The Stigmata of St Francis (17 September) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On September 17, the Catholic Church commemorates the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi—the extraordinary moment when the wounds of Jesus Christ were mystically impressed upon the saint’s hands, feet, and side. The Stigmata were a personal glory for St. Francis, but their significance extends far beyond one saint. They reveal the continuing presence of Christ’s mysteries within His Mystical Body, the Church. As charity grew cold and society began turning away from the Faith, God raised up Francis as a living image of Christ crucified. Two years before his death, St. Francis withdrew to Mount Alvernia for a forty-day fast in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. Inflamed with love for God and compassion for the Passion of Christ, Francis saw a remarkable vision near the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. A radiant Seraph with six fiery wings descended from Heaven. As it approached, Francis saw that the heavenly figure was also crucified. The vision filled his soul with both joy and sorrow: joy at its loving appearance and sorrow at the sight of the Crucifixion. Through an interior revelation, Francis understood that he was to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus crucified—not through bodily martyrdom, but through the burning love of his soul. When the vision disappeared, the marks of the nails appeared in his hands and feet. A wound resembling the piercing of a lance opened in his right side and frequently shed blood, staining his clothing. St. Francis descended the mountain bearing the image of the Crucified—not carved upon wood or stone by an artist, but engraved upon his flesh by the finger of the living God. Although Francis attempted to conceal the sacred marks, God revealed their power through miracles. Pope Benedict XI established an annual commemoration of the event, and Pope Paul V later extended the feast to the Universal Church. This reading from The Liturgical Year invites us to carry the wounds of Christ spiritually within our souls, to embrace the Cross, return love for love, and bring forth worthy fruits of penance. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us that our hearts may burn with love for Christ crucified. 00:00 Introduction 00:21 The Marvels of Divine Grace in St. Francis 00:29 The Mystical Meaning of the Stigmata 00:44 When Charity Had Grown Cold 01:00 The Church Enters Her Hour of Passion 01:22 The Holy Spirit Chooses Francis 01:47 Union of the Mystical Body with Christ Crucified 02:13 St. Bonaventure’s Account of the Miracle 02:21 Francis Begins His Fast on Mount Alvernia 02:37 Heavenly Contemplation and Celestial Desire 03:00 Transformed by Love for Christ Crucified 03:07 The Six-Winged Seraph Descends 03:16 The Vision Approaches St. Francis 03:24 Francis Sees the Crucified Seraph 03:41 Joy and Sorrow Fill His Soul 04:05 The Interior Meaning of the Vision 04:21 Becoming a Living Image of Christ Crucified 04:39 The Vision Disappears 04:46 The Marks of the Nails Appear 05:01 The Wound in His Side 05:19 Francis Descends from the Mountain 05:26 Engraved by the Finger of the Living God 05:36 Francis Attempts to Hide the Stigmata 05:50 God Reveals the Hidden Miracle 06:05 Pope Benedict XI Establishes the Feast 06:19 Pope Paul V Extends It to the Church 06:36 Glorying in the Cross of Christ 06:44 Carrying the Stigmata in Our Souls 06:53 Returning Love for Love 07:09 Prayer for Love, Penance, and Perseverance https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-17-the-stigmata-of-st-francis/ #StFrancis #Stigmata #FeastDay #Catholic #CatholicChurch #Franciscan #Assisi #LaVerna #MountAlvernia #CatholicPrayer #CatholicLiturgy #MysticalTheology #PassionOfChrist #ExaltationOfTheHolyCross 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴