A PRAYER TO FRANCIS

Francis, where are you when we need you?
We need your simplicity
Your insistence on Christ's values.
We are so tired of the mockery of Jesus
Under the banner of Christian values
Which are used to promote bigotry and intolerance.

Francis, I cannot be like you
With your stigmas and all.
We have been stigmatized enough.
But I so resonate with your embrace of poverty.
We do not embrace poverty to impoverish ourselves
We do so to purify ourselves.
Your poverty is for me a fire of inspiration
Freedom to walk so tall
To think so high, to be celestial.

Oh Francis, I love you but differently
Than I love Socrates, another of my saints.
I admire you more but I follow Socrates more.
I hope you understand and forgive.
Yes, you were so splendid at forgiving.
I am so poor in this department
I am so angry and accusing.
Teach me your humility and simplicity.
Teach me grace
From which humility and simplicity follow.

Henryk Skolimowski