SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

WITNESS




10-4-13




SAINT FRANCIS---THE POOR MAN’S SAINT




Have you ever heard the saying
IMITATION is the most sincere form of flattery


I have
And if you believe in Jesus Christ
And/or his message
There is one man who stands out
And is considered to be
The closest thing to Christ
That ever walked this earth


SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISSI


He grew up in Assisi, Italy
Assisting his father
A wealthy clothing merchant
In the family business


He became a soldier
But was taken prisoner
And became ill


Eventually he turned his back
On the war
And heard a voice from God calling,


“Go and repair my house
Which you see is falling apart”


This led
To a prolonged conflict with his father
Culminating with Francis renouncing his inheritance
And even his clothes


Francis’ love for the poor
And for the lepers was long renowned
And the first time
He kissed a leper---Francis felt
That he had kissed the face of Christ


It is said that Francis
Read the Gospel with such passion
That grown men wept


He drew many followers
Both men and women
Most notably---Saint Clare


However it must always be remembered
That Francis’ true motivating factor
Was his love for Christ
And to live a life of suffering
Just like Christ


He accomplished this too
When on September 17^th, 1224
The stigmata---the 7 wounds of Christ
Appeared on his body


If it is true
That we are to become other Christ’s
In this world
And we are


We need look no further
Than Saint Francis of Assisi
As our model


Francis once said,
“Speak the Gospel at all times
Use words if necessary”


Saint Francis
A lover of nature
A lover of the poor
A lover of animals


But known mostly for
His ALL pervasive love for God
And his identification with Christ’s suffering


Saint Francis
A true lover of the poor
And


AN IMITATION of Christ


Robert P. Wallman
10-4-11


Ps Saint Francis’ feast day is October 4^th





WITNESS 10-4-13