Lady Poverty – Principles Day 10

I kiss you with the kisses of my soul,
My bride, with lips more sweet than reddest wine;
More beautiful than gold, than much fine gold,
For I am yours, beloved, and you are mine.
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
You sitting hunched beside a busy road,
Head bowed, a begging bowl beside your hand:
God's face with lips now turning blue with cold.
You call me out, dare me to break the habit –
The fix of comfort, mainlined privilege –
To let the fiercely sharp blast of the Spirit
Cleanse me of grime, to join you at the edge.
My priceless pearl, my Lady Poverty,
My joy, my call to spurn safe certainty.

cf Song of Songs, and John Keats' To Autumn

Day Ten — The Third Aim To live simply.

The first Christians surrendered completely to our Lord and recklessly gave all that they had, offering the world a new vision of a society in which a  fresh attitude was taken towards material possessions. This vision was renewed by Saint Francis when he chose Lady Poverty as his bride, desiring that all barriers set up by privilege based on wealth should be overcome by love. This is the inspiration for the third aim of the Society, to live simply.

Wretched Bigotry – Principles Day 8

The pitiful excuses that we make

for all our wretched, squalid prejudice:

‘They’re scroungers. Probably terrorists. They’ll take 

our jobs, destroy our precious heritage.’

‘They’re deviants. The Bible says they’ll burn.’

‘The Bible says you women should submit,

and men should lead.’ O God, when will we learn –

belittling others cannot make us great. 

To Jesus on the mount, the Tempter said,

‘All power is yours, if you just bow to me,’

but Jesus turned away and bowed his head

to God. Not clinging to authority,

the servant king poured out himself to seek

the lost: man, woman, slave, free, Jew or Greek. 

Day Eight — The Second Aim (continued) 

Members of The Third Order fight against all injustice in the name of Christ, in whom there can be neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; for in him all are one. Our chief object is to reflect that openness to all which was characteristic of Jesus. This can only be achieved in a spirit of chastity, which sees others as belonging to God and not as a means of self-fulfilment. 

Perfect Love – Principles Day 7

Unclean! The angry cry rings down the years

wrenched from some primal instinct of disgust. 

Our bodies need to learn which foods to trust

and which to shun, but somehow healthy fears

of germs and toxins warp to hateful sneers

against outsiders, and we deem it just

to spurn the unclean other; feel we must

stay safe and pure, protect the Church frontiers. 

When Francis felt his gorge rise at the sight

of lepers begging, what he learned was this:

no child of God’s unclean. And with a kiss

what once was bitter turned to sweet delight. 

The Gospel message that we need to hear

with him is: Perfect love casts out all fear. 

I would like to acknowledge that I got the idea of the disgust instinct leading to an irrational fear of outsiders from Richard Beck’s book, ‘Unclean: meditations on purity, hospitality and morality’ (Cascade Books 2011) which I heartily recommend. 

Day Seven — The Second Aim
: To spread the spirit of love and harmony. 

The Order sets out, in the name of Christ, to break down barriers between people and to seek equality for all. We accept as our second aim the spreading of a spirit of love and harmony among all people. We are pledged to fight against the ignorance, pride, and prejudice that breed injustice or partiality of any kind. 

Preach without ceasing – Principles Day 6

I passed a fervent preacher in the street:
dark suit, dark Bible, darker words as he
assailed the shoppers who tried not to meet
his fierce, judgmental eyes. But how are we
to make Christ known and loved in all the earth?
'Preach without ceasing, and if need arise
use words.' And all our words are nothing worth
unless we greet and meet with loving eyes
the folk whose paths we cross. St Francis danced
and sang, embraced and shared his bread with those
he met. And some poured scorn, and some, entranced,
saw Jesus' love reflected in his gaze.
Knowing we're loved, may we like Francis show
the Father's love; let living water flow.

From the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis

Day Six — The First Aim (continued)

The primary aim for us as Tertiaries is therefore to make Christ known. This shapes our lives and attitudes to reflect the obedience of those whom our Lord chose to be with him and sent out as his witnesses. Like them, by word and example, we bear witness to Christ in our own immediate environment and pray and work for the fulfilment of his command to make disciples of all nations.

Face to Face – Principles Day 5

I saw his picture in a children's book:
a hero, bearded, robed, with loving eyes,
who welcomed children, touched and healed the sick –
he charmed me with his heart so kind, so wise.
But as I grew, I put off childish ways
and wrestled with the meaning of this man:
the history-shaker, God in paraphrase,
the Ground of Being born a poor girl's son.

But no. A glimpse in the dark glass of thought
Won't do. I need to meet him face to face –
fling wide the gates of mind and soul and heart,
till every cell is steeped in his bright grace.
I cannot meet the call to make him known,
unless I first let him make me his own.

From the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis
Day Five — The First Aim of the Order
: To make our Lord known and loved everywhere.

The Order is founded on the conviction that Jesus Christ is the perfect revelation of God; that true life has been made available to us through his Incarnation and Ministry; by his Cross and Resurrection; and by the sending of his Holy Spirit. Our Order believes that it is the commission of the church to make the gospel known to all, and therefore accepts the duty of bringing others to know Christ, and of praying and working for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Money Sex and Power – Principles, Day 4

Set free in Lady Poverty's embrace
our Father Francis set us an example
of how to meet the challenges we face;
but living simple lives is rarely simple.
Those raucous sirens, money, sex and power
distract us from the Dove's more gentle voice,
and tempt us to postpone another hour
our promised aim of taking up the cross.

Come down, O Love divine, and help us learn
the beauty of desire set free from lust,
of riches shared, with nothing in return,
of fellowships of service, built on trust.
Give us anew, most holy Trinity
the spirit of divine simplicity.

From the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis

Day Four — The Object (continued) 

When Saint Francis encouraged the formation of The Third Order he recognised that many are called to serve God in the spirit of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience in everyday life (rather than in a literal acceptance of these principles as in the vows of the Brothers and Sisters of the First and Second Orders). The Rule of The Third Order is intended to enable the duties and conditions of daily living to be carried out in this spirit.

The Call - Principles, Day 3

Undisciplined, weighed down by wealth, we hear
a still, small voice call, 'Come, and follow me.'
How can we follow? Count the cost, and we
must stand aghast, quite overcome with fear.
Must we be torn from all that we hold dear:
fine dining, stylish clothes, cars, currency,
our stubborn, crass egocentricity,
the hoarded dross of many a greedy year?

But if we heed the call, if we submit
and die to self, we'll be set free to share
with others, poor in spirit, who commit
to serve our fragile, blessèd Order, where
we humbly meet in joy and love, all knit
together in community and prayer.


From the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis

Day Three — The Object (continued)
Jesus calls those who would serve him to follow his example and choose for themselves the same path of renunciation and sacrifice. To those who hear and obey, he promises union with God. The object of the Society of Saint Francis is to build a community of those who accept Christ as their Lord and Master, and are dedicated to him in body and spirit. They surrender their lives to him and to the service of his people. The Third Order of the Society consists of those who, while following the ordinary professions of life, feel called to dedicate their lives under a definite discipline and vows. They may be female or male, married or single, ordained or lay.

The Way of the Cross – Principles Day 2

He chose the narrow path, the one that led
inexorably towards Jerusalem.
He set his face, knowing what lay ahead –
the legalists, so eager to condemn;
the rulers, fearful of their Roman lords.
He freely let himself be spent, stretched tight
by pressing crowds so hungry for his words
and healing touch. The ones shoved out of sight
he sought, and loved: the lepers, children, and
the women, bleeding, crippled, widowed, poor.
Poured out for them, he followed to the end
the narrow path to Golgotha. He saw
that grasping life makes life decay – to give
one's very self's the way to truly live.


From the Third Order Principles

Day Two — The Object (continued)

In the example of his own sacrifice, Jesus reveals the secret of bearing fruit. In surrendering himself to death, he becomes the source of new life. Lifted from the earth on the cross, he draws all people to himself. Clinging to life causes life to decay; the life that is freely given is eternal.

A grain of wheat - Principles, Day 1

This is the first in a series of poems based on the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis

A single grain held in your hand. So small –
would barely feed an ant – and yet, inside
is life: you simply need to let it fall.
Buried in fertile loam as if it's died,
those spiral strands of coded life will spark
its secret growth, until a questing shoot
breaks through the crusted earth, escapes the dark
to greet the sun, ready to bear much fruit.

And if we grasp our heart's desire too tight –
afraid to let it brave another's gaze
for fear of scorn or pity, snub or spite;
even, perhaps, too shy to deal with praise –
can that bright seed bear fruit? We'll never know
unless we set it free to let it grow.


From the Principles of the Third Order of St Francis

Day One — The Object

Jesus said, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.’
John 12.24-26 

Biog

The stories touched me deeply. 

‘Let the children come to me!’

A man who couldn’t walk,

amazingly,

let down through the roof;

a lost son found. 

Friends encouraged me

to seek some more,

and so I trawled 

through the Book of Books,

trying to untangle

Paul’s ecstatic thoughts,

John’s mystic visions, 

tales of dreams 

and giant fish. 

Then still more vistas opened up. 

Teresa led me deep within

the mansions of the spirit, 

and Julian helped me gaze upon

the hanging man,

the homely, mother God. 

I tried by force of will

to bring my fidgeting spirit 

into line,

longing to reach

the heights of prayer

and always falling short. 

God found me

many years ago,

yet time and again,

I felt I had

to seek him out. 

A gentle, guileless, epileptic soul 

danced into my life,

and I saw God

breathing in the dispossessed. 

An arthritic, chatty,

cheeky pensioner

saw through my soul

and made me smile about myself. 

A nervy, gifted,

visionary priest

welcomed me,

in God’s name,

when I was in the wilderness. 

And now I wince 

at angry tribes

with constipated war cries:

‘Justification! Predestination!

Substitution! Condemnation!’

Leave them to their graceless spats. 

Move on with love,

with God who runs

to greet with open arms

and robe and kiss

the lost child coming home. 

The Way of the Cross

Alfred Myers followed the way of the Cross.

Who could doubt the courage of one who trod

the damp and dismal tracks of Skinningrove mine,

drilling the rock face, fitting the powder and fuse,

standing back as the rock exploded down,

its deafening boom echoing round and round,

then breaking the ironstone into smaller chunks,

ready to feed the forges of the north.

The villagers of Carlin How respected him,

this square-jawed, handsome Wesleyan tenor,

Sunday School superintendent, socialist,

believer in God and the Brotherhood of Man.

Conscription came in 1916. Alf would not fight.

‘I could not conscientiously kill, nor assist

in killing,’ he said. In April 1916 he was sent

to Richmond Castle, and the Non-Combatant Corps.

Unwilling conscript, he would not assist

in any work to aid the war, and so 

joined the others in the spartan cell block.

Nearer My God to Thee, they sang, from tiny cells,

refusing to sign their army papers, until

the army in their wisdom realised

that if they shipped them closer to the front,

to France, where war zone regulations stood,

then their resistance could be quickly quashed

by court martial and the penalty of death.

In June, while other heroes fought near Ypres 

to take Mount Sorrel, a travesty of justice 

reigned in Boulogne. Alf stayed true to his faith.

This pious, steadfast man, who never assented

to be a soldier, was charged: ‘Refusal to obey

his superior officer in the face of the enemy.’

The perfunctory trial ended as it was planned,

with 16 men sentenced ‘to death by being shot.’

A long pause followed. Then the words,

‘Confirmed by General Sir Douglas Haig,’ and then,

another, cruel, drawn out pause, until

‘commuted to ten years’ penal servitude’ was added,

a grudging coda of half-humanity.

Alf endured three years’ drudgery and pain,

in Aberdeen, Northallerton and Kent,

until the victorious post-war mood allowed

a seemingly magnanimous amnesty.

Bert Brocklesby, his fellow prisoner, said

that on their journey home, poor Alfred

‘felt unable to go further alone.’ Alone,

he disappeared from public record. 

Was Alfred broken by this cruel ordeal?

Did post-war Britain bring him any peace?

Like Jesus, whom he served, he stood condemned

a traitor to his country, expedient sacrifice

on the cross of propaganda for the cause.

The Way of the Cross is soul-crushing and hard;

our Easter-tinted spectacles can mask

the doubts, despair and heartbreak that it brings.

O Broken One, help us to bear your pain.