St Francis of Assisi - New Drawing by Stephen B. Whatley

St. Francis of Assisi by Stephen B. Whatley

St Francis of Assisi - New 2011 Drawing by Stephen B. Whatley - Flickr.com

By Stephen B. Whatley

Francis of Assisi (1282-1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. His faith became paramount over anything worldy and he is perhaps most known for his love of nature - feeling that all God's creations were part of his brotherhood; the humble sparrow as much his brother as the Pope.

I felt inspired to pay tribute through this spontaneous drawing, to this great Saint on his Feast Day, October 4th; looking intially at a small prayer card and studies of North American birds made on location at a nature reserve in New York State in February 2010.

Charcoal on paper
23.4 x 16.5in / 59 x 42cm

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Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
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.
Amen

The Peace of Saint Francis of Assisi

This is a guest post by Kenji Crosland of TeachStreet.  TeachStreet is a website dedicated to providing online and local classes, as well as classes on religion.

I remember the first time I had visited Assisi Italy, the home of St. Francis in the Summer of 2003.  Before we had even entered the town where St. Francis preached, we witnessed the fields sweep by our bus windows, radiating gold in the sun.  It was no small wonder that it was in this place that St. Francis found his calling, forsook his father's wealth, and took a vow of poverty to pursue his devotion to God.

Golden Fields near Assisi in Umbria

Photo Source: Un Raggazo 


As we passed through the quiet cobblestone streets, we met the Franciscan monks who had, just like the founder of their order had done centuries ago, taken a vow of poverty and donned the brown robes.  I can still remember to this day how the monks had such an aura of peace about them.  Just being in there in that beautiful place was enough to feel divine peace, and through them it shined.

From the sunlight and the peace of the Assisi streets we entered into the Basilica of St. Clare where we saw the copy of crucifix of San Damiano.  Although only a copy of the original crucifix that had spoken to St. Francis with a mission from God, the feeling that the icon would speak to any of us there at any moment was palpable.

The San Damiano Cross

Also, equally impressive was the Basilica of St. Francis, with the walls adorned with frescoes from the master artist Giotto.  However, I was more impressed by the simple hedges that spelled the word "Pax" (Peace) in front of the Basilica.  Although St. Francis was a fierce follower of the Church, he recognized the value of peace and how it could bridge the gaps between faiths.  So important this was that the Franciscan order had made "Peace" part of the landscape as a reminder of what the Saint had striven for and what they should strive for as well.

"Peace"

Photo by: Sacred Destinations


Of the many places that one can make a pilgrimage, this is one of the most extraordinary. In Assisi you can feel the peace the simplicity and the faith of St. Francis everywhere you go. If you ever have a chance to visit Rome, be sure to plan a day trip to Assisi.  You won't regret it.