Few saints have experienced and demonstrated the love-union with God like St Francis of Assisi.

The key ingredient of his journey into God was his devotion to ‘Lady Poverty’. He studiously sought to hold on to nothing so that he would experience everything that came his way as a gift from God. In this way, he grew so aware of the love of our Father that it shone from him.

As and older, sick man, Francis would be helped by his brethren into a town, and grace was experienced by people in wonderful ways just because of his presence. Hardened sinners changed, broken relationships were repaired, the depressed were touched with hope, and sufferers were released. Thousands imitated him and became Franciscans or followers of St Clare, his sister on the journey. In that way he fulfilled the command given him by God as a young man, ‘Francis, rebuild my Church’.

One day, he was praying and became intensely wrapped up in the passionate love that Jesus has for all humanity. He saw Christ suffering on the cross and was so desirous of sharing that love that the very wounds of Christ came into his body. He retained the Stigmas for the rest of his life.

To non-spiritual observers this suggests an unhealthy obsession with suffering. To those who have begun to sense the spiritual, it demonstrates Francis’ enviable, passionate love for all people. It shows how much he was swept up in that love which causes Jesus and his people to bear valiantly the pain of those who would otherwise be crushed beyond their limit.

That redemptive suffering opens spaces for grace to penetrate and work its wonders in burdened souls. The more we have a knowing of the immense desire of the Trinity to include everybody in their rich life of love, the more we count the price as negligible. 

Another example of such a great soul was St Bernadette. Mary, the ‘beautiful Lady’ who appeared to her, wrapped her into an ecstatic sharing in her own prayer. Next Mary told Bernadette that she would know suffering in this world, but she would know everlasting joy in heaven. After her experiences of bliss, she readily accepted suffering.

But I am sure she would have experienced great temptations not to stick to her decision. She must have – she was human. I take comfort that my temptations to ease up on the journey with Jesus is human as well. But I know that, slowly but surely, I am sharing, in tiny steps, the love of the Jesus for all.

Contemplation is the journey into the burning love of Jesus for our Father, and with him into the infinite love of our Father for every person. That journey will challenge you and also surprise you. It is the adventure for which you were made.

It is a lie if it does not lead you to continual conversion. Conversion is the steps we take into the love of God, which is the same as becoming our true selves. The grace of God wants to develop your inner self, your true being, bit by bit and gradually. Remember that the way to test whether God is working in your being is to ask: Despite the pains, is what I am experiencing characterised by love and joy?

Bishop Langton Fox said: "If the love of God is flowing in your heart, let it pull up the corners of your mouth".

When we think of St Francis and others sharing in the passion of Jesus, it is important to remember that passion has two meanings. One is to suffer grievously, the other is to be driven by an extraordinarily powerful love. It is fashionable for people applying for a job to declare to their interviewers that they are passionate about the work. That often sounds thin. Those who share in the passionate love of Jesus move mountains.

You are given the great dignity of being one of Jesus' mountain movers. Do not be put off by the continual evidence of you own weakness. Jesus said to St Paul when he asked to have his weakness removed: "My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9).

The Kingdom is counter intuitive. The more we diminish the more Jesus lives in us.  The more he lives in us the more light shines from us. We will constantly be surprised by the upside-down view of things that we begin to see as right-side-up. The meek inherit the earth, the poor inherit the Kingdom of God, persecution gets you a pass into God's family. The journey will be more than surprising -sometimes it will be perplexing, but through continually returning to the contemplation of God, more and wonderful meanings will become clear.

When St Peter started to walk on water,  he took his eyes off Jesus and stared down at the deep. Then he started to sink. What was Jesus' comment? "Why did you doubt, man of little faith?" (Matthew 14: 31). Lord I believe, help my unbelief. May I keep my gaze on you!

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