APRIL 16th: Saint Francis of Assisi had written a very short Rule of Life (Regula Primitiva, “Primitive Rule”) that was verbally approved by Pope Innocent III on April 16, 1209. This first Rule was little more than some Scripture passages strewn together, the text of which has been lost. However, this marks the founding of the Order of Friars Minor in 1209.
Due to the
decrees of the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, Saint Francis, like all other
religious orders, had to update their Rules in accord with the directives of
the Roman Church. In 1221 Saint Francis rewrote the Rule for the Friars. Due to
its lack of canonical form and lengthy exhortations, it was never approved, but
the text is available.
In 1223
Saint Francis took Br. Leo and Br. Bonizzio to the Friary in Fonte Columbo. There,
he wrote the final and definitive Rule of the Friars Minor.
If you are
interested in reading the final Rule of 1223, it can be found on this website:
https://www.porziuncolaproject.com/the-rule-of-saint-francis
On this date then, many Franciscans renew their vows or welcome new members into the Orders on "profession day"!
In
synchronicity on this date, a perfect example of Franciscan devotion to poverty
and the poor is found in this Third Order individual:
Benedict
Joseph Labre was
truly eccentric, one of God’s special little ones. Born in France and the
eldest of 18 children, he studied under his uncle, a parish priest. Because of
poor health and a lack of suitable academic preparation he was unsuccessful in
his attempts to enter the religious life. Then, at age 16, a profound change
took place. Benedict lost his desire to study and gave up all thoughts of the
priesthood, much to the consternation of his relatives.
He became
a pilgrim, traveling from one great shrine to another, living off alms. He wore
the rags of a beggar and shared his food with the poor. Filled with the love of
God and neighbor, Benedict had special devotion to the Blessed Mother and to
the Blessed Sacrament. In Rome, where he lived in the Colosseum for a time, he
was called “the poor man of the Forty Hours devotion” and “the beggar of Rome.”
The people accepted his ragged appearance better than he did. His excuse to
himself was that “our comfort is not in this world.”
On April
16, 1783, the last day of his life, Benedict dragged himself to a church in
Rome and prayed there for two hours before he collapsed, dying peacefully in a
nearby house. Immediately after his death, the people proclaimed him a saint.
Benedict
Joseph Labre was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1881.
Reflection
In a
modern inner city, one local character kneels for hours on the sidewalk and
prays. Swathed in his entire wardrobe winter and summer, he greets passersby
with a blessing. Where he sleeps no one knows, but he is surely a direct
spiritual descendant of Benedict, the ragged man who slept in the ruins of
Rome’s Colosseum. These days we ascribe such behavior to mental illness;
Benedict’s contemporaries called him holy. Holiness is always a bit mad by
earthly standards.
Saint
Benedict Joseph Labre is the Patron Saint of unhoused persons.
retrieved from:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-benedict-joseph-labre/
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