Hello Everyone —
St. Francis of Assisi
As I had mentioned previously, a special Jubilee Year honoring St. Francis of Assisi was inaugurated on January 10. The yearlong celebration has been proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV marking the 800-year anniversary of the saint's death. This Franciscan Jubilee Year is a time for spiritual renewal in the spirit of the Poverello (poor little one) of Assisi.
During this time, you and I have multiple opportunities to draw from the wellspring of God’s abundant graces by making a pilgrimage to Franciscan churches or places of worship dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
The following pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee are local opportunities to renew ourselves in St. Francis’ vision and joy:
The Paschal Triduum
From darkness . . .
Words from Theodore the Studite, a ninth century Byzantine monk and abbot:
How splendid the cross of Christ!
It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; Paradise, not its loss.
It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds.
A tree had destroyed us, a tree now brought us life.
To Light . . .
From the writings of the late Fr. Romano Guardini, philosopher, theologian, scholar:
Flame, which is a figure for the soul, is also a figure for the living God; for “God is light and in him there is no darkness.” As the flame radiates light so God radiates truth, and the soul by receiving truth is united with God, as our eyes by seeing its light are united with the flame. And, as the flame radiates heat, so does God radiate the warmth of goodness; and as the hand and the cheek by receiving the warmth become one with the flame, so whoever loves God becomes one with him in goodness. But also, just as the candle remains free and disengaged in its place, so does God abide unmoved “dwelling in unapproachable light.”
Flame, emitting light, emitting heat, is an image to us of the living God.
All this comes very much home to us on Holy Saturday when the Easter candle, which symbolizes Christ, is lighted. Three times, each time in a higher tone, the deacon sings “Lumen Christi” (“Light of Christ”), and then lights the Pascal candle. At once each lamp and candle in the church is lighted from it, and the whole building is alight and aglow with the radiance and warmth of God’s presence.
May you personally experience the love and mercy of the Risen Christ.
As I do for you, please pray for me,
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
