Finding strength and purpose with Blessed Francis Jordan

Inspiration

The Life of Father Francis Jordan (Pancratius Pfeiffer 1930); Chapter 2 Decorator (1864-1869)

Summary

His family’s finances being what they were, the Founder could not pursue his desire to study and therefore decided to be a decorator. He was successful in this, gaining esteem from a master decorator and travelling to various places as a journeyman.

He lived simply, was very disciplined, and used his free time to study. He approached this vocation with all his energy and enthusiasm, however he slowly felt a pull in a different direction, that of the priesthood.

Reflection

Sometimes I really wish God would just tell me what He wants me to do. That He would give me a piece of paper up front with a plan for me to follow. An instruction sheet with pictures and a few tools included in the packet (can you tell I have been utilising some flat packs lately!). I’m always happy to do the task, I just struggle sometimes to know what it is.

Blessed Francis Jordan did not seem to have a clear path to his vocation. Things weren’t straightforward and the road was not direct or straight.

However I don’t think these extra steps to priesthood would have been wasted.

Learning skills, living in the world, seeing different places and experiencing different people – all of these things would have helped the Founder to better understand those that he would later be trying to share the Gospel with. The discipline of practice, of earning a living and managing finances, and of doing his best with the task in front of him would have all been skills that would have shaped how he approached his role as a leader and also as a disciple of Christ. Nothing would have gone to waste and the delay was not without purpose.

Blessed Francis Jordan faced many challenges and obstacles in his life, things that seemed to get in the way of him being whom he was meant to be. However, with hindsight, we can see that they were a different part of his personal formation, of making him who he actually was. He didn’t let them get in the way. He embraced each step of his journey and threw himself into them wholeheartedly to maximise the gain. He didn’t get disheartened or disgruntled but kept going along the way.

Questions to ponder

1. What do you do when life throws an obstacle in the path you are walking?
2. How could you throw yourself more wholeheartedly into the part of the journey you are on right now?
3. Blessed Francis Jordan kept a simple life of discipline and study. How could his example inspire you today?
4. Sometimes we think we know the path God has laid out for us, but Francis Jordan shows us that God continues to nudge us along the way. How do you listen for God’s next call in your life?
5. What might God be pulling you towards today?

Prayer

Dear Lord, You alone know the plans you have for us. Help us to not become disgruntled but to listen earnestly for your invitation and to enthusiastically embrace each period of our life.

May we be inspired by the trust Bl Francis Jordan had in You so that we too can not lean on our own understanding, but to willingly follow wherever you call us.

In Your name, we pray.