St, Francis before the Pope
Humility and obedience.
He loved chastity, and was chaste, once throwing himself in a thicket of thorns to resist temptation.
He loved obedience, humbling himself before bishops, fallen priests, and the Lord Pope.
He loved Jesus Crucified, sharing in his passion, showing the Holy Wounds to a world grown cold.
He said once unto his companion: “I esteem not myself to be a Brother Minor unless I be in the state that I shall describe unto thee. Lo now, I suppose me to be one set in authority over the Brethren; I go unto the Chapter, I preach unto the Brethren and exhort them, and at the end they speak against me, saying: “Thou mislikest us, for that thou art unlettered, slow of speech, a fool, and simple,” and thus I am cast forth with reviling, little esteemed of all. I tell thee,—unless I can hear such words with unchanged countenance, with unchanged gladness of spirit and unchanged holy intent,—I am vainly called a Brother Minor.” And he added, “In exalted place there is the fear of fall, in praises a precipice, in the humility of a submissive spirit there is profit. Why then do we look for perils rather than profits, when we have had time bestowed on us that we may make profit therein?”
From this same reason of humility, Francis was minded that his Brethren should be called by the name of Minors, and that the rulers of his Order should be called Ministers, that thus he might employ the very words of the Gospel that he had vowed to observe, and that his followers might learn from their very name that they had come to learn humility in the school of the humble Christ. For that Teacher of humility, Christ Jesus, when He would teach His disciples what was perfect humility, said: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” - St. Bonaventure
St Francis, the patron saint of animals, ecology, poverty and those cast aside, pray for us.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, Terry. Sometimes people tend to forget about the real St. Francis, and only remember that he loved animals and nature. The most important, vital, earthshattering force in his live was Jesus, and his endless desire to serve and please Him. He was also the most obedient and loyal son of the Church. It was for these reasons, not ecology, that my good St. Francis was canonized within a couple of years of his death. But it is for all these reasons that I love him. Very best Franciscan blessings to you, Terry, and to all here - Susan, OFS
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