Beset by revelatory voices and visions, St Francis of Assisi threw off the riches of his former life and dedicated himself to prayer and to God.. He spent many years on the road, often a hermit and perched upon rocky precipices or in caves. He preached humility and service to others and wore a ragged robe and battered sandals.. He spoke directly with his voices, suffered many bouts of illness and founded the Order of Franciscans..which still exists today! He befriended all who had nothing, beggars and lepers and was responsible also for building and repairing many small churches. Later in life (1224) it is recorded that stigmata (wounds of Christ) appeared on his body during his last immense burst of person illness.
Famous for talking to the birds, he considered ALL life to contain Godly essence and be of divine origin. A sort of early proto hippy? Did his example inspire the likes of William Blake and others to come later? Canonised and Sainted by the Church , he inspires a life of contemplation and self reflection, the abandonment of false riches and a true path to enlightenment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
July 2021
AuthorActivist/ Health worker/ 20 years. Specific interests : wellness/ voice hearing/ coping/ exploring/ sharing/ stigma reduction. |