St. Francis had all the opportunity for comforts that a privileged wealthiest
young man could get but all of these had been repudiated over God’s calling.
He was born in Assisi, City of Umbria Italy in 1182. His father Pietro Bernardone was a rich cloth
merchant. His mother Pica belonged to a
noble family of Provenza.
He is known as the Patron Saint of animals and the environment and it had
been known that he even talked to ants and tamed the wolf.
His feast is October 4.
His first female follower St. Clare, founded the Order of Saint Clare (poor
clares) through his inspiration.
He represents poverty, chastity and obedience. He became known as the poor one of Assisi by
his marriage with poverty.
Trade was not his passion no matter how persistent were his parents who
were engaged in entrepreneurship.
Despite of his tenacity, his heart bleeds
when he comes across with poor people.
At the age of 20, he fought with Pregians and
was imprisoned for a year. Affluence made
him to acquire armor.
In an instance, he stumbled upon a disfavored
fellow. Out of his love, he undressed himself
and exchanged with the poor’s clothing.
The good thing about warfare account was it
did not pursued on occasions that St. Francis was at the point of engagement
yet.
While in seclusion, a strange voice struck
his consciousness which says, “You should serve the master and not the slave.”
When St. Francis embraced the leper and
kissed him, he found himself clothed in Christ’s love. Although he was at the point of holding back brought
by its a loathsome scene, he needed to renounce his will and approached the
leper.
In a contemplation an audible voice whispered
at him, “Francis repair my church as you can see is falling into ruins.” With this, he returned to San_Damiano to get money together with his belongings
which he auctioned later on. The proceeds
generated were donated to San Damiano Church.
In the middle of family’s riches, life of St.
Francis continued as a beggar. All the
money spawned through almsgiving of the people was all provided for the
beggars. He was not ashamed of this choice
out of a fervent desire to help the deprived.
His parents confronted him by talking to the
Bishop to return whatever he had taken otherwise his inheritance would be
forfeited. Neither did it daunt him but unclothe himself instead and said, “Until
now you have been my father on earth.
But from now I could say, My ‘Father’ who art in heaven.”
St. Francis stooped down on the destitute
people level to embrace the poor as the Scripture says, "Do not take gold
or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep."
Like St. Padre
Pio, he was a man of prayers. If I wake up at 2AM just to watch Gilas Pilipinas, St.
Francis woke up for an impassioned prayer with his mantra, “My God and my all” he repeatedly
profess all throughout his supplication.
Together with
his 12 followers, they marched to Rome to obtain Pope innocent III approval
on vow of poverty, who then endorsed the establishment of the Franciscan Order.
To broker peace between Christians and
Muslims, St. Francis preached Christ to the Sultan of Egypt who was impressed of the Saint’s valor of
bringing the good tidings when St. Francis said, “It’s not men who have sent me
but Almighty God. I came to show you and
your people the path of salvation; I come to announce the truths of the Gospel.”
With this striking and stimulating thought,
the Sultan offered him material provisions and said, “If all the Christians is like
this, it is worth to be a Christian.”
However, the saint rejected the presents.
“My brothers the birds, you should love your creator deeply and praise Him. He has
given you feathers to wear, wings to fly with, and whatever else you need. He has made you noble among His creatures and
given you a dwelling.”
“My sisters the swallows, it’s my turn to
speak now because you’ve already said enough. Listen to the word of God. Stay
still and be quiet until it’s over.”
I firmly
believe that everyone who has deep-seated love on Jesus can emulate St. Francis
who is known for special affinity with animals.
St. Francis made a representation of the Birth of Jesus, “I would like to make a kind of living representation of the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem so as
to witness so to say with the eyes of the body, the humility of the incarnation
and see him lying on the manger between the ox and the donkey.”
People afflicted with an ailment were healed
when they ate the meals that St. Francis blessed. Sanctified and mended were they who touched St.
Francis.
On September 14, 1224, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the miracle of the stigmatas (the five
wounds of Jesus) came to pass. He
concealed this peculiar experience.
Along with this, his health had deteriorated gradually but he offered
everything to the Most Holy God.
It was several times that St. St. Francis had levitation encounter. When St. Francis and St. Clare conversed, the
surroundings gleamed, a manifestation of God’s grace.
While afflicted with sickness for two (2)
years, he was able to compose the Canticle of Brother Sun:
Most High, all
powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the
praises, the glory, the honor,
and all
blessing.
To You alone,
Most High, do they belong,
and no man is
worthy to mention Your name.
Be praised, my
Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who
brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is
beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the
likeness.
Praise be You,
my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and
precious and beautiful.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and
every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and
chaste.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you light the night and he is
beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who
produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and
tribulation.
Blessed are
those who endure in peace for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You,
my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who
die in mortal sin.
Blessed are
those whom death will find in Your most holy willl, for the second death shall
do them no harm.
Praise and bless
my Lord, and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.
Despite of misfortune, praises to God still
remained as his sweetest thoughts and deeds.
St.
Francis last will of testament exhorts for fraternal charity, to love and observe holy poverty, and to
love and honor the Church as the
manifestation of one’s love for God.
Weeks before he died, St. Francis exclaimed, "Welcome, Sister Death!" He asked to bring him some candles
and a sackcloth to wrap himself, as well as a piece of cake he especially liked.
"I have done my part, may Christ teach you to do your part."
St. Francis died on October 3, 1226 after
listening to the reader of the Passion of the Lord according to the Gospel of Saint John.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment