Who is the "Real" St. Francis?

St. Francis is probably the most popular, widely recognized, and most misunderstood saint in the Church’s history. It’s not that people don’t know a lot about him, it’s the opposite: since there have been so many stories written about him over the past 800 years, everyone knows something, but it can be difficult to separate fact from folklore.

[@cyclpiancitydweller9517]

I am a Muslim I have admiration for Saint Francis. He had a devotion to his faith.

[@lorenzopomi6551]

Thanck you from Italia

[@marybethscherry2282]

Fr. Casey what do you think is the best book on St. Francis?

[@Miriam-fk9wr]

🙏🏻🌷

[@MikeOz1313]

@@marybethscherry2282 "The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi" by Saint Bonaventure by Traditional Franciscan Friars is the best one I got suggested. God bless you Mary

[@jonneiss7562]

it is important to remember that the Koran honors David, Solomon and Jesus...as prophets of God. God is about love and harmony. Man is about division and fighting.

[@gregorykennerly2321]

Listening to you is a wonderfully calming experience. That you have found such a resonant spiritual voice so early in your life is truly remarkable. Many blessings!

[@pascualpalmerin9189]

This is my favorite of your videos. I feel each lover of the way of Francis should see this one. Thank you. Peace and Good.

[@kerriebull2351]

I saw bother son and sister moon at boarding school 40 years ago and fell in love with st francis and all he did. In 2016 I was privileged enough to actually be in Assisi- it was so overwhelming walking into the church and in Assisi walking where he walked - I cried . I felt so drawn to Assisi and felt that this was my other home!

[@hollywoodartchick9740]

That film was so sweet. And that location is indeed charged with positive energy.

[@remediosreboja1837]

Peace and all good! Nice video! St. Francis has that certain charisma that he got a lot of followers. I myself is a secular Franciscan. Francis is so lovable and Jesus loves him so much that he was given the Stigmata. We cannot Thank you enough , Brother Casey. You’re so awesome yet humble.

[@playmesalsa]

Among Buddhists, Francis is normally referred to as an enlightened being. I love his story.

[@conchitallacer1279]

I am very grateful for this video as there were so many things that I learned from the interview, so many issues that were clarified. Thank you so so much😊 !

[@paulkelly9803]

i recently read a wonderful book on Saint Francis and it had a wonderful insight into the real man, and it made me respect and admire him more and more. The book was by Augustine Thompson, OP. “Francis of Assisi: A New Biography” really wonderful and gets to the core of the man.

[@saintmarksmoscowpa2885]

The”Brother Sun, Sister Moon” experience was very instrumental for lots of very good folks back in the 1970’s. Actually the whole church right after the Council was pretty exciting. Please don’t dismiss it because it’s not what you were raised in. The Catholic experience is so much more than any one time or place. Francis inspires people to follow Jesus. That’s all that matters.

[@Markonlyknows]

Amen.

[@dennisnagai4058]

I’m getting baptized next month and I picked Saint Francis as my Patron Saint.

[@lizziejohny8730]

praise the Lord Brother casey u r so amazing May u continue the good work for the glory of our Lord Stay blessed

[@nataliabenoit4653]

I love how you point out the essence of saint Francis of Assisi being in the light of romance with God because it is the greatest of all romances is a relationship with God and willing to give up everything even if it means your life its how ive experienced my conversion but ive never been happier and its how i've viewed the story of every Saint being a love story and its beautiful thank you for giving your wisdom and bringing it back to what it is all about and i hope you still frolick through the feilds lol 👍😊even when your a Preist i hope you will be one i find it fascinating that they get to look at God every morning in the Eucharist

[@Miriam-fk9wr]

How lovely 😊🙏🏻🌷

[@johncoffey9837]

This is really comprehensive, and it still holds up. Thank you Rob & Fr. Casey for this :)

[@vincentcole6121]

Thank you for this deeper look at the life of The Poverello.

[@christianoliverio5726]

"The Church's greatest saint." *Ignatius of Loyola has entered the chat.*

[@flamingredhed]

St Benedict, Paul, etc too.

[@roseannenorman7129]

Our Blessed Mother is the greatest saint.

[@MeowyMakes]

I am a HUGE lover of animals and the environment (I'm actually a vegan for that very reason). I am so sick of how both are treated - people constantly use waste and trash that pollute even WITH the knowledge that there are safer options less harmful to the planet, and how animals are viewed as things and are treated so cruelly, whether it's testing or in a slaughterhouse, and people know that but they don't care because they care about themselves more (even other Christians):, which truly breaks my heart. St. Francis's feast day is actually on my birthday, and I'm thankful God timed it that way because He knew I would grow to love nature and animals, and He wanted to connect me with a saint who did the exact same thing!

[@meteor2012able]

Mario, I loved your words....You are force for good.... God bless you

[@Enzo_Barletta]

Hey! I am also a Catholic vegan. It's very good to read your words, brother.

[@okiedokiecookie]

You are right to be with st. Francis is to include the Love and Reverence for Jesus Christ and rebuilding of the Church. Many new Age movement use St. Francis but miss the point of Loving Jesus Christ and the Church He Instituted. That's a very important point.

[@petercollins2729]

Well presented...lots of sensible thinking n expression .. A balanced view!!! Pete

[@thecitycyclecompany]

love what you're doing, very informative content presented in a modern way.....

[@roboparks]

st. Francis of Assisi wrote a great Prayer

[@arigirl4536]

Great video. Thank you! I will be subscribing!

[@thatright4985]

Thank you so much for this! The Holy Spirit has really been tugging me in the direction you took this revelation of St. Francis. The Spirit has slowly but surely been showing me that in each area, time, and circumstance, God will inspire men and women for various roles needed. We should look upon those examples and recognize God and what he does he who does not harden his heart but realize God likely has a unique role for us, in our family, in our city, in our day, in our circumstance and in our time.

[@philomenapeterson1790]

My late husband, our 3 children and me have FRANCIS/FRANCES as our middle name. Our former parish was St Francis of Assisi, Malaysia (aka Gethsemane Friary)

[@hollywoodartchick9740]

This was a great talk! It really placed Francis in a clear frame, outside of all the extrapolations modern admirers have put on him. I loved hearing that he was a changed man after fighting in a war and dedicated himself to peace, and that his poverty was at least in part inspired by a radical devotion to peace. So much great info here. I loved what you said about respecting priests not because of what they have done but because of what God does thru them. I also like the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law distinction. Lots of perspective here.

[@tokendiva]

I truly think you would be an amazing teacher, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life thank you.

[@jgodwin717]

Love this learning more every day. Thank you Father!

[@63bplumb]

What an extraordinary young man. Such explanations without piety. Such knowledge with humility!

[@treezmathew]

Thank you for a wonderful description of St.Francis

[@fredblahblah.6352]

A great St Francis film is 1961's 'Francis of Assisi'. It does capture a great deal more of what this brother refers to than 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon', which, delightful music aside, contains extreme and entirely uncalled-for violence, and portrays St Francis not as a saint but as if he were a psychotic patient instead, with many of the symptoms and erratic uncontrolled incongruent behaviour which accompany delirium and hallucinations in productive psychosis.

[@MrMikeyt65]

Very informative video. Now I have to get myself a saint francis scapular!

[@Baeprints]

Omgosh Fr. Casey is like a baby here; he looks so young. Yet, still so wise and analytical.

[@skylamariecostello]

this is so good ! thank u!🤍🌹

[@marycahill546]

Go to Assisi if you can and walk in the footsteps of Francis and Clare. It's hard not to cry when you see how poor he was and how he suffered. The town itself is quiet, peaceful, and won't interfere with contemplation. You can do a day trip from Rome (2 hours each way) or stay for awhile in Assisi.

[@kathleenking47]

Also, pray for SF bay area, which was named after Francis & Clare...along with Matthew

[@stephanvillavicencio5679]

Dear Brothee Casey, Thank you for this genuine discussion on St Francis. do you have a list of favorite biographies on St Francis?

[@bernard294]

Br this one is the best vidéo you done

[@babytsina8632]

O my God! I love our Seraphip Father Francis more and more! To God be the glory. Amen.

[@pamcunje7228]

Very knowledgeable....Thank you.

[@jackieg784]

He Reminds us of the simple things that Truly Matter to Humankind!💟

[@tokendiva]

Please don’t take this wrong way but I absolutely love watching you in the videos. Saint Francis is my patron saint. 💕

[@alexandrecrof9678]

brother, your blessing... I’m from Rio, Brazil. I got impressed how we have similar thoughts about our great saint Francis. May I get your email? I would like to write you about the book I started work on it. It is about a point of view of Saint Francis (obviously) today.

[@Taipan108]

Excellent video. Very well done.

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

Thanks! Peace and good!

[@Taipan108]

Pax tecum, frater.

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

+Strawberry Gem I can't say that I have a particularly strong opinion, but I will say that the food we eat is a moral decision. How much we spend, the types of foods, how much we waste, etc., can all affect other people.

[@micheall1127]

So calm and optimistic

[@TroglodyteDiner]

What about the 1960 movie notable for staring Sr. Dolores Hart, O.S.B. as St. Clare? I'm surprised she didn't become a Poor Clare.

[@jamestracey5958]

Great work gentleman 🙏🙏

[@incubuseraph]

What book would you recommend reading about St. Francis to get the best picture of who he was? I am currently reading a biography by Omer Englebert.

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

I haven't read all of these, but I've heard that these are good books: Raoul Manselli's "St. Francis of Assisi," Donald Spoto's "The Reluctant Saint," and Murray Bodo's Francis, the Journey and the Dream.

[@ghostlylover99123]

When I got confirmed, I took the name francis

[@galexgarver]

ghostlylover99123 me too!

[@user-et8vm9cc3t]

Wait... What happens if you already have a Christian name, but have never been baptised? Are you required to take an additional name or to change your name ?

[@galexgarver]

Христо Мартунков, граф Лозенски you don’t legally change your name. You can choose the Saint name you already have if you like.

[@user-et8vm9cc3t]

@@galexgarver Thank you for the clarification. So basically you choose some sort of "tutelary saint", or am I still missing something?

[@paulkelly9803]

@@user-et8vm9cc3t that is correct, a patron saint who inspires you.

[@carloangelocervantesbaluyo4070]

i always love watching "Brother Sun Sister Moon", God bless all Fraciscan Friars.

[@julioaranton5223]

Thank you Brother 🙏

[@tokendiva]

I love you. Thank you so much.

[@els1f]

This was incredible

[@johncharnock6872]

Quentin Crisp said 'That which we must fight over to maintain, we would be better off doing without'...I think he may have got that from St Francis...

[@keltinquesnel1055]

Never give up the Habit ! It is your identity.

[@michaelhaywood8262]

Do you think the Canticle of the Sun was influenced by Daniel 3 [the Benedicite] and/or some of the Psalms.

[@tokendiva]

September 20, 2007. I truly thought I was gonna die and the only person I asked for help was God, I do believe always, thank you so much for being the most beautiful voice of God in this time I love you.

[@VRCM_Skywarn_XUSA]

According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (Italian Rufino),who is the patron saint of Assisi, Italy, was the first bishop of Assisi. He was responsible for converting Assisi to Christianity, but at what date is disputed. He is said to have died as a martyr at Costano, where the church was dedicated to him in 1038.

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

bless you father and bringing god in my life

[@willieluncheonette5843]

" Saint Francis of Assisi lay on his deathbed. He was singing, and singing so loudly that the whole neighborhood was aware. Brother Elias, a pompous but prominent member of the Franciscan order, came close to Saint Francis and said, ‘Father, there are people standing in the street outside your window.’ Many had come. Fearing that the last moment of Francis’ life had come, many who loved him had gathered together around the house. Said this brother Elias, “I am afraid nothing we might do could prevent them from hearing you singing. The lack of restraint at so grave an hour might embarrass the order, Father. It might lower the esteem in which you yourself are so justly held. Perhaps in your extremity you have lost sight of your obligation to the many who have come to regard you as a saint. Would it not be more edifying for them if you would, er, die with more Christian dignity?” “Please excuse me, Brother,” Saint Francis said, “but I feel so much joy in my heart that I really can’t help myself. I must sing!” And he died singing. In the whole Christian history, he’s the only one who has died singing. Many Zen people have died singing, but they don’t belong to Christianity. He is the only Zen master amongst Christian saints. He didn’t care a bit about Christian dignity. Saint Francis of Assisi has a different vision - he is just ordinary. He says, “Please excuse me, Brother, but I feel so much joy in my heart that I really can’t help myself. I must sing!” In fact, it is not that Francis is singing, Francis has become the song. That’s why he cannot help, he cannot control. There is nobody left to control it. If the song is happening it is happening. It is not within control, it can’t be, because the controller has disappeared. The self, the ego, no more exists. Saint Francis does not exist as an individual. There is absolute silence inside. Out of that silence this song is born. What can Francis do? That’s why he says, “I can’t help it. I must sing!” And he died singing. And there can be no other better death. If you can die singing, that proves that you lived singing, that your life was a joy and death became the crescendo of it, the culmination. Saint Francis of Assisi is a Buddha. The characteristic of a Buddha is that he is ordinary, that he has no ideas about himself of how he should be, that he simply is spontaneous, that whatsoever happens, happens. He lives on the spur of the moment, that is his authenticity. You can call it his characteristic, but what kind of characteristic is this? It is simply that he has no character, he has no strait-jacket of a character around himself, he has no armor, he does not live from the past, that he does not know what Christian dignity is. He lives in the moment like a child."

[@reniaesaddler8632]

Will the real St. Francis please stand up?!

[@tokendiva]

I know it’s not proper for me to say this but thank you I love you. You are the son of Jesus I will follow you no matter what. I promise with my whole life to follow you.

[@thesexyalpaca2396]

This is exactly how I’m trying to change ( I know the stupid name I have, my thing was made when KZbin was starting when I was 11 or so) I hope I have the strength to truly give up my “knighthood” and make this devotion one day

[@martinjohnson4405]

I enjoyed your video and had a question, in the video you talked about poverty more in the sense of physical poverty, what are your thoughts on Franciscan poverty in terms of spiritual poverty such as in the first Beatitude (“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:3 NRSV].) or in terms of the kenosis we find in Phillipians 2:5-11?

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

+Martin Johnson Do you mean this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4mpdKSOm51jpKcm41s In the video, my hope was to address that physical poverty was simply a means to the greater end, which was spiritual poverty, expressed in a reliance on God and humility.

[@martinjohnson4405]

Yes, thank-you.

[@RodCornholio]

Wow.

[@iankingdon8312]

great video br casey good things to think about as st francis feast day comes im pretty excited to celabrate with the brothers tommorow

[@hernangogol343]

Brother Francis. Who even taught the Gospels to birds and other, animals. Even plants. He gave us a lesson to love and to protect, our planet. Our only planet. Because there is not planet B! Let face it. And all creatures are also, children of God. No only Humans. ☝️😡

[@tokendiva]

God and love it’s very beautiful, it is beautiful

[@biblealone9201]

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

[@MrLink1701]

I think that Francis understood... you can be your own person... in service to others.

[@stfrancisii7154]

I was born and named after saint Francis of Assisi

[@damon123jones]

what youre looking for is whats looking ❤❤

[@karinlarsen2608]

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is offence, let me bring pardon. Where there is discord, let me bring union. Where there is error, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring your light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that one receives, it is in self-forgetting that one finds, it is in pardoning that one is pardoned, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

[@Chicago_Cabbie]

I just heard that Francesco DIDN'T write that !

[@Shevock]

For St. Francis all creatures were one family. When our family members are poisoned by a corporation or destroyed for quarterly profit, we are powerfully called to action. Francis was not lying because the biblical view is creation as a family. Around issues of peace and ecology, activism is a natural expression of persons who read Francis and listen.

[@facklegenius]

Yes

[@tokendiva]

I am not important but I would hope when I pass away you will give me a moment of your time. That is my honest and true wish

[@gedat5538]

You are important to God and so also important to Friar Casey!

[@Etobicoke67]

I am Jewish and have read the words of Talmud quoted by Jesus who Francesco followed. They spoke of the Rabbi Hillel's and others' teachings that summary of Torah is to love others as oneself. This is the essence of the story inspired by Torah or "Instruction" from G-d: (Vayikra 19:18)When a potential convert approached Hillel and asked to be taught the entire Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel summarized as follows, “That which is hateful to you do not do to others. All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn.” (Shabbos 31A) Therefore we are to share the love we experience with others. In the Shema we emphasises that G-d is ONE, reflecting the concept that He is everywhere and so in every Creation. Hence, to behave badly to any person or other creature, we behave badly to G-d. Whatever spiritual or philosophical path we follow, we are to see any bad behavior from others as because they do not know love or they choose the safety of learned behavior over the pain of change or personal growth toward unconditional love of others,. We can love ourselves and our families by defending ourselves against those who choose to do harm , but we need not bear the pain of hatred of them, no matter what doctrine, religion or philosophy of life they follow,. G-d's love is unconditional because He created us with the ability to do teshuva and return to our Originator who is always there, the perfect loving Parent who still loves their child and waits for them to turn back to receive that love, even if our own given parents could not love us the way we needed as children.

[@stfrancisii7154]

Hearing my name so much is interesting, and the similarities between what is talked about the 1st and my life is well ... Od

[@TroglodyteDiner]

So Francis' PTSD conversion is similar to Loyola's and Xavier's

[@johnkelly3886]

I would be fun to interpret Francis as subject to socio-economic determinism. I think we could much better understand the historicity of Francis. I think it would make him real.

[@mendyviola]

As an atheist, St Francis is someone I would love to have known in person. That says a lot.

[@TroglodyteDiner]

Greatest Saint?! I was taught that the distinction belonged to His Mother. And then there's the Apostle who did not See but Believed, and invented Christianity in the process. So after Paul, yes.

[@ralph7545]

Long live the Franciscan community in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

[@loidaenaguas2678]

Amen

[@santinojozefmiller7721]

0:01 is that painting behind you Asian?

[@tokendiva]

I don’t think Francis gave up. He is the most amazing person on the planet so he did not ever give up.

[@tokendiva]

I love you 💕

[@AliciaNyblade]

I'm Wiccan and St. Francis' approach to nature reminds me a lot of my own beliefs. Everything in nature--the stars, the moon, the sun, plants, animals, etc.--is a manifestation of the divine in its own way, illustrating one part of the greater whole, and should be honored as such. Peace, love, and light to you on your path, and may your God, the Christ, and St. Francis guide you well. Blessed be. + )O(

[@abaddon2148]

glad to see another general pagan in the audience lol

[@AliciaNyblade]

@@abaddon2148 Same to you! Blessed be!

[@alexphillips496]

Leno ruli meet him on video

[@VRCM_Skywarn_XUSA]

Pancho Villa sent me. ...Paco/Frank Nickname for... Francis. (Protector of Villas) (governor) name Pancho means Free and is of Spanish origin. Pancho is a name that's been used primarily by parents who are considering baby names for boys. diminutive form of Francisco. Francisco Also, in Spanish Latin America and in the Philippines, people with the name Francisco are called "Pancho". "Kiko" is also used as a nickname in the Philippines. "Chicho" is another possible nickname. In Portuguese, people named Francisco are commonly nicknamed "Chico" (shíco). Pancho" is a nickname for Francisco (Frank). Paco.

[@colleenorrick5415]

There’s a story that when Francis’s father reprimanded him in front of the church, Francis returned everything to his father and stripped naked and walked out of the church naked. When I feel like God is asking me to do something hard, I sometimes think, well at least he isn’t asking me to run out of the church naked! It puts things in perspective. Lol

[@kozmicre982]

I wonder the usury of the phrase "the church". As if there is any other external structure that anyone will arrive to say lo here or lo there. There is no shortage of sinners even among the churches and there are many

[@johnkelly3886]

Did he take the moral injunction of the New Testament literally.

[@Joyfulminimalist]

Why is this so funny to me ha! All I ever knew about st Francis was that he was the saint in my family’s garden birdbath. And Helena bonam carter as claire is odd. Ha!

[@davidcoupal8083]

One thing that you might not know about St Frasis he invented pizza

[@charlesevans133]

I have a Saint Francis concret statue probably made Georgia.

[@hernangogol343]

Saint Francis was a true Saint. A Christified! one. 🙌😔

[@serena1785]

Francis was no pushover that is for sure! He loved God more then life it self. Most people have never really read a good biography on the St. His life was a great story of personal and spiritual transformation. He was a lost soul in his youth and his transformation in Christ was miraculous we never hear that he ever reunited with his earthly father I often wonder if they ever reunited. I often wonder if the wolf of Gubbio was not Francis’s alter ego. A “ hungry man who harassed the town?”

[@MasterSophiaChrist]

Really pouring ash on the food. The ash is ORMUS. I have some from Vancouver Island ORMUS. The Indians use it still today. It has quantum elements in it. Helps activate third eye... strengthens the connection with Source.

[@willtat2]

No sandles, either. ;-)

[@tokendiva]

I am not close to Jesus, but I do love you so much. Don’t make me relieve my pain please

[@ndl2666]

is he in the bible?

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

St. Francis lived 1200 years after the Bible was finished. Different era of the Church.

[@okiedokiecookie]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on St. Francis. But if St. Francis is alive today, why would he not support protection of environment? Since Francis saw the imprint of God in Nature ... and even see animals and creation as Brothers and Sisters ... then I don't think he would want to destroy what reminds Him of God. That's the problem with the Church -- they regard so less environment and forget that who they invite in the Church are people who needs environment for nourishment of body. Caring for the environment does not mean the Tree is God.

[@ml5769]

Im Francis

[@lisacup6876]

He worshipped the creator and not the creation. He was an edgy artist, but he used all that passion and edge for God. He is what happens when a passionate artist surrenders everything to Jesus. A rebel against the world and completely in love with God.

[@michaelhaywood8262]

Could his Canticle of the Sun be influenced by Daniel 3 [the Benedictite] and or some of the Psalms.