FS 114 – The Fruits, Part 5 – Mar 26 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 26, 2025, on how St. Francis’ embrace of simplicity and honesty reflects true Franciscan spirituality rooted in gospel wisdom.
Father delves into Franciscan spirituality, spotlighting St. Francis’ simplicity as a path to freedom through penance and self-dominion. He renounced empty knowledge and cunning, aiming solely at God with transparency, reflecting 'Galatians 2: 20'—Christ living in him. Francis publicly confessed faults, like eating lard-seasoned food in Lent or vainglory when aiding a poor woman, embodying humility. His biographer, Thomas of Celano, praised this coherence, noting Francis gloried only in the Lord, as in '1 Corinthians 1: 31'. Father emphasizes this purity as a disciple’s goal, per 'Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 2540' (CCC 2540), opposing envy and vanity.
A true Franciscan shuns superficiality and ulterior motives, favoring gospel truth over worldly diplomacy, as Jesus taught in 'Matthew 5: 37'—let your yes be yes. Father clarifies this isn’t naive black-and-white thinking but a rejection of ambitious cunning. Defenseless by human standards, this simplicity invites God’s protection, aligning with 'Psalm 34: 7', where God encamps around the righteous. He likens it to holy simplicity—grace’s daughter, wisdom’s sister, justice’s mother—matured through a humble life united with God, per 'CCC 1807' on justice. This seraphic soul becomes a poem of wisdom, revealing Christ’s spirit, as in 'Colossians 1: 27'. Father concludes, invoking Mary to grant us Christ’s balance of wisdom and simplicity from 'Matthew 10: 16', blending prudence with dove-like innocence.
For Further Reading
Matthew 5: 37 - NAB - Let your yes mean yes. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?37
- Matthew 10: 16 - NAB - Wise as serpents, simple as doves. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?16
- Galatians 2: 20 - NAB - Christ lives in me. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/2?20
- 1 Corinthians 1: 31 - NAB - Glory only in the Lord. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1?31
- Psalm 34: 7 - NAB - God protects the righteous. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?7
- Colossians 1: 27 - NAB - Christ in you, hope of glory. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?27
- Catechism of the Catholic Church #2540 - Envy and Simplicity - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c1a1.htm#2540
- Catechism of the Catholic Church #1807 - Virtue of Justice - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1807
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
00:08 – Simplicity in Franciscan Spirituality
01:10 – Embracing Humility and Confession
02:12 – Avoiding Superficial and Hidden Motives
02:40 – Teaching Through Actions, Not Words
03:21 – Gospel Truth Over Worldly Wisdom
04:04 – Simplicity as Christ Revealed
Ave Maria!
Mass: Wednesday 3rd Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032625.cfm
1st: deu 4:1, 5-9
Resp: psa 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Gsp: mat 5:17-19
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1667
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and YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ii_QqPm7EeY
