The simple calling of St. Francis of Assisi

From Brother Sun, Sister Moon:

I was in darkness, but Brother Sun illuminated my soul and now I can see so clearly…

I want to be happy. I want to live like the birds in the sky. I want to experience freedom and the purity that they experience.

The rest of it is of no use to me.

No use.

Believe me.

If the purpose of life is this loveless toil we fill our days with — than it’s not for me.

There must be something better, there has to be.

Man is a spirit — he has a soul.

And that is what I want to recapture — my soul.

I want to live.

I want to live in the fields, stride over trees, climb hills and swim rivers.

I want to fill the firm grasp of the earth beneath my feat without shoes, without possessions, without those shadows we call our servants.

I want to be a beggar, yes a beggar.

Christ was a beggar.

And his holy apostles were beggars.

I want to be as free as they are.

Quite a calling if you ask me.

Read more.

I watched this movie for the first time Sunday night and I was impressed with the story, as well as the simplicity of the movie.

It was a moving story that should make us question how serious we are about our own faith.

It may be easy to watch the movie and blow it off, dismissing it as unrealistic or overly simplistic, but the faith and life of Francis of Assisi is one that calls us to task — especially if we’re also going to claim we’re following the same Messiah.