FS #100: The Means, Part 5 – Nov 04 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Nov 04, 2024, on how Franciscan humility and poverty lead to a deeper union with God by freeing us from attachments to self and pride.

This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality, and the subsection, "The Means," as in the means to obtain the goals of spirituality, which is union with God. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

The Franciscan virtues of poverty and humility are twin paths to sanctification. Father describes how humility, like poverty, is about self-emptying but directed at the self, freeing one from attachment to personal ego and pride. This interior poverty aims to reveal one’s true dependence on God. Citing Blessed Giles of Assisi, he notes humility as seeing oneself as lower than all, which combats pride—the original sin that caused Lucifer’s fall and affected humanity's self-centeredness. In this, Franciscan spirituality sees humility not as self-hatred but as a respectful surrender to God’s work within oneself, as exemplified by the Virgin Mary and the repentant figures in Scripture.

Father reflects on St. Francis' life: despite his upbringing as a merchant’s son, Francis embraced humility, even serving lepers and accepting mockery. Francis’ humility, deepened by Christ’s Incarnation, led him to consider himself the lowest of all, resonating with Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:27, which celebrates God's choice of the "foolish" and "weak" to demonstrate divine wisdom. St. Francis exemplified how lowering oneself in humility allows God to raise one higher in holiness, a sentiment that also guided St. Clare in renouncing wealth.

Father concludes by urging the faithful to seek Our Lady’s help in learning humility and detaching from pride, so that they, too, may grow closer to Christ and the “humble Savior.”

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: St. Charles Borromeo - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=212
Readings: Monday in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110424.cfm
1st: phi 2:1-4
Resp: psa 131:1-3
Gsp: luk 14:12-14

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1189&r=985

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