Daily Reflection: Monday, November 7
Monday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Didicus or San Diego (born in Spain around 1400)
Today Franciscan Friars celebrate the memorial of Saint Didacus of Alacala. Didacus was the first lay Franciscan friar to be canonized (1588). In days of yore, but still in my lifetime, there was a great distinction made between the ordained and non-ordained friars. It was a two class system. Only this year did the Vatican allow non-ordained friars to be named superiors without special dispensations. Didacus, however, was an exceptional person and was named the Guardian (superior) of the Friary of St. Bonaventure on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
In the days of two class system, this day was a day of special celebration for the lay friars. Now both ordained and non-ordained friars share equal status. This day lets us remember the humble lay brothers of old who did the work making habits, cleaning, farming, cooking, building things, and more. Today all the friars realize that, no matter what our job, we are all brothers.
So it is in the church: we are all brothers and sisters to each other.
John Frambes, ofm
Read also:
This week’s Letter from the Pastor
This week’s weekly reflection
