Rebuilding the Church with St. Francis

by Paula McEneany

Based on an article in Love Serves, Vol. 2, No. 1, Summer 2007

Eight centuries ago, in the Umbrian countryside, St. Francis was repairing dilapidated churches. This saint, now beloved the world over, was then in his mid-twenties. He laid stone after stone, responding to Christ’s words to him in 1206, as he prayed before the crucifix at San Damiano: “Francis, go and repair My House….”

For the time being, he understood that behest as referring to the church building. “The message really referred to the universal Church which Christ ‘won for Himself at the price of His own blood’ (Acts 20:28), as the Holy Spirit afterwards made him realize and he himself explained to the friars” (1). Yet, “it was divine inspiration which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel. …[I]t gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later. Like the three buildings he repaired, Christ’s Church was to be renewed in three different ways under Francis’ guidance and according to his Rule and teaching…” (2).

Within a few years, St. Francis would hear the Gospel passage of Our Lord’s sending the disciples to preach, and follow literally what he had heard. “[H]e understood…that he, too, must live and serve Christ ‘according to the very words of the Holy Gospels.’ From that time on he undertook to unite himself to Christ alone and to make himself like unto Him in all things. In ‘all his efforts, public as well as private, he turned to the Cross of Our Lord, and from the moment he began to live as a soldier of Christ, the divers mysteries of the Cross shone round about him’ (Thomas of Celano, Treatise on Miracles, No. 2)” (3).

As St. Francis described it, the Lord gave him brothers. This was the beginning of the Friars Minor, the First Order. With St. Clare, St. Francis founded the Second Order, now known as the Poor Clares. He also founded the Order of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, the Third Order, for laity (and diocesan clergy). St. Francis composed his Rule for laity so that they could follow his example of penance without leaving their homes and families. From the Third Order developed the Third Order Regular, comprised of religious with active apostolates. (See article on p. 3.)

Through the centuries, multitudes of Franciscan congregations have arisen in response to new needs in the Church. If faithful in following Christ after St. Francis’ example, these communities continue the mission given him by Our Lord: They continue rebuilding the Church.

“The future of the world and of the Church passes through the family,” (4) Pope John Paul II said. Thus, the Franciscan mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Queen of Families to rebuild the Church will be especially through prayer for and work with the family. With God’s grace, we will help the “domestic churches”: by supporting, strengthening, rebuilding.

St. Francis teaches us, “Sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify society.” Helping to rebuild—to reform—the Church isn’t accomplished by throwing stones. There are times for giving others constructive criticism; but the primary work is reforming ourselves—being converted ourselves. Turning ever more away from sin and self and toward God requires patience and fidelity in cooperation with His grace. “The soul that raises itself lifts the world,” it has been wisely said. As living stones in the Church, we support one another if we are firm in Christ. Our apostolic work is more effective the more it is rooted in prayer and holiness of life; and if we are godly, our example itself preaches.

Not only a lover of peace and of nature, St. Francis—as Pope Benedict pointed out—“was above all a convert” (5). That is the saint’s true challenge to us: God had become his all. To commemorate the eighth centenary of the conversion of St. Francis, the Bishop of Assisi declared a “Year of Conversion” (October 2006–October 2007). The pope praised this observance, and he traveled to Assisi during the year to visit places associated with St. Francis. 

 Pope Benedict wrote: “In the words addressed to him by the Crucifix of St. Damian: ‘Francis, go, repair my house’; in his choice of radical poverty; in the kiss of the leper that expresses his new capacity to see and love Christ in his suffering brethren, began that human and Christian adventure which continues to fascinate so many people in our day…” (6). “Francis had only one mission plan: that God should be loved, served, and adored. He lived it, he taught it, and all who caught his flame could not help but follow in his footsteps” (7). With God’s grace, let us be part of this adventure; walking in St. Francis’ footsteps, let us rebuild the Church!  

1. St. Bonaventure, Major Life of St. Francis, Ch. 2.

2. Ibid.

3. Pope Pius XI, Rite Expiatis (encyclical on St. Francis of Assisi), No. 11.

4. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, 75, quoting an address of his.

5. Meeting of Benedict XVI with priests of the Albano Diocese, 31 Aug. 2006.

6. Pope Benedict XVI, Message to Bishop Domenico Sorrentino (2006).

7. Sr. M. Regina, P.C.C., Belleville, IL, “‘Listen, Little Poor Ones!’—The Origins and the Spirituality of the Franciscan Family.”