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St. Francis of Assisi and his Profession
to Pope Innocent XIII
St. Francis of Assisi, his followers, and Pope Innocent III
On April 16 of this year, we celebrate the 799th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s and his followers’ profession to Pope Innocent III. The profession marked the pope’s acceptance of St. Francis’ way of life, which involved simplicity and poverty. Innocent III had initially rejected St. Francis, but then recognized the poor man from a vision revealed to him by God. Innocent also understood the destructive effects of wealth and greed on society.
Pope Innocent III was born in 1198 into the powerful de Conti family. Before his election he was a great theologian and jurist. His acceptance of St. Francis and his followers marked the beginning of the foundation of the Franciscan Order, which was officially instituted in 1215.
St. Francis of Assisi lived a life of devotion and simplicity
As much as consumption and power played a large role in the early 13th century, they play an even larger role today nearly eight centuries later. Often some of us fall into the trap of buying for the sake of buying. A pinch of Franciscan simplicity however just might add balance to this artificial need to spend.
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