Saint Francis by Nikos Kazantzakis

Author:Nikos Kazantzakis [Kazantzakis, Nikos]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Religious, Francis, Italy, Biographical, Assisi (Italy), Christian, Italy - History - 476-1268
ISBN: 9780829421293
Google: WjANnGkElRwC
Amazon: 0829421297
Publisher: Loyola Press
Published: 1962-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

"You are the lion," they shouted. "Step in front; lead us!"

Pale and exhausted, Francis placed his hand on my shoulder and pulled himself to his feet.

"Peace, my brothers," he cried in a voice that was supplicating, afflicted. "How can we bring peace to the world if we do not have peace in our own hearts? One war begets another, and this still another, and thus there is no end to the shedding of human blood. Peace! Peace! Do you forget, Brother Elias, that Christ was a lamb and that He bore upon Himself the sins of the world?"

"Christ was a lion, Brother Francis," retorted Elias. "He says so Himself: I have not come to bring peace, but a sword!"

He turned to the friars. "Did you hear? Those were Christ's words; not mine, Christ's: I have not come to bring peace, but a sword! "

The friars rose with agitated hearts and separated into two groups. A few gathered around Francis and wept, but the majority surrounded Elias and broke into peals of laughter.

Everyone began to talk at once and shout excitedly, until Father Silvester stepped into the middle. "Brothers," he said,

"Satan, the black goat, has come once again among us. I see his green eyes in the air!"

Francis made his way through the friars who circled him, and going up to Elias put his arm around his waist.

"Brother Elias, all of you—listen," he said. "Our brotherhood is passing through a difficult moment. Allow the arguments and counterarguments you have heard during this meeting to settle down tranquilly within you. War? Peace?

Prayer in absolute solitude? Time, God's faithful guide, will show us the correct road. Meanwhile, my brethren, do not forget your duty! The Holy Father had accorded us the privilege of preaching. The roads of the entire earth stretch before us; let us portion them out in a brotherly way and start our journeys. Our home here is too constricting. The Portiuncula is small: we live elbow to elbow, trip over each other, become irritated, angry—and then the Tempter comes.

Go into the open air and set off along the main roads, traveling in pairs so that one can be a source of courage and comfort to the other. And wherever you see men gathered together, halt and strew before them the Word of God—

immortal nourishment. I, with God's help, shall proceed to Africa. I shall find a boat, cross the sea, and, God willing, reach the faraway lands of the infidels where innumerable souls have never even heard the name of Christ. God willing, I shall bring it to them! Forward, brothers, in the name of the Lord. Let us scatter to the ends of the earth, and afterwards return here to the Portiuncula, the cradle where we were born, to relate to each other everything we have seen, suffered, and accomplished on this, our first apostolic campaign.

"Disperse now, my brothers, my children, disperse with my blessing to the four corners of the earth. The entire world is God's field. Plough it and then sow poverty, love, and peace.

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