October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi

To a lover of the Poor Man of Assisi

Walk out, Francis, into the sun-
washed Spring, and mark
the light upon the hills
of Umbria. Today the lark
and linnet sing, as one
day sun and wind carried their song
to you. But now along
the highways of the world there spill
the wails of war, of racial animosity, of crime,
organized to castigate the soul
and heart of man. It's time
to speak again of peace,

Sophie Mallie rscj

to gather in our sorrows to your
wounds warm with love. Release
our pleasure-drunken lives into the pure
calm joy of Lady Poverty. Brother
of all Poor, our sophisticated, bewildered pride
batters your ecstatic singing spirit. Mother our God - yearning in your pierced side.

Embrace
the leper in each sinful one
of us. With you let us face
the sun;
radiant Christ-witnesses who bring
to all the dark hearts in the world the white
fire of His love a walk with us in light!

Anna Mae Marheinecke rscj
province of the United States