Seven Themes in the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi

I have recently been using the The Saint Francis Prayer Book: A Guide to Deepen Your Spiritual Life by Jon M. Sweeney. The book shares morning and evening prayers centered around seven themes that emerge from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Feast Day for Saint Francis of Assisi is most commonly centered around animals and creation. But, Francis's love for creation was just one aspect of his life that we can learn from. Here are the seven themes identified in the prayer book...

DAY ONE: Following Christ – the essence of Christian spirituality, and the only purpose of Francis’s own life. Francis tried to follow Christ’s guidelines for discipleship exactly as the original Twelve had done.

DAY TWO: Disregard for Possessions – the first and most important rule for a true follower of Jesus, according to Francis. The first Franciscans held no personal possessions, and they also owned nothing in common. But, it is not necessary to be a friar to keep the essence of this practice. As Francis’s biographer, Paul Sabatier, explains, the way of St Francis has, from its beginning, been open to “whoever was free at heart from all material servitude.”

DAY THREE: Peace and Care in Human Relationships – the sign of a person who has been transformed or is becoming transformed, by the Spirit of God. As a young adult first going through the stages of conversion, Francis became sensitive in his relationships for the first time. He began to notice the outcast, give of himself to the unfortunate, deal honestly and forthrightly with the wealthy and the powerful, and use his influence to reap peace whenever and wherever he could.

DAY FOUR: Love for All Creatures – the subject of so many legends of St. Francis. This virtue or quality is found in each of us more and more as we progress on our pilgrimage with Christ. We replace roughness toward God’s creatures and Creation with sensitivity to what is around us.

DAY FIVE: Preaching the Good News – the primary purpose of Francis’s vocation. Early in his religious life, Francis asked for intercessory prayer from Brother Sylvester and Sister Clare to ask God whether or not he should focus his life on contemplative work or active work. Sylvester and Clare confirmed that God’s intention for Francis’s vocation was to preach and teach. Francis’s life was extraordinary active and contemplative at the same time.

DAY SIX: Passion More Important than Learning – a central belief of Francis. There will never be a shortage of intellectuals, but the world needs more people striving for spiritual growth and he salvation of others. Francis believed and lived that God is found more in a passionate heart than a book.

DAY SEVEN: Joyful Simplicity – the atmosphere of Francis’s life. He surrounded his brothers, and those who he taught and cared for, with a spirit of joy for God’s goodness. The essential goodness of all things, because all things are from God, is seen in simple ways, by lives lived simply. Even Francis’s reaction to pain – as when he received pseudomedical treatment with fire to his face – was to find the goodness and beauty in Brother Fire, loving its goodness as he loved and revered all of God’s creation.

Taken from: The Saint Francis Prayer Book: A Guide to Deepen Your Spiritual Life by Jon M. Sweeney