October 4, 2021 Reflection – St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Philip Fruytiers – St. Francis of Assisi October 4, 2021 St. Francis of AssisiDear Family of Mary! Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, which serves the Parish of Medjugorje so faithfully and lovingly. Over these 40 years the Franciscans have protected Medjugorje from so many storms and troubles, most notably the war in the 1990’s. The Franciscans have stayed faithful to the people of Hercegovina and Croatia for hundreds of years, remaining with them through frightful political takeovers and troubles. They are incredibly loved by the Croatians! And we love them too! St. Francis is well known as a patron of peace. Like Our Lady, he understood that peace starts in our hearts, and only after it is well planted there can it find its way into the world. Our Lady has come to us in Medjugorje as the Queen of Peace, and peace has been one of her main messages. She calls us to “be peace!” Here are three examples: January 25, 2003 “Dear children! With this message I call you anew to pray for peace. Particularly now when peace is in crisis, you be those who pray and bear witness to peace. Little children, be peace in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call.” December 25, 2010 “Dear children! Today, I and my Son desire to give you an abundance of joy and peace so that each of you may be a joyful carrier and witness of peace and joy in the places where you live. Little children, be a blessing and be peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.” December 25, 2015 “Dear children! Also today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you and from this embrace I am giving you His peace and a longing for Heaven. I am praying with you for peace and am calling you to be peace… I am blessing all of you with my motherly blessing of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.” Let us pray this well known prayer for peace attributed to St. Francis. It is a cry for peace: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. St. Francis, pray for us! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV 2021