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The
Life and Times of Francis of Assisi
Francis
Chooses “Lady Poverty”
Francis
Meets the Sultan
The
First Christmas Crèche
An
Ecologist before His Time
Suggestions
for Reading
St
Francis Marrying Poverty
Andrea Sacchi, 1633
Oil on canvas, 292 x 201 cm
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
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Francis
Chooses “Lady Poverty”
Francis
wanted his brothers to wear poor
clothes, and to work for their subsistence for which they
could accept due payment. He urged them to refrain from amassing
material goods but instead to be “pilgrims and strangers
in this world, serving the Lord with humility”.
Francis desired
to be poor because Christ chose poverty. If he called poverty
a royal virtue it was because it shone so clearly in the life
of Jesus, the King of kings, and in that of his mother, Mary of
Nazareth. Francis believed also that an abundance of material
goods (remember, he was born into a rich family) created social
classes and therefore barriers between people.
We could
say that Francis promoted “intentional simplicity” long
before the movement developed in the 20th century. Indeed, the
concept of “intentional or voluntary simplicity” advocates
a life disengaged from material excess. In a spirit of solidarity
with the poor and with all nature it aims at creating a more equitable
society. For Francis, however, the main reason for this orientation
of his life was neither social nor economical. It was because
he considered the Lord to be the only one true, essential, and
necessary good in life (“You are all our riches” –
The Praises of God). It was his closeness with God that allowed
him to accept, and be content with “Lady Poverty”.
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