FS #73: Nature in Franciscan Spirituality, Part 3 – May 06 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gave the homily at Bloomington, IN, on May 06, 2024, where he emphasized the Christian and Franciscan reverence for the human body as both a natural and spiritual temple of God, contrasting historical views that undervalued its sacredness. This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality and the subsection, "Nature in Franciscan Spirituality," emphasizing the Franciscan understanding and appreciation of nature and how it should lead us to God.

Father discussed the Christian and Franciscan appreciation of the human body as part of nature in today's homily. He highlighted how Jesus used natural illustrations to convey spiritual truths and reflected on the new perspective Christianity brought to understanding the human body. Father referenced Saint Paul's teachings, stating our bodies are God's temples and should glorify God (1 Corinthians 3:16 - You are God's temple, God's Spirit dwells in you; 1 Corinthians 6:20 - You were bought at a price; glorify God in your body). He also noted the body's symbolism as the mystical body of Christ, where Christ is the head (Colossians 1:18 - Christ is the head of the body, the Church; Ephesians 1:23 - The Church is his body, the fullness of him). Saints like Augustine, John Chrysostom, and Bonaventure emphasized the body's role in our sanctity and its ultimate resurrection, contrasting early Christian and medieval views that often depicted the body more negatively. Father encouraged honoring our bodies as God's creation, aligning with Saint Francis's more positive, integrated spiritual approach, and concluded by invoking Our Lady's help to care for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.

For Further Reading:

1 Corinthians 3:16 - "You are God's temple, God's Spirit dwells in you." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/3?16
1 Corinthians 6:20 - "You were bought at a price; glorify God in your body." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/6?20
Colossians 1:18 - "Christ is the head of the body, the Church." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?18
Ephesians 1:23 - "The Church is his body, the fullness of him." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1?23

CCC 364 - "The human body shares in the dignity of the image of God." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/364.htm
CCC 365 - "Unity of soul and body." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/365.htm
CCC 1004 - "In expectation of resurrection, Christians treat their body with respect and care." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1004.htm

00:00 - Introduction to Nature in Franciscan Spirituality
00:30 - Biblical Understanding of the Human Body
00:44 - Dignity and Holiness of the Body
01:10 - Mystical Body of Christ Explained
02:05 - Moral Actions and Physical Body
03:00 - Praise of the Glorified Body
04:55 - Conclusion: Caring for Our Bodies

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

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 of this book exist at the time of this recording.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 6th Week of Easter - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050624.cfm
1st: act 16:11-15
Resp: psa 149:1-6, 9 0
Gsp: joh 15:26-16:4

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1807

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