For several weeks our parish bulletin has featured an item stating that “The Franciscan adventure begins June 8, using the book A Knight and a Lady by Bret Thoman OFS …” As a bit of a preview of St. Francis and Franciscan thought, I thought this week we might prepare for next weekend’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ by encountering one Franciscan friar’s formation session on St. Francis and the Eucharist. The late Father John Sullivan, O.F.M. was a master teacher deeply committed to the Franciscan way of life. This topic is adapted from his series Keeping our Focus on St. Francis of Assisi. The entire series of 24 topics can be found on the National website of the Secular Franciscan Order: secularfranciscansusa.org.
ST. FRANCIS’ THREE LOVES - THE EUCHARIST In the course of history, analyzers of St. Francis began to collect many aspects of his life around three themes: the Crib, the Cross, and the Eucharist. Our Opening Prayer:
“We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, in all Your churches throughout the whole world and we bless You because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.”
Thomas of Celano says this about St. Francis’ devotion to the Eucharist: “Toward the sacrament of the Lord’s Body he [Francis] burned with fervor to his very marrow, and with unbounded wonder of that loving condescension and condescending love.” St. Francis himself concentrates our attention on this great Sacrament: “As He revealed Himself to the holy apostles in true flesh, so He reveals Himself to us now in sacred bread. And as they saw only His flesh by an insight of their flesh, yet believed that He was God as they contemplated Him with their spiritual eyes, let us, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, see and firmly believe that they are His most holy Body and Blood living and true. And in this way the Lord is always with His faithful, as He Himself says: Behold I am with you until the end of the age.” St. Francis wrote in A Letter to the Entire Order:
“Let everyone be struck with fear, let the whole world tremble, and let the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest! O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility!
Isidoro Arredondo: St. Clare Driving Away the Infidels with the Eucharist, 1693
O humble sublimity! The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread! Brothers, look at the humility of God, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves,
Juan de Juanes: Christ as Eucharistic Redeemer, 3rd quarter of 16th century
that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!” Q1. What two loves of St. Francis are expressed in Our Opening Prayer which Francis prayed on entering a church? Q2. What kind of nourishment do I seek when I receive Christ in the Eucharist? Q3. How does Holy Communion assist me in my pledge to sacrifice for the Body of Christ? Q4. How does Holy Communion assist me in my pledge to accept the Body of Christ, with all the Church’s human limitations and weaknesses?
Q5. While we speak of receiving the Consecrated Bread and Wine, how do I include adoration of the Divinity in my prayers before, during and after Holy Communion? Q6. In what way(s) is the Eucharist for healing? Catholic teaching reminds us that we encounter a dual reality in receiving Holy Communion. First, that we believe in the Real Presence of the Living God under the appearances of Bread and Wine; and second, that when we receive the Eucharist, we are proclaiming that we are one in our commitment and profession of faith.1 Q7. Do I ever give public witness to my neighborhood that I believe in the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament by stopping by for a brief visit when driving near the church? Would this be something I could build into my busy schedule? Q8. How does my parish encourage devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Can I help bring this about, or help with it? Weekly? Monthly? On Holy Thursday evening? Q9. Have I ever prayed over (meditated on) the rich understanding of the Eucharist as found in the Catechism, §1322 – §1419? Might I benefit from this? ___________________________________________________ [1] See the November 14, 1996 Guidelines for the Reception of Communion on the USCCB website for the explanation why non-Catholics normally do not receive Holy Communion with us, since they are not united with us in one profession of faith; these Guidelines are also reprinted in any missalette.
With a brother’s love in the Lord and Mary Immaculate, Deacon Dave, O.F.S. T In Persona Christi Servi