St. Francis as Alter Christus Through Stigmata – Sep 17 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr. Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 17, 2025, on how St. Francis's stigmata were a sign that he was transformed into another Christ, emphasizing human-divine cooperation and the spiritual significance of bearing crosses.

In this inspiring homily, Father delves into the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, celebrating the visible sign of his invisible transformation into an alter Christus, another Christ, as reflected in the Gospel teaching of Luke 6:40. He explains how St. Francis' journey mirrors the metamorphosis described in Romans 12:2, where a worldly sinner becomes a saint through God's grace. Father connects this to the recent feasts of the Exaltation of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows, reminding us that crosses are blessings, a sign of Jesus’ presence, as taught in Luke 9:23. He emphasizes human-divine cooperation in salvation, citing Philippians 1:6, where God begins and completes the good work in us, and Colossians 1:24, where we complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Father also highlights Our Lady’s role as Co-Redemptrix in the Incarnation and redemption, showing how St. Francis offered his 'Portiuncula,' his little portion of suffering. Drawing from Galatians 6:10, He urges us to do good with our time, inspired by St. Francis’ humility, as seen in Philippians 2:7-8. Father calls us to follow St. Francis’ example by denying ourselves, embracing crosses, and imitating Jesus’ love and mercy, trusting that through obedience and humility, we too can share in Christ’s glory.

For Further Reading:
Romans 12:2 - NAB - Transformation by renewing minds - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/12?2
Philippians 1:6 - NAB - God completes good work - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/1?6
Colossians 1:24 - NAB - Completing Christ’s afflictions - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?24
Luke 6:40 - NAB - Disciples like their teacher - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?40
Luke 9:23 - NAB - Deny self, take cross - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?23
Galatians 6:10 - NAB - Do good while time - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/6?10
Philippians 2:7-8 - NAB - Christ’s humility and obedience - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2?7
Catechism of the Catholic Church #618 - Cross as source of salvation - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a4p2.htm#618
Catechism of the Catholic Church #2013 - Call to holiness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#2013
Franciscan Media - Profile of St. Francis - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-francis-of-assisi/

Ave Maria!

Mass: Stigmata of St. Francis - Feast - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14294b.htm
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091725.cfm
1st: gal 6:14-18
Resp: gal 2:16, 20
Gsp: luk 9:23-26

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=709

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