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Sign & sacrament

01 Apr 2012 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycle B

When we think of heroes we usually think of those who save people through their use of power or force, those who establish empires, those who dominate the competition—think Superman, Alexander the Great, Michael Jordan. But Jesus broke the mold when it comes to heroes. He shows us another way to live a heroic life: emptying ourselves in service to others—think Mother Teresa, Saint Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Oscar Romero. The Easter story teaches us that when we pour ourselves out for the sake of others, our resulting “emptiness” allows us to rise to the very heavens.

hero Service Mother Teresa saint francis archbishop oscar romero

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Homily stories

05 Dec 2021 - Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

The Advent journey invites us to trust God who leads us and fills in and levels the dark valleys ahead. In his Testament, Saint Francis of Assisi wrote: “When I was in my sins, just to see lepers was very bitter for me. And the Lord himself took me among them, and I showed mercy to them. And on leaving them, what seemed bitter to me had turned for me into sweetness of body and soul.” By allowing God to lead him where he’d never have chosen to go, Francis discovered where Christ abides. Centuries later a Franciscan nun was on duty in a hospital when an ambulance brought in a severely injured man, filthy and left for dead and covered with maggots. The other nurses could not bring themselves to deal with him, but this sister patiently removed the insects and bathed the man, only to find that the maggots had disinfected the man’s wounds so that he had a chance at survival and healing. “I am confident that the one who has begun the good work in you will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus.” Lord Jesus, come.

Authors Father Larry Janowski O.F.M.

saint francis

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Homily stories

10 Sep 2023 - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

A remarkable story about Saint Francis tells of a brother who was a community leader having a very difficult time with a brother who was what we sometimes call a “repeat offender.” It’s not clear what the offender did, but it was so disheartening to the leader that he asked Saint Francis if he could just retire and go live as a hermit! In today’s gospel, Jesus proposes something else for someone who repeatedly refuses correction: If all else fails, treat the guy like a tax collector! Pretty harsh, until you remember how Jesus treated tax collectors and sinners—with forgiveness. Saint Francis sure got the memo! He wrote to that beleaguered minister saying that like Jesus, he must forgive again and again. “There should be no brother in the world who has sinned, however much he may have possibly sinned, who, after he has looked into your eyes, would go away without having received your mercy, if he is looking for it. And if he does not ask for mercy, you should ask him if he wants it! And if he should sin thereafter a thousand times before your very eyes, love him more than me so that you may draw him back to the Lord.”

Authors Father Larry Janowski O.F.M.

saint francis Forgiveness

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Quotes

14 Jul 2024 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

To convert somebody, go and take them by the hand and guide them. —Saint Thomas Aquinas It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. —Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Thomas Aquinas saint francis

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