St Ignatius High School - Ignatius Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Sf. splwmcia of .fgfsaifsi Troubador of Christ by DICK WILLIAMS, '48 Note: Dick Williams represented St. lgnatius High School at the symposium in honor of St. Francis of Assisi given at Mount Alvernia High School, October 4, l947. His speech, which won first place, is reprinted here. Francis Bernardone, known to the world as St. Francis of Assisi, first saw the light of day in the year ll82. Of his childhood we know little. But was Francis to remain obscure, to be a backward boy, a shy, un- expressed, forlorn youth, or a unique person- ality, clothed in fine garments, sguandering money wantonly, captivating every girls heart with his poetic talents, crowned the king of the youth of Assisi? This was Fran- cis Bernardone, singer, dashing youth, po- etic minstrel of Assisi. But this was the age of chivalry, of manly interests and Francis had knightly aspira- tions. He desired to win acclaim and honor in the glory of war. Thus, Francis proudly rode through the gates of Assisi hand- somely attired in the regalia of battle, with the proclamation, 'll shall return a prince. Crestfallen, broken-hearted Fran cis dragged himself back into Assisi only two days after his glorious exit. He had had a divine vision. He was not to battle now. He was to await his vocation from God. While under this cloud of uncertainty Francis was nonchalantly riding down the road on a beautiful morning, when he raised

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omecoming . . . by PAT NAVIN, '48 The shrill, high-pitched note of the New York Flyers whistle blared warningly down the track, as the wind, whistling past my window, rose to a howling crescendo. A fitting night for my arrival, thought l. Me! Bob Adams, once a carefree college lad of twenty and now one of the many derelicts of World War Two. l-lelpless, you ask? Well, no, not quite, l still have two arms and two legs if that's what you mean. After all, a guy can always get himself an artifi- cial arm or leg, but who ever heard of him getting a new pair of eyes? Yep, you've guessed it. l'm blind. An exploding gren- ade tossed by some German over in France caught me when l wasn't looking, at least that's what they told me when l woke up in a hospital back of our lines. But to get on with my story. After l had recovered from shock and had been shipped stateside, the doctors sent me to a place called Avon in Connecticut which was the Army Convalescent Hospital for the blind. Here they helped me to develop my second sight- the age-old sixth sense of the blind -now known as facial vision or sound per- ception. This facial vision, once developed to its fullest extent, will enable me to virtu- ally see objects that are as much as thirty feet distant. Naturally, this system is not infallible and doesn't mean that l can get about as well as ordinary folks, but as soon as l am able to become acquainted with the surroundings, l should be capable enough to walk about under my own power, without bumping into everything. The train is gradually slowing down now and l guess the next stop is mine, it'll surely feel good to get home. Well, a weeks gone by since my return and everyone has been swell. l'm getting around now as well as anybody and natur- ally my confidence has been given a tre- mendous boost, for l've been paid no more attention than my younger brother Ioey, age ten. Yesterday, however, l met my first problem which, as it turned out, gave me a completely new outlook on life. loey's boyfriend, little limmy Blake, came over with a new football to play catch with loey and l happened to be in the yard when he came in the driveway. Before l could make a move, he had thrown the football at me with the cry l'Catch ringing in my ears. The ball hit me squarely on the face before l was able to put up my hands and the unexpected blow staggered me. limmy stood silent, twisting his cap, but finally blurted out, l didn't know you were blind. l'Son, l replied, whether you know it or not, that's about the nicest compliment l've received since l have come home.

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his head to find standing in the road-a leper. What should l do? Shall I ride hur- riedly away? Look at those filthy, draining sores all over his body. What shall l do? Suddenly Francis finds the leper in his arms, Francis tenderly kisses his sores, bestowing his money and garments upon this wretched soul of God. ls this Francis Bernardone, the poetic minstrel of Assisi, the imitater of the Province Troubadors? Yes, this is Francis Bernardone, a new Francis Bernardone, ar- dent lover of Christ. Francis turns to look once again upon this bundle of carrion flesh -the leper has vanished! With the speed and brilliance of a light- ning flash the cloud disappears from Fran- cis' mind. This leper whom he embraced was Christ! and Christ he would continue to embrace, to love the rest of his life. Privi- leged was he to give the world a genuine romance. Assisi would still know him as a troubador, but now he would be the trouba- dor of Christ. To Christ would Francis sing his love. But love is expressed in deeds. So he zealously undertakes the rebuilding of a ru- ined church. ln his need for funds Francis sells goods from his father's storehouse. The enraged father violently disowns his son be- fore the bishop. What was Francis' reply to this cruel treatment? '!Father, Francis ut- tered, Father, l give you more even than you desire. Then removing his garments, Francis casts them at the old man's feet, and strode forth into the cold night wrapped only in a cloth. So blazing was his love for lesus!! Assisi's love constantly exulted in the beauties of Gods nature. The troubador of Christ spent his life singing of Gods love. He sang of Christ in the canticle of the ris- ing sun. He sang of Christ in the lullaby of the still water. He sang of Christ whispering in the rolling clouds. He sang of Christ sing- ing in the blazing fire. He sang of Christ in the peace and tranquility of the flowers and trees. He even sang of Christ to the carefree birds in the forests. But Francis' greatest song of love was in his treatment of men, for there his love of Christ glowed white hot. Consuming him- self in loving each man, each individual person, whether it be the Saracen Sultan or the lean, care-worn beggar, the joyful Sa- maritan assisting a neighbor or the ragged robber stripping his victim, Francis com- pletely disarmed him. Each man was a king, Francis his servant. Each man an- other Christ, an exciting personality to be understood, respected, and loved. His con- stant chant was: Your pain is my pain and your joy is my joy. Timidly approaching Francis on the road, a horribly mutilated leper endeavored to kiss the foot of Francis. Francis lovingly lifted the face, almost entirely eaten away by leprosy and kissed it. Behold! standing before Francis was a cleansed, handsome man, a God-like human being. Francis' lov- ing song pierced the silence! My God and My I-Xll !! This was the love of which Francis sang, this the romance which he taught. Christ was in everyone and everyone was loved. Loving Francis, Troubador of Christ, help us to love as you loved, to love every crea- ture for love of Christ. Help us to raise our love to the pinnacle of spiritual purity and not to drag it down to the depths of selfish lusts. St. Francis, help us to share in your ro- mance.