FS #44: Spiritual Christocentrism, Part 5 – Aug 03 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 03, 2023, where he continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality and Spiritual Christocentrism, explaining how this spirituality is an intimate union with Christ, whereas the ascetical is important but is a means toward this. This follows the Gospel of St John more than that of the synoptic gospels, Mathew, Mark, and Luke.

The spiritual Christocentrism of Franciscan spirituality emphasizes Christ's intimate presence within us and the dynamic union we share, experienced through his grace. Franciscan spirituality is not merely about emulating Christ externally; rather, it focuses on a profound, mystical union with him. While self-denial and asceticism play a role, they are subservient to this divine communion, based on the perspective of St. John the Evangelist, aiming to cooperate with God's grace.

Such union is similar to what St. Francis described in his letter to all the faithful, referring to followers of Christ as "children of the Heavenly Father" and "brothers, and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ." The key aim is not merely renunciation but achieving conformity to Christ, becoming intrinsically one with him. This profound connection grows through a deeper dependency on the Lord, letting our thoughts, will, emotions, and affections become aligned with his.

In this process, we willingly renounce our self-serving desires, evolving in humility until we reach what Father Ciccarelli terms as the "vigilant and active passivity," or the mystical life. As St. Paul describes in Colossians 3: 3 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/3?3, it is about experiencing the "hidden life with Christ in God". This pinnacle of spiritual growth is beautifully expressed in St. Paul's words from Galatians 2: 20 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/2?20: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

This ultimate divine goal can only be achieved through total, mutual giving - Christ giving himself to us, and us, in turn, surrendering fully to him. Let us ask Our Lady to guide us to deepen this sacred intimacy, reminding us that suffering often serves to enhance this spiritual bond.

00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - Emphasis on Union with Christ
01:29 - Mysterious Union of Grace
02:49 - The Role of Christ in the Seraphic Order
03:23 - St. Francis's Letter to the Faithful
04:31 - Conformity to Christ
05:35 - Growing Dependency on the Lord
07:08 - Hidden Life with Christ and Reciprocal Donation
08:01 - Role of Our Lady and Suffering

Ave Maria!

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.

Mass: Thursday 17th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080323.cfm
1st: exo 40:16-21, 34-38
Resp: psa 84:3-6, 8, 11
Gsp: mat 13:47-53

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1459

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and YouTube: https://youtu.be/enB418-DUYg