. Peters friary

It seems like God is challenging me once again because I am teaching a course, for the first time, in Franciscan Spirituality at the college of St. Joseph.   I never had any ambition to teach or become a professor.  I could have declined, and insisted that I am not of the teaching caliber, but that gentle voice inside seemed to beckon me, once again, to try.  A few weeks ago I sat down with the department head, and we reviewed all the possible courses I could teach, and we decided on Franciscan Spirituality.   I figured no one would sign up and that would be the end of it, but the class is full.

Today was the first day, and I did my best to introduce them to key concepts of Franciscan spirituality.  It seemed like the harder I tried to make myself clear the more I sounded like I was speaking French.  At one point, I told them that theology was like another language, and if I sounded like I was speaking French, I needed them to speak up and say, “English brother, speak English.”  The parable of the prodigal son saved the day.

I am happy it is Ordinary Time once again, and the gospel message today was the call of the first disciples who were busy mending their nets.   Many times, I find myself trying to mend my own life when I hear the Lord calling me to leave it and come follow Him again.  I don’t like loose ends, but the Lord never promises perfect relationships, job opportunities or careers.  He only gives an invitation to, “come and see” and to see what happens.

Happy Birthday to the Maid

Thank God for Jeanne d'Arc and Happy Birthday