Naked At His Father's Feet

I

n the life of St Francis of Assisi, one of the most striking moments was his public renunciation of his father. I remember during my college days, I became a cast of a musical on the life of the saint and this was one of the attention-grabbing moments that moved the audience.

This event sheds light on the depth of his commitment to the Gospel and the profound transformation he underwent.

Francis was born into a life of comfort and privilege, the son of Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant. He had everything a young man could desire: wealth, status, and opportunity. Yet, despite all the luxuries his life afforded, Francis felt a deep restlessness, a sense that he was being called to something far greater—a life devoted to simplicity and total trust in God.

This calling became undeniable during a confrontation with his father. Francis had already begun giving away the family’s wealth to the poor and using resources to repair crumbling churches. His father, understandably furious, accused him of wasting the family’s fortune. The bishop commanded Francis to repay the money. He did not just repay it but in a dramatic and public scene before the bishop and the townspeople of Assisi, he removed his fine clothes, laid them at his father’s feet, and stood naked, declaring, “Until now, I have called you my father. From now on, I will say only, ‘Our Father who art in heaven.’”

This act was about more than rejecting material wealth—it was about complete surrender to God’s will. By stripping himself of his clothes, Francis symbolized his total break from the attachments of this world, including his reliance on his family’s wealth and status. His identity was no longer tied to earthly things but to his calling to follow Christ in poverty and service.

The bishop, witnessing this powerful display of faith and humility, covered Francis with his own cloth, marking the beginning of his new life as a servant of God and the poor. From that moment on, Francis dedicated himself fully to living out the Gospel, embracing poverty and relying entirely on God to provide for his needs.

The life of St Francis is a reminder that true freedom and joy come from letting go of our attachments to material things. He teaches us that real wealth is not found in possessions but in a heart that is open to love and serve God. His radical act challenges us to reflect on what we are holding onto—what is preventing us from fully living the Gospel message in our own lives?

As we think about Francis’s renunciation of his father’s wealth, we are reminded of Jesus’s words: “If anyone wants to follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24). Francis calls us to trust that when we let go of what we think we need, God will provide all that we truly require. His life is an invitation to live simply, generously, and with complete trust in God’s care.

If we may ask, did St Francis and his father reconcile in the end? I’d like to think that, in time, Francis forgave his father, Pietro di Bernardone. While we don’t have a direct account of such a moment, the very essence of Francis’s life—rooted in peace, love, and forgiveness—suggests that he would have forgiven his father. Even if it wasn't instantaneous, which is proof that forgiveness is always a process. Even saints have to wait for God's time when he grants them the grace of forgiveness. Sinners and saints alike depend on God's grace and never on their own works, most especially when doing any work of mercy and compassion.

May the example of St Francis inspire us to open our hearts to God’s will, unburdened by materialism, and rich in the treasures of heaven. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ

NB: The musical play Francis of Assisi directed by Jon Jason Mediran Yogawin was staged at Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City in January 1999. This production, focusing on the life of St Francis, combined music, drama, and spirituality to highlight the saint’s conversion and his radical embrace of poverty. The play was presented at SLU’s Center for Culture and the Arts and later performed in other venues, including the Sacred Heart School Auditorium in Parañaque.

Yogawin, who also wrote the script and music for the play, is known for his deep involvement in theater and music, particularly in religious and philosophical themes. His experience with theater began in the early 1990s, and his work on Francis of Assisi was part of his continued engagement with both musical and philosophical storytelling.

Yogawin’s work in this production was praised for its depth and artistic excellence, and it marked one of the notable contributions to the cultural scene at SLU. The main cast of the musical Francis of Assisi by Jon Jason Mediran Yogawin at Saint Louis University included:

• Mark Anthony L Abelon as Francis of Assisi
• Joan Sherbie T Agbayani as Clare Offreduccio
• Jon Jason M Yogawin as the Devil
• Ma Meazile V Campomanes as Pica Bernardone (St Francis’ mother)

This musical involved students from various colleges at SLU and members of the Apothecaries’ Society