Who is Francis?
Although there has been a resurgence of interest in Francis in recent years, he has always been one of the most popular saints. Francis is no plaster saint, we know of his early life of many feasts and parties, and of his dreams of glorious knighthood. Francis slowly and painfully gave up his dreams and his desires because his soul hungered and thirsted for God. At times he felt abandoned or beset upon by God, not knowing if he were hunting God, or if God were hunting him. He embraced poverty -- for by renouncing everything else he was embracing God. In his love of Christ, he followed the poor Jesus of the Gospels -- having neither purse nor script, preaching the good news. As Christ was his model, near the end of his life Francis prayed for and received the stigmata -- the wounds of Christ.
But who is this figure, half cloaked in legend, revered as a lover of animals and nature; a holy fool; a hero of nonviolence and peace; a champion of the poor; the truest follower of Christ? Who is Saint Francis of Assisi to us? To me he is a nearer, more intimate, more human reflection of Christ. People speculated shortly after his death, that God had grown sick of the state of the world and decided to destroy it; but that Jesus and Mary had asked to be born again as Francis and Claire, and that the repetition of the sacrifice of the crucifixion by Francis, saved the world. You do not have to believe this legend to see its meaning -- Francis is a link back to Christ. It is two-thousand years across a dark and stormy sea to Christ, but Francis stands halfway there as a beacon -- showing the way.
Who are the Franciscans?
Well, Franciscans are an odd lot as you might have guessed from their founder. The Order of Friars Minor (Little Brothers) was started by Francis, and the original members were his small band of followers. However, the Order grew to the point were it became organized like any other religious order, and Francis was removed as leader of the order. In addition, Francis founded the Poor Claires, also called the Second Order, and the Tertiaries, or Third Order, for those who wanted to follow Francis without taking the full vows as a Religious.
Some who follow Francis take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as an OFM, a Poor Claire, or in an order modeled after the First and Second Orders. Others are Franciscans-in-the-world in the spirit of the Third order. The Order of Ecumenical Franciscans offers a place for any of the Protestant community to follow Francis, primarily in the spirit of the Third Order, but open to possibilities. Members of the Franciscan family also make up Franciscans International, which is involved in promoting peace and providing relief to millions as a Non-Government Organization in the UN.
Following Francis for some means embracing poverty, for some it means living as simply as possible, and for others it simply means rejecting consumerism. Following Francis can bring a focus on being good stewards of the land and caring for the creatures in it. Or, it can bring a focus of promoting peace and non-violence, in ourselves, our communities, and in the world. Or it can focus on being of service to the poor, and those in need. However, in addition to our other focuses, being a Franciscan means being a holy fool in love with God, and participating fully in the joy of creation, living lives as authentic as Francis himself.
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