Tree of Love

For those of you who know me, perhaps it will not come as much surprise to know that my favorite Saint amongst the canon of Christian saints is the quirky, but lovable St. Francis.

From the totally seventies movie "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" by Zefferelli on the folk origins of the Franciscans and Sisters Clare, to the St. Francis Church in Santa Fe, the nonpareil St. Francis Cathedral in Assisi to the man himself, St. Francis rocks.

One of the best memories I have teaching in Castiglione Fiorentino was one of the many in situ trips we took and this was indeed to Assisi. Having already been to the Cathedral, I was nonetheless stunned once again by this piece of devout architecture. The world would have been a much poorer place culturally if the  earthquake of 1997 had demolished this truly inspired building.

Francis was an odd duck to say the least. Making a statement against his father's wealthy textile and garment trade, Francis more or less did the full monty in the town square of Assisi and then, having retired to the countryside to rebuild a church out there with a group of like-minded proto-hippies, gaining a reputation for preaching to the birds and chipmonks, Francis had a pretty rough go trying to get an audience with Pope Innocent, which he ultimately did, let's just say he was un-orthodox.

Francis had a favorite retreat in La Verne, which is above the city of Assisi. Our group decided to make the trek up the 3km pathway to stray far from the madding crowd below at the Cathedral. Being a rather hot day, we took it easy and talked the whole way up. One of the students, a wonderful young woman named Katie, was feeling rather ill, so I hung back with her and we walked at a very slow pace, but ultimately made it to the La Verne refuge. On the way, Katie told me about the origins of her hometown, which was Friendswood, and was quite appropriate for the day, a Quaker settlement. I had never heard of the history, so it was a great stroll up the hill.

Once up, it was indeed serene. Very few people make this pilgrimage outside the city confines of Assisi. There is a gnarled, old tree, held up by guy wires and looking quite ancient I must say, which is purported to be the tree under which Francis preached to his furry and feathered friends, the only ones who would listen to his message of peace and love.

I spent a good couple of hours up there, walking the pathways and sitting alone for stretches at a time, just enjoying the silence. It was tranquility and serenity embodied.

I leave you with the "Prayer of St. Francis."

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

and Namaste