The Teacher of His Heart

Chapter Five. Christ — Beloved Son of the Father and Our Brother

Chapter Five Christ — Beloved Son of the Father and Our Brother In Francis' vision of Christ, the most important title is undoubtedly that of "beloved Son." Our study of this title will lead us to a deeper understanding of how Francis views the incarnate Word in Himself and in His relationship to God and to us. But before we analyze the title of "Son" properly so called, let us first attempt to analyze the co-relative title of "Father." I. God—Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ A. God Is Father For Francis, God's name is essentially that of Father. He is Father because He is Creator. Francis saw an intimate connection between creation and the fatherhood of God. His vivid awareness that God the Creator is also Father led him to recognize a bond of solidarity that links not just human beings but all creatures to one another. With simplicity he called them his brothers and sisters. The Canticle of the Creatures expresses in a wonderful way the fatherly countenance of God: "Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun...through Sister Moon and the stars...through Sister Water...through Brother Fire...through our Sister Mother Earth."1 Even "our Sister Bodily Death" is part of this immense family. The early biographers unanimously testify to Francis' fraternal regard for creatures, which flowed from his profoundly evangelical vision of God as Father. Thomas of Celano writes: For as of old the three youths in the fiery furnace invited all the elements to praise and glorify the Creator of the universe, so also this man, filled with the spirit of God, never ceased to glorify, praise, and bless the Creator and Ruler of all things in all the elements and creatures.... He called all creatures brother and sister, and in a most extraordinary manner, a manner never experienced by others, he discerned the hidden things of nature 1CantSol 3, 5, 7, 8, 9. 134 / Norbert Nguyên–Van–Khanh, O.F.M. with his sensitive heart, as one who had already escaped into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.2 We notice that in his writings Francis frequently refers to God as Pater caelestis ("heavenly Father"), Pater in coelis ("Father in heaven"), and Pater de coelo ("heavenly Father").3 And since God alone is Father, in the Earlier Rule he is anxious to repeat to his brothers the teaching of Christ: All of you are brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father, you have but one Father in heaven.4 On the same point the early biographers have noted: Francis did not want to call anyone whose name was "Good" by their name out of respect for the Lord who said: "No one is good but God alone." Likewise in his letters he called no one father or master out of respect for the Lord who said: "You must call no one on earth your father ... nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers."5 Francis' vivid awareness of the fatherhood of God was reinforced by the fact that he lacked the support of his earthly father. Having been mistreated by him since the first days of his conversion, Francis placed all his trust in the heavenly Father. After he had given everything back to his earthly father, as he stood before the tribunal of the bishop of Assisi, he declared: From now on I can freely say: Our Father in heaven, not father Peter Bernardone, to whom, behold, I give up not only the money, but all my clothes too. I will therefore go naked to the Lord.6 Indeed, from that day on he wished to call no one father except God alone. 21Cel 80-81. 3See Chapter Three, n. 2. 4Mt. 23:8; RegNB XXII 33-34. 5LP 65. 62Cel 12; LMaior II, 4; L3S 20. Ch. 5: Christ—Beloved Son of the Father and Our Brother / 135 If now we examine the writings of Francis more carefully, we shall discover additional details. While it is true that God is Father by nature, He is first of all the Father of Christ. B. God Is the Father, the King and the God of Christ There is nothing more instructive than to read Francis' Office of the Passion and observe the changes and additions he has made to the original texts, most of which...