"I will follow you wherever you go." // Luke 9:57
I knelt at the tomb of Saint Francis at the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, Italy. I had just attended Mass with some Fraciscan friars and sisters and was praying in the silence of that stone crypt in a quiet corner. Pilgrims were quietly filing through for a moment to pray at the tomb of this beloved Saint.
What would this poor, humble Saint want us to know? In my prayer, I imagined Saint Francis responding to us with these simple words: “Say yes and follow Jesus wherever He goes.” The ripple effect of Saint Francis’ yes to Jesus has continued in the Church for almost eight hundred years. Saint Francis of Assisi inspired the fiat of many saints: Saint Clare of Assisi, Saint Agnes of Assisi, Saint Anthony, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Catherine of Bologna, Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Saint Colette, Saint Thomas More, Saint Junipero Serra, Saint Marianne Cope, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Padre Pio, and countless other Franciscans and Poor Clares who have given their lives to follow Jesus.
I doubt that the poor and humble Saint Francis of Assisi ever imagined how his yes to Jesus would help so many to say yes to following Jesus wherever He goes. The witness of the lives of the Saints inspiring one another is a concrete example of how the Kingdom of God grows. Today, our yes to Jesus may seem hidden and insignificant. The enemy may tempt us to make excuses or procrastinate, but let’s pray for the grace to respond to Jesus’ call with quick obedience. As we say yes to Jesus, others will follow.
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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