His parents, who were dealers in expensive draperies, lived in comfortable circumstances. Francis, as a child, used to see stacks of money on the counter of his father's store. The young boy liked his carefree life and jolly comrades and often entertained with sumptuous feasts...until the day he heard the call from God.
At first Francis interpreted God's request to mean that he should repair materially the churches of the country. It was however something entirely different from that; he was to breathe a new spirit into the world, and restore not churches but the Church.
What was to be his chief means? Let us listen to the words of Christ to His Apostles as He sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God,
And going, preach, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses: Nor script for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor staff....(Luke x, 4).Francis of Assisi understood that he was to preach detachment to a world depraved by its love of ease. Taking the text literally, he embraced a life of absolute poverty.
How much the world needs the example of completely detached souls! Am I truly poor according to the poverty demanded by my Rule?
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
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