– St. Francis of Asissi, Into Love’s Furnace I am Cast.
The tree of love its roots hath spread
Deep in my heart, and rears its head;
Rich are its fruits: they joy dispense;
Transport the heart, and ravish sense.
In love’s sweet swoon to thee I cleave,
Bless’d source of love .
~~~
It is the gradual brightening of the life of St. Francis of Assisi that makes him a beautiful soul. His steadfastness towards his belief and unwavering courage to seek Truth and Love is admirable.
I always thought that the following prayer was written by St. Francis, I’ve come to discover that it is merely attributed to him but that it is a Catholic Christian Prayer.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
In my research about St. Francis of Assisi I learned he wanted to be a knight. St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth in 1201, he joined a military expedition against Perugia and was taken as a prisoner at Collestrada, spending a year as a captive. It is possible that his spiritual conversion was a gradual process rooted in this experience. Upon his return to Assisi in 1204, a serious illness led to a spiritual crisis. In 1205, Francis left for Puglia to enlist in the army of the Count of Brienne. A strange vision made him return to Assisi, deepening his ecclesiastical awakening. He spent much time in lonely places, asking God for enlightenment. Apparently he modeled his life and lived it according to the Gospel – literally. His favorite prayers were Psalms 140 and 141 (and after reading them myself I can see that they contain very powerful words of protection).
He turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. He gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis. He died in 1226, aged 44.
In his poem, The tree of Love he describes a passion that holds one captive. Blessed be us all if we can find it.
