The Porter's Heart

Porter: noun. A person in charge of a gate or door; doorman or gatekeeper.

Bernard Casey, who would later be remembered as “The Porter of St. Bonaventure’s,” arrived in Detroit, Michigan and entered St. Bonaventure Capuchin monastery December 24, 1896. On January 14, 1897 he was invested in the Capuchin habit and named Friar Francis Solanus. His name honored the zealous Franciscan missionary to Peru, St. Francis Solano. Though, Fr. Solanus Casey was never sent to the foreign missions himself, the zeal of his patron was nonetheless evident in his assignment as porter.

When Fr. Solanus was ordained a priest, he was not given permission to hear confessions or to preach publicly, and this he humbly accepted as God’s will.  He received assignments as sacristan and porter and yet, became a missionary to all who came to the door.  He said, “Everyone who believes in Christ and follows Him is a missionary.” He lived that statement so much so that someone said of him after his death: “He attracted sinners back to God with his kindness and his love and his own gentleness, with his own graciousness toward every human being… they came away with the impression that this was truly a man of God who loved them. And if he could love them so much, then the Father, God, could love them even more.” It was not so much that he performed great works or was an outstanding preacher, but that people encountered in him such a joyful and sincere love of God and His Church, that they too were drawn closer to God. Hundreds of miracles did occur in the lives of those he spoke with, and these are recorded. However, he attributed all to the power of the Mass. He encouraged those who sought help or healing to enroll in the Seraphic Mass Association (SMA), a way in which the faithful could support the Capuchin missions spiritually by their prayers and financially by donations and in return have their intentions included in Masses being offered daily. Many who did enroll themselves or loved ones in the SMA gave testimony of remarkable healings and conversions.

I think the best way to learn how we might imitate his missionary example in our own lives is by reflecting on the evident dispositions of his heart. Firstly, he was rooted in prayer. It was in prayer that he learned to know and love Jesus and Mary, that he grew sensitive to the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that the love of God was poured into His heart. He said that, “Confidence is the very soul of prayer.” He confidently prayed for the graces that he was in need of and always brought before the Lord in prayer the people he met during the day and their intentions. His deep prayer life formed in him a heart meek and humble like Jesus’.

Secondly, his heart was receptive to all. One night he opened the door of the monastery to a man who said, “Where’s that Fr. Solanus? I want to kill him,” and he replied, “Well, now, we’ll have to talk that over.” As the man listened to Fr. Solanus, he calmed down and the next day, returned to the sacrament of Confession.  Fr. Solanus welcomed and loved those who came to the door in distress, grief, anger, fear, doubt, or joy, and he listened to them with reverence and patience. “He had a divine love for people,” Fr. Gerald Walker said at his funeral. His life of prayer and personal relationship with God overflowed into the encounters he had with others such that, through Fr. Solanus, they experienced God’s own divine love for them.

Lastly, he had a grateful heart. He is known for repeating the phrases, “Blessed be God in all His designs!” and, “Thank God ahead of time.” His writings reveal a personal gratitude for his upbringing, his parents, the faith, his vocation, and the goodness and mercy of God. He encouraged others to thank God too, confident that whatever He would allow would be for their good. He asked people to draw closer to God, especially in difficult circumstances, and, as a sign of their gratitude, to go to Mass or confession more regularly, pray a little more, or make an offering for missionary work in the Church. Writing to a young woman who had experienced a humiliation he said, “Why dear sister, you ought rather thank God for having given you such an opportunity to humble yourself and such a wonderful chance to foster humility.”

Let us try to follow his example, deepening our own relationship with God in prayer, receiving those we encounter on our doorstep or the other end of the phone with the mercy and love that God Himself has for them, practicing grateful confidence in God and encouraging others to draw near to Him in every circumstance. Through his intercession may we see the fruits of such missionary work in our own homes and communities!

Blessed Solanus Casey's Feast Day is July 30th. May he pray for us!

Sr. Solanus, CFR