Everybody Loves Francis

People still speak fondly of the TV sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, but even more fondly remembered by Catholics and non-Catholics alike is St. Francis of Assisi.  His simplicity, his childlike dependence on God, his love for everyone, his peaceful soul continue to inspire all, so much so that even our Pope has taken his name and his example as the model for his papacy.  Animals will be blessed in parishes today in imitation of the love Francis had for them,  and a few weeks ago, leaders of several world religions met in Assisi to pray for peace.  The Franciscans are the largest group of religious in the world and have always included lay people in their Third Order or more recently,  Lay Franciscans.
The appeal of Francis is his desire and effort to live the Gospel literally, an ideal which has set the bar too high to be lived as such today.  Mitigations of his Rule occurred even during his life time, and several reforms have occurred over the centuries as attempts to return to that ideal have led to the Capuchins, and more recently, the Franciscans of the Renewal, and the Primitive Franciscans.  This last group lives as close to the style of St. Francis as possible in our day.
For most of us who love Francis, living his spirit of detachment from things, roles, positions, locations,  focusing on the beauty of all of creation, and with child-like simplicity embracing all people, help us to live his spirit.  St. Francis, pray for us.
Bro. Rene