Saint Francis of Assisi
Posted on Oct 4th, 2006
by 
CalmEagle
CalmEagle
Today is the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi. No matter what your belief stucture, he is a crucial figure to western civilzation, indeed world culture, because of his huge love for the Creation and the Creator, preferring not to pick one or the other. He is the Patron of merchants, (and maybe Zaadz, since most merchants begin as entrepreneurs) ecology, nature, animals and peace & justice. He also engaged in creative dialogue with Moslems during the crusades, of all things, prorbably not the most boring or safe occupation a simple Italian monastic could have chosen.
"In the thirteenth year of his conversion, Francis proceeded to Syria, for great and deadly battles between Christians and Moslems were going on there every day. Francis, who was traveling with a companion, was not afraid to present himself before the Sultan of the Saracens. But who can say with what constancy of mind he stood before him, with what strength of spirit he spoke, with what eloquence and assurance he answered those who insulted the Christian law? Before he was brought before the Sultan he was captured by soldiers, insulted, and beaten with a lash; yet he was not afraid, was not terrified by the threats of torture, and did not grow pale when threatened with death. And though he was reproached by many who were opposed in mind and hostile in spirit, he was very honorably received by the Sultan. Trying to bend Francis' spirit toward the wealth of this world, he honored him as much as he could and gave him many presents; yet when he saw that Francis despised such thing s as if they were dung, he was filled with the greatest admiration and regarded Francis as different from all others. He was moved by Francis' words and listened to him willingly."
- from Medieval Sourcebook: First and Second Lives of St. Francis of Assisi by Thomas Of Celano
Live in us today, Brother Francis, dear!
CalmEagle
"In the thirteenth year of his conversion, Francis proceeded to Syria, for great and deadly battles between Christians and Moslems were going on there every day. Francis, who was traveling with a companion, was not afraid to present himself before the Sultan of the Saracens. But who can say with what constancy of mind he stood before him, with what strength of spirit he spoke, with what eloquence and assurance he answered those who insulted the Christian law? Before he was brought before the Sultan he was captured by soldiers, insulted, and beaten with a lash; yet he was not afraid, was not terrified by the threats of torture, and did not grow pale when threatened with death. And though he was reproached by many who were opposed in mind and hostile in spirit, he was very honorably received by the Sultan. Trying to bend Francis' spirit toward the wealth of this world, he honored him as much as he could and gave him many presents; yet when he saw that Francis despised such thing s as if they were dung, he was filled with the greatest admiration and regarded Francis as different from all others. He was moved by Francis' words and listened to him willingly."
- from Medieval Sourcebook: First and Second Lives of St. Francis of Assisi by Thomas Of Celano
Live in us today, Brother Francis, dear!
CalmEagle
Access: PublicTagged with: Feast Day, Saint Francis of Assisi, animals, peace, justice, merchants, patron of zaadz, entrepreneurs, dialog with Moslems, ecology
animals
April 2008
The images and passages you have posted here are utterly inspirational and very calming for my spirit. Thank you Calm Eagle.