Say the word 'stigmata' to most people and they will have no idea what you are talking about. Not so the 160 or so Franciscans who turned up to celebrate the stigamata of St Francis at Hilfield on the 17th.
The story begins in 1224, two years before his death. Francis was observing a forty day fast on Mt La Verna in northern Italy. He withdrew from his brothers and only his closest companion was allowed to approach him once a day to bring him bread and water.
Francis became so caught up in the mysteries of the Passion that he prayed for one thing only, that he might share in the suffering of Christ so that he could understand the love that God felt for the world from the Cross.
Bonaventure, in his Life of St Francis, describes what happened next.
He saw a Seraph with six fiery and shining wings descend from the height of heaven. And when in swift flight the Seraph had reached a spot in the air near the man of God, there appeared between the wings the figure of a man crucified, with his hands and feet extended in the form of a cross and fastened to a cross... When Francis saw this, he was overwhelmed and his heart was flooded with a mixture of joy and sorrow.
He wondered exceedingly at the sight of so unfathomable a vision... Eventually he understood by a revelation from the Lord that divine providence had shown him this vision so that, as Christ's lover, he might learn in advance that he was to be totally transformed into the likeness of Christ crucified, not by the martydom of his flesh, but by the fire of his love consuming his soul.
As the vision disappeared, it left in his heart a marvellous ardour and imprinted on his body markings that were no less marvellous. Immediately the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet just as he had seen a little before in the figure of the man crucified.... Also his right side, as if pierced with a lance, was marked with a red wound from which his sacred blood often flowed.
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Domenico Veneziano's Stigmatisation of St Francis
The feast of the Stigmata is one of the most important for Franciscans, because it embodies the theology that makes Franciscans special - that it is through an utter and joyful outpouring of love for God and for all His creation that we can truly come close to what it means to be Christ-like - not through guilt and making oneself miserable.
We were very lucky to have the Revd Charlie Allen, Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Salisbury, with us for the mass. In her sermon, she talked about how St Francis embodied the love of God. That was why he was marked with the wounds of Christ. He was one of the few people who have truly loved as God loves us.
Charlie and Br Damian not discussing serious matters
The weather was absolutely perfect for an outside mass. About 160 Franciscans of all types came and the Hilfield community had pulled out all the stops to welcome them.
You wouldn't guess it's a trellis table would you?
Adam, Br Giles and Br Raymond Christian in full vestments at the distribution
(Giles quite hot under the collar by this point)
And of course, SSF being part of the Church of England, there was a massive quantity of cake afterwards. We still haven't managed to eat all of the leftovers.
Michael getting into cake distribution
The volunteers being introduced to the gathered throng
(From left: Lyndon, Me, Michael, Frerik and Jon)
The highlight of the day was Revd Charlie's talk in the afternoon on Vocational Living. Charlie argued well that the Church is too focused on 'bums-on-seats' mentality, when it is actually quite easy to get people into the physical church building. What we should be asking is where people are on their spiritual journey, and how the church could help them. So many people are interested in God but so few will ever feel their questions are actually answered to enable them to ask different ones.
She also argued that we should remember that everyone has a vocation, citing the case of a friend who feels a strong vocation to his current role as a headmaster of a school. If we are called to live in the image of Christ, why do we never think about our life choices in terms of calling unless it is to a Church role?
Much food for thought. Charlie Allen for Archbishop!!!
SHORT SUMMARY: Things going bonkers, but in the best possible way, and I am thinking more than I did doing a Law degree.
NEXT TIME: How to torture mudbugs.
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