Bonaventure Magazine: Summer 2015 Page 19

B O N A V E N T U R E

he experience must have been incredible, literally, yet St. Francis and the Franciscans have been fol-
lowing that directive for more than 800 years. St. Bonaventure, recounting the story in his "Major
Life of St. Francis of Assisi," tells us how St. Francis was moved by the Spirit to pray before the iconic

image of the crucified Christ in the rubble of a forgotten chapel dedicated to St. Damian. With all the fervor
and confusion of a young man searching for answers, kneeling before what we now call the San Damiano
cross, he heard a voice telling him three times: "Francis, go and rebuild my house, which you see is falling into
ruin."

Franciscans throughout the centuries have continued that challenge to "rebuild my house." It has taken on

many forms, styles and manners that would include soup kitchens, forming support groups, and hearing con-
fessions, along with the building of churches, parishes, dioceses and even universities.

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"Go and rebuild my house, which
you see is falling into ruin."