A little more than a month, back at Blessed Sacrament Parish, it seems like September started in August.
There is a natural cadence that is developed early in our lives because of the starting of the new school year, we are accustomed, or can I thrusted into a new routine after the lazy days of the summer. We hopefully enjoy some vacation or down time and then September starts like a race with the sound of starting pistol.
Recently, I begin my days before the sunrise (which is getting easier every everyday) sitting in my ‘Prayer chair’ with a cup of coffee, Divine Office, rosary, daily readings, bible and a book of Pope Francis.
Yes, you read this correctly…. a book of Pope Francis.
Earlier this summer, after many years of waiting, we adding a statue of St. Francis of Assisi to our front garden. With that I began to immerse myself in the writings of St. Francis, Padre Pio and St. Brother Andre. I guess maybe in the search for Peace…. Biblical Peace.
And there is was a prompting, a nudge to re-read Fratelli Tutti, the 2020 encyclical from Pope Francis.
That’s it, I just did it … I made a conscience effort to ignore the “Twittbooktubernet” and dive into the writings of Pope Francis.
Every Holy Mass, we pray in the Eucharistic Prayer, for Francis our Pope, all the clergy … it should be a sincere prayer not with fingers crossed or agenda in our hearts.
In this time of fast paced instant communication of 80 characters or less, we have stopped listening and spend our time trying to grab all the information that is coming at us.
In reading Pope Francis, and his vision for the church, and yes, he wants to change the church but I am not convinced that the narrative that is out there is 100% accurate of how he wants to change it.
Pope Francis asks …
“Are we a Church that calls and welcomes sinners with open arms, that gives courage and hope or are we a Church closed in on herself?”
” Are we a Church where the love of God dwells, where one cares for the other, where one prays for the other.” (From the Book, the Church of Mercy by Pope Francis, A Vision for the Church. 2014)
DG
The Deacon Guy 
Nice reflection, I share your thoughts and comments here Bro Deacon Guy! Let’s keep the Holy Father closely in our daily prayers in the coming weeks as he faces the challenges of the Synod.
We just came in from England on Thursday…absolutely amazing trip with tons of sun and only a bit of rain! I ended up doing and unexpected pilgrimage and prayed at the tombs of great English saints: St Cuthbert and Venerable Bede (Durham Cathedral), St Thomas More and St Thomas Becket (buried in the the chapel of the Tower of London), St Osmond (1st Bishop of Salisbury, Cathedral of Salisbury), and St King Edward the Confessor (Westminster Abbey). Lots to share next time we meet! Blessings, Bro Guy
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