Holy Spirit, help me remember my mortality, to set enmity aside and be true to your ways…

 
Sirach 27:30 – 28:7

 
A small statue of St. Francis of Assisi came my way years ago. Just recently I noticed a skull peaking out from behind the Saint’s habit – a jarring reminder that indeed the only certain thing about life is death! Further research into the life of St. Francis and many other saints underscores how holy men and women through the ages have used their lives to become friendly with death, allowing the fact of their own mortality to in-form and shape their lives.  If I see my life simply as the here and now with all its memories, thoughts and will power unleashed to wander where they will, my life journey can quickly become boundless and shapeless.  But when I study and submit to the guidelines and the parameters of my earthly existence, like St. Francis and other holy men and women - most of all, perhaps,  those in the company of the martyrs through the ages- then I realize that my life in this body, in this environment on earth are finite; that each day, each moment, is a rich and measured gift from Father God. It is then that I realize I don’t have time for enmity – or worry about temporal relationships and possessions.  I only have time to study and be true to God’s ways.  Will I fearfully put away all thoughts of my mortality, or will I allow an understanding of my own death from earth to inform and shape my life?  Holy Spirit, help me remember my mortality, to set enmity aside and be true to your ways.
                                    
Bless the Lord, O my soul,  let all that is within me bless his holy name!
(Psalm 103:1)
 
May the power of your love, O Lord, fiery and sweet as honey, wean my heart from all that is under heaven, so that I may die for love of your love, you who were so good as to die for love of my love.
St. Francis of Assisi
 
Listen to Make Me A Channel of Your Peace- The Prayer of St. Francis:  https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tFP1zcsNM2qyjXNKjNg9JLPTcxOVchNVUhUSM5IzMtLzVHIT1OozC8tUihITUxOBQBp2A-_&q=make+me+a+channel+of+your+peace&rlz=1C1SQJL_enCA890CA891&oq=Make+me+a+Channel+&aqs=chrome.3.0i67i650j69i57j46i340i512l2j0i512l6.12559j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:14a041c6,vid:fYz14jEoaeU,st:0
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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