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".
Francis, a man of God, loved prayer in a special way, as a place of encounter with the Bridegroom, jealously guarding it from all noise.
We read in the Second Life of his well-known biographer, Celano:
"He always sought a secluded place, where he could be united not only with the Spirit, but with his individual members, to his God.
Instead, when he prayed in the woods and in solitary places, he filled the woods with groans and bathed the earth with tears.
He often dialogued aloud with his Lord: he gave an account to the Judge, pleaded with the Father, spoke to the Friend, joked amiably with the Bridegroom.
And actually, in order to offer all the fibres of his heart in manifold holocaust to God, he considered Him who is supremely One.
Often without moving his lips, he meditated long and hard within himself, and concentrating the outward powers within, he rose with the Spirit to heaven.
He was not so much a praying man as he himself was all transformed into living prayer" (FF 681-682).
«It is written: My house shall be a home of prayer» (Lk 19:46)
Friday, 33rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 19:45-48)
Jesus shed tears over Jerusalem for its ungrateful choice of power.
Francis too, a disciple of the Lord, in the footsteps of the Word made flesh, as soon as he had finished his errands (indeed he would cut them off in a flash, so as not to be distracted by the things of God!) would retire, like Jesus, all alone, to pray, even at night.
Thomas of Celano, one of his most eloquent biographers, in the Sources, speaks thus about Francis' relationship with Christ.
This intimate union strengthened his faith, making him capable of going to God even on the great waters of life, amidst the storms of the world.
"He spent all his time in holy recollection, in order to imprint wisdom in his heart; he feared to turn back if he did not always make progress.
And if at times there were urgent visits from seculars or other matters, he would cut them off rather than finish them, to take refuge again in contemplation" (FF 681).
"When, on the other hand, she prayed in the woods and in solitary places, she filled the woods with groans, bathed the earth with tears, beat her breast with her hand; and there, almost as if taking advantage of a more intimate and reserved place, she often dialogued aloud with her Lord" (FF 682).
But Clare too, a seedling of the Seraphic Father Francis, was nourished by assiduous prayer and solitary contemplation to understand God's will and abandon herself to a solid faith.
Witness what he wrote in his third letter to his spiritual daughter, Agnes of Bohemia. Words charged with authentic 'Christian relationship'.
"Place your eyes before the mirror of eternity, place your soul in the splendour of glory, place your heart in Him who is the figure of the divine substance, and be transformed entirely, through contemplation, into the image of the divinity of Him" (FF 2888).
The Poor of Assisi have made "being with God" the condition for not fearing the adversities encountered on their journey; walking, by Grace, on the "great waters".
Thus, thanks to their eloquent example, many souls abandoned the spirit of confrontation and overpowering, turning to a life of conciliation and fraternal Peace.
«Hadst thou known in this day also that which is for peace! But now it has been hidden from your eyes» (Lk 19:42)
Thursday, 33rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 19:41-44)
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
It is not an anecdote. It is a decisive historical fact! This scene is decisive for our faith; and it is also decisive for the Church’s mission (Pope Francis)
Non è un aneddoto. E’ un fatto storico decisivo! Questa scena è decisiva per la nostra fede; ed è decisiva anche per la missione della Chiesa (Papa Francesco)
Being considered strong, capable of commanding, excellent, pristine, magnificent, performing, extraordinary, glorious… harms people. It puts a mask on us, makes us one-sided; takes away understanding. It floats the character we are sitting in, above reality
Essere considerati forti, capaci di comandare, eccellenti, incontaminati, magnifici, performanti, straordinari, gloriosi… danneggia le persone. Ci mette una maschera, rende unilaterali; toglie la comprensione. Fa galleggiare il personaggio in cui siamo seduti, al di sopra della realtà
The paralytic is not a paralytic
Il paralitico non è un paralitico
The Kingdom of God is precisely the presence of truth and love and thus is healing in the depths of our being. One therefore understands why his preaching and the cures he works always go together: in fact, they form one message of hope and salvation (Pope Benedict)
Il Regno di Dio è proprio la presenza della verità e dell’amore e così è guarigione nella profondità del nostro essere. Si comprende, pertanto, perché la sua predicazione e le guarigioni che opera siano sempre unite: formano infatti un unico messaggio di speranza e di salvezza (Papa Benedetto)
To repent and believe in the Gospel are not two different things or in some way only juxtaposed, but express the same reality (Pope Benedict)
Convertirsi e credere al Vangelo non sono due cose diverse o in qualche modo soltanto accostate tra loro, ma esprimono la medesima realtà (Papa Benedetto)
The fire of God's creative and redeeming love burns sin and destroys it and takes possession of the soul, which becomes the home of the Most High! (Pope John Paul II)
Il fuoco dell’amore creatore e redentore di Dio brucia il peccato e lo distrugge e prende possesso dell’anima, che diventa abitazione dell’Altissimo! (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
«The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor» (Lk 4:18). Every minister of God has to make his own these words spoken by Jesus in Nazareth [John Paul II]
«Lo Spirito del Signore è sopra di me; per questo mi ha consacrato con l'unzione e mi ha mandato per annunziare un lieto messaggio» (Lc 4, 18). Ogni ministro di Dio deve far sue nella propria vita queste parole pronunciate da Gesù di Nazareth [Giovanni Paolo II]
It is He himself who comes to meet us, who lowers Heaven to stretch out his hand to us and raise us to his heights [Pope Benedict]
È Lui stesso che ci viene incontro, abbassa il cielo per tenderci la mano e portarci alla sua altezza [Papa Benedetto]
Christ reveals his identity of Messiah, Israel's bridegroom, who came for the betrothal with his people. Those who recognize and welcome him are celebrating. However, he will have to be rejected and killed precisely by his own; at that moment, during his Passion and death, the hour of mourning and fasting will come (Pope Benedict)
Cristo rivela la sua identità di Messia, Sposo d'Israele, venuto per le nozze con il suo popolo. Quelli che lo riconoscono e lo accolgono con fede sono in festa. Egli però dovrà essere rifiutato e ucciso proprio dai suoi: in quel momento, durante la sua passione e la sua morte, verrà l'ora del lutto e del digiuno (Papa Benedetto)
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