The courage of Francis to create new ways of preaching the Faith springs from his charismatic conviction: “The Most High Himself made it clear to me...” (Test 14) He experienced in his own person the power and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Despite and because of these gifts, Francis did not feel superior towards the Church and towards his friars. He did not use his charism for claims of spiritual power. On the contrary, he invited every friar to be aware of his own individual charism (e.g. Brother Leo).
This respect for the working of the Holy Spirit in every brother left its imprint also on the Rule he wrote for the brothers. He developed a most sensitive insight into the workings of the Spirit in discerning the missionary vocation of a brother (LR 12) or on the question of a religious vocation in general (ER 2; 16; LegCl 3).In case of conflict, Francis brought the judgement of the friars in authority to the judgement of all the friars assembled in the Chapter. The General Chapter of all the friars is the highest authority in the Order. The introduction of such a democratic structure into the Church of the 13th Century was revolutionary. Francis rediscovered the Christian rule of life, because he was conscious of the workings of the Holy Spirit in every friar. He wanted to create new structures that would respond to the workings of the Holy Spirit, who was for him the General Minister of the Order (cf. 2C 193).
Francis did not use the Gospel to lord it over others. Due to the workings of the Holy Spirit Francis respected all people. Had the Church in her mission and pastoral ministry paid more attention to the mission principles of St. Francis, it would probably have been spared most of the conflicts related to mission and pastoral activities in the course of history. The same can be said of the Franciscan family and of the missionary activity of its members.
CCFMC, Lesson Unit 25,C1.2
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