WITH ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

In this past week, I have been surrounded and accompanied by the spirit of St. Francis. The invitation to guide a group of Franciscan sisters in their retreat, as they prepare to celebrate the silver jubilee of their profession, gave me the opportunity to stay with the Franciscan Friars at Itimpi (near Kitwe) and to come closer to Francis, reflecting on the great values that guided his life.

In spite of his sometimes strange behaviour, which to certain people may look as crazy, Francis is respected and admired by all kinds of people, many of whom are not christians. Coming in contact with him, people recognise that he was not a fool at all and surely he was not crazy. His life and his teaching still challenge us as they challenged the people of his age.

In his reading and acceptance of the gospels, he was radical. For him, Christ could not have been mistaken, and his word must be taken seriously, without any attempt to dilute it in order to suite our own desires and conveniences. He dedicated his life to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, in such a way that people could recognise in him the face of Christ.

From the cross, Jesus had called him to rebuild his Church. Indeed, the Church was in serious need of reform. Surrounded by power and prestige, the leaders of the Church had forgotten the poor; but Francis felt the call to be poor, like Jesus had been poor, sharing their plight, proclaiming their dignity of children of God, and becoming a sign of protest against the values of a society that trampled down upon them.

He brought deep change in the Church by his humility, respect, obedience and poverty. He never turned against the Church or initiated a revolt against her, like otherd did throughout history. Francis was a man of peace, who lived in harmony with everything that surrounded him, be it nature or people. He showed respect and consideration for everybody, without any discrimination. His poverty, putting him at the bottom of the social ladder, gave him total freedom. He had nothing to lose and so he could not be influenced by prestige, influence, power or property. As poor, he was free with the freedom given by the Spirit, which made him ready to follow Jesus.

The prayer of St. Francis

This prayer is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, but in fact appeared only for the first time in 1912 in a  French magazine. However, it transmits well the spirit of St. Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.