These are the visions
Of those who have suffered
.
More than the mind
Can imagine
.
Offering strange consolation
To the hardest of hearts.
.
Consolation
Category: The Flowering of the Poverello
The Moment
.
The moment
Of death
.
Will be ours too
One day
.
Will we then be able
To bless and say
.
‘At your going out and in your dying
May God be with you’?
.
.
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The Vision
.
I saw millions
Of souls
.
Freed
From their torment
.
Flying
Like spirits
.
To their heavenly
Home.
.
Inspiring Paintings: Like a Child
This amazing painting by Giotto captures the dramatic moment when St. Francis of Assisi (on the right, naked) throws off all his clothes in protest to his father (being restrained on the left), who was a rich merchant.
Francis says that he will from now on only follow his “heavenly father” (you can see the hand of God at the top of the painting).
I love the expression on the bishop’s face (who covers up Francis), the children front left who are caught up in the drama without really understanding what is going on, the onlookers, who probably also weren’t exactly sure what was going on apart from a domestic row, and the way Giotto uses the building to highlight the conflict between the two parties.
I wrote this poem about this moment in Francis’ life, captured so beautifully by the painting:
The bishop holds him
like a child
.
And in his nakedness
we see our own condition
.
Without impressiveness
without pretence
.
Open
to grace.
The Flowering
The tree spread its branches
over all the world
and its fruit glowed like all souls
.
And the chalice of the spirit of life
was taken by angels
for those to drink
transforming them
so they shine like the sun
.
And when the whirlwind came
those who had refused
were shown to be spirits
resembling devils
scuttling away into the darkness
.
Whilst others became golden
the flowering of the glory of grace.
.
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Communion
I was
With you
.
I heard
Your singing
.
I journeyed
In your prayers
.
The distance
Between us
.
Vanished
In our communion.
.
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Imprint of Love
She blesses
The bread
.
Leaving the imprint
Of love
.
On our
Minds.
.
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Elsewhere
The blessings
Came from elsewhere
.
Translated
You witness the worship
.
Of another time
Moved beyond
.
The confines
Of your limited world.
.
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To the Glory of Paradise
Can you believe
That your prayers
.
Could turn one
So close to death
.
To the glory
Of paradise?
.
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Mirror of Kindliness
His soul was a mirror
of kindliness
.
Sensed the arrival
of God’s visitation
.
He wrapped his arms around one
tugged by temptation
.
And prayed the prayer
of his soul’s salvation.
.
