Dear Friends,
Monday, October 4, is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the most popular and well-known Saint among our vast army of faith heroes. One of my favorites for sure. Even those of other faiths have a kindred attachment to him. How many gardens are graced by a statue of Saint Francis, usually holding a bird with a wolf by his side. We have one at the parish house that was given to us a few years ago.
Saint Francis’ poverty, joy, and love of everyone including animals and nature is well known and recounted. There are some lesser known but interesting facts about him as well. Born in 1182, he was baptized Giovanni (John). His father, a successful cloth merchant, returning from a trip to France, renamed him Francesco (Frenchman).
Francis lived a privileged life and was the town’s “king of parties.” He often paid for lavish parties for his young friends. Francis was good at business but longed for glory and becoming a knight. When Assisi went to war with the neighboring town of Perugia, he joined. However, he was captured and remained a prisoner for about a year.
His conversion took time and eventually he embraced total poverty, preaching the Gospel, living in simplicity the joy of God’s presence. Francis travelled to Muslin territory to convert the Sultan. The Sultan did not convert but became friends with Francis and eventually freely gave Jerusalem back to the Christians.
Saint Francis is the first person recorded to have received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ into his own body. He died at age 45 and his tomb was hidden for fear of his body being stolen. The secret location was forgotten but was re-discovered in 1818. When Francis went to Rome to see Pope Innocent III to get approval for his community, the Pope dismissed him quickly. However, when the Pope had a dream of a poor man holding up with his own back the edge of the Lateran Basilica which was collapsing, he realized that God was with Francis to do a work in the Church and the world.
Saint Francis was truly a remarkable and amazing disciple of the Lord. He literally embraced “Lady Poverty” totally. His joy was pervasive and enduring through all his free will sacrifices, sufferings, and hardships. He led countless numbers of people back to Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who alone sets us free from the shackles of this world, from the snares of sin and death.
Saint Francis of Assisi still shines forth to us today as a model of how to be fully a disciple of the Lord, living always in the joy of the Holy Spirit, while navigating the ups and downs of this world. Like Francis, let us keep our eyes focused on the only One who matters. Embracing the cross of Jesus through our self-sacrifices in love, living in the joy of the Holy Spirit, free of the constraints of passing things, we will find our way into the glory of Heaven itself.
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
