From the Desk of Deacon Judy

Francis of Assisi, Friar, 1226

Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved and well-known saints. Many have his statue in their gardens. Churches bless animals in remembrance of Francis. We often pray or sing the prayer attributed to him, “Make me an instrument of your peace…”

In 2005, I had the unique privilege to journey on pilgrimage with our former Bishop Suffragan, Marc Andrus, to walk in the footsteps of Francis, in the Umbria region of Italy. Our pilgrim’s guide had daily prayers and worship experiences for our intergenerational group. My prayer partner, Sarah, was 16 years old.

We traveled to San Damiano Church where Francis had his vision, God’s message:

REPAIR MY CHURCH.

Francis renounced his privileged life of material values and chose a path of poverty, economic poverty and spiritual poverty, a humble way of life. By the high Middle Ages the Church had become full of the trappings of wealth and was a strong political force. Francis chose to live more like Jesus, simply, humbly, caring for the poor, caring for all of God’s creatures.

We pilgrims visited Greccio where Francis wanted the village to experience the incarnation in a deeper way. Christmas touched him profoundly because God chose a baby in a humble setting to be the redeemer of the world. It showed that God was love. So Francis created the first Nativity Scene there, with live animals and a crèche. The Nativity Scene continues to this day.

We visited Gubbio, where legend says he tamed the wolf. In our spiritual experience there, we reflected on how Jesus tames or calms the dark times in our lives or the dark side of our nature.

There were many other special Francis moments which I hold close in my heart.

As we remember Francis of Assisi, as we remember all Franciscans who continue to model his life and work, and as we remember all of us who are ever inspired to love and serve, let us pray the prayer attributed to St. Francis (BCP, p. 833):

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon, where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant what we 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; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

God’s peace, Judy Q+