October 4--St. Francis of Assisi

October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Aside from his popular patronage of animals and ecologists he is a revolutionary saint whose love for Jesus caused him to literally give everything he owned that he hadn't given to the poor back to his father who had contested his right to donate his belongings. He walked away naked and the bishop had to give him his cloak to wear.

He was a Christian at a time when many in the Church were not living as Christians should. One day, Francis was praying before a crucifix and Jesus spoke to him. "Francis," He said, "Rebuild my Church." Francis took the directive literally and began collecting stones before he realized that Jesus meant for Francis and his small band of followers to radically live out the Christian message and change the Church.

We are called to the same today. Today, Franciscans across the world live Jesus' message of radical poverty and total surrender to Christ.

One such group is the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. They serve the poor completely free of charge throughout New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Ireland, England, and Honduras.

There are many other such groups living out the gospel in a radical way all over the world.