Clergy from left, Pastor Deb Church, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, and Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By The Rev. Mary Ann Hill
Rector
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
October is the time of year when many Christians remember with fondness St. Francis of Assisi (see Mother Lynn Finnegan's column from two weeks ago). St. Francis' feast day is celebrated in early October. For many of us, that celebration includes a special blessing of the animals. As a priest, I have met many household pets and farm animals over the course of 25 years. This year I got to bless two bearded dragon and several canines.
People love St. Francis for many reasons. Born into a wealthy merchant-class family, he renounced his lavish lifestyle and embraced a life of poverty, seeking out the poor and marginalized in society. A very compelling figure, the number of men and women joining his movement grew exponentially in a very short time. He was a proponent of peace, even meeting with a sultan in Egypt during the Fifth Crusade. He sought to bring the stories of Jesus alive for people, and is credited for creating the first living nativity scene. His love of nature is legendary, and he brought his gifts of reconciliation to bear in softening human hearts towards the world around them.
One thing that many people are not aware of, is that Francis is often credited for inspiring the Italian Renaissance. From the Fall of the Roman Empire until the turn of the 12th century, the material world was seen as something from which to escape. Created matter was at best a poor substitute for the perfection found in heaven, and a person's station in life was a direct reflection of where they fell in the order of things. But, for Francis, nature was a beautiful sign of God's love for humankind, and each person he encountered was worthy of love and respect. It was this love of creation and a respect for the dignity of every human person that inspired great artists like Giotto, Cimabue, and Dante. They led the movement towards realism in art and written works in the language of the people. In the Paradise portion of The Divine Comedy, Dante describes Francis as rising like a sun out of Assisi.
Over the centuries, young people in every generation have found St. Francis relevant. In our time, when young people are feeling less hopeful of their own individual futures than any time in recent history, being seen and known matters. Being appreciated for one's individuality and identity matters. How we treat the earth and all of its creatures matters. Simply put, matter matters. In our fraught and polarized world, may we all learn, like Francis, to love and appreciate every single living thing.