St Francis of Assisi Background Born in Assisi 1181. Real name Giovanni (John) Bernardone but nicknamed Francis (Frenchy). Father a wealthy cloth merchant. As a young man was a bit of a playboy – formed a band and played an early version of the guitar. Also known for his generosity – one day he was working at his father's stall in the market and gave all the takings to a beggar. Dreamed of military glory – joined the army and spent a year as a POW. Later very sick. Slowly became interested in religion. Adult One day was praying in the ruins of the church of St Damian when he had a vision of Christ saying, “Francis go and repair my house which is falling down.” Took the words literally. Sold some of his father's goods to rebuild the walls of the church. Father took him to magistrates and the bishop to get the money back – Francis stripped himself naked in the city square in front of the bishop and swore that he only had one father in heaven. Francis spent some time working as a cook in a monastery and as a labourer – used all his money on repairing churches. Words of Christ in St Matthew came to him: “Go and preach 'The Kingdom of heaven is near!' Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal the lepers, and drive out demons. You have received without paying so give without being paid. Do not carry any gold or silver in your pockets; do not carry a beggar's bag for the journey or an extra shirt or shoes or a stick.” (Mat 10:7-10) From that moment onwards Francis was determined to imitate Christ and obey his commands in absolute poverty in Christ-like love and humble obedience. My brother in law – a Methodist minister – put it very well a couple of days ago. To understand people like Francis we must understand tha... ... middle of paper ... ...e end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Prayer of St Francis Francis did not write this prayer – in fact it only dates from 1912. But it absolutely typifies the attitude of Francis. He would have liked it! Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon: where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope where there is darkness, light where there is sadness, joy O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.
“It was a different place when Damien came there and made his great renunciation, and slept that first night under a tree amidst his rotting brethren: alone with pestilence; and looking forward (with what courage, with what pitiful sinkings of dread, God only knows) to a lifetime of dressing sores and stumps.” (Bunson, 250)
preached against abuses in the church and attempted to shift the focus of religious faith
He did this with four other Protestant ministers in a box where houses once stood. Because there was no building, he soon realized how futile his efforts were. He attempted to restore the church in the city, but funds and supplies were limited. In October 1948, he left for San Francisco to raise funds for this new church. Over the next few years, he returned to the U.S. for many speaking engagements.
When Jesus walked the earth his twelve disciples put aside all of their worldly possessions and worldly pursuits to fully and faithfully follow him. After the fall of Rome, Europe slipped into what has been referred to as the “dark ages.” However, even in these dark ages men and women put aside their secular desires and devoted themselves to a life of celibacy and simplicity. This similar desire between many people drew them together and this pursuit became know as monasticism. No one had a bigger influence on this way of life and on these people who chose this calling than Saint Benedict of Nursia. His teachings and life would have an impact on monasticism all throughout Europe helping to form its spirituality and culture.
In chapter two, ‘Francis and His Companions,’ Cunningham exposes the considerable growth in Francis of Assisi’s influence, as he recounts his companions that joined him after deciding to live his life. The chapter is significant because it exposes how Francis of Assisi’s gospel is different from the orthodox Catholic practices, which recognized the pope, as the sole Vicar of Christ. (Cunningham 32). This chapter is important in my life because it reinforces my conviction God is the almighty and all-powerful, and all people regardless of the status of the needed to worship
The narrator is not a religious man. He even makes fun Christianity: “”Now let us pray” […]. My wife looked at me, her mouth agape. “Pray the phone won’t ring and the food doesn’t get cold””. The word agape has a double meaning. It does not only mean that her mouth is open but it also means a love feast that is similar to the Holy Communion. The dinner scene which the quote is from cannot be anymore far from the Holy Communion. The dinner scene is savage and almost animal where the Holy Communion is sacred and pure. The narrator can therefore not be seen as a Christian but he when he is drawing the cathedral he gets an epiphany. An epiphany is something a lot of people seek ought in a cathedral because of its closeness to God. The cathedral is therefore not a symbol for Christianity but the realization you can get in a cathedral. In the beginning the narrator is narrow-minded and he is not happy about that he should spend time with a blind man but in the end he changes: “But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything “it’s really something” I said.” The narrator connects with Robert and he can put himself in his place. He gets insight on how wonderful the world can be when you can “see” other people’s physical flaws but are blind to them. The narrator gains confidence and a new friend in
As we look at the history of St. Ignatius there is such a profound sense of grief and pain. He did not only ...
Stead, G. Christopher. The Easter Sermons of Gregory of Nyssa. Edited by Andreas Spira and Christoph Klock. Patristic Monograph Series No. 9. Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Patristic Foundation, Ltd., 1981.
This is a spirituality steeped in monastic theology, aiming at wisdom rather than knowledge, seeking to draw lessons out of scripture to apply practically to a life of contemplation and devotion. The ever-pervasive influence of the Cistercian sermo means his writings assume a shared starting point of faith and outlook and press towards corporate encouragement. To this end, Bernard, with his abbatial burden, seeks to share with the reader, or hearer, the grace he himself has received from the Lord. A careful study leaves the reader assuredly edified towards a greater love for Christ. His emphasis on the will and its attendant desire and love offers a helpful corrective to our contemporary over-emphasis on reason, which often veers towards an evangelical rationalism. Bernard’s view of the Christian life through the metaphors of journey and relationship is useful in engaging the heart and mind and again provide a helpful corrective to contemporary decisionism and easy believism. Bernard presents a view of Christian discipleship not as a program or study plan, but as a headlong plunge into an experiential pursuit of the Spirit of Christ, seeking the threefold kisses of repentance, obedience and contemplative union. A union which through degrees draws the seeker away from a selfish love of God and others, to a divinely empowered love of God and others. Our evangelical minds can shrink back at the heights of love to which Bernard calls us to, even as those who believe the Bible, we are prone to temper his call to love with a divine self-forgetfulness, with rejoinders of the limitations of our fallenness this side of glory. And no doubt, the fullest experience of this perfect will requires glorified, perfected hearts, minds, souls and strength. This side of glory we only experience in part and see through a glass darkly. But our limitations should not cause us to
lead to him starting his own band. This was all at the age of seventeen.
What could he offer to someone to earn a living? Finally, he came to a small
Depending on how they lived their mortal life, their souls could end up either in heaven, purgatory, or hell. Heaven, the supreme definitive happiness, is the reward for those who lived righteous lives, within God’s laws, and died in God’s grace and friendship, thus perfectly purified forever with Jesus Christ. Purgatory is the destination of those who died in God’s grace and friendship but not purified, so they undergo purification to enter heaven. Hell is the destination of those who gravely sinned against God
Francis was famous for his love of all creation. He called for simplicity of life, poverty, and humility before God. He worked to care for the poor. Thousands were drawn to his sincerity, piety, and joy. In all his actions, Francis sought to follow fully and literally the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the Gospels. He died in 1226, at the age of 44.
Saint Francis of Assisi was a uniquely spiritual man who gave up a life of wealth and position to lead a life of poverty in accordance and service to God. Embracing a life according to the Gospels, Francis went on to establish a Monastic Order, known as the Franciscans. In the midst of the political climate within the religious community of Italy, Francis emerged a champion for the poor and sick, with humility and no regard for himself. Francis exhibited his love for God through his love and admiration for all of God's creation including nature. The principles of Saint Francis are as relevant today as they were in thirteenth century Italy; service and love to all of God’s creation.
St Ignatius of Loyola is an inspiring person and has touched the lives of many people even now centuries after his death. Loyola has affected the lives of an uncountable number of people, either directly or indirectly. He started as an extremely brave and tough soldier and turned into the founder of a powerful religious order. He was born in 1491 in Spain and founded the Jesuits in 1540 at the age of 49.The Jesuits today are still a devoted religious order. Everything they do is in God’s name, hence their motto AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM this literally means “for the greater glory of God”. (Linten, Seven Things) Many Jesuits (and even non Jesuits like Pope John Paul II) sign their documents with amdg at the end to show that they do their work for God and not solely for themselves. (Linten, Seven Things) The Jesuits have survived multiple persecutions and yet have still remained a major influence in the church and in universities around the world. If it were not for an unfortunate cannonball shattering a soldier’s leg then none of this may have happened.