The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
October 2007
Story of Francis Leads to Anglican Order
By Anita Catron, All-Saints, Salt Lake City
This is a story
about a man who
loved God so
much that his
love overflowed
to all people and
all creation. He
preached to the
birds, he tamed a
wild wolf that
was killing people, and he called
water his sister. Not only water but
everyone and everything were his
brother and sister because all are created
by the same God—a God who
loves us and calls us to love.
In 1182, St. Francis was born to
a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi,
Italy. He lived during turbulent
times of civil strife and power struggles
between the pope and the
emperor, between Assisi and
Perugia, and between the established
upper class and the rising
merchant class.
When he was a young man,
Francis worked for his father. He
loved fine things and clothes, wild
parties, and being the ringleader of
his friends. Through vain living he
tried to find the path to human
glory. First he thought it was
through going off to war, but in
1202, he was captured and put into
prison in Perugia for a year.
Still eager for human glory and
encouraged by a dream, Francis set
out to become a knight in 1205.
Knighthood offered Francis the
opportunity to combine the
romance of chivalry with the glory
of fighting in a Crusade. Again,
Francis was denied his ambition
when he was compelled by a second
dream to return home. Back in
Assisi, Francis spent a lot of time in
solitude and prayer trying to know
God's will.
One day, Francis was out riding
in the plains below Assisi near the
hospital for lepers, when he saw a
leper in the distance. Lepers disgusted
Francis more than anything.
Even so, instead of turning aside to
pass around him, Francis remembered
his call to knighthood and the
need to conquer his fears. He rode
up close to the leper, got off his
horse, and ran to kiss him. At that
moment Francis's fear was transformed
into love.
While Francis's befriending a
leper was the decisive moment of his
conversion, transformation was not
a one time event. Again and again
throughout his life, Francis had to
face his fears and embrace them. He
was from a wealthy family but
learned instead about the wealth of
God's love and about having a special
affinity for the poor.
As Francis continued his search
to know and serve God, he had
many powerful experiences, some
that were difficult or painful, and
some that were pure joy.
Francis was called to leave everything, his material
goods, his friends, and his family in order to follow the way of holy
poverty. He put God first and desired nothing. The chivalrous Francis
became a reconciler, peacemaker, lover of all creation, and wholly
obedient to God.
Francis's transformation attracted many followers
because he offered a life of hope and peace. The Order grew throughout
his life and continues to grow today. Of the three Franciscan Orders,
the First Order friars consist of men, lay and ordained, who in community
and follow Francis's Later Rule of Life (1223). Long after Francis's
lifetime women began to live in the same manner of obedience and chastity
with a focus on poverty, and are called First Order Sisters.
The entire
population of a small village near Assisi named Camara was so moved
by Francis's preaching and holiness that they asked to be admitted
to his Order. And, a married couple, Luchesio and his wife Buonadonna
of Poggibonzi, and their companions, also desired to follow Francis.
But Francis did not think that all of these people should leave their
jobs and family. Instead, sometime around 1221, he wrote a Rule for
them to follow while living ordinary lives.
This began the Third Order
of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. The Third Order makes allowances
for the fact that it is necessary for some people to raise children,
grow crops, make shoes, and keep the world going and growing. It also
recognizes that some people who live ordinary lives are called to follow
in the footsteps of Francis by living by a Rule of Life.
The Brothers and Sisters of Penance eventually developed into the Secular Franciscan Order (SF0). In 1917, the Third Order, Society of St. Francis (TSSF) emerged in the Anglican Communion, and most recently in 1985 in the United States an Order of Ecumenical Franciscans (OEF) was organized. While the three expressions vary somewhat, the members are supported by their communities to follow their rules which counter the ways of the world, especially power, consumption and self interest.
Anglican/Episcopal Third Order Franciscans have three aims. The first is to make our Lord known and loved everywhere. Spreading the Gospel was the central mission of Francis and his friars. The second aim is to spread the spirit of love and harmony.
Francis advocated a missionary vision of peaceful and humble living that helps Christians to live in today's global community. He loved and welcomed all people. The third aim is to live simply.
We resist attachment to material things, stay aware of the poverty in the world, and generously offer our gifts—be they possessions, skills, or efforts, to those in need. We have everything we need because we have God's love.
With his whole heart, Francis desired to follow the Gospel
repeatedly, and used the Scriptures to discern God's will. Tertiaries
study the word of God and other writings daily to better understand how to follow Jesus, and all questions concerning the life of faith.
Francis was an example of humility, love, and joy. Franciscans know that without these characteristics, all we attempt will be in vain. Francis was able to fulfill his call because he recognized his insufficiency and utter dependence upon God. For example, Francis had a frail body but changed the world through the power of God. Tertiaries recognize that when we are weak, then we are strong.
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