“Do you remember it? Never mind the warbling sentimental music, the moony Francis, the flowery fields. Still, what is so well described is Francis’ experience of Christ which changed everything in his life. “ Sharon of Clarity’s Place in yesterdays post about movements.
Remember it? We bought the video last year. My kids probably think the “Moon” part refers to when Francis takes off his robe. We also went to Assisi on a family pilgrimage in 2002, which cost a lot more than the video.
Here is part of the post from 2002
“I should catch my breath and reflect a little on last week’s pilgrimage to Italy. The hightlight was a 3 day stay at Assisi where we studied the life of St Francis.
Anyway, what a difference to visit Rome and see the life of Francis, a man who also drew a line between the aristocrats and the poor. And then he crossed over the line and became poor, just as Jesus crossed over from glory to humanity (Phil 2) for us.
My son Samuel followed jesus in the way of Francis for about 6 months of his life. He was about 7 years old. Samuel went barefoot, wore a brown robe and even had a tonsure cut on his head. Pretty unusual for a 7 year old American kid but the life of Francis had made a huge impact on him and it was his way of walking it out. Needless to say, it was a huge thrill for Samuel (now 11years old) to be in the city of his hero.
I found a book on Francis written by my friend Steve Rabey and Michel Talbot. We bought a stack of books.
Here is something I didnt know – Francis was an installation artist. Let this be written in the history of alternative worship. St. Francis the Installation Artist. He took the story of the birth of Christ to a new level when he recreated the scene at his church. His creche, or nativity scene, kicked off a movement in nativity scenes and even today we set up our own versions of Francis’s creche every Christmas.
Francis was also responsible in part for the birth of Gothic art and of course a brand new structure of monasticism that totally changed the way monks followed Jesus. Monasticism became either pre-Franciscan or post-Franciscan. Huge influence. ”
Full account here.
I remember the movie. It was the first movie in a theatre I ever saw. I was 17 years old but the church I grew up in said movie theatres were sinful. Surely such a movie about such a godly man couldn’t be sinful, I thought, and so I went. It’s been a few decades. I should check it out again. I remember it being very powerful.
How cool you could take your family to where the story took place, especially since your son so readily connected with the story.
yes, but having a son who dressed like francis for 6 months was a little challenging
especially the tonsure and bare feet. The robe i could live with.
we were living in prague so it wasnt too far. we loved it there. its an incredible place with a campground on a vineyard – ohhhhh the food!!!!!
The staff decided (unwisely, it turns out) to show “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” at Episcopal Youth Conference when I was a junior-high aged attender. It made a big impression all right…perhaps not the one they had hoped.
Its a great film! My kids are also fascinated, though so far they still have their hair.