Read Aloud the Text Content
This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.
Text Content or SSML code:
My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me, I adore you with deep reverence. I ask you for the forgiveness of my sins and the grace to make this moment of prayer profitable. My immaculate mother, Saint Joseph, my father is Lord, my guardian angel. Intercede for me. I remember Francis. The young student engineer of the Ponts et Chaussées, who taught us catechism when I was little. And François not only had a talent for understanding the mysteries of the faith and showing them to us, but he also had an infectious enthusiasm. He exclaimed about everything in a very appropriate way. I remember a story that made a deep impression on me, so much so that years later, when I went to WYD in Madrid in 2008, I think it was 2010. I went to the Prado Museum to see this painting again, which evokes this anecdote that he had just told us. He was talking about one of those great Spanish artists who, in the 16th century, dedicated their soul and talent to the service of a noble lady in a kind of courtly and platonic love that inspired everything he did. We are talking about Francis of Borgia. Yes, you heard him right, it is the kinship of those famous Borgias who in Italy became known, unfortunately. But that part of the family in Spain and Aragon and near Valencia was perhaps more virtuous. So that this man had a rather famous career. He became by inheritance the duke of Gandhi to. It is therefore one of the greatest titles of the monarchy and was integrated into the royal court of Charles V as a donkey. Neither more nor less. He was married to a lady of the company of the Empress Isabel of Portugal, and he fell in love with it of this courtly love that, in all honor, dedicates to the beautiful lady all the sense of the state and the service. That this courtier, that this civil servant of State, would say one today and well was capable of doing. And here is Francis of Borgia and Aragón, duke of Gandhian, who devoted to this princess, then empress of all his capacities of service to the State, a State embodied in the monarchy. He rendered great services. He was even a vice king of Aragon and therefore on behalf of the king. He took decisions of good administrator of Everyone, praised his political action. But the drama came to ring at the door of this family. Isabella of Portugal, the empress herself, was 36 years old. This woman known for her beauty, for her intelligence, for her political apropos. This empress was dying at 36. And here is that to call in great urgency to the court. The duke of India made the trip from Valencia to Toledo to attend the funeral of the lady Aqui, to whom her body was dedicated in Toledo. In tears, he put the body of the deceased in a coffin. And he took Menas to Granada, where she was to be buried. Lord, you know everything. You know that I tell you this story because as Teresa of Avila tells us. The conversation of prayer is a conversation of friendship and we talk to you and you talk to us and we talk about everything that crosses our mind, what we live, what we like, what sometimes excites us. And today it is this anecdote that comes to my mind through the reading of the Gospel, I finish it and you will understand better. Lord, you certainly remember because you were present at the Duke of Gandhian, that journey, that trip between Toledo and Granada that lasted 15 days, 15 long or days between May 1 and May 17 or 18, 1500. I try to remember 1539 there, in the almost summer heat of this year. Well it is necessary to say that the body of the empress suffered a lot. Now, before the funeral in Granada, it was necessary to certify that it was indeed she who was going to be buried. And the gentleman in charge of this unpleasant activity, Francisco de Borgia, was asked to open the coffin and certify those. I don't know if you have much experience, but unfortunately, the body was unrecognizable. It is even said that François DISA answered I know well who I put in this coffin, but I do not recognize any more. And another person present heard a louder voice, a more intimate confidence of the Duke of Gandhian who said to himself never, never again, would serve as a lord. Mortal. And Francis of Borgia put into action this intimate conviction that had just seized him. Facing the death in all its unpleasant manifestation. Never more never again would serve of lord. Mortal. Until then, he had dedicated his life to the death of a princess, to her recognition full of pleasures, full of attentions, courteous and platter, chivalrous fresco full of worldly recognition. But from that day, his life became more serious, more oriented, more profound, more oriented farewell. And after a few more years of service, during which he had to live his own widowhood. He asked to be admitted to the Society of Jesus, newly founded by St. Ignatius himself, and he was received and ended his life as a companion of Jesus, as a Jesuit and then even more, as a companion who lived to holiness. The service of the Most High God, you will ask yourself why I am telling you this story? Well, because in this Easter period, meditating on eternal life and on this gospel in which we hear St. Peter turning to Jesus and saying Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Indeed, only Jesus proclaims eternal life to us in a way that is credible enough not to be an idea. A reality that would only touch our mind or a totally esoteric dimension of life. No, it is our flesh that will be glorified. It is our true self that is called to eternal life. And only Jesus guarantees that. That's why we turn to him, especially in the most painful moments of life, when a loved one leaves us because we know that he welcomes them into eternal life and gives them what we all hope for. It is said that Francis of Borgia, who became St. Francis of Borgia, ended his life with a phrase that rose from his heart like a last sigh I love only my Lord Jesus Christ. I thank you, my God. For the good resolutions, the acts of love and the inspirations that you have given me in this meditation. I ask you to help me to put them into practice. My immaculate mother, St. Joseph, my father is Lord, my guardian angel. Intercede for me.