Are there any lessons from this catholic story?
The method of addressing fear is a good lesson. Saint Francis went ahead of the people, as Christ would go before us even unto hell, and "Making the sign of the holy cross, and putting all his confidence in God" Saint Francis walked directly towards the fear (being eaten by the wolf). He then confronted it, "As he approached, the saint, making the sign of the cross, cried out: 'Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else.'"
In the name of Christ he commanded the fear and the fear obeyed. If we have a fear, reasonable or unreasonable, we are also to ask Christ to go before us and confront it on our behalf. Everyone and all living things will bow before Christ and know that He is Lord. If Christ goes before us, on our behalf, what ever we fear will bow before Him and yield. We must be in persistent prayer for Christ to go before us and deliver us from our fears and enemies that seek to devour us. Our confidence must be in Christ and Christ alone. When we are left to our own defenses, as the people of the village carrying their own swords, we continue to live in fear and can't defend ourselves properly.
Another lesson might be that any fear we have here, apart from the fires of hell itself, are pretty insignificant. There is certainly a small mention of this in the story.
In my constant observation and education on healing from emotional injuries, it seems to me this story shows how it is necessary to force yourself to maintain FAITH in God’s protection and guidance despite your fears of admitting your own helplessness and despite your impatience with things not happening as quickly as you want. Dear God, I am helpless, defenseless, and vulnerable to the attack of the wolf and fear consumes me. Yet will I seek for and search for every ounce and crumb of faith within myself to know that You will protect and guide me. Lord, help my unbelief! Amen.
The method of addressing fear is a good lesson. Saint Francis went ahead of the people, as Christ would go before us even unto hell, and "Making the sign of the holy cross, and putting all his confidence in God" Saint Francis walked directly towards the fear (being eaten by the wolf). He then confronted it, "As he approached, the saint, making the sign of the cross, cried out: 'Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else.'"
In the name of Christ he commanded the fear and the fear obeyed. If we have a fear, reasonable or unreasonable, we are also to ask Christ to go before us and confront it on our behalf. Everyone and all living things will bow before Christ and know that He is Lord. If Christ goes before us, on our behalf, what ever we fear will bow before Him and yield. We must be in persistent prayer for Christ to go before us and deliver us from our fears and enemies that seek to devour us. Our confidence must be in Christ and Christ alone. When we are left to our own defenses, as the people of the village carrying their own swords, we continue to live in fear and can't defend ourselves properly.
Another lesson might be that any fear we have here, apart from the fires of hell itself, are pretty insignificant. There is certainly a small mention of this in the story.
In my constant observation and education on healing from emotional injuries, it seems to me this story shows how it is necessary to force yourself to maintain FAITH in God’s protection and guidance despite your fears of admitting your own helplessness and despite your impatience with things not happening as quickly as you want. Dear God, I am helpless, defenseless, and vulnerable to the attack of the wolf and fear consumes me. Yet will I seek for and search for every ounce and crumb of faith within myself to know that You will protect and guide me. Lord, help my unbelief! Amen.
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