Saint Francis of Assisi

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1 Saint Francis of Assisi Introduction: Four biographies are the resources for this profile:: St. Francis (Chesterton), The Life of St. Francis (North), Francis of Assisi (Thompson), and Reclaiming Francis (Murphy). Gilbert Keith Chesterton, a renowned English writer, though born an Anglican, eventually converted to Roman Catholicism. Chesterton makes the important point that we must first understand the period of time when St. Francis lived to understand the man. I heartily agree with Chesterton. Charles M. Murphy writes about St. Francis and the motives of Pope Francis in his desire to reform the Roman Catholic Church. Augustine Thompson s New Biography is my major source for this profile. The Beginning Francis was born in 1181 and baptized as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but renamed Francis by his father Pietro. Pietro was a successful silk cloth merchant in Assisi - a hill town in central Italy. His mother was from Provence and his father had great respect for all things French - thus, he changed his son s name to Francis. The 12th and 13th century found Europe dramatically changing as the climate warmed leading to increased food production and rapid expansion of population throughout the continent. These centuries are defined by historians as the High Middle Ages. Political leaders often competed with religious leaders to fill a need for governance and understanding of the world most people lived in. Francis s contribution to Roman Catholicism, would impact Europe early in the 13th century and his contribution to the world through the Order of Friars Minor is renewed in our century by the current Pope Francis. Coincidently, Frederick II was baptized in Assisi in He would become King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, and King of Italy during his lifetime. Frederick became a dominant secular leader participating in attempts to form governments in Italy and Germany while also leading an army in the 5th Crusade. The young Francis of Assisi Francis s early youth was as an upper class-member of Assisi s mercantile society (Guelf). He dressed in fine clothing and worked with his father in the local market. He shared his father s fascination with French Troubadours, the nomadic entertainers of the time, who regaled their audiences with songs of love and performances. Francis also had a strong aversion to lepers who begged for food in the marketplace. 1

2 When war broke out between Assisi and the nearby city state, Perugia, whose leaders were landowners (Ghibellines) Francis had a dream of fighting and thus becoming a political leader of the Guelfs, however, he fell sick and was captured. During his captivity he befriended his enemies as well as his fellow prisoners which raised concerns about his loyalty. While this is consistent with his tolerance for all living things, others thought he was consorting with the enemy. A defining moment occurred when he returned to Assisi after his release from captivity. He may have suffered post traumatic syndrome which led to a vision that war making was not his destiny. In praying at the altar of the crumbling church of St. Damien in Assisi, the word from God, by dream and vision, was similar to the encounter of Paul on the road to Damascus, Francis, seest thou not that my house is in ruins? Go and restore it for me (Chesterton 1923). With great excitement, Francis accepted the challenge, sold his horse, sold his clothes, and began the restoration of the devastated church. His new life of service to God would be in emulation of Jesus Christ to care for the church and its most disadvantaged people. Another defining moment occurred after he was interrupted by a beggar as he was negotiating with a potential cloth buyer. He ignored the beggar, but continued his negotiations. When his business was concluded, remorse overcame him. His overpowering desire to help the rejected poor man caused him to leave his post at his father s market stall. He raced after the beggar, found him, and gave him money and the clothes off his back. To the consternation of his father, he rejected his inheritance and dedicated himself to God. Francis first mission was the rebuilding of St. Damien. He begged for stones, and spent money he earned from his cloth sales to renew the church. When his father objected accusing him of stealing from the family business, he returned all his clothes and all of his money to his father. He then went into a cave to meditate. His actions recall Jesus 40 days in the wilderness after His baptism by John the Baptist. When Frances emerged, he had abandoned his expensive clothes in favor of a rough brown cloth tunic and a rope belt. Francis begins his mission. As Francis began to live a penitent life patterned on Jesus Christ, he gave all he had to the poor, forsaking the world s material goods. His preaching, often in song, like a troubadour, was to all of God s creatures. His audiences included the very poor and the sick. His love of all living things included a special appreciation of birds, but also included animals and insects our co-partners alive with us in God s holy universe. His former aversion to lepers was put aside as he now nurtured them in their leper colonies. His disgust of old turned to redeeming joy as he bathed the lepers and tended to them. The first Franciscans. 2

3 In 1208 a wealthy former Assisi friend named Bernard joined him, selling all he had and his clothes in the marketplace. Another acquaintance Peter, not wealthy, but entranced by Francis penitential life joined Francis as his disciple. They lived in a small hut adjacent to the leper colony. A pattern of life emerged when other brothers decided to join the group. All were encouraged to form hermitages - a small group living in a cave or hut to contemplate and renew their closeness to God in prayer. Francis was unsure of how to teach his new brothers. His solitary life of service and prayer needed some form that others could follow. Francis and his two followers went to Assisi to Francis parish priest at San Nicolo di Piazza and asked the priest to perform a sortes biblicae. The three men prayed together with the priest who then randomly selected three passages from the gospels of Lord Jesus Christ. The passages selected were: Mark 10:21 Luke 9:3 Luke 9:23 Go, sell what you have and give to the poor. Take nothing for the journey If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. The three brothers now had their mission. They committed the verses to memory and would act accordingly for the rest of their lives. Francis - a charismatic penitent Francis marveled at all of God s creation on earth including animals and all living things. An oftrepeated recount of Francis chiding of a flock of chattering birds by asking them to be silent saying, My sisters, the swallows, it is my turn to speak now because you ve said enough. And so the swallows fell silent. Another interaction with an animal occurred when he befriended a wolf that was terrorizing a town, persuading the wolf to stop killing animals because the townspeople would feed him. Francis deep and personal love of all living creatures of God included a cricket which he asked to sing to him and it did - not just once but returned to repeat his song the next day. Francis loved lambs and would buy those on the way to the slaughter house. He loved sister Lark," a humble brown bird, who flew singing praises to the Lord from above. In a Sermon to the Birds, he saw a flock by the side of the road, approached them with delight in his eyes saying, The Lord give you peace. He walked into their midst praising God for this moment and asking the birds to sing praises which they did as they flew away with Francis blessing with the sign of the cross. As his followers grew in number, Francis penitential life style drew the attention of Bishop Guido of Assisi. Francis was encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Rome to seek the blessings of Pope Innocent III. With a friendly cardinal recognizing and espousing his cause, the Order of Friars Minor, was provisionally authorized in Clare of Assisi 3

4 In 1212, Francis was approached by a noblewomen, Clare di Favarone di Offreddicio who was attracted to Francis order after hearing Francis preach a Lenten service at San Georgio in Assisi. On Palm Sunday in March 1212, Clare decided to leave the secular world. With her sister Pacifica she left the family home at night and met with Francis at Santa Maria degli Angeli joining with Francis and others in prayer. Francis responded to her wish to join his order by cutting her hair and she replaced her fine clothes with a plain robe. He turned immediately to the Benedictines for help and placed Clare and her sister among the nuns of San Paolo of Batista. He next moved them closer to Assisi at San Damiano which became the first convent of female Franciscans. Clare became their undisputed leader despite attempts by her family to bring her back to their home and castle. In 1216, she became abbess of the Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano. Her order sought to follow Francis example and his life plan of joyous poverty in imitation of Christ. The Fifth Crusade 1213 to 1221 In 1213 the fifth Crusade began as the western world attempted to recapture the Holy Lands. In Italy, the Peace of Constance was signed, which set out terms between the papacy and the emperor, Barbarossa. Italian city-states existed divided between merchant leaders (Guelphs) who supported the Holy See and the pope; and large landowners (Ghibellines) who supported a resurgent Holy Roman Empire with Frederick II as their leader. These two political factions engaged in intermittent warfare throughout Italy. By 1216, the Franciscan order had grown significantly and was soon proclaimed the Lesser Poor and Francis, himself became a religious celebrity as the order reached 800 members. Pope Innocent III who launched the Fifth Crusade first planned to recapture Jerusalem. By 1219, his goal had changed to an attack on Egypt. Francis decided to go to Egypt to convert the Sultan of Egypt, Malik Al-Kamil, to Christianity. Francis believed that if the Sultan converted to Christianity, the religious wars in the Middle East and Jerusalem would end.. Francis was willing to be martyred if his mission was not successful. Sultan Malik Al-Kamil was receptive to discussions thinking that Francis might be a side channel in negotiations to end the war peacefully. Lengthy discussions took place with Muslim elders who tried to persuade Francis to accept the Muslim faith. In his attempt to convince the Sultan of the validity of Christianity, Francis offered to submit himself to a trial-by-fire, however, Al-Kamil twice turned down the offer. The Muslim experts rejected Francis presentation of Christianity and recommended his execution. However, Malik Al-Kamil was impressed with Francis sincerity and his willingness to die for his beliefs. After days of discussion, the Sultan ended the conversations about competing religions. Francis was impressed with Muslim worship of five times a day in prayer and the practice of kissing the floor of the mosque when entering. The Sultan then set an elaborate, hospitable table with a sumptuous meal and precious gifts for the visiting Francis. True to his beliefs, Francis accepted no gold or silver ornaments, but he did accept the meal before he was guided back to the crusader camp. 4

5 While Francis did not succeed in ending the crusades, his grand attempt drew more converts to his Order of Friars Minor. Francis did, borrow a practice of devout Muslim by, asking his brethren to kiss the floor of churches when they entered. Francis returns to Italy His reputation as a missionary for Christ was enhanced when he returned to Italy in However, he arrived back in Italy in poor health, probably malaria contracted in Egypt, and he found his Order in chaos. A debate on dietary matters embroiled the church and the Franciscans were in conflict. Francis accepted Christ s commandment to eat what is put before you. Thus, the Order was not vegetarian as were other monks nor did they follow dietary rules prescribed by others. He also found attempts to turn his followers into social workers - a departure from his mission to live following the life of Jesus. To return to its fundamentals of penitence and emphasizing Christ s life, Francis needed help. His charismatic leadership could not be replaced with rules of behavior and Francis administrative skills were non existent. Knowing that his growing Order needed administration and guidance, he went to Rome to meet Pope Honorius and to ask for help. He went directly to the papal office waiting outside until the pope appeared. After Francis said, Father Pope, may God give you peace!, the Pope replied, May God bless you, my son. He asked the Pope to give him someone of authority to administer his expanding Order. Thus, Cardinal Hugolino, with the blessing of the Pope, and Francis happy acceptance, became the authority needed to return the Order to its original mission. The Curia, the Pope s operational group, knew little about Francis and his Order, so Cardinal Hugolino wanted Francis to preach to them at a Papal Consistory. The thought of preaching to this powerful group terrified Francis who felt he was unlettered and ignorant. Hugolino finally gained Francis agreement by convincing him to write out his thoughts and memorize them. After being introduced to the Curia by Cardinal Hugolino, Francis memory failed and he reverted to his heart, extemporaneously and passionately declaring his faith and dancing with enthusiasm. The charismatic Francis captivated the Curia who now witnessed the glory of God according to Francis. Some were brought to tears by his impassioned performance. The Curia now understood the strength and attraction of Francis humble leadership. Still, the growing Order needed administrative leadership to counter deviations and provide consistency in its new branches. Francis was weakening physically as his malaria took its toll. In striving to complete the Rule for Hermitages, which set basic rules for his various Lesser Brother groups, he struggled mightily and finally left Rome to return to Assisi. In the fall of 1220 he announced his intention to resign as leader of the Order. He suggested Brother Peter as the Order s new leader and promised to be obedient to him. Francis overriding desire was to be subject to all and superior to none. Other leaders who were now his vicars, still looked to Francis for example and direction. The need for rules or as Frances defined them a form of life were based on the sortes biblicae and the three gospel verses cited above. 5

6 Pope Honorious second Papal letter issued in May 1220 now defined the Lesser Brothers as an ordo, a canonical religious order. This inspired the completion of the Earlier Rule also known as the Rule of With the Popes blessing, The Franciscan Order was now among other established orders such as the Benedictines, Augustinians, and Carmelites. Early Franciscans did accept Francis charge that the order should not construct buildings. The Franciscans preferred shelters were small, simple structures - huts, tents, or caves - attached or near to existing churches. Franciscans called these friaries or hermitages - not monasteries. Francis realized a need to communicate with outlying groups and, for this purpose, developed his own Latin writing style. In a time when the general population was illiterate, the ability to write indicated education and authority. Well, written letters, in the Latin of sacred literature, carried implicit authority. This was the only level of communication acceptable to Francis who always believed himself a follower - not a leader, not a Pope. In 1220, Francis sent a series of letters in his formal Latin to priests, Franciscans, and podestas (jurists) that emphasized respect for the Sacrament and its vessels, plates, and linens. Francis emphasized the purity and immaculacy of the altar. Reserved Sacraments were to be treated with great respect with candles representing the spirit of God. The sacrament s presence was to be acknowledged by genuflection. Francis consistently concentrated on rebuilding and purifying existing churches and the sacramental elements that represented God on earth. He implored those who conducted services to preach penance and to receive the pure Holy Sacraments that would cleanse the recipients from their mortal sins. He advised all to choose poverty - the basic act of living - food and shelter, the only absolute needs of a human being and to consistently pray and acknowledge the glory of God. As the Epistles of Paul guided the early churches in Greece and Rome, Francis letters formed and spread his beliefs of a sacred, simple, holy life dedicated to serving mankind and God s world. As the Lesser Brothers grew, the pope expected a written document of its form of life and so Francis set to work with Cesarius of Speyer, one of his leading friars who had accompanied him back from Egypt and was particularly adept at administration and legal matters. Francis abhorrence of leadership resurfaced while working on the new rules, leading to a physical and mental breakdown. Francis, the follower of Christ, believed attempts to interpret anew Christian dogma was a sin. His inability to administrate led to his resignation as the leader of the Order. He would remain true to his calling of following Jesus. He recommended Peter as his successor. Peter remained, however, a vicar, never presuming to be the leader of the Franciscans during Francis remaining years. The expansion of the Lesser Brothers, particularly outside Italy, required new rules responding to changes that took place at the Holy See. The Franciscan order decided to celebrate the Divine Office according to the rite of the Roman Church. This was most favorably received by the Pope as other monks had created their own rites. Among the prohibitions important to Francis was that they not build their own places of worship. This was made clear in the Later Rule completed in Francis was consistent in his call that 6

7 his followers were to live Christ-like and forsake all the trimmings of those who placed material things above their service to God. Although in self-proclaimed retirement, Francis limited his work yet his exemplary life style remained. Leaving the hermitage at Rieti, he travelled to the tiny hill town of Greccio for Christmas in With the help of John of Greccio, he erected a reproduction of the Bethlehem manger scene with a straw floor, ox, ass, and sheep, and a wooden baby as the representation of the newborn Christ. Francis erected this first Nativity scene in the choir area of the altar. A torch-lit Christmas service was attended by townspeople as the friars sang the Vigils of the Nativity and preceded the Christmas mass. Francis was the deacon who sang the gospel according to John and then preached on the Nativity. As Francis held the Babe of Bethlehem the figure of the child seemed alive with the bleating of sheep in the background. Reports later emerged that Francis Nativity scene had miraculous properties. Sick animals who fed on the straw were healed and pregnant women who attended the service had easy deliveries. Francis introduced this Christian tradition of nativity scenes at Christmas time. The small church at Greccio has retained this tradition where every day is Christmas Day. We now see a worldwide tradition practiced by almost all Christian denominations at Christmastide. Francis, blessed by God, created an enduring remembrance of Christ s birth, which marks the beginning of the Christian era. Francis health fails In 1224, Francis ill health forced him to retreat to Greccio to rest and recover in a private cell. Francis saw his insomnia, spiritual stagnation, and lack of patience as the devil s work. Brother Elias, one of the friars tasked to look after Francis, had a dream of an old priest that was very sick and had only two years to live. This prophecy proved accurate. Attempting to refresh his soul, Francis prayed, and sought no earthly means for cure of his illness. Francis was viewed as a saint capable of miracles. A husband whose wife was in hard labor appealed to Francis to come and heal her. Unable to travel, Francis declined, but Brother Peter, who was now attending Francis, took the bridle from Francis horse and gave it to the husband. The bridle was placed on his wife s stomach and her delivery was easy. On his way to Mount La Verna, a favorite hermitage of Francis, he asked for a sign that his actions were approved by God. As he left the hermitage for a walk, birds came, one by one, singing which Francis accepted as a sign from God that all was well. His trial by demons persisted. Francis resorted to another sortes biblicae, when verses were randomly chosen from the last days of Jesus. He pondered deeply on the Lord s passion and death. Francis wrote a devotional work the Office of the Passion. The Office contains only biblical passages, particularly Psalms, which were proscribed beginning on Good Friday. Francis produced a Passion cycle and a Resurrection cycle from Easter to Pentecost. As Francis approached his death, he continued following the trials of Jesus last days and resurrection. 7

8 Francis recalled a strange vision of a seraph that appeared to console him. Francis then noticed strange marks on his hands and feet - protruding bits of flesh seemingly like nail heads. He also found a wound on his side that dripped blood. The wounds of Christ, the subject of Francis daily meditations, were now visually apparent on him. This became known as the Stigmata of St. Francis. The discovery of this phenomenon when he was alive brought controversy - some saying the wounds were self inflicted. In the summer of 1226, with indications of dropsy, his appetite disappeared and his stomach swelled. Francis asked Elias to return him to Assisi. He felt death approaching and wished to return to his birth city and the place where his mission began. He spent the high summer in Begnara which was near Assisi, but has cooler weather. His friends in Assisi wanted him back in the city, so knights were sent to bring him home. On the way, unable to find stores open to buy food, Francis suggested they beg door-to-door. The locals believed Francis was a living saint, so they eagerly fed him and his traveling companions. Since the bishop of Assisi was not home, Francis found accommodations in his palace. When the brothers gathered to be with him and pray, Francis insisted that they sing the praises of the Lord to him. The joyful music seemed inappropriate for a dying man, but Francis had long contemplated his demise and had no fear. Let me rejoice in the Lord, Brother, and sing his praises in my infirmities, because, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, I am so closely united and joined with my Lord, that, through His mercy I can well rejoice in the Most High himself. A doctor was summoned and Francis pressed him to tell him the number of days he had left. The doctor, at first reluctant to answer finally said, by the Nones of October. With this information, Francis added to his previously written Canticle of Brother Sun. Praised be you, my Lord, for our Sister Bodily Death, whom no one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are those whom Death finds in your most holy will, for the Second Death shall do them no harm. Frances resolved to do penance and leave the world. In mid September, he asked to be taken to St. Mary of the Little Portion in Porziuncula to spend his final days. The brothers carried him on a litter since he could no longer walk. No visitors were permitted except Jacoba de Settesoli, a matron of means from a prominent Roman family. Francis had stayed at their fine family home when in Rome. He asked her to bring him a gray shroud for burial and also her fine almond honey treats that she provided when he visited her home. She answered Francis call and came with incense and funeral candles. She prepared the confection, but Francis could no longer eat. Francis decided that on Thursday, the day of Jesus last supper, he would take formal leave of his brothers. As the brothers gathered, he blessed each one, then asked for a loaf of bread which he blessed, but unable to break the bread himself, he asked a brother to break it and give pieces to each brother reserving some for those not present. Francis then blessed them all. Francis departs our world 8

9 The dying Francis asked a brother to read the Passion of Christ from the Gospel of John. That evening, at nightfall, a flock of larks circled Francis cell filling the air with song. They were Francis favorite bird with a brown habit, and a crest - just like a friar s hood. On October 3, 1226, as the sun announced the morning, Frances was dead and his ascension to sainthood would immediately begin. The clergy and townspeople formed a funeral procession to bring his body to the church of San Damiano where Francis calling began. Francis body lay in state at the church s altar for Clare and her sisters to venerate. The cortege than proceeded to Assisi and San Giorgio where a Requiem Mass was sung. His body was placed in a stone coffin which was formerly a drinking trough for domestic animals. Visitors would often drop votive objects into the coffin. When the coffin was opened in the 19th century; coins, beads, and a ring were found at the saint s feet. Perhaps the ring came from Jacoba or Clare, the two women devoted to Saint Francis. Francis proclaimed a saint As Francis had predicted, his friend and patron, Cardinal Hugolino, was elected pope Gregory IX in March To escape the armies of Frederick II who were waging war in central Italy, Gregory visited Rieti, Spoleta, and then Assisi. In July 1228, he declared the Little Poor Man Francis a saint saying, The life of this saint does not require the evidence of miracles for we have seen it with our own eyes and touched it with our own hands. He shone in his days as a morning star in the midst of clouds. Saint Francis final resting place is the basilica of San Francisco at Assisi constructed in This gothic church, with high vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows, departed from the dour, dark Romanesque style. The building s impressive height and airiness reaches to the heavens as did St. Francis teaching. In bedrock under the altar, a crypt secures St. Francis remains that are to be forever under the cross and the protection of Jesus Christ. Political Upheaval in Italy and Europe The High Middle Ages contained great religious movements and constant warfare among the states of Europe which had yet to form themselves into governing countries. In Italy, Frederick II, baptized in Assisi, was King of Sicily, a birthright from his family of the House of Hohenstaufen with German roots. Frederick was a talented, intelligent and aggressive leader who, at one time, was Emperor of the Romans and at another time King of Jerusalem. Frederick was often at odds with the Papacy and was ex-communicated four times. In his dealings with Pope Gregory IX he was sometimes friendly and in harmony, and at other times, competing for political power in northern Italian cities. When he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1220 by Pope Honorius III he was either in Sicily or leading the 6th Crusade in Jerusalem where he married Yolande of Jerusalem. He became sick in Jerusalem and returned to Sicily in 1227 to recuperate whereupon, Pope 9

10 Gregory IX excommunicated him for not continuing the crusade. In 1229, he returned to Jerusalem and negotiated with sultan Malik Al-Kamil, the same leader that Francis had tried to convert to Christianity. An agreement was reached to link Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem to be a Kingdom under Frederick s leadership. Frederick was under excommunication, but that was lifted in In 1243, a new Pope was elected, Innocent IV, and soon Frederick was at war with him. The result was another excommunication and loss of his Holy Roman Emperor title. He was now charged with heresy and with being a friend of a Muslim sultan. Italy was now consumed with local warfare between competing political groups. Age took its toll with constant warfare and illness. Frederick died peacefully in 1250 wearing the habit of a Cistercian monk. Frederick s lands and titles thereto were divided between his sons and daughters: Henry VII of Germany, Conrad IV of Germany, Henry Otto, Governor of Sicily, Margaret, Margravine of Meissen, Anna, Empress of Nicaea, Manfred, King of Sicily, Violnate, Countess of Caserta, and Enzo of Sardinia. Historical Outcome In comparing the life of Saint Francis and Frederick II, we see two contemporaries striving to lead their world in the High Middle Ages. The political, well-born Frederick inherited his title, acted energetically to organize the western world and bring orderly government into being. However, he is an asterisk known only by historians of ancient history. Saint Francis denied the ornaments of the world in favor of a life of service to Jesus Christ. His legacy lives and is revered, not only at St. Francis-in-the Valley, but throughout the world as his message of humility and service to mankind and God continues. When Cardinal Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope in 2013 he chose the name Francis saying, For me, he is the man of poverty, the man who loves and protects creation.. He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man. I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! (Murphy) 10 The Prayer of Saint Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow peace. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me give hope.

11 Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not try to be comforted but to comfort, not try to be loved but to love. Because it is in giving that we receive, it is in forgiving that we are forgiven, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 11