In 1209 he composed a simple rule for his followers ("friars"), the Regula primitiva or "Primitive Rule", which came from verses in the Bible. The rule was "To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps". He and his followers celebrated and even venerated poverty. Poverty was so central to his character that in his last written work, the Testament, he said that absolute personal and corporate poverty was the essential lifestyle for the members of his Order.
He believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. He called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters”; he even preached to the birds and supposedly persuaded a wolf to stop attacking some locals if they agreed to feed the wolf. In his Canticle of the Creatures (“Praises of Creatures” or “Canticle of the Sun”), he mentioned the “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon.”
Francis preached the Christian doctrine that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of human sin. He believed that all creatures should praise God and the people have a duty to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves. Many of the stories that surround the life of Saint Francis say that he had a great love for animals and the environment.
Since it was this Saint who first affected a profound change in my core beliefs, and later learning about St. Ignatius, I have always associated true acts of Christianity with transcending materialism. It’s not about the stuff you have, but rather about whether you can truly shed your need of things to understand and respect all of the complex systems in our world.
Understanding, without judgment, complex social systems without worrying about your “career” or your ability afford nice things, while respecting each person in need has a story is the only true way to assist those who need help. Understanding and respecting the complex systems in our natural world leads to unavoidable advocacy for all living things. How can you truly be a Christian and without truly understanding poverty? How can you be a Christian and not be an environmentalist? Being an advocate is not just giving money and other superficial actions, but ensuring everything you do at work and at home is not detrimental to these systems.
St. Francis has always embodied simple living and sustainability to me. What truly captured my attention in Italy was the peacefulness in which he approached these oftentimes difficult issues. It’s easy to become angry when being an advocate lays bare ways that we hurt each other and the earth. Humility helps us be advocates, but the lack of humility leads to crass behaviors. It’s frustrating to encounter, but St. Francis reminds us that going outside and slowing down is important. At the heart of our actions should be a peaceful, true understanding of the complex systems in our world and our desire to make a difference. On this Feast Day of St. Francis, go outside, slow down, and find peace so you can advocate for the poor and our natural world.