Posted by Anonymous | | Posted On Monday, August 13, 2007 at 4:41 PM
- Bellini
This picture, titled Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy, portrays . . . something which I know most of the population would be less than ecstatic about. Saint Francis is displayed here in the pinnacle moment receiving the stigmata. I believe this rendition is, although probably not accurate (the landscape is rather picture-perfect and isolated) a great take on how we should behave towards God. The act of stigmata, which is receiving the wounds of Christ on the cross, would be an incredibly painful thing to endure, just as it was for Jesus himself. But Saint Francis looks rather overjoyed, indeed, ecstatic, because of his complete and total love for God and the things of him.
"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart." - Saint Francis
The words, "...a great take on how we should behave towards God.", really stuck with me.
So true.
In the face of pain (physical, emotional, spiritual), we should lay ourselves open and surrendered to God.
Everything would be so different if this was our response to difficulties.
That, to me, is violent love.
I'm so excited about you starting school today. Though this has nothing to do with your blog. .
I pray you will have safe trips from and to largo and tampa.
You're so great and I KNOW you're going to to succeed in everything you do.
I love you very much and the God in you, and God loves you.
So i rarely talk to you, even when you lived at the church. And now your gone...and i still see you as often as i used to, but i miss you.
I hope your enjoying school. I will be praying for you. (cause to be honest i had been slacking in the "praying for others" area)You are so awesome and your just about the smartest person i know. Plus, i really love how when your dedicated to something you stick to it. Its very ....awesome. (i couldnt find another word to fit. i should have droogled it.)
I like this and his complete surrender in the painting makes it even cooler; so good.
My grandmother used to read to me about Saint Francis. Used to be one of my favorites, I don't really remember much now though.