The works of St Francis of Assisi have been known throughout the world for generations. There is a wide range to choose from, so in this article we will try to make a small analysis of some of the works of this saint of great fame and mercy.
Works of St Francis of Assisi
St Francis of Assisi had many works. From whichever point of view you look at him, it can be said that this saint was not only an excellent religious man. He showed an inspiring way of life for human beings.
Moreover, his writings are rich and show us the legacy of St Francis of Assisi in words. They open up his world view and through his many poems and reflections we can understand more about his psychology and way of thinking.
Before going into the analysis of the works of St Francis of Assisi, here is a video showing a film about the life of the saint, his works, miracles and facts about his life that may help you to understand the context in which these works were written.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnnu2rAU8K8
Among the works of St Francis of Assisi, the following stand out
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Admonitions:
This work is made up of 28 chapters that deal with a common theme: Acting to make God proud. Throughout most of the text, the importance of leaving behind banalities and beginning to be truly pure in soul and ideals is argued.
Throughout his life, this saint showed a great drive to change societies for the better. He wanted people to be true, honest and good to one another. This may have been the hidden reason why he decided to write ‘Admonitions’, but at this stage the cause cannot be established.
The date on which it was written is uncertain, as there are no documents that can give us a better idea of the context in which it was written. Nevertheless, it can be said that it is one of the most important works of Saint Francis.
In the prayer of St Francis of Assisi you can see strong hints of influence on his works. Look at them and you will see the connection between the two.
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True joy:
Throughout this beautiful short story by St Francis of Assisi you can see the discussion of what joy brings to many. Furthermore, the saint uses this writing to highlight the misconceptions that are held about what happiness really is.
St Francis says that happiness does not consist in the banalities of being human, much less in having greater riches. On the contrary, in the end he gives us the excellent lesson that true joy is to be found in knowing how to treat people and in remaining calm even when they trample on us.
Serenity is one of the aspects that St Francis of Assisi believed made up true joy. That is why today we bring you the Serenity Prayer of St Francis of Assisi. Say it and you will see how peace makes you a happier and more complete person.
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Explanation of the Our Father:
This text is an explanation of the Lord’s Prayer itself. Within the structure of the text, St Francis of Assisi proceeds to divide the prayer into small parts, giving each one a small explanation in the form of thanksgiving to the Creator of the world.
It is in works like this that we can truly appreciate how much love and admiration St Francis had for Almighty God. The precise way in which everything is formulated shows how much these words meant in the life of the saint.
Suddenly he turns the Our Father into a method of giving thanks, not of asking. This was one of the pillars of his daily life.
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Office of the Passion of the Lord:
This is a kind of psalm composed by St Francis of Assisi. The way in which this work is distributed is simply ingenious, since it is specifically designed to be read from Good Friday onwards. One psalm (of the 15) is read for each hour of the day until the end of the day.
Why St Francis of Assisi composed these majestic and beautiful psalms is a mystery. However, it is not too difficult to suppose that it was his great intention to give at least the thanks due to Almighty God.
On the other hand, like almost all the works of St Francis of Assisi, there is no solid evidence as to when this work was written. However, it is estimated that he wrote it in his mature adulthood.
If you want to know a little more about the different references of religious literature, we recommend you try the works of St Anselm, with the wealth of them you can have a better understanding of the word.
Another saint who is particularly known for his writings is Saint Augustine or Saint Augustine of Hippo. So today we invite you to read some of St Augustine’s works or books to learn more about him. In this way, your knowledge of the saints will be wider and more open.
