St Francis ?? [Information on him]

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Does any body have anyother references to him. Or can you tell where else to look for information about him and his writings?

Thanks, Jamey

-- JBC (JRA@JRA-ARCHITECTS.COM), January 28, 1999

Answers

Response to St Francis ??

Jamey, I'm glad you're interested. There's a book The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi that you can find in a large bookstore and maybe through a search on-line. Also, the Catholic Encyclopedia has an article. Yours in Christ, Chris

-- Chris B -- February 02, 1999.

Response to St Francis ??

Jamey, check out: http://home.ici.net/~panther/francis/index2.html

When you get there, click on "Sources," which is a hypertext sort of in the upper right hand corner of the screen. There's a lot of stuff there. Take care. Chris

-- chris B -- February 02, 1999.


Response to St Francis ??

One day at St. Mary, St. Francis called Brother Leo and said: "Brother Leo, write this down."

He answered: "I'm ready."

"Write what true joy is," he said. "A messenger comes and says that all the masters of theology in Paris have joined the Order -- write: that is not true joy. Or all the prelates beyond the mountain -- archbishops and bishops, or the King of France and the King of England -- write: that is not true joy. Or that my friars have gone to the unbelievers and have converted all of them to the faith; or that I have so much grace from God that I heal the sick and I perform many miracles. I tell you that true joy is not in all those things."

"But what is true joy?"

"I am returning from Perugia and I am coming here at night, in the dark. It is winter time and wet and muddy and so cold that icicles form at the edges of my habit and keep striking my legs, and blood flows from such wounds. And I come to the gate, all covered with mud and cold and ice, and after I have knocked and called for a long time, a friar comes and asks: 'Who are you?' I answer: 'Brother Francis.' And he says 'Go away. This is not a decent time to be going about. You can't come in.'

"And when I insist again, he replies: 'Go away. You are a simple and uneducated fellow. From now on don't stay with us any more. We are so many and so important that we don't need you.'

"But I still stand at the gate and say: 'For the love of God, let me come in tonight.' And he answers: 'I won't. Go to the Crosiers' Place and ask there.'

"I tell you that if I kept patience and was not upset -- that is true joy and true virtue and the salvation of the soul."

From the Fioretti ("The Little Flowers of St. Francis")

-- chris B -- February 04, 1999.


Response to St Francis ??

Meanwhile, at a time when many were joining the brothers, most blessed father Francis was passing through the valley of Spoleto. He came to a certain place near Bevagna, in which a great many birds of various types had congregated, including doves, crows and some others commonly called daws. When he saw them Francis, that most blessed servant of God, being a man of great fervor and very sympathetic toward the lower, irrational creatures, quickly left his companions on the road and ran over to them. When he got there, he saw that they were waiting expectantly and saluted them. Surprised that the birds had not flown away as they normally do, he was filled with joy and humbly begged them to listen to the word of God. Among the things he told them, he said the following: "My brothers the birds, you should love your creator deeply and praise him always. He has given you feathers to wear, wings to fly with, and whatever else you need. He has made you noble among his creatures and given you a dwelling in the pure air. You neither sow nor reap, yet he nevertheless protects and governs you without any anxiety on your part." Both Francis and his companions agree in reporting that, when he had spoken thus, the birds exulted marvelously in their own fashion, stretching their necks, extending their wings, opening their mouths, and gazing at him. Francis walked into their midst, touching their heads and bodies with his tunic. Finally he blessed them and, making the sign of the cross, gave them permission to fly off to some other place.

Rejoicing, the blessed father went off with his companions, giving thanks to God whom all creatures worship. Since he had now been made simple by grace and not by nature, he began to accuse himself of negligence for not having preached to the birds before, since they listened to the word of God with such reverence. And thus it came about that, from that day on, he exhorted all birds, all animals, all reptiles, and even nonexistent creatures to praise and love the creator, for every day, when the name of the savior was announced, he himself saw their obedience.

One day he came to a town called Alviano to preach the word of God. Ascending to where he could be seen by all, he asked for silence. The people became quiet and waited reverently, but a flock of swallows building nests in that place continued to chatter away, making it impossible for the people to hear. Francis spoke to them, "My sisters the swallows, it's my turn to speak now, because you've already said enough. Listen to the word of God. Stay still and be quiet until it's over." To the people's amazement, the little birds immediately stopped chattering and did not move until Francis had finished preaching. Those who witnessed this sign were filled with wonder and said, "truly this man is holy and a friend of the Most High." Praising and blessing God, they devoutly hurried at least to touch his clothing. And it is marvelous how those irrational creatures recognized his affection for them and sensed his love.

Once, when he was staying in the town of Greccio, a hare was caught in a trap and brought live to Francis by a brother. Seeing the hare, the blessed man was moved to pity and said, "Brother hare, come here. Why did you let yourself be fooled in this way?" As soon as the hare was released by the brother. he dashed over to Francis and, without being forced to do so, settled into his lap as the safest place available. When he had rested there a while, the holy father, stroking him with maternal affection, let him go so that he could return to the wild. Each time he was placed on the ground, the hare ran back to Francis' lap. Finally Francis asked that the brothers carry him to a nearby forest. Something similar occurred with a rabbit, a very undomesticated creature, on an island in the lake of Perugia.

Francis was moved by similar pity toward fish. When they had been caught and he had the chance, he threw them back into the water warning them to be careful not to get caught again. Once, as he was sitting in a boat near a harbor on the lake of Rieti, a certain fisherman caught a big fish commonly called a tench and brought it to Francis. He received it joyfully and kindly, took to calling it "brother," and, having placed it in the water next to his boat, began to bless the name of the Lord. For some time, while Francis tended to his prayer, the fish played in the water near the boat, nor did he leave the area until the holy man of God, his prayer completed, gave him permission to go. For glorious father Francis, walking the path of obedience and donning perfectly the yoke of obedience, received from God the great honor of having creatures obey him. For even water was turned into wine for him when he was seriously ill at the hermitage of Saint Urban. When he tasted it he became well so quickly that all believed it to be a miracle, as indeed it was. And he whom creatures obey in this way, at whose nod the elements change themselves to other uses, is certainly a holy man.

During the time when, as we have seen, the venerable father Francis preached to the birds, he went about through cities and towns scattering the seeds of his blessing everywhere. Coming to the city of Ascoli, he preached the word of God fervently as usual. Through a change wrought by the right hand of the Most High, the people were filled with so much love and devotion that they trampled one another hurrying to see and hear him. And thirty men, clerics and laymen, received the habit at that time.

So great was the faith of men and women, and so great was their devotion to the holy man of God, that they considered fortunate anyone who could at least touch his clothes. When he entered a city, the clergy rejoiced, the bells rang, men exulted, women cheered, children applauded, and often, taking branches from the trees, they went to meet him singing.

-- chris B -- February 04, 1999.


Response to St Francis ??

Look for a book called the "Omnibus" sp? it's about 3 to 4 inches thick costs about 80.00. It is a collection of all known original writings by or on St. Francis of Assisi.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), February 05, 1999.

Response to St Francis ??

$80 bucks! Wow! It oughta be free by now - after 800 years! *g*

Ya'll ought to type it all in and put it on the forum for the rest of us to just read.

Jamey

-- JBC (JRA@JRA-ARCHITECTS.COM), February 06, 1999.


although it has been many years since i have given thought to him, st. francis d' assisi has been my patron saint. thank you for the post, i enjoyed reading it. pax domini.

-- juan (declined@apl.com), February 13, 1999.

May I suggest a source to learn of ST. Francis? Find the Poor Clares and they will give you all you want about him.

Peace And Well Being.

-- jean bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 14, 1999.


Hi, Marylu.

You asked if I knew any books about St. Francis the other day. I see in this thread Chris B mentioned one on 2/02/99.

God bless you.

David

-- David (David@excite.com), June 30, 2002.


Thank you again, David. Boy, you are working 'overtime!' :)

David,I am enjoying my Li'l Abbey so much!!! She is adorable and I thank St. Francis every day for sending her to me. She is so much fun and so smart. She went to the vet for the first time yesterday and made such a big hit! This little ten pound puppy was going up to all the big dogs and playing with them, her little tag wagging like crazy :) She's a little social butterfly and I am so blessed to have her.

MaryLu

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 30, 2002.


Thanks, Marylu.

You're a beautiful Lady! I am glad you are enjoying your Lil Abbey. You deserve her.

I have the day off, and I am going up to the Grotto today. I will pray for you and your family. Keep up the good work in forum! :-)

God bless you.

David S

-- David (David@excite.com), June 30, 2002.



-- The Thread Restorer (Thread@Restoration.com), December 02, 2003

Answers

Try the "treatise of miracles" written by Brother Celano. Brother Celano was one of St'Francis' first recruits, and he was commisioned by the Church to write the life of St. Francis.

It is the first and most authentic/comprehensive writing on St. Francis, by someone that new him personally - I've got the book, it's worth getting.

God bless

Francois

-- Franc (francois.de-fleuriot@unilever.com), December 03, 2003.


Thanks, Francois.
I found the following about the author you mentioned -- in the old Catholic Encyclopedia:

"Thomas of Celano -- Friar Minor, poet, and hagiographical writer, born at Celano in the Province of the Abruzzi, about 1200; died about 1255. He was one of the first disciples of St. Francis of Assisi and joined the order probably in 1215. In 1221 Thomas accompanied Caesar of Speyer on his mission to Germany. The following year he became custos of the convents at Mayence, Worms, Speyer, and Cologne, and soon after Caesar of Speyer, on his return to Italy, made him his vicar in the government of the German province.

"Before September, 1223, Thomas returned to Italy, and lived there in familiar intercourse with St. Francis. Soon after the canonization of St. Francis (16 July, 1228) he wrote his 'Vita prima,' or 'First Life' of St. Francis of Assisi, by order of Gregory IX. Between 1244 and 1247, he compiled his 'Vita secunda,' or 'Second Life' of St. Francis, which is in the nature of a supplement to the first one, by commission of Crescentius of Jessi, then minister general of the order. About ten years later Thomas wrote a treatise on the miracles of St. Francis at the bidding of Blessed John of Parma, the successor of Crescentius as minister general. In addition to these works, around which a large controversial literature has grown up in recent years, Thomas of Celano wrote two beautiful sequences in honour of St. Francis: 'Fregit victor virtualis' and 'Sanctitatis nova signa,' and, in all probability, he is also the author of the 'Dies Irae' and of the 'Life of St. Clare of Assisi,' written between 1255 and 1262. The best critical edition of the works of Thomas of Celano is that of Pere Edouard d'Alençon."

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 03, 2003.


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