7 Life Lessons from St.

Francis
St. Francis Healthcare System Ethics Committee Meeting
3/4/2020
 Lesson 1: We All Have a Past
 St. Francis’ earliest biographer, Thomas of Celano,
writes in his First Life that, “until the twenty-fifth year
of his age he miserably squandered and wasted his
time. “Francis surpassed all of his peers as an instigator
of evil deeds and was a proud young man, given to
vanity.”
 We are not proud of every aspect of our past. Certainly
Francis of Assisi would later weep for his
unfaithfulness to God, but he did not remain paralyzed
by his guilt. He moved forward and allowed God to
love him despite his sinful past.

“No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” –
Luke 9: 62
 Lesson 2: God Speaks Through Our Suffering

 St. Francis’ fondness for nature and the beauty of

creation is often exaggerated. Francis’ love of
creation must not overshadow his love of the
Crucified Christ.
 Francis of Assisi was a man who endured great
suffering and hardship.
 He would eventually bear the stigmata, the nail
marks of the Crucifixion in his hands and feet.
 We must never see suffering as a proof of God’s
absence. Rather, we must see that God works
through our suffering, teaching us to love, to trust,
and to bear our burden with humility and patience.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” – Matthew
16: 24
 Lesson 3: God Calls Us Out of Our Comfort Zones

 St. Francis had a strong aversion to lepers.

 St. Francis did not have the gift of
organization or natural leadership. had,
trusting that it was God’s work and not his
own.
 It is outside of our comfort zones that spiritual
and personal growth happens!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1: 9
 Lesson 4: It’s Okay to Ease Up Sometimes

 St. Francis fasted for long periods, slept on the

ground with a stone for a pillow and embraced a
rigorous austerity.
 Francis also knew there were times when charity
called for a moderation of his rigorous routine.
 Like St. Francis, we too may have a very certain
and clear approach as to how we are to live and
the best course of action to take. Yet, there will
arise situations and circumstances in which the
Lord is calling us to look to the needs of another
before our own, to put aside our own desires for
the sake of a suffering brother or sister.

“Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” – 1 John
4: 20
 Lesson 5: It’s Okay to Feel Confused

 There were periods in the life of Francis when confusion

completely clouded the mind of the saint.
 Glory in battle
 “Francis, rebuild My Church which is falling into ruin.”
 In our walk with Christ, we too will encounter periods of
deep confusion and doubt. What is God asking of me? What
am I to do in this situation? The Lord may feel far from our
prayers for guidance. Like St. Francis, we must take a step
forward in faith, full of goodwill and trusting that the God of
love is guiding our steps.

“All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans
8: 28
 Lesson 6: Saints Struggle with Chastity
 Modern world
 Guilt and unworthiness.
 Mary Magdalene, Augustine of Hippo, and yes,
Francis of Assisi, struggled with temptations
against chastity.
 The masters of the spiritual life advise us not to
fight against a lustful thought, but instead to turn
our mind immediately to some different object.

“Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins
against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6: 18
 Lesson 7: Prayer is Essential

 The spiritual battle of the Christian’s new life is

inseparable from the battle of prayer.”
 Francis was so faithful to prayer that one biographer
would write of him at the end of his life: “Francis did not
so much pray as he became a prayer.”
 Like St. Francis, God is calling each one of us to a deep
and personal relationship. This relationship is realized,
grows and finds its nourishment in prayer.
 At the beginning prayer is a struggle. In our world of
instant downloads and ever-present technology, silence
can be difficult. Yet, it is through persevering in silence
that we will discover the God of love.

“In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:
12