FS #89: End Game, Part 3 – Aug 19 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 19, 2024, on how ascetical and mystical aspects of Franciscan spirituality intertwine to guide our journey toward perfect union with God through cooperation with His grace. This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality and the subsection, "End Game," the final goal of all spirituality, union with God.

The ascetical aspect, symbolized by the practice of absolute poverty or detachment from all created things, accompanies the soul from the beginning of spiritual life to the transformative union, where the soul is still active. This path involves human effort but is always secondary to the work of grace. The mystical aspect, centered on charity, begins with baptism, where the old self is dismantled, and continues through the progressive re-clothing in virtue, leading to perfect union with God. The mystical path is not limited to moments of contemplation but extends to every action guided by the Holy Spirit.

Franciscan spirituality highlights the importance of the human will, which is strengthened to align with God's grace throughout life. St. Paul emphasizes being governed by grace rather than the law (Romans 6:14 - "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace"). The spiritual journey requires constant effort to remove obstacles and be open to divine inspirations, which grow stronger as one progresses spiritually. Rather than focusing on identifying one's specific spiritual state, Father advises simply continuing forward, trusting in God's grace.

The ascetical and mystical aspects coexist throughout the spiritual life, with the ascetical being subordinate to the mystical, as both are part of the unwinding of divine life within us. This life, planted as a celestial seed in baptism (1 Peter 1:23 - "You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God"), blossoms fully in the life to come. He urges us to ask for the grace to continue our spiritual journey, drawing closer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

More info:

Gal 5:18 NAB Bible - St. Paul's teaching on being led by the Spirit - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?18

Luke 9:23 NAB Bible - Jesus on the importance of detachment - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?23

00:00 - Introduction and Invocation
00:09 - Overview of Franciscan Spirituality
00:19 - Ascetical and Mystical Aspects of Growth
00:32 - Understanding Absolute Poverty
01:05 - The Mystical Path in Spiritual Life
01:44 - Strengthening the Will in Sanctification
02:41 - The Role of Divine Grace
03:21 - Avoiding Spiritual Self-Evaluation
04:25 - Coexistence of Ascetical and Mystical Paths

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 "End Game," the goal of union with God.

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. John Eudes - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=357
Readings: Monday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081924.cfm
1st: eze 24:15-24
Resp: deu 32:18-21
Gsp: mat 19:16-22

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1137&r=918

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