Tag Archives: minority

St Francis – Admonition 4

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On Francis’ death bed he asked that the Johannine passage (John 13:1-17) of the Last Supper be read. It is the passage in which Jesus washes the feet of the disciples as a demonstration of how followers are to go about the world.  Francis understands that the human enterprise needs and seeks its own organization, a challenge he faced as the Order of Friars began to expand beyond the small initial group based in Assisi. Even with the need for someone to “be in charge,” Francis admonishes that their attitude be rooted in service.

Admonition 4: Let No One Make Being Over Others His Own

1 I did not come to be served, but to serve, says the Lord

2 Let those who are place over others boast about that position as much as they would if they were assigned the duty of washing the feet of their brothers. 3 And if they are more upset at having their place over others taken away from them at losing their position at their feet, the more they store up a money bag to the peril of their souls.

St Francis – Admonition 3

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When one considers the writings of Francis of Assisi (not writings about Francis), the topic about which he most often writes, mentions, or points to is obedience. Too often this word in heard as “do what you are told” and there is an element of that in Francis’ writings. But there is always more. Francis sees the life of minority (humility) as the willingness to offer oneself completely as a way of conforming oneself to Christ. One might find it odd that this admonition begins with a reference to Luke 14:33 about giving up one’s possessions – shouldn’t that be about poverty rather than obedience? Part of the possessions that one renounces was addressed in Admonition 2 – the self will.

Admonition 3: Perfect Obedience

1 The Lord says in the Gospel: Whoever does not renounce all that he possesses cannot be my disciple; 2 and: Whoever wishes to save his life must lose it.

3 That person who offers himself totally to obedience in the hands of his prelate leaves all that possesses and loses his body. 4 And whatever he does and says which he knows is not contrary to his will is true obedience, provided that what he does is good.

5 And should a subject see that some things might be better and more useful for his soul than what a prelate commands, let him willingly offer such things to God as a sacrifice and, instead let him earnestly strive to fulfill the prelate’s wishes. 6 For this is loving obedience because it pleases God and neighbor.

7 If the prelate, however, commands something contrary to his conscience, even though he may not obey him, let him not, however, abandon him. 8 And if he then suffers persecution from others, let him love them all the more for the sake of God. 9 For whoever chooses to suffer persecution rather than wish to be separated from his brothers truly remains in perfect obedience because he lays down his life for his bothers. 10 In fact, there are many religious who, under the pretext of seeing things better than those which the prelate commands. Look back, and return to the vomit of their own will. 11 These people are murderers and, because of their bad example, cause many to lose their souls.