‘PREACH THE GOSPEL’
I KEEP SEEING ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CREDITED AS SAYING, “PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES. USE WORDS IF NECESSARY.” I HAVE LOOKED IN SEVERAL PLACES BUT CANNOT FIND WHERE HE SAID THIS.
This is a great quote, very Franciscan in its spirit, but not literally from Francis. The thought is his; this catchy phrasing is not in his writings or in the earliest biographies about him. In Chapter XVII of his Rule of 1221, Francis told the friars not to preach unless they had received the proper permission to do so. Then he added, “Let all the brothers, however, preach by their deeds.”
I earned a master’s in Franciscan studies before I heard the “Use words if necessary” quote. That was during Msgr. Kenneth Velo’s homily at Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin’s funeral in 1996.
A few years ago, a friend of mine contacted some of the most eminent Franciscan scholars in the world, seeking the source of this “Use words if necessary” quote. It is clearly not in any of Francis’ writings. After a couple weeks of searching, no scholar could find this quote in a story written within 200 years of Francis’ death.
This saying and the “Peace Prayer,” which Francis certainly did not write, are easily identified with him because they so thoroughly reflect his spirit. Unfortunately, they would not have become as widespread if they had been attributed to “John Smith” or “Mary Jones.”
An 11th-century French prayer is similar to the first part of the “Peace Prayer.” The oldest known copy of the current prayer, however, dates to 1912 in France. The prayer became more well known in other countries during World War I.
This prayer is sold all over Assisi today—but always under the title “A Simple Prayer.” Whoever linked it to St. Francis guaranteed a wide diffusion of the text. The same is true for the “Use words if necessary” quote. Both reflect St. Francis very well.
FRANCIS AND THE EUCHARIST
WHAT DID THE EUCHARIST MEAN TO ST. FRANCIS? HOW DID HE EXPRESS HIS DEVOTION TO IT?
The Eucharist is the closest connection that any follower of Jesus (Francis included) can get to Jesus. It flows out of our belief in the Incarnation. Francis defended the Eucharist against the Albigensians, the Catholic Church’s strongest critics in his day. Because they taught that everything material is bad and everything spiritual is good, the Albigensians rejected the Eucharist and all the other sacraments.
The feast of Corpus Christi, which had begun in Belgium, was extended to the worldwide Church about 30 years after Francis died.
In 1215, Pope Innocent III held the Fourth Lateran Council, which lasted only a month but had a major impact, especially on the celebration and reception of the Eucharist. That council legitimated the term transubstantiation and introduced the Easter duty (confession of mortal sins at least once a year), encouraging at least yearly reception of the Eucharist.
Many people were so convinced about their unworthiness that they were content simply to look at the consecrated host during Mass or at Benediction. Francis wrote several letters to encourage greater reverence for the Eucharist. Eucharistic devotion was the subject of several of his Admonitions to the friars. Francis was particularly concerned about the cleanliness of churches, especially altar linens and liturgical vessels. St. Clare, who shared this concern, embroidered many corporals and purificators for use at Mass.
Members of the Franciscan family, especially Secular Franciscans, eventually received holy Communion on specified liturgical feasts. In some ways, they were ahead of the frequent Communion promoted by St. Pius X more than 100 years ago for people properly prepared and disposed.
FRANCISCAN FAMILY
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS, “IN THE FRANCISCAN FAMILY, ALL MEMBERS SHARE IN THE SAME FUNDAMENTAL CHARISM,” WHAT DOES THAT EXPRESSION MEAN?
The fundamental charism is to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to a person’s present other commitments. An unmarried person may do this as a single person or someone preparing to marry or to enter a religious community. Married people can live the same charism as single people.
St. Francis of Assisi founded a religious community of men but was happily surprised when laywomen and laymen (married or single) asked him how they could follow the Gospel in the context of their life circumstances.
How could they also be Gospel penitents? Francis responded by writing “An Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance” for people in their situation. The earlier version (1209–1215), discovered by Kajetan Esser, OFM, in 1976, serves as the prologue for the current Secular Franciscan Rule. A later version (1220) has often been called “A Letter to the Faithful.” The sense of sharing in a religious charism prompts some people to become oblates within the Benedictine or Cistercian family.
Some congregations have “associate members” or use other terms to describe people inspired by the same charism without becoming formal members.