The Perfect Joy of St. Francis

[JReducation]

Br Jay,
I really appreciate your statement, “You say yes to the Lord, even though you have no idea what he plans, and you have no worries after that”. I love the spiritual wrecklessness of boldly saying yes to our Dear Lord, trusting Him so completely, and knowing He is up to fantastic plans that are good beyond our human imaginations!!! And knowing that after we say yes, that He will indeed be using us as his instrument for His plans, though we probably won’t know how. So awesome!

We have a brother who is very shy. He likes to work behind the scenes. Just today I said to him, "Remember Francis. God has something for each of us to do. Usually, we never find out what it is during our lifetime. It’s after we’re gone that others look back and see what God had in mind. What we do today is not for our benefit, but for those who come after us. Francis never realized the impact that he had on the life of the Church. He died believing that he had accomplished nothing. That’s because God writes with very small pencils.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

When Francis appeared before Pope Innocent III there was a law in the Church, “No new rules.” The Church had decided that there were enough rules for religious life. If anyone wanted to start a new religious order, he had to use one of the existing rules and just write some constitutions to fill in the blanks and to adapt the rule to the charism of the new order. At that time, there were the Basilian Rule in the Eastern Churches and in the Latin Church there were the Rule of Benedict, Rule of Augustine, and Rule of Carmel, written by Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Francis was uncomfortable with all of these rules, because Christ had revealed to him a new rule. However, it was a matter of persuading the pope to allow one more rule. This was going to be tricky. St. Dominic and his great Order of Preachers had just appeared before Pope Innocent the year before. They were told to take the Rule of Augustine and write statutes that would help them live according to the Augustinian Rule and at the same time, be the order of preachers that Dominic envisioned. Dominic was very grateful for the approval of his new order. But, Dominic and his friars were a tough act to follow.

Francis, being spiritually reckless sets out for Rome with two ideas in his head. 1) He would present what he had. If it was truly a revelation from the Lord, the pope would approve. 2) He would present what he had. If it was not from the Lord, the pope would refuse and he would obey.

This is important for us today. The Church was in crisis. The liturgy was a mess. The clergy was an even bigger mess. The laity was cool about its faith. The governments of the world were at war with each other and they used religion as an excuse to engage the papacy in order to get the papacy to invest in their interests. Heretics were a dime a dozen. There were cardinals and bishops who believe that the pope had made some strategic and pastoral mistakes and as a result, the situation was getting worse rather than better. Francis knew all about it. He had fought for the pope. He had been a soldier and for a year, he had been a prisoner of war. Things did not look good for the Church.

 

[JReducation]

We all know how the story ended. Pope Innocent III, trumped Canon Law and approved Francis’ Rule. But the key to the story is how this happens. Pope Innocent had put all of his reasons on the table. The cardinals in attendance at this meeting between Pope Innocent and the brother from Assisi were waiting for Francis to throw the kitchen sink at the pope. Everyone else did. Everyone else who came before Pope Innocent reminded him of the state of the Church. They used a line that we have never heard (right?). “The Church is going through its biggest crisis in history.” Everyone always thinks that his or her situation is bigger and better than everyone else’s. My house is nicer. My kids are smarter. My job is better. My crisis is bigger. Why should Francis be any different from any other reformer that had come before Pope Innocent?

Instead, Francis asks the pope if he can tell him a story. The pope decides to humor him. There was a very good quality in Innocent III. He was a good listener. He had other good qualities too; but this was his best one.

”Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl, but she was poor and she lived in a desert. A rich king saw her and married her, and they had some handsome children, who resembled them both. Then the king went back to his country and left the mother to bring up the children. When they grew up, she could no longer support them, and so that they should not suffer from hunger, she sent them to their father. He at once recognized them as his children, embraced and gave them the best place at his banquet table in the presence of strangers.”

Pope Innocent did not understand the story so he asked Francis to explain it. I would imagine that by this time the young warrior pope was starting to tire of this little brother. Innocent was very young and was a military man. He had better things to do than to listen to fairy tales.

Francis explained the story. ** “That I am the poor woman whom God loved, that these little Brothers are my children, and that the King of Kings, who gives material goods even to sinners, will certainly not forsake us, his own children.”**

Pope Innocent had had a dream the night before that the Church of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the seat of the pope, was about to collapse and that along came Francis, leaned against it and grew into a giant who could hold up the entire Church by himself. About five years later, Innocent had the same dream and in it, he saw Dominic. He realized that these two men were sent to save the Church and as long as their orders existed, the Church was safe, not matter how hard the earthquake, because Christ was truly present through the poor sons of Brother Francis and the preachers of Father Dominic. But back to our story.

Innocent approved the Rule of St. Francis, as we already know. He would later say that he had decided to ignore Canon Law and approve the new rule because it was reckless. Somehow, he knew that this kind of faith could only come from grace. Francis was not promising to fix the Church. He didn’t even mention the needs of the Church, as if he were unaware of them. He never mentioned converting sinners. He certainly did not mention the mistakes and weaknesses of the bishops and the clergy. Instead, when Innocent read the rule, it commanded the brothers to obey every priest and bishop without questioning. The only time they could disobey was if asked to sin. If asked to do something unwise, they were to do it and offer the sacrifice as a penance. Archbishop Chaput is saying something similar to that of his spiritual father, Francis. “Trust and obey.”

This willingness to place himself blindly into the hands of God and the Church and to command laity, clergy, and religious to do the same was unique. The only person who had dared to take such a blind leap in faith had been the Virgin Mary. That’s how the Franciscan Rule was approved. The rule commanded a leap in faith under pain of mortal sin. Francis and his sons were absolutely sure that they would not lose their souls if the leaped into the arms of Christ and the Church. Francis was sure that they would not be lost if they obeyed the pope, the bishops and the clergy, even when they were foolish, because God has a plan even for the foolish.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[formerlysure]

Brother JR,
Thank you for taking so much time and interest in sharing all your knowledge about this beautiful message. I wish this could be a weekend retreat rather than a string on this site as I would so like to know the people who have responded to this string, and to be able to all sit down and talk and share a meal together. The more I learn the more I realized I know nothing and want to learn more…

This Catholic Answers site has been so important to me in returning to the Church - really a lovely thing to find.

Thank you!

 

[JReducation]

Brother JR,
Thank you for taking so much time and interest in sharing all your knowledge about this beautiful message. I wish this could be a weekend retreat rather than a string on this site as I would so like to know the people who have responded to this string, and to be able to all sit down and talk and share a meal together. The more I learn the more I realized I know nothing and want to learn more…

This Catholic Answers site has been so important to me in returning to the Church - really a lovely thing to find.

Thank you!

You’re very welcome. I have a confession to make.

I cheat.

• I have a doctorate degree in Spiritual Theology and I wrote my dissertation on Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Avila.
• I’m a Franciscan Brother of Life. Our formation program is 10 years long. During that time, we study Franciscan writings, history, and Franciscan theology, Franciscan philosophy, Franciscan law, Franciscan prayer, Franciscan liturgy and Franciscan approach to pastoral care.
• I was also a novice master.

I’m trying to say it doesn’t take too much time to do this and it’s not a chore. I love sharing our tradition and I can do it in my sleep, as can most Franciscan men. We believe that you can’t talk about Traditional Catholicism and not talk about the framework that has supported Catholicism for centuries. Franciscan Theology is part of that framework. It’s part of a bigger movement that revolutionized the Church and which Christ promised would keep the Church from collapsing called, The Mendicant Movement.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[PrayRosary]

Brother JR,

Can you recommend some books on Franciscan History and spirituality?

 

[JReducation]

Brother JR,

Can you recommend some books on Franciscan History and spirituality?

The best books around at a reasonable price are:

The Omnibus of Sources

Writings of Francis and Clare by Armstrong

The Disciple and the Master by St. Bonaventure

Brother Francis of Assisi by Ignacio Larañaga

St. Francis of Assisi by GK Chesterton

St. Francis of Assisi by St Bonaventure

Journey of the Mind Into God by St.Bonaventure (This one is online)

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[jm0rr0w]

You can get St. Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton for free as an ebook at Barnes & Noble here.

 

[rainbow1]

That’s a very Franciscan concept. If you notice in the life of St. Francis, he does not enter a monastery nor does he allow his brothers to become monastic. In fact, he did everything possible to stay away from the monastic tradition, because it’s a very structured way of life. Francis’ spirituality is based on “spiritual wrecklessness.” You throw yourself, the Church and the world into God’s hands and you live one day at a time, always trusting that God is leading the way. This is a very difficult spirituality for most people. That’s why it’s not spoken about too much on these fora.

Most people want a theology and a spirituality that is more like that of Aquinas, organized, systematic, defined, structured, almost predictable. Franciscan theology is rooted in the mystery of God whereas Thomistic theology is rooted in the reasonableness of God. They are both going to take you to the same place, but the former requires that one detache from the self, be patient, take care of one’s business and let God do the rest. It’s very Marian.

The Franciscan school leads you down the Marian path. You say yes to the Lord, even though you have no idea what he plans and you have no worries after that. You simply trust that God will do what he will do. He will turn the lions into sheep. He will convert the hearts of those whom you touch, even if you never say a word. He will be with you, even when you sin. He is always the loving Father drawing you home. Therefore, you just have to trust that he will forgive you and ask for the forgiveness. Once you’ve done that, you leave the rest up to his mercy. You accept the fact that others are imperfect and that you will not change them, but God can, if you are williing to lay down your life for them.

We see this kind of spiritual wrechklessness in another Franciscan saint and theologian, Maximilian Kolbe. He did not have a clue where things would lead. He followed. He ended up in a concentration camp, twice. The second time he was asked to forfeit his life. He throw himself into God’s arms and says, “Yes,” just as Mary did.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Br.Jay,
You said," You accept the fact that others are imperfect and that you will not change them, but God can, if you are willing to lay down your life for them". Can you take this concept a little further? Blessings!

 

[PrayRosary]

Thanks for the book recommendations!

 

[JReducation]

Br.Jay,
You said," You accept the fact that others are imperfect and that you will not change them, but God can, if you are willing to lay down your life for them". Can you take this concept a little further? Blessings!

First of all, we begin with the knowledge that human beings have free will. You can’t change anyone who does not want to change. Then what’s left? There are more options. All is not lost. This is what the Apostles knew, the Fathers also, the great masters of spiritual theology, and so did Francis. This takes us to the second point.

Second, the most powerful tool that we have at our disposal is prayer and redemptive suffering. This is why men like St. Bendict, St. Bernard, St. Brunol, and St.Romauld took their religious away from the world. They did not hate the world. They wanted to cooperate with Christ to save it. They offer their lives in silence and solitude, for their salvation and that of the world. Like Christ, they go up the cross alone. This became part of the Church’s ascetical tradition. It became a very powerful tradition when the Cluniac movement exploded and spread.

Francis understood this tradition. He introduces an innovation. You don’t have to go to the top of a mountain or to the desert to build a monastery. A monastery can exist in the middle of the city. You can create times and spaces of silence and solitude anywhere. He was not trying to bring down the entire monastic system. The monastic system is essential to Traditional Catholicism. What he did was introduce something that would help those who could not enter a monastery and wanted to help save souls. He borrowed from the Eastern Catholics and the Orthodox what they called the Postinia (sp?). It’s just a little room that is used only for prayer and solitude with God.

The third movement in converting others, without struggling to force change on them is through presence. Again, this was nothing new. Francis simply did it better than other people If you live your faith honestly and without fear, others will notice and they will learn. If you practice charity toward all, without discriminating between believers and non believers, without pointing fingers and without making people’s lives more difficult by your harrassment, they will notice your love. If you do these things well, you will build relationships of trust. When there is trust, curiosity usually follows. People will ask questions. You mus have the right answers and you must answer honestly. Francis was not into relativism. There was no such thing as two religions are equal, pick one. He had the truth and he taught the truth. But he did not force it on people and he did not point the finger at them, because they were not willing to hear it. He simply assumed that it was not time. God would work in his own time. When people came to him for answers, he provided them.

The fourth movement is death. One who believes and who loves his neighbor, will sacrifice whatever is necessary for his neighbor. He beleives what Jesus said, “A man can do no greater thing than to lay down his life for his friends.” That may mean to literally die, like Maximilian Kolbe. It may also mean to take time from our lives for the good of others. That requires that we die to ourselves and make some sacrifices for those whom God loves.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[simple_soul]

Br. Jay…thank you so much for your reply and subsequent posts. I believe they have been most helpful…

 

[TrueLight]

Again, this was nothing new. Francis simply did it better than other people If you live your faith honestly and without fear, others will notice and they will learn. If you practice charity toward all, without discriminating between believers and non believers, without pointing fingers and without making people’s lives more difficult by your harrassment, they will notice your love. If you do these things well, you will build relationships of trust. When there is trust, curiosity usually follows.

One thing I’ve found is sometimes when you try to live a holy life, people hate you or mock you.

John 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

So it’s sometimes hard to do the above well.

 

[formerlysure]

Brother,

I wonder if you might help me apply this theology to a really goofy situation I was in this past week.

I began a new job last Monday. I liked my old job but had no health insurance and was contract. I am going through some intensive therapy and I could not continue without health insurance.

So I took this new job which looked very impressive from the interview process. I started Monday though, and there was no proactive effort whatsoever to welcome me nor even to orient me to the most basic things as a new person. I had to ask where my desk and the bathroom were located, the codes for using all the office equipment, no offer of a tour, no introductions - it was downright weird. When I asked for this basic infomation, though colleagues helped me, they were surly. I soon found out why when the owner, who had been pleasant as pie in the interview, came in for the day, berating and swearing at everyone. She was using the “f” word about everything and everyone in the office, and thought nothing of insulting people - myself included - in front of the rest of the staff. She called all of us stupid, idiots, morons, f-ups, sh-heads and more. On my second day, after I merely typed a document she had dictated, without edits, she said I couldn’t write my way out of a paper bag. She pointed to my perfectly fine basic black, conservative women’s dress shoes and said, “never wear those in my sight again, they are hideous” .

This behavior continued all week. She berated me in front of two clients for not doing things that she had not even asked me to do, on cases that had not been assigned to me. She made me work 11 hours a day each weekday, including my first day, but would not make clear what she wanted me to do, so the time was wasted.

She then demanded I come in on Saturday - I had already worked 55 hours for the week. When I did come in Saturday morning she started in on the abuse immediately. She yelled at me for wearing blue jeans (the office was closed), and angrily ranted that the only reason we had to be there on a Saturday was because I was so incompetent that we couldn’t “get anything done all week” - I had churned out the normal workload of about 3 people, truth be told. I then said, “I am here to help you. Let’s focus on the work - what would you like done on this chart you’ve asked me to create?” She responded, “I don’t know, shove it up your a*& for all I care - you f-d it up so bad I don’t even know where to start.” I said, “Wendy, if we can’t be productive and you can’t treat me with basic respect and courtesy, given that this is my personal time, I’m going to have to leave”. She returned to her, “you work for me” and more swearing and put-downs including calling me an “f-ing, entry level moron”.

I got my purse and left, she followed me into the hall, into the elevator, into the lobby talking to me in a falsley sweet voice to try to get me to stay, offering to hug me (yeah, right!) but continuing to blame the situation on me like, “I’m just frustrated because I thought you had experience but you’re entry level” (I was only trying to type something for her and have an advanced degree and decades of experience). I responded, “I am not entry level and you are being inappropriate.” I’m not sure if I quit or was fired, but I’m out of a job.

I was thinking of your posts all week in dealing with this lady. I only got a half hour lunch and it wasn’t long enough to go anywhere, but I would sit in my car, eat and pray the rosary (which I had never done before, so that’s one good thing that came out of this week - downloaded an app to my Iphone in a desperate moment!) I was asking for patience to get through the rest of the day without losing my temper. That final day I did loose my temper and am embarassed to say I called this woman an “insufferable B” and told her that she is totally lacking in social intelligence.

I created what I most feared - I now have no job and no unemployment benefits and must discontinue my therapy. My former boss is going to give me a few weeks of work and help me find another job but she signed a contract with someone new and cannot take me back, though she wants to. I am now thinking about this Franciscan idea of not worrying - handing my worries over to God and knowing he will provide - but that’s very hard to do given that I have a dependent child who will be leaving for college in two years.

I have no delusion that I could have handled her differently except to have left before I reduced myself to calling her a name in reply - that action was not consistent with the type of person I wish to be. I do feel good that I lasted over 50 hours under her abuse before I lost my temper -prior to returning to my faith I think I’d have lasted only 1. But how do I now face the next part of my journey of having no job and no unemployment? And what is the Franciscan view as pertains to my ultimately leaving? Would he have taught me to stay in that situation and continue to take the abuse peacefully because I needed the job?

Thank you!

 

[PrayRosary]

Formerlysure,

I admire your patience!

 

[formerlysure]

Thanks, Pray Rosary - I really wasn’t that patient. I used some advise from a blog about dealing with an abusive boss which was to pretend you are someone else you admire and imagine how they would handle the situation. My sister is very good at these things and has told me about dealing with her own prior abusive work environment, so I was using her strategies - that would work for a while, and then I’d pray the rosary if I got to go to lunch, which gave me a bit more patience for the rest of the day - I don’t know if God was giving me the patience I needed, or if it was just knowing that there is something bigger happening in my life than this job that helped me gain some perspective (this journey back to my faith which has been so wonderful for me in recent weeks).

In any event, I’m disappointed in myself for ultimately swearing at her and not finding a way to both deal with her and keep the job until I could find something else. I’d like to learn to walk through such actions as hers and put my family’s needs above it - which would mean I’d have to not take it personally. So this was just a timely example in my life of what I’m trying to learn through this thread.

 

[simple_soul]

*Oh formerlysure, you and I seem to be in similar boats in some ways. Trying to not take things so personally is something I have been trying to work on too. I know I have my work cut out for me but I like what Br. Jay has been saying about leaving it in God’s hands. So that is what I am going to try and do from now on…and I am finding peace with that…
Just wanted to let you know I am with you and offer my continued love and prayers that you find a new job soon…and like someone reminded me not too long ago…be patient with yourself too… *

 

[TrentCath]

This whole thread just makes me think about all the ‘jewels’ of the catholic faith I have yet to read about or embrace, I could study the Catholic faith for a hundred lifetimes and still have more to learn and discover!

 

[JReducation]

One thing I’ve found is sometimes when you try to live a holy life, people hate you or mock you.

It’s called “martyrdom.”

Brother,

I wonder if you might help me apply this theology to a really goofy situation I was in this past week.

I began a new job last Monday. I liked my old job but had no health insurance and was contract. I am going through some intensive therapy and I could not continue without health insurance.

snipped for space

I have no delusion that I could have handled her differently except to have left before I reduced myself to calling her a name in reply - that action was not consistent with the type of person I wish to be. I do feel good that I lasted over 50 hours under her abuse before I lost my temper -prior to returning to my faith I think I’d have lasted only 1. But how do I now face the next part of my journey of having no job and no unemployment? And what is the Franciscan view as pertains to my ultimately leaving? Would he have taught me to stay in that situation and continue to take the abuse peacefully because I needed the job?

Thank you!

Let’s begin with the basics. St. Francis would tell you that it is not God’s will that we abuse people. Therefore, this woman’s behavior toward you and others is contrary to the will of God. Is she morally culpable? I have no idea. She may not be well wrapped. In that case, she may not be guilty of serious sin. That does not change the fact that abuse is contrary to the will of God.

If you’re going to be Franciscan about this, you have to learn to use the scripture. There are two stories that come to mind. Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, because the money changers were stealing from the poor. Jerusalme as a center of travel. Many people passed through there. They had to change currency. Most could not to math, read or write. The money changers cheated these poor people.

The other story is the woman caught in adultery. God does not condone adultery. However, the law said that both parties had to be punished. Where was the man? No woman commits adultery alone. That’s why Jesus calls out those who wanted stone her.

We must pay attention to this fact. Francis would have called out the bully. He took a lot of bullying, but had zero tolerance when others were bullied. He did not take bullying because it was God’s will, but because he knew that you can’t change people who don’t want to change. Francis was not going to engage in warfare. He was not a pacifist, but he was a prudent man. He knew how to pick his battles.

When the brothers moved into a house with a library and a big chapel, with communion rails, choir, paintings, and a large refectory, Francis got up on the roof and tore it off. He was livid that they violated poverty and simplicity. He had left town for a few months and they took advantage and started to change things. He had no tolerance for people who manipulated situations or were disobedient.

This whole thread just makes me think about all the ‘jewels’ of the catholic faith I have yet to read about or embrace, I could study the Catholic faith for a hundred lifetimes and still have more to learn and discover!

The Spiritual Tradition of the Catholic Church is very rich. When we have exhausted the Franciscan Tradition, we can look at others. One of my favorites is the Cluniac Tradition, which still supports the Church’s spiritual life while we sleep. Before we go there, I would like to look at new expressioins of the Franciscan Tradition. St. Vincent de Paul and Bl. Mother Teresa were very strong students of St. Francis. They made great contributioins to Catholic Tradition, using Franciscan Tradition as their starting point. The key is to take something beautiful and to build on it. That’s what Vincent and Teresa did. Doing so, they made tremendous contribution the Catholic Tradition.

The problem is that we have limited the word Tradition to doctrine and liturgy. However, doctrine and liturgy find their expression in the lived spiritual tradition of the Church.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[TrentCath]

It’s called “martyrdom.”
The Spiritual Tradition of the Catholic Church is very rich. When we have exhausted the Franciscan Tradition, we can look at others. One of my favorites is the Cluniac Tradition, which still supports the Church’s spiritual life while we sleep. Before we go there, I would like to look at new expressioins of the Franciscan Tradition. St. Vincent de Paul and Bl. Mother Teresa were very strong students of St. Francis. They made great contributioins to Catholic Tradition, using Franciscan Tradition as their starting point. The key is to take something beautiful and to build on it. That’s what Vincent and Teresa did. Doing so, they made tremendous contribution the Catholic Tradition.

The problem is that we have limited the word Tradition to doctrine and liturgy. However, doctrine and liturgy find their expression in the lived spiritual tradition of the Church.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

The Clunaic tradition? Sounds fascinating but I’ve never heard of it and of course I’ll keep watching this thread and maybe buy some books about St Francis and the Franciscan tradition.

Indeed it is a shame that Tradition has sometimes been limited to doctrine and liturgy, the Catholic Tradition is far more broad than that encompassing ascetic and monastic traditions as well private devotions such as Devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Mystic tradition. I do hope that I and others can learn more about that not only on this forum but also through classics of catholic literature.