October 9, 2007

Well, I’m finally home after living out of a suitcase again. Last October I was in Ghana, West Africa; two months later I was in Ireland; and I’ve just returned from England – “on the other side of the pond” as some travellers say. I was visiting our friars at Saint Pio Friary located in Bradford and then traveled south to spend the feast of Saint Francis at our other friary, Saint Fidelis Friary, in the East End of London.

When people sometimes ask me what the difference is between friars and monks, I simply say: “Monks stay home!” From the beginning Saint Francis told the brothers to “hit the road,” that is, go into the world and spread the gospel. In fact, an accurate chronicler records that the friars first set foot in England on September 10, 1224, two years before the death of Saint Francis. So you see, friars are far from “jet setters” – we’re just doing what we’ve always done!

If you see a friar at the airport, you’ll never see him with a camera around his neck standing in the middle of eight pieces of matching luggage. Because friars travel a lot, they have learned to travel light. Unlike businessmen, friars have no need of sport and dress wear, ties, shoes, and electric shaver. Unless we’re bringing supplies to the missions, we just have one or two carry-ons, which gets us past baggage claim and to the passenger pick-up area in record time. Poverty does have its perks!

As you might expect, the friars also fly coach, unless of course, Divine Providence makes an unexpected visit. I recently heard about two friars who, when sitting on the plane, were approached by a kind stewardess who invited them to sit in first class. When the friars politely declined, she knelt down next to them, stared them in the eye and said, “I thought you took a vow of obedience. Follow me!” Well, the friars quickly got up and briskly walked up the aisle to the front where, with a clear conscience and big smile, sank into their over-stuffed black leather seats!

Saint Francis found every inch of inspiration from the pages of the Holy Gospel. It was in the writings of the Evangelists, who preserved for us the words and deeds of Our Lord, where he discovered his unique vocation. The Franciscan call to leave home, take to the road, and travel lightly comes from the lips of Our Savior Himself who said: “Take nothing for the journey, neither belt nor bag nor walking staff nor extra clothing.” Just how Our Lord’s listeners accepted and strictly applied these startling marching orders we’ll never know, but no doubt there was at least one wary disciple who took an extra pair of socks “just in case!”

If we take some time to peer into the depths of God’s word, we will see there is more to the Divine mandate than meets the eye. Indeed, it was Saint Francis who recognized that the true poverty of Christ was not found in Our Savior’s lack of material possessions, but in His profound humility. In Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, an ancient hymn is recorded: “Though He was in the form of God, Jesus did not cling to His Divinity, but rather emptied himself, taking the form of a slave…” In short, the Eternal Word of God “let go for love,” so Francis said, “Then I’ll do the same.”

During my stay in Bradford, I helped our brothers serve the needy of the neighborhood - the heroin addicts, homosexuals, alcoholics, and prostitutes. I was in awe of how respectful they were to us. Yes, these are very broken, yet very beautiful people who are hurting themselves because they have been hurt. When I handed a cup of tea and a some biscuits to Keith, who sniffs lighter fluid all day, I asked him, “Keith how old are you?” He replied, “Thirty-two going on ninety one.”

I am very proud of our brothers in Bradford. They, like their brothers home and abroad, are quietly healing the world one wounded heart at a time. Yes, we travel a lot, but we also travel lightly, possessing little but the mercy of the Most High.

If we’re “jet setting” – well, we’re also going first class!

Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ

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