FS #23: Soul of Franciscan Spirituality, Part 3 – May 03 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on May 03, 2023, where he continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality, focusing today on the masterpiece of God's love, which is the incarnation of Christ.
In Franciscan spirituality, love or charity is central, and the incarnation of Christ is considered the masterpiece of God's love. Love is diffusive, pouring itself out for the one it loves (1 John 4:16 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?16). Jesus Christ, the God-man, is the only one in creation capable of welcoming and returning God's love completely. Blessed John Duns Scotus' thinking reflects this, stating that God first loves Himself and secondly, loves Himself in others.
The hypostatic union, the union of Christ's human nature to the person of the Word, represents the highest, most perfect union outside of the Trinity. The love of God and the universal love of neighbor find their perfect home in Jesus' heart. St. Francis of Assisi, deeply moved by Jesus' love, prayed for the grace to love Him as He wanted to be loved.
St. Bonaventure advises passing through the wounds of Jesus to delve deeper into God's love, as it is through the wounds of Christ that we can penetrate into the most sacred heart of Jesus. To reach the heights of love and the spiritual life, we must fix our thoughts and hearts on Jesus and Mary, contemplating the masterpiece of love, Jesus hanging on the cross for us.
00:00 – Introduction
00:09 – The Role of Love in Franciscan Spirituality
00:34 – The Incarnation of Christ: God's Greatest Work of Love
01:30 – Jesus Christ: The First Willed by the Trinity
02:56 – Jesus Christ: The Masterpiece of God
03:24 – The Incarnation: Not a Response to Sin
04:56 – The Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Perfect Union of Love
05:33 – St. Francis' Contemplation of the Heart of Jesus
06:51 – The Love in Christ's Death
07:23 – Delving Deeper into the Love of God through the Wounds of Jesus
08:39 – Finding Joy and Light in the Masterpiece of Love: Jesus on the Cross
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: Sts. Philip and James - Feast
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050323.cfm
1st: 1co 15:1-8
Resp: psa 19:2-5
Gsp: joh 14:6-14
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1068
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