A Letter From Our Pastor: “Hearts Singing in the Ears of God"

Dear Parishioners,

“Not a voice, but a desire — not a clamor, but love — not instruments, but hearts singing in the ears of God.” This inscription is carved into a wooden chair, dating from 1504, recalling the “essence of prayer.” The chair is located in the Church of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy, and the inscription may be the best description out there when it comes to the stewardship “pillar of prayer.”

I know there are other descriptions, even volumes upon volumes of journals, books and studies in spirituality that define and examine prayer. But this one has stuck with me. This one is simple enough to make a great deal of sense and best describes an essential pillar of stewardship.

San Damiano is the little church where St. Francis of Assisi prayed often to know the will of God for his life. With a sincere desire and filled with the love of God, he often prayed, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” In answer to his prayers, he distinctly heard the voice of the Lord command him, “Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you can see, is falling into ruin.” Francis found his mission and an answer to his prayer. That was in the year 1206. The rest of the story is an amazing response on the part of Francis to his prayer.

Prayer is one of the essential pillars of the stewardship way of life, and one that Francis practiced following the conversion he experienced in San Damiano. He desired to love and sing the praises of God. It was in this small chapel where he composed the “Canticle of the Creatures,” a hymn of gratitude, fraternity and peace — none of which could have happened unless prayer had preceded it. To pray with “not a voice, but a desire — not a clamor, but love — not instruments, but hearts singing in the ears of God” gave Francis the direction to live a life faithful to the Gospel. Could it not do as much for us?

The essence of prayer, however, would continue to drive our efforts at evangelizing the stewardship way of life, which uses prayer as a communication and the action of our “desire” to “love” that comes straight from the “heart.” What better way to describe our conversion in choosing to live as Christian stewards? There is something very appealing about how the prayer of the heart is a song, singing to the “ears of God.” Could or should anyone ask for more in their prayer? St. Francis got it right. St. Clare learned from him and got it right, as well. For centuries, their prayer and spirituality inspired others to live life the same way. Many have, and hopefully, many more will continue to do so.

As a parting thought, hope and prayer for this parish, may I suggest that in choosing to live as a Christian steward, we will be consistent to pray always with, “not a voice, but a desire — not a clamor, but love — not instruments, but hearts singing in the ears of God” — for it doesn’t get any better than that. God bless your “desire” and the “love” you share and your “heart singing” the song God wants to hear from each of us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Donovan, Pastor