Homily for October 6, 2013 St.Francis

Today we celebrate the example of St. Francis of Assisi.  We do this each year by the heartwarming blessing of the animals we choose to share our lives with.  There is of course much more to the man Francis and his example to us as a famous Christian. St. Francis leaves us a legacy of compassion for the poor and sick along with a great love for God. 

He was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy merchant. His early years were frivolous, but a failed attempt at a military career and personal illness led him into a life of prayer.  One day, in the church of San Damiano, he believed Christ spoke to him saying, "Francis, repair my house." He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father, of-course, was outraged and there was a public confrontation at which his father disowned him.  He in turn renounced his father's wealth.  Francis also had a flare for the dramatic and one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his cloths, laid them at his father's feet, walking away naked.  He declared himself "wedded to Lady Poverty," renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor.  He got his meals by working as a day laborer. 

Francis was a man with a deep love for the Christian church, the poor and sick, and for sharing the good news.  In some ways he must've been known as a holy fool, an extremist in practicing certain Christian virtues but a man of inspiring passion and love of God who attracted many followers.  Eventually Francis and his followers were given papal approval to form a new religious order, the Order of Friars Minor.  They became highly influential as reformers of the church in their day, focusing people's attention back on their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Today their spiritual descendents staff the San Xavier mission just south of Tucson.

Our custom of blessing animals to commemorate Francis comes from one of many legends about him and from a canticle he wrote.  The legend is that, during a time of hermitage in a wilderness area Francis was moved to preach the Gospel to the animals of the forest.  We also have the famous Canticle of Brother Sun, Sister Moon in which Francis praises God through our blessed relationships with all of God’s other creations.  Here is an excerpt:

Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,

especially through my lord Brother Sun,

who brings the day; and You give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!

Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

           

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;

in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,

and clouds and storms, and all the weather,

through which You give Your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;

she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom You brighten the night.

He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,

who feeds us and rules us,

and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Today my sisters and brothers, we take inspiration for ourselves from an man (Francis) who loved God and neighbor with such a great passion that he has been a Christian inspiration for 800 years!