William Hugo , Capuchin
Franciscan prayer: Change your life by imitating God’s life
(Part 6 in a series of 8 by William Hugo, Capuchin)
In this Part 6 on Franciscan prayer, we explore two characteristics that make this style of prayer somewhat unique. The first is Clare’s addition of imitation at the end of the standard three-part monastic method of gazing (reading), considering (meditating), and contemplating. This addition gives typical Franciscan prayer a tight connection to life. Franciscans imagine their prayer to change their lives. The second characteristic is the object of the gazing, in other words, what we look at. In Franciscan tradition, the prized object of gazing is the poor and humble Jesus who discloses a poor and humble God.
When these two defining characteristics are put together, Franciscan prayer comes alive with dynamism. The reason is that through them we take on the life of God, or as Genesis 1:26 says, the image and likeness of God. How does this happen?
Through gazing and considering the Incarnation (God becoming human), Francis and Clare learned that God’s characteristics included being “poor and humble.” During these first two stages of prayer, Franciscans typically see these things in God and the Incarnate Word. For a moment, they simply enjoy experiencing this in God through contemplation. But soon they are quickly imitating this selflessness in God made visible in Jesus. In doing so, they share in God’s life. They take on God’s mission. How do they do that?
They live like God
and in the process heal
the break that has
separated God and his
creatures. Oddly, the
means for doing this
becomes God’s end.
God’s method (how he
does it through humility
and poverty) actually is
the life God offers us!
God’s way of acting is
who he is. When we
imitate his way, we
actualize the goal of
becoming God’s
likeness. As it did for
Francis and Clare, this
prayerful experience
causes us to rethink
what divine life is all
about.
In several of the series
on Franciscan prayer, I have insisted that
this style of prayer doesn’t end with blissful union in contemplation. No, it moves on to
change our lives through poverty and
humility. The consequences are not always pretty and romantic realities!
(William Hugo is the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph postulant director and teaches Franciscan
spirituality/history. He authored Studying the Life of Francis
of Assisi: A Beginner’s Workbook, Franciscan Press, 1996.)