Meditation: St. Francis of Assisi

October 4: St. Francis of Assisi

Summary of Today’s Meditation

We will meditate today upon the great love of St. Francis of Assisi for Jesus crucified, and we shall see that this love is: first, a supreme remedy against sin; second, a means of progressing in all the virtues. Our resolution shall be: first, to have henceforth a special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, as a great model of devotion to the crucifix; second, to maintain this devotion habitually by always wearing a crucifix and often looking at it lovingly; third, to cherish all the sufferings which Heaven may send us as particles of the cross of Jesus Christ. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of St. Paul: “I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.” (Gal. 6:17)

Meditation for the Morning

Let us consider St. Francis of Assisi as a perfect image of Jesus Christ crucified. He bears a resemblance to Him: first, in his flesh, seeing that he can say, like the Apostle: “I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. With Christ I am nailed to the cross;” (Gal. 6:17; 2:19) like his Divine Master, his feet and his hands are pierced, his side is open, his whole body shows marks of penance; second, in his heart; like Him he is reduced to a complete detachment from all things, and he burns with an inextinguishable thirst for suffering, contempt, and confusion. Let us honor this living image of Jesus crucified. Let us at the same time adore Jesus so perfectly represented in His servant, and let us thank Him for the special graces He bestowed upon him, above all that of having renewed in the Church devotion to the sacred Passion.

FIRST POINT
The Love of Jesus Crucified is a Supreme Remedy against Sin

Who would not conceive a supreme horror of sin when considering the state into which nothing but its mere shadow reduced Jesus Christ? This adorable Savior was the most beautiful of the children of men in Himself, (Ps. 44:3) and sin rendered His body hideous with wounds, with blood, with spittle and gashes. (Is. 53:2-4) Who would not fear to incur the hatred of God for sin on seeing this great God treated with so much severity, and as though He were the greatest of criminals, His own Son, His beloved Son, innocence and holiness itself? (St. Bernard) Who would allow himself to indulge in sin if he considered deeply that it was sin that scourged, tore, crucified, put to death a God, and made Him suffer more in His soul than even the cross on which He expired, because His death upon the cross was at once voluntary and salutary, whilst the cross, considered in sin, of which it is the penalty, is not desired by Him, nor is it useful to any one; it is the simple evil of him who sins. When we are tempted, let us look lovingly at the cross; let us press our lips to it, let us embrace it, and we shall never sin.

SECOND POINT
The Love of Jesus Crucified is the Means of Making us Progress in all Virtues

This mystery, in fact, teaches all the virtues; it gives the example of them, because they show themselves here in a superlative degree; it inspires an attraction to them, because it powerfully inspires us to practice them in the most perfect manner; it merits us the grace of them, since we cannot think of them without being impelled by a desire to lead a better life. Besides, nothing is more suitable than the crucifix to inspire us with that perfect detachment from all things which opens the way to pure love. We may even say that it is impossible to consider Jesus deprived of all things, suffering everything for love of us, without being determined to deprive ourselves of all things for love of Him. This is what was well understood by St. Francis of Assisi when he had a great wooden cross placed in the hall where his religious were wont to pray, and said to them: “Behold, my brethren, the great book on which you ought to meditate every day with faith and love. You do not require any other; this alone is sufficient.” Let us be ashamed to have hitherto so little reflected upon, to have so little loved, the crucifix; it is a miserable forgetfulness, and the cause of our small progress in virtue; for that which crucifies sanctifies; Jesus crucified overwhelms with graces those who love Him. The crosses and trials sent by God are the most precious presents that God can make us, even as crosses and trials rightly supported by us are the most precious presents that we can offer to God. Our repugnances do us more harm than our troubles. A Christian soul finds its delight in privation and suffering. Are these our dispositions? Resolutions and spiritual nosegay as above.