Novena to Saint Francis of Assisi day 6
Prayer before the crucifix of San Damiano
Most High glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me right faith, sure hope and perfect charity.
Fill me with understanding and knowledge that I may fulfill your command.
First life according to Celano, nº 47
Walking the brothers in simplicity before God and with confidence before men, they deserved for that time the joy of divine revelation. Meanwhile, inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, they sang Our Father in a pleading voice, in spiritual melody, not only at the established times, but at all times, since neither the earthly request nor the angry care of things worried them, a Night, the most beautiful father Francis was physically absent from his presence. And here, at about midnight, while some brothers were resting and others were praying fervently in silence, a dazzling fire car entered the door of the house, which went two or three times around the room; Above him was a large globe, which, resembling the sun, made the night shining. Those who were awake were stunned and those who slept were startled; they felt enlightened no less in the heart than in the body. All together, they wondered what that might mean; but by the strength and grace of such clarity the consciences of one another were evident. They finally understood and discovered that it was the soul of the Holy Father, radiant with that immense glow, which, in grace, above all, to his purity and his great piety with his children, had deserved from the Lord such a unique gift.
Meditation
If we look at our lives and the way we have built our world, we realize that everything is measured by the value of what can be bought or not. In a society in which everything is transformed into merchandise there is no place for gratuity, since the free or not valid or is propaganda. If everything has its price, then there is no room for God's free love.
First life according to Celano, nº 47
Walking the brothers in simplicity before God and with confidence before men, they deserved for that time the joy of divine revelation. Meanwhile, inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, they sang Our Father in a pleading voice, in spiritual melody, not only at the established times, but at all times, since neither the earthly request nor the angry care of things worried them, a Night, the most beautiful father Francis was physically absent from his presence. And here, at about midnight, while some brothers were resting and others were praying fervently in silence, a dazzling fire car entered the door of the house, which went two or three times around the room; Above him was a large globe, which, resembling the sun, made the night shining. Those who were awake were stunned and those who slept were startled; they felt enlightened no less in the heart than in the body. All together, they wondered what that might mean; but by the strength and grace of such clarity the consciences of one another were evident. They finally understood and discovered that it was the soul of the Holy Father, radiant with that immense glow, which, in grace, above all, to his purity and his great piety with his children, had deserved from the Lord such a unique gift.
Meditation
If we look at our lives and the way we have built our world, we realize that everything is measured by the value of what can be bought or not. In a society in which everything is transformed into merchandise there is no place for gratuity, since the free or not valid or is propaganda. If everything has its price, then there is no room for God's free love.
For Francis God, life, fields, seas, mountains, sun, moon, stars is the manifestation of the most free thing there is; from his feeling he points us to a new path, opening ourselves to the novelty of God implies filling us with optimism, a new humanity and an immeasurable desire to live.
Saint Francis calls us to welcome the diversity of life with joy, to be filled with astonishment at the wonders that God has done in us and around us. Francis offers today's society a culture of austerity and moderation in the use of things, thanks to this attitude the modern man will discover the free face of life and can learn to give thanks and to dress with sympathy, courtesy and kindness, necessary paths for a utopia of the everyday.
To live life like this is to open our hearts to welcome all the life that exists in the Universe from human life to the smallest expression that refers to the love of God. This is the life that God offers us, and this is the path that St Francis undertook.
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