By Joe Makley, OFS
National JPIC Animator
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“As Jesus was the true worshipper of the Father, let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.” St. Francis spent time in the cave, which followed Jesus’ practice: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35). Secular Franciscans are also called to be “true worshippers of the Father” by giving time to God, whether in an adoration chapel or beneath the crucifix on the wall at home. St Francis’ time in the cave is the example, but his contemplative practice continued beyond the cave, to a life of mystical encounter, with Jesus in the Eucharist, in the liturgy and scripture, in service to the lepers, with the brothers, and ultimately with his cosmic family in the Canticle of the Creatures.
Contemplative prayer can be a gift. But even when it is a gift, it is a discipline, of heart, of mind, of disposition. In its many forms, it is a habit that benefits from regular practice. In Article 8, our beautiful Rule calls us, despite our unworthiness, to those interior waters of solitary prayer, and thence to a life of loving encounter, with Jesus in the Eucharist, with the brothers and sisters in fraternity, in the Sacraments and the Liturgy of the Church, with the stranger needing welcome, the hungry, the thirsty, and those without shelter. As in St. Francis’ life, it is all to be prayer. Our embrace of contemplation has the potential to fill our hearts with the love that forgives all and can heal the world.
OFS Rule Article 8:
As Jesus was the true worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do. Let them participate in the sacramental life of the Church, above all the Eucharist. Let them join in liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by the Church, reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ.
Prayer and contemplation should be “the soul” of all we are and do. It isn’t all we do, but the soul of what we do. So as Joe mentioned – it is the start, the basis, for who we are. But prayer and contemplation should then move us to the next steps….bringing Jesus to others. During this month of May and this Easter Season, may we be inspired to do just that….bring Jesus to others.
Yes, the heart of this article speaks deeply & personally to me.
For years I’ve tried to live a life of prayer and works of mercy.
It was only recently that I realized God was inspiring this in me all along to embrace the call to a Franciscan vocation.
Thank you for the reminder that contemplative prayer is not only a discipline of heart and of mind, but of disposition as well. Contemplation becomes the “soul” of all we do when we approach with intention. All we do becomes a prayer if we have the proper disposition in which we enter the quiet time with our Lord, the Word, the sacraments, our daily work, and the works of mercy we are called to.