Sunrise: 7:08
Sunset: 18:49
Ave Maria: 19:00… it has changed cycles.
FYI… lately I have celebrated Masses requested by:
KS, SF, KM, JH and DCS
On Monday I’ll start with several from PS and MF
It is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Patron of Italy. This used to be a national holiday but it was abolished in 1977. It was just restored by the Italian parliament, with the senate giving it final approval on Wednesday. It take effect from 2026. to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis in 2026, thus bringing to 12 the number of national public holidays in Italy.
Some people have a false notion of St. Francis of Assisi. They see garden statues of Francis with birdies. They saw Brother Sun, Sister Moon. They’ve heard, or said, the prayer he didn’t write. You get the idea. Being Christian means rolling in the grass and hugging lambs as bluebirds flit around you while singing songs from Godspell.
In fact, Francis was a serious hard ass. The writings of Francis show that he had lofty ideas about the sacrality of sacred worship – HERE – and other matters. He would have been appalled at the Novus Ordo as it is employed and outraged (pace Franciscan of Charlotte) at the treatment of people who desire tradition.
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I’m very tired, so I will not go into much detail.
No exciting food shots. I didn’t eat at all until about 8PM.
Mushrooms in the market.
Puntarelle at my usual stand with TWBS™ being a smarticus pantsicus.
I went to the swearing in of the Swiss Guards. It was postponed to now, because the regular date in early May was sede vacante.
On my way up the Borgo Pio. You all know this one.
Inside the Vatican (I can still go in) at the Vatican Bank ATM to check on my account.
In the Cortile before Leo XIV arrived and the ceremony started. Pano, therefore distorted
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Merriam-Webster describes the phrase “hard-ass” as “slang, often vulgar”. Isn’t there a less objectionable phrase which could be used?
St. Francis, “hard Brother Ass.”
Wish the Swiss Guard had an official men’s prayer association. You join and support and pray for them. Kind of an auxiliary.
You’re speaking my language, father. I tell people to please read the only approved book on Saint Francis of Assisi, little flowers of Saint Francis. I read it every couple of years. It is a humbling experience to read the book. it is said that he sits on the throne that was abandoned by Lucifer.
“Merriam-Webster describes the phrase “hard-ass” as “slang, often vulgar”. Isn’t there a less objectionable phrase which could be used?”
I think we would be better served if we got rid of some Father Rainbows and Bishop BunchedUndies and had more priests acting like soldiers.
That parenthetical “(I can still go in)” is sort of disturbing.
Thank you for clearing that up about Saint Francis. I’m a 3rd Order Franciscan and have never been into that prayer.
NO didn’t exist in 1226, so St. Francis had to be a trad by default. And one must admit, he was pretty radical.
And Saint Anthony, with the title HAMMER OF HERETICS! was also not likely loopy, either…
Thanks for bringing up that St. Francis of Assissi was a strong man. The last several years I have been reading more about Male Saints. Since I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s I never learned much about the lives of the Saints (except for New Orleans.)
Im in the middle of a move of household so all of a sudden youre in Rome, great! Fix things there, Father, will you? Regarding St Francis, I know Ive mentioned this book before and maybe others hate it but I completely loved the book “Salvation” by Valerie Martin, on the life of St Francis. A really unique read, i thought. Her writing paints such visuals in your mind. I literally laughed out loud at a few points. Five stars.
This is one reason I’m not in favor of the common Novus Ordo practice of bringing animals to be blessed on St. Francis’ feast day as it emphasizes that misconception about him. Fortunately our FSSP parish had none of that nonsense and Saturday we had a beautiful High Mass sung by the men’s choir and was all about it being First Saturday and the Saint, and not an animal in sight.
If I recall accurately, the biography of Saint Francis that you recommended was by Fr. Augustine Thompson, OP, entitled “Francis of Assisi: A New Biography”.