Roch Niemier, OFM – Franciscan Media

The Face of God

Roch Niemier, OFM — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:30:00 +0000

In the Incarnation, God revealed to us who God is. The Incarnation showed us the face of God. But what does this image portray? What do we see? What Francis and Clare saw in the person of the Incarnate Christ was humility, poverty and charity. The most visible, tangible expression of this was the cross.

In the Incarnation, Francis saw that becoming human was the basis for humility. In embracing our humanness, Jesus did not cling to being God. This choice was the epitome of humility. In so choosing, Jesus could accept everything to which human nature is prone, even death. This image of Christ as seen on the cross became an essential component of Francis’ new self.

—from St. Anthony Messenger‘s “The Challenge of the San Damiano Cross“
by Roch Niemier, OFM

‘Most High Glorious God!’

Roch Niemier, OFM — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:30:00 +0000

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.

—from St. Anthony Messenger‘s “Notes from a Friar: St. Francis’ Prayer before the Crucifix“
by Roch Niemier, OFM

Rhythm of Prayer

Roch Niemier, OFM — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:30:00 +0000

We build a rhythm of daily solitude into life in order to clarify and reaffirm the primacy of God. God alone is God and no other. Daily life tends to turn us away from such awareness with its concerns and chaotic busyness. The rhythm of regular prayer in solitude turns us back to it. It gives us the opportunity to reaffirm again that God is, and only God. As time passes, that truth deepens within one’s heart. It keeps a sustained focus on God and slowly develops a rhythm of interior continuity that solidifies that perspective with deeper and deeper conviction.

—from the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
by Roch Niemier, OFM

The Beauty of Humanness

Roch Niemier, OFM — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:30:00 +0000

We learn from the great Franciscan theologian John Duns Scotus that the whole purpose of creation on God’s part was to come to a point in time for the Incarnation of God’s Son to take place as the most resplendent creative act of God. When God decided to create, the Incarnation had to be first and foremost in God’s mind, and not dependent on any action of humans, especially sin. This was a natural outflow of love, and God, above all, wished to communicate to us the fullness of divine love. What better way than to send the Son.

This image helps us to appreciate the depth and beauty of our humanness. Our human nature is good. This also gives us a new and transformed image of God, not as someone who is vindictive and waiting to punish us for sin or someone who is constrained to react to our manipulations. The God we see in this image is a God of such overflowing love that it spills over into all of creation and into our hearts.

—from the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
by Roch Niemer, OFM

Only God Can Change Hearts

Roch Niemier, OFM — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:30:00 +0000

When we come to a moment in life of desiring fuller conversion, we are in effect becoming aware that God is asking for more. One’s heart might sense this tug, feel the call to respond with more of whatever it might be. Not more legalism or more mortification, but more interior holiness, more development into the likeness of God. This is what is meant by a summons to penance, a summons to a turning of one’s heart. This summons is a grace, a gift freely given. We do not achieve it or make it happen. Rather, God converts us and empowers us to respond with more of our hearts. Francis himself realized that prayer or fasting cannot change one’s heart.

Only God can.

—from the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
by Roch Niemer, OFM

The Living Presence of Love

Roch Niemier, OFM — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:30:00 +0000

Francis’ biographers point out that when people met with him, or heard him preach, it was not simply a question of listening to words of peace and joy. Nor were people merely persuaded to reflect upon reasons for forgiving each other, doing penance or thanking and praising God. Rather, they were confronted with these realities in the person of Francis. They were in the living presence of forgiveness, peace, faith, and love, because Francis had integrated these values into his person by taking on the image of Christ on the cross.

Francis became conformed to the Crucified to such a degree that at the end of his life he appeared like the Crucified with the wounds of Christ engraved into his flesh.

—from the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
by Roch Niemier, OFM