Pentecost and St. Francis

Saint Francis and the Holy Spirit

The spirituality of St. Francis - and of Franciscans - is very Christ-centered. After all, it was while praying before the San Damiano Cross depicting Christ’s Crucifixion that Francis received his call to rebuild the Church. And Francis so strongly meditated on the sufferings of Christ that he became the first recorded case of a person manifesting the stigmata, the wounds of Chris on his body.  

But Francis certainly did not ignore the Holy Spirit!

Capuchin scholar Optatus van Asseldonk, in his Dizionario Francescano, noted that St. Francis uses the term “Holy Spirit” 38 times in his writings, generally in the context of the Trinity. St. Francis in his writings refers repeatedly to the “Spirit of the Lord”.

In his “Second Letter to the Letter to the Faithful,” for example, St. Francis wrote:

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon all those men and women who have done and persevered in these things and It will make a home and dwelling place in them. And they will be the children of the heavenly Father, Whose works they do. And they are spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

"We are spouses when the faithful soul is united by the Holy Spirit to our Lord Jesus Christ. We are brothers [and sisters], moreover, when we do the will of His Father Who is in heaven; mothers when we carry Him in our heart and body through love and a pure and sincere conscience and give Him birth through a holy activity, which must shine before others by example.” (48-54).

Through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit we engage in “holy activity” and do the will of the Lord.

Even when he first prayed before the San Damiano Cross Francis was inspired to compose a prayer in which he calls for God (the Holy Spirit) to enlighten him.

Most High glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me right faith, sure hope and perfect charity.
Fill me with understanding and knowledge
that I may fulfill your command.
Amen.

There are other similar statements from St. Francis. But the point is that his followers need to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and engage in “holy activity,” following the lead of the disciples at Pentecost.

Pax et bonum