1 October 2023 Feast of St Francis

As most people are aware, Francis of Assisi is the founder of the Franciscan order of Friars Minor; he also started the women’s Order of St Clare, or the Poor Clares, and the lay Third Order.  Francis was the leader of the movement of evangelical poverty in the early 13th century.  Francis came from a wealthy family and was probably living a ‘normal’ life of privilege.  He fought in a local war, was captured and held captive for a year and his health suffered.  During a visit to the ruined chapel of San Damiano he heard a voice from a crucifix command him to ‘repair my house, which is well neigh in ruins’.  Taking this command literally, he immediately rode home, took some fine cloth from his father’s store and rode off to sell both it and the horse.  He then attempted to give the proceeds to the priest at San Damiano and when this was refused he threw the money out the window.  His father was furious and brought civil charges against him which he refused to answer.  His father then brought him before the Bishop of Assisi, where, before any accusations could be made, Francis stripped completely and gave his clothes back to his father, saying “Until now I have called you my father on earth.  Bur henceforth I can truly say Our Father who art in heaven”.  The bishop was stunned and gave him a cloak, and Francis withdrew into the woods.  He then lived in poverty, renouncing all worldly goods and family ties.  He did repair the church of San Damiano, but he soon realised his dream to ‘repair my house’ was about more than just one building.  And after hearing a sermon on Matthew’s account of the mission of Christ to the Apostles, ‘take no gold, silver, money…. Nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff… ‘he removed his shoes, discarded his staff, donned a rough tunic and began preaching repentance.  Francis attracted many followers and developed a simple rule, drawn from passages of the Bible, to ‘follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and walk in his footsteps’.

Probably no one in history has undertaken so seriously to imitate the life of Christ as Francis did.  Francis considered all creation as the mirror of God, and he called all creatures his ‘brothers’ and ‘siters’ and is even said to have preached to the birds and persuaded a wolf to stop attacking the people and livestock of Gubbio if they agreed to feed it.

Three years after starting his life of poverty, Francis organised a second order, for women, that became known as the Poor Clares.  A decade later, for those who were unable to leave family or home, he formed the ‘Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance’, a lay fraternity that would carry out the principles of the Franciscan life without withdrawing from the world or taking religious vows.

Even though poverty was the cornerstone of how Francis lived, he also held all animals as sacred creatures of God.  And his influence in the love and care for nature, including all animals, is celebrated by many people who do not necessarily have any knowledge of or association with faith groups.

Franciscans live by three aims, three ways of service and three notes of the Order. 

The three aims:

to make our Lord known and loved everywhere (go and preach the gospel and if necessary, use words)

                   to spread the spirit of love and harmony

                   to live simply

Although those in the First and Second Orders must live in absolute poverty, Third Order Franciscans are permitted to own property and earn money but are called on to consider how they use wealth and to refrain from accumulating unnecessary material things.

The three ways of service that Franciscans keep are ‘prayer, study, and work’.

The three Notes of the Order of St Francis are ‘humility, love and joy’.

Francis was known for his humility – his simple brown tunic which is said to have been repaired so many times that it no longer contained any piece of the original tunic; his lack of material possessions; and dedication to people who were sick and homeless.

It only took two years after the death of Francis for Pope Gregory IX to canonise this man of poverty and peace who loved and protected all creation.