Held in Common – Feast of St. Michael and the Archangels

 

    St. Francis, Pope Leo XIII and my Grandfather all hold something in common. It fascinates me to consider this, and I see it as invitation for not only me but all of us. What do they hold in common? The love of this Feast of St. Michael and the Archangels (September 29). We know St. Francis honored this feast by leading into it with a fast, Pope Leo wrote the commonly used Prayer to St. Michael and my Grandfather whose birthday is today always marked this day and carried with him St. Michael as a protector.

All three of these wise men remind us of something important about this feast of St. Michael and the Archangels. They remind us of how the angels are our companions and how they always, always point us to God. This feast isn’t about the angles and their glory, it is about how they point to God, praise God and lead us into the love of God.

Like St. Francis, Pope Leo XIII and my Grandfather, the disciple Nathanael we encounter in the gospel for today (John 1.47-51) was amazed by God’s awesomeness manifested in Jesus, the Son of God. It is from this place of awe, that they and each of us can declare, “In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord” (Psalm 138). We never know where we encounter God’s messengers and how they protect us and guide us, but we are invited to trust they do so. Another glimpse of the grace of God. 

The Archangels know the power of our Triune God and how the love of God conquers evil. This feast day is an opportunity for us to rejoice in the greatness of God, the dwelling of Christ among us and the working of the Holy Spirit. Like St. Francis, Pope Leo XIII and my Grandfather may we be renewed in each Eucharist for the work which is ours to do in the kingdom of our God here and now.

Photo Credit: Manuel Sandoval 

St. Francis Our Standard-Bearer of Christ - Feast of The Stigmata

In an ancient text for the Feast of the Stigmata (September 17) there is a liturgical antiphon which in part prays: “Francis, standard-bearer of Christ by merciful handiwork” (Liturgical Texts for the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis 1337-1340). This one little line from a vast amount of text for this feast points us to the heart of St. Francis, his deepest desire and the scriptures for this feast. 

If we spend any time considering the letter to the Galatians (6.14-18) we soon discover it is the pattern which the antiphon has tried to capture. We can put the words of St. Paul into the voice of St. Francis, “May I never boast of anything but the cross of Christ” because it is life and hope and my vision, for we are “created anew.” This being created anew is not just for Francis being branded with the wounds of Christ, it is for each of us. It is how we are claimed in baptism, and it is how we carry forth the gospel. We do so in the name of Christ through whose wounds we are healed and brought into eternal life, for “life means Christ” (Philippians 1.20). Even in our weaknesses and shortcomings, even in the limitations of our bodies we glorify Christ because we believe he is at work in us. We put Christ on! We may not be branded with his wounds, but we do put Christ on. For me as a Friar in my daily living, each time I put on my habit I am reminded I walk with Christ and with Francis. What is it for you, what reminds you that you put on Christ and walk with him and Francis?

Each day we are invited to pick up our cross and follow Christ. This was a conscious choice Francis made; he invites us to do the same. Francis the standard-bearer of Christ reminds us in his Letter to the Entire Order, “Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally." The stigmata was Francis in complete poverty giving himself completely to Christ, holding back nothing and receiving the depth of the love of Christ. He knew Christ was his source and his strength. May we be attentive to this, for Christ our source and strength gives himself to us in every Eucharist as food for the journey to carry our cross. Let us do so with “true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity.” 

Image: Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata (c. 1420) by Lorenzo Monaco – Public Domain

A Prayer for September

Stepping out into new beginnings

Encountering life along the way

Placing my trust in God for

Together we journey with hope.

Embracing opportunities and insights,

Moments which draw me into the

Beautiful light of Christ where

Experiencing transformation and growth

Requires me to take the next step.

 

Lord Jesus,

you infuse me with your Holy Spirit

in each step of the journey.

There are many new beginnings

in each season of the year and in life.

May the movement of your Spirit in me

open my eyes to the gifts and graces of this time,

so, when September ends, I may be filled with awe

and know I am able to begin again and again

for you are ever with me.

Amen.

 

 

Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema