7 things I’ve learned from St Francis

Today is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, which has always been a notable feast for me but which has taken on greater significance after I spent three recent weeks in Assisi. That town is rich in Franciscan history, not so much in Franciscan spirituality (don’t go there looking for austerity or simplicity!), but I still managed to learn much about myself as well as about Francis while I was there. It was a place of prayer.

Not everything I’ve learned from Francis was learned this past summer. Similarly, some of these lessons came from multiple sources.  Here, on Francis’ Feast day, I offer you seven things he’s taught me from across the centuries.

— 1 —

Friendship

Francis and Clare were besties. At least that’s how I usually describe it in class.

They were friends who planned together, who prayed together, who talked of spiritual matters and the everyday. This fellowship, rooted in love, is not easy to come by, and it is even more remarkable for companions of different genders in this era.

As someone who has always had close friendships with men and women, I appreciate this model of a life-giving friendship.

— 2 —

Community

Of course, Francis is noted for assembling a community of brothers as well. Then, as now, I am sure that not all of the brothers would consider themselves friends, but the nature of an intentional, healthy community is one that values togetherness and collaboration regardless of the biases of personal preference.

— 3 —

Hermitage

I am an extrovert, someone who gets energy from being around people. That is why it is essential that I get away from people from time to time.

Visiting L’Eremo delle Carcieri, a hermitage to which Francis escaped up the hill from the town of Assisi, offered an astonishing vision of the level of isolation that Francis’ sought. I don’t think I need to go quite so far as to find a tiny cave as Francis did.

As I seek a balance of hermitage and community, I try not to become compulsed by either. It can be just as tempting to escape into a large crowd as it is to escape into a cave.

— 4 —

Dramatic gesture

When I imagine St Francis’ renunciation of his father’s wealth and name in the piazza outside Santa Maria Maggiore, I don’t see Francis removing his fancy clothes, or the bishop tenderly covering Francis with his cloak. I see his father, who had known him his whole life and who had to have been rolling his eyes at him and thinking “Why are you always so dramatic??”

Though I can be melodramatic in my personal life, I don’t find myself often in a position to make grand actions like Francis did. Instead, I save all of the drama for ritual: the things we “act out” that show what we’re about. It’ s no secret that I love liturgy, and I’m learning that it is my way of acting out the drama that swirls around in my soul all the time.

— 5 —

Acceptance of the miraculous

I could be way off base, but I don’t suppose that Francis was particularly disbelieving when stigmata appeared. “Oh look, the wounds of Christ…that’s neat.”

At a certain point, spirituality has to let go and accept the irrationality that occasionally governs our lives. Sometimes, we just get a miracle. Best not to ask too many questions.

— 6 —

Work first, ask questions later

It’s conventional wisdom that when Jesus appeared to Francis in a vision and said “Repair my church”, he meant the universal church, but Francis “didn’t get it” and set about rebuilding San Damiano.

Maybe Francis got it more than we give him credit for. Instead of over-analyzing the message, coming up with a strategic plan, dreaming big, etc, he just got down to work and the rest of it all fell into place.

— 7 —

The created world is stuffed with grace

That’s all. It’s all grace.

Do you have any association with or affection for St Francis? What have you learned from his life?

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