St. Francis’ Knowledge and God’s ‘Little Ones’
1st Friday Conference, October 2024
St. Francis of Assisi is greatly misunderstood and mistakenly viewed as the saint of the ecologists. He composed a poem, which he gave to the members of his order, and this “Song of the Sun” demonstrates St. Francis’ love of nature – not for its own sake but because of its Creator. The gift of knowledge gives one a better appreciation of God’s attributes through the beauty of the natural world. This makes us desire the happiness of Heaven and earnestly pray that we may possess it.
The hallmark of the life of St. Therese of Lisieux is the doctrine of spiritual childhood. In the Gospels, Our Lord not only spoke of the necessity of spiritual childhood for salvation, but warned against giving scandal to the innocent “little ones.” St. Therese made the appreciation of her helplessness and complete trust in God the foundation of her spiritual life. She spent her life doing little things with great love, and if we do the same, we too will be safe.
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