Part I & II

 In love with Jesus Christ  In love with his Church  In love with his humanity  Working to put words to his own experience of God

 Is how the reader can play a part in this conversation  Is how he invites us into our own memory  Is how he invites us to our own sense of God’s work in our lives

 I am a sinner.  Perhaps I can say ◦ I am a bit astute ◦ I can adapt to circumstances ◦ I am a bit naïve I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.

 Chosen when he was consecrated a Bishop  Comes from reflection on Matthew & Bede Jesus saw a Publican—and since he looked on him with feelings of love and chose him Jesus called him, “Follow me.”  (I want to say, “No. This money is mine.) I trust & respond to Jesus’ infinite mercy.

I – BY CHOOSING HIM I accept in a spirit of penance

 For Francis… Why do you live where ◦ Missionary spirityou do? ◦ Community ◦ Discipline Why did you Why do you  Become …… live where you do? ◦ __________________ ◦ ______________________ ◦ __________________________

Francis:Discernment ◦ See everything ◦ Turn a blind eye to much ◦ Correct a little.  How does my religious life INFLUENCE the way I take responsibility in/with the church and the world? ◦ A continual learner/responder ◦ ________________________________________

 Francis ◦ … always fundamentally in tension ◦ … not centered in himself ◦ … the Society centers outside itself  Us ◦ __________ ◦ _____________________

with Christ as the center

 Francis: My experience as Superior & Bishop my authoritarian way not inclined to be a “goody-goody” not a right-winger as Archbishop and now as Pope consultation, + outsiders recognizing the wisdom of the Church, the holiness, fidelity of ordinary people  Us: In the past in contrast to today