Sainthood Sunday: St. Francis

As we look at the life of Saint Francis, there are so many examples for us to follow. I would like to concentrate on one.

His rejection of Pride.

Earlier in his life, Francis was known for being quite the playboy. The son of a wealthy cloth maker, Francis had all the world at his disposal. Parties, women, and wine were his for the taking and no one really questioned is desire for these things. His desire for glory led him to war, where he started to ask some serious questions.

I think the key question that confronts anyone on the journey to sainthood is the idea that there is a God beyond themselves. That satisfying their own selfish wants, needs, and desires is not the be all and end all of life. That there is a higher authority to which we must answer to. That higher authority that somehow has a hold on us because it created us. That has a hold on us because it has written our hearts what is right and what is wrong.

Francis recognized this authority when Christ at San Damiano asked Francis to build His Church. Francis recognized this hold over him when he embraced the leper. Francis recognized this authority when he rejected the wealth of his father in front of the entire town.

Our own pride has a hold on us in so many different ways. In following the example of Francis, we only need to look at those parts of our lives that we do not want to "give up" in following Christ, but want Christ to bless so that we can continue to pursue them. Our own pride starts to dictate to Christ how we want things to go. Our own pride might even be dictating how far we want to go in pursuing sainthood.

Ask yourself these questions and confront your own pride today:

1. Am I willing to give up (hobby that you pursue every day) if it means that I will be a saint?
2. Am I willing to give up (friendship that you hold dear yet may be pulling you away from God) if it means that I will be a saint?
3. Am I willing to give up ("method" of sainthood that is comfortable to you) if it means that I will be a saint?
4. Am I willing to give up (material possession that you "cannot live without") if it means that I will be a saint?
5. Am I willing to give up (favorite food) if it means that I can be a saint?
6. Am I willing to give up (grudge against someone who hurt you) if it means that I can be a saint?
7. Am I willing to give up (cause, political or otherwise) if it means that I can be a saint?
8. Am I willing to give up (desire for something or someone) if it means that I can be a saint?
9. Am I willing to give up being God?
10. Am I willing to give up my pride and depend on God?

For today, allow other people to be right. No matter what.

No matter what they say.

No matter what they do.

No matter what they ask of you.

If anyone compliments you, point the compliment in the direction of someone else, or God.

If anyone thanks you, point the gratitude toward someone else or God.

The goal today is to allow our pride to die. To allow ourselves to have the purest faith of all. The faith in God that He deserves.

I pray today to follow the example of St. Francis and to reject the god of the self and to embrace the God of Creation.

To reject Pride and pursue Faith.