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".
Jesus emphasises the necessary forgiveness to be offered to the brother who has done wrong.
Francis had many special qualities, but excelled in one: the stable and solid memory of divine Mercy bending over him, to the point of condoning all the errors of his past life.
He had experienced the fatherhood and motherhood of God, absorbed in those bowels of mercy that had visited and healed him inwardly.
For him, pity and forgiveness - as well as taking back, where necessary - were basic attitudes in the fraternal journey.
By now he carried carved in his heart Jesus' answer to Peter's question: how often to grant forgiveness.
The Lord answered him: «I say to you not seven times, but seventy times seven» (Mt 18:22). As if to say: "always".
Francis of Assisi, in a passage from his Letter to a Minister, explains well the continuous readiness to forgive, and to begin again without tiring. The accents are moving.
"I tell you [...] that those things that are an impediment to you in loving the Lord God, and every person who will be an obstacle to you [...] all this you must hold as a grace [...] And love those who act with you in this way [...]" (FF 234).
Again: "And in this I want to know if you love the Lord and love me his servant and yours, if you will act in this way, namely: that there be no brother in the world, who has sinned, as much as it is possible to sin, who, after he has seen your eyes, does not go away without your forgiveness, if he asks for it; and if he does not ask forgiveness, you ask him if he wants to be forgiven. And if, afterwards, he sins a thousand times before your eyes, love him more than me for this: that you may draw him to the Lord; and always have mercy on such brothers" (FF 235).
The letter, a true jewel among those written by the Poverello, continues:
"If any of the brothers, at the instigation of the enemy, has mortally sinned, he is bound by obedience to have recourse to his guardian. And all the brothers who know of his sin, let them not shame him nor speak ill of him, but have great mercy on him and keep their brother's sin a great secret, because not the healthy need a doctor, but the sick" (FF 237).
«If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him» (Lk 17:3)
Monday 32nd wk. in O.T. (Lk 17,1-6)
Devotion to the Father's house: «We worship you, O Christ, in all your churches».
Jesus drove the sellers out of the temple and emphasised not to make his Father's house a market place.
Francis was as zealous for the Lord and his will as he was for all the churches around the world.
He wanted them respected for what they are and represent; he did not want to know about turning them into what God is not.
This even though Jesus had made it clear to him that his zeal was for the Church, the assembly of believers, the living temple of Christ.
In the Sources:
"He had no blush to ask the small things of those smaller than himself; he the true lesser, who had learned from the Supreme Master the greater things.
He used to seek with singular zeal the way and manner of serving God more perfectly, as it pleased Him best' (FF 1205).
Moreover: "Truly with joyful devotion he wandered among the heavenly abodes, and in complete self-abasement, he dwelt as if hidden in the wounds of the Saviour [...].
His safe haven was prayer, not of a few minutes, or empty, or pretentious, but deeply devout, humble and prolonged as much as possible" (FF 445).
But with regard to the reparation of S. Damiano:
"It is this place where St Francis, guided by divine revelation, began the Order of Friars Minor.
Precisely by the disposition of divine Providence, which directed him in all things, the servant of Christ had materially restored three churches before founding the Order and devoting himself to preaching the Gospel [...].
For just as three buildings were repaired, so, under the guidance of this holy man, the Church was to be renewed in three ways: according to the form of life, according to the Rule and according to the doctrine of Christ which he proposed" (FF 1050).
He had taught his brothers to recite this prayer near every church they encountered, adoring the Almighty:
«We adore you, O Christ, in all your churches [...]» (FF 401).
The zeal for the house of God devoured him.
«Take these things away from here, and do not make my Father's house a marketplace» (Jn 2:16b)
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Jn 2:13-22)
All Saints, like burning coals. And the ultimate Day
Pharisee, Publican: presumption and contempt, humility and Justification
Healing on the Way: the new Light that shines in the outsider
Dishonest administrator, and recovered wealth
As said st. Augustine: «The Word of God which is explained to you every day and in a certain sense "broken" is also daily Bread». Complete food: basic and “compote” food - historical and ideal, in actuality
Come diceva s. Agostino: «La Parola di Dio che ogni giorno viene a voi spiegata e in un certo senso “spezzata” è anch’essa Pane quotidiano». Alimento completo: cibo base e “companatico” - storico e ideale, in atto
What begins as a discovery of Jesus moves to a greater understanding and commitment through a prayerful process of questions and discernment (John Paul II)
Quel che inizia come una scoperta di Gesù conduce a una maggiore comprensione e dedizione attraverso un devoto processo di domande e discernimento (Giovanni Paolo II)
John's Prologue is certainly the key text, in which the truth about Christ's divine sonship finds its full expression (John Paul II)
Il Prologo di Giovanni è certamente il testo chiave, nel quale la verità sulla divina figliolanza di Cristo trova la sua piena espressione (Giovanni Paolo II)
Innocence prepares, invokes, hastens Peace. But are these things of so much value and so precious? The answer is immediate, explicit: they are very precious gifts (Pope Paul VI)
L’innocenza prepara, invoca, affretta la Pace. Ma si tratta di cose di tanto valore e così preziose? La risposta è immediata, esplicita: sono doni preziosissimi (Papa Paolo VI)
We will not find a wall, no. We will find a way out […] Let us not fear the Lord (Pope Francis)
Non troveremo un muro, no, troveremo un’uscita […] Non abbiamo paura del Signore (Papa Francesco)
Raw life is full of powers: «Be grateful for everything that comes, because everything was sent as a guide to the afterlife» [Gialal al-Din Rumi]
La vita grezza è colma di potenze: «Sii grato per tutto quel che arriva, perché ogni cosa è stata mandata come guida dell’aldilà» [Gialal al-Din Rumi]
It is not enough to be a pious and devoted person to become aware of the presence of Christ - to see God himself, brothers and things with the eyes of the Spirit. An uncomfortable vision, which produces conflict with those who do not want to know
Non basta essere persone pie e devote per rendersi conto della presenza di Cristo - per vedere Dio stesso, i fratelli e le cose con gli occhi dello Spirito. Visione scomoda, che produce conflitto con chi non ne vuol sapere
An eloquent and peremptory manifestation of the power of the God of Israel and the submission of those who did not fulfill the Law was expected. Everyone imagined witnessing the triumphal entry of a great ruler, surrounded by military leaders or angelic ranks...
Ci si attendeva una manifestazione eloquente e perentoria della potenza del Dio d’Israele e la sottomissione di coloro che non adempivano la Legge. Tutti immaginavano di assistere all’ingresso trionfale d’un condottiero, circondato da capi militari o schiere angeliche…
May the Holy Family be a model for our families, so that parents and children may support each other mutually in adherence to the Gospel, the basis of the holiness of the family (Pope Francis)
La Santa Famiglia possa essere modello delle nostre famiglie, affinché genitori e figli si sostengano a vicenda nell’adesione al Vangelo, fondamento della santità della famiglia (Papa Francesco)
John is the origin of our loftiest spirituality. Like him, ‘the silent ones' experience that mysterious exchange of hearts, pray for John's presence, and their hearts are set on fire (Athinagoras)
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