On the Church calendar for March 9 is the optional feast of St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440). Frances apparently was very adept at multitasking centuries ago. With a huge capacity for loving, she poured herself into a life of service to her husband and children and, at the same time, assisted a group of like-minded women in giving aid to the poor people of Rome. Prayer was a major component of her life, and I am sure that such a boundless resource is better than high-speed anything in sustaining a Christian wife, mother, and caregiver. Her example must have been such an inspiration to all those around her.
The optional first reading for today’s Mass (Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31) describes a “worthy wife.” That expression may sound patronizing in the 21st century, but the woman described in the reading is busy not only at home but also in the community where she “reaches out her hands to the poor” and “extends her arms to the needy.” St. Frances was like that. Chris Lowney, in his book What, Me Holy? from RENEW International, says sometimes a woman has to be both a Martha and a Mary (Luke 10:38-42), and clearly St. Frances worked tirelessly at being both. The rewards of living such a multitasking life—when the tasks include seeking the Lord, taking refuge in the Lord, and praising the Lord at all times—are recounted in the psalm for today, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 34:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9,10-11).
Lent is a special time of multitasking with love: a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Gospel passage for the memorial of St Frances (Matthew 22:34-40) tells of the two great commandments, love of God and love of neighbor as we love ourselves. Prayer intensifies and sustains our loving relationship with God. We pray for ourselves and others. Fasting helps us to keep in mind what is truly valuable and important in life and how to keep things in right proportion. Thus, fasting is loving ourselves, too. Almsgiving teaches us to be generous as our faithful God is generous. We love others selflessly.
Being good Christian multitaskers, we can pray, fast, and give alms all at once! Try it! Be creative! Here is an example: on a day when you are fasting from a certain food you enjoy, volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter and pray a silent prayer for each person as you are serving them! How about fasting from electronic devices for a day, while bringing a person who needs transportation to church to make a visit and pray together in front of the Blessed Sacrament?
For worthy wives and their worthy husbands, how about being extra “worthy” for the day and refrain from complaining about that little habit your spouse has, while saying some extra prayers of gratitude for him or her and, perhaps, helping each other clearing closets of perfectly good garments, outgrown or no longer worn, and then delivering those clothes to the local clothing bank?
I am sure you can come up with your own multitasks of love. “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” this Lent!
(Resource: franciscanmedia.org)
Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Manchester, CT. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.