Greater works than these will he show him!
St Francis of Paula
A tribute, translated and compiled by Joseph Denn

	500th Anniversary

Francis was born on 27 March, 1416, to his relatively aged parents who had offered many prayers and sacrifices for this blessing. A beautiful unearthly light was to be seen over the family home to signal this momentous event. However, when just one year old the child was in mortal danger. His parents turned to prayer again, especially to St Francis of Assisi, and vowed that should the child survive he would wear the Franciscan habit for one year. Their prayer was again heard and Francis emerged unscathed. His mother taught him to say the rosary. Once, when she invited him to leave off his prayer and go play games with the other children he replied: “I will go, if you wish, but I assure you mother, my greater pleasure is to treat with God.”

At 13, St Francis of Assisi appeared to him in the night and asked him to remind his parents of their vow. He told them on awakening. They were too religious to ignore such a warning and the following day all three departed to San Marco and enrolled him in the Franciscan monastery there. Once, while there, he was asked to cook the midday meal. At the appointed time the Friars came to the table and found nothing prepared. On entering the kitchen they found Francis deep in prayer, raised a foot off the ground, his gaze fixed on Heaven. The Superior called him twice and Francis, unperturbed, merely blessed the large pot on the fire and all was instantly ready. The friars testified they had never dined better. Francis fulfilled his parents’ vow, remaining there for one year, giving eminent signs of holiness, yet he chose not to stay on.

He chose a solitary spot in the caves near the sea and there spent his time contemplating God and praying. Like St Benedict, whose guidance he also sought, he was severely tempted by the devil to sin of the flesh. He instantly rose, threw off his clothes and ran into the icy waters. He was never again tempted so by the devil. His sanctity soon brought followers and at 19 years, after five years in this place, Francis received his first followers in his austere hermit’s life. So, in 1435, began the Minims.

He built his first monastery here in his native Paula. Francis was the servant of all from serving at table to washing the feet of the many visitors and poor and, it seems, God was the servant of Francis, for it has been said that the prodigies he worked during this time were more numerous than the wood and stone involved in its construction. He arrested a stone in mid-air that was falling dangerously; he made another rock as light and easy to lift as straw; he restored life to a young man fallen from a scaffold. Amongst the people he received as disciples were his father, now a widower, who died aged 95, in the habit and full of merits. About this time Francis retired to a desert place to fast for 40 days. It may have been at this time that the Archangel Michael appeared to him carrying what was to become the ensign of the Order: the word charitas written in fire on an azure field.

From this time onwards Francis’ life became more apostolic as the fame of his sanctity and miracles resounded. On one celebrated occasion when traversing the strait of Messina, refused free passage in the name of charity by the ferry captain, Francis raised his eyes to Heaven, exhorted his disciples to take heart from Moses’ crossing of the Red Sea, and spreading his cloak on the water, sailed to Sicily with his crew!

Now Pope Paul II was interested! He sent his chamberlain to find out who or what all the clamour from Calabria was about. The prelate asserted that the Minim Rule of perpetual abstinence from meat, eggs, and dairy was too tough for most people. Francis replied by putting his hand into the fire, taking out a piece of burning coal, and saying: “all creatures obey those who serve God with a perfect heart” The Pope thus approved the Order of Minims in 1473 under the title of the Hermits of Calabria.

At Court

The King of Naples, Ferdinand I, was the first monarch to try and be tried by Francis. Known as Ferdinand the Cruel he extorted exorbitant taxes from his subjects and trafficked their goods and lands as if they were his own. Notwithstanding, in these Catholic times, he also travelled to Rome in 1475 to obtain the Jubilee indulgence. Francis sent messengers to warn him of the wrath of God if he did not amend his ways and do penance. The King was piqued by this audacity and tried several times to humiliate Francis in return. Francis triumphed through charity, humility, and miracles each time and continued his solemn warnings. Finally, when the Turks, having conquered Rhodes, entered Italy at Otranto and put the whole town to the sword and on fire, the King had to act. Francis exhorted everyone not to lose courage and they would retake Otranto. This they did. The King’s heart was conquered. He gave Francis his choice of land to build a monastery.

King Louis XI had heard too of the holy Calabrian. He feared greatly his approaching end and sought Francis to come to his kingdom. Francis obeyed, subject to the blessing of the Pope, Sixtus IV, and went to Rome to obtain it. It seemed all of Rome came to greet him. The Pope received him in audience many times and tried to bestow on him the dignity of the priesthood. But Francis consistently refused. He tried on his part to secure papal approval for his Rule, especially the perpetual abstinence. Sensualism was flavour of the month in Christendom at that time and such a rule could well have arrested this downward trend.

Notwithstanding, it was not this pope but his nephew standing close by, as Julius II, who was to approve this part of the rule some 13 years later, as Francis predicted to Sixtus!

The papal blessing obtained, Francis sailed for France. Arriving at Marseille, they were refused entry on account of the plague which was ravishing France at that time. Toulon was the same. Arriving at the port of Lavandou he was initially refused entry. But Francis answered: “Dear brothers, God is with us, permit us to enter.” These words reassured them and Francis, on reaching land, knelt and prayed. After walking the 2km to the village of Bormes, Francis began entering the houses and curing the sick. When he left there was an atmosphere of festival in the town compared with the depression that greeted him. Arriving at Plessis which at that time was Louis XI’s normal residence, the King came out to greet him and receive his blessing. The King was anxious to have his life prolonged, but Francis repeatedly told him “Sire, put your country in order and above all your conscience; there will be no miracle for you and it is necessary to die well.” Going the same way as the King of Naples, Louis sent a magnificent gold and silver cutlery set; then a truly priceless statue of Mary; and still unable to sway his guest, he finally arrived himself with a bag of gold for a new monastery. “Sire, Francis told him, give this money to your subjects; it would be better for your soul not to charge such high taxes and give less alms with money that is not your own.” When the King’s spies came one day to alert him of Francis’ floating in the air in an ecstasy, the King rushed to see him. He was thus convinced and soon scarcely a day passed without the King going to visit his holy guest. Finally, the hour came for the King to pass into eternity, and he did so with these last words: “Our Lady of Embrun help me”. His son Charles VIII succeeded him, France being ruled by his sister Anne of Beaujeu until he came of age. When Charles died in 1498 he was succeeded by Louis XII. All of these monarchs enjoyed the favour of Francis and Francis remained at Plessis throughout. Charles VIII gave the Minims the land and the means to build a monastery there within the royal domain. Anne of Beaujeu had bemoaned her sterility to Francis who consoled her, saying: “Do not worry, Madame, before I leave France, you will be a mother.” This prophecy was fulfilled shortly after and in gratitude she had a monastery built in Gien for the Order. Charles’ wife, Anne of Brittany, had reason too for a lively devotion to Francis. He told her that she would have 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, but that the two boys would die young in punishment for the sins of their parents. This too came to pass. When Charles died having no male heir Louis XII became King. He had married Joan of Valois, the sister of Charles and Anne of Beaujeu. This pious woman through her contact with Francis sought more and more a Heavenly crown and to begin the Order of the Annonciades as the Blessed Virgin had asked of her as a child.

The Minims

During his life Francis saw 33 Monasteries opened in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Sicily. He also received 108 religious at Plessis. Among these was Fr Francois Binet. He had been the prior of Marmoutiers Abbey and a brilliant man. But he grew fond of hunting and had become melancholy in his middle years. He was encouraged to visit Francis by one of his monks. This he did and was received so amicably that slowly, after repeated visits, he refound his love for contemplation and prayer. He at length got leave of his superior and local Archbishop to take the Minim habit and went on to succeed Francis as Superior. Another religious he received in his time was his nephew Nicholas of Alesso. This young man wanted to follow his uncle in Religion but his mother, Francis’ sister Brigitte, had been an unfortunate obstacle. Francis warned her several times of the punishment of God but could not succeed in detaching her heart from her son. Finally he fell fatally ill. His mother threw herself at Francis’ feet but he would not accede to her prayer. Nicholas died shortly after and his body was taken to the church of the Minims. Three days later his mother came to pray for him. Francis went to meet her and asked her: “Why do you weep so? God, no doubt, has punished you; but if he gave you back your son, would you still refuse to consecrate him to the Religious life?” “Alas, cried the unfortunate woman, if God, despite my evil past, consented to give me back my son, I would see him with pleasure take the habit of your brothers.” Francis took her to his cell and showed her there her son alive and wearing the Minim habit.

Francis himself loved silence and contemplation far more than these external works give witness. He was often out of sight of the various monarchs and others who sought his company during his long life. He loved to sweep out the chapel and prepare the Altar for Mass, staying on afterwards to prolong his thanksgiving while sending his companions to the refectory. His Order was composed of hermits who came together to recite the Divine Office although not to chant it for fear of growing proud through hearing their voice. He also stipulated, as related above, a permanent abstinence at table, unless on doctor’s orders and even in this case, the invalid would be housed in a second infirmary outside the cloister, though inside the monastery walls. Of holy poverty he had this to say when speaking of his patched but clean and tidy habit: “I have recommended poverty to you, but I intend it to be honest, and when you speak with seculars, take care, for neglect may inspire in them a disgust for this beautiful virtue.”

Miracles

As we have said, Francis’ life was a series of miracles from beginning to end. One young man, Thomas Yvre, fell from a great tree in which he was engaged in cutting wood for the monastery, and died on impact with the ground and the weight of branches on top of him. Francis rushed to the scene, prayed over the man’s body, and thrilled the onlookers by restoring him to life. Shortly after the same Thomas Yvre fell from the bell tower and Francis was importuned to repeat the miracle!

At the house in Paterne in Italy a little trout lived in the monastery pond. Francis befriended her, calling her Antonella. He would come and feed it from his hand.

A local man pretending to be Francis called the trout one day and when it came he caught it and took it home and fried it. Francis noticed its absence and sent a brother to reclaim it from the thief, warning him that God would know well how to avenge the crime if he did not return it. The unhappy man, threw the pieces of fish at the brother’s feet. When Francis received them he exclaimed: “Poor Antonella! What an end! Were you not able to distinguish my voice from a stranger’s? Without a doubt it was greed that pushed you to eat from an enemy hand; may this lesson profit you for the future.” He then blessed the pieces and threw them into water saying “return to life, Antonella!” Antonella lived on in Paterne only disappearing when the saint himself passed away, a life span of some 25 years!

Another young man, a Calabrian, entered the church one day, at Plessis, and sought to join the order. Francis, when he saw him, addressed him as follows: “My friend, I know the thought that brought you here: believe me God does not wish you amongst us; he destines you for a gentler state, in which it will be easier to accomplish the works of charity more in keeping with your character. Return to your homeland and there, the first time you cross the threshold of a church to hear Mass a woman will enter after you, marry her. You will have two children; remember to raise them in the fear of God.” Phillip Camilien, the young man in question, saw this prophecy fulfilled. Another time, a little bird landed on his shoulder and chattered away so that Francis was unable to continue his conversation. He took the little bird in his hands and commanded him to keep silence. The obliging bird assisted quietly while the conversation lasted. During his lifetime Francis bought and distributed an enormous number of blessed rosaries and candles and these too were sources of great healings.

Death

On Maundy Thursday of 1506 Francis told his religious, in what was to be his last conference, the importance of charity to all including one’s enemies, “as Jesus had washed the feet of Judas who had already resolved to betray Him.” The monks were shattered at the prospect of losing him and feared greatly they would be unable to keep so austere a rule without his wise and gentle counsels. Francis prayed that God would preserve them from their fears and repugnances. Just then, the stove in the sacristy burst into flame and set the ceiling alight. Francis took the burning stove in his hands and turning to his brethren said: “In truth, my brothers, it is no more difficult for him who loves God to fulfil his engagements than it is for me to hold this fire in my hands.” He passed away the following day, Good Friday, at ten o’clock in the morning. These were his last words: “O Good Jesus, Sweet Shepherd, keep the just, purify sinners, have pity on the living and the dying. And be merciful unto me, a sinner.” He passed away with the names of Jesus and Mary on his lips.

His body reposed incorrupt at Plessis for many years, it being the source of many graces and miracles, until it was pillaged and burned by the Huguenots in 1562. His bones were rescued by a local man. These and other relics are still extant. He was canonized by Leo X in 1519.

[After the book Saint Francis of Paula,
Founder of the Order of Minims,
by Fr M. Rolland]

The Minim devotion of the 13 Fridays
as described by St Francis:

“For 13 consecutive Fridays confess your sins and receive the Most Holy Sacrament while hearing Mass, to obtain the grace you desire. During this Mass, recite 13 times the Pater, Ave and Credo in honour and reverence for Jesus Christ and his 12 Apostles. Don’t omit fasting and alms and God will hear your just desires.”

The monastery of the Minims at Plessis, near Tours in France, where St Francis’ relics reposed