Principles that guided Francis of Assisi
Prayer is Essential
Francis of Assisi, in his life, discovered a God who loved him despite the way he lived his previous life. Therefore he wanted to get close to God, and the only way that was it was possible is if he could be through prayer. Francis was a young man that was active in his family as he learned how to trade as an aspiring merchant. He had little time set aside to pray and reflect on his life. When he changed from his former way of life, he began spending more time in solitude in the lands of Assisi. He would go into isolated places like caves to be with God. He was one person that was so faithful in prayer. This principle is vital in our lives since we develop a relationship with God, and we can also get nourishment in worship.
God speaks to us through suffering
Francis was a man who endured a lot and great pain.He was captured in a battle, and he spent a year in a cell in Perugia. During this time, he was so sick.He was released when his father paid the ransom. Francis also experienced a lot of suffering when his father beat him upon real sing that he had the desire not only to forsake the family but also the business to follow Christ. Later in life, Francis suffered from an eye condition that was so plain. The situation was then made worse by barbaric treatment. Then he faced a lot of pain when he was crucified. Like Francis, we should endure all the suffering that we experience in our lives. We should never see suffering as a sign of God’s absence. Through the experience of Francis, we learn that God never abandons us even in our distress
We all have a Past
Before Francis becomes a saint, he was just a simple man that was caught up in his age and was not very concerned with living according to God’s teachings. He was a son of a very wealthy cloth merchant. He was pampered and spoiled in many ways. He was not only a member but a leader of a group of people that indulged in worldly pleasures.Francis surpassed all his peers as a leader of all the evil deeds, and he was such a full pride. He lived in sin, and later God changed his way of life. All of us should accept God and allow Him to love us despite our sinful past.
These principles are essential in our lives as they give us a basis on how we should live our lives. We should accept our sinful past to accept God as our savior and follow his teachings. Accepting God may come with suffering and hardships, but we shouldn’t despair. To maintain a close relationship with God, we should assume a religious life. Every day sometimes should be allocated to speak with God. It is through these principles that we may find favor in God just like Francis did.
How Francis relates to Todays Environmental Movement
Francis of Assisi is the Catholic’s patron of a saint of the environment. He followed Jesus’ call to leave everything behind and to live a simple life. He was committed to supporting his faith, which includes the story of the creation of humans and other features.He cared for all the less privileged, wealth, and political power of various social groups. This can be seen as practice for caring for God’s creation. This story continues today through the environmental justice movement.
About eight hundred years ago, Francis preached that people should show compassion for the poor and the vulnerable in our society. A lot of people with different needs exist in our midst even to date. Just like Francis preached, we should show mercy and compassion to them by helping them acquire the various requirements that they need. Among these people are the ones that are faced with hunger due to drought or the ones affected by harsh environmental conditions such as earthquakes and floods.
Differences between Francis and the Native America view of Nature
Native America believed that nature was something that they lived within and as a part of it. There was no essential separation between human beings and the environment. They thought that no Puritan fear of dangerous and chaotic nature. Francis, however, found that once nature is not well taken care of, it would turn against human beings. If people don’t protect the trees, drought will occur, and people would die of hunger.
They also believed that nature was a location of spirituality.Animals were a general sense of sacredness. They worshipped some animals. However, Francis of Assisi believed in the Ten Commandments that dictated we should only worship one God. He also thought that we should not worship idols as a symbol of God.
In conclusion, Francis of Assisi led a spiritual life that we should all emulate. This can be done following some of the fundamental principles that he believed in, such as religious life. Also, we should appreciate the nature that God has provided us with by protecting it to avoid the dangers that come with environmental pollution. These dangers include global warming, drought, and floods.
Reference
Simkins, R. A., Cameron, M. G., O’Keefe, J. J., & Harmless, W. S. (2017). Bibliographies for Theology: Medieval Christianity: Francis of Assisi & the Mendicants.