52. Conclusion

There are two basic ways in which Franciscan Spirituality can be described. One can begin with the headings from a textbook on spirituality and this would be the best way if your aim is to find a definition of Franciscan spirituality. Such headings would be prayer, asceticism, rules for daily life, and so on. The other way is to look at the life and writings of Francis and draw out of these examples of how Francis became a saint. The advantage of this way is that the spirituality remains embedded in the story of Francis. This second method has been attempted in these meditations because that is how the spirituality of Jesus Christ is expressed in the Gospels. The writers of the Gospel tell the story of what Jesus did and said and we try to imitate that story. For Francis we have seen the event and experience that began his conversion, namely, his meeting with the leper and how this experience led him to a life of poverty. In his poverty Francis prayed, was able to find a new beauty in creation, a bond even with wild animals, and he became a preacher of the Good News to people even as far away as the Sultan in Egypt. He founded an Order of Brothers and inspired Saint Clare and her Sisters to begin the Order of Saint Clare. As we read what Francis said and did we know that we cannot live exactly as he did but we can pray that we too will be identified in death with Christ Jesus just as he was identified with the Lord on the mountain of La Verna when he was sealed with the marks of Christ's passion.