“God is enough.” These words from our tour guide perhaps summarize the experiences of the saints who were venerated by the pilgrims today.
As we began our day with a 6AM wake-up call, I couldn’t help but find myself full of excitement to visit the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Walking up to this magnificent church felt like a dream. The puffy clouds had halos of the golden morning light. I was surrounded by the smiles and laughter of our pilgrims, many of whom were refreshed by a solid night of sleep. Then, upon entering the church, there was silence.
Venturing down into the lower chapel, I came before the tomb of St. Francis, the poor Friar of Assisi. Archbishop Sample celebrated the votive Mass of St. Francis, Fr. Peter Julia gave a moving homily, and I was blessed to serve at the altar of the tomb. We were in wondrous awe and adoration before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist; the same Jesus loved and adored by Saint Francis.
Yet, St. Francis was not the only saint in Assisi with a profound love for Jesus in the Eucharist. On the tour we prayed in the chapel that held Blessed Carlo Acutis’ body. It filled me with joy, while at the same time I felt deeply challenged to grow in my love for the Eucharistic Lord. Perhaps it is a challenge for all of us to be zealous witnesses to our belief in our Lord’s Eucharistic presence. In my visit to Carlo Acutis I was convicted of the truth that death never has the final say. We are grounded in the hope of eternal life and in the resurrection of the dead.
Seeing the body of St. Clare was another testament to this truth. She, and St. Francis, ran the race in imitation of the Lord by renouncing material wealth in a time when God was unpopular. Why? Because, to Francis and Clare, God was enough! With Christ they found a fulfillment of the desires of the heart that nothing in the world could satisfy.
Oh, how much I need the example of Francis, Clare, and Carlo to allow God to be enough for me. I was inspired to understand more clearly that it is not what I possess that is important, but how much I allow myself to be possessed by the love of Christ. As Fr. Peter said in his homily, “Saint Francis’ encounter with the Lord radically changed his life. He abandoned himself to be united to Christ so much so that the Lord shared the stigmata with him. When people saw him, they saw Christ.”
I prayed the following for you all before the cross of San Damiano: Adoro te, O Christe crucifixe quia per crucem tuam redemisti me, et per vulneram tuam sanauisti me, et per mortem tuam ad vitam restibuisti me. Miserere mei. Amen.