To be more like Christ is to find the courage to make meaning of suffering and to unite this suffering with his. After an encounter with the Crucified One as a Seraph, Francis understood that in his own small way, he could find a way to share a spiritual connection with God through a physical manifestation of Jesus’ own bodily sacrifice. Although the Stigmata was a source of pain, Francis participated wholeheartedly and patiently in this miraculous marvel and learnt how to find serene grounding in this suffering.

Musing: Have I tried to make meaning of my sufferings and be open to the revelation of God regarding my situation?