A Reflection Written for a TSSF Local Group

(From material by Stephen Innes OFM Cap)

THE CHALLENGE-

Ultimately, Francis’ love, holiness, humility, penance, poverty, obedience, joy and whatever else may characterise him should not  be singled out for special or particular treatment as if in isolation from his personality, his character, his very being. His person, his life, his ideals and values, his sanctity, constitute his very being and it is the spiritual fabric of his whole being that we must try to capture if we are to know something of the essentials of Franciscan Spirituality.

There are few saints who can speak to us as easily and directly as Francis. Yet in the final analysis we cannot capture the quicksilver of his personality, nor observe the heroic authenticity of Francis’ life, unless we are prepared in some measure to be confronted and enthralled by his words and deeds, which provide for us the first glimmerings of what is essential to Franciscan Spirituality.

Some suggestions …….

G.K.Chesterton wrote- “In a better sense than the antithesis commonly conveys , it is true to say that what St. Benedict had stored, St. Francis scattered- but in the world of spiritual things, what had been stored in to barns like grain, was scattered over the world as seed.

As is common in the recording of history what the writer records is a retrospective in the light of eventual consequences-

Stephen Innis OFM Cap. Writes- “The right place to start in any study is with the writings of St Francis and early biographies rather than the latter practise of favour of the thoughtful digestion of the philosophical vision presented by St Bonaventure and other Franciscan masters. To-days approach stresses the basic and essential of the writings and first biographies to get at the real core of Franciscanism.

So what are the some of the essential features of Franciscan Spirituality? Christianity is not just a body of dogmas to be received nor a moral code to be guarded, it is rather a faith to be lived in imitation of Jesus Christ  This is probably why G.K. Chesterton wrote “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it simply has not been tried”! But then he added “Only Francis of Assisi has tried it and has NOT been found wanting!”

Francis was not first and foremost an ecclesiastical reformer, nor was he missionary or theologian. He was all of these. But he was firstly a disciple of Jesus and a follower of His Gospel teaching.

Again as G.K. Chesterton writes-“The first fact with which his story starts, that when he said from the first that he was a Troubadour and said later that he was a Troubadour of a newer nobler romance, he was not using a mere metaphor, but understood himself better than the scholars understand him. He was a lover. A lover of Christ.

Frances came to the realisation that- Imitation is the most sincere form of adoration.

Reference material-

JOY IN ALL THINGS- a Franciscan Companion chapter 4 by Stephen Innes OFM Cap

FRANCIS of ASSISI – G.K.Chesterton