Inspiring Christian Lives

St Francis, 1181-1226

Sickened by his involvement in a war raging between two Italian city states, a young man about town turns back from the war to return to his home. On his way he meets a leper and, to his surprise, feels compelled to embrace him. What surprised this young man most about this, was that previously he had been as disgusted by lepers as he had by war. Not only that, he felt himself increasingly sickened by the material wealth of those around him, especially when there were so many in dire need of the merest basics. Thus begins the story of one of the most famous and inspiring Christian lives in the history of the Church.

A little after this incident, Francis of Assisi, as he became known, went into a run down church to pray, where he heard the call to 'Go and repair my house, which you see is falling down'. Francis responded with characteristic spontaneity and generosity. He sold some of his father's cloth to pay for the materials and sparked tension between him and his Dad - his Dad, it seemed, just did not understand him . . . The inspiration for all this was religious, not social: Francis wanted to discover the crucified Christ, not set up some social service. He went on his way begging and giving the proceeds of the begging to those he considered poorer than himself.

He also had a wonderful love for God's creation in the natural world - he is the ideal model for all those concerned about environmental damage, especially given his gentle love of animals. For two or three years he lived alone, wandering around. Later, he gathered a few disciples around him and they tended to a leper colony they settled near. Despite the initial hostility they encountered, many were swayed by the integrity of their lives: they really did practise what they preached, by putting the Christ in the poor first in all they did. Soon, their numbers mushroomed, until they became a worldwide religious order, known as the Franciscans.