Francis, the musically inclined son of a well-to-do cloth merchant in medieval Italy, sold textiles, lived the high life, scandalized his elders by becoming a troubadour (poet and singer), and even fought and was captured in one of the little wars that raged across the Italian peninsula.
Weary of such a life, Francis then devoted himself a life of learning, simple living and preaching. Later, he traveled to the Near East, where he got on good terms with the Muslim sovereigns.
In both Egypt and the Holy Land, he went among the Muslims and was allowed by them to preach to fellow Christians. His Muslim friends gave him a prayer horn which he sounded during services. It was in Egypt where Francis is believed to have contracted the illnesses that later took toll on his health.
Like Francis let us seek to live and find joy in simplicity, to be obedient and faithful, and by doing so contribute to making this world a better place.
---oOo---
"Make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy.
"Oh grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment