O Sanctissima anima

in cuius transitu

caeli cives occurunt,

Angelorum chorus exultat,

et gloriosa Trinitas

invitat, dicens:

Mane nobiscum

in ateternum...

_______________

Per Intercessionem

Sancti Patris Nostri

Francisci, Confessoris,

Liberet et Deus

ab omni malo.

Through the intercession

of

Our Holy Father Francis, Confessor,

may Almighty God

deliver you

from all evil

Fr. Don Kline's Sermon from The Transitus,

October 3, 2007

Of the many beautiful aspects of monastic life, the ability to persevere and flourish in the midst of struggle and heartache is certainly true.  Or put another way: To experience the rose even while holding the thorns is what it means to give one's life to Christ.  As Bishop Olmsted once remarked about this holy way of life: "Although cloistered within a tiny earthly space, you are living out a thrilling journey of spirit, passing through dark nights of the senses and crossing rugged terrains of the soul, yet focused intently on the finish line: life to the full with Blessed Trinity in Heaven."

As one looks back on their life, it could be tempting to question decisions made, opportunities missed, and even dwell on past mistakes.  It may even be appealing, in those moments, to close your eyes, as if it were meaningless or worse yet, to hope that your past struggles were without merit or were of no consequence.  But in doing so, you rob yourself of the present opportunities for God's Grace which are so available precisely because you can look back on your life, to see the good and the not so good.

No doubt, the brothers, the closest confidantes of Holy Father Francis, would recall the joy and encouragement of his presence even in those moments before his death...for it was this same presence that had sustained them in those moments when they were being treated like fools, seen as ignorant and not in touch with the so called "real world".  It was especially in those moments that they recalled their past ,only to remember that it was Christ who called them to wash feet even when they wanted to throw in the towel. 

It was in those moments of trial when they would find the inspiration of Francis, who first showed them how to walk in the footsteps of their Divine Master.  It was especially in those difficult moments that the Gospel was not some far-off history book but a real life experience.  Through it all, Christ's pain became their pain.  Christ's love became their love.  His wash towel and water basin became their purification. 

The words of Holy Father Francis encouraged them to not let their hearts give in to the sufferings of the present but rather look to the things eternal.  They belonged to God and Francis never let them forget that.  Even as he blessed them, he would say, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He will sustain thee."

And when he lay dying, Francis sent a message to Lady Clare, "to put aside all sorrow and sadness" promising her and her Sisters that they would see him and have great comfort - offering them a pledge of the spirit to comfort them...to be their joy.  Even as the Sisters wept after his death and as they kissed his wounded hands, perhaps they found consolation knowing that Holy Father Francis lived his life for the Master.  They knew in their hearts that  he heard the gentle invitation of Christ, "I have give you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

Fr. Don Kline's Sermon from Solemnity of Our Holy Father Francis,

October 4, 2007

"Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you.  Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart."  These beautiful words offer us consolation because life is not always easy.  To ease our burden the Lord raises up people who, by their example, by their very presence put flesh on the Gospel and make it come alive. 

That is exactly what we have in the Holy Father Francis, the humble yet great herald of the High King (Who Himself humbled Himself in the Incarnation, Who humbled Himself by His death on the Cross and continues to come to us by His Real Presence under the appearance of ordinary bread and wine). 

Francis' simple way reveals to us the suffering Jesus.  It also reveals to us his deep love for our Lord.  His simple and humble way really makes him the inviting Saint that he is to countless millions since his death...even to those who perhaps don't even know the Lord or believe in God.

How could he have imitated Jesus Christ so closely?  It is impossible to understand completely.  It is a mystery.  Yet, in his nothingness, many were drawn to him and therefore they were drawn to Christ.  Those who were closet to him, his brothers, were his followers and the Lord gave them to him...he was grateful for them and offered them these words (which also could be offered to us today), "Take courage, dear brothers, and rejoice in the Lord and do not be sad because you seem to be so few and do not let my plainness discourage you because as the Lord has actually shown me, God is going to make us grow into a very great multitude and spread us out in numbers to the ends of the earth."

Holy Father Francis had the interior sense of what the Lord was going to do for his community.  He says this: "I have seen a great multitude of people coming to us and wishing to associate with us in our habit of holy conduct and in our rule for a blessed religious life..."  He sees many souls who are seeking to live the Gospel in a radical way...really seeking to follow the Divine Master.  St. Francis knew that living the life of Christ would, in itself, draw many to know Christ.  Holy Father Francis knew that his humble way of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ would bring many to know the Lord.  His way was to live the Gospel in a very radical manner.  It was to live it to perfection.

So today we pray for all those touched by the life of St. Francis, those who have been challenged in their own personal journey and those who have given their lives in a radical way like St. Francis.  Let us hear the words that Holy Father Francis shared with his brothers on his deathbed, "Brothers there is no greater rule that exists in all the world than the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

We pray that all of us may find consolation as we seek to live the Gospel.  We pray that we may take consolation in the words of Jesus Christ Who says, "Come to me all who are weary and find life burdensome and I will fresh  you.  Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart."

"I beseech Thee,

O Lord,

that the

fiery and sweet

STRENGTH

of Thy

LOVE

may absorb my soul

from all things

that are

under heaven,

that I may die

for love of Thy love

as Thou didst

deign to

die

for

love of my love."

- Our Holy Father Francis