Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity SIster Mary Ann Spanjers continues her Franciscan Spirituality Series. She focuses here on discerning how to “live our Baptismal Call” ss we look to St. Francis during this 800th anniversary of his death.
The Jubilee Year of the Transitus of St Francis –Discovering how to live our Baptismal Call
Welcome back to our Franciscan Discernment Blog sharing. I would like to share a bit more about this Jubilee Year of St Francis as we celebrate his Transitus from this life into the everlasting new life of joy with God. The understanding that with Francis it was his understanding of how to live his baptismal call; which I find very compelling because that is something I can relate to, I think all of us can. To discover that at the moment of our Baptism we forever belong to God, we can never undo our Baptism, we are his daughter, his son. It is through our Baptism that we receive the gifts and graces of God through the Holy Spirit. This was key for Francis conversion in that he discovered that he could uncover his Baptismal graces and virtues through the help of the Holy Spirit.
In reading his life Francis biographers saw that it becomes clear that his conversion was centered on poverty, named Lady Poverty, by Francis who took him by the hand and led him through the world, where he learned his call;
Material poverty—owning nothing and
Ontological poverty—being rooted in one’s existence as a creature and the knowledge that one is not equal to God. Poverty means radical dependency, recognizing one’s utter dependency on God.
Ilia Delio, well known Franciscan spiritual writer tells us, When I ask the question “who am I?” I begin a life of poverty, because the answer is one of radical dependency. I am not the source of my own life; I come from God and belong to God.
This life of utter dependence upon God, materially and ontologically becomes essential to the life of Francis and his followers. It is also essential for us. A young man in Detroit where I was speaking a few months ago, asked me what is the best way for young adults in the secular world to deepen their relationship with God. I told him to pay attention to the “stuff” in his life and to try to simplify his needs. It is the stuff in our lives that take priority which distract us from God. This could be the material things I think I need, or the “stuff” which takes up our time, how much time do I spend on Instagram, LinkedIn, social media, gaming, leisure…. How much time do I spend interacting with others in meaningful conversations, or with nature, listening to the birds or with God in silent prayer? What stuff in your life limits your freedom? In your heart? In your everyday interactions?
May we, like Francis discover the Holy Spirit’s baptismal gifts and graces to help us respond to the love relationship of the Father.
