A Letter to the Rulers of the Peoples
By: Saint Francis of Assisi
The Poverello, as we
learn from his early biographer, Thomas of Celano, did not hesitate to address himself
directly to the rulers of the world. The First Life, 43, narrates an incident in which
Emperor Otto IV passed the friars' hovel at Rivo Torto, near Assisi, on his way to Rome to
be crowned by the Pope. Francis sent a friar to call out repeatedly that his glory would
last only a short while. The Second Life, 200, expressed his wish that emperors would
enact laws that on Christmas Day more than the usual amount of hay be given to the birds,
the oxen, and the asses. He would have no fear, then, to write such a letter as this to
remind rulers of their responsibility before God.
To all mayors and
consuls, magistrates and rulers throughout the world, and to everyone who may receive
these letters: Brother Francis, your little and despicable servant in the Lord God, sends
his wishes of health and peace to all of you.
Pause and reflect, for
the day of death is approaching. 1 beg you, therefore, with all possible respect, not to
forget the Lord or turn away from His commandments by reason of the cares and
preoccupations of this world, for all those who are oblivious of Him and turn away from
His commands are cursed and will be totally forgotten by Him. And when the day of death
does come, everything which they think they have will be taken from them. And the wiser
and more powerful they may have been in this world, so much greater will be the
punishments they will endure in hell.
Therefore, I firmly
advise you, my lords, to put aside all care and preoccupation and receive with joy the
most holy Body and the most holy Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in holy remembrance of
Him.
And you should manifest
such honor to the Lord among the people entrusted to you that every evening an
announcement be made by a town crier or some other signal that praise and thanks may be
given by all people to the all-powerful Lord God. And if you do not do this, know that you
must render an account before the Lord your God, Jesus Christ, on the day of judgment.
Let those who keep this
writing with them and observe it know that they will be blessed by the Lord God.
Letter writing forces
us to clarify our thinking and to take a stand. Francis took a definite stand in his
Letter to the Rulers. Select a current public official -- international, national, or
local - and write a letter to him. Select someone you really feel strongly about, e.g. an
outspoken senator, a school board member, news commentator, or foreign diplomat. Admonish
him, support him, encourage him, remind him of his duties of office - whatever you want to
say to him.
What kind of
responsibility did Francis feel for society? What kind of attitude did he project? How
does yours compare'? Does this letter say anything about our relation to the United Farm
Workers, Right to Life, multinational corporations, political involvement?
Send off your letter --
you might be surprised at the results.
TOR RESOURCE MANUAL
pages 70-79
