MARY, OUR MOTHER

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Born at Assisi, Italy, in 1182 and Christened John (Giovanni) di Bernadone, St. Francis is one of the most famous and beloved Saints of the Church. The son of a wealthy merchant, he spent his early years as a carefree youth and lived in extravagance.
After his conversion, while praying in the Church of San Damiano, near Assisi, our Lord, Jesus Christ, spoke to him from the crucifix, telling him to repair His house. Believing at first that God wanted him to repair the dilapidated church of San Damiano, Francis embraced a life of poverty and set to work begging alms to purchase building materials.
Francis' father, humiliated by his son, denounced him. At that point, Francis began to preach, and his holiness, simplicity, love of nature and joyful embrace of "Lady Poverty" attracted many followers. This was the beginning of the Franciscan Order. Francis sent his brothers to preach in far-off places. Their preaching counteracted the growing spirit of riches infecting Europe, doctrinal ignorance and heretical evil of those days.
In 1207 Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), a group of laymen dedicated to poverty of life and Christlike charity toward all men. With St. Clare he co-founded the Poor Clares, who follow the Franciscan spirituality.
Fervently desiring to convert the Mohammedans, and with the blessing of Pope Innocent III, he and his band went to Egypt, penetrated the camp of the Sultan, but was unsuccessful in trying to convert him.
Following his return from the Holy Land, Francis relinquished the rule of his by now immensely expanded order. In September of 1224, while praying on Mount Alverna, St. Francis received the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ. He died in 1226 and was canonized in 1228.
St. Francis love for poverty, for the cross, and for all creation, brought new vitality and holiness to the whole Church.

"For those blessed and all-holy eyes [of God] have not seen among sinners anyone more vile or insufficient than I am. And so in order to do that wonderful work which He intends to do, He did not find on earth a viler creature, and therefore He chose me, for God had chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the base things of the world and the despised to bring to naught the noble and great and strong, so that all excellence in virtue may be from God and not from the creature, in order that no creature should glory before Him, but 'let him who takes pride, take pride in the Lord,' that honor and glory may be only God's forever." (St. Francis of Assisi)

Yesterday, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. had a few words to say about St. Francis . . .

During his homily, he reflected on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast the Church celebrates today, and on how Francis led a spiritual revolution in the Church. The archbishop said the historical period in which Francis lived, with its injustices and its disparity between rich and poor, was very similar to the world of today.

Francis, he said, led the Church toward conversion, reconciliation and a more authentic witness of the Gospel through his personal example.

"“If you and I want to be what God calls us to be in the years that lie ahead, we need to be like St. Francis,"” he said. Catholics today must work to renew society through repentance, conversion, humility and willingness to serve.

"“When people claim they'’re Catholic but do nothing in the public square to advance the Christian understanding of each human person'’s dignity, they'’re deceiving themselves and other people -- but they'’re not fooling God,”" the archbishop said, naming areas of concern to Catholics, such as embryonic stem-cell research, abortion, assisted suicide, marriage, immigration, poverty and the disabled.

"“We need to drill it into our heads that defending the sanctity of the human person and serving the common good can'’t be separated,"” he said. "“Stuffing our Catholic faith in a closet when we enter the public square or join a public debate isn'’t good manners, and it isn'’t political courtesy. It'’s cowardice. And we'’ll be judged for that cowardice by the God who created us."”

"“The world needs committed Catholic laypeople like yourselves to lead with humility, courage and love.

"“But what it [the world] needs more than anything else is holiness,– holy men and women who love Jesus Christ and God'’s Word more than they love their own careers and agendas,"” he challenged.

PRAYER

O God, You increased the membership of the Church through the merits of blessed Francis. Grant that we may follow his example and spurn the things of earth to find our continual happiness in Your Gifts from Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.