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St. Thomas à Becket Foundation |
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making a
difference |
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28th.
September, 2008 |
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| Theme:
The Beauty
of Our Environment (Saturday is the feast of St
Francis of Assisi) |
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| Thought: |
“Joy
in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.”
Albert Einstein |
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Reflection
It was the year of 1205 in the town of Assisi,
in northern Italy. Francis was the son of a
cloth merchant, and he was thought of as rather
“wild”, seeming to have more money than was good
for him. He had fought in two wars, spent over
a year in prison, and almost died of an illness
that had lasted for months. |
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Now, trying to
sort out his life, he was spending a
few moments in prayer in a small
stone church. Suddenly, with no one
else in the very small church, he
heard himself being addressed by
name. Three times the voice spoke
the same words to him, and he was
convinced that he heard the words
being spoken from the cross itself: |
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“Francis – go and build up my church
which is falling down.” |
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Francis presumed
that Jesus meant the run-down
church-building in which he was at
the moment. In the following days
he set about repairing the stonework
of that church. He began to realise
that to “build up the Church” wasn’t
referring to a building, but to the
strengthening of the community of
God’s people.
Francis set as
the aim of his new life, “To follow
the teachings of our Lord Jesus
Christ and to walk in his
footsteps.” This imitation of the
life of Christ is the key to the
character and spirit of Francis. To
neglect it leaves an unbalanced
portrait of him as a lover of
nature, a social worker, an
itinerant preacher, and a lover of
poverty. |
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Recently a
project has been undertaken by volunteers to
landscape the gardens of the Northampton Mencap
Building. This project will unite young and old
as part of an AgeSpan Project and also unite
able bodied and people with a disability through
the ‘Livability’ Project. Consequently the
inspiration for our theme this week is Francis’
love of nature.
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Readings
Daniel 3:52-90 is the Litany or
Song of the Three Young Men in the fiery furnace.
The words of thanks are expressed to God for all of
creation. |
Prayers:
An inspiring prayer of Francis of Assisi
is called “The Canticle of Creation”, which we can use for
some of our prayer this week
Sunday:
O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God, to you belong praise,
glory, honour and all blessing. Be praised, my Lord, for all your
creation and especially for our Brother Sun, who brings us the day
and the light; he is strong and shines magnificently. O Lord, we
think of you when we look at him. (Amen)
Monday:
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon, and for the stars which you
have set shining and lovely in the heavens. Be praised, my Lord,
for our Brothers Wind and Air and every kind of weather by which
you, Lord uphold life in all your creatures. Be praised, my Lord,
for Sister Water, who is very useful to us, and humble and precious
and pure. (Amen)
Tuesday:
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire, through whom you gave us
light in the darkness: he is bright and lively and strong. Be
praised, my Lord, for Sister Earth, our Mother, who nourishes us and
sustains us, bringing forth fruits and vegetables of many kinds and
flowers of many colours. (Amen) |
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Wednesday:
Be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for love of you; and
for those who bear sickness and weakness in peace and patience –
you will grant them a crown. (Amen)
Thursday:
We praise and bless you, Lord, and we give thanks to you, and we
will serve you in all humility. Amen.
Friday:
We thank thee Lord….For all the rich autumnal glories spread –
The flaming pageant of the ripening woods, the fiery gorse, and
heather-purpled hills, the rustling leaves that fly before the
wind and lie below the hedgerows whispering; fir meadows silver
white with hoary dew…We thank thee Lord. Amen |
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Saturday: One of Francis’ most
famous prayers is sometimes called “The Peace Prayer”.
Before we use that prayer we can think of some other words of
Francis:
“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips,
be careful to have it even more
fully in your heart.” |
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Lord, make me an instrument of
your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope:
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning
that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
Amen. |
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NB:
Always feel free to amend prayers or to use prayers.
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