Spiritual Classics and Reading

I am a constant reader. I am generally reading two or three books at the same time, and I try to make at least one of those books something religious in nature. Some of them are more recent books, but some of them are works by the Church Fathers, encyclical,s and books deemed spiritual classics - though what constitutes a "classic" varies.

.

In my lifetime I've read a number of writings of Church Fathers, encyclicals, and spiritual classics. But, to be honest, I read many of them decades ago. So I have begun to reread them.

Since retiring in 2020 I have read/reread:

Church Fathers

The Epistle of Barnabas

The Epistle to Diognetus

The Didache

Letter to the Corinthians - Clement of Rome

Letter to the Ephesians - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Magnesians - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Trallians - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Romans - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Philadelphians - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Smyrnians - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to Polycarp - Ignatius of Antioch

Letter to the Philippians - Polycarp of Smyrna

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Encyclicals

Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) by Pope St. John Paul II

Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) by Pope Benedict XVI

Laudato Si by Pope Francis

Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII

Casti Connubii by Pope Pius XI

Classics

Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Heretics by G. K. Chesterton

Saint Thomas Aquinas by G. K. Chesterton

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters (with Screwtape Proposes a Toast) by C. S. Lewis

The Confessions by Saint Augustine

The Soul’s Journey into God by Saint Bonaventure

The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos

There are others that I want to read or reread. (I've bolded the ones I've never read)

Journal of a Soul -  Pope St. John XXIII

Pacem in Terris - Pope St. John XXIII

The Long Loneliness - Dorothy Day

The City of God - St. Augustine

Story of a Soul - St. Therese of Lisieux.

Crossing the Threshold of Hope - Pope St. John Paul II

Evangelium Vitae - Pope St. Jon Paul II

The Consolation of Philosophy - Boethius

Catherine of Siena - Sigrid Undset

Ah, so much more reading to do!

Pax et bonum

Relative - Major General George Crockett Strong

One of my distant relatives - General George Crockett Strong - died during the Civil War after sustaining injuries and developing tetanus. He was the commander of the Union forces attacking Fort Wagner in South Carolina. One of the units making that attack was the Black 54th Massachusetts depicted in the movie Glory. The former Fort Strong in Boston Harbor was named after him.

George Crockett Strong was born October 16, 1832, in Stockbridge, Vermont. He was descended from Elder John Strong and his first wife, Margery (I'm descended from Elder John Strong and his second wife, Abigail.) He attended Union College, but switched to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1857, reportedly 5th in his class. He served as an ordnance officer on the staff of General McDowell at the First Battle of Bull Run. He later served on the staffs of Generals George B. McClellan and Benjamin Butler.

Strong took part in the capture of New Orleans, then commanded an expedition against Biloxi, Mississippi, in April 1862, and another sent against Ponchatoula. He was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers in November 1862. During the attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina he was wounded on July 18, 1863. That was the battle depicted in the movie Glory in which the Black unit, the Massachusetts 54th, lead the assault. Strong is even depicted in the movie!

He was shipped back to New York City because of his wounds, but died there of tetanus on July 30, 1863. He posthumously received a commission as major general. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, where there is even a monument dedicated to his memory.

Pax et bonum

Eco Lies?

Green lies debunked: Don’t fall for soggy straws!

BY AVA LADKY

PUBLISHED ON MAY 14, 2025

Noah Buscher / Unsplash

Green lies need to be debunked because environmental advice can sometimes be misleading. Said advice can range from “eco-friendly” products that aren’t so green to simple fixes that barely make a dent.

But don’t worry—we’re here to help! We, too, aim to protect our planet. In this article, we’ll explore prevalent conservation myths and reveal the truths behind them. By the end, you’ll possess actionable knowledge to make a genuine impact—no more falling for the hype!

Paper straws: Eco-friendly or just soggy?

The widely cited statistic that Americans use 500 million plastic straws daily originated from a 2011 estimate by then nine-year-old Milo Cress. He contacted three straw manufacturers and extrapolated the data, which lacks rigorous scientific backing.

While paper and bamboo straws are often promoted as better alternatives to plastic, studies have detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in these materials. PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment and have been linked to health issues such as liver damage, immune system effects, and developmental problems.

Although some PFAS can partially degrade, most remain in the environment for decades.

Regarding ocean pollution, plastic straws constitute a small fraction. National Geographic reports that plastic straws make up about 0.025% of the 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean annually.

To make a meaningful difference, consider using reusable stainless steel straws, which are PFAS-free and fully recyclable.

Recycling: The dirty secret no one talks about

Globally, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled.

If you’re uncertain whether an item is recyclable, it’s often better to dispose of it in the trash. Contaminated recycling can lead to entire batches being discarded.

The “Keep America Beautiful” campaign, launched in the 1950s, promoted recycling as a solution to littering. However, this initiative was funded by major beverage and packaging companies, shifting the responsibility of waste management from producers to consumers.

Recycling is a business. Items like Pringles cans, composed of mixed materials (cardboard, foil, plastic, and metal), are challenging to recycle due to the difficulty in separating components.

In the U.S., recycling regulations vary by state, leading to inconsistencies in what materials are accepted. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with your local recycling guidelines to ensure proper disposal.

Reusable bags: Doing good or just a trendy waste?

Cloth totes are popular for groceries, shopping, and daily use. However, a 2018 study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency found that a cotton tote bag must be used approximately 7,100 times to offset its environmental impact compared to a single-use plastic bag .

To maximize their benefits, consistently use your reusable bags. Keep them in your car or by the door to remember them during shopping trips.

Biodegradable plastic: Don’t believe everything you read!

The term “biodegradable” suggests that a product will break down naturally. However, biodegradable plastics often fragment into microplastics rather than fully decomposing, contributing to environmental pollution.

These microplastics can persist in ecosystems, posing risks to wildlife and potentially entering the human food chain.

To reduce plastic pollution, opt for alternatives like glass containers, which are free of microplastics and can be reused indefinitely. Additionally, participating in local clean-up efforts can help mitigate environmental damage.

Greenwashing: How not to fall for it!

Greenwashing occurs when companies market products as environmentally friendly without substantial evidence.

For instance, Starbucks introduced strawless lids to reduce plastic waste. However, these lids contain more plastic than the previous straw-and-lid combination.

Similarly, “natural flavors” listed in ingredients are often synthesized in laboratories, despite the implication that they come directly from natural sources.

To identify genuinely eco-friendly brands, look for:

• Transparent ingredient lists with clear language.
• Third-party certifications or audits.
• Honest discussions about their environmental impact, including areas needing improvement.

Be wary of vague terms like “biobased” or packaging that appears sustainable but lacks substantiation.

Vampire electricity: The real energy drainers

Many devices consume electricity even when turned off, a phenomenon known as “vampire energy.” Items like chargers, televisions, and kitchen appliances can draw power continuously, increasing energy bills and carbon emissions .

To combat this, unplug devices when not in use or use power strips to easily disconnect multiple items simultaneously.

EVs: Are they really the green dream?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often touted as environmentally friendly alternatives to gasoline-powered cars. However, the production of EV batteries requires mining for materials like lithium and cobalt, which can have significant environmental and ethical implications .

Moreover, the environmental benefits of EVs depend on the source of electricity used for charging. In regions where electricity is generated from coal, the carbon footprint of EVs may be comparable to traditional vehicles.

To reduce transportation-related emissions, consider using public transit, biking, or walking when possible.

From Refine - https://refinelife.co/

https://refinelife.co/green-lies-debunked-dont-fall-for-soggy-straws/?mkt_tok=NDI3LUxFUS0wNjYAAAGakS50bqAZSPk_CcKHUztD-_CXANyIwOkOp-Pj3Fdch9ey26cFlUaXcU2r65R-vGVjhbbo2KxwFQiSbRGPOAKbA7Hfbyt9ASOlVemEqjSRAg

Pax et bonum

Easy Essay - Politics is Politics

Politics Is Politics
By Peter Maurin

1. A politician is an artist
          in the art
          of following the wind of public opinion.

2. He who follows the wind
           of public opinion
           does not follow
           his own judgement.

3. And he who does not follow
           his own judgement
           cannot lead people
           out of the beaten path.

4. He is like the tail of a dog
           that tries to lead the head.

5. When people stand behind their president
           and their president
           stands behind them
           they and their president
           go around in a circle
           getting nowhere.

Pax et bonum

St. Bernardine Quotation

“May the fiery and honey-sweet power of your love, O Lord, wean me from all things under heaven.”

— Saint Bernardine of Siena 

Pax et bonum

This is the Stuff

From 2008-2020 I was a member of a church band, Rock of Faith. We provided music for Masses, weddings, and other celebrations. I played acoustic guitar and sang, primarily as back up. We had several women in the group who were very good singers and handled most of the leads.

In 2011, a nearby parish organized a music festival, and our band was invited to perform. Since it was a festival and not a Mass, we weren't limited to playing hymns. So our leader decided we would play "This is the Stuff" by popular Christian recording artist Francesca Battistelli.

The song featured a ukulele 

At practice one night the leader asked me if I know how to play ukulele. I told him I did not, but I was willing to give it a try. A few days later I went to my favorite music store, bought a ukulele and a ukulele book, learned the chords for the song, and practiced playing it.

And then we performed it at the festival. Someone in the audience recorded us. 

By the way, the young lady who sang lead was a high school student. She later went to college and majored in musical theater, and then moved to New York City where she works professionally as a singer, dancer, and actress. Such talent!

Pax et bonum

Father Paul's "Hail Mary"

At men's group this morning, Father Paul talked about Mary and Marian prayers.

He noted that when he worked in prison ministry, even the non-Catholics loved to receive Rosaries, though some of the men repeated the false claim that Catholics worship Mary.

He pointed out to them that the prayer, the "Hail Mary," does not worship Mary. The first part of the prayer just quotes Scripture - "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" is just what the Angel says to Mary (Luke 1: 28) and "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb," is just Elizabeth's greeting to Mary (Luke 1: 42).

The "fruit of thy womb" is, of course, according to Scripture, Jesus.

So the whole first part of the prayer is indeed from Scripture.

"Holy Mary," - no Christian would deny that she is holy - "Mother of God" - again, she is the mother of Jesus, Who is God.

Then we ask her to pray for us as we would ask a friend or fellow church member. In asking her to pray for us we are asking her to pray to God for us.

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen." 

At no point in the prayer are we worshiping her. We are just quoting Scripture and asking her to pray for us.

But then Father Paul shared something else.

In spare moments - such as when he is waiting in the confessional in between penitents - he often prays the "Hail Mary," but then he began sometimes changing the ending to focus on someone who needs help or who is repenting for some misdeeds. So for the second part of the prayer he sometimes says, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for (the name of the person), now and through the rest of his/her life."

So Father Paul's "Hail  Mary" is:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou, among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
please pray for (Name), now and through the rest of his/her life. Amen

I like that version. I plan to use it whe n I am praying for someone!

Pax et bonum

The Wolf of Gubbio

Our dog is named Gubbio. When I tell people his name and they give me a puzzled look, I tell them about St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. Here is the version of the story from the Little Flowers of St. Francis.

OF THE MOST HOLY MIRACLE OF ST FRANCIS IN TAMING THE FIERCE WOLF OF GUBBIO

At the time when St Francis was living in the city of Gubbio, a large wolf appeared in the neighbourhood, so terrible and so fierce, that he not only devoured other animals, but made a prey of men also; and since he often approached the town, all the people were in great alarm, and used to go about armed, as if going to battle. Notwithstanding these precautions, if any of the inhabitants ever met him alone, he was sure to be devoured, as all defence was useless: and, through fear of the wolf, they dared not go beyond the city walls. St Francis, feeling great compassion for the people of Gubbio, resolved to go and meet the wolf, though all advised him not to do so. Making the sign of the holy cross, and putting all his confidence in God, he went forth from the city, taking his brethren with him; but these fearing to go any further, St Francis bent his steps alone toward the spot where the wolf was known to be, while many people followed at a distance, and witnessed the miracle. The wolf, seeing all this multitude, ran towards St Francis with his jaws wide open. As he approached, the saint, making the sign of the cross, cried out: “Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else.” Marvellous to tell, no sooner had St Francis made the sign of the cross, than the terrible wolf, closing his jaws, stopped running, and coming up to St Francis, lay down at his feet as meekly as a lamb. And the saint thus addressed him: “Brother wolf, thou hast done much evil in this land, destroying and killing the creatures of God without his permission; yea, not animals only hast thou destroyed, but thou hast even dared to devour men, made after the image of God; for which thing thou art worthy of being hanged like a robber and a murderer. All men cry out against thee, the dogs pursue thee, and all the inhabitants of this city are thy enemies; but I will make peace between them and thee, O brother wolf, is so be thou no more offend them, and they shall forgive thee all thy past offences, and neither men nor dogs shall pursue thee any more.” Having listened to these words, the wolf bowed his head, and, by the movements of his body, his tail, and his eyes, made signs that he agreed to what St Francis said. On this St Francis added: “As thou art willing to make this peace, I promise thee that thou shalt be fed every day by the inhabitants of this land so long as thou shalt live among them; thou shalt no longer suffer hunger, as it is hunger which has made thee do so much evil; but if I obtain all this for thee, thou must promise, on thy side, never again to attack any animal or any human being; dost thou make this promise?” Then the wolf, bowing his head, made a sign that he consented. Said St Francis again: “Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith that I may trust to this thy promise?” and putting out his hand he received the pledge of the wolf; for the latter lifted up his paw and placed it familiarly in the hand of St Francis, giving him thereby the only pledge which was in his power. Then said St Francis, addressing him again: “Brother wolf, I command thee, in the name of Christ, to follow me immediately, without hesitation or doubting, that we may go together to ratify this peace which we have concluded in the name of God”; and the wolf, obeying him, walked by his side as meekly as a lamb, to the great astonishment of all the people. Now, the news of this most wonderful miracle spreading quickly through the town, all the inhabitants, both men and women, small and great, young and old, flocked to the market-place to see St Francis and the wolf. All the people being assembled, the saint got up to preach, saying, amongst other things, how for our sins God permits such calamities, and how much greater and more dangerous are the flames of hell, which last for ever, than the rage of a wolf, which can kill the body only; and how much we ought to dread the jaws of hell, if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole city tremble through fear. The sermon being ended, St Francis added these words: “Listen my brethren: the wolf who is here before you has promised and pledged his faith that he consents to make peace with you all, and no more to offend you in aught, and you must promise to give him each day his necessary food; to which, if you consent, I promise in his name that he will most faithfully observe the compact.” Then all the people promised with one voice to feed the wolf to the end of his days; and St Francis, addressing the latter, said again: “And thou, brother wolf, dost thou promise to keep the compact, and never again to offend either man or beast, or any other creature?” And the wolf knelt down, bowing his head, and, by the motions of his tail and of his ears, endeavoured to show that he was willing, so far as was in his power, to hold to the compact. Then St Francis continued: “Brother wolf, as thou gavest me a pledge of this thy promise when we were outside the town, so now I will that thou renew it in the sight of all this people, and assure me that I have done well to promise in thy name”; and the wolf lifting up his paw placed it in the hand of St Francis. Now this event caused great joy in all the people, and a great devotion towards St Francis, both because of the novelty of the miracle, and because of the peace which had been concluded with the wolf; and they lifted up their voices to heaven, praising and blessing God, who had sent them St Francis, through whose merits they had been delivered from such a savage beast. The wolf lived two years at Gubbio; he went familiarly from door to door without harming anyone, and all the people received him courteously, feeding him with great pleasure, and no dog barked at him as he went about. At last, after two years, he died of old age, and the people of Gubbio mourned his loss greatly; for when they saw him going about so gently amongst them all, he reminded them of the virtue and sanctity of St Francis.

Pax et bonum

The Remains of the Day

I just finished reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

I had seen the excellent movie adaptation several times. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson deserved their Academy Award nomination. So the book has been on my list of ones I wanted to read.

The book was excellent. The movie followed it closely, so if you've seen the movie you get a sense of what the book is like. But the book adds so much more.

The narrator is the butler, Mr. Stevens, who serves in Darlington Hall fro the early 1920's to the mid 1950's. He is obsessed with being a great butler, and spends a great deal of time discussing what makes one such a butler, and the nature of dignity. But what he fails at consequently is being fully human. He suppresses his feelings and his rational thinking. 

As a result, he fails to establish meaningful relationships with his father and Miss Kenton, both of whom try unsuccessfully to reach out to him. Because he is unable to establish human contact, he loses both. Indeed, when his father dies upstairs he is more concerned with how well he served a gathering downstairs.

He also fails to see or to act as his Lord Darlington becomes a dupe of Germans and Nazis in pre-war England. He totally trusts Lord Darlington's flawed judgment and naivete, and refuses to use independent thinking. 

By the end of the book, we see that he has a sense of what he has lost, he even cries, yet the book ends with him deciding to practice "bantering" so that he can better serve the new owner of Darlington Hall. He will spend the "remains of the day" just trying to be a good servant.

It's a well-written book. Well worth a read. And the movie is well worth a viewing.

The book - and the movie - both contain an incident that made me thing back to my first post college job.

The incident involves Lord Darlington, under the influence of a Nazi sympathizer, orders Stevens to fire two maids who had served in the home for several years just because they were Jewish. It is clear that he does not like the idea, but because Darlington had ordered it he will do so. He discusses it with Miss Kenton, who is clearly horrified at the injustice of such an act and threatens to quit. But she does not do so. She later admits that she did not quit as she had no where else to go and described herself as a coward. Stevens fires the maids as he was told to do so, assuming tht Lord Darlington knows what he is doing. Lord Darlington later admits, and Stevens finally feels free to admit he had had misgivings. Or so he claims. Remember, he is the narrator, so we can't be sure what he really thought at the time, or what he thinks is now called for. 

In my case, when I graduated from college I wanted to gain some practical skills. I found a business that made wooden furniture, cabinets, laminated shelving, and more, and they were willing to take me on as an apprentice. I even joined the local carpenters' union.

I did learn some skills. I even made the bed on which my wife and I still sleep.

As an apprentice, when I was not directly helping the other workers, I was given lots of menial, low-level tasks. One of them was drilling holes in the legs of some school desks we were making. Hundreds of them.

I was guided by some shop drawings I had been given. But then I happened to see the original blueprints, the ones that the customer had been shown and for which he had paid. I realized they were different; I was drilling fewer holes than the original plans had called for.

I went to one of the bosses and pointed it out. He said he knew, but we saved time and money by doing it the way we were. I said the customer had paid for the more extensive way. He smiled and said the customer would never know, and we made more money.

I was stunned. We were cheating the customer. I said I cold not take part in doing that. The boss was surprised, but took me off the job and gave it to another apprentice.

Being union, he could not easily fire me, so instead he assignment me to every dirty, unpleasant job in the plant. Sweeping up all the sawdust. Taking out the scraps and garbage. Cleaning the machines. Cleaning the bathrooms.

I got bored. But then in the bathrooms I began doing some drawing on the walls of the stalls. Some of them were cartoons and caricatures of the boss. Yeah, I know, dumb. But I was 22 - what did I know? Since I cleaned the bathrooms, I cleared the drawings off the walls regularly. And the bosses didn't generally use the same bathroom as the workers, so I thought I was safe.

Nope. Either the boss had used the bathroom unexpectedly, or someone had reported my artwork.

I got called into the office. The boss asked if I had done the drawing. I admitted I had. He then showed me a blueprint. He asked me to copy part of it. I did. He looked at my work, and asked if I'd like to work in the office!

My new job was looking at plans for projects and identifying all the work we could do, from which the bosses would make proposals to the project directors. If we got the contracts, I would create shop drawings to give to the workers. Turns out I was doing some of the work of the boss in question, freeing him for longer lunches and drinking at his girlfriend's apartment.

This continued for several months. Then one afternoon we got a call for a project. The boss had just come back from "lunch." He'd obviously had a few drinks. The boss asked for the name of the potential customer. When he heard the name he said the person must be a Jew, and to quote them a higher rate. He laughed and said that's what we do for Jews and ni**ers.  

I was a disgusted. 

By that point I was a newlywed - remember that bed that I made? - and could not quit immediately. But I began actively searching, and a couple of weeks later found another job and gave notice.

Unlike Miss Kenton, I had found a way out.

Pax et bonum

Hot Stuff

I love hot sauce. I love hot peppers.

I put it on everything I can. Pizza. Rice. Veggies. Popcorn.

I recently stumbled across an old article about some hot-sauce imbibing youths, so naturally I was hot to read it.

According to the article, some German teens drank some hot sauce more than 200 times hotter than normal Tabasco

The youths - ages 13 and 14 - took part in a "test of courage." They subsequently felt sick, and 8 of the 10 who took part were taken to the hospital and had to stay overnight.

The sauce the teens ingested measured 535,000 units on the Scoville scale. That's the scale that determines hotness in chili peppers. Good old Tabasco sauce (yes, there's a bottle of that in my fridge) measures 2,500.

So what did they consume? I'd like to know the brand. A dash or two on some chips? Hmm

Yeah, I know this is kind of a guy thing. When I was young and stupid in college, I was noted for eating hot food. People used to bring hot peppers to challenge my tongue and palate. Sometimes I'd be challenged by other hot food consumers. A burn your face off. All guys, of course. 

I never lost.

Of course, they may never have given me some of the truly hot, mind-numbing peppers that were out there. And I never drank hot sauce. Well, except for an occasional sip.

That was years ago. I still use hot sauces and eat peppers. We grow some in our garden - jalapeno, cherry bomb, and serrano mainly. Mild ones, really. But they freeze well. In fact, I added some jalapeno to my pizza tonight. 

As for the hotter ones, I have occasionally bought some habanero, but that's about as hot as I get.

Unless someone wants to challenge me ... 

Pax et bonum

The Miracles of Jesus

The other morning at Mass something occurred to me about the miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

So many of them seem to involve casting out demons, raising the dead, curing the deaf and blind, and providing food or drink for people.

The demons are our fallen nature, the control of the evil one when we permit it. 

We are spiritually dead. Jesus drives out the evil, and raises us from spiritual death to eternal life.

We are all blind and deaf - to God's love, to the beauty of God's creation, to the signs and wonders before our eyes and whispering in our ears, to our own weaknesses. Jesus removes the blockages so we can truly see ourselves and the wonders of God's love.

We hunger and thirst for salvation, and Jesus provides us with the food and drink we need.

So these miracles are all symbolic of what Christ brings us. I suspect the Gospel writers recorded these miracles intentionally because of their meanings and because they fit the messages they were trying to convey - and probably did not record many other miracles Jesus performed because they did not fit in with their narratives.

I wonder what some of those other miracles were?

But back to my point: These recorded miracles are not just manifestations of God's love and power intended to amaze us. They are lessons for us. They are means for us to consider what God does in our lives day after day.

These ideas have probably been spoken of and written about many many times before by others who are far brighter and holier than I am. I'm still a child in my faith taking one uncertain step after another, but always trusting in Abba.

Pax et bonum

Haiku - who's that knocking?

researcher turns on
interdimensional door -
who’s that knocking?

Published in Scifaikuest November 2023

Photo credited to Ron Lach.

Pax et bonum

Our Father and Hail Mary in Latin

“Pater noster, qui es in caelis

sanctificetur nomen tuum

adveniat regnum tuum

fiat voluntas tua

sicut in caelo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum

da nobis hodie

et dimitte nobis debita nostra

sicut et nos dimittimus

debitoribus nostris

et ne nos inducas in tentationem

sed libera nos a malo.

Amen.”

Hail Mary

“Ave Maria, gratia plena

Dominus tecum

benedicta tu in mulieri­bus, 

et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatoribus, 

nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. 

Amen.”

Pax et bonum

Founding of the Secular Franciscans

A warm breeze wafted through the window. The thin cloths that passed for curtains flapped back and forth. The drying herbs that hung from the ceiling swayed. 

Buonadonna, who had been lost in prayer while sitting at the small wooden table, looked up. Although it was only 9 in the morning, the breeze hinted at yet another hot Tuscan summer day. 

She was glad that she had begun her baking early in the morning.

She looked in the oven. The breads were ready to come out. She carefully removed the loaves, transferring them to the shelf near the window to cool.

Six loaves.

Plus the 12 she had baked earlier.

She hoped they would be enough to distribute to the poor families she planned to visit that day.

As she placed the the last loaf on the table a movement on the road from Poggibonzi drew her attention. She squinted, trying to make out who it was. 

The traveler came closer. She saw he was thin and dressed in ragged clothes.with a bag slung over his shoulder. She smiled. and set aside one of the cooled loaves from earlier, and filled a wooden goblet with well water. She then went to the back door.

"Luchesio," she called.

Luchesio, her husband, was busy digging in the field behind the house. He looked up.

"Eh?" 

"A visitor is coming," she said.

Luchesio hoisted the shovel to his shoulder and hurried back the the house. He leaned the shovel against the porch railing, and washed his face and hand in a basin filled with rain water. He then entered the house and joined Buonadonna at the front door.

The stranger was now quite near. Luchesio called out, "Ciao."

The stranger smiled broadly, raise his hand in greeting, and replied, "Benedicite."

The stranger paused in front of the house.

"I am looking for Luchesio and Buonadonna Modestini. I was told they lived out this way."

"I am Luchesio. You are welcome friend."

"Thank you. My name is Francis."

Luchesio and Buonadonna looked at each other in surprise.

"Are you Francis di Bernardoni of Assisi?" Luchesio asked.

"I have been called that name," Francis responded.

"Come in, come in," Luchesio said excitedly.

Francis entered the house. Luchesio pointed to the chair at the small table. Francis sat, and Buondonna placed the loaf and the goblet of water before him. Then she and Luchesio pulled up chairs and sat. .

Francis picked up the goblet. 

"Thank you. The day is already hot."

He drank, then nodded in gratitude.

"We have met before," Luchesio said. "In your father's shop many years ago." 

 

"Ah. I no longer work there," Francis said.

"So we have heard," Luchesio said.

"And I have heard much about you," Francis said.

Buonadonna and Luchesio both looked puzzled.  

"You do much for the poor of your area," Francis explained. 

Luchesio shook his head. "We don't do enough. I have many sins for which to atone."

"We both do," Buonadonna added.

"I spent many years serving greed," Luchesio went on. "I was a merchant who sought only money. I charged the most I could. I cheated so many people."

"And we spent the money on luxuries," Buonadonna added. "We had a magnificent mansion with many servants."

Francis looked around the room. It was small, and furnished simply. And then he looked at Luchesio and Buonadonna. Luchesio was wearing a smock with a patch on it. One of the legs of his pants had a smudge of dirt on it. And Buonadonna was wearing a simple dress that had obviously been washed many times. Her hands were worn, not manicured and smooth like those of the wealthy women Francis had known in his youth.

"But then I realized how wrong our life was," Luchesio continued. "I, we, turned our lives to serving the Lord."

"I took longer," Buonadonna admitted. "I liked all that came with wealth. The clothes. The servants. The respect of everyone we met. At first I was angry. I thought he had gone crazy. But then I too saw it was all wrong."

"We sold it all," Luchesio said. "Except for this small farm. And we began giving away our wealth."

"That is what I heard," Francis said. "The people in  Poggibonzi told me all about you."

"But it is not enough," Luchesio continued. "My sins are many. We want to dedicate our lives even more to serving the Lord."

"Some people suggested that we separate, and Luchesio become a priest or a monk, and I become a religious sister," Buonadonna said. "While those would be noble things to do, we want to remain together. We want to continue to serve the poor of our area, but together."

Luchesio reached over and took her hand.

Francis smiled.

"Such love is a blessing. And interestingly, this has been something on my mind for a time. Last night when I spoke in Poggibonzi several couples approached me asking if they should separate and seek the monastery and the convent. It reminded me of previous times people have asked me that. I tell them that while being a priest or a monk or a religious sister is good, and there is a need for more such vocations, we need good men and women to remain in the world to live out the vocation of marriage."

"But it is hard living in the world,without some sort of guide," Luchesio said. "Your brothers have a rule to guide them."

"As do the good women who follow Clare," Francis observed. 

"That is good," Buonadonna said. "But what about us in the world who want to grow and serve the Lord? Who want to serve as they work in their professions. The married and unmarried?"

Francis smiled.

"This is what you want?"

"Yes," Luchesio and Buonadonna exclaimed together.

"A rule," Francis said. "For lay people. An order in the world. Would you be willing to join such and order?"

"Yes," they replied together.

"Then it shall be so,"Francis said. "Do you have any parchment?"

Luchesio went over to a cupboard and came back with several sheets, a quill, and ink.

In the next hour, with their help, Francis wrote a brief rule for an order of lay people. When he had finished it, he read it aloud.

After reading it, he asked, "Do you pledge to live by this?"

They nodded.

"So what do we call this order? Hmm. You both are intent on penance; what about the Penitentials?

"That would put the focus on the people, not on penance," Luchesio observed.

"Ah, good point."

"What about the Order of Penance," Buonadonna suggested. 

"Just the name," Francis said, smiling. 

He wrote the name across the top of the parchment with the rule.

He then stood, and gestured for them to stand with him. He placed his hands on their heads.

"Luchesio and Buonadonna, do you pledge to live by this rule?"

"Yes," they replied.

"Then may the Lord bless you, and the Holy Spirit guide you."

"Amen," they replied.

"You are the first members of the Order of Penance," Francis proclaimed, smiling broadly.

Luchesio and Buonadonna hugged each other, then they hugged Francis. All three were smiling, and crying with joy.

"Please do me a favor," Francis said. "Make a copy of this rule. Make several copies. When I return this way I will take one of them to show Cardinal Ugolino to get his opinion. Knowing him and the Holy Father there will be changes suggested. But this is a start. And please, share it with like-minded people and invite them to join."

"We will do that," Luchesio said.

"We already know some people who would join," Buonadonna added.

"Good," Francis said. "And now I must be on my way. I have to get to Umbria. I've heard a report that the good people of Gubbio are having a disagreement with Brother Wolf."

Buonadonna gave him a loaf of bread and a gourd filled with well water. He walked out the door. Luchesio and Buonadonna stood together just outside the door.

"Be safe, Francis," Luchesio said.

"Return soon," Buonadonna added.

Francis smiled and bowed, then began walking down the road.

"I bet he eats little of that bread," Luchesio said. "He will meet a beggar, or some birds."

"That's why I hid a second loaf in his bag," Buonadonna said.

Luchesio laughed and hugged her.

"I married a good woman," he declared.

 ***** 

This is, of course, a fictionalized version of how the Order of Poverty - later known as the Third Order of St. Francis, and now as the Secular Franciscan Order - began. Blessed Luchesio, who was a repentant greedy merchant, and Buonadonna are indeed credited with being the first members, living under a simple version of the Rule. That rule was in effect for several years, and then was revised by Cardinal Ugolino to be more formal and legal in nature, and was approved by Pope Honorius III in 1221, the year Secular Franciscans celebrate as the year their order was officially founded. 

Pax et bonum