St Francis Of Assisi

In the life of St Francis of Assisi, arguably the world’s best loved saint, there are so many interesting and rich facets which reveal the spirit of the man. For more than a hundred years now, since Paul Sabatier published his life of the saint in 1894, there has been renewed interest in and even intense debate about the nature of St Francis’ intention in founding the Franciscan Order. This has lead to a new wave of Franciscan literature, including several notable contributions. And the work is not yet finished.

For example, Raphael Brown, in his 1958 introduction to the famous and most charming ‘The Little Flowers of St Francis’, claimed that ‘It is a surprising and a regrettable fact that a complete critical biography of St Francis has not yet been given to the world by his Order, although nearly all available early texts have been printed. Such a work is greatly needed.” (Footnote 1) My personal favourite biography so far (alongside 'The Little Flowers') is Johannes Jorgensen's 'St Francis Of Assisi', a very thorough, deep and rich account of Francis' life.

What exactly did St Francis intend when he founded the movement now known as the Franciscan Order? This question is not so easy to answer as it may seem, and this is evidenced by the history of the Franciscans and by modern research. It is a difficult question especially if you consider the great conflict which erupted in Francis' later years between himself and certain of his friars who wanted to change his Rule of life (and its consequences throughout the centuries). Such conflict lasted for more than two years and caused Francis indescribable pain and anguish. This facet of St Francis' life cannot be omitted in any serious study of his life and mission.

However, before indulging in specialist studies which may possibly lead to an exaggerated emphasis on an isolated question of one sort or another, I believe it is more beneficial first to consider Francis’ life as a whole and in this way to come to appreciate his true depth and his real spirit. Who really was this man who moved the earth so profoundly and who continues to move the lives of people 800 years later?

We have to look beyond popular images of piety to discover the real St Francis. For here was a man who humbled himself lower than a worm of the earth and yet soared higher than an eagle in the realm of the spirit. One needs to see how the variety of events in Francis’ life refer to one another and shed light on one another. Perhaps then we might discover what was Francis’ true spirit which drove him to the summit of 'his calvary’ where he became known as the ‘second Christ’. St Francis of Assisi was not a religious simpleton. He was not educated in the wisdom of the world, but he was initiated into the Divine wisdom. He was not merely a pious lover of creatures. He was more than an ordinary saint.

Francis embraced the poorest of all poverty and he enriched the world with the richest of all graces. Francis cared for the needs of endangered animals and he cared for the needs of outcast lepers. Francis was visited by the birds of the air and he was visited by angels from Heaven. Francis suffered beatings from his own father and he also suffered beatings from demons. Francis healed the bodies of the sick and he healed the souls of the troubled.

Francis conversed with all creatures and he conversed with the Creator of all. Francis preached the Gospel to Catholics and he preached the Gospel to the Sultan of the Moslem empire. Francis tamed the fierce wolf of Gubbio and he reconciled villages that were at war with each other. Francis was often lifted off the ground in ecstasy while praying to God and he was lifted up spiritually to occupy the vacated throne of Lucifer in Heaven.

Francis physically rebuilt several churches in and around Assisi and he spiritually rebuilt the entire Church in obedience to his Lord. Francis was so gentle that he once bargained with a little boy in order to save the lives of two captured birds, and yet he could rise up with such a mighty spirit when the truth was challenged as once to call on Christ to respond audibly from Heaven in his defence. Francis identified himself with the poorest beggar and Francis was conformed to the crucified Christ. Francis was not only conformed to Christ in his life but also after his death as he was granted certain privileges after passing from this world (see, for example, what Christ revealed to Francis in an intimate visitation during his lifetime in 'The Considerations on the Holy Stigmata', part 5).

The sword of sorrow pierced Francis’ soul when some friars fought against his ideal of poverty and simplicity, and the sacred wounds of Christ pierced Francis’ body when he loved the world in return. Francis bore the wounds of Christ’s Passion in his own body, and Francis was filled with the charity of the crucified Lord in his soul.

Francis sang the praises of God when he first discoverd the joy of the Lord and he died singing the praises of God for the joy of having won Heaven. His influence in the world has not diminished throughout these centuries but rather continues to increase with the passing of time. Evidently, the victory he won while in this world is a victory that reached up into eternity, and there from eternity he still shines in our time and in this impoverished world of ours.

As if this were not enough, there is a possibility that St Francis will do even more in the future of the world. Some ancient Franciscan prophecies hint at a 'second coming' of Francis. Also, St Bonaventure, after a mystical experience on Mount La Verna, came to identify St Francis with the angel in the Book of Revelation who ascends 'from the rising of the sun' and carries 'the seal of the living God' and has power to seal the 'servants of God in their foreheads' (Revelation 7:2). The idea is that just as Francis was sealed with the wounds of Christ he will be given to seal the servants of God with the Holy Spirit. See also Joseph Ratzinger's review of Bonaventure's work, 'The Theology of History in St Bonaventure'.

Will St Francis accomplish even greater works in the future?

We might just have to wait and see!

Leba