April 2011

My responsibilities with InnerCHANGE included being available for spiritual direction, providing an introduction to the Basilica of St. Clare and Clare's life, and giving a talk on leadership transition. Cheri and I facilitated a fruitful conversation about "simple living." All this happened in Assisi. But another part of my responsibility was to write a series of "Franciscan Reflections" addressing aspects of Franciscan history insofar as they were relevant for the life and ministry of this Order. I wrote four of these prior to our gathering (one every week or so). After we returned I typed up my talk on leadership transition, which also drew from Franciscan history. Last week I wrote my final reflection. These six reflections were distributed to InnerCHANGE members throughout the world.

Reflections

Space does not permit my reproducing those essays here. Besides they were specifically tailored for the needs of InnerCHANGE. Instead, what I offer here are four Franciscan lessons that seem relevant to our mission as Christians more generally. But first, a bit about Francis for those of you who don't know him. Francis was born around AD 1181 in Assisi, the son of a rich cloth merchant. In his youth he was something of a party animal, the prince of the feast. He went to war, hoping to win honor for himself. Instead, imprisonment and sickness left him broken and without direction. Through confrontations with lepers, with dreams, and with Christ himself (through a crucifix), Francis experienced a radical conversion to Christ. In 1206 he left all his possessions behind and began repairing local sanctuaries, and then preaching. In time a few of his friends in Assisi abandoned their careers and followed Francis. They received papal approval as an Order in 1210. By 1220 the Franciscan Order had thousands of members. After Francis' death in 1226, the Franciscan Order became the most influential religious community of the Middle Ages. One of his followers, Clare of Assisi, was the first woman to compose a Rule of life for the Order of women who followed Francis. There have been perhaps more biographies written of Francis than anyone else. He is ranked among the 50 most influential people in the past 1,000 years. I could go on and on. So here are my four lessons.

For the rest of the reflection, click on the pdf below.