Though Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of ecology, he was more than what is depicted for most people, namely, a garden statue or a figurine in a bird bath. Coming from a wealthy merchant family, Francis eschewed wealth and chose to live a way of life embracing Gospel poverty. He put on the garment of a beggar, and would beg money for food, or eat that which people threw away in their garbage. He did this so that the rest of the time he could devote himself to preaching and living the Gospel. A famous saying attributed to Francis is “Preach the Gospel at all times. And, if necessary, use words.” His way of life was to copy as closely as humanly possible the life of Jesus depicted in the Gospels. Not burdened with the stuff that weighs down human life, purchasing a house, working to maintain a house, etc, he was free to devote himself to living for God 24/7. He traveled with the Crusades to Palestine and was so shocked at the behavior of the Crusaders (who were prone to raping and pillaging everywhere they went), he knew that the Crusade would fail utterly. Abandoning the Crusaders, he walked into the Muslim army camp with the intention of converting the Sultan. He was brought before the Sultan, who, instead of having him executed, admired the gutsy behavior of Francis. Francis failed in turning the Sultan from Islam. The Sultan awarded Francis the ability to visit all the holy sites of Palestine without any harm. Francis was able to visit the Grotto in Bethlehem in which Jesus was born. He walked the way of the cross to Golgotha and visited the place in which tradition believed Jesus was laid to rest in Joseph of Arimethea’s grave.
When he returned to Italy, because the people were not able to visit these holy sites, he recreated these sites for people locally. In a cave in Grecio, he found a cave that resembled that which was in Bethlehem and he and the local people celebrated Christmas Mass in that cave. The Christmas creches that we have in our homes and churches reminding us of that momentous time in human history when the Son of God was born in our midst. In many Catholic Churches are the Stations of the Cross in which, every Lent, we recall the Passion and Death of Jesus. That is something that Francis brought to Europe.
Many biographies have been written, good and bad about this simple man, whose way of life attracted so many that he established three religious orders that followed his way or order of life: The First Order, Friars Minor (the little brothers) for single men; The Second Order (Poor Clares), for single women (named after Clare of Assisi); and the Third Order (now called Order for Secular Franciscans) for the laity of men and women, married and single who live in the world. We all live lives of Gospel poverty, in which we live very simply, viewing the things we have around us as a gift from God that is meant to be shared with those most in need. We keep what we need to sustain us and give all the rest to those most in need. I was professed a Secular Franciscan in May of 1980 and have strived to live a life of Gospel poverty all these years.
Francis is one of very few who received the stigmata of Jesus (the five wounds of Christ on the cross). He wanted to be so one with Christ that he prayed that he would also share in the sufferings of Christ on the cross. In a mystic vision a Seraph visited Francis as he was praying and fasting, and gave him the wounds of Jesus in his hands, feet, and side. Those wounds were examined and substantiated by others of his time. They were not self-inflicted. The wounds never healed would bleed all the time, yet, Francis did not die from the loss of blood. They remained with him the rest of his life. The most known stigmatist of modern times was the Franciscan Friar, Padre Pio. I believe he died in the 1970’s.
During the late 70’s I compose a piece of music for piano (which I later composed for organ) entitled, “Fanfare For Brother Francis.” I recomposed the piano music for this in 2016 and included it in my music collection Opus 6. In honor of this great man of faith, I have included it here.
