Fr. Dale Matson
St. Francis Reclining Statue In Wooded Area Above Assisi
I will readily admit that I am not an expert on either John
Muir or St. Francis. Because of my experiences in the Sierras, I am drawn to
the writing of John Muir and because of my vocation; I am interested in St.
Francis. Muir was essentially self-taught and did not graduate from college.
St. Francis never aspired to the priesthood and remained a deacon until his early
death at age 45. After a recent visit to Italy, I was struck by the common
ground between these extraordinary men. John Muir could just as easily have
written an excerpt from The Canticle Of Brother Sun.
“Be praised, my Lord, for Sister
Moon and the stars Formed by you so bright precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother
Wind and the airy skies, so cloudy and serene; For every weather, be praised,
for it is life-giving.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water
So necessary yet so humble, precious and chaste.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother
Fire, Who lights up the night, He is beautiful and carefree, robust and fierce.
Be praised, my Lord, for our sister,
Mother Earth, who nourishes and watches us while bringing forth abundant fruits
with colored flowers and herbs.”
St.
Francis could have written an excerpt from John Muir’s My First Summer In
the Sierra.
“Here I could stay tethered forever with just bread and
water, nor would I be lonely; loved friends and neighbors, as love for
everything increased, would seem all the nearer however the many miles and
mountains between us.”
“It would be delightful to be storm bound beneath one of
these noble, hospitable, inviting trees, Its broad sheltering arms bent down
like a tent, incense rising from the fire made from its dry fallen branches,
and a hearty wind chanting overhead.”
Both of these men led reform movements aimed at restoring
human souls and gaining the ear and respect of men over them. Pope Innocent III
supported the mission of St. Francis and Theodore Roosevelt supported John
Muir’s efforts. Both were at home in the
woods communing with nature. While some would say that Muir was spiritual not
religious, I would note that much of the language used by Muir alluded to the
unseen hands that created the beauty around him. Muir is most closely associated with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in general and Yosemite in particular.
Townsley Lake In Yosemite
St. Francis led a simple life of poverty but not one of
severe asceticism. John Muir’s wilderness travels were outfitted with the bare
necessities. Both men rejected the values of their fathers. They were primarily
wandering evangelists wanting to reclaim what had been lost.
It is somewhat sad that a humble man like St. Francis who
embraced poverty and resisted life in a monastery would be enshrined in an
enormous basilica covered with Frescos. It is also sad that John Muir’s
followers in the Sierra Club have forgotten their anthem, “Faithful Defender Of
The People’s Playgrounds.” Do the people still matter?
