Ministry Newsletter │ October 2024
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Saint Francis of Assisi – an Example of Metanoia
September 17th, 2024 marked the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata, wounds similar to that that of Jesus Christ physically manifested on Francis’ body. On October 4th, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. So, this is a fitting time to reflect on St. Francis as an example of the Christian way life.
St. Francis is often associated with the love of animals and all of God’s creation. However, it was not Francis’ love of animals that put him on the path to sanctity. Rather, it was Francis’ love of Jesus Christ and his complete dedication to metanoia that allowed him to fully cooperate with God’s grace and conform himself so closely to Jesus, our Savior.
Metanoia is a Greek word meaning the ongoing conversion of heart or to realign one’s heart to God. In the Bible, it is translated as conversion or penance. In the Old Testament, to repent or convert is expressed as to return to the Lord (1 Sam 7:3), lift one’s eyes to heaven (Dan 4:34), and turn one’s face to God (Dan 9:3). In the New Testament, metanoia is expressed by John the Baptist when he proclaims, “Repent! (Convert! Do Penance!), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 3:2). Conversion requires one to become a disciple of Christ, believing in the Gospel (Mk 16:16).
Concerning the significance of St. Francis’ embracing of metanoia in the early thirteenth century, Fr. Raffaele Pazzelli, T.O.R. explains, “The biblical sense of metanoia (penance) was fully rediscovered, accepted, and lived by St. Francis.” So, St. Francis lived his life in a way that pointed others back to the original Gospel message. St. Bonaventure, the Seraphic Doctor of the Church, explains, “There are three reasons why St. Francis is to be accounted as chosen by God and of well-tried virtue: his perfect observance of the Law and Gospel, his indomitable zeal for the Christian faith, and his exceedingly fervent love of the Crucified Savior.”
So, when we think of St. Francis of Assisi, whether on his feast day or when we see his statue next to a bird bath, we are encouraged to reflect on our own journey of metanoia, which involves taking up the Cross of Christ, daily, (Lk 9:23) and continually realign our heart to God, for the Kingdom of God is at hand (Mt 3:2).
May you have a blessed and spiritually fruitful month of October!
