I promised more Francis fare, and here it is.
This comes from a New York Times op-ed from last Christmas Day by Thomas Cahill. I first heard the story in a sermon for the feast of St. Francis two years ago. So yes, the encounter between Francis and the Sultan really did happen. Read the op-ed here.
If the link won't work, please let me know and I will do a cut and paste job. The link works for me, but I have one of those login thingies --don't you love it when I talk tech?-- with the Times.
In the same vein, here is a meditation on Francis and the Sultan by Jesuit peace activist John Dear.
Here is another by a freelance Catholic writer, Wendy Hoke.
Thanks so much for pointing me to the John Dear article, Contessa mia.
ReplyDeleteJane, I just finished reading the meditation by Fr John Dear on St. Francis. How powerful! What a man! Both of them Francis and Fr John.
ReplyDeleteWhen Roman Catholics practice the radical call of the Gospels, they tend to get it very right.
That's the church that I abandoned, but I have great admiration for many saints operating within the church. They go about their business of following the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the institution, often despite the institution.
We could learn a lesson from them in the Episcopal Church. Every church is corrupt in it's own way, but it's possible for Christians within the church to continue to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, often despite the church.