This week's installment of the 'Little Flowers of Saint Francis' includes three important stories about Saint Francis and the development of the Franciscan community. First, Saint Francis discerns (with the help of Saint Clare and Brother Sylvester) that God wanted him to preach to the world for the salvation of souls. Second, Saint Francis founds the Third Order after preaching with great effect in a little village. And lastly, Saint Francis preaches to the birds and commissions them join his ministry of preaching. Saint Francis, pray for us! Saint Clare, pray for us! Our Lady of Angels, pray for us!
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis
Chapter XV: Saint Francis Preaches to the Birds
Even in his own time, Saint Francis was known as the humble servant of Christ. After his conversion, he had attracted many followers and received them into his fellowship. Now he entered into a period of discernment and doubt about what to do next. Should he retreat from the world and devote himself solely to prayer and contemplation? Or should he travel about the known world and preach the word of God? Francis desired to know and understand God's will in answer to these difficult questions.
Since holy humility prevented Saint Francis from trusting only in his own prayer for answers to these questions, he sought to discern God's will through the prayers of others. He said to Brother Masseo: "Go to Sister Clare and ask her and her sisters to pray fervently that God might reveal whether I should devote myself to prayer or preaching. Afterward, go to Brother Sylvester and ask the same of him." In asking for the prayers of Brother Sylvester, Francis remembered that it was Sylvester who had received a vision of Francis with a golden cross rising from his lips to embrace the world as it rose into the heavens. Brother Sylvester was known also as a holy man whose spoke continuously with God and whose prayers were always answered.
Brother Masseo departed and spoke first with Saint Clare and then with Brother Sylvester, who immediately began to pray for God's guidance. When Sylvester received a divine answer, he said: "God's will is this: Francis that he was not called to the eremitic life, to gain for himself only the grace of heaven. Rather Francis was called to preach, to gain the grace of heaven for others." After hearing these words, Masseo returned to Clare at San Damiano. Clare revealed that she and her sisters had received the same divine message at Sylvester.
Upon Brother Masseo's return, Saint Francis welcomed him with great charity. Francis washed his brother's feet and prepared a meal for him. After they had eaten, Francis called Masseo into the forest. He knelt before him, let down his hood, and stretched his arms in the form of a cross. Francis said: "What does our Lord Jesus Christ command?" Masseo responded: "Christ revealed his will that you should preach to the world for the salvation of souls to both the Poor Ladies and to Brother Sylvester. Christ has called you to work not for your salvation alone but for the salvation of many others." Hearing these words and knowing that they were the will of Jesus Christ, Francis arose and exclaimed: "In the name of Christ, let us go and preach!" He left and was accompanied by Brother Masseo and Brother Agnolo.
Guided only by the Holy Spirit, Saint Francis and his friends arrived at the village of Savurniano. Francis began to preach but first commanded the singing swallows to keep silence until his preaching was finished. The swallows obeyed him. Francis preached with great fervor so that the people felt called to abandon the village for lives of prayer. But Francis said to them: "Do not be hasty! Do not leave! In God's name, I will show you what you must do for the salvation of your souls." In this way, Saint Francis founded his third order for the salvation of the whole world. He left the people much consoled and well disposed to lives of penance and simplicity.
After leaving the village, as Saint Francis and his brothers walked along the road, they lifted their eyes into the trees and saw a countless multitude of little birds. Saint Francis said to his companions: "Wait here for me. I shall go and preach to the birds." He entered into the wood and began preaching to the birds. The birds gathered around him in perfect silence. They remained silent throughout the saint's sermon and would not depart until he blessed each of them in turn. So Francis walked among them and touched each bird with his own cloak as they remained silent and still.
In preaching to the little birds, Saint Francis said: "My little bird friends, be grateful to God who blessed and created you. He also saved you on the ark. In all places, sing God's praises because He has given you the freedom to fly! In all places, sing God's praises because He has given you the air which surrounds you! Be thankful because you need not sow or reap, but you need only feed upon God's creation, drink from God's brooks and fountains, and nest in God's forests and valleys! Be thankful because you need not clothe yourselves! God has gives a cloak of feathers to you and your children! Your creator loves you and blesses you! My little friends, avoid the sin of ingratitude! Endeavor always to please, praise, and thank God our Father in Heaven!"
After Saint Francis preached, the little birds opened their beaks, spread their wings, bowed their heads reverently, and began the sweetest of songs to show that the saint's words had given them great delight and inspiration. Saint Francis rejoiced with them, marveled at their number and variety, and delighted in their songs of praise and thanksgiving. Saint Francis blessed the little birds with the sign of the cross. After this blessing, the birds divided into four flocks. One departed to the east. One departed to the west. One departed to the north. One departed to the south. In whichever direction they departed, they sang beautifully in praise and thanksgiving for God's many blessings. And their songs signified that like Saint Francis and his companions, they had been commissioned to preach to the whole world for the salvation of souls. And like the birds, Saint Francis and his companions departed with nothing of their own, except the blessing and inspiration of God's grace. Amen!
Our Prayers
For our families & friends, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our parish communities, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our Pope-Emeritus, Benedict XVI, we pray: Hail Mary...
For our departed brothers & sisters in faith, we pray: Hail Mary...
For the Catholic Church throughout the world, we pray: Hail Mary...
For peace & justice throughout the whole world, we pray: Hail Mary...
Our Father...
Almighty God and Father,
you promise to come with your Son
and make your home in those who love you.
Come then with your purifying grace
and make our hearts fitting places for you to dwell.
and make your home in those who love you.
Come then with your purifying grace
and make our hearts fitting places for you to dwell.
We make this prayer through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.
Saint Francis, pray for us!
Saint Clare, pray for us!
Our Lady of Angels, pray for us!
Holy Men & Women of Assisi, pray for us!
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NEW!
SEVENTH ANNUAL FALL PILGRIMAGE
FOOTSTEPS of SAINT FRANCIS of ASSISI
Rome | Assisi | Greccio | October 31-November 8, 2014
For the seventh consecutive year, the Assisi Project is sponsoring a week-long, small-group pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, Italy from October 31st through November 8th. Last year, a nearly sold-out group of sixteen pilgrims (ranging in age from 14 to 88 years) from the United States and Canada literally walked in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
This year, we will journey back to these holy pilgrimage sites. Each morning, we will begin with Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass. Masses will be celebrated at the Church of San Damiano, the Carceri, the Porziuncola, and the Basilica of Saint Francis. Each afternoon, all pilgrims will be afforded the free time and guidance to explore the medieval city of Assisi at their own pace and to visit the countless churches, cafes, museums, and shops. Each evening, we will gather for Evening Prayer, followed by a conference and faith sharing.
As a fellowship of pilgrims, we will visit the historic Basilicas of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Each of the these great basilicas contains the tombs of the saints, holy relics, and priceless works of art. But these baslicas are also pilgrimage sites for prayer, silent meditation, and worship. We will visit the Basilica of Saint Rufino, where Saint francis and Saint Clare were baptized. We will visit the Church of Saint Damian, where the famous crucifix spoke to Francis and hastened his conversion. And we will visit the little chapel known as the Porziuncola, which is considered the home church of the worldwide Franciscan community.
In addition, we will spend leisurely afternoons in and around the Piazza de Commune, Assisi's city center, with its ancient Roman temple (now a Catholic church), sidewalkk cafes, restaurants, and shops. The more adventurous will also have an opportunity to hike to the Rocca Maggiore, the great medieval fortress with its stunning views of Assisis, the Spoleto Valley, and Mount Subasio.
Finally, we will travel to Rome for visits to Vatican City and Saint Peter's Basilica, where we will celebrate Mass and hopefully see and hear Pope Francis deliver the Sunday Angelus Address. We will also visit the Carceri (or hermitage) on Mount Subasio, where Saint Francis and his first followers retreated for prayer and contemplation. And we will offer an optional excursion to Greccio, the little village near Assisi, where Saint Francis introduced the first Christmas creche.
The cost of this extraordinary pilgrimage and retreat is just $3,099 and includes all air and ground transportation (from Boston's Logan Airport only), guest house accommodations (single room) at the Convent of Saint Bridget of Sweden in Assisi, and hotel accommodations (double room; singe room option) at the historic Columbus Hotel (near Vatican City) in Rome. All meals are included. This price does not include recommended travel insurance (approximately $250) or transportation to Greccio (optional excursion). These prices are effective only until May 31, 2014. For more information about this pilgrimage or about any of our upcoming events, please contact Cliff Garvey at assisiproject@ymail.com. Please join us! Space is limited! May the Lord give you peace!
