His Heart Sang Praise to the Lord

Having been educated by Franciscans, it would be remiss of me not to mention St Francis whose feast it is today.     St Francis has had an enormous influence on the Church and the world.  He is, after Our Lord, the greatest example of humility and poverty - it was his charism.  He has inspired countless people to offer their lives to God, and I believe the Franciscan family - the various Orders and the congregations affiliated to them, form the largest group of institutes of consecrated life in the Church.  He was also the founder of the first Third Order in the Church, so all tertiaries, regardless of which Order they belong to, can look to him as the innovator of their way of life.

Of course, the figure of St Francis has been misinterpreted by many, and alongside the real Francis have been placed the imaginary hippy, the anti-institutional freedom fighter, and the prophet of free love, to name a few.  Poor Francis would be shocked - he was very much a man of the Church, loving the Church, and while recognising that there were problems within the Church, he saw the solution in living a holy life, an obedient life and an evangelical life.  Francis, when he threw off his clothes and the earthly way of life, did not seek the protection of Mother Church for nothing.  When the bishop wrapped him in his episcopal mantle, Francis would have seen this as significant and symbolic. 

This is interesting and topical at the moment.  I mentioned the upcoming Apostolic Visitation to the Church in Ireland a few days ago, and all the talk of reform and renewal.   In an article in this month's edition of ALIVE newspaper, Fr Owen Gorman addresses the ideas proposed by certain figures in the Church here to bring about "true reform".   One suggestion offered is that the Catholics of  Ireland should throw out the bishops, "take back" the cathedrals and formally break with Rome.  As you can imagine those suggestions were greeted with joy by the "progressives" and Irish media. As Homer Simpson would say as he guzzles his Duff beer, "It's the only way...it's the only way...aaarrrhh.."   As Fr Owen points out, breaking with Rome (or to to put it in proper terms: breaking communion with the successor of St Peter and wounding the union of the Mystical Body of Christ) is not the way forward, nor is rebellion against the teachings of Christ nor distortion of the liturgy.  The great reforming saints were faithful, obedient and holy; they also had a profound love of the Eucharist in whom they recognised Christ himself.

At this time of reform, we would do well to look to Francis and see in him a model of renewal.   Interestingly one of the most effective new congregations in this area is Franciscan, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR) founded by Fr Benedict Groeschel - another Francis if you ask me.  And Francis has taken to the airwaves with Mother Angelica's EWTN, another Franciscan initiative.

Happy feast day to you all.  In celebration, we will wear sackcloth and fast, and go out onto the streets singing the Canticle of the Creatures!   As a spiritual director of mine once said, "Sure, you have to go mad to stay sane!"