not sure if any of you have read a biography on St Francis of Assisi, but i am at the part after Pope Innocent III approves the Franciscan order, and after that there is talk of St Francis going and talking with Lady Poverty. was this a spirit, apparition, or some story of how he loved poverty??? maybe its the way it was written in this book, but i am a bit confused. thanks rc.
I don’t know which biography of our holy Father you’re reading. But the best ones on the market are by: Bonventure, Englebert and Chesterton. There are many biographies where the author tries to fill in the blanks with stories that fit Francis’ personality, but they are not facts.
Our Seraphic Father’s visit to Innocent III was inspired because the Beguinnes and the Waldensians, who were also penitential movements at the time, had been condemned of heresy. Fearing that the brothers would also be condemned of heresy, Bishop Guido, the Bishop of Assisi, suggests that Francis seek the approval of the Holy Father, so as to be in full communion with the Church. Thus, Francis travels to Rome. Had it not been for this reason, Francis would never have gone to Rome and the order would never have been formalized.
By the way, the date of that approval was April 1209. We just celebrated the 800th year of the approval of the first rule, which is no longer followed, because Pope Honorius and the general chapter ordered Francis to write another rule with less scriptural references and more laws in it. It was the feeling of the Holy See that the original rule that Innocent approved had too much scripture and not enough law. The presence of too much scripture could lead to heresy, because it lends itself to individual interpretation of scripture.
Francis felt uncomfortable taking out so many of the biblical passages in the original rule, but also wanted to protect the brothers from heresy. He also trusted Pope Honorius’ judgment. So he rewrote the rule that we have today and Pope Honorius put a seal on it that does not allow anyone to change the rule, not even the order itself. The rule can only be changed by another pope, but it has never been done.
Enjoy reading and reflecting on the theology of our holy Father Francis.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
