Franciscan Spirituality #7: Origins to Francis, Part 4 – Feb 20 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Griswold, CT on Feb 20, 2023, on how and continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality as he gives more background leading up to St. Francis, this time focusing on the spirituality of Sts. Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Benedict, who had a great influence on Western Spirituality before Francis.

Notes:

From Pope Benendict's reflections on these saints in 2007 and 2008

St Jerome

Focused on the ascetical self-abnegation, spiritual combat that fit with his combative temperament

To read the bible is to talk with God

If you read the Bible, God talks to you

If you love the scripture and wisdom will love you.

If you love the virtue of scripture, you will hate the vices of the flesh

Seek to learn those things that will endure into eternity

Defender of the faith opposed heresies, promoted penance for the monks, the importance of scripture and good translations

Commentaries should have multiple opinions expressed to learn how to interpret but in harmony with the teaching of the Church

The Church is the foundation of truth, not the Bible 1 Tim 3: 15 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/3?15

To reach God must give up what is most precious to us

1 Solitude from the world, 2 Under authority superior, 3 reading and meditating Sctipure, 4 cloth and food austerity, 5 prayers centered on the psalms will teach the mind and heart of God

St. Ambrose

rendered sweeter due to his temperament

Lectio Divina was started by him, and all his homilies were prepared in this way. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectio_Divina

Baptized St Augustine

St Benedict and Augustine give much history of Ambrose

He read scripture quietly, not moving his mouth, unusual from the time.

Scripture was meant for preaching

What you learn, you have to put into practice to teach it.

A true disciple prays before he preaches, like Apostle John

The spirituality of Ambrose softened the combative spirituality of the Desert Fathers but was very pious.

Norm or rule of perfection, virginity, prayer, practice virtue

Ascetical but balanced like his nature

Ask Our Lady to see this light in St. Francis's spirituality

This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality". No English translations exist at the time of this recording.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 7th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022023.cfm
1st: sir 1:1-10
Resp: psa 93:1-2, 5
Gsp: mar 9:14-29

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1395

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