tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post7751939589687906719..comments2024-02-22T22:14:28.796-06:00Comments on The Wild Reed: St. Francis of Assisi and Human SexualityMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-84215785393716030642007-09-28T23:23:00.000-05:002007-09-28T23:23:00.000-05:00Francis seemed to have increasingly lived out his ...Francis seemed to have increasingly lived out his life in harmony with the world of matter and the world of the spirit. His life was not compartmentalized in any way or form. He included the human experience with its rainbow of expressions into his spirituality. He made peace with the creatures as well as his body. He revolutionized the way religious life was lived at that time; he was innovative and brought to life a new way in understanding and loving GOD. Is it too far to think that Francis had a deeper insight and understanding of sexuality than those of his peer in the thirteen century? He chose to love humanity in his own way as a celibate man. Nevertheless, his sexuality poured out in all ways; from the way he caressed the wolf to the way he brushed the dirt with his naked feet. Perhaps history does not give us a clear picture about his view on human sexuality, but I am sure if Francis had decided to make love to someone he would have been creative and wonderful in that as well. <BR/> Happy Feast Day Francis (Oct 4)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-20201763737521934042007-09-28T13:47:00.000-05:002007-09-28T13:47:00.000-05:00Terry,And thus S&M was born!Terry,<BR/><BR/>And thus S&M was born!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-59118721935731235612007-09-26T22:53:00.000-05:002007-09-26T22:53:00.000-05:00Severely tempted against chastity, St. Francis rol...Severely tempted against chastity, St. Francis rolled in thorn bushes until his body was lacerated and bleeding and the temptation subsided.Terry Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09819523933502820341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-11816569797764043372007-09-23T15:28:00.000-05:002007-09-23T15:28:00.000-05:00Talbot asks us to make our sexual love "holy." Nat...Talbot asks us to make our sexual love "holy." Nature does not. Saint Paul insists it cannot. Saint Abrose, a Church Father, require confession of coitus between marrieds.<BR/><BR/>Sexuality is wonderfully pleasurable, but never as much as when it expresses love of a Beloved, Then it it is no longer called "sex," but "making love" with our sexuality. I would not know how to make making love any more transcendent, much less "holy." <BR/><BR/>Is there a certain way to eat that is "holy?" A certain way to take a crap that is "holy?" When questions like that makes sense, maybe Talbot's making love as "holy" will make sense too. Or, is love itself divine? If so, I have that divine kind of love without any god coming to the party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-58025161024129966152007-09-23T01:05:00.000-05:002007-09-23T01:05:00.000-05:00Anonymous,Do you understanding what you're saying?...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>Do you understanding what <EM>you're</EM> saying?<BR/><BR/>Talbot isn't implying that Francis was married. He's simply sharing the insights on sexuality discerned in the life and spirituality of St. Francis and making them applicable for all - celibate and married, and (to my mind) gay and straight.<BR/><BR/>Am I saying that Francis himself would have thought to apply his understanding on sexuality to gay people? Of course not. He was a man of his time and as such restricted in his understanding of realities such as sexual orientation by his era's limited and flawed understanding of human sexuality.<BR/><BR/>But the core message - the "lessons" - of Francis' life transcend time and culture. Talbot obviously recognizes this and does a great service to us all by lifting these lessons out of their original and limited historical context and presenting them afresh in the context of today - with all of its new insights and challenges.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-53394232710667994782007-09-22T23:17:00.000-05:002007-09-22T23:17:00.000-05:00Ah, the holy Francis, the Seraphic Father, the one...Ah, the holy Francis, the Seraphic Father, the one who bore Christ's own Stigmata.. You're aware of that Fact, right? And you are aware that it appears you're quoting Francis in the title of this post, but actually are quoting a man.. a good man, but one as faulty as all others who wants the best of all possible worlds? Monk/married..hmm.. what is it lately? I can't keep up.<BR/><BR/>Do you understand what you're doing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com