The iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove reaction of some evangelicals to this exercise meant to help the Church (of England) ‘learn and reflect together to help the entire church in its task of discernment’ has, inevitably, caused deep distress, despair and disillusionment to many. Purporting to be caring, their rapid – negative and less than Christ-like – response has opened deep wounds for some producing pain and a sense of anxiety.
Against that background, as part of my Novice studies as I seek to be professed in the Third Order of St. Francis, I have been reading some documents on the Franciscan charism and found, in two sets of writings, a profound reminder of how we might respond to those who cause us pain.
The first comes from the account of St. Francis question to Br. Leo when, on a cold winter’s day, they were walking in the snow from Perugia to the Portiuncola in Assisi: “what brings perfect joy?” “If God desired that the Friars Minor”, Francis said, “should serve as a great example of holiness to all people in all lands, please write down that this would not be perfect joy”. Later in their journey, he went on “If the Friars Minor could make the lame walk; if we could straighten the crooked; if we could chase away demons; if we could give sight to the blind and speech to the dumb; and even if we could raise the dead after four days, please write down and note carefully that this would not be perfect joy.” He continued in this vein until he said if, on arrival at the friary in Assisi, the gatekeeper turned them away with insults saying they were imposters trying to lead the world astray – then if they bore these injuries with patience without complaining and think upon the sufferings of Christ “then, most beloved Brother Leo, please write down and note carefully that this, finally, is perfect joy!”
“Listen, above all gifts
of the Holy Spirit, that Christ Jesus gives to his friends is the grace to
overcome oneself, to accept willingly, out of love for Him, all contempt, all
discomfort, all injury, and all suffering. In this and all other gifts, we
ourselves should not boast because all things are gifts from God … because as St
Paul says: ‘May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal.
6:14).’ Amen.”
Taking this further I was reminded of some words St. Clare of Assisi wrote to St. Agnes of Prague to whom she was particularly devoted. Agnes had not yet entered the Order but had made a commitment to follow Christ but had been greatly troubled by Pope Innocent III’s negative response to Clare’s request for the ‘privilege’ of living in poverty. To help her Clare wrote, in her Third Letter, this exhortation:
‘Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine
substance!
And transform your whole being
into the image of the Godhead itself through
contemplation!
So that you too may feel what His friends feel
as they taste the hidden sweetness
which God Himself has reserved from the beginning
for those who love Him.’
It’s not that we should ignore the negative reactions of some but that we need to ‘place our mind’ where it belongs – not in attentiveness to the evil spirits who assail us but in Christ crucified alone. I offer these two responses from the little, but holy, Father and Mother in the hope they might help and inspire.
John-Francis
Friendship
Feast of Christ the King, 2020
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