Sun, 21 May 2017 | Cover | Page 11

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solitary prayer, but it could not be reached until the friars built a foot-bridge out of logs across the chasm. Francis wished to be alone for 40 days at that secluded and divinely-chosen location, and he was to be visited only by Brother Leo, who should bring him a little bread and water every day and come to pray the Divine Office with him.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, fell on a Friday in that year of 1224. That day, at the break of dawn, Francis was kneeling in prayer, facing the east. "Lord," he said, "I ask two graces of Thee before I die; to experience myself, as far as possible, the sufferings of Thy cruel Passion and to have for Thee that very same love which caused Thee to sacrifice Thyself for us." Francis had told his friars of his presentiments of approaching death, which actually came two years later, in 1226 on October 4.

The Saint was for some time absorbed in sentiments of tender compassion over the Mystery of the Sacred Passion of Our Lord, when suddenly, as St. Bonaventure has written, "he saw what appeared to be a Seraph, with six shining and fiery wings, coming down from Heaven. The Vision flew swiftly through the air and approached the man of God, who then perceived that it was not only winged but also crucified, for the hands and feet were stretched out and fastened to a Cross, while the wings were arranged in a wondrous manner, two being raised above the head, two outstretched in flight, and the other two crossed over and veiling the whole body. The gracious aspect of Him, Who appeared in so wonderful and loving a manner, rejoiced him exceedingly, while the sight of His cruel Crucifixion pierced his heart with a sword of sorrowing compassion."

St. Bonaventure continues thus: "He Who appeared outwardly to Francis taught him inwardly that, although weakness and suffering are incompatible with the immortal life of a Seraph, yet this vision had been shown to him so that he, a lover of Christ, might learn how his whole being was to be transformed into a living image of Christ Crucified, not by martyrdom of the flesh, but by the burning ardor of his soul.

After a mysterious and familiar conversation, the Vision disappeared, leaving the Saint’s mind burning with seraphic ardor and his flesh impressed with an exact image of the Crucified… Then immediately the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet, their black heads showing in the palms of his hands and on the upper part of his feet, with their points bent back and visible on the other side. There was also a red scar on his right side, as if it had been wounded by a lance, and from which blood often flowed, staining his tunic and underclothing."

The miracle took place without any human witness and Francis, despite the fact that God made the wounds visible to others, tried at first to conceal them, wrapping them with cloths and keeping his hands within his sleeves. Later he was given to understand that the miracle of the stigmata was for the edification of all mankind, and so he hesitatingly made known the facts to his friars. Brother Leo regularly washed the wound in Francis’ side, and many others saw the wounds eventually, because they never disappeared and were plainly visible to all after his death.

Pope Blessed Benedict XI (13031304) willed that the stigmatization of St. Francis should be solemnly commemorated every year on September 17. Pope Paul V (1605-1621) extended the celebration of this feast to the entire Church, because he wished that the hearts of all the faithful should be enkindled with the love of Christ Crucified through the contemplation of the Five Wounds imprinted upon the body of St. Francis.

Sadly enough, another Paul, Pope Paul VI, chose to omit this feast from the Vatican II-inspired general Roman calendar. ■