The Fragrant Perfume of Holiness
"St. Francis used to say that he felt filled with the sweetest fragrance (Ex 29:18) and anointed with 'costly ointment' (Jn 12:3) when it was reported to him that his brothers, scattered throughout the world, were drawing many to return to the right way by the fragrant perfume of their holiness. When he heard things like this, he rejoiced in spirit and poured his enviable blessings upon those brothers who, by word and deed, were leading sinners to the love of Christ. On the other hand, those who dishonored religious life by their evil deeds incurred his condemnation and his terrible curse: 'By you, Most Holy Lord, and by the whole celestial court, and by me, too, your little one, cursed be they who by their bad example disrupt and destroy what you have built up, and do not ease to build up, through the holy brothers of this Order.'" --St. Bonaventure, Major Life, 8:3
It is far worse for those who proclaim Christ and then denigrate His name by their bad example. I remember in the 80s when "fish" pins (a Christian symbol) were popular. I wore mine until one day in the grocery store line with my young children I realized MY behavior did not reflect the patience Christ is known for. I discontinued wearing the pin! Christ doesn't want us to bother about pins or bumper stickers or any other symbol we might wear. He wants the real indicator of whether or not we are His followers--our behavior.
"St. Francis used to say that he felt filled with the sweetest fragrance (Ex 29:18) and anointed with 'costly ointment' (Jn 12:3) when it was reported to him that his brothers, scattered throughout the world, were drawing many to return to the right way by the fragrant perfume of their holiness. When he heard things like this, he rejoiced in spirit and poured his enviable blessings upon those brothers who, by word and deed, were leading sinners to the love of Christ. On the other hand, those who dishonored religious life by their evil deeds incurred his condemnation and his terrible curse: 'By you, Most Holy Lord, and by the whole celestial court, and by me, too, your little one, cursed be they who by their bad example disrupt and destroy what you have built up, and do not ease to build up, through the holy brothers of this Order.'" --St. Bonaventure, Major Life, 8:3
It is far worse for those who proclaim Christ and then denigrate His name by their bad example. I remember in the 80s when "fish" pins (a Christian symbol) were popular. I wore mine until one day in the grocery store line with my young children I realized MY behavior did not reflect the patience Christ is known for. I discontinued wearing the pin! Christ doesn't want us to bother about pins or bumper stickers or any other symbol we might wear. He wants the real indicator of whether or not we are His followers--our behavior.
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