In order that we might know Francis’s life and
his sanctity in a way that attracts and stirs, we are given a beautiful
description of what he experiences and goes through, specifically in his
conversion. Francis, growing up in the time of civil war, wrestles with his
service and his ego. He asks himself many times it seems, “Whom should I serve
and how should I serve?” For him early on, it was his country that he felt he
should serve through knighthood and being recognized by honor and fame. From
the very beginning God placed in him this desire to serve. God fulfilled his perfect
will by having him serve by becoming a lesser brother, taking on the clothes of
the outcasts, living with them and caring for them in such a way that becomes
attractive to many. During his conversion and transformation from being this
loud, rowdy leader of bandits, he was called to more than that. He was called to
be a quiet, calm and prayerful father for those who wished to follow his own
radical way of life. We are told that Francis was a builder before he was a
brother. He built churches as a response to God’s call; little did he know that
while he was begging for rocks instead of bread and building churches, he was
also building within him a home for Christ to stay in. Francis exemplified this
in his life. He won the hearts of those he spoke to, and people wanted to
follow him. I think they saw within him a love and a peace that was attractive
and desirable. When he preached penance, people saw joy. When he gave to the
poor, he gave freely. People began to listen to this sunny prophet who preached
redemption to sinners and to sad hearts the secret of regaining joy and
gladness. So
many people were brought to the light of God by his humility, charm and
uniqueness that men wanted to follow him. Francis, robed with a beggar’s garb,
was designated as a guide. Some thought that a new form of religious life had
been born; and disciples eager to follow it soon presented themselves.So
he had brothers. A major part of his conversion was his solitude, contrary to that of the world, he prayed and experienced great conversion of heart in the darkness and in the caves. This area of Saint Francis' conversion can give us hope in today's world. While many times we experience the darkness of our days and our world, the greater aspect is that through that darkness lies a conversion very similar to what Saint Francis experienced. Places like the cave or in those times of silence
and solitude is where Francis was formed and heard clearly the very voice of God and it can be the same for us. There is a fire to follow, but more importantly I think it has left me with a challenge to live like Saint Francis did. That is loving as best I can, in servicing as freely as I can and in being as joyful as often as I can. All three it seems are vital traits to adopt while responding to a Franciscan calling. In love, Francis loved his brothers and companions and also those he served. I think they recognized this rather quickly. In service, it seems that father Francis placed himself at the needs of those who were without. He did it willingly and obediently knowing that it was God whom he was serving. In joy, I have read that Francis was always in the spirit of joy, even in suffering, because of this he encountered God in the most ominous circumstances. To end, may there always be a movement toward these virtues that are the very charisma of the Franciscan spirituality.
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