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.