Rejoicing in False Blame

When the time of the annual meeting was drawing near, Francis said to his fellow, “It seems to me that I am not a Friar Minor, unless I am in the state which I will tell you. Look how the friars invite me with honor to the Chapter and moved by their devotion I go to the annual meeting with them.  But once gathered together, they ask me to announce to them the Word of God and to preach among them.  And rising up, I preach to them as the Holy Spirit had taught me.  If it should be, after I have finished my sermon, they all cry out against me, ‘We will not have you to rule over us for you are not eloquent, as is right, and you are too simple and idiotic and we wouldn’t want such a simple and despised a superior over us.  Therefore, do not call yourself our leader!’  In this way they cast me out with blame and reproach.  It would seem to me then that I was not a Friar Minor, if I did not rejoice to the same extent when they reproached me and cast me out with shame, unwilling that I should be their leader, as when they venerate and honor me—holding their benefit and usefulness to be equal in either case.  For if I am glad when they exalt and honor me on account of their devotion, where there may still be a danger to my soul—then much more should I rejoice and be glad of my personal benefit and the salvation of my soul when they blame me, because the gain to my soul is certain.”

                        -Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 64

This may seem another example of Francis' extremism.  But Francis is simply putting together two principles of Jesus.  

Jesus said that we are not to take honor in outward show.  He commanded this in Matthew 6, where our prayers are to be secret and our fasting private only to God.  Jesus also said in Matthew 23 that leaders who make a display in order to receive honor should only have shame.  Any leader who is recognized for great works or how wonderful they are should be made uncomfortable by adulation. 

Jesus also said that his true disciple would have persecution and rejection.  Paul went so far as to say, "Anyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."  Thus, when persecution comes, we ought to rejoice that we are true disciples of Jesus, and not reject it at all.  Even so, in Acts 5, when the apostles were scourged, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name.  

How often do we have that attitude when being rejected for doing right?  Perhaps we should meditate like Francis more often, to be ready to accept persecution correctly when it comes.

Hypocrisy

As Francis went through the city of Assisi, a certain poor old woman begged an alms of him for the love of God.  And he immediately gave her the mantle which he had on his back and without delay he confessed in the presence of those who followed how in this he had pride.  And we have seen and heard so many other example like this of his great humility, we who were always in his company, that neither with words nor with letters can we narrate them.  For Francis had his main focus on that he would not be a hypocrite before God, and though on account of his infirmity a liberty would be necessary to him, yet he took thought with himself, always to show a good example to the friars and to others, so that he sustained all poverty patiently that he might take away from everyone all occasion of murmuring.

                        -Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 63

As in the last selection, we see Francis' high demands on himself requires shame that we might not recommend to others.  Perhaps it is enough that Francis could have a private confession of his thoughts of pride.

On the other hand, like Jesus, Francis took hypocrisy very seriously.  If it looked like he was doing one thing, but really doing another, he wanted it to be known, and to recognize that his thoughts aren't always saintly.  Francis may or may not have sought to be a saint, but he knew himself to often not have holy or loving intentions.  This is important for all of us.  We need to clearly see ourselves as who we really are, and not make ourselves to be more holy, more religious, more pious or more God-loving than we really are.

There are many churches that encourage the opposite.  They want to see more God language, more praising, more outward show.  This isn't necessarily bad, but if there isn't also the outward confession of saying what one doesn't really feel or acting in a way that doesn't reflect a real inner life, that is bad.

We've got to recognize all of our occasional hypocrisy.  But we also need to do what we can to do away with such religious falsity. 

Scruples

At one point, Francis had suffered from an illness, but he had become a little stronger after the worst of it.  It seemed to him that he had given himself some leniency during that weakness, even though he had only eaten a little.  He arose one day, although he was not yet free from the fever, and he had the people of Assisi called together in the marketplace, for preaching.  When his sermon was done he warned the people that no one should go away from there until he returned to them.  Then he entered the cathedral of St. Rufinus with many friars and with Brother Peter of Catana who had been canon of that church and was chosen first Minister-General by Francis, he spoke to that brother peter, ordering him by obedience, that he should without contradiction do whatever he said to him.  Brother Peter answered, “Brother, I neither may nor ought, will or do anything except as it may please you.”  Casting off his tunic, Francis told him to bind a cord around his neck and to drag him naked to the place where he had preached, and then at that place to throw ashes over his face.  But Brother Peter did not obey him because of the compassion he had for him.  But Peter did take the cord bound around his neck, dragged him out, as Francis had ordered.  He was weeping so hard, and the other friars who were with him shed tears of compassion and of bitterness. 

            When Francis had been led naked before everyone up to the place where he had preached, he said, “You, and all those who, after my example, leave this world and enter religion and the life of the friars, believe me to be a holy man, but I confess to God and to you that I have eaten in my infirmity meat and broth made from meat.”  And all began to weep over him for great pity and compassion, especially because it was then Winter and a very intense frost, and he was not yet recovered from his fever.  Striking their breasts, they accused themselves, saying, “If this saint, for just and clear necessity, accuses himself with so much shame—although we know him to be holy, and we know to be living in the flesh as if almost dead on account of the great abstinence and austerity which he has made to his body from the beginning of his conversion to Christ— what shall we wretched ones do, who for the whole time of our lives have lived and still live according to the desires of our flesh?”

                        -Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 61

Was Francis justified to condemn himself for such a small action?  We don't know his heart, or his personal commitment before God, but certainly eating some extra protein when he is sick isn't a sin.  In fact, if it were one of Francis' brothers, he would insist that the brother be forgiven and that nothing be done in punishment to him.  But Francis wouldn't forgive himself.  His guilt was such that he insisted on such an extreme punishment.

God does not require such dramatics in order to be forgiven.  God wants a penitent heart and a confessing mouth, and God is ready to forgive.  Francis himself displays that in other stories.  For some of us, it is much harder for us to forgive ourselves than it is for God to forgive us, or for us to forgive others.  We need to remember that God demands mercy, not sacrifice-- even for ourselves.  If God has forgiven us and we refuse to forgive ourselves, then we are calling God a liar.