Happy moments, praise God
A Franciscan View by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

A person in Church sitting behind me was praying somewhat audibly. I could not help but eavesdrop on her conversation with God, even though I did not want to. She inspired me so much. Someone across the aisle before Mass began, had given her a cassette tape, and she was full of joy. She said over and over again, dear Jesus, I love you so. Thank you for my benefactor (sic). Please bless her. As I sat there, trying not to overhear her comments to Jesus, it dawned on me that she had a very deep spiritual relationship with Jesus. And I rejoiced with her, in my prayer as well. Only I prayed softly, mentally, meditatively.

St. Francis of Assisi gives us reason to praise God, because he did. It is said, particularly by Franciscan scholars, that the "Little Flowers of Saint Francis," texts are not accurate or at least not a primary source of information such as those texts Celano and Bonaventure have left for us to read. But to me, the "Little Flowers" are reflections on the life of Francis and his brethren as seen from one who lived in that time period.

There was, for example, in Chapter 30, the story of the beautiful sermon St. Francis and Brother Ruffino preached at Assisi. "The said Brother Ruffino, through constant contemplation, was so absorbed in God that he became almost insensible to things external, and very seldom spoke; added to which he never had possessed the gift of speech, neither was he eloquent nor self-possessed. Notwithstanding this, St Francis ordered him one day to go to Assisi and preach to the people that which God should dictate to him. On this Brother Ruffino expostulated, saying: "Reverend Father, I pray thee excuse me, and send some other brother in my stead; for  thou knowest that I have not the grace of preaching: I am simple and ignorant."

At this St Francis answered: "Inasmuch as thou hast not obeyed immediately, I command thee to take off thy cloak and thy hood and go to Assisi, where thou shalt enter a church and preach to the people; and this shalt thou do out of holy obedience." Having received this order, Brother Ruffino, taking off his mantle and his hood, proceeded to Assisi, and entering the church, after having bowed before the altar, he mounted into the pulpit and began to preach to the people, who, seeing him in so strange a dress, laughed at him, saying: "These men do such penance that they are quite out of their mind."

In the meantime St Francis, reflecting how promptly Brother Ruffino, who was one of the most noble men of Assisi, had obeyed the harsh command he had given, reproached himself saying: "How couldst thou, who art but the humble son of Peter Bernardoni, send one of the most distinguished men of Assisi to preach to the people as if he were a madman? May God forgive thee! But thou shalt do the same thing which thou hast ordered him to do." And immediately taking off his cloak and his hood with great fervor of spirit, he went to Assisi, taking with him Brother Leo, who carried his mantle and that of Brother Ruffino. The inhabitants of Assisi, seeing him thus accoutered, reviled him, believing that both he and Brother Ruffino were out of their minds through much penance. St Francis entered the church as Brother Ruffino was saying these words: "O beloved, flee from the world, and leave sin; render to all men that which is their due, if thou wilt avoid hell; keep the commandments of God and love the Lord and thy neighbor, if thou wilt possess the kingdom of heaven." Then St Francis ascended the pulpit, and began to preach in so wonderful a way on holy penance, on the world, on voluntary poverty, on the hope of life eternal, on the nakedness of Christ and on the shame of the Passion of our Blessed Savior, that all they who heard him, both men and women, began to weep bitterly, being moved to devotion and compunction; and in all Assisi the Passion of Christ was commemorated as it never had been before; so that the people were greatly edified by this action of St Francis and of Brother Ruffino.

Then St Francis put on the cloak of Brother Ruffino and his own, and returned to the convent of the Portiuncula, praising and glorifying God, who had given them grace to conquer and despise themselves, to the edification of the flock of Christ, and enabled them, by their example, to show how the world ought to be despised. And from that day the people greatly revered them, so that those who could touch but the hem of their garments esteemed themselves blessed."

Reading these and other passages from "The Little Flowers," tells us a lot about the mindset of St. Francis. He was very simple in his prayer-relationship to God. He was a good Superior because he deeply cared for the welfare of his friars. He was so fully aware of his littleness as opposed to God's awesomeness. He considered himself a sinner, and felt the need to do penance. We, in the 21st Century have forgotten what it is to do penance. We have an unrestrained attitude toward God which is often blasphemous. How often does one hear (particularly when a person commits sin or at least something foolhardy) - "God understands me." That's blasphemy.... that's telling God that we know he condones sin. He doesn't. We shouldn't. When I grew up in the 1940's in Europe, I was taught always to revere God, and to always be in awe of Him. God is truly perfect, and therefore I am not. We are sinners, but we need not perpetuate that attitude. Being proud of God's knowledge of us personally, when we still commit sin, it is, to me, blasphemous.

Rather, it would be better for us to praise God for all He has done for us. For the "Happy Moments," the laughter in our lives. People who continue to sin really have no happy moments. And when they laugh, their laugh is hollow and often vain. Laughter comes from God. Are you open enough to God's guidance to recognize His joy? Or are you living in sin and so far away from Jesus and the Angels and Saints, that you no longer have the capacity to enjoy the laughter God provides? Saint Francis is often depicted as talking to the birds. Unless you can laugh with Christ-like joy, it would be pretty difficult to talk to birds. Children, especially young ones, have the capacity to laugh with great joy because their approach to God is simple, just as their approach to Mom and Dad, and siblings is direct, non-confrontational and simple. They have not yet assumed to ways of adults who often think themselves as masters of their universe, when in fact, they are not. Let us remain simple in our prayer life with God. If we do so, we will have many happy moments and God will be praised. And He will be pleased in us.

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
1/13/24 (based on notes from 2004)
 
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