FS #93: End Game, Part 7 – Sep 18 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 18, 2024, where he explains the role of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and the Beatitudes in helping us reach spiritual perfection and union with God.

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 continues discussing Franciscan spirituality with a focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Beatitudes. He explains that through Baptism, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are infused into the soul alongside grace, enabling the soul to unite with God. These gifts quietly work within us, becoming more powerful as the soul grows spiritually. St. Bonaventure teaches that these gifts help the soul resist evil and quickly act in doing good, leading to a deeper union with God as the mystical life matures.

The Beatitudes, taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 3 - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?3]), are the pinnacle of spiritual life, where the soul reaches evangelical perfection. The infused virtues and the gifts work together to perfect the soul, and from this perfection arise the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?22]). These fruits include love, joy, and peace, among others, which complete the soul's journey toward God.

Father also speaks about the spiritual "senses" that develop as the soul progresses in virtue. According to St. Bonaventure, these spiritual senses are connected to the theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity—and are restored through union with Christ, the Incarnate Word (John 1: 14 - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?14]). As we believe, hope, and love Christ, our spiritual senses—hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch—are rejuvenated, allowing us to perceive and delight in God’s presence.

Finally, Father encourages us to recognize the supernatural work within us, especially after baptism (CCC 1262 - [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1262.htm]), and collaborate with God's grace. The journey to spiritual perfection is one of growing awareness, active cooperation with divine grace, and perseverance, even in trials, to reach union with Christ.

Further Reading
Matthew 5: 3 NAB - The Sermon on the Mount - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?3]
Galatians 5: 22 NAB - Fruits of the Spirit - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?22]
John 1: 14 NAB - The Word Became Flesh - [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?14]
CCC 1262 - Effects of Baptism - [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1262.htm] - Video: [https://airmaria.com/2011/11/02/video-tour-of-the-catechism-18-the-sacrament-of-baptism/]
CCC 1257 - Baptism's necessity for salvation - [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1257.htm] - Video: [https://airmaria.com/2011/11/02/video-tour-of-the-catechism-18-the-sacrament-of-baptism/]
CCC 1831 - Gifts of the Holy Spirit - [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1831.htm] - Video: [https://airmaria.com/2012/09/27/video-tour-of-the-catechism-56-the-holy-spirit-the-gifts/]
Catholic Answers - God’s Love for You - [https://www.catholic.com/tract/gods-love-for-you]

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. Joseph of Cupertino - Feast - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=72
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091824.cfm
1st: 1co 12:31, 13:1-10, 13
Resp: psa 25:1-5, 8-10
Gsp: mat 11:25-30

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=710

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