As we pray for Pope Francis, Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy reflects on Pope Francis’ Monthly Prayer Intention that “the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.”
A journey of hope, a promise, is a dynamic reality that opens new possibilities for human life. It looks toward the future, but it is rooted in a relationship with the God who speaks to me here and now, who calls me to make specific choices in my life. These thoughts from the Community of Taize speak beautifully of our theme of hope, but they also serve as a bridge linking to Pope Francis’ monthly intention: Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA gives us some thoughts worthy of reflection as she comments on the life of consecrated religious and the virtue of hope. She writes: It makes complete sense that hopeful conversation and energy is abundant in my circles: I am a Franciscan Sister. Those of us who have professed the vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience proclaim hope by our lifestyle. We have chosen to be prophetic in our hope, to point out promise and realities beyond what everyone can see.
Our vows have formed us into countercultural disciples. Hope is the foundation and fuel of this life. It may seem foolish, but that’s the point. The hope we have is for realities beyond what may be obvious to others. Our actions, attitudes and prayer life anticipate the arrival of the reign of God.
St. Thomas Aquinas defined hope in the Summa Theologica: “First, hope is triggered by a future good—a good not yet obtained. Second, by a possible good—a good that can be obtained. Third, by a difficult good—a good that, while possible, can only be obtained through difficulty.”
The prophetic hope of our vocation is the stuff of heaven: hope is the energy of now and not yet.
How does this hopeful vocation of ours relate to the celebration of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures? We find some thoughts on the official website for the Franciscan Centenary. The entry on the Canticle states: The last stanza of the Canticle reminds us that only those who have a free heart, capable of stopping the logic of hatred and revenge through forgiveness, can become instruments of reconciliation and harmony, a prophecy of fraternity, like Francis himself, who lived “in marvelous harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself” (Laudato Si’ 10). These characteristics of the person of forgiveness and of Francis himself help us to arrive at a model for evangelization, but also for awakening an openness to God’s call in the hearts of young people today.
May our prayer be: Be praised, My Lord, through all those who live their call with the hope that comes from the Spirit. Be praised, My Lord through all those who invite others to walk as true pilgrims of hope. Be praised my Lord through those who have and will experience an authentic call to live the counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience as Franciscans and especially as Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity!
The post Just Gospel: Pope Francis Prays for Young People Called to Serve Christ’s Mission appeared first on Franciscan Sisters.