Francis and Peace

In his Last Testament St Francis wrote,
"God revealed a form of greeting to me, telling me that we should say, 'God give you peace.'"

St Francis lived out that principle of peace throughout his life. When he travelled to the Holy Land and met the Sultan, he came there as a man of peace. He was not armed and ready for battle as a Crusader, but dressed as a beggar and "armed" with the Gospel. Toward the end of his life, he arose from his sick-bed to mediate a dispute between the Bishop and Mayor of Assisi. He wrote in the Canticle of the All Creatures : "Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned." He also wrote in his Admonitions: "'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be the children of God'. The true peacemakers are those who preserve peace of mind and body for the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, despite what they suffer in this world."

However, Francis was not a timid person nor did he flee from conflict. Records testify that he was very forceful with the early Friars when they needed a reprimand. On one occasion, in around 1220, when he returned from the Holy Land and saw that the Friars were putting up a building near the Portiuncola. He was so angry, that he climbed up on the roof of the house and began hurling down the newly laid tiles. When it came to matters of principle, Francis knew exactly where he stood. Yet he did strive to resolve conflict which he knew had its source in pride, intolerance or greed.

Peace within the Community

Francis called his community the Friars Minor or "Lesser Brothers"; thus, they were to be "related" or connected to one another as "brothers" of the same family and they were to be humble and unpretentious. No single Friar was to be "better" than another, no matter what roles they fulfilled. "'I did not come to serve but to serve', says the Lord. Those who are placed over others should glory in such an office only as much as they would, were they assigned the task of washing the feet of the Brothers." Admonition 4

For Francis, this is at the root of peace: the peace-making example of Jesus Christ. Jesus, who ultimately laid down his life that all would be reconciled. The genuine peace-maker cannot afford to have vested interests. A Friar is eminently positioned to become a peace-maker, as he does not own property/ has no material assets to protect and is thus free to mediate peace amongst others. This is a peace that is born out of the recognition the bonds that unite, rather than divide. One of his close companions wrote about Francis "In all his preaching, before he proposed the Word of God to those gathered about, he prayed first for peace for them. And many embraced peace and became seekers after eternal salvation."

In the Rule of Life given to the Friars, Francis instructed the Friars with these words as they travel the world: "Into whatever house they enter, let them first say: 'Peace be to this house!'"

The Friars as Peace-makers

Internationally

You will find a small office among the many thousands of offices in the United Nations complex in New York, with a plaque on the door that reads: Franciscans International. Inside, a small group of Franciscans, women and men, work as an accredited Non-Governmental Organisation of the UN. These Franciscans monitor the issues that come before the United Nations and ensure that the Franciscan point of view is presented where relevant.
Over the years, they have addressed issues such as:

• the Kyoto Agreement on global warming;
• the eradication of landmines;
• the plight of refugees needing a place to go;
• the Bosnia-Kosovo crisis;
• the world population crisis.....etc

These Franciscans are well aware that they in fact represent well over 1 million people world-wide, who belong to the huge extended Franciscan family. One of the staff is an American Friar.

In our part of the World

In our part of the world; Australia, South East Asia and Oceania, Franciscans have involved themselves in various projects: to mention but a few here:

• In Papua New Guinea, one of our missionary Friars was involved in trying to halt the rape and pillage of the pristine rain-forests within his missionary area by Multinational companies;
• In Singapore, a Friar works in the notorious Changi Prison as chaplain; here, prisoners convicted of drug offences are executed by hanging. He has been an advocate and companion for these most unfortunate of people;
• In Port Morseby, the Archbishop is a Friar. He recently spoke out openly against government corruption and cronyism.
• In East Timor, some of our Indonesian Friars are involved in the re-building of that poor little nation after the recent devastation;
• In Melbourne, a Friar who is also a lawyer, has been working with asylum seekers and assisting them with their applications to remain in Australia;
• In Melbourne and Sydney, Friars took part in the Reconciliation Marches held in those cities during 2000;
• In Auckland - NZ, a Friar has assisted new arrivals from Polynesia with housing issues;
• In Minto - near Sydney, three Friars work and live in a government Housing Estate; here they assist the local people in improving the quality of life in this poor area.

To be a Friar today is to be a peacemaker. There are ample opportunities for peace making. But, too few people to take-on the many challenges for peace-making and reconciliation.

One of the most famous of all prayers, ascribed to St Francis of Assisi, is what is known as the Peace Prayer. St Francis did not actually write this prayer, but his spirit is contained within it.

Lord, make me an instrument of your PEACE:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light
And where this is sadness, joy.