On October 4th we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Christians all over the world remember St. Francis for his commitment to a life of poverty, his respect for all living things, and his expression of deep joy. The following passage from the book The Simple Way: Meditations on the Words of Saint Francis By Murray Bodo O.F.M. reminds us that joy can be found in the simplest of blessings in our lives. "When St. Francis was joyful, he would pick up two sticks from the ground and, playing them like a violin, he would sing in French his praises of God. This gave him so much comfort and spiritual joy that he wanted to share his song with everyone. And if there were no humans there, he would sing to the animals and nature." Thoughts for meditation: What brings you to song? Do you share your joy with others as St. Francis did? Focus on at least 5 joyful blessings in your life today. Meditate on each one of these blessings and sing praise to your Heavenly Father for blessing you with abundant joy. Prayer of St. Francis: Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, the truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. “Who are God’s servants but God’s minstrels who comfort the human heart and lead it to spiritual joy?”
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January 2015
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