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Saint Francis of Assisi
(Saturday, 8th October 2005)

As autumn arrives, people in various places may notice something odd. A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets. This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. In fact, this week, St Anthony's Church dedicated a whole program of activities to Saint Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is October 4th

St. Francis of Assisi was the son of a rich man, Bernadone. He had a good education. St. Francis lived an irresponsible life in the beginning. Then when he turned 20, he went to war against Perugia, and he was taken prisoner in the battle between the Assisians and Perugians.
When he was released, St. Francis made a choice to abandon everything for Jesus Christ. He made this choice because he had a vision from Jesus when he was in prison. He lived in poverty and lived his life by the Gospel. His father disagreed with this choice and became angry. He disinherited him.

In 1220, he founded a new order, Friars Minor, which in ten years numbered five thousand brothers. They called themselves that because they considered themselves as the least among religious.

Since he had a lot of humility, St. Francis never accepted the priesthood but remained a deacon. He loved all of God's creations even the animals. He called them brothers and sisters. His love of God merited for him the name of Seraphic.

In 1212, with St. Clare of Assisi he founded the foundation of the Order of "Poor Ladies", now known as the "Poor Clares." He also founded the "Third Order of Penance" which included lay people. He was the first person that was recorded to receive the stigmata (the five wounds of Christ) in 1224. St. Francis died on October 4, 1226 at Portiuncula, Italy. He was canonized by Gregory IX less than two years later.

MUDELL GHALINA

Regghet waslet il-Festa ta’ Missierna San Frangisk. U bhalma naghmlu kull sena, f’din il-gurnata ahna nirringrazzjaw lil Alla tal-gid kbir li ghamel lid-dinja mhux biss permezz ta’ dan il-qaddis, imma wkoll permezz ta’ wliedu kollha matul is-sekli, xi whud minnhom qaddisin kbar bhal Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova li ahna wkoll inqimu f’din il-knisja.

X’kien li ghamel lil San Frangisk hekk kbir f’ghajnejn Alla u f’ghajnejn il-bnedmin? Jien nahseb li kienet l-umiltà kbira tieghu li gaghalitu jhalli kollox warajh u jinghaqad ma’ Kristu sa fuq is-salib. San Frangisk umilja ruhu quddiem in-nies ta’ Assisi u quddiem l-Isqof meta neża’ hwejgu u qal: Issa nista’ nghid li ghandi missier wiehed, dak li hu fis-smewwiet. U b’hekk abbanduna l-hwejjeg ta’ l-art biex jitghannaq ma’ dawk tas-sema. Sar il-Fqajjar t’Assisi.

Ahna ghandna hafna x’nitghallmu minn dan il-qaddis, l-aktar fiż-żmenijiet tallum. Id-dinja li fiha qed nghixu hija dinja supperva li ma tridx tbaxxi rasha ghal Alla, anzi trid tnessihulna ghal kollox. Ghalhekk ma tridx taf b’faqar, fis-sens li hadd ma jrid li jkun jonqsu xihaga u li ma jgawdix kemm jista’. Il-faqar materjali ghandna niggieldulu ghax huwa ghajb ghad-dinja, imma l-faqar spiritwali huwa element importanti fil-hajja tan-nisrani. Jekk ma nitghallmux niccahhdu almenu minn dak li hu superfluwu, allura ahna mhu ser nilhqu qatt il-kuntentizza li minkejja kollox kellu San Frangisk.

Mela l-umiltà kienet il-pedament tal-qdusija tal-Fqajjar t’Assisi. Alla jhobbu lill-bniedem umli u verament habb lil Missierna Frangisku. Tant habbu li l-Knisja ssejjahlu “Kristu iehor”. U ahna, jekk irridu nkunu ulied denji tieghu, irridu nitharrgu sewwa f’din il-virtù. Il-bniedem supperv hadd ma jhobbu, imma l-bniedem umli jhobbu kulhadd. Min irid mudell ghalih, hekku San Frangisk, umli u fqir!

Fr Raymond Camilleri ofm
Gwardjan