March 30th - Blessed Joachim of Fiore, Visionary, Prophet
(also known as Joachim de Floris)
Born at Celico, Calabria, Italy, c. 1130; died 1202. Joachim was a
visionary
and prophet who, early in life, adopted an ascetic life. After a
pilgrimage
to Palestine, he entered the Cistercian abbey at Sambucina. In 1176, he
became abbot of Corazzo, and about 1190, founded his own monastery at
Fiore-a new Cistercian Congregation. His life was marked with great piety
and simplicity. He looked for a new age of the Spirit, when the papal
Church
would be superseded by a spiritual Church in which popes, priests, and
ceremonies would disappear, and the Holy Spirit would fill the hearts of
all
Christ's followers.
Thus, his heart was Franciscan and, in a way, he anticipated the reforming
zeal and simple faith of the Quakers. It is not surprising that doubts
were
sometimes thrown upon his orthodoxy and that many were disturbed by his
original and even startling views.
Nevertheless, he opened the way for others to follow, and kindled a hope
that ran through the medieval world and stirred the intellect of the
Church.
Reformation was in the air, and many things which he foresaw or foretold
came to birth in the century that followed, in the great days of Dominic,
Francis of Assisi, and Ignatius Loyola.
A new emphasis was placed on the work of the Holy Spirit, and after the
gloom which preceded, there burst upon the world fresh and radiant visions
of saintliness and virtue, and with them a new warmth and glow of
religious
life. A wave of exhilaration swept across Europe, and in that golden age
of
art and genius men looked beyond the outward forms and found in their own
hearts a living and personal experience of God.
Joachim helped to give birth to this new mood of feeling and spontaneity,
which later found song in such words as "O Jesus, King Most Wonderful" and
"Jesu, the very thought of Thee." It was Pentecost set to music:
When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to ****ne,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.
O Jesus, Light of all below!
Thou Fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.
With this inner fire went a consuming love that burned in the heart of
Saint
Francis and his friars, that sent Dominic and his preachers out of their
churches into the hills and highways, and that in a thousand monasteries
set
up Christian communities to care for the welfare of the people.
He was a prolific ascetical writer. His commentary on the Book of
Revelation
gave him the title "the Prophet" by which he was described by Dante: "the
Calabrian abbot Joachim, endowed with prophetic spirit" (Paradiso, XII).
Thus Joachim was among the enthusiasts, who turned for inspiration to the
Bible. Unfortunately, after his death the Franciscan Spirituals used his
books to uphold their heretical tendencies. Nevertheless, Joachim has
always
been given the title of beatus, because, as a mystic and a prophet, he
refreshed the life of the Church (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Gill).
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Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself. (Matthew 16:24)
"Everyone has opinions of his own, nor is this opposed to virtue. It is
only
the love and attachment we have to our own opinions, and the high value we
set on them, which is infinitely contrary to our perfection. This is the
last thing to be abandoned, and the cause why so few are perfect"
-St. Francis de Sales
This Saint succeeded in abandoning this last thing, so that he was once
able
to write to a friend that he had no such attachment to his own opinion as
to
wish anyone ill who did not follow it, and that he did not claim that his
sentiments should serve as a rule to anyone.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)
Bible Quote:
16 Jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine, but his that
sent
me. 17 If any man do the will of him; he shall know of the doctrine,
whether
it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of
himself,
seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him,
he is true, and there is no injustice in him. (John 7:16-18)
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Prayer to the Eternal Father
To be said before a Crucifix
in Times of Calamity
Eternal Father, behold Your Son Jesus Christ, crucified for us! Have
mercy
on us, poor sinners, in His Name and by His merits. We repent and have
recourse to Your infinite mercy. Let Yourself be touched and have mercy on
us, for we are His heritage. O Lord, do not violate the pact You have
made:
to answer the prayers Your children address to You.
It is true that our great iniquities have provoked Your justice. But You,
my
God, are good by nature. Make the greatness of Your infinite mercy ****ne
forth. O Lord, if You look upon our iniquities, who could stand in Your
presence? O Lord, we confess it: we are very guilty, and our sins have
called down these scourges upon us. But You, Lord, have desired that we
call
You Our Father every day. Look down upon Your children's affliction and
spare them such great calamities. Spare us, my God, by the merits of Jesus
Christ. Spare us, by the love You have for Yourself. Forgive us, by the
love
of the Virgin Mary, our Mother!
Remember, Lord, that we are called Your people. Have mercy on human folly.
Send down a ray of Your divine light to dispel the darkness of our
intelligence. May our amended souls change their ways and no longer steep
the Heart of their God in bitterness!
O Lord, only the hand of Your infinite mercy can save us from so many
calamities. O Lord, we are reeling with affliction from within and from
without, have mercy on us! O Lord, turn Your face away from our sins and
look upon Jesus Christ, who gave You satisfaction by suffering and dying
for
us, for He is Your Son! Thus will we celebrate Your infinite mercy.
Hasten, Lord, to answer us, or our courage will fail because we have
fallen
into such wretchedness. Hasten, Lord, to show us Your mercy, for we have
no
hope left but in You alone. You are our Father and Creator. You must
preserve and save those who are Yours forever. Amen.
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