Today's Minute Meditations celebrates St. Francis' prayer before the crucifix. 🙏
March 27, 2025
Dear John,
We are in the process of organizing our resources around themes to better accompany you on your faith journey. This week we are highlighting our fourth theme of Rebuilding God’s Church: Following God. The Church is healthiest, most impactful, when all the baptized are considering how best to serve God. God calls each of us to glorify him in our own way, in our own place and time, with our own gifts. How is God calling you to share your gifts with the world today?
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With profound gratitude,
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD President & Publisher,
Gregor was born in a village on the shores of Lake Van between 945 and 950. When his parents died, Gregor and his older brother were raised by a scholarly uncle who had them educated at the Narek monastery where he was a monk. The monastery was a prominent center of learning located in what is now Turkey. Gregor too entered the monastery and was ordained in 977.
A professor of theology, Gregor wrote a mystical interpretation of the Song of Songs, and a long mystical poem called the Book of Prayer or the Book of Lamentations. He described his poem as “an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations.” This classic of Armenian literature has been translated into 30 languages. The Russian text of the Book of Lamentations was set to music in 1985.
Little else is known about Gregor, other than he died in the early 11th century and was buried within the walls of the Narek monastery where he had spent his life. In 2015 as the world observed the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, Pope Francis concelebrated a Mass at the Vatican with Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni and declared the monk, poet, and saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Gregory of Narek, a Doctor of the Church. His liturgical feast is celebrated on February 27.
Reflection
As opposed to the Armenian Catholic Church that began in the 17th century, the earlier Armenian Apostolic Church did not accept the Council of Chalcedon’s 451 teaching that Christ was fully divine and fully human. In 1996, St. John Paul II and Apostolic Catholicos Karekin I signed a declaration confirming the common faith of their two Churches. Prayer often unites groups of people who have seen themselves as very distinct—even enemies.
If you look closely at Christ on the San Damiano Cross, as painted on this cross, you will see that it is neither a bloody body nor one twisted in anguish. Rather his body is quite luminous, as if it were already his risen body, radiating the fullness of God. Instead of a crown of thorns, moreover, Christ’s head is surrounded by a glorious halo. And his body with outstretched arms appears to be ascending to heaven. In short, the image clearly suggests that it represents Jesus rising into glory.
If, indeed, this was the image of Christ which St. Francis was pondering as this prayer arose in his heart, it makes perfectly good sense that Francis would address Jesus as “Most high glorious God!” For all signs of glory are there.
Margaret Carney weaves together the story of Clare and Francis and draws special attention to Clare’s significant contribution to the Franciscan world in the many years following
Peter stumbled. Oh, did Peter stumble. Just hours after he boasted he would never deny Jesus, he did so three times. But Peter also believed in Jesus’ forgiveness and love. Small wonder it was on this humble fisherman that the Church was built.
Pray
St. Peter, it seems like I am always making promises to God, and then falling short. Help me to start each day anew with a contrite, servant’s heart and a steadfast spirit.
Act
Ask God to forgive you for yesterday’s sins—and forgive yourself as well.
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Melanie Rigney. Learn more here!
The Great Surrender: Embracing ‘Sister Death’
St. Francis embraced all journeys of life—and even his own death—with a willing heart.
