St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) was much more than the "patron saint of animals." Through the Grace of God, St. Francis was able to transform his view of lepers from objects of revulsion to fellow creatures of God. His vision of all men and women, however marginalized in society, as brothers and sisters from the same Creator, was part of an evangelical truth that became the foundation of his spirituality. St. Francis and St. Clare, a contemporary also of Assisi, saw themselves in a shared existence with all create-tures - all living beings created by God - an expansive community of creation that included the sun, moon, and stars, the wind and the water, fire and earth, and all the plants and animals. Their view embraced a love for all human and non-human creatures integrated into a broad ecological setting.
St. Francis' belief in sharing his "creatureliness" with all other elements of the created world is deeply reflected in the Native American way as well, a culture that revered and respected all life. Larry Bechtel has joined us in choosing this tree as the foundation of a new sculpture as our tribute to the spirituality of both St. Francis and the Native Americans.
Rex Hartson and Rieky Keeris
16 May 2000