Simple Samples from our Franciscan Heritage

Sr Patricia Treacy mfic

Joy and Perfect Joy

Joy in Francis’ Life

The Franciscan way of life has always been marked by simplicity and joy; Francis, God’s Troubadour, was the most joyful of saints. He delighted in God’s gifts, in God’s goodness. And this joy remained with him even during intense suffering.

One magnificent expression of Francis’ joy is found in his Canticle of Brother Sun. This beautiful hymn sings of all creation as the gift of the loving Creator and the means by which praise and thanks may be directed to God the Most High. In it Francis calls on the whole world to ‘praise and bless my Lord and give him thanks and serve him with great humility’1.

Every word of the Canticle rings with confident happiness. We easily forget that Francis wrote it when he was nearing the end of his life and enduring excruciating pain from his illness, from the medical treatment to which he was subjected, as well as from the wounds of the Stigmata. At this time, too, the knowledge that many of his brothers wanted to abandon the simplicity and poverty of their way of life was a source of heartache to him. Yet he was joyful.

Joy in Our Life

Can we experience the same joy? Is it part of our heritage as followers of Francis?

We like Francis have experienced the love and goodness of God. Is our memory of God’s goodness vivid enough to carry us through times of difficulty and sadness? Is it strong enough to give us confidence when we feel discouraged?

We can nurture and increase the precious gift of joy. Reflecting on the gifts we have received and remembering God’s goodness to us helps to re-awaken that confident happiness which is joy.

Also we are on our guard against things that undermine our joy:

• Resentment is particularly damaging, because it focuses our memory on the hurtful things we have experienced rather than on the gifts we have received.

• Putting ourselves down stops us from being joyful, because we forget that God’s choice of us means that each of us is of great value.

• An attitude of cynicism is destructive too – when we see good around us we look for ulterior motives instead of, like Francis, thanking and praising God who is the source of all good2.

Perfect Joy

In the story where Francis teaches Brother Leo about Perfect Joy3, we are at first puzzled, because Francis says that perfect joy is not to be found in wonderful, great and holy things. He goes on to teach that it is through the experience of hunger, pain, insults and rejection that perfect joy can be found. With closer attention however it becomes clear that the joy does not come from the suffering itself. Rather Francis is teaching Leo that through accepting suffering with patience and peace true joy is experienced.

We wonder how it was that Francis’ joy was so intense. Perhaps the reason lies in Francis’ wholehearted, unreserved response to God’s call. Through his total embrace of the Gospel life he experienced the total transforming effect of God’s love.

Perfect Joy may seem an ideal beyond our reach. But let’s not wait for perfect joy. Let’s claim the joy that is rightfully ours because of the great gifts we have received from God’s goodness.

References:

1. Canticle of Brother Sun, 14
2. cf. Admonitions VIII, XVII
3. The Little Flowers of St Francis (Fioretti) 8

Next: Francis and Clare

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