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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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Brother Juniper
We've talked about this one in a couple of old threads, but I'm giving Br. Juniper a thread of his own in case anyone has missed him.
This is the story of a follower of St. Francis who is generous to a fault...a great story of giving all for God.
St. Francis, Br. Juniper, saints, giving, church, family
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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Since it's the feast of St. Francis, I was rereading some of our picture books on St. Francis. This one I reread recently, and there's one little (and I mean very little) point that bothers me in this text of this book.
And that is it refers to St. Francis as "Father Francis". St. Francis was a brother, never a priest. He would have been called "Brother Francis" even by his brothers. Now, they would have referred to him as "Our holy father Francis", and now the religious orders, including 3rd order call him "Our Seraphic Father Francis".
But it's a point I wanted to clarify. Francis was not a priest, so he wouldn't be called "Father Francis" like a priest would be.
Like I said, minor, but I just wanted to make that point. I was talking with my mother who is an SFO and she agreed with me on that point. And I pulled down most of my other picture books and they all refer to him as Brother Francis.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Betsy
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Jennifer,
I think your are being very kind to this book! I really wanted to like it, really I did. But I had many issues with it that makes me give it a thumbs down.
I agree with your point, and I could easily over look that in a otherwise good book. However, I felt like there were many other issues that I couldn't over look. For instance, Br. Juniper gave away The Chalice (that presumable held our Lord's Precious Blood) and other Sacred Objects to help people out. I also didn't like the disobedience of Br. Juniper who gave away everything, against orders not too.
Lastly, the over arching theme of the book seems to have more of a modern agenda than an innocent story about Br. Juniper being too generous.
Side Note: I did try to see what to Author was trying to convey, and not be overly critical of the book. I still felt like the message of the book was at worst a sort of jab at the Church or at best not presented well (it's never permissible, under normal circumstances, to give away the Chalice or Sacred Objects). However, I can respect that there are true Christian values of giving presented here, and others could see good and valuable lessons in this book.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 1:34pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I hear you on that, Betsy. I did think there was an underlying theme that the Liturgy and Sacred Vessels is not as important compared to the poor and needy. I was cringing too, to think that these could have been consecrated vessels. I was also thinking that if the Vessels are sold (and was there a tabernacle) could they provide Mass for all of them? That was important to me.
But looking around that, I can see how the author was trying to point out like St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr showed the poor and said "Here are the treasures of the Church!"
I don't remember the disobedience part... An order to keep an eye on things isn't the same as "Don't give anything away." I had just read it, but I'll have to look at that part again.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Betsy
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
I don't remember the disobedience part... An order to keep an eye on things isn't the same as "Don't give anything away." I had just read it, but I'll have to look at that part again. |
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You are probably right on this part, I read it early this summer and was relying on memory. I guess it was more of a feeling of disobedience that I remember, maybe not explicit.
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mom3aut1not
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I remember reading that Br. Juniper was likely autistic. (The article which I read many years gave a detailed list of behaviors and actions that make very likely that he was.) I read his actions as those of a person who was very literal minded ("Give to the poor.") and didn't always realize the consequences of his actions. I am fond of him, I admit; with three kids and some other family members on the autism spectrum, it's nice to know that Br. Juniper was able to fit in, more or less, and that he was able to serve as a brother despite his "differences."
I don't think he was disobedient; I think he was clueless.
In Christ,
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Deborah
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: Brother Juniper
