Audio Course: St. Francis of Assisi: A New Way of Being Christian
Blog Author: Br. William Short
We have a very prickly, rather forbidding-looking cactus outside the novitiate building at Mission San Miguel CA. Yet each Spring it amazes us by its delicacy and beauty during the brief time of its flowering. It may serve as a good symbol of a rather off-putting Sister whom Sts. Francis and Clare recognized as beautiful, and appropriate to this Easter Season.
As he lay dying, Francis taught his brothers a new verse for the “Canticle of Creatures” or “Canticle of Brother Sun,” in order to welcome his sister, Bodily Death, “from whom no living person can escape.” And he gave praise to the Most High, good Lord for this Sister, who seems so unwelcome a visitor to so many. Since Holy Week, the Lord has called several of my brothers into the Easter Banquet: Fr. Michel, Br. Bart, Fr. David, Fr. Lester, another Fr. David, each day seems to bring the news of another Brother passing into the glory of the Risen Lord. On Wednesday a number of us were privileged to accompany Mother Clare, Abbess of the Poor Clares at St. Joseph’s Monastery in Aptos CA (near Santa Cruz) in her Mass of Resurrection and burial in a beautiful light Spring rain. Last night I was called to be with Fr. Emmanuel, who is just six weeks short of his 100th birthday (we share May 19th as our birthday) as he seemed ready to join this great Easter Procession of 2008. As we took turns during the day and the night, praying the Franciscan Crown of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin, reciting the Prayers for the Dying, as I held onto Fr. Emmanuel’s right toe, I thought of the beauty of Sister Death, who accompanies us so that we do not go to the Lord alone, but in the company of a Sister. (This morning, Fr. Emmanuel seemed rosy-cheeked and warm again, so perhaps the Lord has not called yet).
During this beautiful and life-filled Easter Season, for some reason known only to Him, the Lord of Life has opened wide the gates to the dwelling place He has prepared for us, and many of my Brothers and Sisters are being “lifted up” with Him, just as He promised. Yes, we are sad that they have left us, but we also try to remember that this is the fulfillment of our vocation, as Franciscans, as Christians: to be with the Lord, which is what He wants for us. Please join me in praying for these faithful followers of Francis and Clare, and for all our loved ones whom He has called to Himself, to Life itself.