APRIL 2, 2025 – LENT DAY 29 – ST. FRANCIS OF PAULA.

• St. Francis of Paola (1507). Founder or Foundress, Religious. (Current, Traditional) Founder of the Minim Friars.

AT the age of fifteen, Francis left his poor home at Paula in Calabria to live as a hermit in a cave by the sea-coast. In time disciples gathered round him, and with them, in 1436, he founded the “Minims,” so called to show that they were the least of monastic Orders. They observed a perpetual Lent, and never touched meat, fish, eggs, or milk. Francis himself made the rock his bed; his best garment was a hair shirt, and boiled herbs his only fare. As his body withered, his faith grew powerful, and he did all things in Him who strengthened him.” He cured the sick, raised the dead, averted plagues, expelled evil spirits, and brought sinners to penance. A famous preacher, instigated by a few misguided monks, set to work to preach against St. Francis and his miracles. The Saint took no notice of it, and the preacher, finding that he made no way with his hearers, determined to see this poor hermit, and confound him in person. The Saint received him kindly, gave him a seat by the fire, and listened to a long exposition of his own frauds. He then quietly took some glowing embers from the fire, and closing his hands upon them unhurt, said, “Come, Father Anthony, warm yourself, for you are shivering for want of a little charity.” Father Anthony, falling at the Saint’s feet, asked for pardon, and then, having received his embrace, quitted him, to become his panegyrist and attain himself to great perfection. When the avaricious King Ferdinand of Naples offered him money for his convent, Francis told him to give it back to his oppressed subjects, and softened his heart by causing blood to flow from the ill-gotten coin. Louis XI of France, trembling at the approach of death, sent for the poor hermit to ward off the foe whose advance neither his fortresses nor his guards could check. Francis went by the Pope’s command, and prepared the king for a holy death. The successors of Louis showered favors on the Saint, his Order spread throughout Europe, and his name was reverenced through the Christian world. He died at the age of ninety-one, on Good Friday, 1507, with the crucifix in his hand, and the last words of Jesus on his lips, “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”

REFLECTION: Rely in all difficulties upon God. That which enabled St. Francis to work miracles will in proportion do wonders for yourself, by giving you strength and consolation.

WORD OF THE DAY

PREDETERMINATION. Also called "physical premotion," to explain how God’s sovereignty includes also the free actions of men. According to this theory, first developed by Dominic Banez (1529-1604) and later adopted by the Dominican Order, God has predetermined from all eternity that certain people shall be saved. For the realization of this he bestows effective grace on these people. In this way he physically affects the free will of the elect, and so secures that they decide freely to co-operate with grace. Efficacious grace, by its inner power, therefore, infallibly brings it about that the elect freely consent to do those salutary acts which merit eternal salvation. Thus it is substantially different from sufficient grace, which merely confers the power to do a salutary act. In order that this potency may be translated into act, another new, inherently different grace (efficacious grace) must appear. From all eternity God has decreed the free assent of the human will to the efficacious grace, whereby he brings about salvation for those who fall within his decree.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

LENT MEDITATION DAY 29

Enjoy daily meditations this lent from Fr. Richard Clarke, SJ. Short and powerful, written in 1880 for busy lay people to reap rewards through lent. (includes audio): Lent Day 29: Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent — The Scourging.

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