In 1219, St. Francis crossed Crusade lines to meet Egypt's sultan. What can we learn from their encounter?

From America Magazine-

A moment in time that has been captured in art has now been captured on film and could hold a powerful lesson for us today.

The encounter in 1219 between St. Francis of Assisi and Malek al-Kamil, the sultan of Egypt, during yet another flashpoint in the long history of the Crusades -- the subject of one famous fresco in Assisi, Italy -- has been made into a documentary. "The Sultan and the Saint" will get its nationwide premiere Dec. 26 on PBS (check local listings for dates and times).

Not surprisingly, members of the order St. Francis founded participated in the documentary's making.

More here-

https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2017/12/08/1219-st-francis-crossed-crusade-lines-meet-egypts-sultan-what-can-we-learn

St. Francis and the Sultan: An encounter of peace between Christians and Muslims

From Aletia-

In the midst of the Crusades, the Sultan of Egypt Malek al-Kamil (nephew of Saladin) declared that anyone who delivered him the head of a Christian would be rewarded with a Byzantine gold piece. Fighting had been fierce and the Sultan wanted to put a definitive end to the conflict. By August 1219 his armies succeeded in defending the stronghold of Damietta, killing about 5,000 crusaders in the process.

Then came St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis and Br. Illuminatus boldly went across the battle lines unarmed and were quickly captured by the Sultan’s army and badly beaten. However, the soldiers spared their lives and brought them before the Sultan.

St. Bonaventure described the encounter, writing, “The sultan asked them by whom and why and in what capacity they had been sent, and how they got there; but Francis replied that they had been sent by God, not by men, to show him and his subjects the way of salvation and proclaim the truth of the Gospel message. When the sultan saw his enthusiasm and courage, he listened to him willingly and pressed him to stay with him.” It is said that Francis greeted the Sultan with the greeting, “May the Lord give you peace,” similar to the traditional Muslim greeting of, “Assalam o alaikum” or “Peace be upon you.” This surprised the Sultan who was quickly enraptured by Francis’ holiness.

More here-

https://aleteia.org/2017/06/28/st-francis-and-the-sultan-an-encounter-of-peace-between-christians-and-muslims/

What does it mean to bless?

From The Living Church-

Many parishes offer a Blessing of the Animals service on or near the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. On St. Blaise Day, February 3, you can have your throat blessed during the Mass. Some parishes also offer an annual Blessing of the Backpacks during the week before school begins. What do these blessings actually accomplish? What is the difference between a blessed pet or an unblessed pet, a blessed throat or an unblessed throat, a blessed backpack or an unblessed backpack?

As with other types of prayer, in some ways asking what a blessing does is to miss the point. Prayer is not primarily a means to an end. As Fr. Matthew Olver has said about the liturgy, prayer does not mean anything. Rather, it is something. It is an end unto itself. It is in and through prayer that we spend time with God. Asking about the cash value of that time would be like asking about the cash value of watching a movie with your spouse or throwing a ball around with your child. Its value is relational, not practical.

More here-

http://htl.li/MssX30fD63y

Francis of Assisi: A gospel way of life

From Thinking Faith-

The figure of Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) has always captured the imaginations of people from all walks of life: Christians and Muslims, royalty and prime ministers, rich and poor, intellectuals and workers, philosophers and theologians, poets and novelists, artists and filmmakers, historians and sociologists, peacemakers and environmentalists, people of all religions or none. Now, for the first time, we have a pope that has chosen the name ‘Francis’.

Shortly after his election, Pope Francis was asked why he had chosen this name. He replied that during the conclave he was seated next to his friend, the Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes. When it became clear that the cardinals had elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be pope, Cardinal Hummes embraced his friend and said: ‘Don’t forget the poor!’ It was at that moment that the newly-elected Pope thought of St Francis of Assisi who was, he said ‘a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation.’

These were priorities in Francis of Assisi’s life. While he bore witness to the whole gospel, he tended to emphasise those aspects of it that were least understood or practised in his day, some of which continue to be neglected today. If we look at his life, we can see many reasons why his name has been taken by a pope who has said: ‘How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor.’

More here-

https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20130415_2.htm

A Suffering Saint Francis of Assisi's shadow side

From Commonweal-

 The fact that Francis of Assisi hated to be put on a pedestal does not stop us from doing so as his annual feast arrives today. He is fondly remembered for his love of animals and nature, and for his generous spirit -- all of which deserve to be honored. But, as is often the case with saints, we would do well to take Francis down from his pedestal and get to know him as the man he was rather than through his pious image. Before I began researching a book about Francis, I’d had the idea that, given his powerful sense of God’s presence, he was always carefree and happy.

The truth is more complicated: Francis’s life was encumbered by dark shadows, to the point that he experienced long periods of anguishing separation from God.

His psychological trauma began with his military service in Assisi’s war against its more powerful neighbor, Perugia. He saw men he knew since childhood torn limb from limb in a devastating battle, and was taken prisoner for a year, thrown in a dark, damp hole in the ground.

More here-

https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/suffering-saint

On Pilgrimage Together

From The Living Church-

In the heat of a mid-summer afternoon below the town of Assisi, pilgrims make their way to one of the remaining leprosaria, La Santa Maria Maddalena. At the front of the procession are two high school boys, one white, one Puerto Rican, warning in loud voices of the leper following close behind. Micah, an African American high-school sophomore, follows with shuffling feet. He is covered with a black cloth, a makeshift pall, draped over his backpack filled with bottled water, a journal, and packets of Nutella. He carries the tentennella, the traditional wooden clapper that warns the locals of his approach.


More here-


http://www.livingchurch.org/pilgrimage-together

In the spirit of St. Francis, Episcopal church holds healing service for pets

From Alabama-

They circled up for prayer – men and women, boys and girls, Airedale Terriers and mixed breeds.

“Hear us as we pray for healing for our friends and companions – our loved ones – whatever their needs,” said the Rev. Ray Buchanan, leading the group in prayer Sunday outside the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in west Mobile.

“Remind us of your love for all of your creation and make us mindful of it daily as we care for them and they for us,” Said Buchanan, rector at the church.

The Healing Service for Pets, held Sunday afternoon, is part of the church’s St. Francis Guild Animal Ministry. The guild, headed by Buchanan’s wife, Nancy, hosts events for the community throughout the year, including an animal CPR class, a pet blessing service and Noah’s Park, a day of activities for owners and their pets. T

There’s also a place at the church where people can scatter the ashes of departed pets -- in the St. Francis Garden, named for St. Francis of Assisi, who had a great love for animals.

Buchanan says that taking care of God’s creation is “a matter of stewardship.” He added that the relationship between believers and their pets can be a manifestation of God’s love.

More here-

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2013/06/in_the_spirit_of_st_francis_ep.html#/0

Pet Tales: A weekend to bless the beasts

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette- (Bless 'em Lou)

This is the weekend when many churches open their doors -- or at least their parking lots and gardens -- to all creatures, great and small. Animals are blessed on or near the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Catholics' patron saint of animals, birds and ecology.

Pet blessings in honor of St. Francis have migrated into many Protestant churches, and nonreligious organizations have worked the saint into campaigns to save animals.

Our cocker spaniel was blessed last year at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon, and I think it did him a lot of good. Pablo, 5, has been healthy, happy, loyal and loving in the past 12 months, and I'm willing to give at least partial credit to St. Francis and the blessing bestowed by the Rev. Lou Hays, rector of St. Paul's.

Pets filled all the pews at St. Paul's last year. I counted more than 50 dogs, a few cats in carriers and a guinea pig named George. It was the first time St. Paul's had moved its annual animal blessing out of the garden and into the church. There was no barking, biting, hissing or fighting and no "potty accidents." Pets were remarkably well behaved as their people led them up the aisle to the front of the church, where each animal was individually blessed. It was one of the most touching church services I've ever attended.

More here-

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10275/1092021-62.stm