Back to the weekly, aimed at the discovery of our beloved saints! Today we discover that one of the Saints, most of all, represented the true imitation of Christ: St. Francis of Assisi. San Francisco, in fact, lived his life imitating Jesus and being the only true rule of the Gospel. It 's a great example of faith that embraces the three great virtues: chastity, poverty and obedience. He had the ability and courage to undress literally everything, including the clothes they wore and all for love of the Father and of that Gospel which had upset his life. That's because it represents a strong example of faith, charity, humility and courage because he knew how to live the Gospel, not worrying about the words or thoughts of men, but worrying about what God wanted from him We should all take him as our example, as evidence of that faith must be lived and not kept hidden in the attic of our hearts. Look down the story of St. Francis (remember that in 'Angel angle there is a weekly in-depth history of this great saint of God) and follow the story, reflect and meditate on the beautiful Canticle of the Creatures:
In his 'test' written shortly before his death, Francis noted: "No one taught me what I had to do, but the Most High himself revealed to me that I should live according to the Holy Gospel."
This is considered the greatest saint of the late Middle Ages, he was a figure fully blossomed from grace and his interiorità, non spiegabile per niente con l'ambiente spirituale da cui proveniva.
Ma proprio a lui toccò in un modo provvidenziale, di dare la risposta agli interrogativi più profondi del suo tempo.
Avendo messo in chiara luce con la sua vita i principi universali del Vangelo, con una semplicità e amabilità stupefacenti, senza imporre mai nulla a nessuno, ebbe un influsso straordinario, che dura tuttora, non solo nel mondo cristiano ma anche al di fuori di esso.
Origini e gioventù
Francesco, l'apostolo della povertà, in effetti era figlio di ricchi, nacque ad Assisi nei primi del 1182 da Pietro di Bernardone, agiato mercante di panni e dalla nobile Giovanna detta “la Pica, of Provencal origin.
In homage to the birth of Jesus, the very religious lady Pica, wanted to have the baby in a makeshift stall on the ground floor of his home, later known as "the Stalletta" or "Oratory of St. Francesco little "located at the main square of the Umbrian city.
The mother in the absence of her husband Peter, engaged in business in Provence, he baptized with the name John, in honor of John the Baptist, but the father returned, they wanted to add the name of Francis who then prevail in the first.
This name was the medieval equivalent of 'French' and was placed in honor of France, half of his frequent trips and occasions market, said s. Bonaventura, his biographer, "and allocated it to continue his trade in clothes Franceschi," but perhaps in homage to his French, which explains his familiarity with this language by Francis, who had learned from his mother.
grew between the comforts of his family, who like all of the many rich assisiani enjoyed imperial privileges granted to them by the city governor, the Duke of Spoleto Conrad of Lutzen. How
education had learned the basic concepts at the parish school of St. George and his knowledge of literature was limited, however knew the Provence and was adept at bargain fabrics behind the teachings of his father, who saw him a valuable collaborator and heir of the family.
not tall, skinny, dark hair and beard, Francis was whimsical and elegant, excelled among young people, she loved the gay brigades, with some spending money lavishly on his father, as to be acclaimed "iuvenum rex" (king of feasts) that placed him at the direction of the party.
Fighter and his conversion
With the death of Emperor Henry IV of Germany (1165-1197) and his election as pope of the card. Lothar of Segni, who took the name of Innocent III (1198-1216), the changed political scenario, the new pope supporter of the universal power of the Church, took under its sovereignty including the Duchy of Spoleto Assisi, taking it to the Duke Conrad of Lutzen.
This led to a revolt of people against the nobles of the city, subservient to the emperor and exploiters of their fellow citizens, they were driven from the fortress of Assisi and fled to Perugia, then moved with the help of Perugia to Assisi War (1202 -1203).
Francis, with the spirit of adventure that had always inflamed, jumped in the fight between the two cities so close and so hostile. After the defeat suffered by
assisiani in Ponte San Giovanni, he was taken prisoner by Perugia at the end of 1203 and remained in prison for a long terrible years and after that his family had paid a substantial ransom, Francis returned to family health is now compromised.
His mother lovingly cared for during his long illness, but once healed, he was no longer the same as before, the pain had dug in his mind an indelible groove, no longer felt any attraction to the carefree life and his old friends could not most challenging problems.
Like every noble spirit of his time, decided to enlist in the cavalry of Count Walter of Brenne, who fought for the pope in Puglia, but arrived in Spoleto fell prey to a strange illness and the night had a dream with a mysterious voice detector inviting him to "serve the master instead of servant," and then returning to Assisi. Struck by
revelation, he returned to his city, his father met with concern and with some disapproval of most citizens.
He left the merry band to pursue a life of intense meditation and devotion, feeling in his heart the desire to serve the great King, but not knowing how, he also went on a pilgrimage to St. Peter's in Rome with the hope of finding clarity .
returned disappointed to Assisi, he continued in the works of charity to the poor and the lepers, but it was not until autumn 1205 that God spoke to him, was praying in the country church of San Damiano, as he stared at a crucifix and the Byzantine Empire, was heard for three Sometimes this invitation: "Francis, go 'and repairs My church, which as you see, it all falls to ruin. "
Full of wonder, Francis played the command as referring to the falling church of San Damiano, so he began to repair it with the work of his hands, and using the money his father.
At this point the father, now considered unrecoverable, even dangerous for themselves and others, denounced the court of the bishop as to the dilapidated family property, well-known is the scene where Francis denudatosi clothes, returned them to the father while the Bishop Guido of Assisi II, covered him with his cloak, signifying his protection.
The young man was entrusted to the Benedictines in the hope he could find satisfaction in the monastery to its spiritual needs, the relationship with the monks were good, but that was not his way, and soon resumed his life of "herald of King Jesus," put on the clothes of a penitent, and began to roam the streets of Assisi and neighbors, praying, serving the poor, comforting the lepers and rebuilding over San Damiano, the ruined churches of San Pietro and Spira to Porziuncola.
The call to poverty and the beginning of his mission
In April 1208, during the celebration of Mass at Porziuncola, listening to the celebrant to read the Gospel on the mission of the Apostles, Francis knew that the words of Jesus by Matthew (10, 9-10) si riferivano a lui: “Non procuratevi oro, né argento, né moneta di rame nelle vostre cinture, né bisaccia da viaggio, né due tuniche, né sandali, né bastone, perché l'operaio ha diritto al suo nutrimento. E in qualunque città o villaggio entriate, fatevi indicare se ci sia qualche persona degna, e lì rimanete fino alla vostra partenza”.
Era la risposta alle sue preghiere e domande che da tempo attendeva; comprese allora che le parole del Crocifisso a San Damiano non si riferivano alla ricostruzione del piccolo tempio, ma al rinnovamento della Chiesa nei suoi membri; depose allora i panni del penitente e prese la veste “minoritica”, cingendosi i fianchi con una rude corda e coprendosi il capo con il cappuccio in uso presso i contadini del tempo e camminando a piedi scalzi.
Iniziò così la vita e missione apostolica, sposando “madonna Povertà” tanto da essere poi definito “il Poverello di Assisi”, predicando con l'esempio e la parola il Vangelo come i primi apostoli.
Francesco apparve in un momento particolarmente difficile per la vita della Chiesa, travagliata da continue crisi provocate dal sorgere di movimenti di riforma ereticali e lotte di natura politica, in cui il papato era allora uno dei massimi protagonisti.
In un ambiente corrotto da ecclesiastici indegni e dalle violenze della società feudale, egli non prese alcuna posizione critica, né aspirò al ruolo di riformatore the morals of the Church, but it turned more in a spirit of devoted and obedient son. Realising
interpreter of popular sentiments in his time, he began to preach peace, equality among men, the detachment from riches and the poverty of dignity, love for all creatures of God is above all else, coming of the kingdom of God
Start the Order of Friars Minor
soon attracted by his preaching, were joined by Francis, who would become his inseparable companions in this new life: Bernard of Quintavalle, a wealthy merchant, Pietro Cattani Doctor of Law, Egidio farmer and shortly after Leo, Rufino, Elijah, Juniper and others up al numero di dodici, proprio come gli Apostoli, formanti una specie di 'fraternità' di chierici e laici, che vivevano alla luce di un semplice proposito di ispirazione evangelica.
Il loro era un vivere alla lettera il Vangelo, senza preoccupazioni teologiche e senza ambizioni riformatrici o contestazioni morali, indicando così una nuova vita a chi voleva vivere in carità e povertà all'interno della Chiesa; per la loro obbedienza alla gerarchia ecclesiastica, il vescovo di Assisi Guido prese a proteggerli, seguendoli con interesse e permettendo loro di predicare.
Ai primi del 1209 il gruppo si riuniva in una capanna nella località di Rivotorto, nella pianura sottostante la città di Assisi, presso la Porziuncola, iniziando so the "first school" training, where during a whole year passed on to Francis companions his charisma, alternating between prayer, aid to lepers, begging for support and to repair damaged churches.
Because now they trespassed outside the jurisdiction of the diocese, and this could cause problems, the bishop advised Guido Francesco and his team to go to Rome by Pope Innocent III to approve the first being short of the new Proto-Scale Order of Friars Minor.
Rule that was approved verbally by the pope, after an impressive meeting with the group, rough tunic dress and barefoot, inter alia struck by "that young little glowing eyes", was born so officially the Order of Friars Minor, he received the tonsure joining the clergy, it seems that on this occasion Francis has received the diaconate.
Clare and the Poor Clares
All Assisi spoke of 'bizarre' the young Francis, who lived in poverty with his companions down in the lowlands and often went up to town to preach the Gospel with the permission of the bishop, I wish you all "Peace and Good" in the spring of 1209 he even preached in the Cathedral of St. Rufino, where he lived in the adjacent square of the noble family Affreduccio and certainly at that time, among the faithful who heard, there was the young daughter Chiara.
Struck by her words, began to fall in love with his ideals of evangelical poverty, and began to contact him, accompanied by his Bona Guelfuccio and often send a little money.
the night following Palm Sunday of 1211, secretly left his palace in the dark and running through the fields, came to the Porziuncola where Francis asked God to give him, that he had found God and with whom he lived.
Francis, before the altar of the Virgin, cut off her long blonde hair (still preserved) consecrated to the Lord.
then accompanied him to the Benedictine monastery in Bastia, to flee from the wrath of the relatives, who after an interview with Clare who showed their heads without hair, he convinced her to let her go. Then
Chiara and her companions who had reached, he moved after several events, in the convent adjoining the church of San Damiano, where Clare in 1215 at age 22 was appointed abbess Francis told the "Poor women inmates of St. Damiano "(the name 'Clare' was taken after the death of St. Clare) a first rule of life, replaced later by that of the same saint.
Clare and her companions will be the female incarnation of the Franciscan, which is associated with many successive congregations of women religious.
The missionary ideal
Francis did not just want to own and his friars, evangelization of the Christian world deviated from the original principles of the Gospel, but also reach non-believers, especially the Saracens, as they were called then Muslims.
If at that time relations between the Christian and Muslim worlds were typically struggle, Francis wanted to reverse this mentality, seeing in them the first brothers who preach the gospel, not with weapons but with love and offer it if necessary suffer even martyrdom.
He sent this to his brothers first by the Moors in Spain, where they were sentenced to death and then pardoned by the Sultan and later in Morocco, where the group of monks composed Berard, Peter, Accursio Adiuto, Brass, and preached, were arrested , imprisoned, flogged and then beheaded 16 January 1220.
The return of the bodies of martyrs in Portugal, raised the Franciscan vocation in the then canon regular of St. Augustine, the learned Portuguese and future saint, Anthony of Padua.
Francis was not discouraged, groped in 1219-1220 would personally direct the missionary enterprise in Morocco, but a storm drove the ship on the Dalmatian coast, the second attempt he did arrive in Spain, occupied by Muslims, but fell ill and had to go back, then a third attempt he did land in Palestine, where he went to the Egyptian Sultan al-Malik al Kamil near the River Nile, which received him with honor, listening with interest, the sultan not converted, but Francis was able to demonstrate that the dialogue of love could be possible between the two great monotheistic religions, with common roots in Abraham. The second rule
mid-1220, Frank had to return to Italy to restore order among his brothers, now grown in considerable numbers, for which the original rule had become quick enough with his stiffness.
The Poor Man did not intend to found monasteries, but only of 'fraternity', small groups of brothers who lived in the midst of the world, showing that happiness was not in having things, but to live in perfect harmony with the commandments of God
But the crowd of monks now scattered all over Italy, posed problems for the organization, training, study, adapt to the needs of the ministry in an ever evolving, so living in poverty could not affect other aspects of living in the world. In the crowded
"chapter of the mat, held in Assisi in 1221, authorized the scholar Francesco Antonio came to Lisbon to teach sacred theology to the friars in Bologna, in particular those involved in the preaching and confessions.
The new rule was dictated by Francis to Brother Leone, welcomed by the cardinal protector of the Order, Ugolino de 'Conti, the future Pope Gregory IX and all the brothers, was approved on November 29 1223 by Pope Honorius III.
In it was stated that poverty, manual labor, preaching, missionary work among the infidels and the balance between action and contemplation, the monks were allowed to have houses of formation for the novice, is tempered somewhat the concept prohibition of the property.
The nativity scene of Greccio
the night of December 24, 1223, Francis was filled my heart with tenderness and wanted to revive momentum in the forest of Greccio, near Rieti, the humble birth of baby Jesus figures with the living.
Thus was born the beautiful and impressive tradition of the Nativity in the Christian world, to be taken from art and popular devotion throughout the centuries that followed, with the support of the work of great artists, such as to constitute a genre of art in itself, including goldsmiths, designers, painters, sculptors, costume designers, architects, whose apex magnificence, realism, suggestiveness, is admired in the Crib eighteenth-century Naples.
His personal Calvary
now mined in physical illnesses, for the fatigue, the constant movement and fasting, Francis was forced to move away from the world and the Government Order, which had created though not the intention .
summer of 1224 he retired on Monte della Verna (Auvergne) in Casentino, along with some of his companions to celebrate by fasting and intense participation Passion of the Christ, "Lent of St. Michael the Archangel."
the morning of Sept. 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, while praying on his side of the mountain, down from the sky he saw a seraph with six wings of flame and light, that came up in the air remaining in the air.
Between the wings of the seraph, Francis saw the flashing figure of a man with his hands and feet stretched out and nailed to a cross, and when the vision disappeared in the heart of Francis left an admirable zeal and in the flesh the marks of crucifixion, for the first time in the history of Catholic saints, occurred the miracle of the stigmata.
descended from Verna, visibly in pain and turned, he wanted to return Assisi, was also laid low by various diseases, stomach, spleen and liver, with frequent hemoptysis, was also the view of the left, due to trachoma contract during his trip to East.
The long physical decline, the "Canticle of the Creatures", the death
After the last sermons at the beginning of 1225, Frank fled to San Damiano, in the convent adjoining the church he restored many years ago and where Clare and her sisters lived.
And in this beautiful and spiritual place of prayer, he composed the famous "Canticle of Brother Sun" or "Canticle of the Creatures", sublime poetry, if one understands what Francis had penetrated nella più intima realtà della natura, contemplando sotto ogni creatura l'adorabile presenza di Dio.
Se la fede gli aveva fatto riscoprire la fratellanza universale degli uomini, tutti figli dello stesso Padre, nel 'Cantico' egli coglieva il legame d'amore che lega tutte le creature, animate ed inanimate, tra loro e con l'uomo, in un abbraccio planetario di fratelli e sorelle che hanno un solo scopo, dare gloria a Dio.
In questo periodo, ospite per un certo tempo nel palazzo vescovile, dettò anche il suo famoso 'Testamento', l'ultimo messaggio d'amore del Poverello ai suoi figli, affinché rimanessero fedeli a madonna Povertà.
Poi per l'interessamento del cardinale Ugolino e di frate Elia, Francesco agreed to submit the medical care of the papal court in Rieti, then again in Fabriano, Siena and Cortona, but in the summer of 1226 was not only not improved but became increasingly apparent the emergence of another serious disease, 'dropsy. Bagnara
After another stop in the mountains near Nocera Umbra, so he could get some 'of refreshment, the brothers saw the worsening of her condition, decided to carry on its request to Assisi and beloved Porziuncola, where late evening of October 3, 1226, Francis died reciting Psalm 141, lying on the bare ground, was about 45 years.
The larks, lovers of light and afraid of the dark, although it was already evening, were to rotate on the roof infirmary, to greet with joy the holy, that one day (between Camara and Bevagna), had invited the birds to sing praise to the Lord, and on another occasion in a field towards Montefalco had taken them a sermon, that birds properties listened, then exploding in cinguetii and joy flights.
the morning of October 4, his body was moved in a solemn procession from the parish church of St. Porziuncola George in Assisi, where he was baptized and where he began preaching in 1208.
Along the way, the procession stopped at San Damiano, where the coffin was opened, so that St. Clare and its "poor women" could kiss the stigmata.
In the church of San Giorgio was buried until 1230, when it was brought into the lower church, built by Brother Elias, who became Minister General of the Order. Meanwhile
July 16, 1228, Pope Gregory IX less than two years after his death, proclaimed a saint on Francis of Assisi, in the presence of the mother Madonna Pica, Angelo's brother and other relatives of Bishop Guido of Assisi, several cardinals and bishops and a crowd of people ever and set the party on October 4.
worship, Unions
The incidents of his life and his early followers, were collected and narrated the "Little Flowers of St. Francis, a fourteenth-century anonymous work, which contributed over time to the wide diffusion of his cult, together with the first e seconda 'Vita', scritte dal suo discepolo Tommaso da Celano (1190-1260), su richiesta di papa Gregorio IX.
Alcuni episodi sono entrati nell'iconografia del santo e riprodotti dall'arte, come la predica agli uccelli, il roseto in cui si rotolò per sfuggire alla tentazione, il lupo che ammansì a Gubbio, il ricevimento delle Stimmate, ecc.
È patrono dell'Umbria e di molte città, fra le quali San Francisco negli USA che da lui prese il nome; innumerevoli sono le chiese, le parrocchie, i conventi, i luoghi pubblici che portano il suo nome; come pure tanti altri santi e beati, venuti dopo di lui, che ebbero al battesimo o adottarono nella vita religiosa il suo nome.
Il grande santo di Assisi, che lo storico and writer, Don Pepe Henry describes as "World Heritage", was recognized by Pope Pius XII, as the "most Italian of the holy and most holy of Italians and 18 June 1939, proclaimed him the principal patron of Italy.
The path of his 'Friars Minor'
The Rule consists of s. Francis at the request of Cardinal Ugolino de 'Conti, the future Pope Gregory IX and solemnly approved by Honorius III in 1223, was composed of 12 chapters, it requires a strict and absolute poverty, the work to procure food and alms as a means of subsidiary livelihood.
Head of the Order, which spread rapidly to the point that the founder is still living, already counted 13 Provinces, was a Minister of the General Assembly. The constitutions were drawn up by St. Bonaventure. While still
the organization of the new religious movement was consolidated, the first conflicts erupted. The members of the Order was divided into two factions: one intended to take less severe forms of community life and without requiring absolute poverty in order to make it less difficult to develop the Order itself, the second on the contrary, it was proposed to conform to the letter and spirit of the rules left by the founder.
Repeated attempts to quell dissent had no effect, these are sharpened even more when Gregory IX in the bull "Quo elongation" (1230), granted brothers, who later took the name 'Conventual', the ability to receive and administer assets for their needs.
In the opposite camp, heretical currents defined as those of the spiritual and the friars, represented the extreme wing of the Franciscan and waved a program of religious renewal mixed with a desirable social and political renaissance, which was to culminate in the advent of the kingdom the Spirit, but it attracted excommunication and persecution from ecclesiastical authorities and feudal.
The division into two movements, the Observant and Conventual, was sanctioned in 1517 by Pope Leo X Pope Clement VII in 1525 approved the new branch of the Capuchin friars, led by Brother Matthew Minor Bascio from the March of Ancona, devoted to a more austere discipline, absolute poverty and life as a hermit, Franciscan Reformed other families rose over the centuries (Alcantarini, Reformed, Amado) within or alongside the Observant, but they all obey the Minister General of ' compliance.
The Franciscan Order also includes the women's branch, and the Third Order of the Poor Clares or tertiary lay Franciscans, founded by the same s. Francis in 1221, to gather many followers already married and every social order.
The Order, under which members of different branches, Leo XIII in 1897, ordered to take the common name of Friars Minor, is among the most important of the Church. In addition to religious and ascetic practices, essi furono e sono dediti alla predicazione, ad un apostolato di tipo sociale in luoghi di cura, e soprattutto all'opera missionaria.
Cantico delle Creature
Altissimo, onnipotente, bon Signore
Tue so' le laude, la gloria et l'honore
et onne benedictione.
A te solo, Altissimo, se konfanno
Et nullo homo ene digno te mentovare.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
specialmente messer lo frate sole
lo quale è iorno et allumini noi per lui,
et ellu è bellu e radiante, cum grande splendore:
de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, for sister moon and the stars in celu the
to forms and precious and beautiful.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Brother Wind
et per aere et et maiden peaceful et every kind of weather, through whom
by your creatures sustenance.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste
.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Brother focu
for which enallumini
the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be 'me' Lord, for those
who give pardon for Your love, and bear
'infirmity and tribolatione.
the Blessed are those who endure in peace
ka by You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be 'me' Lord, for Sister Death
from whom no living man can 'escape. Woe to those
ke die in mortal sin;
Blessed are those who'll achieve his most holy
it deliberately, the second death
ka it not harm. Laudate et
bless me, 'Lord, et
rengratiate et
serve with great humility.
Altissimo, onnipotente, bon Signore
Tue so' le laude, la gloria et l'honore
et onne benedictione.
A te solo, Altissimo, se konfanno
Et nullo homo ene digno te mentovare.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
specialmente messer lo frate sole
lo quale è iorno et allumini noi per lui,
et ellu è bellu e radiante, cum grande splendore:
de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, for sister moon and the stars in celu the
to forms and precious and beautiful.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Brother Wind
et per aere et et maiden peaceful et every kind of weather, through whom
by your creatures sustenance.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste
.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Brother focu
for which enallumini
the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be 'me' Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be 'me' Lord, for those
who give pardon for Your love, and bear
'infirmity and tribolatione.
the Blessed are those who endure in peace
ka by You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be 'me' Lord, for Sister Death
from whom no living man can 'escape. Woe to those
ke die in mortal sin;
Blessed are those who'll achieve his most holy
it deliberately, the second death
ka it not harm. Laudate et
bless me, 'Lord, et
rengratiate et
serve with great humility.
0 comments:
Post a Comment