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Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society. Saint Francis of Assisi  At a time when it is more important than ever to consider ourselves as part of the human race, as one people, all children of God, regardless of national boundaries, we take time to reflect on the life of St. Francis. St. Francis looked beyond the fears of his day, beyond the Crusades, and approached leaders of the Muslim Faith with dialogue and mutual respect. The entire life of St. Francis can offer us a contemporary example to follow. Born in Assisi to a wealthy merchant family, he spent his youth doing exactly what he wanted, following every whim that his station in life made possible. Attracted by the romance of the life of a soldier he headed off to war, was taken captive and held for more than a year. While captive he became ill, and it was during this illness he began to experience a call to conversion. Though this did not come overnight, God continued to call him to a life of simplicity, which he ultimately embraced with a unique enthusiasm. Standing naked before his father, and the entire town he renounced his worldly inheritance and assumed the life of a beggar for Christ, preaching the simple message of the Gospel to all who would listen. In 1219 as the bloody conflicts continued between Christians and Muslims in the Fifth Crusade, Francis sought a non-violent way to solve the probl  ems, and journeyed to Damietta, Egypt, with the plan to meet with the Sultan. He succeeded in getting an audience with Sultan Malek-el-Kamel, and tried to persuade the Sultan of the good news of Jesus' saving love for all. Although, the Sultan was not drawn away from his own faith and convictions, he did hear Francis' enthusiasm and courage and listened to him courteously and with admiration. The Sultan gave Francis a horn; an instrument used to assemble the people of God to invite them to conversion, and also insured that Francis was given safe passage back to the Christian camp.Attracting followers, he reluctantly accepted the responsibilities that came with this, and sought and received permission from the Holy Father to establish a Religious Order. St. Francis lived to be 44 years old, and in his short life, touched many. His life and his followers continue today to bring Christ to people throughout the world. His well-known prayer for peace is as needed today as it was in the thirteenth century. |
| Prayer for Peace Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. --- Prayer For Peace - St. Francis of Assisi |
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| Previous Saints of the Month Saint Francis of Assisi St. Anthony Mary Claret St. Katharine Drexel Blessed Damien of Molokai Uganda Martyrs Saint Martin De Porres Saint Mother Cabrini Saint Francis Xavier Saint Therese of Lisieux |
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