Day 31 Admonition 28

Day 31. Of hiding Good lest it be lost. Blessed is the servant who stores up in heaven the good things which the Lord shows them; and who does not wish to manifest the good things to people through the hope of reward.  For the Most High will Himself manifest his works to whomsoever He may please. Blessed is the servant who keeps the secrets of the Lord in their heart.

Day 30. Admonition 27

 

Day 30. Admonition 27

 

Of the Virtues putting Vices to flight.

 

1.    Where there is charity and wisdom there is neither fear nor ignorance

 

2.    Where there is patience and humility there is neither anger nor worry.

 

3.    Where there is poverty and joy there is neither cupidity nor avarice.

 

4.    Where there is quiet and meditation there is neither solicitude nor dissipation.

 

5.    Where there is the fear of the Lord to guard the house the enemy cannot find a way to enter.

 

6.    Where there is mercy and discretion there is neither excess nor hard-heartedness.

 

Day 29. Admonition 26

 

That the Servants of God should honour Clerics.   1. Blessed is the servant of God who exhibits confidence in clerics who live uprightly according to the form of the holy Church.   2 Woe to those people who despise the cleric.  Even if the clerics may be sinners, no one ought to judge them.  Because the Lord Himself reserves to Himself alone the right of judging them.   3. For their duty of administering the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which they receive and which they alone administer to others—is greater than all others.    4. So the sin of those who offend against the cleric is greater than any sin against all the other people in this world.

I believe that all of us, at some time, have the difficulty of separating the deed from the doer.     Therefore, when the Cleric seems to be all they should be in the eyes of their congregation, it is easy to trust them.   We receive the sacraments from them in confidence - because we see that they live life according to the form of the holy church.   We do not expect their outward appearance to differ from the interior and so we are confident in them.   Exteriors are deceiving…   In today’s world it is easier to see that a cleric is first of all human and we may dislike this person.   They might be a known sinner yet we are not to pass judgement on them because they are priests of God.    Remember: Exteriors are deceiving…   They stand in the place of Christ at the altar and confect the blessed sacrament for us.   They alone may do this and Francis tells us that God alone reserves the right to judge them; Francis also says that those who pass judgement on the Cleric commit a sin greater than any other.

 

Day 28. Admonition 24 & 25

Of True Love. 24 Blessed is that person who would love their fellow human as much as when they are ill and not able to assist, as they would love their fellow humans when they are well, and are able to assist. 25 Blessed is the person who would love and fear their fellow human, as much when they are from them, as they would when they are with him.  Who would not say anything about them, behind their backs that could not, with charity, be said in their presence Ooo000oooO The Admonition set for today’s Meditation is really two. Admonition 24 is titled “Of True Love” and the following one reads, more a less “to the same purpose or likewise. Both deal with emotions, behaviours far and near, As per usual. Francis deals with a situation that seems close to his heart, the way that fellow religious, are to behave lovingly toward each other.  I have mentioned before that Francis’ Admonitions are ‘relational’, social; none of them would apply to a hermit in a cave. They are meant for us, that wherever we are we hold our fellow humans in the highest esteem, as much as when we are apart as together. 1. Loving another no matter what happens, irrespectively of what they can do for us. Simply loving. 2. Having great respect for someone irrespective of whether you are together or apart. 3. Not talking behind each other’s backs. If it cannot be said to their face then it ought not to be said at all. It all seems like good manners to me, something that shouldn’t need spelling out. How often, though, do we catch ourselves out in the occasional; uncharitable word or three? Perhaps resenting someone because they cannot help out today and all smiles when they can. Taking the mickey out of someone when they are not there to disagree, polite before their eyes and all insolence behind their backs.

Day 27. Admonition 23/ 24

Of True Humility. Blessed is the person who shall be found as humble among their subjects as if they were among their masters. Blessed is the servant who always continues under the rod of correction. They are “…faithful and wise servants” who do not delay to punish themselves for all their offences, interiorly by contrition and exteriorly by confession and by works of satisfaction.

Being as humble among their subjects as they are among their masters, assumes the person is  humble. If it were any other, way this admonition would be pointless. The sign of true humility is someone who abides with correction rather than protest they are above it. Moreover, are truly honest with themselves, in both mind and heart availing themselves of the sacrament of Reconciliation and making amends.

Day 26. Admonition 22/23

Of True Correction. Blessed is the servant who bears discipline, accusation, and blame from others, as patiently as if they came from themselves. Blessed is the servant who, when reproved, mildly submits, modestly obeys, humbly confesses, and willingly satisfies. Blessed is the servant who, when they are without fault, is not prompted to excuse him or herself, but who humbly bears the shame and reproof for the sin.

Are we here yet? Those who bear disciple in these cases are truly humble, and honest; with both themselves and others. They are true to their vows and they trust the others. Take joy in the fact that they can do all of these things without thinking or feeling lesser in their own sight or in others. Simply this: - it takes someone who is very sure of their intrinsic worth not to protest innocence when wrongly accused.

Day 25. Admonition 21/22

Of the Frivolous and Talkative Religious.         [3] Blessed is that servant who does not speak through the hope of receiving a reward.   Who does not reveal everything they know and is not “hasty to speak,” [4] but who wisely foresees what he ought to say and answer.   Woe to that religious, who does not conceal in their heart, the good things which the Lord has disclosed to them   And who does not show them to others by the work they do, but rather seeks a reward by telling others about them.     These religious have already received their recompense, and their hearers take away little fruit.     Br Andrew EFO	Note – the Blessed one – is not necessarily a Friar or other religious person though it can be. Francis expected more from himself and his Friars than of Lai Christians, that is why in teaching about those who fail in being true servants of God are referred to as ‘Religious’   As usual this Admonition is in two parts: the first, about the Blessed or good servant. The second about the Friar who fails to keep the Rule in one way or another.     This time the blessed servant: knows to keep custody of his mind   And is very careful to think before speaking.   And does not expect a reward in exchange for speaking of the things of God.   The frivolous friar, on the other-hand does just the opposite:     Does not show in their works the good things God has revealed to them   Rather tells everyone about God’s revelation to them. Like a tree of knowledge – but the fruit is bruised.   And for all their attention their hearers take away only bruised fruit. Do you know someone like this?
[3 ]This Admonition (like No 11) is wanting in Cod An (Codex St. Anthony), but is found in the Speculum Perfectionis, ed Lemmens See Doc Ant. Franc, P II, p 84.   [4 ]Prov. 29:20   “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”(NASB)