St. Peter of Alcantara, CONFESSOR, A.D. 1562. reformer of the Franciscan Order
by VP
Posted on Thursday October 19, 2023 at 12:00AM in Saints
Artist Luis Tristán (1586–1624)
"Upon a time, the Count Orapsane, a devout nobleman, came to visit
him (Peter Alcantara), and falling into discourse, how much Almighty God
was moved with the sins of the world, out of his zeal breaketh into
these speeches, "O Father! what do you think? What will become of this
wicked world? Do you think the divine justice can contain itself any
longer from revenge? behold, how virtue is oppressed, and sin
triumpheth? How willfully
do we hoard up anger against the day of anger?"
To which the man of God modestly answered and said, "Noble Sir, do not afflict yourself, a remedy will easily be found to cure this disease; the point of the difficulty consisteth only in you and me, for the general perdition of mankind floweth from this fountain, that all and every one dissembling or cloaking their own sins, accuse the whole, when the whole cannot be dead to sin at all, but particular persons in the whole.
Wherefore, men cry out against the wickedness of the
world, that all are naught, and none that do good, when if they would but
look into their own particular, they should find matter enough of
sorrow, and to move themselves to do penance for their own faults; but
now because they blame the whole, they neglect their own particulars,
and justify themselves with a sottish presumption. Therefore, noble Sir,
let your Lordship and I,
mend one a piece, and then a great part of
the world will be amended; we shall appease the angry judge, and repair
a great part of the ruin of mankind by our good example." Source: The Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer by St. Peter Alcantara
"LOVE AFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE.-It is a mistake with many Christians to imagine that it is enough to love God, without accomplishing any work to glorify Him. No one loved God more tenderly than St. Peter of Alcantara; his two treatises on "Mental Prayer" and " Peace of the Soul" are two glorious memorials thereof; his whole existence was, so to speak, but one continued act of the love of God, accompanied oftentimes by ecstasies. He did not rest satisfied with loving God by himself alone, but desired that He should be loved by his brethren also; and hence devoted himself with ardent zeal to the preaching of the Divine Word, and had the happiness of converting thousands of sinners. This did not, however, suffice; the humble Franciscan, whose fame had spread throughout Spain and who was honored by the court, was given to the practice of such austerities that it became needful to restrain them. The relaxation that had crept into the Order caused him the keenest chagrin; by way of remedying it he instituted a reform known as that of "the strict observance," and died on the 19th October, at the monastery of Arenas.
MORAL REFLECTION. How can one feel safe about one's way of life, unless able to echo the saying of the Master: "The works that I do bear witness of me!"-(John v. 36.)" Pictorial half hours with the saints by Rev. Fr. Auguste François Lecanu
Prayer:
O
thou whom according to our Lord's promise, art never invoked in vain,
if thou deign thyself to present our prayers to Him; obtain for us that
relish for heavenly things, which causes an aversion for those of earth.
It is the petition made by the whole Church, through thy merits, to
the God who bestowed on thee the gift of such wonderful penance and
sublime contemplation. The great family of Friars Minor cherishes the
treasure of
thy teaching and example; for the honor of thy holy
Father Francis and the good of the Church, maintain in it the love of
its austere traditions. Withdraw not thy precious protection from the
Carmel of Teresa of Jesus; nay, extend it to the whole religious state,
especially in these days of trial.
Source: The Liturgical Year: Time after Pentecost (v. 11, 3rd ed.) By Don Prosper Guéranger
