Francis
of Assisi is one of those people in the history of the church that
I've heard of but, like many, really did not know much about him.
Goudge wrote that he was a humble and poor man who set out to walk as
closely as he could in the footsteps of Christ. “Looking at him,”
she writes, “we see what it means to be a Christian, and what it
costs.” (2)
This
reprint of a classic that was first published over fifty years ago is
a very readable and inspiring account of Francis' life. We read of
his birth in Assisi in 1182. He experienced his first severe illness
at twenty-two. He was touched when he was confronted with the reality
of poverty. He gave to the disadvantaged. He came to believe that no
man could truly love Christ without living in some degree of poverty.
He would go to the nearby caves to pray, a mystic. He made a
pilgrimage to Rome at age twenty-four. Upon his return he saw a leper
and was moved to embrace him. He sold some of his father's cloth
inventory and gave the money away. His father was not happy and had
him temporarily bound.
Such
was the beginning of Francis' life. I was amazed at his odd behavior,
such as throwing down his colorful clothes when his father sued for
the money given away. God called him to rebuild a church so he begged
for stones to use. He was misunderstood, mocked, and persecuted.
Nonetheless,
others joined his way of life, taking vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience. They had to sell what they had, living with no property
and in shabby clothes. He appealed to the pope for a new order, which
was eventually granted. He went on mission trips, went on a crusade
and visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem, upon his return finding that
some of the brothers had betrayed him. He was able to restore the
rules, but his health was in decline. He experienced the wounds of
Christ in his hands and feet at one of his times alone.
Not
being a Catholic, I found it interesting how the Orders were
established. Sister Clare established the Second Order. I was
fascinated by the Third Order, allowing people to live in deeper
devotion to Christ while remaining in their secular calling. Called
the Order of Penitence, members had to give surplus money away, dress
austerely, eat sparingly, and reject luxury.
There
were so many parts of Francis' life that were amazing. While on the
crusade, he went to the sultan, Melek-El-Kamil, and witnessed to him.
Francis talked to a hungry wolf, convincing the animal to live in
harmony with the village he was going to attack. And those are just a
couple of many interesting aspects of his life.
I
recommend this book to those who want to know of the sacrificial life
of Francis. It is an inspiring story of a man committed to
self-sacrifice, loving God and loving mankind.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Elizabeth
Goudge (1900-1984) was one of the most popular British novelists of
the twentieth century.
Plough
Publishing House, 310 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar for the
purpose of an independent and honest review.
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