A Love Letter to St Francis

A Love Letter to Francis from Chiara

Dear Francis,

Words are never large enough or small enough to write you but I try again. buona sera, good evening. I always think about you at this time of sunset. It is during this hour that I put aside everything about the day which is not important and hold to my heart our inner path, the love we know. It is a good practice. I can safely say that my small light in the garden of my heart has become a diamond. I feel quite strong and God shines very bright. In a few hours in the dark of night, I will be sinking inside to our Lord in gratitude. Then I go to sleep. Thank you, Francis, for leading me on this path of chasing God, instead of worldly things. Thank you for showing me it is not really a chase at all, but rather a great finding, finding God always very close at hand, as close as my heart.

Francis, we share the true relationship. Many couples live together under one roof and never share what we know together. Sure I miss sometimes not having more time with you in the small moments of life. Then I think of most couples living with one another day after day, but so separate from each other in their thoughts and feelings. Francis, we have fallen in love again and again landing in the great heart, the garden that extends forever. The eternity we know is the true poetry of life. The canticle you share is music for the heart inside every heart.

And you, Francis, how are you? You are a big fire on the mountaintop that many come to see. I wonder sometimes if they really know who they are visiting? I am sorry the Church confuses people saying you are great because you have suffered greatly. You and I both know human suffering gives nothing but perhaps a small push further into our heart, to rest on the lap of God. The empty times in life are small gifts we enjoy to be alone with the quiet, with God. We enjoy these times living in the sweetness of God's mystery. Our path is nothing more or less then receiving. Every day is the simple peace. You in the cave of your heart, me with my budding Roses, life is precious. Simple peace and our hearts wrestle with the Divine being so much for our simple human heart. The birds, animals, planets and stars are family in these moments. Francis, I know you have tried again and again to explain to the Bishops that they are no more special than our homeless friends, the lepers. The rich are no more rich than the very poor. Life's treasure is within us. Why don't people understand that everything is given in the silence of our heart?

Francis I want to tell you about a day dream I have been carrying all week. I see all the priests and ministers finally agreeing there is nothing to say! Every church large and small is just a house for God. People come and sit in silence. There is no preaching, no need to preach. In the silence is all and everything, so much peace. This is enough. And after sitting for a while, everyone absorbing the goldenness of God in our heart, the people share bread and medicine to any who have need. This is the real church! Why do they make it so complicated Francis? Why?

Anyway this is not the reason I write. I write today trying to put some words to where I have been led inside. I know you already know. But maybe my words support you as well. I know you are burning inside in this fire. Love lightens and overwhelms all my human edges. This very, very, very bright light rises from deep inside of me. I just pray to be available. Truly God knows we are only human. My selfishness is just part of my humanness. This is not to make excuses but Francis we really should not punish ourselves for being human. We are what we are. Can I say that in truth we are this light, only this light? When we leave this world and all our limitations, the angels will welcome us and we will know for certain. There is so much light!

Francis, I know some of the brothers are praying that your tears will stop for the sake of your health. But Francis, don't stop. I understand why you cry and cry so much. It is because of this light. Your tears are the blood of your soul and my soul as well. You cry for all of us. I pray you never stop crying. Know that each tear is milk and honey for my soul and the soul in everyone. May your joy cry out to all now and forever! In the great silence, only joy, joy, joy! I know it doesn't need to be said but thank you Francis. Thank you! Yours, forever in our Lord, Clare

written by Bruce Davis for the Huffington Post

St Francis of Assisi wearable altar and shrine

The Canticle of the creatures by

St Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;

and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,

and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,

through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,

who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom You light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us,

and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,

and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace

for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks

and serve Him with great humility.

I recently visited  the beautiful Assisi and 

Santa Maria degli Angeli where St Francis

lived and dwelled and this visit was the inspiration

for this shrine.

Statue of Santa Chiara and St Francis in Assisi

Doves have nested in St Francis' statue's hands in the rose garden for centuries

His Canticle of the Creatures really epitomises his spirit

of simplicity and love for all.  St Frances and Santa Chiara

were both vegetarians and many miracles with wild animals

and nature have been recorded.

uring this pilgrimage, as well as previous pilgrimages,

I visited well-known and lesser-known pilgrimage

sites that has special meaning and spiritual meaning to myself.

We weave our own tapestry of myth and meaning

of our inner lives, (as said earlier, you can read more

about this ideology on www.pathofdivinelove.blogspot.com)

Wherever I go, I collect petals of the flowers from

sacred shrines, even bits of soil from the earth

and sand from crypts.  I also carry with me

small vials of blessed salts and blessed petals

as well as holy water and holy oil.  These I touch

to the holy places and to the relics of Saints where

it is possible.  We are surrounded by energy and there

are places that have more intense spiritual energy

than other places.  Also some places you immediately

sense great Love and Compassion and other values

which some of us treasure.  In places like Lourdes

and Lisieux, in the garden of St Terese, the fragrance

was almost overpowering - although some people

smell nothing.

Included with this shrine, is small vial of blessed

salts and rose petals, lavender, as well as 

myrrh that I brought back on this pilgrimage.

The content of this bottle had been carried

by me, and touched to the crypt where St Francis

lies, as well as the crypt where St Chiara's body

lies and I had it with me during a mass in

Santa Maria degli Angeli!!

Now available at https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/163376562/st-francis-of-assisi-pendant-rosary

blessings 

Hettienne