Video: Saint Francis of Assisi

Transcription

1 Video: Saint Francis of Assisi Length: 7 minutes, 45 seconds Target Audience: Grades 6 through 10 A Loyola Productions presentation from the video series: Who Cares About the Saints? Narrator: Father James Martin, SJ Objective: Through watching the video St. Francis of Assisi, students will learn about the central events of St. Francis life and understand that when we are willing to leave our possessions behind and direct the passion of our life to the service of Christ, we can show others His Gospel through our actions. Overview of the video: St. Francis went from being the wild leader of his fellow youth to an austere man of God. From stripping naked in the town square to show his desire to leave all his possessions behind to asking to be placed on the ground to die, Francis was a passionate man for whom actions spoke louder than words in his service to Christ. He left his wealth behind, gathered men and women to him (founding the Franciscan Order, and through his follower St. Clare the Order of St. Clare, the Poor Clares) and led a life of poverty and good works to serve the Lord. Resources for planning your lesson: Prayers: Prayer attributed to St. Francis Canticle of the Creatures Biography:

2 Information about St. Clare can also be found at this site Video: Canticle of the Creatures March 17, 2010 (approx. 4 minutes, 36 seconds) Word Search: At the end of this guide YOUR LESSON Leading or Essential Question: Read the following quotation to the class and have students reflect on what it means. Opening quotation: Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary. St. Francis of Assisi ( ) How can you preach the Gospel without using words? What type of life do you think St. Francis is advocating? POST VIDEO DISCUSSIONS 1) Most of us have heard the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. Recently, however, scholars have indicated that the prayer could not possibly have been written by St. Francis. After seeing the video and reading the prayer out loud, ask the students to tell you why they think for so long people thought St. Francis wrote this prayer. 2) Look carefully at the words of the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi what specific words or phrases reflect the qualities of St. Francis as Father Martin described him in the video? Give some examples. 3) Like St. Peter, St. Francis seems to be a man of extremes. On the board list some of the specific examples seen in the video that showed what he was like when he was young. A dream tells him to serve the Master, not the man. On the other side of the board list some of the qualities Francis shows after he has heard the Lord.

3 4) St. Francis was radically changed by a dream inspired by God. Can you think of anyone in more recent history whose life was radically changed by Christ another saint or blessed person perhaps? How did this person come to know Christ and get rid of the junk (as Father Martin calls it) in his or her life? POST VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS Use one of the following for written reflection: 1) The video is filled with beautiful pieces of art that show images of St. Francis life. Think about one piece that you were impressed with/remember. Describe the artwork and tell what it showed you about the life/ministry of St. Francis. 2) Father Martin mentions Canticle of Brother Sun, also known as the Canticle of the Creatures. (Print copies from website listed under Resources for planning your lesson.) This prayer is acknowledged to have been written by St. Francis. Although Father Martin cautions us not to see St. Francis as a cute little concrete garden statue, we know that people do connect St. Francis with the outdoors, with animals and birds. How does the Canticle of the Creatures show us St. Francis devotion to both the earth and all its creatures and God Himself? WRAPPING IT ALL UP The YouTube video listed in the Resources for planning your lesson section above does not include the complete version of the Canticle of the Creatures, but does use beautiful photography to illuminate the sections where Francis calls the elements of nature his Brothers and Sisters. Prayer: Honor St. Francis by praying: God, you enabled St. Francis to imitate Christ by his poverty and humility. Walking in St. Francis footsteps, may we follow Your Son and be bound to You by joyful love. Amen.

4 WHEN YOU GO HOME 1) Talk to your family members about St. Francis changing from a man who had everything to a person who gave up everything for God. Do the people in your family feel there is too much junk in your home, in your lives? When they were younger, were people as concerned with what they bought, what they wore, what car they drove? 2) Try to decide on one or two things you can do as a family to Preach the Gospel by doing something for others, rather than just talking about it, as you follow St. Francis instructions to: Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary. GOT TIME? There s a Word Search on the next page! This guide was created by DeSales Media Group, Inc For information on this video program, visit the Loyola website:

5 SAINT FRANCIS P R W S V R E T S A M X M W I I N Q E M V T J Z Z E S A M I T T Y F T X P O S S E S S I O N S C H T D Z X B D R I O Q P F B J P H L I K M A I S M A E R D U Y Q C I G L B R O T H E R S U N T V Y A N Z I N I J B N K A M S B P K A N S S M H S P X T P L E R J O N E T T X U C D Y K T H R S J Y E S A I R Q H A W W X X U B C S T T C R C U M X E N A T T V V A D R P A N L M J A R C A A Q F H P L E O P J E E I W P R E A K Y W B F V R K F H N B Y M R D Y A S S P V O S R Z G T Z K C E A B M V R W K P A W S F I M J P U Brother Sun Canticle Creatures Dreams Humility Instrument Master Possessions Poverty Preach

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