St Francis first "walked into my life" through reading his story when I was a 13 year old schoolboy, but I experienced his "spirit" when I shared in the simple and joyful hospitality of a Friary the following year. Today, after 30 years as a Friar myself, St Francis still captivates me, as I seek to follow after him on the Gospel path. Every Franciscan is attracted to St Francis for a variety of reasons, for his life sparkles like a many-faceted diamond in the sun-light, but, personally, I am inspired by three of his qualities: His Intimacy with Christ To Francis Jesus of Nazareth was not a vague person who happened to live as a good moral or spiritual leader. He was intimately linked to St Francis through Christ`s giving of Himself to humanity. Jesus, as God incarnate, from manger to cross and beyond, revealed God`s redeeming power seen in vulnerable love. Francis constantly searched for Jesus...in the scriptures; the eucharist and liturgical life of the Church; in solitude, as well as the market-place; in the beauty of creation and the ugliness of real suffering - and once he discovered the "Poor Christ" he then followed Him and adored Him. St Francis calls me to be radically open to Jesus too - so this searching, discovering, following and adoring is never over - for Christ is always giving Himself to His redeemed humanity everyday. All I need are eyes to recognise Him and a heart to embrace and love Him.

His Loving Reverence for the Church

At a time of critical revolt within the Church of 13th Century Europe St Francis chose to express loving reverence and obedience to the Church, its hierarchy and people.

His personal call from Christ to "Repair my Church", by prayer, preaching and penance, reminds me that renewal comes from a willingness to become oneself a "living stone" within the structures of the institution, open and trusting in dialogue with other Christians. The Church brought Christ to St Francis and so Francis draws me constantly into the life of the Church where Christ`s life is proclaimed, celebrated and shared through apostolic order; sacramental life and evangelical truth.

 

Following Christ`s example of selfless service to all, St Francis` devotion to Jesus meant that he strove to look out at the world through the eyes of His Lord. No one was outside God`s gaze of courteous love, seen chiefly for Francis, in the Incarnation. From this historical moment all people and all creatures could be recognised as "brother and sister"! This is no sentimental emotion but an attitude which requires a strong vision of faith, as one is called to embrace peoples, cultures and religions which are different from one's own, whilst being loyal to the Christian tradition. Courtesy is often the threshold of friendship and St Francis, with often prophetic and yet child-like courage, would seek to establish "fraternity" with all whom he met. He sought to serve the world not dominate it, and that included all creatures and all peoples. Living with difference is an art to be learnt, but in St Francis` life I find it can be done - with joy, with suffering too, but always with assurance that we follow the crucified servant of all.