Welcome to "Beneath the San Damiano Cross"

In today’s Gospel, we hear the profound words from John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:1, 14). This revelation is the cornerstone of our faith: God humbled Himself, entering into our humanity to dwell among us. It’s a mystery that invites us into a sacred struggle—a wrestling match with humility, detachment, and surrender.

“Beneath the San Damiano Cross” is a place to reflect on that struggle. Like St. Francis of Assisi, who knelt before the San Damiano Cross and heard the call to rebuild the Church, we are each called to rebuild the temples of our own hearts. That rebuilding requires letting go—of pride, of worldly attachments, and of self-reliance—and embracing the radical humility of Christ, who became flesh for our salvation.

This blog is not about having all the answers. It’s about wrestling with the questions. How do we live with true humility in a world that glorifies self-promotion? How do we detach from material comforts without losing sight of our responsibilities? How do we, like Jacob wrestling with God, struggle honestly with the challenges of faith while holding fast to the blessings promised?

Here, we’ll explore these questions through reflections on Scripture, the writings of the saints, and the realities of daily life. Inspired by the Incarnation, we’ll wrestle with what it means to dwell among the challenges of this world while keeping our eyes fixed on heaven.

May this space encourage you to wrestle well—not to resist God’s call, but to surrender to it fully. Beneath the San Damiano Cross, let us rebuild, renew, and walk together toward Christ.

In surrender, we find strength; in Christ, we find peace,

God bless you my dearly beloved, 

Deacon Brian