Today is the feast day of a saint that is near and dear to my heart – St. Francis of Assisi. When I visualize the communion of saints surrounding Jesus in heaven, St. Francis is among those standing front and center.
As many people know, I spent twenty years of my adult life as a Buddhist before returning to Christianity. During those year, I had almost no connections to the Catholic faith in which I had been raised.
Francis was the exception. As I often tell people, he was my one link to Catholicism during those years. There was something in Francis that resonated deeply with me, even as I rejected most everything else that had to do with Catholicism (including a belief in God).
During the difficult period of my conversion back to Catholicism, Francis was there for me when I needed him. As the Spirit started to do its work and I was struggling with what was surfacing, where could I turn? I certainly couldn’t, at the time, have any meaningful conversation with a God I claimed not to believe in. So I talked with Francis and sat with Francis. And from Francis I received consolation and companionship as I worked things through.
If Francis is not someone with whom you have great familiarity, I encourage you to read one of the many good books about him, some of which I’ve reviewed on this blog. Try either House’s St. Francis: A Revolutionary Life or Bodo’s Francis: The Journey and the Dream.
Wishing a happy feast day to all of my Franciscan friends.
Creo en Dios! 