The Sacred Stigmata of Our Holy Father St. Francis
Today is the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis. It is also the 30th anniversary of my profession in the Third Order of St. Francis. I was privileged to make my profession at the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, after completing a week-long solitary retreat in the renovated apartments of St. Joseph of Cupertino at the Sacred Convent, which is attached to the basilica.
From the Life of St. Francis.
Two years before Francis, the faithful servant of Christ, gave his soul back to God, he was alone on the top of Mt. Alverna. There he had begun a fast of forty days in honor of the archangel Michael and was immersed more deeply than usual in the delights of heavenly contemplation. His soul became aglow with the ardor of fervent longing for heaven as he experienced within himself the operations of grace.
As he was drawn aloft through ardent longing for God one morning near the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and was praying on the mountainside, he saw what appeared as a seraph with six bright wings gleaming like a fire descending from the heights of heaven. As this figure approached in swift flight and came near the man of God it appeared not only winged but also crucified. The sight of it amazed Francis and his soul experienced joy mingled with pain. He was delighted with the sight of Christ appearing to him so graciously and intimately and yet the awe-inspiring vision of Christ nailed to the cross aroused in his soul a joy of compassionate love.
When the vision vanished after a mysterious and intimate conversation it left Francis aglow with seraphic love in his soul. Externally, however, it left marks on his body like those of the Crucified as if the impression of a seal had been left on heated wag. The figures of the nails appeared immediately on his hands and feet. The heads of the nails were inside his hands but on top of his feet with their points extending through to the opposite side. His right side too showed a blood-red wound as if it had been pierced by a lance, and blood flowed frequently from it. - St. Bonaventure
September 17th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Francis certainly knows who to scoop up for another jewel in his Master’s crown.
Oh, he sure does. My deepest, most joyous congratulations on your having entered Religious life.
It’s not easy to contemplate His wounds, then try to present Their meaning to the world.. as Love. As Victory. There can be nothing harder than to be in this world while not of it; there is surely no greater poverty than laying down one’s life, and picking up a Tau.
Gosh.. I like you even more, today. Thank you for saying your yes with your life.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Congratulations on 30 years. Wow! May you be blessed with many more.
September 17th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Hi Terry,
I recently watched the film “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” Have you seen it? What are your thoughts on this particular interpretation of the life and spirituality of St. Francis?
Peace,
Michael
September 17th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Michael - I’ve seen it about 20 times. I love it. Zeferreli’s interpretation is poetic, a little dated now because of the hippie implications, but I still like it. His inspirations were the Giotto frecoes from the Basilica in Assisi and other medieval works,expressed in his grand opera style. Donovan did the music, which I still like. In fact a current television ad (for I don’t know what) uses one of the songs. I love the conversion scene of Francis in his sick room.
I think what Zeferelli suceeds in doing is to express the simple joy of the classic book, “The Little Flowers of St. Francis” and the mystical intoxication of Francis’ love for God. Did you like it?
Thanks for asking!
Terry
September 17th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Thanks CO and Swissmiss - I’m not a religious though - but a secular Fransican - and i have yet to be a good one.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Yes, but you have entered Religious life. You have undertaken the Rule, and you have been professed in it, and Francis has no less a brother in you than in Br. Leo or my great hero, Bro. Juniper. But as he said on his great day of entrance into real Religious life (eternal) coming up in Oct. 4?, “Brothers, let us begin again, for until now, we have done little or nothing.”
I am so happy for you.