St. Francesco of Assisi (1182-1226)
Can a Vacation Become a Pilgrimage?
When my husband, Ron, and I went to Europe in May 2023, I did most of the trip coordination. Since our first two weeks would be spent in Italy, I wondered: Could this time be as much about pilgrimage as it was about vacation?
Of pilgrimage, Spiritual Director Lacy Clark Elman, says: No matter the itinerary or location, pilgrimage is a sacred journey—a movement that brings us toward the Divine …. To live as a pilgrim—whether at home or abroad—all you need to do is see your life as a journey and your role as a Seeker of the Sacred.” [i]
No doubt about it. I see life as a journey, and I am a “Seeker of the Sacred.” While my husband doesn’t share the same spiritual intensity as I, growing, learning, and becoming more like Jesus are desires of his heart as well. Together, we decided yes, our vacation could become a pilgrimage as well as a dream vacation.
Sandwiched between five days in Rome, then three in Florence, and two days in Venice, we spent a week at an apartment in Assisi, one of the “hill towns” in Italy’s Umbria Region. Assisi was the hometown of two of my favorite inspirational, historical figures—St. Francis and St. Clare.
Several months prior to our Europe adventure, Ron and I participated with several Sherpa friends in an Intervarsity Fellowship virtual pilgrimage focusing on the lives of Francis, founder of the Franciscan order of priests in the Roman Catholic Church, and Clare, who founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares), a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition. My soul felt deep kinship with these two ancient Christian leaders.
Heroes of Faith Help Show Us the Way
In the next two posts for the Sherpa blog, I will present a glimpse of these two influential spiritual leaders, including photographs taken by my husband. Information in today’s post focuses on St. Francis—or Francesco—of Assisi.
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, later known as Francesco of Assisi, was born somewhere around 1182 into a prosperous merchant family. When he was 20 years old, he left home to fight in the Battle of Collestrada. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Perugia. In 1204, he left home once again to fight in the Crusades. A once carefree, fun-loving young man, Francesco returned to Assisi physically wounded and emotionally broken.
As I’ve become acquainted with ancient heroes and heroines of the faith, I’ve realized that like Giovanni, God often does the best work in people’s lives when they appear to be “broken” and “wounded.” Life has a way of beating us up. The Good Shepherd finds a better way to repair, refresh, restore, and redirect our footsteps onto the right paths. (See Psalm 23)
There’s never one specific way spiritual transformation happens nor is there an absolute formula. However, during this ongoing process of sanctification into greater Christlikeness, these words commonly attributed to St. Francis are full of wisdom and worthy of serious consideration:
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. – St. Francis of Assisi
This quote reminds me to keep on doing what’s “necessary.” It encourages me to keep placing one foot of faith in front of the other every day to accomplish the ordinary, discerning when it’s healthy to say “yes” and “no” to take care of my whole soul—physically, emotionally, relationally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Next, Francis reminds me to do what’s “possible”—even when that possibility stretches my whole soul or when I make mistakes along the way.
Finally, Francis reminds me God and only God will be the one who can bring about the “impossible,” such as establishing a ministry that endures for over 800 years.
Francis of Assisi – A Man of Prayer
This statue depicting a prayerful Francis is located on the grounds of San Damiano Monastery in Assisi, Italy.
Do you, like I, find it difficult to carve time out of your busy schedule to pray?
When he was in his mid-twenties, Francis of Assisi realized the importance of making prayer the top priority in his life. According to Pat McCloskey, OFM, Francis “discovered that prayer was more real than many of the things he had been considering more important …. Prayer enabled him to discover the link between the Church that Jesus established and the Church that needed much more conversion to Jesus’ ways.” [ii]
I admit, I am a slow spiritual learner! During my mid-twenties, everyday life fit into a frenzied paradigm. It wasn’t until my mid-fifties that I became convinced of the truth Francis realized at a much earlier age. (Note: Francis died when he was in his early 40’s, so perhaps God realized I had been allotted a bit more time to learn this critical lesson.)
Around age 53, I realized the power of praying Scripture, as well as writing prayers to God. Later, after being introduced to several Christian saints from as early as the Third Century, I discovered the blessing and usefulness of praying certain ancient and/or liturgical prayers. This Morning Prayer of St. Francis became one of my favorites.
Francis of Assisi – More Than an “Eco-Warrior”
Within the Catholic faith tradition, Francis is considered the patron saint of animals and the environment. In an article I read, Elizabeth Finnis, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology at University of Guelph, cautions people to not consider St. Francis a 21st Century “eco-warrior,” saying, “If we view Creation only in terms of ecology, nature, botany and biology, we see ourselves apart from God’s Creation, instead of being a part of His Creation – exclusive rather than inclusive.” (I apologize that I cannot recall the exact source of Dr. Finnis’ quote.)
While there remains much debate within the Christian community regarding a biblical view of creation and ecology, I believe St. Francis’ view of the earth’s resources, as well as all its inhabitants, embraces a sacred, socially sensitive, and scientifically sound perspective, which I find loving and logical.
This perspective challenges me to be a good steward in terms of simple environmental acts such as littering, recycling, composting, and even the way in which we lovingly care for our aging, little dog.
Francis reminds me to allow creation to elicit a “Wow!” in my soul igniting wonder and worship when I see a sunset, behold sunlight glistening on a snow-capped mountaintop, or watch crashing waves of an incoming tide. Francis’ example encourages me to be generous to those less fortunate and to bless with my excess rather than simply collecting and hoarding more “stuff.”
If interested in learning more about St. Francis of Assisi’s connection to creation, you may want to listen to The Canticle of the Creatures.[iii]
I loved this statue of St. Francis with a sweet little bird. I believe it is located on the grounds of the San Damiano Monastery.
In the next Sherpa post, I will introduce and try to illustrate how Francis and his dear friend, Clare, joined forces. Together this man and woman were instrumental in rebuilding the Church as it was known in the 13thcentury, the time in history where God chose them to live and serve. Some 800 years later, their work continues. I believe many aspects of the stories of Francis and Clare are relevant and can help guide the faith journeys of those God has chosen to build His church in the 21st century.
[i] https://www.asacredjourney.net/
[ii] Pat McCloskey, OFM, Franciscan Spirit Blog, August 15, 2022, St. Francis and Prayer
[iii] https://franciscanseculars.com/the-canticle-of-the-creatures/
Sue and Ron Reeve (posing with statues of St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi) spent their 44th wedding anniversary in Europe. Sue’s dream vacation in many ways became a pilgrimage. Ron is sometimes a reluctant pilgrim but admits that as his wife has participated in the process of becoming a spiritual director through the Sherpa program, his quest for a deeper level of spiritual formation has grown. One of Ron’s passions is photography, and at least one of his photos is featured in each of Sue’s bi-weekly blog posts (www.suereeve.com listening on the journey). They have two grown, married daughters; five grandchildren; and excitedly await the birth of a great grandson in October 2024.