Dancing FrancisViterbo University, La Crosse, WI
The Fiery Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi
There is a story from the Desert
Fathers and Mothers in which Rabbi Lot approaches Rabbi Joseph and asks,
“Rabbi, as much as I am able, I practice a small rule of life, all the little
fasts, some prayer and meditation, and remain quiet, and as much as possible, I
keep my thoughts clean. What else should I do?” In response, Rabbi Joseph
rises, stretches his hands toward heaven, his fingers like torches of flame,
and replies, “Why not be turned into fire?” This image of being set ablaze by
faith perfectly introduces the life and legacy of St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis of Assisi: A Life Set Aflame
Today we celebrate Francis of
Assisi, a man who not only became fire himself but ignited the world through
his generosity, creativity, imagination, dedication to the poor, and radical
adherence to the Gospel. Francis was known for his profound faith, deep prayer
life, and abiding love for both God and all of creation. Many commentators have
called Francis “a Second Christ,” recognizing his relentless efforts to imitate
Jesus in every aspect of his life.
Francis was born in 1181 in the
Tuscan countryside of Assisi, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His youth
was marked by luxury and ease; he experienced little formal education and was
largely preoccupied with leisure and enjoyment. In today’s terms, Francis would
be counted among the bold and beautiful, the rich and famous, the young and the
restless. He was popular, charming, the life of every gathering, talented in
business, and also aspired to become a troubadour and poet. He was universally
liked, always cheerful, a dreamer, and a natural leader.
At age twenty, Francis sought
adventure as a knight and participated in a battle with a neighboring country.
However, his townspeople lost, and Francis spent a year in prison. After his
release and return to Assisi, he fell seriously ill and became dissatisfied
with his former way of life. Enduring a spiritual crisis, he turned to
solitude, prayer, and service to the poor.
One pivotal conversion experience
occurred when Francis, while riding, encountered a leper begging for money.
Despite his initial disgust and desire to avoid the leper, Francis soon had a
change of heart. He returned, gave the man all his money, and kissed his hand.
When Francis looked back, the leper had disappeared. From that moment, he
dressed in rags and devoted himself to serving lepers and the poor.
Another turning point came as
Francis prayed in the Church of San Damiano. There, he heard the voice of
Christ from the cross say, “Francis, repair my church.” Receiving this mandate
and inspired by the Gospel’s words—“The kingdom of God is at hand, cure the
sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out devils; freely have you
received, freely give. Carry neither gold nor silver nor money, nor bag, nor
two coats, nor sandals…”—Francis embraced his vocation to preach to the poor.
Twelve companions soon joined
Francis in his mission, sharing a literal interpretation of Christ’s command to
own no property and to rely on God’s providence. Their task was to
preach—“using words if necessary”—demonstrating God’s love through both their
words and actions. Francis named their community the “Order of Friars Minor,”
or “order of lesser brothers.” They aimed to live as true brothers to all,
revealing by their love that every human being is a sister or brother. Francis
did not retreat to a monastery but lived among the people, seeking and finding
God in the world.
Francis’s spirituality was
incarnational. He saw God as a loving Father and Creator, believed everything
he had was a gift, viewed Christ as his Brother, and felt the Spirit’s love
burning within him. Initially, their radical way of life—barefoot, dressed in
rags, speaking of God’s love—startled people. Soon, however, the joy and
celebration of life among these “barefoot beggars” became contagious.
An early biographer describes
Francis’s appearance: “In stature he was rather on the short side, his head of
moderate size and round, his face long, his forehead smooth and low, his eyes
of medium size, black and candid, his hair dark, his eyebrows straight, his
nose even-shaped, thin and straight, his ears prominent but delicate. In
conversation he was agreeable, ardent and penetrating, his voice firm,
sweet-toned and clearly audible, his lips delicate, his beard black and rather
sparse, his neck slender, his shoulders straight, his arms short, his hands
small, with long fingers, his feet small, his skin tender, his clothing rough,
his sleep brief and his bounty most liberal.”
Francis’s brotherhood extended to
all of God’s creation. He had a deep love for animals, especially birds, whom
he called his brothers and sisters. In one story, Francis preached to hundreds
of birds, encouraging them to thank God for their beautiful feathers,
independence, and divine care. The birds remained still, listening attentively,
and only flew away when Francis dismissed them.
Another well-known story tells of
the wolf of Gubbio. Driven by hunger, the wolf attacked the townspeople, who
became too frightened to work in their fields. Francis offered to speak with
the wolf. Meeting the animal, Francis’s gentle approach calmed it, and he
brokered a peace between the wolf and the people: they would feed the wolf, and
in return, it would live peacefully among them.
In his final years, Francis endured
great suffering. Longing to share in Christ’s passion, he received a vision and
the stigmata—the marks of Christ’s wounds. Years of poverty and wandering left
Francis in poor health. In his last months, blind and in pain, he composed the
“Canticle of the Sun,” a joyful hymn praising God with all creation. He died at
age 45, by which time several thousand friars across Europe carried on his
mission. Francis was canonized two years after his death.
What does Francis’s life say to us
today? First, he calls us to live with joy, simplicity, and faithfulness to the
Gospel. We are encouraged to seek meaning and fulfillment in our relationship
with God, even if it means looking foolish or changing our attitudes and
behaviors.
Francis challenges us to examine
our relationship with creation and to be advocates for the environment. His
words inspire us: “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Francis was called to “repair the
church.” We are invited to live with integrity and courage, building a church
characterized by inclusivity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope—so that the
message and mission of Jesus may be revealed, using words if necessary.
Francis’s approach to suffering
teaches us to seek grace in difficult times, trusting that God’s gentle and
loving presence will bring us peace, healing, and courage.
By embracing poverty, Francis
reminds us that all we have is a gift to be shared with others. We are
guardians and stewards of creation, sisters and brothers to all.
In kissing the leper and taming the
wolf, Francis invites us to confront our fears and seek courage and love to
embrace the challenges in our lives. We are called to identify and address the
“wolves” in our world—those hungers and fears in ourselves, our communities,
and society—so that we may live with trust, justice, harmony, and peace. As
Francis said, “While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to
have it even more fully in your heart.”
Let us remember the words of the
Responsorial Psalm, a fitting prayer for Francis and for us today:
Take care of me, God, I rely on
you for safety. You are my destiny; my life is in your hands. Even in my sleep,
God whispers to my heart. God is my constant companion, You will direct my
steps…
