Contemplation and Mysticism

[holmj2674]

Indeed, that particular post has been of a great help to me. I may not get all this done in one day, but it outlines a great place to start. I am trying really hard on the rosary. As a former protestant, even though I have been Catholic for almost 10 years now, I hardly ever think of the Virgin Mary, much less consider doing a Marian devotion. When I hear some Catholics talk of Mary I sometimes want to run back to my protestant roots screaming… but on the other hand I have come to realize that a healthy devotion to Mary can be a good thing if kept in the right perspective.

 

[hazcompat]

Indeed, that particular post has been of a great help to me. I may not get all this done in one day, but it outlines a great place to start. I am trying really hard on the rosary. As a former protestant, even though I have been Catholic for almost 10 years now, I hardly ever think of the Virgin Mary, much less consider doing a Marian devotion. When I hear some Catholics talk of Mary I sometimes want to run back to my protestant roots screaming… but on the other hand I have come to realize that a healthy devotion to Mary can be a good thing if kept in the right perspective.

The Rule of St. Pachomius

The Dismissal

It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and most blameless, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

saintjonah.org/services/stpachomius.htm

It is truly meet. Ave Maria.

peace

 

[hazcompat]

ADMONITIONS, RULES, ETC.

WORDS OF ADMONITION OF OUR HOLY FATHER ST. FRANCIS.

1. Of Perfect and Imperfect Obedience.

The Lord says in the Gospel: he “that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be” a "disciple " and “he that will save his life, shall lose it.” That man leaves all he possesses and loses his body and his soul who abandons himself wholly to obedience in the hands of his superior, and whatever he does and says—provided he himself knows that what he does is good and not contrary to his [the superior’s] will—is true obedience. And if at times a subject sees things which would be better or more useful to his soul than those which the superior commands him, let him sacrifice his will to God, let him strive to fulfill the work enjoined by the superior. This is true and charitable obedience which is pleasing to God and to one’s neighbor.

If, however, a superior command anything to a subject that is against his soul it is permissible for him to disobey, but he must not leave him [the superior], and if in consequence he suffer persecution from some, he should love them the more for God’s sake. For he who would rather suffer persecution than wish to be separated from his brethren, truly abides in perfect obedience because he lays down his life for his brothers. For there are many religious who, under pretext of seeing better things than those which their superiors command, look back and return to the vomit of their own will . These are homicides and by their bad example cause the loss of many souls.

sacred-texts.com/chr/wosf/wosf03.htm

peace

 

[onmyknees]

Thanks for posting this. I can’t even imagine what this life would be like if we didn’t know anything about evil and lived in simple, beautiful purity! One of my favorite scripture verses is Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is grcious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
By the way, I had just been looking at a statue of St.Anthony holding Jesus…the depiction I had been looking at had Jesus standing on a Bible. I too am interested in learning more about St.Anthony.

Phillippians 4-8 is taped on my computer desk as well as Rev. 21. They are among my favorite scriptures.

 

[onmyknees]

Who will release me from the snare of the fowler?

Who will give me wings to fly?

The Spirit and the bride say Come.

Canticle

Chapter 2:3

As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate. [4] He brought me into the cellar of wine, he set in order charity in me. [5] Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with apples: because I languish with love.

Progress in Love.

Love these Hazcompat!

I struggle with attachments so I am reading Peter Kreeft’s book called “Back to Virtue.” Here is a quote from the book, “God opposes selfish desire only to replace it with unselfish desire, not with emptiness. We are to be spiritually poor only for the sake of becoming spiritually rich, detached from what we can own so that we can be attached in a different way to what we cannot own, detached from consuming so that we can be consumed by God.”

 

[JReducation]

ADMONITIONS, RULES, ETC.

WORDS OF ADMONITION OF OUR HOLY FATHER ST. FRANCIS.

1. Of Perfect and Imperfect Obedience.

The Lord says in the Gospel: he “that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be” a "disciple " and “he that will save his life, shall lose it.” That man leaves all he possesses and loses his body and his soul who abandons himself wholly to obedience in the hands of his superior, and whatever he does and says—provided he himself knows that what he does is good and not contrary to his [the superior’s] will—is true obedience. And if at times a subject sees things which would be better or more useful to his soul than those which the superior commands him, let him sacrifice his will to God, let him strive to fulfill the work enjoined by the superior. This is true and charitable obedience which is pleasing to God and to one’s neighbor.

Traditionalists often have trouble with this part of the Rule of St. Francis and try to counter it with Aquinas. What they don’t realize is that Aquinas took from Francis below.

If, however, a superior command anything to a subject that is against his soul it is permissible for him to disobey, but he must not leave him [the superior], and if in consequence he suffer persecution from some, he should love them the more for God’s sake. For he who would rather suffer persecution than wish to be separated from his brethren, truly abides in perfect obedience because he lays down his life for his brothers. For there are many religious who, under pretext of seeing better things than those which their superiors command, look back and return to the vomit of their own will . These are homicides and by their bad example cause the loss of many souls.

sacred-texts.com/chr/wosf/wosf03.htm

peace

You may disobey, but you must be certain that what you’re being commanded is a sin. Even then, you may not separate yourself from authority or do anything to be separated.

This is not a question of whether or not something has the potential for sin. In the early biographies, we see very clearly that Francis did not tolerate speculation. Something either was or was not a sin. If was not a sin, one obeyed. If it was a sin, you did not obey.

What we on this forum need to learn from this man is tha tthis is how he became the Mirror of Perfection. He reflected back to humanity Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father, even when that which the Father asked for was the cross.

Francis reflected it back in the daily life by obeying the Church. He was very black and white on this matter as well. The authority of the Church was the pope, the bishop and religious superiors, regardless of how right or wrong they were or how holy or sinful or how wise or foolisth.

They were in charge and that’s all that he needed to know and that’s all that he allowed the clergy, religious and laity to think about. He learned from Benedict who had learned from the Church Fathers who had learned from the Apostles.

Teresa of Avila picks up from Francis and hands down the same command to obey to her nuns, friars and laity. Vincent de Paul picked up on this theme and handed it down to the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity. St. John Marie Vieanney picks it up from them and hands it forward to the secular clergy and laity. And so this tradition of obedience, even when authority is wrong, as long as we’re not commanded to sin, is passed down for 2,000 years to this day.

But unless one is familar with the history of the ascetical and mystical life, one does not know this. That’s why it’s important to read the spiritual masters, not just encyclicals. At the end of the day, no one goes to heaven for his knowledge of an encyclical, but through the practice of virtue. Heaven is filled with saints who never read an encyclical. They couldn’t even spell the word and never read a conciliar document. They did not even know these existed. But they were men and women of great virtue and truly obedient to the Church.

If one reads the writings by St. Francis, he never mentions Church law. Yet, we know that he was at the IV Lateran Council and participated in the discussioins. As a superior general he had a vote. This did not impress him. He implemented what the Council commanded without much ado. His focus is alwasy the ascetical life. This was how men and women were going to get to heaven.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

Where is the rest of the story?

TL…i know how you are feeling…I am sitting on the edge of my chair…

Inquiring minds want to know!

Actually, Brother Anthony’s story gets rather interesting. I’m not going into all the details about miracles and stuff. That’s not the part that we can imitate. However, we can imitate his humility and childlike quality.

As I had said before, Anthony was a Scripture scholar and a theologian all wrapped into one. He was also a linguist; but no one knew it. Another interesting detail in his story actually points to Francis of Assisi. You see, Anthony and Bonaventure were both Franciscans. Both were ordained brothers , scholars and would eventually become Doctors of the Church. However, they had a love affair with their spiritual father who was not a priest and who allegedly is not a theologian and a scholar. At least, most people don’t know this side of Francis. Most people know the gentle Francis who was friend of animals, etc.

Here is where we again see the child in Anthony. Children see people as they really are, not as people pretend to be. Anthony saw the life that Francis lived and the virtue that he taught and this impressed him, because it reflected what he learned from Sacred Scripture. In his perception, Francis was a giant among men. So he was heartbroken having to leave Assisi without an introduction to his father and his role model. But he accepted that this was appropriate, since he was a nobody. This is something that many of us would be unable to pull off. Most of us would probably go away thinking that Francis was arrogant. Most probably, this would be rooted in our sense of self-importance. But this was not Anthony. He did not have this sense of self-importance. He looked at others with a deep sense of respect and admiration for the virtue that he observed in them.

There happened to be an ordination of one of the Dominican Friars. As we already know, the Dominicans, Franciscans and Trinitarians are very close friends, since our fathers loved and admired each other so very much. We refer to each others founders as “Our Holy Father N”. I’m sharing this, because part of the journey toward the mystical life is the ability to admit virtue in another person, even when that person is different from us.

The three orders have always done many things together. It was no surprise that the Franciscans were invited to this ordination. There was a reception at which a renowned speaker was to preach. As it happened, he did not arrive. The Franciscans did not pay particular attention to the situation. Afterall, this was the Dominicans’ party and the Dominicans were the Order of Preachers (OP).

Franciscans have also been preachers, but Francis always commanded that we yield to the Dominicans and submit to their intelligence. The brothers were blindsided when the Dominican prior, who was very humble and had been commanded by Dominic to submit to the Franciscans out of respect for their poverty and obedience, ask the Franciscans to preach.

As you folks can see, this is an 800 year tetrad of admirers: Dominicans, Trinitarians and Franciscans. The Trinitarians had a custom of washing the feet of the Franciscans. Aside from the fact that the Dominicans and Trinitarians wore shoes, while the Franciscans were barefoot, St. John de Matha had washed Francis’ feet and commanded that his friars do the same to honor the memory of Christ reflected in Francis and his sons. The Franciscans never understood so much admiration for them. They understood the admiration for Francis, but not them.

What we’re seeing here is great humility, love and respect, despite the differences. These founders, who were very different; yet, did something that many of us have trouble with. They admired and conceded to the other, even when they disagreed on the approach to the Gospel Life. Whereas we, especially liberals and Traditionalists, do not want to yield one centimeter. Each side wants to hold on to its position trying to convert the other. We have a lot to learn from these men.

Anyway, no one wanted to get up and preach. The Franciscans felt inadequate in the presence of the Dominican intellect and the Dominicans felt inadequate in the presence of Franciscan holiness. Finally, the Franciscan minister told Anthony to get up and say a few words. He was thinking the Brother Anthony, who was not a priest and was not known for being a preacher, would say a few spiritual platitudes and that would be that.

Brother Anthony did get up and preach. He preached on John 6, which was appropriate since this was an ordination. His preaching was so sublime and so scholarly that the friars, Dominicans and Franciscans were in awe. The man was a scholar, a preacher and a saint. It was as if the light bulb clicked on. This is where Brother Anthony’s life takes a turn that will change Church history.

Observe, how simple these men were, how respectful and how modest about their virtues and their talents. That’s what we have to learn to do. If there is further interest, we’ll share more on Br. Anthony.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[TrueLight]

Observe, how simple these men were, how respectful and how modest about their virtues and their talents. That’s what we have to learn to do. If there is further interest, we’ll share more on Br. Anthony.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Yes please.

While you’re at, any book recommendations on Anthony?

 

[onmyknees]

Actually, Brother Anthony’s story gets rather interesting. I’m not going into all the details about miracles and stuff. That’s not the part that we can imitate. However, we can imitate his humility and childlike quality.

As I had said before, Anthony was a Scripture scholar and a theologian all wrapped into one. He was also a linguist; but no one knew it. Another interesting detail in his story actually points to Francis of Assisi. You see, Anthony and Bonaventure were both Franciscans. Both were ordained brothers , scholars and would eventually become Doctors of the Church. However, they had a love affair with their spiritual father who was not a priest and who allegedly is not a theologian and a scholar. At least, most people don’t know this side of Francis. Most people know the gentle Francis who was friend of animals, etc.

Here is where we again see the child in Anthony. Children see people as they really are, not as people pretend to be. Anthony saw the life that Francis lived and the virtue that he taught and this impressed him, because it reflected what he learned from Sacred Scripture. In his perception, Francis was a giant among men. So he was heartbroken having to leave Assisi without an introduction to his father and his role model. But he accepted that this was appropriate, since he was a nobody. This is something that many of us would be unable to pull off. Most of us would probably go away thinking that Francis was arrogant. Most probably, this would be rooted in our sense of self-importance. But this was not Anthony. He did not have this sense of self-importance. He looked at others with a deep sense of respect and admiration for the virtue that he observed in them.

There happened to be an ordination of one of the Dominican Friars. As we already know, the Dominicans, Franciscans and Trinitarians are very close friends, since our fathers loved and admired each other so very much. We refer to each others founders as “Our Holy Father N”. I’m sharing this, because part of the journey toward the mystical life is the ability to admit virtue in another person, even when that person is different from us.

The three orders have always done many things together. It was no surprise that the Franciscans were invited to this ordination. There was a reception at which a renowned speaker was to preach. As it happened, he did not arrive. The Franciscans did not pay particular attention to the situation. Afterall, this was the Dominicans’ party and the Dominicans were the Order of Preachers (OP).

Franciscans have also been preachers, but Francis always commanded that we yield to the Dominicans and submit to their intelligence. The brothers were blindsided when the Dominican prior, who was very humble and had been commanded by Dominic to submit to the Franciscans out of respect for their poverty and obedience, ask the Franciscans to preach.

As you folks can see, this is an 800 year tetrad of admirers: Dominicans, Trinitarians and Franciscans. The Trinitarians had a custom of washing the feet of the Franciscans. Aside from the fact that the Dominicans and Trinitarians wore shoes, while the Franciscans were barefoot, St. John de Matha had washed Francis’ feet and commanded that his friars do the same to honor the memory of Christ reflected in Francis and his sons. The Franciscans never understood so much admiration for them. They understood the admiration for Francis, but not them.

What we’re seeing here is great humility, love and respect, despite the differences. These founders, who were very different; yet, did something that many of us have trouble with. They admired and conceded to the other, even when they disagreed on the approach to the Gospel Life. Whereas we, especially liberals and Traditionalists, do not want to yield one centimeter. Each side wants to hold on to its position trying to convert the other. We have a lot to learn from these men.

Anyway, no one wanted to get up and preach. The Franciscans felt inadequate in the presence of the Dominican intellect and the Dominicans felt inadequate in the presence of Franciscan holiness. Finally, the Franciscan minister told Anthony to get up and say a few words. He was thinking the Brother Anthony, who was not a priest and was not known for being a preacher, would say a few spiritual platitudes and that would be that.

Brother Anthony did get up and preach. He preached on John 6, which was appropriate since this was an ordination. His preaching was so sublime and so scholarly that the friars, Dominicans and Franciscans were in awe. The man was a scholar, a preacher and a saint. It was as if the light bulb clicked on. This is where Brother Anthony’s life takes a turn that will change Church history.

Observe, how simple these men were, how respectful and how modest about their virtues and their talents. That’s what we have to learn to do. If there is further interest, we’ll share more on Br. Anthony.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Yes, Please share more about Br. Anthony. I love reading about holy saints. It inspires me to do better.

 

[choliks]

Anyway, no one wanted to get up and preach. The Franciscans felt inadequate in the presence of the Dominican intellect and the Dominicans felt inadequate in the presence of Franciscan holiness. Finally, the Franciscan minister told Anthony to get up and say a few words. He was thinking the Brother Anthony, who was not a priest and was not known for being a preacher, would say a few spiritual platitudes and that would be that.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I read that St. Anthony was at first hesistant and objected, but he submitted to his superior out of humility and obedience.

 

[JReducation]

I read that St. Anthony was at first hesistant and objected, but he submitted to his superior out of humility and obedience.

Yes, this was the case. Actually, everyone kept deferring to the other person. Finally, the minister pointed to Anthony. Br. Anthony was heistant, but obeyed.

One has to understand why Br. Anthony wsa hesitant. He was a Franciscan in at a Dominican house. Franciscans would never consider themselves to be equal to the Dominicans or the Jesuits, even our greatest scholars would bow to them. They are the Perfect Preachers and Teachers. We are novices compared to them. At least, we have always been taught to have tremendous respect for them. It was natural for Br. Anthony to shy away.

However, it was also part of the Franciscan law that you never question your superior or decline unless he commands you to sin. Even today, I can’t just say to my superior, “I don’t really want to do this.” I have to suck it up and do it. If I can’t do it, there had better be a good reason why I can’t. Anthony couldn’t exactly say, “I don’t know enough theology to do this.” That would have been the only acceptable reason. But this was not the case. Anthony knew theology. No one knew that he knew. He could not lie to get out of it. He could not claim a soar throat, if he did not have one. He was cornered. He had to get up and speak.

Again, observe his childlike obedience. He does not want to do this out of shame of speaking in front of Dominicans. He would rather remain anonymous, just one of the guys. However, he puts aside what he would like to do what God wants him to do. He’s an incredably humble man, not because he was demure, but because he was obedient to the will of God. He was just an incredible person.

Wait until I tell you how he handled heresy and heretics. That’s an incredible story.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[hazcompat]

Second reading
From a sermon on the beatitudes by Saint Leo the Great, pope
Those who love your law shall have abundant peace

The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul’s gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.

It is to the attainment of this goal that the next words refer: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This blessedness, dearly beloved, does not derive from any casual agreement or from any and every kind of harmony, but it pertains to what the Apostle says: Be at peace before the Lord, and to the words of the prophet: Those who love your law shall enjoy abundant peace; for them it is no stumbling block.

Even the most intimate bonds of friendship and the closest affinity of minds cannot truly lay claim to this peace if they are not in agreement with the will of God. Alliances based on evil desires, covenants of crime and pacts of vice–all lie outside the scope of this peace. Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God. But those who keep God ever in their hearts, and are anxious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, never dissent from the eternal law as they speak the prayer of faith. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

These then are the peacemakers; they are bound together in holy harmony and are rightly given the heavenly title of sons of God, co- heirs with Christ. And this is the reward they will receive for their love of God and neighbor: when their struggle with all temptation is finally over, there will be no further adversities to suffer or scandal to fear; but they will rest in the peace of God undisturbed, through our Lord who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

divineoffice.org/

peace

 

[hazcompat]

Do not underestimate the importance of a walk read genesis 3:8 and walk with God in the cool of the day. When imagination ends nature impresses. See Him plainly in all things. This will create a holy response in your soul, for me it is always gratitude. Quickly open your soul to Him and offer a sacrifice of gratitude/praise. As often as you are able… walk and share like a child. Read to burn.

peace

 

[James_Least]

Contemplating the mysterious: no fees required–The Word of God–aka: The Bible. Available in dozens of languages in cyberspace. Read it and listen at the same time. Go to Bible Gateway.com and feast on The Bread of Life.
The Word is also available in braille. Salvation is of the Lord–free for the asking. The price has been paid.

Where will we be in a hundred years?

Peace,

James Least

 

[rainbow1]

Yes, this was the case. Actually, everyone kept deferring to the other person. Finally, the minister pointed to Anthony. Br. Anthony was heistant, but obeyed.

One has to understand why Br. Anthony wsa hesitant. He was a Franciscan in at a Dominican house. Franciscans would never consider themselves to be equal to the Dominicans or the Jesuits, even our greatest scholars would bow to them. They are the Perfect Preachers and Teachers. We are novices compared to them. At least, we have always been taught to have tremendous respect for them. It was natural for Br. Anthony to shy away.

However, it was also part of the Franciscan law that you never question your superior or decline unless he commands you to sin. Even today, I can’t just say to my superior, “I don’t really want to do this.” I have to suck it up and do it. If I can’t do it, there had better be a good reason why I can’t. Anthony couldn’t exactly say, “I don’t know enough theology to do this.” That would have been the only acceptable reason. But this was not the case. Anthony knew theology. No one knew that he knew. He could not lie to get out of it. He could not claim a soar throat, if he did not have one. He was cornered. He had to get up and speak.

Again, observe his childlike obedience. He does not want to do this out of shame of speaking in front of Dominicans. He would rather remain anonymous, just one of the guys. However, he puts aside what he would like to do what God wants him to do. He’s an incredably humble man, not because he was demure, but because he was obedient to the will of God. He was just an incredible person.

Wait until I tell you how he handled heresy and heretics. That’s an incredible story.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Wanting to know!

 

[TrueLight]

Anyway, no one wanted to get up and preach. The Franciscans felt inadequate in the presence of the Dominican intellect and the Dominicans felt inadequate in the presence of Franciscan holiness.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Someone who is in training to join a Dominican third order told me recently that she felt attracted to the Dominicans because they are very intellectual.

I didn’t equate the Dominican focus on preaching with intellectualism, more evangelization. Do you know why they are considered intellectuals? Thanks.

 

[JReducation]

Someone who is in training to join a Dominican third order told me recently that she felt attracted to the Dominicans because they are very intellectual.

I didn’t equate the Dominican focus on preaching with intellectualism, more evangelization. Do you know why they are considered intellectuals? Thanks.

The Dominicans and the Jesuits approach the Gospel the same way. They go from the mind to the heart. Knowledge teaches us how to love.

Franciscans, Trinitarians and Carmelites go from the heart to the mind. Love guides the proper use of knowledge.

They are both right and both necessary for the Church. However, individuals can’t do both at that the same time. It’s very difficult.

Actually both sides engage in years of study, it’s how they think about knowledge that makes them different.

In the day to day life of the friar the Dominicans target the scholar. They were always to be found at the great universities and centers of study. They were very involved in educaiton.

The Franciscans target the common man. They were always to be found among the working clases and did very little int he area of education.

Both, Dominicans and Franciscans have been great teachers and both have done much for the poor man. It’s a matter of degrees. If the Dominicans have to allocate their resources, they will first take care of education and then the poor. If the Franciscans have to allocate their resources, they will first take care of the poor, then they educate. This is what makes us wonderfully complimentary.

Throughout history you will always see the following combinations of missionaries:

Dominican + Franciscan

Jesuit + Franciscan

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[hazcompat]

Saint Isaac the Syrian

“Do not approach the mysterious words in the scriptures without prayer and without asking help from God, saying: Lord, grant me to perceive the power that is in them. Deem prayer as the key to the insight of truth in scripture.”

isaacthesyrian.com/quotes.html

 

[hazcompat]

The Imitation of Christ

The Ninth Chapter
OBEDIENCE AND SUBJECTION
IT IS a very great thing to obey, to live under a superior and not to be one’s own
master, for it is much safer to be subject than it is to command. Many live in obedience
more from necessity than from love. Such become discontented and dejected on the
slightest pretext; they will never gain peace of mind unless they subject themselves
wholeheartedly for the love of God.
Go where you may, you will find no rest except in humble obedience to the rule
of authority. Dreams of happiness expected from change and different places have
deceived many.
Everyone, it is true, wishes to do as he pleases and is attracted to those who agree
with him. But if God be among us, we must at times give up our opinions for the
blessings of peace.
Furthermore, who is so wise that he can have full knowledge of everything? Do
not trust too much in your own opinions, but be willing to listen to those of others. If,
though your own be good, you accept another’s opinion for love of God, you will gain
much more merit; for I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it
than to give it. It may happen, too, that while one’s own opinion may be good, refusal to
agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.

peace

 

[choliks]

Yes, this was the case. Actually, everyone kept deferring to the other person. Finally, the minister pointed to Anthony. Br. Anthony was heistant, but obeyed.

One has to understand why Br. Anthony wsa hesitant. He was a Franciscan in at a Dominican house. Franciscans would never consider themselves to be equal to the Dominicans or the Jesuits, even our greatest scholars would bow to them. They are the Perfect Preachers and Teachers. We are novices compared to them. At least, we have always been taught to have tremendous respect for them. It was natural for Br. Anthony to shy away.

However, it was also part of the Franciscan law that you never question your superior or decline unless he commands you to sin. Even today, I can’t just say to my superior, “I don’t really want to do this.” I have to suck it up and do it. If I can’t do it, there had better be a good reason why I can’t. Anthony couldn’t exactly say, “I don’t know enough theology to do this.” That would have been the only acceptable reason. But this was not the case. Anthony knew theology. No one knew that he knew. He could not lie to get out of it. He could not claim a soar throat, if he did not have one. He was cornered. He had to get up and speak.

Again, observe his childlike obedience. He does not want to do this out of shame of speaking in front of Dominicans. He would rather remain anonymous, just one of the guys. However, he puts aside what he would like to do what God wants him to do. He’s an incredably humble man, not because he was demure, but because he was obedient to the will of God. He was just an incredible person.

Wait until I tell you how he handled heresy and heretics. That’s an incredible story.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

This really jumped out at me. It was clear as day. Bro. Francis exuded humility (which I believe one needs in order to obey) and in effect, so did Bro. Anthony. Needless to say, Bros. Francis and Anthony will never fail at referring to the source of this grace, our Master, Jesus. “He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

so what happened when Bro. Anthony handled the heresy and heretics?