St. Francis of Assisi: an Inward to Outward Journey
By Nathan J. Hill
St. Francis of Assisi was the “son of a middle-class dyer” , when he experienced his radical transformation and call to serve. In 1205, he renounced all of his worldly goods and ties before the local bishop, and by 1226, his unique and influential spiritual practice had led others to form communities of faithful living. His life is further marked by the passion and zeal to which he sought to humble himself and serve the needy in the world. His radical dedication to poverty set his movement apart from other orders — truly, the words of Christ were a call to action far beyond contemporaries of his day.
Fransiscan spirituality centers on St. Francis’s unique transformation and conversion to ministry. His spirituality is noted for its “evangelical†nature – everything he needed to know to live according to Christ’s way is contained within the plain words of New Testament . His spirituality reverberates with a passion, appreciation, and love of nature. In fact, Pope John Paul II named Francis the “Patron Saint of Ecology in 1979.†His dedication to poverty is a sign of the transformation in radical service to Christ, the Most High. Here, the spirituality calls believers on a “journey of ‘letting go’ of everything for the sake of more abundant life for others.â€
Francis of Assisi’s theology is grounded in an inward to outward radical transformation, a deep faith that challenges one to be fully altered by the power of Christ. In St. Francis’s Prayer Before the Crucifix, his request to God starts from within, “enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me, Lord, a correct faith.†In his “untitled prayerâ€, he illustrates the beginning of this spiritual journey and its eventual direction. “Thus, inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footsteps of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.†Clearly, the heart is the beginning of piety as a Christian.
Francis’s transformation does not stop within however. It continues outward, evident in both his radical devotion to poverty, and his praises unto nature. It is as if his joy and faith are uncontainable, spilling over into the beautiful words of the Canticle of Brother Sun. “Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light.†Death and life are all folded into Francis’s spiritual reality.
Ultimately, Francis challenges us to examine the core of our faith and our response to it. Do we truly allow ourselves to be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we take our faith as serious as Francis, or do we believe that the life of a Christian is purely an inward spiritual exercise, with no connection to an outward lifestyle? There is a danger in our American churches to reduce faith to a compartmentalized, internal practice. Francis’s life and theology calls us to more – to live in a way that reflects our commitment, passion, and love for God.
Bibliography
Maas, Robin. Spiritual Traditions for the Contemporary Church. 1990. Pg. 88.
Tyson, John R. Invitation to Christian Spirituality. 1999. Pg. 164
Westminster Spiritual Dictionary. 2005. Pg. 310
