May 23, 2025 Written by 

Endless Joy

Jesus speaks to His own saying: «Your Joy no one can take away from you» (Jn 16:22).

The happiness that comes from Him is lasting, it is authentic because it is founded on non-worldly pillars.

 

Francis found joy in poverty and fraternity. Even more so in prayer, in the inner relationship with Christ.

It was his joy that came from being the Herald of the Great King, who rested his feet in the footsteps of the Son of God.

In the Sources, the source of the original Franciscan experience, there are passages that corroborate this.

Celano, the diligent biographer, in the Vita prima, informs about the fraternal and joyful life of the brothers:

"As faithful devotees of the most holy poverty, since they possessed nothing, they attached themselves to nothing, and feared nothing to lose.

They were content with a single tunic, sometimes mended inside and out, so poor and unrefined that in that garment they appeared as true crucifiers to the world, and they tightened it at the hips with a rope, and wore rough breeches.

Their holy purpose was to remain in that state, having nothing else. They were therefore always serene, free from all anxieties and thoughts, without anxieties about the future; they did not even worry about securing a hospice for the night, even if they suffered great discomfort on the journey. Often, during the coldest cold, finding no hospitality, they would huddle in an oven, or spend the night in some cave" (FF 388).

In the Legend of the Three Companions, Francis and Brother Aegidius vibrate with joy in the Lord:

"Francis together with Egidio went to the March of Ancona, the other two set out for another region. On their way to the March, they exulted joyfully in the Lord.

Francis, in a loud and clear voice, sang the praises of the Lord in French, blessing and glorifying the goodness of the Most High. So great was their joy, that they seemed to have discovered a magnificent treasure in the evangelical estate of Lady Poverty, for the love of which they had generously and spontaneously got rid of every material possession, considering it as rubbish [...]" (FF 1436).

And Clare rejoices in knowing how Agnes of Prague, her beloved daughter in the Spirit, progresses in the interior life, so much so as to say:

"On hearing the wonderful fame of your holy religious life, which has not only reached me, but has spread magnificently over almost the entire face of the earth, I am filled with joy in the Lord and I rejoice; and not only I can rejoice in this, but all those who serve or wish to serve Jesus Christ" (FF 2860).

The two Poor of Assisi lived their unadorned existence, projected into the Gospel of Jesus; they rested on the Word, which prepared them for endless bliss.

Awaiting the return of Christ, they had prepared their lives by offering them to union with God and their brothers.

With joy they welcomed favourable and (at least in appearance) contrary experiences, knowing that God is faithful to his promises and to the simple ones who follow him.

 

 

Friday of the 6th wk. in Easter  (Jn 16:20-23a)

57 Last modified on Friday, 23 May 2025 03:05
Teresa Girolami

Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This unknown “thing” is the true “hope” which drives us, and at the same time the fact that it is unknown is the cause of all forms of despair and also of all efforts, whether positive or destructive, directed towards worldly authenticity and human authenticity (Spe Salvi n.12)
Questa « cosa » ignota è la vera « speranza » che ci spinge e il suo essere ignota è, al contempo, la causa di tutte le disperazioni come pure di tutti gli slanci positivi o distruttivi verso il mondo autentico e l'autentico uomo (Spe Salvi n.12)
«When the servant of God is troubled, as it happens, by something, he must get up immediately to pray, and persevere before the Supreme Father until he restores to him the joy of his salvation. Because if it remains in sadness, that Babylonian evil will grow and, in the end, will generate in the heart an indelible rust, if it is not removed with tears» (St Francis of Assisi, FS 709)
«Il servo di Dio quando è turbato, come capita, da qualcosa, deve alzarsi subito per pregare, e perseverare davanti al Padre Sommo sino a che gli restituisca la gioia della sua salvezza. Perché se permane nella tristezza, crescerà quel male babilonese e, alla fine, genererà nel cuore una ruggine indelebile, se non verrà tolta con le lacrime» (san Francesco d’Assisi, FF 709)
Wherever people want to set themselves up as God they cannot but set themselves against each other. Instead, wherever they place themselves in the Lord’s truth they are open to the action of his Spirit who sustains and unites them (Pope Benedict)
Dove gli uomini vogliono farsi Dio, possono solo mettersi l’uno contro l’altro. Dove invece si pongono nella verità del Signore, si aprono all’azione del suo Spirito che li sostiene e li unisce (Papa Benedetto)
But our understanding is limited: thus, the Spirit's mission is to introduce the Church, in an ever new way from generation to generation, into the greatness of Christ's mystery. The Spirit places nothing different or new beside Christ; no pneumatic revelation comes with the revelation of Christ - as some say -, no second level of Revelation (Pope Benedict)
Ma la nostra capacità di comprendere è limitata; perciò la missione dello Spirito è di introdurre la Chiesa in modo sempre nuovo, di generazione in generazione, nella grandezza del mistero di Cristo. Lo Spirito non pone nulla di diverso e di nuovo accanto a Cristo; non c’è nessuna rivelazione pneumatica accanto a quella di Cristo - come alcuni credono - nessun secondo livello di Rivelazione (Papa Benedetto)
Who touched Lydia's heart? The answer is: «the Holy Spirit». It’s He who made this woman feel that Jesus was Lord; He made this woman feel that salvation was in Paul's words; He made this woman feel a testimony (Pope Francis)
Chi ha toccato il cuore di Lidia? La risposta è: «lo Spirito Santo». È lui che ha fatto sentire a questa donna che Gesù era il Signore; ha fatto sentire a questa donna che la salvezza era nelle parole di Paolo; ha fatto sentire a questa donna una testimonianza (Papa Francesco)
While he is about to entrust to the Apostles — which in fact means “envoys” — the mission of taking the Gospel to all the world, Jesus promises that they will not be alone. The Holy Spirit, the Counselor, will be with them, and will be beside them, moreover, will be within them, to protect and support them. Jesus returns to the Father but continues to accompany and teach his disciples through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Pope Francis)

Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 1 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 2 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 3 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 4 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 5 Dialogo e Solstizio I fiammiferi di Maria

duevie.art

don Giuseppe Nespeca

Tel. 333-1329741


Disclaimer

Questo blog non rappresenta una testata giornalistica in quanto viene aggiornato senza alcuna periodicità. Non può pertanto considerarsi un prodotto editoriale ai sensi della legge N°62 del 07/03/2001.
Le immagini sono tratte da internet, ma se il loro uso violasse diritti d'autore, lo si comunichi all'autore del blog che provvederà alla loro pronta rimozione.
L'autore dichiara di non essere responsabile dei commenti lasciati nei post. Eventuali commenti dei lettori, lesivi dell'immagine o dell'onorabilità di persone terze, il cui contenuto fosse ritenuto non idoneo alla pubblicazione verranno insindacabilmente rimossi.