How is Francis of Assisi different from Martin Luther?

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The manner in which Francis and Martin chose to reform the Church is another point.

Francis was praying before the crucifix of San Damiano, and there had an inner locution that the Lord wanted him to re build His church. These are the times in the depth of the Church’s great need for reform, in the late 1100’s to early 1200’s. Francis and his men built several churches, and I actually visited one with its dirt floor and musty smell. In reflection, Francis gradually came to see that the reform was in people’s hearts.

Francis wrote a letter to all Catholics in 1221 and it exists, is well pondered over to this very day all over the world. The Brothers and Sisters of Penance was the name of the original secular order Francis founded, and the Brothers and Sisters of Penance are now a private association, based in Minnesota. You can find both the letter and this institute online. Francis explains the need for penance and how we are to be detached from worldly things and to live the Gospel…in our families and neighborhood, those places close by, those people among us, not far away.

The reform of Francis calls for the death of self, for the need for penance - fasting and abstinence, so many prayers during the day, and praying before and after meals…and recalling how the Lord has ransomed us…by praying Psalm 51 and 54, reciting the Apostles Creed in the morning and night, the first 32 verses of Psalm 110. Today doing so is hard for alot of people, but his rule showed us the need to spend more time in prayer.

Francis did not want to preach but it was St. Clare and the other brothers who encouraged Francis to go out and preach…and many, many people wanted to join and follow him in joy…Troubadors of Peace.

Later Francis received the Stimata and the friars saw him lifted up towards heaven.

Martin spent much time developing his ideas, and when he wanted to go forward with them, he said an angel appeared to him and told him not go through with it.
Martin Luther was ignored by the ecclesiastic over him, a certain theologian who should have listened to him and his concerns. There was miscommunications and delays with the pope at that time. Martin as many of us remember, nailed his theses to the door of a church. After he separated from the Church, Luther wrote 3 essays calling the pope the anti Christ and disregarding apostolic succession.

Reading the development in how Luther separated from the Church, the disputes became increasingly hostile to final severance, a different tone and manner. It was said that Luther’s followers expunged some of his writings, and at times his manner of speaking and use of language was not what one would see in a reformer.

Later after the split, Luther complained that those people who broke away from the universal Church were even worse in not living out the fullness of the Gospel whereas there are many saints who were follower of St. Francis in the Church.
 
Francis wrote a letter in 1221 addressed to Catholics and to all the people of the world regarding the way to bring world peace.

He asked everyone to do God’s will in following Christ Who denied Himself and shed His blood for us. Can we lay down our lives for others?? He calls us to love our neighbor as ourself, and if we refuse or cannot, atleast do good to them.

I do find that hard when you live in a neighborhood like I do where people are very private and not the type to come over for coffee, etc.

He exhorted us to go to Mass and confession and to respect the priests, irregardless of those who cause scandals. We still respect them.

And we are to do penance. If we do not do penance and live more a life of self denial-- so we can be truly humble, simple, and pure…well, we will have a hard time entering heaven.

The focus of Francis’ reform is sacrificing of self and doing God’s will, participating in the sacramental life, doing penance…after all, he says the Lord and Blessed Mother loved ‘Lady Poverty’ very much. They did not have much at all but a life lived out for others.

I think Luther’s ideas were sincere. But he did deny apostolic succession, called the pope the anti-Christ, called the Church Babylon…and pretty much labelled it and everybody i it as such.

Francis said we are to pray day and night…the Our Father and to praise and glorify the Lord.

Reform comes from within.
 
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