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Francis of Assisi: Difference between revisions
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== The founding of the Franciscan Order == | == The founding of the Franciscan Order == | ||
In 1209, Francis, with a band of eleven disciples, went to Rome to seek the approval of Pope Innocent III for a “rule of life” to formally begin his religious order. The Pope initially agreed to the new rule, but many of his advisors objected. Cardinal Giovanni di San Paolo (who later became Pope Gregory the Ninth) told the Pope, “If we reject the petition of this poor man on the grounds that the Rule is new and too austere when he petitions us to approve a form of life which is in keeping with the Gospel, we must fear that we may displease the very Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The Pope assented when he recognized Francis as the same figure he had seen in a dream holding up the Lateran basilica on his own back. | In 1209, Francis, with a band of eleven disciples, went to Rome to seek the approval of Pope Innocent III for a “rule of life” to formally begin his religious order. The Pope initially agreed to the new rule, but many of his advisors objected. Cardinal Giovanni di San Paolo (who later became Pope Gregory the Ninth) told the Pope, “If we reject the petition of this poor man on the grounds that the Rule is new and too austere, when he petitions us to approve a form of life which is in keeping with the Gospel, we must fear that we may displease the very Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The Pope assented when he recognized Francis as the same figure he had seen in a dream holding up the Lateran basilica on his own back. | ||
This marked the official founding of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor (the “little brothers”), which was founded “to follow the teachings of our Lord [[Jesus Christ]] and to walk in his footsteps.” | This marked the official founding of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor (the “little brothers”), which was founded “to follow the teachings of our Lord [[Jesus Christ]] and to walk in his footsteps.” | ||
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We understand within the thrust of this dispensation again the Alpha and the Omega. We understand that in order for the order to be perpetuated at all it would have to have properties assigned to it and members within the order to care for those properties so that those seeking the austerities of Francis could have a haven and a home of light and so that over the centuries they could walk in his footsteps. | We understand within the thrust of this dispensation again the Alpha and the Omega. We understand that in order for the order to be perpetuated at all it would have to have properties assigned to it and members within the order to care for those properties so that those seeking the austerities of Francis could have a haven and a home of light and so that over the centuries they could walk in his footsteps. | ||
Francis, however, was passionately affirming that the rule must continue in its purified form. He could not accept the watering down of his teachings. He said | Francis, however, was passionately affirming that the rule must continue in its purified form. He could not accept the watering down of his teachings. He said: | ||
<blockquote>Brethren, God has called me to follow the voice of humility and he has pointed out to me the path of simplicity. I do not wish to hear any talk of any kind of rule, either that of Saint Augustine or Saint Bernard or Saint Benedict. The Lord has willed that I be a madman in the world, and God has not willed to lead us along any other path save this one.</blockquote> | |||
[[File:Giotto - Legend of St Francis - -19- - Stigmatization of St Francis.jpg|thumb|Saint Francis receiving the stigmata, fresco by Giotto in the Upper Basilica at Assisi]] | [[File:Giotto - Legend of St Francis - -19- - Stigmatization of St Francis.jpg|thumb|Saint Francis receiving the stigmata, fresco by Giotto in the Upper Basilica at Assisi]] | ||
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He felt the approach of what he called “sister death,” and he sought the silence of solitary places for which he had constantly yearned in the first years of his renunciation. He retraced his steps along the old paths between the mountains and forest, stopping once more in the cave which he had favored for prayer and fasting. These places are today famous as Franciscan sanctuaries. | He felt the approach of what he called “sister death,” and he sought the silence of solitary places for which he had constantly yearned in the first years of his renunciation. He retraced his steps along the old paths between the mountains and forest, stopping once more in the cave which he had favored for prayer and fasting. These places are today famous as Franciscan sanctuaries. | ||
It was on Mount Verna that what biographers have described as the most important episode of the life of the Poverello occurred—the stigmata. There was a hut made of branches built under a beech tree, and Francis besought Brother Leo to keep everyone away from that place. Here he spent the feast of | It was on Mount Verna that what biographers have described as the most important episode of the life of the Poverello occurred—the stigmata. There was a hut made of branches built under a beech tree, and Francis besought Brother Leo to keep everyone away from that place. Here he spent the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, August 15. He continued to penetrate further and further into the forest toward the cleft in the mountain. It was Brother Leo’s task to bring him a little bread and water once a day. In that solitude, Francis relived the moments of the passion of Jesus with such an intensity of love that he brought them to a vivid reality in his soul and upon his body. | ||
The culmination of his meditation upon the Redeemer came to Francis in the agony and the ecstasy of a dread illness when he sought solitude at the retreat on Mount La Verna. As the pale poverello lay outstretched upon a bare rock in the chill of the September dawn, “the fervor of his devotion increased so much that he totally transformed himself into Him who let himself be crucified through abundance of love.” | The culmination of his meditation upon the Redeemer came to Francis in the agony and the ecstasy of a dread illness when he sought solitude at the retreat on Mount La Verna. As the pale poverello lay outstretched upon a bare rock in the chill of the September dawn, “the fervor of his devotion increased so much that he totally transformed himself into Him who let himself be crucified through abundance of love.” | ||
Brother Leo reports that | Brother Leo reports that | ||
<blockquote>Suddenly appeared to him a [[seraph]] with six wings, bearing enfolded in them a very beautiful image of a crucified man, his hands and feet outflung as on a cross, with features clearly resembling those of Lord Jesus. Two wings covered the seraph’s head; two, descending to his feet, veiled the rest of his body; the other two were unfolded for flight.”<ref>Morris Bishop, ''St. Francis of Assisi'' (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1974), p. 168.</ref></blockquote> | |||
Before the vision faded, Francis felt the five wounds of the Crucified pierce his body with such force that he fell unconscious. | Before the vision faded, Francis felt the five wounds of the Crucified pierce his body with such force that he fell unconscious. | ||
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== Final years == | == Final years == | ||
In 1209 Francis suffered from a general debility and weakening of flesh. Seven years later, in 1216, when he was sheltered by the Bishop of Assisi, he had recurrent fevers from the malaria he had contracted | In 1209 Francis suffered from a general debility and weakening of flesh. Seven years later, in 1216, when he was sheltered by the Bishop of Assisi, he had recurrent fevers from the malaria he had contracted in his sojourn of the East—taking on the karma of the East he was bearing it out and working it out in his body. | ||
This was the path of sainthood of these two thousand years of the age of Pisces before the coming of the seventh angel delivered to us the dispensation of the [[Holy Spirit]], the [[violet flame]]. And so we see the saints who went before suffered these afflictions in body—the very literal working out of world karma. Today we may perform the same sacrifices with that violet flame. These afflictions of illness were added to the stigmata. There came pus forth from the opened wounds of the stigmata. He was pained dreadfully and continuously. | This was the path of sainthood of these two thousand years of the age of Pisces before the coming of the [[Saint Germain|seventh angel]] delivered to us the dispensation of the [[Holy Spirit]], the [[violet flame]]. And so we see the saints who went before suffered these afflictions in body—the very literal working out of world karma. Today we may perform the same sacrifices with that violet flame. These afflictions of illness were added to the stigmata. There came pus forth from the opened wounds of the stigmata. He was pained dreadfully and continuously. | ||
He went to Siena to spend the winter. His stomach, legs, feet swelled. The pain was aggravated to the point where he could scarcely take any food. In that state he besought Friar Elias to take him back to Assisi, in May 1226. Everywhere crowds gathered at his passage, and for this reason a secret route was decided upon. The procession at last reached Assisi and filed through the big gate of the bishop’s palace. Francis was to remain here for a time as the guest of the Prelate Guido, the same man who had covered him with his mantle in that now distant day when Francis had stripped himself before his father in order to wear the rags of poverty. | He went to Siena to spend the winter. His stomach, legs, feet swelled. The pain was aggravated to the point where he could scarcely take any food. In that state he besought Friar Elias to take him back to Assisi, in May 1226. Everywhere crowds gathered at his passage, and for this reason a secret route was decided upon. The procession at last reached Assisi and filed through the big gate of the bishop’s palace. Francis was to remain here for a time as the guest of the Prelate Guido, the same man who had covered him with his mantle in that now distant day when Francis had stripped himself before his father in order to wear the rags of poverty. | ||
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The leper asked him what he could do that the others could not. Francis promised that he would do all he wished. The leper said, “I want you to wash me all over because the odor is such that I cannot stand it.” Francis then prepared water with many sweet-scented herbs, undressed him and began to wash him with his hands. Miraculously, wherever Francis touched, the leprosy disappeared and the flesh was healed. | The leper asked him what he could do that the others could not. Francis promised that he would do all he wished. The leper said, “I want you to wash me all over because the odor is such that I cannot stand it.” Francis then prepared water with many sweet-scented herbs, undressed him and began to wash him with his hands. Miraculously, wherever Francis touched, the leprosy disappeared and the flesh was healed. | ||
As the leper’s body was healed, his soul experienced conversion also. Overcome with remorse for his sins, he began to weep bitterly, accusing himself for all the pain he had caused others. After fifteen days of deep penance, he fell ill and passed on. His soul, brighter than the sun, appeared to Saint Francis while he was praying in a forest. Pouring out gratitude and blessings, he announced to Francis that that day he was going to Paradise. | As the leper’s body was healed, his soul experienced conversion also. Overcome with remorse for his sins, he began to weep bitterly, accusing himself for all the pain he had caused others. After fifteen days of deep penance, he fell ill and passed on. His soul, brighter than the sun, appeared to Saint Francis while he was praying in a forest. Pouring out gratitude and blessings, he announced to Francis that that day he was going to Paradise.<ref>''The Little Flowers of Saint Francis'', XXV.</ref> | ||
=== Francis and the swallows === | === Francis and the swallows === | ||
As Francis and his brothers came to a little town of Alviano, hundreds of persons were gathered in the square to hear him speak. Hundreds of swallows that nested in the city walls and | As Francis and his brothers came to a little town of Alviano, hundreds of persons were gathered in the square to hear him speak. Hundreds of swallows that nested in the city walls and towers circled above the square, which resounded with their song. Francis waited until it was nearly nightfall, thinking that they would go to rest, but when they did not, he said to them, “My brothers and sisters the swallows, it is now time for me to speak. You have spoken enough.” | ||
Right away there was silence and it lasted while Francis gave his sermon. At the end of it, the swallows joined in the song of jubilation sung by the people of Alviano, who cried with one voice, “A miracle! A saint!” Then the bells in the church began to ring all by themselves and the people crowded around Saint Francis, asking to be admitted to his band of disciples, claiming that they were ready to abandon their homes and follow him. | Right away there was silence and it lasted while Francis gave his sermon. At the end of it, the swallows joined in the song of jubilation sung by the people of Alviano, who cried with one voice, “A miracle! A saint!” Then the bells in the church began to ring all by themselves and the people crowded around Saint Francis, asking to be admitted to his band of disciples, claiming that they were ready to abandon their homes and follow him. | ||