FS #90: End Game, Part 4 – Aug 21 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 21, 2024, on how Franciscan spirituality emphasizes the union of grace and human effort in achieving Christian virtues, guiding souls toward a mystical union with God through Christ. This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality and the subsection, "End Game," the final goal of all spirituality, union with God. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

These two phases of the spiritual life, the ascetical and mystical aspects, while conceptually distinct, are intertwined in practice, as both involve the collaboration of God's grace and human will, much like the Incarnation, where God became man, and so was both fully divine and fully human. Since Franciscan spirituality is Christocentric, it emphasizes the role of God's grace in the spiritual life, with Jesus' Divine Person being the center of this spirituality.

Father notes that while non-Christians may practice virtues like strength, prudence, justice, and temperance, these virtues are purely human and lack the supernatural charity and divine grace that distinguish Christian virtues. Christian virtues are not just products of human effort but are the result of divine grace, communicated to us through our union with Christ. This idea is reflected in Jesus' words in John 15:9 - "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love" - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9 and John 15:5 - "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?5.

Franciscan spirituality does not ignore the importance of human effort and psychological insights into virtues but places greater emphasis on theological virtues and the transformative power of divine grace. Grace is not merely an addition to human effort but is a divine gift that transforms our actions from the beginning. By following the impulses of divine grace, the Franciscan soul seeks a mystical union with God, as members of Christ's Mystical Body.

CCC 2013 - All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2013.htm

CCC 1812 - The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues, which adapt man's faculties for participation in the divine nature. - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1812.htm

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.

00:00 - Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality
00:08 - Ascetical and Mystical Life
00:30 - Collaboration of Grace and Will
00:44 - Christocentric Nature of Spirituality
01:28 - Pagan Virtues vs. Christian Virtues
02:17 - Christian Virtues and Divine Grace
03:02 - Theology of Virtues in Franciscan Thought
03:47 - Mystical Union with God

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Pius X - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=313
Readings: Wednesday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082124.cfm
1st: eze 34:1-11
Resp: psa 23:1-6
Gsp: mat 20:1-16

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1139&r=920

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