By:

Sr. Michelle Balek, OSF

Franciscan Charism Ministry Coordinator, Sisters of St. Francis

In October, my thoughts turn to St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is celebrated on October 4th. Most people associate him with animals, so every year there are the blessings of live animals. Many retell the story of his preaching to the birds. Maybe that is why so many relegate him to the birdbath in the backyard and give his life little thought beyond that, seeing him as a sweet simpleton who picked flowers and talked with animals. It is almost like saying, “What kind of nut is that, that talks to animals? But hey, this birdbath is kinda cute, and I like the guy.” Upon deeper reflection, one can see Francis as the perfect and profound model of this blog’s title: Sacred Spaces: An invitation to explore the sacred inside ordinary places.

In the time of Francis, one got from one place to another by walking, horses, pack animals, carts, or ships, with most people traveling on foot due to poor road conditions. Francis did a lot of walking. When you walk, it is a slower pace, and you have the opportunity to take in more of what is around you. In all his walking, he noticed even the tiniest creatures.

At the same time, he was searching for his purpose in life. Coming from a family in the rising merchant class, he first aspired to be a knight. He fought in the war between Assisi and neighboring Perugia, was captured, and spent a year in prison, where he became very ill. His father ultimately paid a ransom, and he was released, still questioning his life’s path. Dreams of knighthood lingered, and he set off to join the Crusade. On his way, he heard a voice ask, “Who would you rather serve, the master or the servant?” He answered, “The master.” The voice replied, “Then why are you serving the servant?”

In that moment, he chose to live for God alone.

Francis had many experiences that deepened his relationship with God. He came to know God’s abundant love, not only for himself, but for all creation. God is the source, the creator of all that is, therefore, Francis saw all creation – people and nature – as his Brother or Sister. All are related, connected. All are holy, sacred. Francis had a special reverence for Scripture, and his biographer, Thomas of Celano, writes that he would gather up any pieces of Scripture – even if but a copy by human hand. Whether he found it on the road, in a house, or on the floor, Francis would gather up the writing and put it in a sacred place because the name of the Lord, or something pertaining to it, might be written there. Today we might call that being a “pack rat,” yet in a scrap of paper, the Word was present, so was holy.

When I lived in Erie, PA, I had a “Francis moment” too. I lived in a small, drafty cottage overlooking Lake Erie, and had a birdfeeder that attracted many species as they migrated. One day, seeing it was low on seed, I went out to refill it. There was a small sparrow, dining on the few remaining seeds. I slowed my pace and quietly, gingerly approached the little bird. It did not fly away, as I suspected. I inched my way closer, talking to it ever so quietly. It still stayed. I got within a foot of the feeder, with the bird keeping one eye on me, the other on the seeds. I slowly reached up and gently tilted the feeder to allow the remaining seeds to shift to the side where the sparrow was. It still stayed. I then told the sparrow that I would leave him or her alone to eat to its heart’s content. I slowly backed away and went inside. I refilled the feeder after the sparrow took flight. It was such a feeling of connection that I could only feel, not put words around, other than to declare: “This is what Francis must have felt when he called creation Brother or Sister.” The next day, I excitedly described this experience to my co-workers. The response? “That bird must have been sick!” I’m sure they thought I was a fool. I was deflated. I had connected with the sacredness in that sparrow – why couldn’t anyone else understand that? I felt sorry for them, missing out on the richness of finding the sacred in such a mundane creature.

We live in a world that tries to disconnect us and keep us divided. Francis saw and knew the sacred connection to all and was often seen as a fool for it. That is the kind of fool I will gladly be, too!

REFLECTION:

When is a time you were awestruck by noticing the beauty and sacredness of creation – human or nonhuman?

By:

Father Mario Domínguez

Franciscan Associate, guatemala

See Spanish translation below — Consulte la traducción al español a continuación

Saving oneself or offering oneself in a pandemic situation. Where is perfect Joy?

It was during the time of the pandemic (Covid-19), when, for preventive measures, confinement in homes was decreed. Commerce stopped; the streets were empty. Church buildings were closed and the sacramental life of the faithful was reduced to virtual participation.

People began to die, among them, dear, irreplaceable friends. We all secluded ourselves. Fear arose, and extreme measures were put in place for distancing to avoid contagion.

In that time of such circumstances and needs, the Word of God appealed to my conscience. Meditating on the quote from Mt. 10:39: "Whoever finds his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for me will find it," I thought I couldn't stay locked up without taking care of the spiritual needs of the people who needed me. I had to lose my fear and to look for ways to support, accompany, and strengthen them.

In the parish, we began to distribute food until our funds ran out, thinking that the pandemic would last only a short time. The money was indeed depleted, but the pandemic continued.

We began to pray every night, before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. People started to connect with us, sharing their names and their prayers. Some time later, people commented to me how much comfort they received in those moments! The holy hours went on for two years, night after night, as we prayed and prayed.

I began to visit the sick when they requested it and celebrated with them the Sacrament of the Sick. Many had Covid-19, although their relatives preferred to tell me that it was pneumonia. I also offered prayers for the deceased, in funeral homes and in private residences, regardless of ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The important thing was to bring God's comfort.

To administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, since it was not possible inside the church building, I went out to the atrium, armed with a small screen made of PVC pipes and lined with transparent plastic. On Thursdays and Saturdays, many people came. The two hours, sometimes three, that I dedicated to it were insufficient.

The most painful experiences were: praying and saying goodbye by video call to a parishioner brother, already in agony, and encouraging him in his passing; visiting and giving the last rites and viaticum to a brother priest who died in the early morning; waiting for the body of another brother priest outside the hospital and accompanying him to the grave, with all the restrictions and care imposed by the authorities; and offering the prayers for the deceased for another brother priest from afar, at the entrance to the cemetery, because that was the only way possible.

I also recorded daily meditations for about 150 days and sent them via WhatsApp to all the contacts I had. The purpose was to accompany, strengthen, and encourage. We made some videos with those same topics and posted them on the parish’s Facebook page.

Why do I share all of this? To meditate on the theme of "Perfect Joy" through a personal experience.

In the face of a pandemic and the possibility of contagion and likely death, the logical thing to do is to seclude yourself and to take care of yourself. Yet, the Word of God questioned me so that, at that moment, I could not be afraid. I couldn't "save my life" because that would be to lose it. That made me leave my fears behind and go out and bring God's comfort to sick people and their families.

That experience helped me to live life with greater intensity, to celebrate it every day. It also helped me to be a little freer. Joy arose from letting go of the fear of contagion and death, in this specific situation of the pandemic; and without ceasing to be careful with my health, to see an opportunity to give myself, offering what from my priestly ministry I could give, consolation and the closeness of God. I am thankful for that.

REFLECTION:

Perfect joy is a gratuitous gift. When have you received the capacity to respond positively in a difficult situation?

¿En dónde está la Alegría perfecta?

By:

Padre Mario Domínguez

Franciscan Associate, guatemala

Guardarse u ofrecerse en una situación de pandemia. ¿En dónde está la Alegría perfecta?

 Fue en los tiempos de pandemia (Covid-19), cuando por medidas preventivas, se decretó el confinamiento en las casas. Se detuvo el comercio, las calles quedaron vacías. Los templos se cerraron y la vida sacramental de los fieles se redujo a la participación virtual.

Comenzaron a morir personas, entre ellos, amigos entrañables, insustituibles. Todos nos recluimos. Surgió el miedo, los distanciamientos y medidas para evitar el contagio se hicieron extremas.

 En tales circunstancias y necesidades, la Palabra de Dios, me llamó a la conciencia. Meditando la cita de Mt. 10, 39: “El que encuentre su vida, la perderá; y el que pierda su vida por mí, la encontrará”, pensé que no podía quedarme encerrado sin atender las necesidades espirituales de las personas que las necesitaban. Debía perder el miedo y buscar formas de cómo apoyarles, acompañarlas, y fortalecerles.

 Comenzamos a repartir víveres, con los fondos parroquiales, hasta que se agotaron, pensando que era cosa de poco tiempo. El dinero se agotó y la pandemia siguió.

 Comenzamos a orar, todas las noches, con el Santísimo Sacramento expuesto. Las personas comenzaron a conectarse y a compartir sus nombres y oraciones. Tiempo después, me comentaron, ¡Cuánto consuelo recibieron en aquellos momentos! Las Horas Santas se prolongaron por dos años, noche tras noche, orando, orando.

 Empecé a visitar enfermos, cuando me lo pedían, y darles la unción o extremaunción. Muchos de ellos enfermos de Covid 19, aunque los familiares preferían decirme que era pulmonía. También a ofrecer responsos por los difuntos, en funerarias y en casas, sin importar jurisdicción eclesiástica. Lo importante era llevar el consuelo de Dios.

 Para administrar el Sacramento de la Confesión, puesto que no se podía en el interior del templo, salí al atrio, armado de un pequeño cancel hecho con tubos de pvc y forrado con un naylon transparente. Los días jueves y sábado. Las personas acudieron. Las dos horas, a veces tres, que dedicaba a ello, eran insuficientes.

 Las experiencias más dolorosas fue orar y despedir a un hermano feligrés, que ya estaba en agonía por video llamada, orando y animándole en su trance; visitar y darle la extremaunción y viático a un hermano sacerdote que falleció en la madrugada; esperar el cadáver afuera del hospital a otro hermano sacerdote y acompañarle hasta la tumba, con todas las restricciones y cuidados que imponían las autoridades; y ofrecer un responso, de lejos, porque solo eso se podía, a otro hermano sacerdote en la entrada del cementerio.

 Así también, grabé meditaciones diarias y las enviaba vía wasap, a todos los contactos que tenía, fueron alrededor de 150 días. El fin era acompañar, fortalecer, animar. Hicimos algunos videos con esos mismos temas por el Facebook parroquial.

 Y todo esto, ¿Por qué lo comparto? Para meditar sobre el tema de la “Alegría perfecta” a través de una experiencia personal.

 Ante una pandemia y la posibilidad de contagio y muy probablemente la muerte, lo lógico es recluirse y cuidarse.

 La Palabra de Dios, me cuestionó, que no podía en ese momento, estar con miedo. No podía “guardar mi vida” porque eso era perderla. Eso me hizo perder el miedo, dejar los temores y salir y llevar el consuelo de Dios a las personas enfermas y sus familiares.

 Esa experiencia me ayudó a vivir la vida con mayor intensidad, a celebrarla cada día. También a ser un poco más libre. La alegría surgió de soltar el miedo al contagio y a la muerte en esta situación concreta de la pandemia; y sin dejar de ser cuidadoso con mi salud, ver una oportunidad de darme, ofreciendo lo que desde mi ministerio sacerdotal podía dar: El Consuelo y la cercanía de Dios. Agradecido por eso.

Guardarse u ofrecerse en una situación de pandemia. ¿En dónde está la Alegría perfecta?

 Fue en los tiempos de pandemia (Covid-19), cuando por medidas preventivas, se decretó el confinamiento en las casas. Se detuvo el comercio, las calles quedaron vacías. Los templos se cerraron y la vida sacramental de los fieles se redujo a la participación virtual.

Comenzaron a morir personas, entre ellos, amigos entrañables, insustituibles. Todos nos recluimos. Surgió el miedo, los distanciamientos y medidas para evitar el contagio se hicieron extremas.

 En tales circunstancias y necesidades, la Palabra de Dios, me llamó a la conciencia. Meditando la cita de Mt. 10, 39: “El que encuentre su vida, la perderá; y el que pierda su vida por mí, la encontrará”, pensé que no podía quedarme encerrado sin atender las necesidades espirituales de las personas que las necesitaban. Debía perder el miedo y buscar formas de cómo apoyarles, acompañarlas, y fortalecerles.

 Comenzamos a repartir víveres, con los fondos parroquiales, hasta que se agotaron, pensando que era cosa de poco tiempo. El dinero se agotó y la pandemia siguió.

 Comenzamos a orar, todas las noches, con el Santísimo Sacramento expuesto. Las personas comenzaron a conectarse y a compartir sus nombres y oraciones. Tiempo después, me comentaron, ¡Cuánto consuelo recibieron en aquellos momentos! Las Horas Santas se prolongaron por dos años, noche tras noche, orando, orando.

 Empecé a visitar enfermos, cuando me lo pedían, y darles la unción o extremaunción. Muchos de ellos enfermos de Covid 19, aunque los familiares preferían decirme que era pulmonía. También a ofrecer responsos por los difuntos, en funerarias y en casas, sin importar jurisdicción eclesiástica. Lo importante era llevar el consuelo de Dios.

 Para administrar el Sacramento de la Confesión, puesto que no se podía en el interior del templo, salí al atrio, armado de un pequeño cancel hecho con tubos de pvc y forrado con un naylon transparente. Los días jueves y sábado. Las personas acudieron. Las dos horas, a veces tres, que dedicaba a ello, eran insuficientes.

 Las experiencias más dolorosas fue orar y despedir a un hermano feligrés, que ya estaba en agonía por video llamada, orando y animándole en su trance; visitar y darle la extremaunción y viático a un hermano sacerdote que falleció en la madrugada; esperar el cadáver afuera del hospital a otro hermano sacerdote y acompañarle hasta la tumba, con todas las restricciones y cuidados que imponían las autoridades; y ofrecer un responso, de lejos, porque solo eso se podía, a otro hermano sacerdote en la entrada del cementerio.

 Así también, grabé meditaciones diarias y las enviaba vía wasap, a todos los contactos que tenía, fueron alrededor de 150 días. El fin era acompañar, fortalecer, animar. Hicimos algunos videos con esos mismos temas por el Facebook parroquial.

 Y todo esto, ¿Por qué lo comparto? Para meditar sobre el tema de la “Alegría perfecta” a través de una experiencia personal.

 Ante una pandemia y la posibilidad de contagio y muy probablemente la muerte, lo lógico es recluirse y cuidarse.

 La Palabra de Dios, me cuestionó, que no podía en ese momento, estar con miedo. No podía “guardar mi vida” porque eso era perderla. Eso me hizo perder el miedo, dejar los temores y salir y llevar el consuelo de Dios a las personas enfermas y sus familiares.

 Esa experiencia me ayudó a vivir la vida con mayor intensidad, a celebrarla cada día. También a ser un poco más libre. La alegría surgió de soltar el miedo al contagio y a la muerte en esta situación concreta de la pandemia; y sin dejar de ser cuidadoso con mi salud, ver una oportunidad de darme, ofreciendo lo que desde mi ministerio sacerdotal podía dar: El Consuelo y la cercanía de Dios. Agradecido por eso.

REFLECTION:

La “alegría perfecta” es un don gratuita. ¿Cuándo has recibido la capacidad de responder de manera positiva a una situación difícil?