OFS Oxford

Time: 2 pm to 4:30 pm, Saturday

No. of Attendees: 6

Venue: Greyfriars, 182 Iffley Road, Oxford OX4 1SB

2 pm Devotions: Franciscan Crown Rosary

3 pm Discussion: ‘Perfect Joy’ from ‘Live Like Francis’, Reflection 47. Some extracts:

A classic story comes from that delightful book of Franciscan tradition called the Fioretti – “The Little Flowers” – of St. Francis. It summarizes the spirit of Francis.

One winter day, St. Francis was returning to Saint Mary of the Angels from Perugia with Brother Leo. The bitter cold made them suffer keenly. St. Francis called to Brother Leo, who was walking a bit ahead of him and said: “Brother Leo, even if the Friars Minor in every country give a great example of holiness and integrity and good edification, nevertheless write down and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that.” … “even if a Friar Minor gives sight to the blind, heals the paralyzed, drives out devils, gives hearing back to the deaf, makes the lame walk, and restores speech to the dumb, and what is still more, brings back to life a man who has been dead four days, write that perfect joy is not in that.” … “if a Friar Minor knows all languages and all sciences and Scripture, if he also knows how to prophesy and to reveal not only the future but also the secrets of the consciences and minds of others, write down and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that.” … “even if a Friar Minor could speak with the voice of an angel and knew the courses of the stars and the powers of herbs and knew all about the treasures in the earth, and if he knew the qualities of birds and fishes, animals, humans, roots, trees, rocks and waters, write down and note carefully that true joy is not in that.” … “even if a Friar Minor could preach so well that he should convert all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that perfect joy is not there.”

Now when he had been talking this way for a distance of two miles, Brother Leo in great amazement asked him: “Father, I beg you in God’s name to tell me where perfect joy is.”

And St. Francis replied: “When we come to Saint Mary of the Angels, soaked by the rain and frozen by the cold, all soiled with mud and suffering from hunger, and we ring at the gate of the place and the brother porter comes and says angrily: ‘Who are you?’ And we say: ‘We are two of your brothers.’ And he contradicts us, saying: ‘You are not telling the truth. Rather you are two rascals who go around deceiving people and stealing what they give to the poor. Go away!’ And he does not open for us, but makes us stand outside in the snow and rain, cold and hungry, until night falls – then if we endure all those insults and cruel rebuffs patiently, without being troubled and without complaining, and if we reflect humbly and charitably that the porter really knows us and that God makes him speak against us, oh, Brother Leo, write that perfect joy is there!”

“And if we continue to knock, and the porter comes out in anger and drives us away with curses and hard blows like bothersome scoundrels, saying: ‘Get away from here, you dirty thieves – go to the hospital! Who do you think you are? You certainly won’t eat or sleep here!’ and if we bear it patiently and take the insults with joy and love in our heart, Brother Leo, write that perfect joy is there! “

“And if later, suffering intensely from hunger and painful cold, with night falling, we still knock and call, and crying loudly beg them to open for us and let us come in for the love of God, and he grows still more angry and says: ‘Those fellows are bold and shameless ruffians. I’ll give them what they deserve!’ And he comes out with a knotty club, and grasping us by the cowl throws us onto the ground, rolling us in the mud and snow and beats us with the club so much that he covers our bodies with wounds – if we endure all those evils and insults and blows with joy and patience, reflecting that we must accept and bear the sufferings of the Blessed Christ patiently for love of him, oh, Brother Leo, write: that is perfect joy! “

“And now hear the conclusion, Brother Leo. Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to his friends is that of conquering oneself and willingly enduring sufferings, insults, humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ. For we cannot glory in all those other marvellous gifts of God, as they are not ours but God’s as the Apostle says: ‘What have you that you have not received?’ But we can glory in the cross of tribulations and afflictions, because that is ours, and so the Apostle says: ‘I will not glory save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ!”

We discussed how inner spiritual joy can be experienced in the presence of external suffering, the pain of the cross leading to joy of the resurrection, St. Francis seeing joy in all God’s creation.

The meeting concluded with a closing prayer: “True joy guides my life toward you, dear God. Joy can come even in times of sadness because you are with me in the pain and suffering. You are my joy! Amen.”