On This Feast of Francis

Years ago, in a prior lifetime my best friend and I went to the movies to see Stigmata. Our children were in preschool together and we had some me-time on our hands. For reasons I cannot explain, the movie freaked us out.

That weekend we insisted our husbands go with us. The second time around, we felt so silly. It was scary in the same way the Exorcist was scary for non-Catholics. As Catholics we should have realized it was a bunch of Hollywood nonsense.

When I was all of ten, I learned that Saint Francis of Assisi was a stigmata. While alive, he hid his condition. To a child, Saint Francis is a special saint because of his relationship to animals. It is said that he talked with the animals. Big deal, I talk to animals all the time. The difference is that it is said the animals communicated with him. Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals. Many parishes throughout the world have a blessing for animals on his feast day. So you can see why children would be drawn to him.

As a young girl I wanted to be just like Saint Francis. I wanted to have real conversations with the animals, connect in that special way to all God’s creations. I also wanted to receive the marks of a stigmata. As a child I did not understand the physical pain such a blessing would cause for the recipient. I thought they were the marks of Christ, and not the actual wounds. While I would never shy away from God’s blessings, once I understood what it meant to be a Stigmata, I stopped asking Jesus to share his wounds with those who love Him.

Saint Francis is still one of my favorite saints. The Prayer of Saint Francis beautifully expresses my deepest desires and silent prayers every Sunday.

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy

Oh, master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men let we receive
And in dying that we’re born to turn around

Oh, master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light

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To honor this man who suffered greatly for his faith, I thought a simple soup was in order. May the Good Lord bless you in all you do.

Tomato Basil Soup
1 cup Celery
1 cup Baby Carrots
2 Shallots
2 tablespoons Oil
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1 tablespoon dried Basil
2 (14 oz) cans Diced Tomatoes
4 cups Chicken Stock
1 Bay Leaf
4 tablespoons Butter
1/2 cup Flour
2 cups Half-and-Half, warmed
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

Trim and dice celery. Finely dice carrots. Peel and finely dice shallots. Set vegetables aside.

Heat oil in a 4-quart soup pot. Add celery, shallots and carrots. Season with oregano and basil. Sauté for 5 minutes to sweat. Add diced tomatoes with juices and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat; add bay leaf and let simmer until carrots are tender, about 20 minutes.

While the soup simmers, prepare a roux. In a medium saucepan over low heat melt the butter. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the roux becomes a golden color, about 3 minutes.

Whisking constantly, slowly add a ladle-full of the hot soup liquid to the roux. Whisk until smooth and bubbly. Add a second ladle-full of liquid and stir again until smooth. Add a final ladle-full of hot liquid and stir until smooth.

Slowly add the roux mixture back into the soup pot. Simmer, stirring constantly, until soup begins to thickened. Warm half-and-half, add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper.

Let soup simmer over very low heat for an additional 15 minutes for flavors to blend and mature. Taste, adjust seasonings to taste. Serve with warm bread for a humble yet delicious supper.

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Guide me, Lord, along Your everlasting way.