Eight centuries after his death, Francis of Assisi remains one of the most imitated Christians in history. From Pope Francis to ordinary people in New Zealand practicing faith in the Franciscan way – including myself – his influence endures.
Richard Rohr called the Franciscan way “one of the most attractive, appealing, and accessible of all frames and doorways to the divine”.
Jesus never told us to separate ourselves from the world. That’s why Francis would not be a monk. The friars were a totally new religious movement. Francis wanted us to live in the middle of the cities right with the people.
So who was Francis?
Born in 1181, Francis was a carefree young man – a troubadour, a romantic, a dreamer – and he sang beautifully.
At that time, there were frequent wars with neighbouring regions and Francis thought it would be heroic to go to war. It didn’t take long until he was captured and imprisoned for a year.
Solitude, illness and the realities of war changed him.
After he came home, he sought out solitary places to pray. One day, as he knelt praying before a Byzantine crucifix in the half-ruined church of San Damiano, the crucifix seemed to speak to him, saying, “Francis, go and rebuild my church, which you see is in ruins.”
Francis took this literally, selling some goods belonging to his father to pay for the repairs, and then went to live with the priest of San Damiano.
There followed a long and bitter altercation with his father, culminating in Francis renouncing his earthly father and all his wealth, including the clothes he was wearing. The Bishop of Assisi gave him a peasant’s smock tied with a piece of rope for a belt, and Francis began a life of poverty and preaching the love of Christ.
Francis’ joy and love for God was so infectious that it wasn’t long before others came to join him, each renouncing everything they had and giving it to the poor.
Eventually this group of men became the Friars Minor. They had nothing, but whatever they received they shared with the poor. Francis asked God what he should do with this group of 12 brothers. The first rule of the Order came straight from the Bible:
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
Matthew 19:21
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:24
And Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey.
Luke 9:3
This became the first rule for the brothers. Francis began by preaching in towns and villages, but after the Order was officially recognised by the Church, Francis now also preached in churches, and his following began to grow.
Clare was the first woman to come to Francis wanting to imitate his life. Clare went on to lead the Poor Clares – the Second Order, which was based at the chapel of San Damiano.
More and more ordinary people wanted to follow Francis. They were everyday folk who had families and jobs they couldn’t leave, so Francis set down a way of life for those living in the world: the Order of Penance, which has now gone on to become the Catholic Secular Franciscans and the Third Order, or Tertiaries, in the Anglican Church. The Anglican Church also has First Order Brothers and Sisters too.
Francis valued all of creation. He believed that every creature, every part of God’s creation, was a gateway to God. The words of the hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” were based on the "Canticle of the Creatures" written by Francis.
There are many legends and stories about Francis that involve creation and especially animals. He seemed to be able to communicate with all of God’s creation. It is said that many animals and birds would come to him, listen and stay until he told them to leave.
He lived during the Crusades and in 1219 he travelled to Egypt to convert the Sultan, having believed everything he was told about the Muslims being evil. But when he got to the Holy Land, he found the Christian Crusaders were just as violent and immoral as the Muslims.
Francis and two companions decided to take matters into their own hands and set off to find the Sultan. Miraculously, Francis got to meet and talk with the Sultan, Al-Malik Al Kamil, and his religious advisers.
“Become a Christian,” Francis said to the Sultan.
Sadly, his companions became the first Franciscan martyrs, but Francis himself was given safe passage home. The 800th anniversary of that meeting was celebrated around the time of the terrorist attack in Christchurch.
One aspect of Francis’ rule of life included not taking up arms. So, in effect, Francis set in motion the downfall of the feudal system and advanced the cause of peace.
By the time Francis returned to Assisi his 12 brothers had grown to 5,000.
The Pope told Francis he needed more organisation and new rules. It was all too much for Francis. He resigned as head of the Order and retreated to the caves in the hills of Assisi to find God’s plan for the rest of his life.
After contracting an eye infection which led to blindness, his health began to fail. His continually bleeding wounds from the stigmata, the poverty and deprivation he had experienced took its toll, and he died on 4 October 1226 at only 45.
Within two years of his death he was canonised as a saint.
And within two years of his death there were 20,000 Franciscan brothers.
Francis did indeed rebuild God’s church.
Many people have been inspired by Francis and serve Christ in the way of St Francis.
Franciscans International (representing all denominations) have a seat at the UN. The First Order Brothers are often chaplains at the Lambeth Conference because of their life of prayer and reconciliation. The head of the First Order Brothers is not just a New Zealander but a Nelsonian, Brother Christopher-John. There are about 100 Third Order Franciscans in New Zealand, including myself.
Each year, followers of Christ in the way of Francis renew their pledges. We promise to uphold the aims of the Third Order:
We do this through prayer, study and work, and we live our lives in a spirit of humility, love, and joy.
Each person is called by God to fulfil God’s purpose for their lives. For some of us that means living under a definite discipline and vows. Each person will connect with Francis in a different way. For some it’s his love of creation, for others his peace, justice and poverty issues and for others it’s his simple joy and devotion to Christ.
For me, joy stands out. Francis’ faith was joyful, freeing, accepting of all people – something that I was able to express as a hospital chaplain, being there, sharing God’s love and compassion for people of all faiths and no faith.
Francis followed Christ in his way, comfortable in just being who he was.
As he said:
I have done what was mine to do, may God show you what is yours to do.
Check out other articles in the
Characters of our Calendar
series below.
More articles in the
Characters of our Calendar
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Eight centuries after his death, Francis of Assisi remains one of the most imitated Christians in history. From Pope Francis to ordinary people in New Zealand practicing faith in the Franciscan way – including myself – his influence endures.
Richard Rohr called the Franciscan way “one of the most attractive, appealing, and accessible of all frames and doorways to the divine”.
Jesus never told us to separate ourselves from the world. That’s why Francis would not be a monk. The friars were a totally new religious movement. Francis wanted us to live in the middle of the cities right with the people.
So who was Francis?
Born in 1181, Francis was a carefree young man – a troubadour, a romantic, a dreamer – and he sang beautifully.
At that time, there were frequent wars with neighbouring regions and Francis thought it would be heroic to go to war. It didn’t take long until he was captured and imprisoned for a year.
Solitude, illness and the realities of war changed him.
After he came home, he sought out solitary places to pray. One day, as he knelt praying before a Byzantine crucifix in the half-ruined church of San Damiano, the crucifix seemed to speak to him, saying, “Francis, go and rebuild my church, which you see is in ruins.”
Francis took this literally, selling some goods belonging to his father to pay for the repairs, and then went to live with the priest of San Damiano.
There followed a long and bitter altercation with his father, culminating in Francis renouncing his earthly father and all his wealth, including the clothes he was wearing. The Bishop of Assisi gave him a peasant’s smock tied with a piece of rope for a belt, and Francis began a life of poverty and preaching the love of Christ.
Francis’ joy and love for God was so infectious that it wasn’t long before others came to join him, each renouncing everything they had and giving it to the poor.
Eventually this group of men became the Friars Minor. They had nothing, but whatever they received they shared with the poor. Francis asked God what he should do with this group of 12 brothers. The first rule of the Order came straight from the Bible:
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
Matthew 19:21
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:24
And Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey.
Luke 9:3
This became the first rule for the brothers. Francis began by preaching in towns and villages, but after the Order was officially recognised by the Church, Francis now also preached in churches, and his following began to grow.
Clare was the first woman to come to Francis wanting to imitate his life. Clare went on to lead the Poor Clares – the Second Order, which was based at the chapel of San Damiano.
More and more ordinary people wanted to follow Francis. They were everyday folk who had families and jobs they couldn’t leave, so Francis set down a way of life for those living in the world: the Order of Penance, which has now gone on to become the Catholic Secular Franciscans and the Third Order, or Tertiaries, in the Anglican Church. The Anglican Church also has First Order Brothers and Sisters too.
Francis valued all of creation. He believed that every creature, every part of God’s creation, was a gateway to God. The words of the hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” were based on the "Canticle of the Creatures" written by Francis.
There are many legends and stories about Francis that involve creation and especially animals. He seemed to be able to communicate with all of God’s creation. It is said that many animals and birds would come to him, listen and stay until he told them to leave.
He lived during the Crusades and in 1219 he travelled to Egypt to convert the Sultan, having believed everything he was told about the Muslims being evil. But when he got to the Holy Land, he found the Christian Crusaders were just as violent and immoral as the Muslims.
Francis and two companions decided to take matters into their own hands and set off to find the Sultan. Miraculously, Francis got to meet and talk with the Sultan, Al-Malik Al Kamil, and his religious advisers.
“Become a Christian,” Francis said to the Sultan.
Sadly, his companions became the first Franciscan martyrs, but Francis himself was given safe passage home. The 800th anniversary of that meeting was celebrated around the time of the terrorist attack in Christchurch.
One aspect of Francis’ rule of life included not taking up arms. So, in effect, Francis set in motion the downfall of the feudal system and advanced the cause of peace.
By the time Francis returned to Assisi his 12 brothers had grown to 5,000.
The Pope told Francis he needed more organisation and new rules. It was all too much for Francis. He resigned as head of the Order and retreated to the caves in the hills of Assisi to find God’s plan for the rest of his life.
After contracting an eye infection which led to blindness, his health began to fail. His continually bleeding wounds from the stigmata, the poverty and deprivation he had experienced took its toll, and he died on 4 October 1226 at only 45.
Within two years of his death he was canonised as a saint.
And within two years of his death there were 20,000 Franciscan brothers.
Francis did indeed rebuild God’s church.
Many people have been inspired by Francis and serve Christ in the way of St Francis.
Franciscans International (representing all denominations) have a seat at the UN. The First Order Brothers are often chaplains at the Lambeth Conference because of their life of prayer and reconciliation. The head of the First Order Brothers is not just a New Zealander but a Nelsonian, Brother Christopher-John. There are about 100 Third Order Franciscans in New Zealand, including myself.
Each year, followers of Christ in the way of Francis renew their pledges. We promise to uphold the aims of the Third Order:
We do this through prayer, study and work, and we live our lives in a spirit of humility, love, and joy.
Each person is called by God to fulfil God’s purpose for their lives. For some of us that means living under a definite discipline and vows. Each person will connect with Francis in a different way. For some it’s his love of creation, for others his peace, justice and poverty issues and for others it’s his simple joy and devotion to Christ.
For me, joy stands out. Francis’ faith was joyful, freeing, accepting of all people – something that I was able to express as a hospital chaplain, being there, sharing God’s love and compassion for people of all faiths and no faith.
Francis followed Christ in his way, comfortable in just being who he was.
As he said:
I have done what was mine to do, may God show you what is yours to do.
Check out other articles in the
Characters of our Calendar
series below.
More articles in the
Characters of our Calendar
series are to come.
