Francis by Patrick J. Marrin for May 10, 2021

" I don’t know how to pray ".

Matthew 6 : 9 – 13.

“An aged man is but a paltry thing,

A tattered coat upon a stick, unless

Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing

For every tatter in its mortal dress… "

[William Butler Yeats]

The Bible’s injunction to “rejoice always” and to “pray without ceasing” seems, at first consideration, to be impossible.

But Francis sees that Leo is already doing both with every breath he takes. The Singing Master of his soul has taught him.

Leo prays instinctively, whether he calls it that or not, and he rejoices in this communion with God.

Religious lore is full of tales of the educated learning from the simple. This is an example of that.

One of the most beautiful stories you will ever encounter is Leo Tolstoy’s Three Hermits which features a random meeting between a Bishop and three barely literate men who teach him, in true humility, a great truth.

Hmmm. Leo. Where’d he get that name?

I think anyone, believer or not, could find their heart warmed by this story. It’s short, about eight pages.

If you’d care to give it a look :

online-literature.com/tolstoy/2896

I was born when baptismal names were limited to Biblical names or names of Saints. One of the early Popes was Leo I who was given the name Leo the Great as he walked of of the Papal City and persuaded the Huns not to sack Rome. That is the origin of my name.

Leo’s prayer is one of gratitude and love. He asks for nothing.

I’ve heard that everyone prays in foxholes.

Brother Leo prays without ceasing.

Blessed are the innocent for…

amen

Wisdom of the humble