The Healing Journey

Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. The following is an excerpt from Pope Francis’ book, “A Good Life: 15 Essential Habits for Living with Hope and Joy.”

A FAITHFUL FRIEND NEVER FAILS US

There is much to be learned from the prayer that has inspired us for the past eight centuries, the prayer that St. Francis composed at the end of his life: the Canticle of Brother Sun, also known as the Canticle of the Creatures. The Poverello did not write it during a time of joy or wellbeing. No, he was actually going through a period of great adversity. Francis was almost blind and weighed down by a burden of solitude that he had never before experienced. The world had not changed since he had started preaching, people continued to let themselves be torn apart by arguments and, moreover, he was well aware that his death was approaching.

This could have been a time of great despair for him, he could have been greatly disillusioned, he could have felt as though he had failed. Instead, in those moments of sadness and during that very dark period of life, Francis prays. And how does he pray? “Praised be to You, our Lord…” He gives praise. Francis praises God for everything, for all the gifts of Creation, and even for death, which he courageously calls “Sister” or “Sister death.”

Francis, like other Christians, like Jesus, offers us an example: in moments of great difficulty, he praises God, opening the gates that lead down a great path toward the Lord, purifying us. Because praise always purifies. The saints show us that we can always give praise, in good times and in bad, because God is our faithful Friend. This is the foundation of praise: God is our faithful Friend whose love never fails. He is always beside us. He always awaits us. Someone once said, “He is the sentinel by your side who keeps you moving forward with confidence.” In dark and difficult times, let us find the courage to say, “Praised be to You, our Lord.” Praise the Lord. It will do all of us so much good.

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