The troubled young man knelt amidst the crumbling ruins of the chapel and prayed. A few years earlier he had been a carefree youth who enjoyed partying with his friends. Then a war came, and he joined the army looking for adventure. Captured in one of the battles, he was held prisoner for a year and suffered from recurring high fevers.
Finally the sick young man was released, and after a long period of recuperation he emerged a changed person. No longer interested in partying, he became silent and solitary, desperately seeking to find the purpose of his life.
Wandering the hillsides near his home, he found a small abandoned chapel and knelt in prayer before a painted wooden crucifix. So deep and sincere were his prayers that the image of Christ became a living reality and spoke to him: “Rebuild my church,” Jesus said, “which has fallen into ruin.” The year was 1205, and that man is known today as St. Francis of Assisi.
San Damiano
For the past month we’ve been visiting our community near Assisi, and a few days ago we went to San Damiano, the little chapel where St. Francis heard Christ speak and began his mission. We, too, prayed here, and although eight hundred years have passed since Christ appeared to Francis, the deep interiorized power of his experience still lingers.
As Paramhansa Yogananda explains, the Christ consciousness, the conscious presence of God in creation, exists everywhere at all times. But when we call to Him with deep intensity and devotion, God speaks to us in the form we worship.
A friend living at Ananda Assisi shared with us a story, similar to that of St. Francis, of how God spoke to her. The experience took place when she was fifteen years old and living in the town of Calabria in southern Italy. Every year on a certain date there is a procession in which a large statue of the Madonna is carried through the streets of the town, and then returned to the church.
At the end of the procession, our friend knelt before the Madonna, who became a living presence and spoke to her, saying “You are the only one who has come to see Me.”
“But, Holy Mother,” she replied, “the church is filled with people.”
“Yes, My child,” the Madonna said, “but you are the only one who has come to see Me. The others have come to be seen.” The Divine Mother then asked her to build a shrine in a specific area outside of town, which, after much difficulty and several miracles, she was able to do.
God speaks when we converse in His language: utter, selfless love.
In his poem, “Breathe in Me,” Yoganandaji wrote:
You may hide behind the ocean,You may hide behind delusion,You may hide behind life, . . .But you cannot hide behind my love,For in the mirroring light of my loveYou are revealed.May we all know such love,
Nayaswami Devi
16 Comments
I went to a catholic school whose patron saint was St Francis of Assisi. Years later, when I got to know Ananda Sangha, and did a meditation course there, I experienced a purity in rebuilding that connection. In my own humble way, I wish to submit that you do good work which actually does help a lot of people around. Love & Light !
Jaima Deviji,
Wisdom you share is always so close to my heart. And so true for me, thankyou. Jaima.
Thank you Ji’
Thanks for sharing very Inspiring and beautiful.
With Gratitude
R Sundararajan
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much. Blessings to all!
Dear Jotish and Devi, I do not feel I can comment. I can only thank the Divine Mother as I was supported by her until now. I have always done my utmost to reciprocate his love.
Sometimes I do not know how to do it and I feel lost, inadequate and alone and I can not breathe without her love. This is one of those moments.
I regret not coming to greet you. I keep you forever in my heart and in my prayers.
Rashmi di Ananda Assisi
Excellent. The true “airplane route” is intense, unrelenting devotion.
For me , I was hiding so that God would not find me. From my earliest perception of myself, I didn’t feel worthy of His love and attention. Then in Dec. of 2014, He showed His love for me. He performed a miracle of spontaneous healing of a condition I had been battling for 15 or more years. That very instant, I felt His presence inside me, and I felt like hugging everyone and telling them I love them. My life since then has been a testament to His love. Wherever I go, I hug a person or tell them of my story of transformation.
Blessings.. This is so touching!
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for such a lovely article . ❤?
Aum
Prem
Dear Nayaqswami Devi!
“Yes, My child,” the Madonna said, “but you are the only one who has come to see Me. The others have come to be seen.”
This is very inspirating story about
connection with the Good…:)
Devotee from CROATIA.
These weekly articles illuminate my inbox, what an inspired way to stay in-touch!
Thank you
Dearest Devi,
Thank you so much for this.
“…when we call to Him with deep intensity and devotion, God speaks to us in the form we worship.”
This was perfect timing, because I just returned from being on-the-go steadily for 2 1/2 weeks, serving with devotees in the Detroit area, York, Maine, and also my mother in Ohio. Being back at Ananda Village I was seeking stillness within, and was not getting there in meditation until just this morning when I focused on God’s love and giving Him my love. I was immediately able to feel the stillness again, as I sat in Swami’s Moksha Mandir. Your blogs are SO helpful and affirming. Thank you.
What beautiful stories. Thank you very much!
Carissimi Jotish e Devi sono eternamente grata a Dio e a Yoganandaji per conoscervi e percepirvi come canali sinceramente ispirati dalla Verità e dall’ Amore Incondizionato.
Benché la Verità e l’Amore vibrino nelle nostre cellule sembriamo non accorgercene finché la richiesta dell’ Anima non è così forte che l’ orientamento arriva , quando il discepolo è pronto il Maestro arriva, e con lui ogni sorta di Benedizione per crescere nella NS esperienza della Verità e dell’ Amore . Cadiamo e ci rialziamo in continuazione senza perdere la stella Polare che ci guida. Grazie per il vs esempio di Perseveranza e di Luce. Infinite Benedizioni. Om
So Beautiful, Thank you!
Great anecdotes and tales. Very divine….Thanks