Francis of Assisi

Reading several stories of Francis of Assisi and his community this weekend, I’m inspired to see what it really means to live simply, so others may simply live.

Francis of Assisi was born around the turn of the 13th century as one of seven children born to Pietro di Bernardone, a rich cloth merchant.

He was surrounded by the riches of this world and yet at a young age he began to grow disillusioned towards the world that surrounded him.

History tells a story of young Francis selling cloth and velvet in the marketplace, on behalf of his father, when a beggar came to him and asked for alms.

After the business deal was concluded, Francis ran after the beggar.

When he found the beggar, Francis gave the man everything he had in his pockets. His friends quickly chided and mocked him for his act of charity. And when he got home, his own father scolded him in rage.

Later on in life, Francis heard a sermon that changed his life. The sermon was based on Matthew 10, in which Jesus tells his followers to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was upon them. He instructs them to carry the message with them, bringing no money and travelling light.

“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.”

Francis was inspired by the message and decided to devote himself to a life of poverty.

Another story says that after his revelation, his father was outraged and disowned Francis in a very public argument.

Francis in turn renounced his father’s wealth — and one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father’s feet, and walked away naked.

Francis declared himself “wedded to Lady Poverty”, renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor.

He then began travelling barefoot, without staff with only the bare essentials and began preaching repentance.

He was soon joined by his first follower and within a year, Francis had 10 other followers.

The community would have no money, and no property, either individually or collectively.

The community lived a simple life in a deserted house near Assisi but spent much of their time wandering the mountainous areas around the city, caring for those they came in contact with. Despite their meager life, they were consistently found to be cheerful and full of songs and making deep impressions on those they met on their journey.

And while many expected men like Francis to be ordained as a priest, Francis rejected the idea and he and his community lived as “lesser brothers” in their world.

The prayer of Francis of Assisi

“O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light, and
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh 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.”

So what is it that inspires you to live simply? Who models these ideas for you?

Read more: Ian Cron’s ‘Chasing Francis’: Why Won’t This Book Go Away? and Ian Cron: Would St. Francis be Medicated Today?

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