Friar, Founder of the Order of Friars Minor (aka Franciscans)
b. 1182
d. October 3, 1226
The Rector gave an excellent summary of the life of Francis in his sermon Blessing the Things We Fear (2007). And Fr Andrew uses the example of Francis to encourage us to choose generosity over caution in his sermon Fools for Christ’s Sake (2006).
Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Episcopal Church (2000) ends its summary of his life as follows:
“Of all the saints, Francis is the most popular and admired, but probably the least imitated; few have attained to his total identification with the poverty and suffering of Christ.
Francis left few writings; but, of these, his spirit of joyous faith comes through most truly in the ‚ÄúCanticle of the Sun,‚Äù which he composed at Clare’s convent of St. Damian’s.
The Hymnal version [Hymns 406 & 407] ends:
Most High, omnipotent, good Lord,
to thee be ceaseless praise outpoured,
and blessing without measure.
Let creatures all give thanks to thee,
and serve in great humility.”
The Rector quotes more from the “Canticle of the Sun” in his 2003 sermon Why Pray for the Dead?
