Unanswered Prayer
March 22, 2023
The Virtue of Work
“My Father is still working, and I also am working” (John 5:170). Francis not only encouraged his brothers to work; he preferred that they be about manual labor—concrete, physical actions that could be clearly seen and rightly interpreted. His Rule …
Do We Like Complaining?
“I have no one to put me into the pool” (John 5:6). Today’s Gospel tells us that the man by the pool of Bethesda has been ill for thirty-eight years. He sounds a bit querulous as he lies there waiting …
Signs and Wonders
“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (John 4:48). Francis strenuously denied the suggestions that he was a saint. He kept hidden the marks of the stigmata. He refused to let people attribute miracles to him. He …
Learning to See
“Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him’” (John 9:3). Just as spiritual blindness can be far more devastating than the loss of physical sight, so …
Holy Humility
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt” (Luke 18:9). Humility is one of the most enduring characteristics of Francis’s life and attitudes. It’s the foundation of his …
Perfect Joy
“Which commandment is the first of all?” (Mark 12 :28). One of the best stories about St. Francis is his explanation to Brother Leo about “perfect joy.” “When we come to St. Mary of the Angels, soaked by the rain and …
Nothing to Defend
“Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house” (Luke 11:17) At the time of Francis, Italy was not a united nation, but numerous city-states, each with its own ruler and militia. Francis was well-acquainted with constantly …