This document discusses St. Francis of Assisi and how he created a popular expression of the Catholic Church through establishing a small fraternity of brothers who ministered directly to the poor. It highlights how Francis engaged in interfaith dialogue, cared for the environment, lived simply, and pioneered a nature-centered spiritual life. Pope Francis is quoted praising Francis for suffering accidents through engaging with people in the streets, rather than keeping the Church closed in on itself. The document poses questions about how Francis challenges perceptions of monasticism and calls Christians to form missional communities that incarnationally approach others.

1. RESEARCH CONVERSATIONS 2014
FRANCIS: NEW
MONASTIC PIONEER

2. “It’s what always happens to
the saints and prophets who
are dangerous: we bronze
them, we drain them of their
passion and life and trap them
in stained-glass windows and
icons, confirming them safely
in memories of the past.”
Shane Claibourne

6. Francis created a popular
expression of the Church; the
mystery of the Church
becomes concrete in the
small fraternity of brothers in
contact with the people and
with the poorest of the
people of God.”
Leonardo Boff theologian and
contemporary biographer of St. Francis

7. FRANCIS’ FRESH EXPRESSION
• Engaging in inter-faith dialogue
• Committed to the environment
• Loving the poor
• Living opposite to consumerism
• Pioneering in nature
• Centred on Christ

8. “We have to avoid the spiritual sickness
of a self-referential church. It’s true that
when you get out onto the street, as
happens to every man and woman,
there can be accidents. However, if the
church remains closed in on itself, self-referential,
it gets old. Between a
church that suffers accidents in the
street, and a church that’s sick because
it’s self-referential, I have no doubts
about preferring the former.”
Pope Francis

10. QUESTIONS FRANCIS ASKS US
• Communities of mission
• Sending places
• Incarnational approach
• Perceptions of monasticism
• Monastic movements that challenge the church

11. “Through his deep
humanity, Francis of Assisi
has become an archetype
of the human ideal: open
to God, universal brother,
and caretaker of nature &
of mother Earth. He
belongs not only to
Christianity but to
mankind.”
Boff

12. FRANCIS: STORIES AND REFLECTIONS
http://www.proost.co.uk