Butch's Blog for Feb. 17
Butch Ritter
The women of Old Mission had a retreat at a center named after Saint Francis. Some were wondering about him. I can share a story about this 13th century monk.
He planned to go to a nearby village on a preaching mission and invited a novice to join him. On their way, they passed an injured man. Francis stopped, saw to the poor fellow’s needs and arranged medical care for him. They went on but soon came to a hungry, homeless man. Again Francis stopped and cared for the man. It was like that all day- people in need, Francis caring for them. It was growing dark when Francis said they should return to the monastery for evening prayers. The novice objected, “But, Father, you said we were coming to town to preach to the people.” Francis smiled and said, “That’s what we have been doing all day.”
Ministry to people in Italy in need. It gets you a retreat center built in Missouri 800 years later to help heal tired United Methodist souls.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
-The Prayer of Saint Francis