FS 113 – The Fruits, Part 4 – Mar 18 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 18, 2025, where he explores simplicity as a virtue in Franciscan spirituality that represents spiritual maturity and interior unity that mirrors God's perfect simplicity.

Father continues his series on Franciscan spirituality, focusing on simplicity, which Saint Francis called "the sister of wisdom." He references Jesus's teaching in Matthew 10:16 to "be wise as serpents and simple as doves," showing that simplicity connects with prudence and wisdom. Father explains that simplicity is not at the beginning of spiritual life but at its heights, achieved when one eliminates interior discord through struggle and cooperation with divine grace.
He teaches that only God is perfectly simple, but we mirror this divine simplicity when we reconstruct the harmony broken by sin. True simplicity means having rectitude of intention, coherence of life, and transparency in seeking truth—not naivety or superficiality.
Father references Matthew 18:3 where Jesus invites us to "turn and become like children" to enter the kingdom of heaven. While children naturally possess candor, openness, and truthfulness due to their innocence, adults must consciously reacquire these qualities as mature spiritual virtues.
The homily promises to explore examples of holy simplicity in St. Francis in future reflections. Father concludes by asking for Our Lady's intercession to grow in spiritual simplicity, purity of intention, purity of heart, and unbounded confidence in our heavenly Father. This simplicity represents the soul's maturity in its journey toward union with God, which Father reminds us is our ultimate goal.

For Further Reading:
Matthew 10:16 - NAB - Wise as serpents, simple as doves - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?16
Matthew 18:3 - NAB - Becoming like children for heaven - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?3
Catechism of the Catholic Church #2013-2016 - Christian Holiness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#2013
Catechism of the Catholic Church #2517-2519 - Purity of Heart - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a9.htm#2517

This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality and the subsection, "The Fruits," explaining the four fruits of Franciscan spirituality: interior freedom, holy simplicity, perfect joy, and the works of the apostolate. - Play List - 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.

00:00 – Introduction
00:12 – Simplicity in Franciscan Spirituality
00:49 – Connection Between Simplicity and Prudence
01:57 – Reconstructing Interior Unity
03:12 – Becoming Like Children in Spirit
04:27 – Growing in Spiritual Simplicity

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 2nd Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031825.cfm
1st: isa 1:10, 16-20
Resp: psa 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
Gsp: mat 23:1-12

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1660

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