A Call To The Heart.
Considering everything we hear about the decline in the number of men and women embracing the challenge of priesthood and religious life, is the idea of praying for vocations an exercise in futility? We can reasonably suggest that the Church no longer has anything to offer a younger person who might wish to respond to a call to consecrated life. Some might even look with mild suspicion upon those who offer themselves as a candidate, relegating them to the category of backward-looking religious cranks rather than the counter-cultural figures that they are. We would worry about a young person in responding to that call to religious life that they will have to bear the baggage of the Catholic Church as we find it today – its politics, its hardened heart, its damaged credibility due to exploitation at the hands of some of its clergy, its creaking irrelevance to the lives of the mainstream – none of this can be overlooked. And it is true – a response to a call to commit one’s life to God is to accept that Catholic community with its flawed beauty just as the individual would wish to be accepted as a complex person with faults as well as gifts.
I was twenty-four when I entered the Franciscans in Melbourne, Victoria. Over the intervening twelve years, I have experienced a richness of life that I never thought possible. It has not been easy and I have probably failed more than I have succeeded, should anyone be keeping score. I would certainly disabuse anyone of the notion that religious life is an opting out of adult responsibility or relationship – it is very much a life lived on the edge. The commitment to live a life sustained by Christ, after the model of St Francis requires a daily commitment. It is forever evolving rather than a stagnant, hokey set of medieval practices. And the amazing thing about this call to be Franciscan is that we are not serving or living in isolation but with our brothers to which we pledge our lives and in whose care we commit ourselves. It is a unique call that is clearly not for everyone or perhaps not even for a few. It is a life where people should be able to see the Gospel come alive again. It is a life of magnificent generosity and versatility. To be honest, and not every friar would agree, it is a life where I feel most the person who I truly am and, put simply, that makes me happy.
It doesn’t take a hero or a martyr to answer God’s call to religious life. If someone thinks they are not bright enough, not holy enough, not wise enough, not good enough, then welcome to the club. A heart knows when the light goes on and God beckons you forward. My advice is to let it shine.
Let us pray for vocations this week and also pray in thanksgiving for those who guide and inspire young men and women into an interiority of faith that allows them to make this commitment real for the sake of the world.
Waiting for your call!
Ever considered a vocation to the Franciscan religious life?
We would love to hear from you. Contact Brother Matthew Hufer (Queensland Vocations Director) or Father Paul Ghanem (Provincial Vocations Director).
Or simply speak to one of the friars.
Or have a look at our website at http://www.franciscans.org.au/
FRANCISCAN READINGS FOR THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER! LOL!!
Sunday, 29th April.
A reading from 'The Little Flowers of Saint Francis.'
Once at the beginning of the Order Saint Francis was with Brother Leo in a place where they did not have books for saying the Divine Office. When the time for matins came, Saint Francis said to Brother Leo, ‘Dearest brother, we do not have a breviary with which we can say matins; but so that we may spend the time in praising God, I’ll speak and you’ll respond as I teach you. And be careful that you don’t change the words into something different from what I teach you. I’ll say this, “O, Brother Francis, you have done so many evil things and so many sins in the world that you are worthy of hell.” And you, Brother Leo, will respond, “That’s true: you deserve the lowest place in hell.”‘ And Brother Leo with dove-like simplicity responded, ‘Of course, Father, begin, in the name of God.’ Then Saint Francis began to say, ‘O Brother Francis, you have done so many evil things and so many sins in the world that you are worthy of hell.’ And Brother Leo responded, ‘God will do so many good things for you that you will go to Paradise.’ Saint Francis said, ‘Don’t say that, Brother Leo! When I say, “Brother Francis, you have done so many evil things against God that you deserve to be cursed by God,” you will respond like this, “Truly, you deserve to be put among the cursed.” And Brother Leo responded, ‘Of course, Father.’ Then Saint Francis, with many tears and groans and beating his breast said in a loud voice, ‘0 my Lord of heaven and earth, I have committed so many iniquities and sins against you, that I thoroughly deserve to be cursed by you.’ And Brother Leo responded, ‘O Brother Francis, God will do so much for you that you will be singularly blessed among the blessed.’ And Saint Francis, surprised that Brother Leo responded the opposite of what he had told him, rebuked him in this way, ‘Why don’t you respond the way I teach you? I command you by holy obedience to respond as I teach you. Twill say this, “O evil little Brother Francis, do you think God will have mercy on you? You have committed so many sins against the Father of mercy and God of every consolation, that you don’t deserve to find mercy.” And you, Brother Leo, little lamb, will respond, “You in no way deserve to find mercy.” But when Saint Francis said, ‘O evil little Brother Francis,’ etc., Brother Leo responded, ‘God the Father, whose mercy is infmitely more than your sin, will have great mercy on you, and on top of this he will add many graces.’ At this response, Saint Francis, sweetly angered and patiently upset, said to Brother Leo, ‘And why have you got the presumption to act contrary to obedience? You’ve already responded several times the opposite of what I’ve ordered you!’ Brother Leo responded very humbly and reverently, ‘God knows, my Father: each time I tried in my heart to respond as you commanded me, but God makes me speak as it pleases him, not as it pleases me.’ Saint Francis was surprised by this, and said to Brother Leo, ‘I beg you most dearly that you respond this time as I’ve told you.’ Brother Leo responded, ‘In the name of God, say it, and this time for sure I will respond as you want.’ And Saint Francis said tearfully, ‘O evil little Brother Francis, do you think that God has mercy on you?’ Brother Leo responded, ‘More than that, you will receive great grace from God and he will exalt you and glorify you forever, since whoever humbles himself will be exalted. And I cannot say anything else, since God speaks through my mouth.’ And so, in this humble contest, with many tears and much spiritual consolation, they kept vigil until daybreak.
Lord, you speak to our heart and reveal your truth to us. May we never fear the truth that God reveals to us and respond with generosity and confidence. Amen.
Monday, 30th April.
A reading from a medieval Franciscan manuscript.
Once when Saint Francis was going on a preaching tour with Brother Leo it happened that Brother Leo began to lose heart through utter exhaustion. So, as they were passing a certain vineyard, Saint Francis went in and seized a bunch of grapes which he gave to Brother Leo to eat. But while he was so doing an angry countryman appeared on the scene and most violently beat Saint Francis with many blows. As they were going on their way afterwards Saint Francis complained bitterly of the hard knocks which he had received on Brother Leo’s account, finding it quite impossible to give thanks to God for his sufferings. When he spoke he said to Brother Leo, ‘Brother Leo has well eaten, but Brother Francis has been well beaten. Brother Leo has had a good meal, but Brother Francis has, with his body, well paid for it.’
Lord, every commitment involves sacrifice and, sometimes, pain. May we bear the trials of our commitments with patience, realising that you reward us for our fidelity in your own time. Amen.
Tuesday – 1st May.
A reading from a medieval Franciscan manuscript.
Brother Leo, the companion of the Blessed Francis, said that there was once a friar of such holiness that he seemed to be on an equality with the Apostles themselves. Yet in the end he yielded to temptation and left the Order. But, living in the world afterwards, he still gave the appearance of being of such virtue that he seemed almost to attain to apostolic perfection. One day when Brother Leo and some other friars were walking along a road with the Blessd Francis, the question was raised by some of the brethren as to why that brother had left the Order. But the saint replied, ‘I want to read something and to ask myself some questions which I shall myself answer. Let no one speak to me until I have done.’ And then he said the word ‘Humility’, which he repeated three or four times. Then ‘Chastity’, ‘Abstinence’, ‘Poverty’. And in this way he ran through a number of virtues, mentioning each one several times. And with each one he asked himself, ‘Do you know that?’ and answered, ‘Yes, I know that.’ Finally he said, several times over, the word ‘Fear’. And when he asked himself, ‘Do you know that?’ he answered, ‘No.’ Then again he cried out, ‘Fear,’ repeating the word over and over again. But when he asked himself, ‘Do you know that?’ again he answered, ‘No.’ So yet again he cried, ‘Fear,’ and at last whispered to himself, ‘Yes, I know Fear.’ Then he added these words, ‘It is useless for a man to seek all virtues and leave out Fear; yet few have it, and therefore it is hard to teach them.’ And finally, ‘It was because he had no Fear that that good brother fell and left the Order.’
Lord, your faithful ones discern your command every day. May our fear leads us to cautious decision-making and prudent actions. Amen.
Wednesday – 2nd May. ST ATHANASIUS
St. Athanasius, the great champion of the Faith was born at Alexandria, about the year 296, of Christian parents. Educated under the eye of Alexander, later Bishop of his native city, he made great progress in learning and virtue. In 313, Alexander succeeded Achillas in the Patriarchal See, and two years later St. Athanasius went to the desert to spend some time in retreat with St. Anthony. In 319, he became a deacon, and even in this capacity he was called upon to take an active part against the rising heresy of Arius, an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of Christ. This was to be the life struggle of St. Athanasius. In 325, he assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicaea, where his influence began to be felt. Five months later Alexander died. On his death bed he recommended St. Athanasius as his successor. In consequence of this, Athanasius was unanimously elected Patriarch in 326. His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause of many trials and persecutions for St. Athanasius. He spent seventeen of the forty-six years of his episcopate in exile. After a life of virtue and suffering, this intrepid champion of the Catholic Faith, the greatest man of his time, died in peace on May 2, 373. St. Athanasius was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
A reading from ‘The Little Flowers of Saint Francis’
Once when Saint Francis was seriously ill and Brother Leo was taking care of him, that same Brother Leo was near Saint Francis and was praying, and he was rapt in ecstasy and led in spirit to a very great river, wide and turbulent. As he was watching those crossing over, he saw some brothers with heavy loads entering that river, and some as far as the middle of the river, and some as far as the shore; but all of them, because of the force of the river and the loads they carried with them, finally fell in and drowned. Brother Leo, seeing this, felt great compassion for them; and suddenly, as he stood there, a great multitude of brothers arrived, without any loads or burdened by anything at all, and in whom shone holy poverty. They entered the river and crossed it without any harm at all. Having seen this, Brother Leo returned to himself. Then Saint Francis, sensing in spirit that Brother Leo had seen a vision, called him to himself, and asked him what he had seen. And the same Brother Leo told him the whole vision in detail, and Saint Francis said, ‘What you saw is true. The great river is this world; the brothers who drowned in the river are those who do not follow their evangelical profession especially in regard to the highest poverty. Those who crossed without danger are those brothers who neither seek nor possess anything earthly or anything of the flesh, but are content having only basic food and clothing, following Christ naked on the Cross and willingly and happily carrying the burden and the gentle yoke of Christ and of holy obedience; and therefore they cross easily from temporal life to eternal life.’
Lord, give us the courage to push the boat out and enter into the deep. With your love to support us, we will brave the depths of this world and pass with safety into your care. Encourage other men and women to join us in our journey. Amen.
Thursday – 3rd May – Ss. Philip and James
James, Son of Alphaeus:We know nothing of this man but his name, and of course the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the New Israel, his Church. He is not the James of Acts, son of Clopas, “brother” of Jesus and later bishop of Jerusalem and the traditional author of the Letter of James. James, son of Alphaeus, is also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him with James the son of Zebedee, also an apostle and known as James the Greater.
Philip: Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought out Nathanael and told him of the “one about whom Moses wrote” (John 1:45). Like the other apostles, Philip took a long time coming to realize who Jesus was. On one occasion, when Jesus saw the great multitude following him and wanted to give them food, he asked Philip where they should buy bread for the people to eat. St. John comments, “[Jesus] said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do” (John 6:6). Philip answered, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit]” (John 6:7). John’s story is not a put-down of Philip. It was simply necessary for these men who were to be the foundation stones of the Church to see the clear distinction between humanity’s total helplessness apart from God and the human ability to be a bearer of divine power by God’s gift. On another occasion, we can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice. After Thomas had complained that they did not know where Jesus was going, Jesus said, “I am the way…If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6a, 7). Then Philip said, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (John 14:8). Enough! Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9a). Possibly because Philip bore a Greek name or because he was thought to be close to Jesus, some Gentile proselytes came to him and asked him to introduce them to Jesus. Philip went to Andrew, and Andrew went to Jesus. Jesus’ reply in John’s Gospel is indirect; Jesus says that now his “hour” has come, that in a short time he will give his life for Jew and Gentile alike.
A reading from ‘The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul’, by Thomas of Celano.
While Saint Francis was secluded in a cell on Mount La Verna, [Brother Leo,] one of his companions, was yearning with great desire to have something encouraging from the words of our Lord, commented on briefly by Saint Francis and written with his own hand. He believed that by this means he would be set free from, or at least could bear more easily, a serious temptation which oppressed him, not in the flesh but in the spirit. Though growing weary with this desire, he feared to express it to the most holy father. But what man did not tell him, the Spirit revealed. One day Saint Francis called this brother and said, ‘Bring me paper and ink, because I want to write down the words of the Lord and his praises upon which I have meditated in my heart.’ What he had asked for was quickly brought to him. He then wrote down with his own hand the Praises of God and the words he wanted and, at the end, a blessing for that brother, saying, ‘Take this paper for yourself and keep it carefully to your dying day.’ The whole temptation disappeared immediately. The letter was preserved, and later it worked wonders.
Lord, when we need spiritual comfort, send us a tangible sign of faith to hold on to in times of doubt and darkness. May we never spare ourselves in offering comfort to those lacking in confidence. Amen.
Friday – 4th May.
A reading from ‘A Letter to Brother Leo’, by Saint Francis.
Brother Leo, health and peace from Brother Francis!
I am speaking, my son, in this way – as a mother would – because I am putting everything we said on the road in this brief message and advice. If, afterwards, you need to come to me for counsel, I advise you thus: In whatever way it seems better to you to please the Lord God and to follow his footprint and poverty, do it with the blessing of the Lord God and my obedience. And if you need and want to come to me for the sake of your soul or for some consolation, Leo, come.
Saturday – 5th May.
A reading from ‘A Mirror of the Perfection of a Lesser Brother’
Once, the Lord Jesus Christ said to Brother Leo, the companion of blessd Francis, ‘Brother Leo, I have a complaint about the brothers.’ ‘About what, Lord?’ Brother Leo replied. And the Lord said, ‘About three things. They do not recognise my gifts which, as you know, I generously and abundantly bestow on them daily, since they neither sow nor reap. All day long they are idle and complain. And they often provoke one another to anger, and do not return to love, and do not pardon the injury they receive.’
Lord, may those who are called into your vineyard labour tirelessly in the service of others and never bicker amongst themselves rather exchanging peace for peace. Amen.
bromatt2011
The Hill 