So much has been written about wonderful St. Francis of Assisi. What people tend to forget in their sentimentality is that he was a faithful and magnificent son of Holy Mother Church. He was a Catholic and that, forever. Because of his love for all of God’s creation, he is universally lauded with images of little birds, woodland creatures and such. However, the spirit that motivated him was love of the good God and an abhorrence for sin.
Of all the quotes attributed to him, one that no one talks about is the last paragraph of his Canticle of the Sun:
“Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy Will. The second death can do no harm to them.”
Many saints believed that St. Francis took the place of Lucifer in heaven, having merited that vacant throne through his most excellent humility and love. Here are a few of his known sayings…
“Preach the gospel at all times and when absolutely necessary, use words.”
“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will do likewise to their fellow men.”
“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible!”
“If God can work through me, He can work through anyone!”
St. Francis always referred to himself as the worst of men. We think, when we hear this, how can that be? It is very simple- because St. Francis was always comparing himself not to others but to Jesus Christ!
His best friend was St. Clare of Assisi. In this example we see that God wants us to have friends; healthy, godly friends who lift us up and remind us of our true destiny and who help us always to be the best people we can be. I am blessed with several good, holy people in my life. Among them are my lay friends and parishioners who are always so generous and kind. My prayer for you today is that God will bless you with good friends. If you already have them, bless them and be grateful. Remember that our greatest friend is Christ Himself, Who gives us also His holy Mother. May the good God, through St. Francis, the Seraphic Father, bless you and those you love this day and every day.
