Saint Francis’ feast day, today, spurs believers and non-believers alike to embrace the Poverello’s great and still very relevant ideals.

In Pope Francis’ speech to the representatives of the communications media just three days after being elected, Francis “is … the man of peace... the man of poverty… the man who loves and protects creation… He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man …”

Speaking both as a human being and a Franciscan, I think that Saint Francis’ genius lies in detaching himself not only from material possessions but, and most of all, in letting Christ transform his sinful and egoistic self into an altruistic one. For the love of God he served the lepers and the poor because in them he saw the living image of Jesus Christ himself.

Motivated by such a powerful love of God and neighbour, Saint Francis could forgive those who hurt him. The Poverello was a peaceful man because, by God’s grace, he was able to forgive. That is why in his ninth Admonition he says: “The Lord says: love your enemies [do good to those who hate you and pray for your persecutors and calumniators]. For a person really has love for his enemy when he is not offended by the injury done to himself but instead of love of God feels burning sorrow for the sin his enemy has brought on his own soul; in this way he proves his love in a practical way.”

Am I ready to pray and do good to those who despise me? If I do, then, like Saint Francis, I am a messenger of hope. Happy Saint Francis Day to everyone but especially to those who are serious in letting God’s pardon heal them and those who have injured them in some way.