# Finding the light of Christ in times of darkness
*2020-08-11*

> Bill Young reflects on the spiritual teachings of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi regarding interior darkness and expresses concern over the political alignments of the American hierarchy.

## Lessons from Assisi

I recently revisited some materials from a trip I took in September 2016 for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. It was a beautiful experience where heaven and earth seemed to combine. Following the mass, I took a one-day tour to Assisi, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare. While there, I encountered a beautiful prayer written by St. Francis before the crucifix of San Damiano.

The prayer asks: 'O most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me the right faith, certain hope, the perfect love, and a deep humility. Oh Lord, give me a sense of discernment in order to carry out your true and holy will. Amen.'

## Passing Through the Darkness

This prayer was born in a time of crisis, and it speaks to the darkness we face today, both internally and externally. St. Francis underwent a transformation through the experience of the desert—a journey of darkness and light. We cannot arrive at the light of faith without first passing through darkness and becoming aware of our own interior shadows. As Psalm 18:28 tells us, 'The Lord is my light; the Lord my God lights up my darkness.'

Darkness is not a measurable thing; it is simply the absence of light, the absence of the Word of God, and the absence of communion with Him. To suffer from this lack of light is actually a grace. It is the mystics and the contemplatives who suffer from this absence, not the cynics.

## The Path of Imitation and Humility

Reflecting on the writings of Angus of Prague, we see that Christ made Himself an object of scorn so that we might follow His example. If we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him; if we weep with Him, we will rejoice with Him. St. Clare and St. Francis contemplated the Risen Christ, who still bore the signs of His passion as a testament of His personal love for us.

To follow this path, we need the 'right faith' transmitted by the Church, a 'certain hope' based on the promises of the Gospel, and a 'perfect love' that resembles the love the Lord has for us. Most importantly, we need deep humility. St. Francis found his true self by stripping away appearances and renouncing power and riches. Humility is a form of liberty and a sign of intelligence, allowing us to discern between good and evil, as encouraged in Hebrews 5:14 and Romans 12:2.

## Concerns for the Modern Church

Mother Teresa once said, 'If I am going to be a saint, I am going to be the saint of darkness,' asking to be a light for those in darkness on Earth. Unfortunately, many of us feel we are currently in darkness, and we are not receiving the necessary light from our U.S. bishops.

I was disturbed to find that the Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a registered Democrat. While there may be a reason for this, it is concerning given the Democratic Party's platform on the killing of unborn babies and same-sex marriage. Furthermore, we see a double standard where political demonstrations are permitted while our Masses and sacraments were restricted during the crisis. I am concerned that some in the hierarchy may be aligning themselves with Marxist groups or political figures whose values contradict the faith. We must ask ourselves if we are losing our way.

*We must seek the light of Christ and the gift of discernment to navigate the darkness of the world and the failings of men.*