ADVENT: Waiting and Conversion, Part 1: "Enlighten the darkness of my heart."

During Advent we wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that he walked on this earth. We know that he is always with us in the Eucharist. But now, we wait for Him to come again. For three weeks we will focus on the prayer that St. Francis prayed as he knelt before the Crucifix of San Damiano. Each part of it has significance during this time of waiting and conversion.

 Most High, glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart

and give me true faith, certain hope,

and perfect charity,

sense and knowledge, Lord,

that I may carry out Your holy and true command.

https://franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-prayer-before-the-crucifix/58- fa-ed-1-page-40

 Part one: Daily Conversion “Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart”

 CONSIDER: Our Rule: Article 7— “United by their vocation as “brothers and sisters of penance”, and motivated by the dynamic power of the gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel itself calls “conversion.” Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily. On this road to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation is the privileged sign of the Father’s mercy and the source of grace.”

 Admonition 22: Correction

1. Blessed is the servant who endures discipline, accusation, and reprimand from another as patiently as he would from himself.

2. Blessed is the servant who, after being reprimanded, agrees courteously, submits respectfully, admits humbly, and makes amends willingly.

3. Blessed is the servant who is not quick to excuse himself, and endures with humility, shame, and reprimand for a sin, when he did not commit the fault.

https://franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undatedwritings/the-admonitions/151-fa-ed-1-page-135

 During Advent, we examine our lives to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Now is a good time to see if we are living up to the call for daily conversion in our lives.

 Questions for discussion or to answer in your journal:

 1. How do you live up to our call to daily conversion?

2. During Advent, what spiritual improvements would you like to make in your life—even if they are little ones?

3. What were some of the key points of Francis’s conversion? How did he follow through? What can those moments teach us?

 Thank you to Anne Mulqueen, OFS, NFC Spiritual Assistant, for her inspiration