Little Flowers

from Russell's Spiritual Classics:

The Little Flowers of St. Francis

Who:  Anonymous
What:  stories of Saint Francis and others of his "motley crew" !
Where:  Italy
When:  14th century
How:  originally in Umbrian?
Why:  accounts of the early Franciscan movement

As regards St. Francis, I've only yet read Chesterton's work.  I look forward to getting a copy of the Little Flowers; I'm sure I will treasure it.  There are many editions from which to choose!

I've been reading more of Chesterton's St. Francis.  St. F. could be such a great role-model for me!  Except that I don't dream of being as free and generous as he, yet part of me longs to be like him.

What I like most about St. F is his embodiment of musician-beggar-fool-prophet-evangelist-all-through-simple-although-radical-life-choices.  He could say like Saint Paul "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation."  (Philippians 4:12)

That's what I really want: to be content in all things, to keep my contentment anchored in Christ, regardless of the circumstances.  That is true freedom.

Chesterton's Francis

I'm reading G. K. Chesterton's Saint Francis of Assisi (with an introduction by Joseph Pearce).  Here's an excerpt from Pearce's introduction:

The admiration that Chesterton felt towards St. Francis was inextricably bound up with his belief in the superiority of childlike innocence over all forms of cynicism.  St. Francis and his followers were called the Jongleurs de Dieu because of the innocence of their jollity and the jollity of their innocence.  'The jongleur was properly a joculator or jester; sometimes he was what we should call a juggler.'  It was this mystical synthesis of laughter and humility, a belief that playing and praying go hand in hand, which was the secret of the saint's success.  Ultimately, however, the laughter and the humility were rooted in gratitude because, as Chesterton discerned with characteristic and Franciscan sagacity: 'There is no way in which a man can earn a star or deserve a sunset.'

I too believe childlike innocence is far superior to cynicism, that playing and praying go hand in hand, and that we can be grateful for all things, especially as we know all things come through Our Father's loving hands.