FS 118 – The Fruits, Part 9 – May 06 – Homily – Fr Terrance
Views 30
Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on May 06, 2025, on how Saint Francis’s apostolic mission, rooted in union with Christ, spreads divine love to humanity.
Father explores St. Francis’s journey to becoming an apostle, driven by God’s will and matured through prayer and contemplation, reflecting the call to abide in Christ (John 15: 4). Despite his attraction to a contemplative life, Francis embraced God’s plan to spread divine love, embodying the command to love one another as Christ loved them (John 13: 34). Father emphasizes that the apostolate is not mere external activity but a fruit of union with God (CCC 864), where grace transforms the soul to share Christ’s life (Galatians 2: 20). This seraphic love, ignited by Jesus, the vine (John 15: 5), overflows into a mission to bring redemption to others, fulfilling the Church’s call to evangelize (CCC 849). Through prayer and intimacy with Christ, the light of the world (John 8: 12), Francis’s followers become like mothers, generating grace in souls (CCC 181). Father warns against superficiality, noting that true apostolic work stems from an interior flame of grace, not material means. The apostolate perpetuates life, as God wills life to come from life (John 1: 4), perfected by sharing grace with others. He concludes by urging the faithful to seek Mary’s intercession to dwell in Christ’s love (1 John 4: 16), sharing it with all, from family to strangers, as spiritual siblings in Christ’s redemptive work (CCC 863).
For Further Reading:
John 15: 4 - NAB - Abide in me, and I in you - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?4
John 13: 34 - NAB - Love one another as I have loved you - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?34
Catechism of the Catholic Church #864 - Mission of the Laity - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/864.htm
Galatians 2: 20 - NAB - Christ lives in me - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/2?20
John 15: 5 - NAB - I am the vine, you are the branches - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?5
Catechism of the Catholic Church #849 - The Church’s Missionary Mandate - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#849
John 8: 12 - NAB - I am the light of the world - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?12
Catechism of the Catholic Church #181 - The Church as Mother - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/181.htm
John 1: 4 - NAB - In him was life - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?4
1 John 4: 16 - NAB - God is love, and whoever remains in love - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?16
This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality, specifically the subsection "The Fruits," which explains 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
00:26 - Saint Francis’s Apostolic Call
01:08 - Spreading Divine Love
02:07 - Seraphic Love for Humanity
02:44 - Life from Jesus
04:25 - Mystical Incorporation into Christ
05:25 - Light, Bread, and Life
07:15 - Redemptive Work through Mary
Ave Maria!
Mass: Tuesday 3rd Week of Easter - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050625.cfm
1st: act 7:51-8:1
Resp: psa 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21
Gsp: joh 6:30-35
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1703
Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15zJxrFWvj/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/a--kfJQ--n8
