ST. FRANCIS FEAST.

If you think positive…….

                The sound becomes music,

                The movements becomes dance,

                The smile becomes laughter,

                The mind becomes meditation and

                The life becomes celebration….. sure

It’s always spring time for those who love God and that’s the reason there’s a fragrant wave pervading everywhere and the rays of the gladness penetrating every nook and corner of this house. Yes, dear friends, there’s a throbbing joy and vibrating love enveloping our hearts, as we celebrate the feast of “ A MESSENGER OF GOD’S LOVE, The Patron of Ecology,” namely St. Francis of Assisi. We warmly welcome each one of you dear Rev. Fathers, brothers, sisters and my dear friends, to this Solemn Eucharistic celebration.

Today is a grace filled day for all the Franciscans all over the world, as we commemorate and celebrate the feast of our Father Francis. It’s a day of love. It’s a day of togetherness. It’s a day to rejoice and a day to give thanks to God for the blessings and graces. We have received through our patron St. Francis.

Francis was born in 1182 at Assisi in Italy as a son of a wealthy merchant. His wealth and love of life made him leader of Assisi’s youth but once he understood his call, he turned his heart and mind completely to God. It is from the crucifix that Francis received his life’s mandate. His soul melted at the sight of Jesus on the cross and the memory of Christ’s passion was imprinted in the depth of his heart. No human could ever describe the passionate love with which Francis “burnt for Christ” his spouse. He used to say, “Greatly to be loved, is His love, who loved us so greatly.” Francis was so inflamed with love for the Holy Eucharist that he often says to his brothers, “Eucharist is the moment where in, we can see, touch and taste God’s Love.”

For Francis, consecrated life is a Life of love and Relationship. It is a relationship with God. A Relationship with human beings and a Relationship with the Nature.

We believe that only Love has the capacity to create and recreate, to unite and to re-unite the entire creation of God and Francis had done it through his love of Christ, revealed in the creation. Yes dear friends..

The virtue of HUMILITY was his hallmark,

Poverty was his way of life

Simplicity was his rule of life,

Love of God and Love of neighbour was his Spirituality

Obedience was his Guardian

Hospitality was his innate quality

Moments of prayer and contemplation was his only nourishment….

This is how he distinguished himself from others and brought impact on the lives of many, throughout the world.

Today the mother Church rejoices because it received SECOND CHRIST in the person of St. Francis.

Today the entire creation is in the mood of jubilation because it received a SON who loved them and called them as his Mother, Brother and Sister.

Today we the Franciscans are in a mood of celebration because we have received in Francis….

A Father who guide us,

A Patron who intercede for us,

A model who inspire us,

A Leader who lead us,

A Brother who edifies us… and

A Companion who walks with us and through us.

Yes dear friends, he is our patron, St. Francis of Assisi and we are proud to trade the path shown by him as Franciscans and today we pray that we all may become messengers of God’s love and compassion to the people whom we serve.

Today we thank God for each of you dear fathers, brothers and sister, who have come to join us in our celebration and we ask you to pray for the entire Franciscan Order, especially for us CFMSS. For our Institute, our Mother General, all our Provincials and their Councillors and each member of our institute that each of us may grow and work in our Franciscan family, spreading the fragrance of love, peace and joy wherever we are. Praying for these intentions let us partake in this Eucharistic Celebration.