FS #92: End Game, Part 6 – Sep 16 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 16, 2024, on how Franciscan spirituality teaches that faith, hope, and charity are vital to Christian life, helping us connect with God, trust in His promises, and grow in love.

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

In this homily, Father expands on the Franciscan spiritual tradition, particularly focusing on the infused virtues as explained by St. Bonaventure. He emphasizes that grace, received in baptism, extends into the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. Faith serves as the foundation, guiding the believer toward God, even in times of obscurity and trial. St. Bonaventure likens faith to a light that directs our spiritual journey, allowing us to adhere to God in an unseen, spiritual manner (2 Corinthians 5:7 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5?7).

Hope is the confidence in God's promises, particularly eternal life, but it is founded not on human merit but on the merits of Christ and His merciful love (Romans 5:5 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5?5). Through hope, we can overcome trials and discouragement by looking towards eternal union with God. Charity, being the most unitive of the virtues, allows us to embrace and already possess the realities of eternal life in this life, even though imperfectly. Charity, infused in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, remains for eternity, while faith and hope fade away in heaven. Blessed John Duns Scotus teaches that charity is identical with grace and is essential for spiritual transformation.

Father also explains the cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude—as natural powers elevated by grace to harmonize our relationships with ourselves, others, and God. He concludes by encouraging the faithful to ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for the grace to grow in faith, hope, and charity, aligning their hearts and desires with God's will.

For Further Reading
2 Corinthians 5:7 - NAB - We walk by faith, not by sight - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5?7
Romans 5:5 - NAB - The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5?5
CCC 1813 - Catechism - On theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1813.htm
CCC 1814 - Catechism - Definition of faith - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1814.htm
CCC 1815 - Catechism - On faith in eternal life - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1815.htm
Video: AirMaria - Theological Virtues - Faith - https://airmaria.com/2020/04/03/video-tour-of-the-catechism-12-faith/
Video: AirMaria - Virtue of Hope - https://airmaria.com/2020/04/10/video-tour-of-the-catechism-13-hope/
Video: AirMaria - Virtue of Charity - https://airmaria.com/2020/04/17/video-tour-of-the-catechism-14-charity/

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 and Opening Prayer
00:09 – Overview of Franciscan Spirituality
00:19 – God's Grace in Christian Life
00:27 – Infused Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity
00:58 – Faith as the Foundation of Spiritual Life
02:00 – The Role of Hope in Eternal Life
03:12 – Charity as the Highest Virtue
04:26 – Cardinal Virtues and Mystical Life Transformation

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sts Cornelius and Cyprian - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=421
Readings: Monday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091624.cfm
1st: 1co 11:17-26, 33
Resp: psa 40:7-10, 17
Gsp: luk 7:1-10

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1155&r=942

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