Reviewing Thomas of Celano’s ‘Life of St Francis’, exhausted from a personal poisoning–spiritual draining, content within the simplicity of sitting before the Eucharist (leaving my wallet in the pew–made aware by Andrew), today’s post will idealize the Christian fellowship shared by the first friars. I feel God has wiped clean my world, creating space, allowing grace, demanding patience, trust, contentment, not the shallow filling of emptiness due to brokenness, vanity or shame. In order for a higher calling to endure, I must prove I can sit silently still, amassing love within a sanctified pace, virtuous and proud, unwanting while longing, purposefully a better crowd will divinely emerge. May we always inspire and uplift our brothers and sisters in Christ. I learned today I will have the week, following the 4th weekend, off due to customer shutdowns. I am trying to put together a week-long retreat, centering upon someplace fresh and new. In the process of searching, I discovered a discalced Carmelite monastery, Holy Family, right in my front yard. Thy will be done. A quick poem concludes. I also expanded yesterday’s Thomas of Celano quote. It truly is interesting when considering St Francis’ upbringing. By societal standards his childhood was above average in every manner. His parents were attentive, loving, and providing. Possibly perceived as an overly-critical and harsh summation by Brother Thomas, I propose, thus the juxtaposition, the Deuteronomy quote, the Shema, must be used to illuminate proper perspective. Eternity is at stake. Therefore standards for measuring proper child raising are based upon such severity.
For holy simplicity had so filled them, innocence of life was so teaching them, purity of heart so possessed them that they were utterly ignorant of duplicity of mind. For as they were one in faith so they were one in spirit, one in will, one in charity: agreement in disposition, harmonious behavior, the practice of the virtues, conformity of mind and piety in action ever prevailed among them…
Early friars
Defeat
I surrender, voiced internally,
A new love found, authentic authority, full fledged,
Beyond the twofold nature, primary colors blend within trichromatic vision,
Duplicity returning, unkind in regret, centered upon One in being three, colorful,
Tired of waging, progressing into peace and gentleness, disposition flowers,
No place to be, no one to be, no one to meet, no one…
Heaven sent, happy and content, four corners, a cross, a cloud amidst,
Bountiful prayer, the refined creating of interior space,
Victory at last, conceding, relieving.
And Brother Juniper answered: “When I feel the approach of a diabolical suggestion, I run at once and shut the door of my heart, and, to secure its safety, I occupy myself in holy desires and devout meditations; so that when the suggestion comes and knocks at the door of my heart, I may answer from within: `Begone; for the room is already taken, and there is no space for another guest’; and so I never suffer the thought to enter my heart; and the devil, seeing himself baffled, retires discomfited, not from me alone, but from the whole neighborhood. –Little Flowers
