This July 4th will be special as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, marking an historical event borne out of armed struggle and defended ever since.
Could St. Francis of Assisi, the saint of peace, famous for communing with nature, relate?
Franciscan scholars look at Francis’ conversion experience as developing from his patriotism and service. Francis enlisted in the service of Assisi, his city-state, as it waged war against Perugia in 1202. It didn’t turn out so well for the then-wealthy knight with a longing for adventure. He was captured, imprisoned for a year, and released to return home as a defeated soldier.
Even after returning home, Francis took time to recover. A change came over the man who, after living through brutal circumstances, discerned his life’s purpose. A few years later, he left to join the Crusades, only to turn around after reflecting upon his higher purpose. Some Francis scholars see Francis’ conversion response as rooted in a reaction to what we now know as PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Fr. Conrad Targanski, OFM, campus minister at Viterbo University in Wisconsin, is a retired U.S. Marine Corps chaplain who served 22 years, including two stints in Iraq. Fr. Conrad now leads pilgrimages for veterans to Assisi and other parts of Italy where Francis walked, helping them to integrate their own combat experiences with their faith.
Franciscan efforts to assist veterans abound. One participant in an Arizona-based program for vets sees in Francis a spiritual guide. “I consider him my 800-year-old friend,” noted a Vietnam vet.
Another noted how Francis is a model for others. “He dealt with his own demons,” another veteran told Franciscan Media back in 2018.
Fr. John Quigley, OFM, is a scholar and retreat master who regularly preaches on the life of Francis. Based in Cincinnati, Fr. John preaches on the more little-known aspects of Francis’ life.
“We connect St. Francis with the beauty of our gardens, forests and oceans – idealizing him as a poetic, holy man – that patron saint of creation. Our romantic images of him miss the deeper reality of his life. He became saintly by the way he responded to disaster. Perhaps we have a similar path,” said Fr. John.
The cliché is that freedom isn’t free, that it needs to be defended. Francis added another dimension: ultimate freedom can only be found in embracing the cross, being willing to bear the suffering of others, including lepers, the poor and the frightened.
Something to keep in mind as Americans mark 250 years.
Franciscan friars are on the frontlines serving as military chaplains as well as assisting the poor throughout the United States. To learn more about how you can help the Franciscan Friars, contact Bro. Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, via email at pokeeffe@friars.us or by calling 646-278-4699.