St. Francis of Assisi - A Hero

[caption id="attachment_411" align="alignright" width="229"] Devotional Items For Saint Francis of Assisi[/caption]

St. Francis of Assisi is my hero.

Hero you say? How can a saint be a hero? Well, I’ll  tell you how.

This holy man of the people lived by a strict code of self-denial. Born into a wealthy family, St. Francis eschewed all possessions and trappings of wealth, including his father’s lucrative business. He was a fierce advocate of the poor, a lover of nature and a friend to animals. As he states in his now well-known prayer, “He Sought to Understand, Rather than to be Understood”. What an amazing concept that someone would dare to actually listen and listen intently –before talking---because as he says “By Self-Forgetting, We Find”. These words are so powerful and evoke so much inspiration, that I find myself meditating on his words constantly, and it never gets tiring.

St. Francis, to me, embodies the perfection of a Saint—close in character to Jesus himself, I believe. He has taken Jesus’ teachings to heart and followed the path and the way as laid out by Jesus. I can only hope to aspire to this level of spiritual perfection. True faith means not being bothered by a lack of material security at all, for Faith always appears where there is doubt, and Hope where there is despair. I think St. Francis’ message says: Be of service to others; Do not be judgmental—these are great life   lessons to live by. He has been a reminder to me constantly to get “off my pity    pot, when I start feeling sorry for myself”—which oddly enough happens less and less as I meditate on this wonderful prayer. May you find the hope and inspiration that I have been truly blessed with.

As constant reminders of St. Francis’ love, I have a wonderful monastic icon sitting on my nightstand, as well as a 4” statue with adhesive base on my car dashboard, a laminated Prayer Card in my wallet and a silver (rhodium) medal on a chain around my neck. I also burn devotional candles when praying to St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis is very near and dear to my heart. I hope and pray that he bring you the same comfort he has brought me.