What do you get when you cross a Franicscan with a Jesuit? In the field of literature you get one of the greatest poets of all time. Gerard Manley Hopkins was a convert to the Faith, a Jesuit priest and one who was imbued to the core with the spirit of St. Francis. In many ways his philosophy and the poetry which it informed is a creative fusion of Ignatian and Franciscan spirituality. This same fusion is to be seen in the holy example of Father Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, one of the fastest growing religious orders in the Church today. I have just had the honour of writing a biography of Father Ho Lung, soon to be published as Candles in the Dark: Father Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor. Father Ho Lung converted to the Faith under the influence of the Franciscan sisters who taught him. Becoming a Jesuit he taught literature at high school and university, having a particular love for the poetry of his fellow Franciscan Jesuit, Gerard Manley Hopkins, before devoting his life in service to the poorest of the poor.

 

Now I am struck by the parallels between Father Ho Lung and our new pope. Like Father Ho Lung, Pope Francis is a Jesuit who has spent his life in Franciscan simplicity and in genuine service to the poor. He has also taught high school, including literature I believe.

 

Let’s return to our original quesiton. What do you get when you cross a Franciscan with a Jesuit? You get the greatest of poets, the holiest of priests, and (God willing and please God), a truly great pope.

 

I am appearing on Teresa Tomeo’s show in about twenty minutes to talk about the new pope so will have to curtail my own musings here on the Ink Desk. Instead, I’ll provide a link to an excellent article on the new pope by Scott Richert:  

 

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/pope-francis-knows-what-must-be-done?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CrisisMagazine+%28Crisis+Magazine%29