In this third week of our Lenten series on St. Francisco and the Beatitudes, Jesus told the crowds, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
In His message of Divine Mercy, Jesus demanded acts of mercy toward our neighbor – by deed, word and prayer. In this way, we show our unquestionable love for Him and glorify His mercy.
St. Francisco demonstrated mercy by constantly putting others before him, giving his lunches away to the poor, and correcting those who offended by their words or actions.
His docile disposition was the empty vessel by which God could cultivate a rich and profound holiness that led him to personify Mary’s words at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.”
He once told Lucia, “Our Lady told us we were going to have to suffer much! I don’t care. I will suffer as much as she wants.”
Francisco’s greatest acts of mercy were his many sufferings offered with such great love and patience to the Heart of Christ. So united was he with the sufferings of his Savior, he had a hard time staying away from the church, where he could pray for others before the tabernacle.
Therefore, when Our Lord asked of him the sacrifice of his life at such a young age, his indifferent response was to be happy that he would see heaven. He mercifully offered all of the pain and agony of the Spanish flu that afflicted him for more than six months. Laying in bed, barely able to move, he kept his mind on the sufferings of Christ in His passion.
Because of his mercy, suffering and praying deeply for the sake of others, Francisco helped bring many people to the grace of healing, faith and conversion.
Ask St. Francisco to help you show mercy to others through deed, word and prayer.
