Word to the Wise
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - Saturday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Bar 4:5-12, 27-29 and Luke 10:17-24]"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike." [Luke]
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
These words from the regular gospel passage for the 26th Saturday in Ordinary Time capture some of the Franciscan spirit and charism of poverty and simplicity. We Dominicans, despite some times of dispute in the early days of both orders in the 13th and 14th centuries, refer to Franciscan friars as our "cousins" and venerate St. Francis. There is a custom in some places of inviting a Dominican to preach at a Franciscan community on the feast of St. Francis, and vice versa.
There can be no question of the power and attraction of the Franciscan charism of poverty and simplicity, although various interpretations of it have led to a multitude of branches in the friars. OFM, OFM,Conv., OFM Cap. and T.O.R. are the main ones, with some other smaller groups. The lay branch, known in the USA as "Secular Franciscans," is huge. The popular hymn, "Canticle of the Sun," .with its first line, "All creatures of our God and King..." is very familiar. And, of course, there is the movie, BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON to add to the mix, along with the multitude of congregations of women that have the title of "Franciscan Sisters of__________!
The Franciscan charism is about more than physical poverty. It is a spirit of profound trust in God's providential care and respect for all that God has created. (A statue of St. Francis appears in gardens all over the world!) Pope Francis, although a member of the Jesuits, sought to bear witness fo that charism in his choice of a name and lifestyle, and authored two encyclicals on the care of creation and the environment. Last but not least, I am always moved by a prayer attributed to St. Francis: "My God! Who are you? and Who am I?" It would be hard to find a prayer more direct than that! AMEN