OUR MISSION Conclusion

G. K. Chesterton lovingly recalls the story of the young friar Francis in his book ‘St Francis of Assisi’, and I believe it serves as a fitting reminder to the Christian of today.

High in the dark house in Rome, Assisi Francesco dreamed of being called to battle. It was a vision splendid with swords, spears, shields and helmets, all bearing the sacred sign, crusader-fashion. He saw in that vision a call to arms, a bidding to a distant battlefield. ‘He as not without some vision of the wreath of laurel which Caesar has left for all the Latins.’ He dreamed of coming back a great prince. A short time after settling out to battle he fell ill, to a recurring sickness. During this spell of illness he had a second dream, and here the voice came to him: ‘You have mistaken the meaning of the vision. Return to your own town.’ And Francis traveled back to Assisi in his sickness. By now a disappointed and dismal figure he began to wait for what should happen next. ‘It was his first descent into a dark ravine that is called the valley of humiliation …’ He was puzzled and bewildered.

One day, while riding listlessly on the city’s outskirts, he saw a figure coming toward him. He halted and saw that it was a leper. He knew immediately that this was a challenge to his courage, not as he would have found in the Crusades, but as one would challenge who knew the hearts of men. He knew he would never have shrunk from the banners, spears, or attacks of Perugia. But here Francis saw his fear walking toward him, coming to meet him face to face. For once ‘his soul must have stood still’. Then, as if knowing nothing of fear, he sprang from his horse and rushed on the leper and threw his arms around him. It was the beginning of a lifetime vocation of ministry among lepers. To the man he gave what money he could, remounted his horse and rode on.

Francis, sensing the need to catch a final glimpse of the leper, turned, as he rode, to see him once more, but he could see no figure on the road.

Come, meet the homeless. Come, see Jesus.

Dr. Sven Ljungholm
Active Soldier
Hamilton Temple Corps, UK














---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."