Today we celebrate
Blessed Giles of Assisi,
who was a very simple soul
from Assisi and was the third
man to join St. Francis
in his way of life.
Blessed Giles lived for a time as a pilgrim friar
visiting various holy places
in Italy, Spain, and the Holy Land,
preaching poverty and penance by his
own good example and also
by word. Eventually he would
settle at a friar in Perugia
where he lived out his daily
life in manual labor
and contemplation.
He was known as having a gift
of great contemplation, and this was
known even to the Pope at the time, Pope Gregory IX,
who once called on Blessed Giles to
give him some advice on how to
fulfill his duties in the papacy.
And Blessed Giles, of course, in his
humility, was reluctant to instruct the
Pope.
But eventually he gave in and told
the Holy Father that he ought to
always have one eye of his soul
fixed on heaven, where he should
aspire to be, and the other eye
of his soul fixed on the things of
earth so that he may regulate
the affairs of the church.
St. Bonaventure considered himself
fortunate to be alive at the time
of Blessed Giles.
And we can learn from Blessed Giles'
example that we, too, should strive to
live a simple life, that is, to live in
simplicity of heart, always having a pure
intention, and to live a simple life.
The intention of giving God glory in
all that we do, by striving simply to do
God's will as best as we know it, and as
best as we can do it, with the pure
intention of pleasing him. This intention
should be a part of our morning prayer,
of our morning offering. We should offer
to God our entire day, all of our
thoughts, words, and all of our
actions of the day, all of our joys,
sacrifices, and sufferings, all for his
greater glory. And by doing this, by
living in simplicity and preserving a
clear conscience before God, then we
will experience peace in our lives, and
we can become instruments of peace and
grace to those around us, just as Blessed
Giles was.
Blessed Giles of Assisi, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Amen.