Brother Juniper, Wonder, Woe, and Well-Being
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Saint of the Day for January 29: Servant of God Brother Juniper (d. 1258)
âWould to God, my brothers, I had a whole forest of such Junipers,â said St. Francis of this holy friar. We donât know much about Juniper before he joined the friars in 1210. Francis sent him to establish âplacesâ for the friars in Gualdo Tadino and Viterbo. When Saint Clare was dying, Juniper consoled her. He was devoted to the passion of Jesus and was known for his simplicity. Several stories about Juniper in the Little Flowers of St. Francis illustrate his exasperating generosity. Once Juniper was taking care of a sick man who had a craving to eat pigâs feet. This helpful friar went to a nearby field, captured a pig and cut off one foot, and then served this meal to the sicck man. The owner of the pig was furious and immediately went to Juniperâs superior. When Juniper saw his mistake, he apologized profusely. He also ended up talking this angry man into donating the rest of the pig to the friars! Another time Juniper had been commanded to quit giving part of his clothing to the half-naked people he met on the road. Desiring to obey his superior, Juniper once told a man in need that he couldnât give the man his tunic, but he wouldnât prevent the man from taking it either. In time, the friars learned not to leave anything lying around, for Juniper would probably give it away. He died in 1258 and is buried at Ara Coeli Church in Rome. Reflection What can we make of Juniper? He certainly seems to be the first of many Franciscan âcharacters.â No doubt some of the stories about him have improved considerably in the retelling. Although the stories about Juniper may seem a little quaint, his virtues were not. He was humble because he knew the truth about God, himself, and others. He was patient because he was willing to suffer in his following of Jesus. |
Gain inspiration this Lent with daily reflections from Saint Marianne Cope. The booklet contains reflections on the life of this Franciscan woman as well as prayers for each day of Lent. |
Wonder, Woe, and Well-Being Amid the tumult of these electrically charged, frenzied times, contemplative living does not propose an escape from our very real, practical, and sometimes intractable problems. On the contrary, it suggests a way of being still, while still being in the storms that rage all around and within us. Like sturdy trees that bend with the breeze, wisdom-inspired living offers a deeper mooring for our being and our doing, which allows for movement even as we are deeply rooted. Seasoned by tears of joy and lament, prayer-centered presence invites us to welcome the whole world by drawing it into our heart-center. Here theology mixes with theater and prophetic action with poetry, as walls come tumbling down, making way for wonder, woe, and well-being.
âfrom the book Wandering and Welcome: Meditations for Finding Peace
by Joseph Grant |
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One Candle Lighting Another Reflect Throughout the day, we encounter a variety of people who may be strangers. May this prayer support you in knowing that what you give to all brightens the world.
Pray God, gently remind me
that how I treat
every single person today matters.
Help me give true kindness
to all who cross my path,
and to see all interactions
as a chance to pass on Christâs love,
as simple as one candle
reaching out to light another.
Act Today, see who you meet. Whether on the phone, in stores, at street cornersâno matter how brief, offer them a little extra warmth from your heart.
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here! |
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