Franciscan Friars T.O.R. - St. Francis of Assisi

The powerless minores no longer tolerated the domination of the majores; prolonged drought caused widespread famine; and barbarous public torture was but a different form of the violence and terrorism of today.

Francis of Assisi was not born a saint. The son of a wealthy merchant, he had time and money to host lavish banquets for young nobles who proclaimed him "King of Feasts." Parties and selling cloth left Francis little time for God.

A handsome, charming and educated young man, he spent his early life leading young nobles in parties. He dreamed of knighthood and longed for the adventurous life of chivalry. In pursuit of that dream, he joined in the war between Assisi and Perugia at the age of 20.

In a war between Assisi and Perugia, Francis fought with youthful enthusiasm. He was wounded and taken prisoner. Spending the next year in a dungeon, he contracted malaria. Ransomed by his father, a more reflective Francis returned to Assisi. Sickness overtook him and in that languishing experience he heard the first stirrings of a vocation to peace and justice.

The military victories of Count Walter of Brienne revived Francis' desire for knighthood. Under Brienne's command, he hoped to win his favor and become a knight. On his way to join Brienne, Francis stopped in Spoleto and heard the shocking news of his death. Overcome by depression, his malaria returned.

One night a mysterious voice asked him, "Who do you think can best reward you, the Master or the servant?" Francis Answered, "The Master." The voice continued, "Why do you leave the Master for the servant?" Francis realized the servant was Count Walter. He left Spoleto convinced God had spoken to him.

During the next two years Francis sensed an inner force that was preparing him for another change. The sight of lepers caused revulsion in the sensitive soul of Francis. One day while riding his horse, he cam upon a leper. His first impulse was to throw him a coin and spur his horse on. Instead Francis dismounted and embraced the leper. On his death bed he recalled the encounter as the crowning moment of his conversion: "What seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of soul and body."

Later, in a dramatic moment of prayer in the abandoned Church of San Damiano, he heard a voice coming from the crucifix which challenged him to rebuild the church. At first he thought it meant that he should rebuild San Damiano. Gradually, Francis realized that God meant that he should "rebuild" the Church at large. From that moment he learned that living a Christian life would place him in opposition to the values of his society and set him apart from family and friends and many of his own age.

He became a charismatic penitent. The Brothers and Sisters of Penance see the pattern of gradual conversion that marked Francis' spiritual journey as the defining characteristic or charism of the Third Order Regular.

At first Francis sought to live a life of solitude and prayer. Within a few years he came to see God was calling him to give new momentum to a movement already present among the Christian faithful, a life of conversion - the challenge to LIVE the Gospels in his daily life. Francis found that other men of Assisi were attracted to the same vision - to follow Christ and His Apostles. Soon there grew a small commune which settled on the outskirts of a town near the abandoned Church of Our Lady of the Angels. Here a new Order in the Church was born. Today it is known as the Franciscan Order.

Before Francis died in 1226 at the age of 44, he founded three Orders. His gift to humankind was his love of God as he experienced Him in all of His creation. His imprint on history are the men and women who identify with his vision in the Franciscan way of life. That legacy lives on in the followers of Francis who today seek to inspire in themselves and others the ideals of peace and justice of the gospels.

1181 - Summer or Fall, born in Assisi, baptized Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone, renamed Francesco by his father.

1202 - November War between Perugia and Assisi. The latter is defeated at the Collestrada. Francis spends a year in captivity until ransomed by his father as ill.

1205 - Francis sets out to join the army of Walter de Brienne. Returns after a vision and message in Spoleto. Beginning of a gradual period of conversion.

1205 - Fall: Message of the Crucifix at San Damiano, Conflict with his father.

1206 - Summer: Returns to Assisi and begins to rebuild San Damiano; end of conversion process; beginning of Thomas of Celano's chronology of the "years of conversion".

Summer to January or February: He repairs San Damiano, San Pietro della Spina; and Our Lady of the Angels "Portiuncula".

1208 - February 24 - Francis hears the Gospel for the Feast of St. Matthias. Changes the belt on his hermit's habit and begins to preach penance.

1208 - April 16 - Bernard of Quintavalle and the priest, Peter Catani join him. Others follow.

1208-1209 - Fall and Winter: Francis is assured of the pardon of his sins and the growth of his fraternity. They go out two by two to preach penance.

1209 - They return to the Portiuncula and Francis writes a brief Rule for himself and his eleven friars or brothers. They receive the approval of Pope Innocent III in Rome. The friars return to Rivo Torto and then to the Portiuncula. Possible date for the beginning of the Franciscan Order of Penance, later called the "Third Order".

1212 - On Palm Sunday night, the reception and investiture of St. Clare at the Portiuncula. After a stay with the Benedictine Nuns, Clare moves to San Damiano.

1215 - Francis at Rome for the IV Lateran Council. Meeting with St. Dominic?

1216 - Francis receives the Portiuncula Indulgence from Pope Honorius at Perugia

1217 - May 5 - Pentecost General Chapter of all the friars at the Portiuncula. First mission outside Italy.

1219 - May 26 - First friar missionaries leave for Morocco.
1219 - June 24 - Francis sails for the Holy Land.
1219 - Fall: St. Francis meets with the Sultan.

1220 - First Franciscan martyrs - the friars killed in Morocco.
1220 - Cardinal Hugolino appointed Protector of the Order.
1220 - Francis resigns as General Minister and friar Peter Catanii appointed.

1221 - Peter Catanii dies and at Chapter Bro. Elias becomes the Vicar.
1221 - The Memoriale Propositi is approved for the Franciscan Brothers and Sisters of Penance.

1223 - Francis goes to Fonte Colombo to write the definitive Rule for the Order of Friars Minor. The Chapter discusses it and further changes are made until its approval by Pope Honorius III in November.

1224 - The long retreat of Francis at La Verna where he receives the Stigmata or wounds of Christ.

St. Francis receives the Stigmata
EL GRECO 1577 - 1579
Baltimore

1225 - His eye problems turn worse and he stays for a while at San Damiano with St. Clare and the sisters. At the insistence of Bro. Elias he undergoes medical treatment but without improvement. Almost blind he writes his "Canticle of the Creatures".

1225 - 1226 - Francis goes to Fonte Columbo where the doctors cauterize his temple in an unsuccessful treatment. At Sienna he takes a turn for the worse and dictates a testament, but recovers.

1226 - September - Staying at the Bishop's house in Assisi, Francis knows that he is dying and asks to be brought down to the Portiuncula.

1226 - October 3, he dies there in the evening.
1226 - October 4, he is buried in San Giorgio Church.
1228 - July 16, in Assisi, his friend Cardinal Hugolino now Pope Gregory IX canonizes Francis.

1230 - May 25, the transfer of the saint's remains to his tomb in the new papal basilica of San Francisco.

Franciscan Spirituality:
An Invitation to Peacemaking
From the Life of St. Francis

There was in the town of Gubbio a fearfully large and fierce wolf which was so rabid with hunger that it devoured not only animals, but humans too. It was so fierce that the whole town was in terror, afraid to go outside the walls. Francis went out to meet the wolf, blessed it, and said: " Brother Wolf, you have done great harm to this region, not only destroying other creatures without mercy, but you even have the brazenness to kill and devour human beings made in the image of God. You deserve severe punishment; but I want to make peace between you and the town, so that they will not be harmed by you anymore and after they have forgiven you, neither men or dogs will pursue you any more."

The wolf indicated that it would accept these terms, and offered the saint his paw as a sign of the pact, " I promise that the town will feed you every day; I know that what you did, you did out of hunger." The town promised to do what the saint had bargained, and the town adopted the wolf, and fed him until the day he died.

REFLECTION:

Whether the wolf was real or whether he symbolized ‘il lupo,’ the murderer and thief, the story points out the need for the ministry of reconciliation whether by prayer or activity. Indeed, Francis’ whole life was marked by peacemaking, despite his youthful experiences of war. He was a peacemaker amongst the factions of Assisi, between sultans, kings and bishops, as well as wild animals. The prayer of reconciliation most people associate with St. Francis is "make me an instrument of your peace." Though this prayer can only be found in twentieth century sources and is therefore not an authentic prayer written by St. Francis. However, it does express, most poetically, the spirit of Francis’ life and vision. It is, without a doubt, A Franciscan Peace Prayer. So, the next time you pray this popular prayer, keep in mind Francis’ invitation to be a reconciler in a world often torn by anger, violence and despair.

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Focus on people’s good points. Tell all with whom you come into contact the good things you see in them.

2. Develop a positive approach toward life. Compliment more than you criticize.

3. Build a climate of trust and support in all your relationships. Cooperate with others instead of competing with them.

4. Use gentle, loving, respectful language dealing with others. They won’t hear your words if you’re too busy dodging your sharp tongue.

5. Take a genuine interest in the work and activities of others. Make a point to ask about new projects.

6. Listen patiently, with your heart, when others are talking. It’s Christlike to put aside one’s own interests for the love of another.

7. Learn how to refuse with a smile. If you have to say "no" to something, do it respectfully.

8. Put the devil of jealousy far behind you. Deal with your personal insecurities in some other ways, but don’t put others down to make yourself look better.

9. Be loyal. Never allow yourself to tear down the kingdom of God by destructive, behind-the-back criticism of others.

10. Do extra little things that are nobody’s job. Be generous by volunteering—especially for the jobs for which there is no great reward.*
Putting these all together is another way of being an instrument of peace in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi. Let us learn to tame too what is wild and violent within ourselves and the world around us.