A. Known Letters of St. Francis

A Necessary Introduction to
“Finding Inspiration in the Writings of St. Francis”

A word of advice:  The recommended procedure for using the following materials is ideally to have the printed lesson given to each individual a month or at least a week before the sharing time so the individual has time to read it and to reflect and pray about the sharing questions, and jot down any notes they wish to use as reminders during their time of sharing at the meeting. 
 In this way Francis’ writings become a blessing for the individual during the preparation time as well as at the sharing session of their ongoing formation.  

Finding INSPIRATION in the WRITINGS of St. Francis –        
a Sharing Guide
(a study compilation by Fr. John Sullivan, ofm – 2004)

We have so much to learn about St. Francis and his spirit.  For us Franciscans, this is a perennial challenge.  Reading about Francis’ life is an important ongoing inspiration for each one of us; but there’s more.  Our SFO General Constitutions tell us about the foundation of our faithful lives as Secular Franciscans in article 12 where it says: “Gaining inspiration from the example and the writings of Francis….”  Article 40-2 also reminds us that Francis’ writings are supposed to be a part of the initial formation program.

Are there ways to tackle Francis’ writings in a productive way?  Of course, just taking the texts of his writings given to us and reading them can be a starter.  The following materials are offered as a way to guide us through the riches of his writings.  In this process we will also find a few texts frequently attributed to Francis as historically not his.

His writings for the purposes of this study-reflection guide are divided into 4 categories, namely:
Part A) His letters for specific situations – needs one of the resource texts
Part B) Prayers and devotions – texts supplied
Part C) Texts of spiritual and ascetic exhortation – texts supplied
Part D) Texts defining ways of life (Rules) – needs one of the resource texts

The translated texts for studying His prayers (Part B) and for his Admonitions (Part C) are supplied  with the reflection set of questions.  These are translations by Fr. John Sullivan,ofm - 2004

For other sources for studying the writings of St. Francis  you can consult:
a) St. Francis, Omnibus of Sources, (1983) 1900pp. Franciscan Press, Quincy,IL 62301
217-228-5670…..  approx. $40

b)  Study Text, Writings of St. Francis, 175 pp. Franciscan Press, Quincy,IL 62301
217-228-5670…. (first 175 pages of same Omnibus, above, with all of Francis’ writings). approx. $????

c) St. Francis, the Saint, Vol.1 (635pp.) New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 12538…approx.$30

d)  Francis and Clare, the Complete Writings, 256pp – (1982), Paulist Press – approx. $20

For further understanding of the search itself for Francis’ writings (all hand-written copies or hand-written originals) down through the centuries, you can read some interesting details in the St. Francis of Assisi, Omnibus of Sources (1983), pp. 5-22 and in Francis of Assisi, the Saint – Early Documents (Vol.1), pp.11-39. 
For convenience of printing here, we will identify references to these two books by “Omn.” for the former, and “FA1” for the latter book.  And the Francis and Clare, Complete Writings is reference-coded by “FC”.

Keep in mind the way St. Francis writes.  An important general observation begins to surface that he does not make use of theological terminology.  Instead, Francis presents his ideas and convictions with simple, straight-forward, descriptive vocabulary and imagery.  He writes with conviction, with concern, with compassion, and often with great exuberance.

If we are to gain much from these exercises, we need to approach them in the same pattern we use in reading the Sacred Scriptures, namely:  asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to become “the listener” as we read.  

It is essential also to remember that we are not approaching these texts as academic exercises or as history research, but primarily our focus is on “finding inspiration” in the writings of St. Francis.  (see SFO General Constitutions, #12)

Let’s start.

Part A)  KNOWN  LETTERS  WRITTEN BY  ST. FRANCIS -  2004:

See the “Necessary Introduction” to this particular website section for the background and orientation to this study of Francis’ writings.  The available texts for use are also listed there.
 
Our first considerations will be given to nine (9) known letters recognized as being from St. Francis.

Letter To Clerics (Omn.pp.100-101)  (FA1:pp.52-53)(FC:p49+)
Practice:  Read this letter, with its associated commentary.

C1.  What are Francis' central concerns and advice?
C2. What is implied by Francis' writing at the opening of this letter: "We clerics..."?
C3.  What does Francis describe as our only visual contact with the Most High?

C4.  What advantage would be gained if this letter were also addressed to Eucharistic ministers and sacristans today?  How does this apply to our behavior in
churches?  Would it be pertinent?

C5.  How does this message compare with 1 Corinthians 11:29 ?  (Then read the larger passage of verses Cor.11:23-29 for further scriptural background.)
C6.  What messages do you draw from what Francis wrote in this letter?

Practice:  compare this to the SFO Rule, art. 5-6-8.

Letter To All the Faithful (Omn.pp.91-99) (FA1-pp.45-51)(FCp.66+)
Practice:  Read this letter, with its associated commentary.
The first part focuses on spiritual encouragement, and then moves to 10 commands.
(keep in mind that "Let us…" can also be translated as "We should…")
Another comment:  Francis also uses the words "be Catholics" to assure fidelity, and not to follow the contradictory religious theories and practices in vogue by some in his day 
(for example, the Waldensians and Albigensians). 

F1. To whom is Francis writing this letter?  How is it determined?  Is the popular title adequate?
F2.  Why is there a dispute about to whom Francis wrote this letter?
F3.  How does Francis identify himself?

F4.  As you read this letter, what key points is Francis trying to make?
F5.  What attitude toward the Sacrament of the Eucharist is Francis expressing?
F6.  How many times in this letter does Francis mention the Eucharist?.

F7.  How does Francis express that the focus of our lives is "to praise God"?
F8.  Can you list the “10 commands” expressed by Francis in this letter?

F9.  Can you find any parallel ideas between this letter and our SFO Prologue to the Rule?
F10.  Do you detect a sense of the "Trinity" in this writing?  Where?

F11.  Francis writes: "...hate our bodies with their vices and sins".  What specifically are we to "hate"?  How does this compare to the spirit of “Canticle of the Sun”?
How does this compare to Rom.8,5-8?

F12. How prominent a role did the Catholic Church and her practices, such as Sacraments, play in Francis' thinking and advice, as seen in this letter?

Practice:  Review some of the topics which Francis raises in this letter:
such as - poverty - prayer - Church & Sacraments - "fruits befitting penance" (Omn.p.94;
FA1,p.47; FC,p.68,19to45)).
F13.  Do these topics have meaning for us today?
          How?  Why?
F14.  How many of the above blessings and helps from God do many non-Catholics deprive themselves of?

F15.  How "Catholic" would you consider St. Francis?
F16.  How does this letter compare to our SFO Rule, art. 7-10-11?
F17.  Why does it seem hard for Catholics today to accept poverty as a virtue?

Letter to General Chapter-to Entire Order (Omn.pp.102-108)(FA1:p.116-121)(FC,p.55+)
Practice:  Read this letter, with its associated commentary.

Q1.  In reading this letter, what key points is Francis trying to make with the friars? (name 3 key points)
Q2. What behavior does Francis request of us regarding the Eucharist and the printed SS Word?

Q3.  What advice does Francis describe for priests (Omn.pp.104-5)?
Q4.  What confession does Francis make in this letter? (Omn.p.107,middle)  Can we make this confession our own?

Q5.  Francis addresses some of his brothers as "priest brothers". What does this say of his reverence for his brothers who have been ordained with the Sacrament of the Priesthood?
Q6.  In praying the "Office" (Prayer of the Church) Francis tells the friars that their HEARTS must be in it  (Omn.p.107).  How did Francis say this?  
  Does this apply to us as we pray, either alone or as a group?  And how does this compare to the Catechism of the Catholic Church(1994), article 2699?

Q7. How prominent a role did the Catholic Church and her practices, such as Sacraments, play in Francis' thinking and advice?

Q8.  Francis begins and ends this letter with tributes to the Trinity – What does this tell us about Francis’ spirituality? 

Practice:  
Read and pray with the “Eucharistic Tribute” which
Francis wrote in this letter, found in Omn:p.105, starting on the seventh last line, going  to p.106, line 5 from the top (in FA1:p.118).

Reflect and meditate on the closing prayer of this letter to this friar General Chapter (Omn.p.108, last paragraph; in FA1:p.120-121; in FC,p.74).

Letter to a Minister (Omn.pp.109-111)  (FA1:pp.97-98) (FC,p.74+)
Practice:  Read this letter addressed to a “Provincial Minister”, with its associated commentary.

M1.  How does Francis show his awareness of the duties of a superior (aka “minister”)?  What expectations does Francis refer to?
M2.  How does Francis advise about compassion for friars who sin publicly?
M3.  What does Francis mean by calling “everything that makes it difficult to love God” as a “special favor”?

M4.  What is Francis’ description of “true obedience”?
M5.  How far does the love by a minister go, according to Francis?
M6.  What policy should the superior announce to all?

M7.  What is the reason that Francis offers that the moving to a “hermitage” would be an “escape”?  Does this resonate with us in some of our frustrations?
M8.  Does this advice of Francis have application to our SFO local councils and the local minister today?

Practice, if you have time:  Compare this to the Friars’ Rule of 1223, chapter 7 (Omn.p.62+)(FA1p.103-104)(FC,p.141).

Letter to Rulers of Peoples (Omn.p.115-116) (FA1:pp.58-59)(FC,p.77+)
Practice:  Read this letter, with its associated commentary.
Keep in mind that Francis means by "Rulers": = mayors, business advisors, judges, & governors.

Francis offers two sets of advice to the rulers – a) one set for their own lives, and b) one for their work with the people.
    a)  "for their own lives": -  ...do not forget God; observe the commandments;  receive the Eucharist with reverence.
    b)  "for their work with the people" - ...  help the people show "great reverence"  toward God; lead them to daily thanks and praise.

R1. Might this letter be applicable to our political leaders today?  -- in our USA -- or other countries?  - our States and our cities?
R2.  What tradeoff does Francis describe for the “wisdom and power they enjoyed in life” if they fail?

R3.  Do we SFOs take these kinds of moral issues into account when we practice our voting rights (and duties) here in our local, state and federal elections?  How Franciscan are we as voters to place in elected positions the persons who will promote these values in our society?  Need we do better?
R4.  Is Francis presuming that these rulers are practicing Catholics?

R5.  In carrying out their leadership duties, what dangerous behavior does Francis describe which can ruin the rulers’ eternal futures?

R6.  Francis speaks of an evening  "call to prayer" - is this like the bell rung for the Angelus?
       ..or …borrowed from Islamic tradition of their calls to prayer during the day?

Letter to All Superiors/Custodes (Omn.pp.113-114)  (FA1:pp.56-57) (FC,p.52+)
Practice:  Read this letter to all local superiors (aka “ministers”) of Franciscan friaries, with its associated commentary.

S1.  What key points is Francis trying to make here?
S2.  Why would Francis choose these symbolic words to call the Eucharist a  “new portents in heaven and on earth”?

S3. What advice did Francis give to friar preachers and about their preaching? Do we agree with his suggestions?
S4.  What two specific topics should friars deal with as they preach?  How does this compare to the original 
mandate from the Pope to Francis in 1209?

S5.  How does the content of this letter compare to the Letter to the General Chapter?  (Omn.p.102+;FA1-p.116+;FC,p55+)
S6.  What appeal does Francis make about the Eucharist and the Written Word and associated items?

Letter to Bro. Leo (Omn. pp. 117-119) (FA1:pp.122-123) (FC,p47+)
Practice:  Read this letter, with its associated commentary.
(This seems to be more of a "note" or short message.)

L1.  What do you know of friar Leo's historical relation to Francis during his lifetime?

L2.  What is special about this short letter?
L3.  What is unusually interesting in the wording of the first line?

L4.  How does Francis deal with the issues of obedience and poverty?
…You might also want to glance at St. Francis’ blessing to Bro. Leo 
    (Omn.p.126;FA1,p.112;FC,p.100)

Letter to Brother Anthony [of Padua] (Omn.pp.162-4) (FA1-p.107) (FC,p.79)
A1.  What concern of friar Anthony [of Padua] led to this note of approval from St. Francis?  
A2.  How does this approval letter compare to Francis’ concern over possessing books?

A3.  What fundamental approach does Francis express as necessary for any theological studies for the friars?
A4.  What sense of respect does Francis express in this short note?

A5. What is this “spirit of prayer and devotedness”?

Letter to the Brothers and Sisters in Penance (in Omn,p.1916, and found in SFO Rule prologue; & FA1,pp.41-44; FC,p.63-65).

This exhortatory letter was frequently considered to be an earlier draft of the Letter to All the Faithful  [above] (Omn.pp.91-99) (FA1-pp.45-51) (FC,p.66+).
But especially since 1976 this letter has been understood as a separate document addressed 
specifically to those laity who had asked St. Francis to share in his Gospel way of life.

Part a (considering this text to be divided into two part, A & B):  
P1.  What is the meaning of “penance”?
P2.  What is the meaning of “worthy fruits of penance”?

P3.  How do we act as “mothers” to Jesus?
P4.  What can God’s parental love mean in your life?

P5.  What is the greatest quality of a loving parent?
P6.  Have you ever thought of Christ as your brother?
     ...& as a blood brother?

P7.  Why does Francis call us “Brothers and Sisters in Penance”?  What do both terms mean?
P8.  Are we to really “hate” our bodies? (Confer Gal:5:13-21)

P9.  How much of Francis’ life was spent in penance and conversion?
P10.  Do I live this “penance” from a sense of duty, or of a love relationship?  How so?
P11.  In what ways do change and conversion require detachment and humility (a form of poverty)?
P12.  Do I “eat to live” or “live to eat”?

Part b:
P13.   Why is it important to realize that every personal sin have social consequences?
P14.  Do I think of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a positive celebration of the mercy of God?  Is it an act of faith on my part?

P15.  How can I better determine my characteristic fault?
P16.  How does spiritual blindness hurt us?

P17.  Do we need to offer satisfaction for our own sins and those of others?

Practice: Read SFO Rule, art.1-4-7.
               Read SFO General Constitutions, art. 13:1-2-3.

Several lost letters...see "general introduction”  to Francis’ writings" (Omn.footnote,p.91 as well as on pp.13ff)

Survey questions after completing the 9 letters of St. Francis:

Practice:  Reflect on the impact of the contents of St. Francis’ letters for us today.

Q1.  What did Francis consider important to mention in these short letters? Make a list….

Q2.  If Francis were writing a letter to our local SFO fraternity, what do you think he would include? – Make a list.

Q3.  Using these ideas, can you make up a letter from Francis to your fraternity?

Q4.  What inspiration(s) have I found in reading these letters of St. Francis?