Recently we just observed the 800th anniversary of the transitus–and then the feast day, October 4th–of St. Francis of Assisi.

While many would honor the powerful presence of the Franciscan order over 800 years–and rightly so–I want to take a moment to remember the power St. Francis himself has had on my understanding of evangelization.

When I was just beginning my work as the first Director of Missionary Discipleship for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, we were in a hard time. The diocese was about to enter a long forecast bankruptcy due to the sexual abuse crisis. No one truly knew what the future held, but we knew the past was wrenching–and justice of some sort was due (all the perpetrators were deceased). No one was sure if churches would have to be sold, etc. In addition, the number of people disaffiliating from the Catholic faith rose to dramatic heights, with no end in sight. Fewer vocations to the priesthood were stretching priests very thin. It felt like everything that anchored the Church was in danger of evaporating into the mist.

I would drive around our large diocese and listen to an audio drama called “Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi” (created by the Augustine Institute, available on Formed and through Audible). It’s genuinely outstanding and literally moved me to tears the first time I listened to it–I highly recommend it. But it also reminded me: Francis was the evangelical powerhouse of his day. Yet he made no sense to medieval Europe, even to much of the powerful Catholic Church of Pope Innocent III. He chose poverty, providence, grace, peace, humility. He chose God in such a dramatic, complete manner that the radically good news of gospel cracked through Assisi like thunderclap. And only 15 years later…there were 6000 in his fledgling order. Everyday Catholics were enthralled, renewed, and evangelized.

There were three ways Francis’ sharing of the gospel “broke through” the received Christianity of the age that we would do well to remember now.

1. He helped us become strange to the familiarity of the gospel. He received a gospel delivered by “Lady Poverty”–shorn of all titles and prestige of the day. He made clear he respected the hierarchy of the Church, but he wanted the Church’s blessing to live another way–to be a “little brother,” to be without land to tend and defend, to be unable to be influenced by money. He received that blessing. And people paid attention to his words, no doubt through their inspiration–but also because Francis and his brothers were, frankly, strange. The newness of the gospel, and its power, was uncloaked, shorn of the riches of the age. There was no confusing this gospel with the muddled way of the world. And people were won to it.
2. Francis was all in on devotion to God. There was no divided heart tolerated in this man or his brothers and sisters. Christianity was seen as a life to give oneself to, completely. God’s providence would provide for those who are willing to live by receiving. His life was one of radical trust that God is good.
3. Francis was joy incarnate. Maybe not every moment of his life. But he lived out an abiding joy in the Lord’s service that was infectious. He reminded people that happiness and joy do not come from possessions or prestige. His joyful discipleship reflected the goodness of God without a word.

In an apostolic age, we need to witness like Francis. Not many have a call to radical poverty like his, for certain. But we need to witness as if money doesn’t matter–because in the end, it does not. Buildings are wonderful if you have them, a grace–but not 100% necessary, either. Humility–pointing to God’s power and providence constantly–actually attracts more attention than if we were pointing to ourselves. And peace, how we yearn to be around people who strive for peace.

This is the only way, friends. As Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Mt 8:20). The Lord provides what we need to spread the good news, but that is sometimes less than what we expect. And it often comes just in time. Francis reminds us of the provision of the way, and the way is Jesus Christ.

St. Francis, pray for us who evangelize another culture of familiarity, wealth, power with the gospel.