Thursday, March 14, 2013

Francis the Name

Everyone jumped on the bandwagon of Francis of Assisi as the model of the new papacy?  Did the pope say that?  One Jesuit suggested that it could have referred to Francis Xavier, a Jesuit,  who was by far more of a "missionary" to another culture than was Francis, who hardly got out of Assisi.  He did go to the Sultan, but got dismissed by them and converted no one.  As soon as he died, his order went in another direction as regards his idea of "poverty."  It happens with some founders.  Xavier went to India and Japan.  He did well.  He wanted to go to China but died before he got there.  See the connect?  Not Assisi, but the Orient and India.  This new pope may be conservative on the sex and ordination issues, but I suspect he will be quite creative about allowing for a non-Latin West Church to flourish in these other places.  Just sayin'

3 comments:

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  2. We'll see how this plays out.... But I sure like the idea of Francis Xavier! And oh, don't click on that link in the previous comment. (But you knew that, didn't you?) Our Post-Eucharist Eucharists will be exciting this summer!

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  3. Actually the pope did mention explicitly San Francesco d'Assisi and some idea of "poverty". I can't find an English reference right now, besides the second hand citation from Timothy Dolan, but I hope you will.

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