St Francis Paola (1416-1507), an extraordinary miracle worker, founded an order of Franciscan hermits: The Minims. They were to be ‘minimal’ in their possessions and diet and in the eyes of the world. They also took a fourth vow: to perpetually live in accordance with the Church’s ancient Lenten discipline. Theirs was a lifelong fast and abstinence from meat and all animal products. St. Francis required this rigor as a heroic act of mortification and to make reparation for the laxity that had entered into Christians’ lenten practices — in the 15th century! He knew that any austerity can be embraced with God’s help. In his day, ecclesial authority had mitigated lenten penances to tolerate the lukewarmness of believers. What would St. Francis of Paola say of the 21st century? We are far too soft and comfortable. This has dire consequences. The observance of Lent is the very badge of Christian warfare. Well do we know that we deserve divine chastisement. Yet where is our penance to appease the wrath of God? Live this Lent like no other before!
<< All Audio
DVRodriguez2021-02-16T07:37:37-05:00