St. Francis Was More Than a Lover of Animals

About this sermon

Who was the real St. Francis of Assisi? Popular culture often remembers him primarily for animals and nature, but his deepest identity was that of a saint consumed by love for Jesus Christ Crucified. On the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, this sermon recounts the extraordinary events at Mount La Verna in 1224, when St. Francis received the wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side. Drawing upon St. Bonaventure’s account, we learn how prayer, contemplation and compassion for Christ’s Passion transformed Francis into a living image of the Crucified Savior. The sermon also explains what the stigmata is, the signs associated with an authentic stigmatic, and why these wounds should lead us toward deeper union with Christ through frequent Confession, worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist and loving acceptance of our daily crosses. The Cross is not a sign of defeat. In Christ, suffering becomes a meeting place with divine love and a path toward resurrection, grace, peace and glory. 00:00 Opening prayer and taking up the Cross 00:41 Who was the real St. Francis? 01:29 Conformed to Jesus Christ Crucified 02:04 Confession, the Eucharist and union with Christ 02:21 Medieval devotion to the Passion 02:54 What is the stigmata? 03:28 The five wounds of Christ 04:17 How the Church examines reported stigmata 05:08 Characteristics of genuine stigmata 06:05 Humility and concealment of the wounds 06:38 St. Francis journeys to Mount La Verna 07:00 St. Francis receives the stigmata 07:31 His brothers discover the wounds 07:46 Contemplating the life and Passion of Christ 08:02 St. Francis’ life of constant prayer 08:45 St. Bonaventure’s account begins 09:20 The vision of the crucified Seraph 10:07 Joy and sorrow in the vision 10:30 Transformed into an image of Christ Crucified 11:24 The wounds appear in his body 11:58 The Cross reveals the love of God 12:20 Three feasts centered upon the Cross 12:42 Christ’s open arms invite us 13:15 Asking Our Lady for the invisible stigmata 13:39 St. Veronica Giuliani 14:04 The Five Wounds impressed upon the soul 14:22 Closing prayer Share this sermon with someone who wants to know the authentic spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. #StFrancisOfAssisi #Stigmata #CatholicSermon For more please visit https://www.themarianfranciscans.org/ Please sign up at this link https://lifecrusade.org/ #StFrancis #Stigmata #CatholicFaith #CatholicHomily #PadrePio #CatholicChurch #CatholicSaints #StCatherineOfSiena #VeronicaGiuliani #CatholicDevotion #CatholicSermon #CatholicYouTube #CatholicMiracles 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴