St. Francis of Assisi

Dear friends, Francis was a great Saint and a joyful man. His simplicity, his humility, his faith, his love for Christ, his goodness towards every man and every woman, brought him gladness in every circumstance. Indeed, there subsists an intimate and indissoluble relationship between holiness and joy. A French writer once wrote that there is only one sorrow in the world: not to be saints, that is, not to be near to God. Looking at the testimony of St. Francis, we understand that this is the secret of true happiness: to become saints, close to God! 

May the Virgin, so tenderly loved by Francis, obtain this gift for us. Let us entrust ourselves to her with the words of the Poverello of Assisi himself: "Blessed Virgin Mary, no one like you among women has ever been born in the world, daughter and handmaid of the Most High King and heavenly Father, Mother of our Most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us... to your most blessed and beloved Son, Lord and Master" (Francesco di Assisi, Scritti, 163). 

- Pope Benedict, General Audience (27 January 2010)

Do read the entire speech. The Holy Father says, among other things, that St. Francis' life points to the truth that true renewal of the Church always takes place not "without or in opposition to the Pope, but only in communion with him....The Poverello of Assisi understood that every charism as a gift of the Holy Spirit existed to serve the Body of Christ, which is the Church; therefore he always acted in full communion with the ecclesial authorities." This is a lesson for those who believe that the Church today is in need of reform. Yes - the Church is probably in need of cleansing, Catholics need to grow deeper in faith, more zealous in their practice of charity. But unless they follow St. Francis, unless they deeply love the Church and her leader, the Pope, their efforts will be worth naught.

This, and so many other lessons, can be learnt from that humble friar.

Il Poverello, lover of poverty, founder of the Fransicans Order, friend of nature, minstrel of God's creations, preacher to the Muslims,  the insignificant religious brother who was called to rebuild the Church was truly a giant of holiness. It is no wonder so many people are captivated by his story and his spirit.

Taken in Assisi (Basilica of St Mary of the Angels) on the 27th of June, 2010.

Until recently St. Francis seemed a bit too distant to me, both in time and in circumstance - but that's because I didn't know him well. I think changed when I visited Assisi. It really was a wonderful experience to pray St. Francis' famous prayer, "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace" - a prayer that I used to pray every day when I was younger  - in Assisi, in front of the San Damiano Cross from which St. Francis of Assisi was praying when he received the commission from the Lord to rebuild the Church. Read my post about my day in Assisi here.

by Francisco de Zurbarán

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.

Amen.