I found this little altarpiece at my local bookstore. St. Francis fell out at one time and his head came off … but I glued it back on. I keep this on my hearth.
And though I am not Catholic I do love the mythology, history and narrative of his life and the Poor Clares.
Star Flower
Walking around the block a mile this evening, I thought upon wars happening on our Mother earth!
How despondent and sad I become.
At the same time a memory comes forward of a time in the early 1990s on Long Island New York.
I was visiting with the Poor Clares and the Franciscan Brothers. I corresponded with Sister Philomena for years. She told me once,
“It is best you join the world again. Meet someone, settle down, get married and have children.”
And so, I did.
As I was walking, I looked and saw a star blossom upon the ground I said to myself,
“Star I see you within this flower.”
I thought instantly of the Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon by St. Francis of Assisi.
Once years ago, I awoke to an invitation one morning to join in the reading of this with the Brothers and Sisters.
How lovely it felt to be there and feel such radiance of words.
The point of my memory and experience tells me this.
That we live in a contrary world of both beauty and heartache.
It is up to us to balance within ourselves these contraries the best we can.
I often fail!
“Praised be You
my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with
colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my
Lord through
those who grant pardon for
love of You and
bear sickness and trial.”
