Date - May 16/58

Contributor - D. J. Geerling

Title - Christianity Goes into Action: Francis of Assisi

Topic - Church History

In the teaching of Jesus transformed into actions which have come down to us through the Saints of all ages we notice diversities of gifts and operations. The chiefest and all pervading of these gifts is love. Therefore in this letter we will turn to the son of a wealthy merchant of Assisi in northern Italy. The boy, born in 1182, was christened John, but later, -as one of a band of troubadours who traveled from town to town and from castle to castle through France and Italy, singing their songs of love and telling their tales of romance, he acquired the name of "Il Francesco" - "the little Frenchman". And so it is that we have the outline before us of the boy's future name "Francis of Assisi". Whatever a young man of his age could desire, he seemed to possess. Francis was handsome, good at every sport, a bold horseman and a fine swordsman. Moreover Francesco was witty, and could hold his own in any battle of words; he could write a poem to a fair lady, sing with a clear full voice, and was admired by all.

Sometimes his gay life as a troubadour,-- was interrupted by the call to arms and Francis changed his dreams for the realities of a campaign of arms. On one such martial adventure it happened that Francesco was taken prisoner. For a year he languished in the dungeons of a rival merchant prince. There he thought much as a prisoner. When he was back once more in his home town of Assisi he returned to the occupations and pleasures of a young man of fashion; yet he had seen another side of life now, and the gaiety was not quite so satisfying. He fell ill, and for weeks lay weak and feverish. Recovered, he went off to Rome, intent on a holy pilgrimage. As he wandered the streets of that great city, its beggars swarmed round the wealthy, young stranger. Poor people they were, with their festering sores and filthy rags who cared for them? A strange notion entered Francis' head; half in jest and half in . earnest, he changed clothes with one of them and for a day stood in rags as a beggar among beggars, to see how it felt! To him there was a strange joy and freedom in the poverty he thus tasted for the first time.

One day in the streets of Assisi Francis found himself face to face with a leper. The maimed face, the smell and the horror of the wretched man made him feel sick, and he turned away in repulsion. Then there came to him the memory of Jesus who had touched lepers, had loved them and healed them. Remembering Jesus, Francis went up to the leper and handed him his money; then as the surge of love and pity grew stronger, he stooped to kiss the leper's hand in Christ's name. That was a turning point in Francis' life. In visiting and helping the poor and needy Francis now spent most of his time. He went out for Christ's sake, as Poor as He: poverty was the emblem of his service, in which he took pride and delight. Others came to join him and to live as he did. They possessed nothing earthly, loved nothing earthly and feared to lose nothing earthly. Wherever they went they spoke of the good news of Jesus Christ, teaching and preaching to the poorest in the words they could understand. When Francis died in 1226 thousands had joined his Order and gone out to serve the needy in poverty and humility. The very name Francis chose for his followers is significant; he called them "Brothers" or "Lesser Brothers" "Minores". We know them as friars. It is worthy of note here that friar and monk are not synonymous terms. To the existence of monks who lived in cloisters or monasteries we owe the preservation of learning through barbarous ages. The friars were not shut in cloisters but moved in and out among ordinary people.

Francis of Assisi, who as a boy bathed in luxury, had given up everything and flung himself with real and complete freedom into a life that should literally carry out the commands of the Master.