Travis Reese

Friends,

Today we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi.

And one way we celebrate him is with our annual Blessing of the Animals at Saint Philip’s. It happens to be today, October 4, and hopefully the early risers reading this can use this as a little reminder.

St. Francis was someone who loved and communed with animals, and in fact there are multiple stories where he seemed to speak directly to them.

Born into wealth, St. Francis of Assisi would eventually turn completely away from his life of money and privilege in order to live an extremely humble life, often as a homeless beggar.

I’m particularly drawn to his wardrobe, the brown tunic with a corded rope belt now known as a cincture.

Francis’ father was a merchant in silks and fine fabrics, and his garb of choice was clearly a statement rebuking his former life. I imagine putting on a heavy woolen robe after spending most of his life clothed in silk was in some way a “born again” experience for him.

And in many paintings of St. Francis of Assisi you’ll see the corded belt with three knots tied in the hanging rope. Each knot signified a different part of Jesus’ teachings of being a “perfect follower” and represented poverty, chastity, and obedience. Followers of the Order of Franciscans will still tie the three knots in honor of St. Francis.

For those of us of a certain age, perhaps the most famous example of the brown tunic with a rope cord belt is Friar Tuck, the round-bellied badger from the Disney animated Robin Hood feature film.

Friar Tuck was known for his love of ale and food, and for the mischievous tricks he’d play on the characters throughout the Robin Hood stories. In the Disney classic, Friar Tuck is shown with two knots on his cincture. I wonder which vows he chose and which one he left out.

I do ask myself the question, in what ways do I “represent” being a follower of Jesus?

How many knots, if any, would I have on my belt?

In Christ,

—Travis