Saints question/opinion

[frank2127]

First off blessings to you all.

I was wondering do you think it’s because of the times we live in, and that we live in such a massively populated world that we don’t see the average man walking in the same foot steps as say St. Francis of Assisi. Sure, we have the Franciscans as an order and the secular group,and they are wonderful,but when Francis did what he did all those years ago he started off as a man who gave it all up and lived a life of poverty. I wont go into further detail because a lot of you know the story.

I wonder if it’s society and modern psychology that keeps a regular man from following in his foot steps, or doing something totally new. If a man tried a similar approach, at least in America he would be seen as “mentally ill”. Why can’t a man give it all up, step out into the world, proclaim Jesus, the Catholic church, Mary etc, & live a life of poverty. I mean you could, one is free to do so, but maybe it’s fear, or a lessened faith.

I admire many of the Saints. My favorites being St. Francis of Assisi, Saint Padre Pio and Saint Patrick of Ireland. Pio is what I would like my confirmation name to be, since my name is already Francis. I’m 39 and talking with the local priest to get Confirmation for the first time. I once wanted to be a priest, but I have an 11 year old daughter, so, until she’s of age there’s no way I can do that. though, following the examples of Francis, or other saints would be amazing. I think it’s American Culture that keeps most from doing it. I imagine if I was a humble beggar, proclaiming Jesus’ love and the Church to people, that they’d try to lock me up…

Anyhow, thoughts?

 

[jimcav]

I think we do certainly live in different times.

When St. Francis lived, the mentality, spirituality and faith of the people were far different than today. As haggard and derelict as Francis must have looked, the people still revered, honored and took care of him through alms giving. He had benefactors to help him along also, much like St. Paul of the Cross, St. Don Bosco and other saints of those times did, but today these saints likely would not have much support. People looked up to him, and the other saints of the middle ages, in a much different way than they would today. I think your correct, that today, in a time of such abundance and wealth, a person walking around like St. Francis would certainly appear to be ill.

I think a saint today would have to be more like Padre Pio, Mother Theresa, or Pope John Paul The Great, than like St. Francis. I think St. Francis came along at the right time for his mission…

 

[georget]

Hi Frank, I chose Francis as my confirmation name many years ago. I’ve always been an admirer of Saint francis. I’m sure there are saints about us, hidden among us. A good little web site for saint lovers. Saintsworks.net