FS 115 – The Fruits, Part 6 – Apr 01 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Apr 01, 2025, on how perfect joy, rooted in God through Jesus Christ, transcends suffering and external circumstances in Franciscan spirituality.
Father delves into Franciscan spirituality, emphasizing perfect joy as a key fruit. He describes God as perfect beatitude, inherently complete, while humans, created by God, seek Him for true happiness, as implied in ‘John 1: 3’—all things made through Him. Sin, stemming from our first parents (Genesis 3), shattered this joy, a consequence Father ties to ‘Romans 5: 12’—sin entered through one man. Jesus Christ restores this through His cross, fulfilling the angel’s announcement in ‘Luke 2: 10-11’ of a Savior’s birth. In His ministry, Jesus outlines this joy in the Beatitudes, ‘Matthew 5: 3-12,’ blessing the poor, meek, and persecuted. Before His death, He promises unbreakable joy in ‘John 15: 11’ and ‘John 16: 22,’ a fullness no one can steal. St. Paul embodies this, rejoicing amid trials in ‘2 Corinthians 7: 4,’ while ‘Philippians 4: 4’ urges us to rejoice always. Father links this to the Catechism, noting baptism’s role in uniting us to Christ’s joy, ‘CCC 1257.’ Unlike fleeting pleasure, perfect joy flows from intimacy with God, unshaken by circumstances.
For Further Reading
- Luke 2: 10-11 - NAB - Angel announces Savior’s birth - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?10
- Matthew 5: 3-12 - NAB - The Beatitudes of Jesus - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?3
- John 15: 11 - NAB - Jesus promises complete joy - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?11
- John 16: 22 - NAB - Joy no one can take - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?22
- 2 Corinthians 7: 4 - NAB - Paul’s joy in tribulation - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/7?4
- Philippians 4: 4 - NAB - Rejoice in the Lord always - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?4
- Catechism of the Catholic Church #1257 - Baptism’s necessity and grace - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1257
- Catechism of the Catholic Church #2677 - Mary’s intercession for us - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2677.htm
00:00 – Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality
00:19 – Understanding Perfect Joy
00:56 – Jesus Restores True Joy
01:14 – The Gospel Promise of Joy
01:26 – Beatitudes: The Path to Joy
01:56 – Christ’s Promise of Fullness of Joy
02:16 – Joy in the Teachings of Paul
02:34 – Spiritual Joy in Franciscan Life
03:29 – Seeking Joy Through Our Lady
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.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Tuesday 4th Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040125.cfm
1st: eze 47:1-9, 12
Resp: psa 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Gsp: joh 5:1-3, 5-16
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1672
Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AbcYbUnnh/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/9FQuoZD3qvo
