St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
Part 1: Heroes of Faith Help Show Us the Way
When my husband and I went to Europe this past spring, I did most of the trip coordination. Planning a vacation for me is almost as fun as taking it!
When I learned we could reserve an apartment at a resort in Assisi, Italy, I jumped at the opportunity. Assisi was the hometown of two of my favorite historical figures—St. Francis and St. Clare—who lived in the early 13th century.
Francis was the founder of the Franciscan order of priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares), a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition.
Several months before we visited Italy, Ron and I participated in an Intervarsity Fellowship virtual pilgrimage focusing on the lives of Francis and Clare, and my soul felt deep kinship with these two ancient Christian leaders. In the next few posts, I will concentrate on them.
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, now known as St. Francis of Assisi, was born somewhere around 1182 into a prosperous merchant family. When he was 20 years old, he left home to fight in the Battle of Collestrada. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Perugia. In 1204, he left once again, this time to fight in the Crusades. The once carefree, fun-loving young man returned home to Assisi physically wounded and emotionally broken.
This equestrian statue of St. Francis sits near the Basilica in Assisi and depicts a humble Francesco with a reformed inner self whose only desire is to serve God.
As I’ve become acquainted with ancient heroes and heroines of the faith, I’ve realized that like Giovanni, God often does the best work in people’s lives when they appear to be “broken” and “wounded.” Life has a way of beating us up. God finds a better way to repair, refresh, restore, and redirect our footsteps onto right paths. (See Psalm 23)
There’s never one correct way this happens nor is there an absolute formula. However, I believe words of St. Francis I have been pondering lately are full of wisdom, worthy of serious consideration:
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
- St. Francis of Assisi
In the 1200’s, God led Francis and Claire to do the seemingly impossible. The work they began endures more than 800 years later.
Let me be completely honest. I have a couple deep desires that feel “impossible.” Perhaps you do as well.
This quote from Francesco reminds me to keep on doing what’s “necessary,” to keep placing one foot in front of the other every day to accomplish the ordinary, discerning when it’s healthy to say “yes” and “no” to take care of my whole soul—physically, emotionally, relationally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Francis reminds me to do what’s “possible”—even when that possibility stretches my whole soul—physically, emotionally, relationally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Finally, Francis reminds me God and only God will be the one who can bring about the “impossible.”
St. Francis of Assisi is one of those ”Heroes of the Christian Faith” who helps show us the way. I hope you’ve enjoyed “visiting” him today.
Blessings on your journeys,
The Franciscan cross, which looks like a “T” is seen commonly in souvenir shops.