THE POWER OF PILGRIMAGE

It has been 10 years since I was given the opportunity to join Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs on a journey to Assisi and Rome. Each day of my life since then has been touched by those 10 days. Below are a few of the gifts of being welcomed into the Franciscan family:

I’ve learned from Francis the rhythm of contemplation and action, and the importance of a heart turned to God. Just as breath is not life-sustaining with solely an exhale or an inhale – we must have both – so we must have both contemplation and action in our lives. And, just as air is the completely necessary foundation for breath – for breath is ‘nothing’ without it – so my action and contemplation must relate to God, the unseen but wholly Good foundation of all.

I’ve learned from Francis to embrace that which has been difficult for me to love or understand. Francis’ life changed when he embraced someone of whom he was afraid – a person with leprosy. At the end of his life, Francis said it was that embrace that transformed him; it led to a turning away from the values of the world and toward a life lived in relation to the goodness of God. Taking a lesson from Francis, I, too, have found a door to understanding and love can open through action. Action informs the heart and opens the closed path. It moves us to a level of understanding beyond mere words. 800 years later we continue to live in relation to that first embrace of Francis, and his example continues to open doorways for understanding and love.

I learned from Francis the importance of receiving. Standing as a pilgrim on the stone plaza at Greccio, where Francis reenacted the first nativity, I stood open to “receiving” the day and the pilgrims who were with me. What does this mean? It means being open to enjoyment of the good in the day – from the silver clouds covering the valley and warm sunlight on stone – to the joy of fraternitas and simple good so clearly alive in each person. St. Francis taught me that it is good to give, but it’s also important to receive. As I reflected on pilgrimage, I came to understand that with Francis and Clare’s choice of voluntary poverty, they became great receivers. Everything became gift.

That small taste of receiving God’s good has stayed with me for 10 years. I remain grateful to my pilgrims and guides, to Francis and Clare, and to each of you – all of us on the Franciscan journey – for opening space for God, and Good, in life and for the encouragement to each of us to live more fully in spirit, in life.

I’ll end with the beautiful prayer:

Glory Be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Have a blessed joy-full day!

Mary Beth Wisniewski
Director of Public Relations
Franciscan Pilgrimage Program

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