Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Happy Feastday! This morning there was solemn Mass celebrated at our Custody's main church of St. Saviour. As is the usual custom, the main celebrant of the Mass is a Dominican friar. And on the feast of St Dominic, it's a Franciscan who presides at their Mass. It's an ancient custom that goes way back ... apparently Francis and Dominic were friends.

Yesterday evening's Vespers and Transitus was simple and nice. Religious from all other congregations came to join in, as well as local christians. The liturgy recalled the death of St Francis, how he asked the Gospel of John to be read, a psalm sung and finally the Canticle of the Sun. Then he died, lying naked on the floor because he wanted to be poor up to the very end of his life. Surrounded by his brothers, they wept as the Little Poor Man breathed his last breath. I think scholars suggested that Francis by then was emaciated due to his severe fasting, blind, possibly with stomach ulcers, liver and kidney dysfuntion. And of course anaemic because his 5 wounds kept bleeding every day right up to his death. Can't help thinking of poor Fr Johannes Sweetser who died last week. And Daniel Cavero who loved St Francis. And so many others whom I knew. Today they will celebrate with St Francis in heaven. They are so happy. You know, people are captivated by Francis because he was a normal person like us, and he had dreams and aspirations. But instead of following the crowd, he dared to be different. He chose to be poor while his world chased after wealth and greed; he chose simplicity while the world complicated itself; he chose joy while the rest of the world sought to hate and revenge. And this paradox is our daily experience; it struggles within us. How wonderful to be joyous, uncluttered and simple. No double talk, no hidden agendas, no greed. Francis was truly a free man.

More riots this morning at our place. I saw soldiers and police in the streets while on my way up to St. Saviour's. Helicopters flying above. It looked pretty tense but I didn't realise how serious until I read the news. Better stay indoors. The police have closed the Mosque again and no one could enter to pray. Well there were muslim rumours that the police were letting Jews enter the Mosque to pray - today being the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Let's see how things will develope today. Check out http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1118665.html# and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254393091294&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull