First Reading II Samuel 6:12-15,17-19 Gospel Mark 3:31-35

Born to a wealthy family near Geneva, Switzerland, Francis had every opportunity for education. He studied at the University of Paris and of Bologna. He excelled in intellectual pursuits. His vocation was not clear for some time. He politely refused a marriage arranged by his father. A priest relative forced the issue by having him called to be an important cleric in a poor diocese. He eventually became coadjutor and bishop of Geneva, the headquarters of John Calvin and the Calvinists. Outside of his writings, he is best known for his preaching and conversion of Calvinists. Through his preaching and his tracts, he reclaimed about 60,000 Calvinists for the faith. Although it was an age of political infighting and intrigue between Catholic and Protestant monarchs, Francis wanted no part in forced conversions. The only true conversions were those of the heart and of conviction. He is responsible for the establishment of the order of Visitation nuns through his friend, St. Jane Frances de Chantal.
His most famous work is “Introduction to the Devout Life.” The spirituality of Francis (and of this book especially) is eminently practical. Sanctity (devotion) is for everyone. But it is different for each person according to his state of life. The devotion of a bishop is different from that of a bricklayer or of a housewife, but all are called to holiness. A residential bishop cannot be a recluse or contemplative, just as a cloistered nun cannot be active in the world. But all are called to holiness.
Francis wrote hundreds of tracts and pamphlets. Some of his quips are well-known, such as, “A teaspoon full of honey catches more flies than a barrel of vinegar.” In the Introduction, Francis stated, “If anything were more excellent than meekness, God would have taught us.” His life was one of total charity and humility. On his deathbed, when asked for a final word of advice from a nun, he wrote, “Humility. Humility. Humility.”
His practical spirituality is as good today as it was four hundred years ago.

The weekday readings: The first reading describes the profound joy and celebration as the Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem. The ark was considered to be the very present of the almighty God. The gospel relates that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and his “brothers” came to Capernaum. the implication of the story is that they wanted to take Jesus back home to Nazareth. When told that his mother is outside, Jesus proclaims, “whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.” Whatever the original meaning, this text was certainly used by the primitive Church to show the profound union between all members of Christ and their Lord.