Saint of the day: Ubusisiwe u-Antonio Franco, impilo nemikhuleko
SEPTEMBA 02
IQHAWE I-ANTONIO FRANCO
UMonsignor Antonio Franco wazalelwa eNaples ngoSepthemba 26, 1585 emndenini ohlonishwayo odabuka eSpain, njengendodana yesithathu yezingane eziyisithupha. Kusukela esemncane wakhombisa umusa othize kanye nokholo oluphilayo nolweqiniso, ayekwazi ukulihlakulela ngokuqhubeka kwesikhathi ngomkhuleko ovumayo nosuku. Eminyakeni engamashumi amabili nanye wazizwa ebizelwe kubupristi futhi wathunyelwa nguyise ukuthi aqhubeke nezifundo zakhe zobufundisi kuqala eRoma naseMadrid. Ngo-1610, eneminyaka engama-25, wamiswa waba ngumpristi. NgoJanuwari 14, 1611 waqokwa iRoyal Chaplain yiNkosi uPhilip III waseSpain. Enkantolo yaseMadrid izimfanelo zakhe zobupristi zakhanya kakhulu, kangangokuba inkosi uqobo, eyamhlonipha kakhulu, ngomhlaka 12 Novemba 1616 yammisa njengoMajor Chaplain woMbuso waseSisily, Ordinary Prelate no-Abbot we-Prelature nullius waseSanta Lucia del Mela. Wayezinikele ngokuphelele ekunakekelweni kwemiphefumulo, enzela abampofu nabagulayo, empini yokulwa nokuthola inzuzo nokwakhiwa kabusha kweCathedral, alisebenzisela ukuzithoba kwakhe, konke lokhu, kanye nomoya wakhe onamandla wokuthandaza kanye ukuziphendulela, okubuye kuvezwe emabhange ahlanganisiwe, kwamenza waba nedumela elibanzi lobungcwele esevele ekufeni kwakhe ngaphambi kwesikhathi, okwamenza wangakabi namashumi amane nanye ngomhlaka 2 Septhemba 1626.
UMTHANDAZO
O Ubusisiwe Anthony, isithombe sifinyelela kwabancane nabasweleyo, ulivuselele iSonto ngeqiniso nangokuthula.
Wakhe konke ngokukhumbula amagugu waphakade weVangeli likaKristu, uphila ngokuthembekile lokho kugujwa ngokuhlobisa ezimfihlakalo zaphezulu.
Kithina, esiphendukela ekuncengeleni kwakho, vuselela futhi namuhla izintambo esikucela kuwe: uthando oluthembekile, olunezithelo nolungapheli lwemindeni, isibindi nethemba kwabagulayo.
Isasasa esivivinyweni, futhi yenza lokho, ukuthanda iBandla, singalandela ezinyathelweni zikaJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu
Ngiyanxusa, Nceku ethembekile kakhulu kaNkulunkulu u-Archbishop Antonio Franco, osesifubeni sakhe wavutha amalangabi omusa wokuphana noNkulunkulu nomakhelwane, ikakhulukazi abampofu. Nginxusa ukuthi ukhuleke kuJesu olungileyo angihawukele, phakathi kosizi oluningi engizithola kulo. Deh! Ngitholele lomusa engikunxenxa ngokuthobeka (mawuvumele ukuthula okufunayo kubonakale kuthule). Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngicela kuwe ukukhuthazela kokuhle; inzondo yesono; ukubalekela amathuba amabi futhi ekugcineni ukufa okuhle. Uma unginika yona, Nceku ethembekile kakhulu kaNkulunkulu, nginikela ngesinkwa ekuhlonipheni kwakho abampofu obebathanda kakhulu emhlabeni. O Monsignor Franco, ngengalo yakho eqinile ngivikele empilweni ungisindise ekufeni.
Nginxusa kuwe, Nceku ethembekile kakhulu kaNkulunkulu Mons. Kuwena, osesifubeni sakhe oshise ilangabi eliyisihawu lokupha uthando kuNkulunkulu nomakhelwane, ikakhulukazi abampofu. Nginxusa ukuthi ukhuleke kuJesu olungileyo angihawukele, phakathi kosizi oluningi engizithola kulo. Deh! Ungitholele lomusa engikunxenxa ngokuthobeka. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngicela kuwe ukukhuthazela kokuhle; inzondo yesono; ukubalekela amathuba amabi futhi ekugcineni ukufa okuhle. Uma unginika lona, Nceku ethembekile kakhulu kaNkulunkulu, nginikela abampofu ngesithunzi sakho, obemthanda kakhulu emhlabeni. Ah Monsignor Franco, ngengalo yakho eqinile ngivikele empilweni ungisindise ekufeni.