St. Francis of Assisi

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints - and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

If you ask almost anyone who their favorite saint is, there's a good chance they'll name St. Francis. After all, he is the saint associated with animals (it's his feast day that even non-Catholic churches use to hold a ceremony for the blessing of animals) and is said to have even preached to the birds. Indeed, his life demonstrates a yearning for simplicity and a love of the natural order that truly draws people to him. It certainly doesn't hurt that he was a gifted writer and clearly a very religious, deeply spiritual man.

Strangely enough, there is another side to this beloved saint. He had a problematic fixation with the Crusades, wanting desperately to be martyred in battle with the heathens. In fact, he left Assisi several times to try to join an army, but was usually thwarted by disease. His confrontation with a Sultan in Egypt carries strong overtones of presumed Christian supremacy, not to mention Francis's thinly-veiled contempt. Some historians make a big deal of this, as there are always people who like to rip through inspiring tales and show the seedy underbelly. While I don't doubt that Francis had his darker side - he was human, after all, and as tormented as any deeply devout person of God can be - I don't know that this negates his character.

After all, he dedicated his life whole-heartedly to poverty in spite of his family's great wealth. In fact, the Franciscan dedication to poverty was revolutionary for an order at the time, and their service to the poor was above and beyond what others had committed to. He was able to refocus from a life of internal contemplation to true outward dedication to neighbor. He even showed great respect for women, something very unlikely for men of his time. In other words, he might not have been perfect, but that does not make him less worthy of admiration.

When I went to Assisi, I knew I would come face-to-face with Francis again. The last time I was in Assisi, I didn't know about the so-called "dark side" of this saint. I worried a little if this second visit would be colored by it. The truth is I was still just as inspired by his example and memory as I had been before. Frankly, I'm glad I know this other side of Francis, as it reminds me that in the end, he was human just like me. Perhaps, like Francis, I can serve my neighbor and dedicate my life to service and love for creation, even in spite of my failings.

Our Great God, there are great people in this world who have truly shown us what it is like to be your servant. Thank your for the testimony of saints like Francis, whose compassion for the other - whether human or creature - inspire us to greater love for all your creation. Remind us that no matter our sins and failings, we can turn to you and be constantly made new. We may be poor in spirit, but in your Son, we are rich in grace. Grant us these things in his name, Amen.