Today (Oct. 4) Christians around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the
bright lights of the Church and one of the most venerated religious figures in history.
The life and witness of Francis is as relevant to the world we live in today as it was 900 years ago. He was one of the first critics of capitalism, one of the earliest Christian environmentalists, a sassy reformer of the Church and one of the classic conscientious objectors to war.
Francis was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, born into a society where the gap between rich and the poor was increasingly unacceptable. It was an age of religious crusades, where Christians and Muslims were killing each other in the name of God. Sound familiar?
Francis did something simple and wonderful. He read the Gospels where Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor," "Consider the lilies and the sparrows and do not worry about tomorrow," "Love your enemies," and he decided to live as if Jesus meant the stuff he said.
Francis turned his back on the materialism and militarism of his world, and said yes to Jesus.
One of the quotes attributed to Francis is a simple and poignant critique of our world, just as it was to his: "The more stuff we have the more clubs we need to protect it." It does make you wonder if he'd be on Wall Street protesting today.
With a childlike innocence, Francis literally stripped naked and walked out of Assisi to live like the lilies and the sparrows (and to become the patron saint for the flower children). He lived close to the earth, and like Jesus became a friend of the birds and creatures, whom he fondly called "brother" and "sister." In light of that, many Christians brought their pets to Church yesterday for an special all-pets-allowed service, an annual tribute to Francis. And many a bird-bath dons his iconic image. But it's easy to turn our best movements into monuments. His life was a powerful critique of the demons of his day, which are very similar to the demons of our day.
One of my favorite stories of Francis, was when he decided to meet with the Muslim sultan, during the Fifth Crusade. It was a tumultuous time. War had become a necessity and a habit, and was baptized by much of the Church. Francis was sent off as a soldier, but he could not reconcile the violence of war with the grace of Christ -- and so he got off his warhorse and put down the sword. He pleaded with the military commander, Cardinal Pelagius, to end the fighting. Pelagius refused. Instead, Pelagius broke off all diplomatic relations with the sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil. The sultan in turn decreed that anyone who brought him the head of a Christian would be rewarded with a Byzantine gold piece. Francis, however, pursued his vision in steadfast faith, surmounting all dangers in a journey to see the sultan. He traveled through fierce fighting in Syria and inevitably was met by soldiers of the sultan's army, who beat him savagely and put him in chains, dragging him before the sultan himself. Francis spoke to the sultan of God's love and grace. The sultan listened intensely and was so moved that he offered Francis gifts and money. Francis of course had no desire for the money, but he gladly accepted one gift, an ivory horn used in the Muslim call to prayer. He took it back with him and used it to summon his own community for prayer. Both Francis and the sultan were transformed by that encounter.
In an age of religious extremists, Francis offers us an alternative. We have seen religious extremists of all stripes -- Jewish, Muslim, Christian -- distort the best that our faiths have to offer and hijack the headlines with stories of hatred. We've seen Christian extremists burn the Quran, blow up abortion clinics, bless bombs, baptize Wall Street and hold signs that say "God hates fags." But Francis invites us to become extremists for grace, extremists for love.
Although the Church is prone to forget his witness or to make a monument of his movement, there is a whole world remembering his radical witness today. We celebrate his critique of an economy that left masses of people in poverty so that a handful of people can live as they wish. We rejoice in his love for the earth as we work to end the ravaging of our world. We remember his witness that there is a better way to bring peace than with a sword. And we remember the whisper he heard from God, "Repair the Church which is in ruins."
Let us do a little something today as a tribute to old Francis. Maybe we can get rid of some of our stuff or spend some time with a homeless person. Maybe we can laugh at advertisements today that try to convince us that happiness can be purchased. Maybe we can hang out in the woods and spend some time with the lilies and sparrows. Maybe we can take an enemy out for dinner.
These are the words of the famous prayer of Francis. May they inspire us to become better people and to build a better world:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Francis of Assisi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online
Who Was St. Francis of Assisi? - patron saint of animals and ecology
Often we hear the prayer, but don't know the stories. Thanks for reminding us of his life.
Lets all remember that St. Francis was a faithful Catholic who was (thankfully) intolerant of sin and heresy. He was not some pan-religious hippy.
In order for a sin to be mortal, it must meet three conditions:
Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner
A person who commits a mortal sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway.
Ref: http://www.saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html
So, an abortion provider that does not believe that life begins at conception has not committed a mortal sin. A gay couple that gets married because they believe that God has blessed their union has not committed a mortal sin. (Regardless of what YOU may think of these things.)
The fellow that tortures prisoners, not because he thinks it necessary for the country, but just because he likes hurting people, well, maybe.
I did come closer and stretched more than I could have possibly done had I not taken those words to heart for such a long time.The practice of this prayer is still something I strive for and on some days it is thankfully less elusive.
St.Francis was a mystic genius and artist.
just curious
Humor us.
Perhaps we ought to consider removing "Land of the free" from our National Anthem, as well......
- St. Francis
"And let us hold our bodies in dishonor and contempt because through our fault we are all wretched and corrupt, foul and worms, as the Lord says by the prophet: "I am a worm and no man, the reproach of men and the outcast of the people."
- St. Francis
If people would actually take the time to READ the works of St. Francis and not just believe what people tell them or the Church's portrayal, they might be surprised. Reading is a good - you actually learn things. I detest this outlook that we are wretched and corrupt by default; what a ridiculous way to live.
,Actually my opinion only God knows who are religious extremist if that even exist such a thing with God even. For we already know there is no such thing as one is illegal with God, but we are told we are all aliens living as tenants on land not our own. For when we pass, we leave with nothing the same way we came in right with nothing? For my understanding only Jesus did not just meant what He said, but Jesus lived what his words meant for all to see openly and not in free of no one, knowing full well those who opposed Him his own free will and freedom to do so, greatly persecuted him and crucified him to quiet him. For in truth the powers doing so, were more fearful of truth Jesus, then Jesus was fearful of them. Why? And Jesus did say follow me, I Am the Way, The Truth and the Light in darkness. Jesus also said. Do not think because you follow me you to will not suffer great persecution also. One will. To suffer for God and his children, did so with open arms joyfully willing to suffer for the freedom and free will given to all to be made known. We always mention social pressure socialism etc but what we fail to understand all things in life on earth there is an opposite, good or bad wet or dry, clean or dirty also with socialism, there is good socialism that gives righteousness, distributes equality rights for all and then there are bad socialism laws that are not righteous and only distributes catering only to the few to benefit from, while the larger in numbers they benefit nothing, but is out to remove even the little they have. God's Word goes out not in empty chatter, God means what He says and does what HE means. Jesus did not only talk the talk but walked the walked fully right to his own death not changing one Word that came forth from his mouth to even save his own life. Love all
I would like to understand what you mean by "To be poor and disenfrancÂhised has been all but overtly criminalizÂed and to forego human agression and materialisÂm is very likely to make you a pariah."
Human aggression and materialism should be embraced? Those 2 qualities are not the very traits of a pariah?
I believe that is one reason why St. Francis is such a popular saint he rejected it.