St. Stephen of Hungary Parish

St. Francis of Assisi (1182 - 1226)

One of the most important -- and most neglected -- elements in the beginnings of the interior life [with Christ] is the ability to respond to reality, to see the value and the beauty in ordinary things, to come alive to the splendor that is all around us in the creatures of God.

--"No Man Is an Island," by Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
author, poet and Trappist Monk

St. Francis of Assisi was alive to the splendor of God's creation and passionately in love with God.

He frevently believed that everything good in life -- including each person's acts of goodness and love -- flows from the spirit of God. For this reason, he called himself God's "little servant" and urged others not to pride themselves on the good that the Lord says or does through them.

His profound humility, along with his love, compassion, and engaging personality, drew both people and animals to him.

In simple and direct language, he spoke to men and women of God's love and urged them to rekindle their love of God. He enjoined his brothers and sisters to show courtesy and respect to all of God's creatures and preached penance, brotherly love and peace.

A contemplative, an ascetic, and a man of sublime simplicity, St. Francis founded the Franciscan Order and based its rules on poverty, chastity and humility. Calling himself a minstrel of the Lord, he urged Franciscan friars to sing and be joyous as they ministered to people.

Throughout the 20 years of St. Francis of Assisi's ministry, he sought to unite his life with Christ. He embraced poverty and joyously surrendered everything - even his suffering - to God. He died as he lived in poverty and in service to Jesus Christ.

St. Bonaventure wrote of St. Francis:

He sought to love God in everything. He delighted in all the works of God's hands and from the vision of joy on earth his mind soared aloft to the life-giving source and cause of all. In everything beautiful he saw Him who is beauty itself, and he followed his Beloved everywhere by his likeness imprinted on creation; of all creation he made a ladder by which he might mount up and embrace Him who is all-desirable.

We invite you to learn more about the wit and wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi. And, for those of you who would like to read about his life, we recommend that you visit the New Advent Web site.

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