THREE STEPS OF FRANCIS’ PERFECTION

 Francis’ life was indeed, an expression of his journey towards God and process of perfection of imitating Christ. Here we have summarized his life in three steps of his ascent towards Christ according to St. Bonaventure.

1.    Kiss of feet  

The first step shows, Francis’ conversion which is depicted as “kiss of feet.”

The coming of Christ in the life of Francis marks with the event of encounter with a leper. A person, who hated lepers most, now sees Christ in him. There is a struggle within him; the devil within him is pulling him back from reaching to a Christ, hidden in a leper. But Francis determined to the divine will, forces his steps towards the leper and calls him as “Brother” and embraces him by giving a kiss of love. Here Francis has lost to his self and to his ego and has become a new person. He has seen a crucified Christ in a leper and he now has a new vision, new life and new mission. Francis gives up all riches and goes wandering.

2.    Kiss of hands.

Francis raises second step that is kiss of hands. The book Song of Songs says in the chapter 2:11-12, that, “for now winter is passed, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice of turtle-dove is heard in a land.” The days of darkness have gone. Francis has no worry and no care. He has started seeing Christ in others and in creation. Francis now goes round evangelizing Christ to believers and non-believers. Even he preaches to birds and animals.

3.     Kiss of lips

Now Francs takes the third step to be united with Christ, which is the last stage of imitating Christ in his life. Francis goes on the mountain to pray. After the forty days of fast and penance, Christ appears to him in the form of “Seraph” and asks Francis, his desire. In reply Francis says to him, “Grant me only two graces, first, let me bear the pain as much as Christ bore on the cross and second is that let me love others with which Christ loved us.” In a moment Seraph covers Francis with his wings and after the disappearance of seraph Francis sees nothing but bleeding wounds on his palms, legs and side. Christ has made his servant like him, he has glorified him, and he has become one with Christ and like Christ.