Francis and the Franciscan movement (1181/2–1226)

Francis of Assisi, Christology, and mission

“…Lawrence (1994: 36) argues that ministering to the poor through preaching and practical care, including praying for healing for the sick, was the most important element of the Friar Minors’ work. These ministry values clearly reflected Francis’s view of Christ the poor man (also Francis, Earlier Rule 17; Peters, 2015: 179–180; Moorman, 1968: 125–128; Cusato, 2012: 22; McMichael, 2012: 130).…”

“…Augustinian, Benedictine), they were given official status through a papal bull in 1216. By 1221, the order had grown to include more than 3000 monks, including a community of sisters led by Clare of Assisi (Francis, Earlier Rule 1–2, 5, 7, 11; Francis, Admonitions 4–5; Lawrence, 1994: 31, 34, 37, 48–60, 108–112; Moorman, 1968: 10–12, 20–25, 32–39, 184–187; Robson, 2012a: 3; Robson, 2012c: 39–41; Cusato, 2012: 20–29; Godet-Calogeras, 2012: 115–126). 1…”

“…The friars also survived by begging for alms. Finally, in addition to prayer, worship, and work, the Franciscans were largely occupied with itinerant, evangelistic preaching (Francis, Earlier Rule 3, 7.3–12, 8, 9.1–12, 14–15; Francis, Rule 3.1–9, 4–5, 6.1–6; Robson, 2012a: 5; Robson, 2012c: 40, 42; Cusato, 2012: 19; Moorman, 1968: 17).…”

“…Francis and the Friars Minor engaged in cross-cultural mission work from a very early point in their history. Particularly burdened to “preach the Christian faith and penance to the Saracens [Muslims],” Francis set sail for the Holy Land in 1212 but never made it because of a shipwreck (cited in Cusato, 2012: 24). Later, he attempted to go to Spain and meet with the Muslim leader from Morocco but he fell ill.…”

“…There, he walked across enemy lines and met with the Egyptian Sultan Malik al-Kamil and proclaimed the Christian message to him. In the following year, Francis continued his ministry to Muslims in Syria while also reaching out to dispersed Muslims in cities such as Jerusalem, Antioch, and Acre (Daniel, 2012: 241–242; Lawrence, 1994: 37–38, 43–46; Moorman, 1968: 24–25, 30–31, 62–74, 166–169, 227–229; Cusato, 2012: 25–27; McMichael, 2012: 128).…”