Profession, Sanctification, Transformation and a life lived for Christ!
If you are a passionate follower of Francis your life should should mirror the goodness found in him and his way of life. Why are you passionate about him if who he was (a faithful man of God), what he did (sacrifice body and soul, every day of his life, for the love of Christ) and what he said (words that 'turned the world upside down') does not inspire, 'shake you up' and give you a way of thinking, feeling and acting that have made your life much more meaningful?!
In Francis' prayer below we find Francis rejoicing in some good news he heard about Friars (some 'missionary' brothers) who were living in the midst of the people in a distant town. You can hear, in his words, not only a great deal of joy, but of his love and commitment to these brothers.
"I give You thanks, O Lord, who sanctify and govern the poor, for making me happy with such a report about my brothers. I beseech You, bless those brothers with Your most bounteous blessing and sanctify with a special gift all whose good example gives their profession a good odor."
God is the only one who can make things 'holy'. "Sancta" means holy - that which God 'sets aside' to accomplish His purposes. To be sanctified means that God has taken something of no (significant) intrinsic spiritual value - something primarily 'natural', material, temporal - and transformed it into something essentially 'supernatural', of great spiritual importance and eternal value. Francis recognized he and that his followers are spiritually poor and need His direction in their lives. Our great spiritual need makes us willing to submit ourselves in faith to God.
God 'sanctifies' a person by putting him or her through various spiritual experiences that purify (from specific sins as well as our sinful tendencies), imparts spiritual wisdom and empowers them (with grace) to accomplish His will. When the person becomes pure (an essential characteristic of holiness) they are able to 'see' God (who is most pure). They learn (with each passing day) how Jesus thinks and feels and eventually are able to act and talk like Jesus. The more fully a person submits his mind, heart, soul and body to the influence of the Holy Spirit (via Mass, prayer and meditation on God's words as well as going through trials while trusting in God) the more he will be transformed by God into the "image of Christ".
Francis thanks God for making him happy by hearing about the many good things his faithful little brothers are doing. He is happy because he knows that they are being 'governed' (given direction) by God and are being infused with His grace and life. And Francis is not just happy about their healthy spiritual state but rejoices over the shining reputation they are giving the Order and, even more importantly, the glory God is getting (in thanksgiving) from those who are being touched by Him through the brother's lives. Francis had many happy reasons to rejoice!
Francis 'begs' God to bless - to make 'happy' - these good brothers. A blessing is, by definition, a gift since it does not come out of any sense of obligation on the part of the giver. Francis asks God (who is ever generous) to give the most bounteous (plentiful and good) gifts to the brothers, and specifically to give them a 'holy' gift - a gift that 'sanctifies' the recipient - that fills the brothers not only with 'happiness' but enables them to more perfectly serve and please God!
The term 'profession' has a special meaning to Franciscans. For most people it simply means our choice of work in life. A 'professed' Franciscan however knows it means a public acknowledgment of the 'call' of God. God calls and we make an 'out loud' statement to God, the Church, the Order and the world, that we are responding whole-heartedly to Him. Therefore, when you are a professed Franciscan you have gone through that prayerful meditative process set up by the Order, approved of by the Church and accepted by God, and have become a FRANCISCAN - a follower of Christ in the way of Francis - formally and officially.
It is clear from Francis' prayer that formal profession is just the first 'step' in the path to God and an initial taste of the richness of Franciscan life. When Francis said the word profession he meant a living out fully - powerfully, beautifully - of our call from God and a fulfillment of the promises we made to Him in responding to His call. He meant that we should 'profess' by being an example to others of what can happen when one invites God into your life and, with a willing and generous heart, responds fully to God's call to love.
Francis also said something that sounds strange: 'whose good example gives a good odor to their profession'. We all know that if food is bad it gives off a 'bad odor' and that we should not to eat it! However, if the food that has a good 'odor' it not only makes our mouths water, but is an indication that it will good to eat (is healthy and fresh)! The example the brothers gave was this 'good' odor. Their example showed how their faith in God made their lives rich and filled their hearts with meaning, beauty and all goodness - filled them with God Himself! Those who knew these brothers had a spiritual feast, everyday, in the Gospel lives they lived.
Jesus told us what 'odor' of our lives should be like, "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me . . . in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
St. Paul talked about this 'odor' as well, "Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor." He also said, "Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes." Later he said, " . . . you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other."
What about your 'profession'? Is it something you only said or is it something you also do? Does it have a good odor, drawing people to you and to Christ? Are you becoming and so more able to see the face of our loving Father at all times and in everything? Are you proving faithful to the legacy of our father Francis - walking in his steps as he so earnestly sought to walk in Jesus' steps? If you aren't then "Now is the day of salvation - now is the time to repent!"
True followers and friends of Francis - let us walk that holy path - "straight and narrow, that leads to life" and draw near to the living God. He is calling - every day, every moment - longing for you to know Him and the power of His love in your life. He wants to give You all He is and all He has. Starting with tears of sorrow, in prayers of repentence, but never forgetting His perfect love for you - let us go on to know God. Never forget that Christ on the cross is the Father's pledge of everlasting love for you, of His commitment to bless you with all of His blessings and let you experience the joy of eternal life - here and now.
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