FS 107 – Holy Mother Church, Part 2 – Jan 29 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 29, 2025, on how Saint Francis demonstrated profound reverence for priests and Church authority, seeing Christ in them regardless of their personal holiness or lack thereof, and teaching complete submission to Church hierarchy.

Father explains how Saint Francis embodied the spirit of Matthew 16: 18-19 through his profound reverence for the Church and its ministers. Following Christ's example in John 13: 15, Francis demonstrated extraordinary humility in his dealings with Church authorities. His attitude reflected 1 Peter 2: 17's command to "honor everyone" and especially those in authority (CCC 1562). The homily emphasizes Francis's recognition of priests as alter Christus ("another Christ") (CCC 1548), seeing in them the same divine presence he recognized in the Eucharist (CCC 1373). Father notes how Francis's approach aligns with Hebrews 13: 17, which instructs believers to "obey your leaders and submit to them." In dealing with sinful priests, Francis embodied Matthew 7: 1's teaching not to judge, focusing instead on their sacred role as dispensers of divine mysteries (1 Corinthians 4: 1). The significance of proper Church authority (CCC 874) is highlighted through Francis's example with the Bishop of Imola, demonstrating Luke 14: 11's principle that "whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
For Further Reading:

Matthew 16: 18-19 - NAB - Peter as Rock of Church - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/16
John 13: 15 - NAB - Christ's Example of Service - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13
1 Peter 2: 17 - NAB - Honoring Everyone - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/2
Hebrews 13: 17 - NAB - Obedience to Leaders - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/13
Matthew 7: 1 - NAB - Not Judging Others - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7
1 Corinthians 4: 1 - NAB - Stewards of Mysteries - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/4
Luke 14: 11 - NAB - Humility and Exaltation - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/14
CCC 1548 - Priests Act in Persona Christi - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1548.htm
CCC 874 - Christ and Church Authority - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/874.htm
CCC 1562 - Priests' Sacred Ministry - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1562.htm
Franciscan Media - Saint Francis of Assisi - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-francis-of-assisi

Ave Maria!

This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality, and starting a new subsection, "Holy Mother Church," explaining how the goal of Franciscan spirituality, union with God, is to be achieved within the Church. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom . 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.

Mass: Wednesday 3rd Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012925.cfm
1st: heb 10:11-18
Resp: psa 110:1-4
Gsp: mar 4:1-20

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1373

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