Reflection by: Bernard Francis
Faith transforms suffering – Day 5 – GRECCIO/ASSISI
#sequelachristi2025
In the quiet hills of Narni, where St. Francis once stayed and lifted his heart in prayer, we are reminded of a man who carried a contemplative life within himself wherever he went. Francis did not wait for perfect surroundings to encounter God. Every cave, every forest, every humble shelter became a small sanctuary because he brought to each place a heart already shaped by silence, gratitude, and love.
His presence in Narni invites us to realise that we too carry within us the good things God has planted: compassion, peace, gentleness, hope. Wherever we go, we bring these gifts with us, allowing the world to be touched by the quiet goodness of a heart that knows how to listen. And just as Francis found joy with very little, we are reminded that happiness grows not from having much, but from seeing with the eyes of faith.
Yet the life of Francis, radiant as it was, was not a smooth one. He suffered deeply in body, mind, and spirit. His faith did not shield him from hardship. In fact, he often walked straight into situations most of us would run from. What set Francis apart was not the absence of suffering, but the way he received it with openness and trust.
I was struck by something Father JP once shared with me. Faith does not remove suffering; faith transforms suffering. Through faith, we begin to see reality from a different perspective. What looks like misfortune becomes an invitation to trust. What feels like loss becomes a space where God can work quietly. Faith does not promise us an easy life. Rather, it offers us a new way of seeing and a new way of carrying what is difficult.
This is not an easy teaching. It is, in many ways, a radical way of looking at life, especially in a world that values comfort, ease, and constant happiness. We are taught to avoid pain at all costs, to chase distractions, and to believe that suffering is a sign of failure. Francis shows us something profoundly different. Suffering, when embraced with faith, becomes a doorway not to despair but to deeper love, not to resignation but to transformation.
In the memory of Francis praying in Narni, we find encouragement to cultivate an inner life that remains steady even when circumstances shift. We learn that joy is possible even in simplicity, that peace is possible even in uncertainty, and that love is possible even in suffering. And when the day comes that we are confronted with our own trials, may we remember the example of Francis. Not to run, but to see with new eyes. Not to harden, but to open. Not to despair, but to trust that God can bring light even into the darkest places.
