The Active and Contemplative Life of St. Francis of Assisi
Spring arrived at the appointed time in East Tennessee. Daffodil and forsythia bathed my yard in splashes of yellow as Cleveland pears spread a white canopy above. Mornings unfurled in a sudden bloom of color and motion as Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, Nuthatches, Redwing Blackbirds and House Finches answered the call of spring feeding, nesting and flitting about. Each year as this annual show unfolds, I think of St. Francis of Assisi, who is popularly known for his appreciation of God’s creation. One legend tells of Francis preaching to the birds who remained motionless until the friar blessed them.
This spring I pondered Francis with more intentionality as this year marks the 800th anniversary of his death in 1226. Celebrations around the world venerate this man who abandoned a carefree and indulgent life to embrace a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience (sometimes called the “Evangelical counsels) [1].
Born the son of a wealthy merchant in Assisi, Italy Francis experienced a dramatic conversion at the age of twenty-four. For the next twenty-two years he devoted his life to Christ. His love of the contemplative life drew the attention of Count Orlando di Chiusi della Verna, who donated a mountain to Francis to be a place of prayer and contemplation. From his reading of Scripture, Francis believed God created the world good and beautiful. Withdrawing to Mt. La Verna to be alone with God nurtured his soul.
The beauty of creation did not blind Francis to the world’s brokenness due to sin. Thus, Francis was also drawn to the active life. He preached to the lost, ministered to the poor, and cared for lepers. His heart to preach Christ led to numerous mission journeys. In 1219, during the violence of the Fifth Crusade, Francis traveled to Damietta, Egypt, near Cairo, to meet the sultan Al-Kamil and seek an end to the conflict.[2]
Al-Kamil was the brother of the famous Saladin who defeated the Franks to gain control of Palestine during the Third Crusade (when we pilgrimage to Israel, we sometimes have Dr. Mark Zeise teach on the famous battle between Saladin and the Crusaders). While the details of Francis’ meeting with Al-Kamil are few, the fact he risked his life to visit with the Muslim leader reflects his longing for peace. The desire for peace is embedded in Francis’ "Primitive Rule", which was written to guide those who joined his little band known as the Friars Minor or Franciscans. Based on Scripture, the rule of St. Francis was simply "to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps."
The beauty of spring in East Tennessee contrasted with the war and violence in the Middle East call us to ponder the timeless values preached by Francis. In this world, our joy is always in spite of something. So, may our Heavenly Father bless us as we seek "to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps" in world of profound beauty and deep suffering.
[1] See Matthew 19:10–12; Matthew 19:16–22; Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23; Mark 10.
[2] You can learn more about the legends that surround this meeting in John Tolan’s book, Saint Francis and the Sultan: The Curious History of a Christian-Muslim Encounter. Oxford: University Press (2009).