Find fraternity like Francis

“And after the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what I had to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel…And those who came to receive life gave whatever they had to the poor and were content with one tunic, patched inside and out, with a cord and short trousers. We desired nothing more… And we were simple and subject to all.” — The Testament of Saint Francis 

St. Francis knew the value of relationship and companionship from his youthful days in Assisi. He was well known, even popular, and deeply connected to the life of the town. But what was the depth of those relationships? Were they rooted in something lasting, or did Francis use them simply to advance his own enjoyment and entertainment? 

Francis’ decision to go off alone in search of something more reveals that his experience of the social and spirited world of Assisi was not enough. Although his search gifted him with a unique and exceptional experience of relationship with Christ, he didn’t encounter that relationship in isolation or seclusion. 

The Lord gave Francis brothers. 

The gift of these brothers confirms that any relationship with God, with Christ, is not formed alone, but through the relationships we build with one another. Liturgically, we encounter God through plural pronouns – we, us, our – because God is not simply “for me,” but always “for and with us.” 

Francis could only fully become himself through the divine blessing of brothers who accompanied him. Fraternity became and continues to be a defining aspect of the Franciscan movement. 

Francis did not limit the definition of fraternity to “brotherhood.” With his focus on bringing the Gospel to all the people of God, fraternity became something wider, more inclusive. (We see this in Francis’ naming of Lady Jacoba of Settesoli as “Brother Jacoba.”) The necessity of fraternal relationships became intertwined with Francis’ “concept of bringing others to life through the word of God.”1 

Even when his brothers struggled to understand him later in life, Francis never lamented or diminished the importance of the fraternity God planted around him. 

Understanding fraternity this way – as relationship with all who are graced to enter our lives – is fundamental to living as Francis did. Relationships – though imperfect and sometimes difficult – are how we come to know the depth and breadth of a God who is love. Without one another, that discovery remains incomplete. 

Like all of creation, our relationships, friendships and fraternity are gifts. And gifts must be reverenced, cared for and nurtured to flourish. 

Reflect 

What gifts and challenges have you received from the relationships in your life? What has guided the search for community and relationship in your life? 

How have your relationships with others contributed to your ongoing discovery of God and yourself? 

What does “entering into the life of another person” mean to you? What do you think prohibits you from taking this extraordinary step in life? 

Image by Pedro Subercaseaux