From Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Francis and the Sultan.
Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119:1-2,4-5,7-8: Matthew 5:43-48
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”: Matthew 5:44
Francis’s trip to see the sultan serves as the clearest example of his willingness to consider this passage seriously in his life. This was still the height of the Crusades. Even though Sultan Malik al-Kamil was well-known for his tolerance of different faiths, Francis’s willingness to meet and converse with the sultan demonstrated a level of tolerance that few in his day could match. This meeting was a good fit for them. (Paraphrased)
The sultan honored him as much as he was able, and having given him many gifts, he tried to bend Francis’s mind toward the riches of the world. But when he saw that Francis most vigorously despised all these things as so much dung, he was filled with the greatest admiration, and he looked upon him as a man different from all others. He was deeply moved by his words, and he listened to him very willingly.
Houdek, DM 2012, Lent with St. Francis, Franciscan Media.
In our century, a lot of attention has been paid to this meeting between Francis and the sultan. The need for peace and compassion is just as essential now as it was during the time of the Crusades, albeit it isn’t often appreciated as much. Francis continues to lead by example. And the commandment of Jesus is still valid.(Paraphrased)
Prayer
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as
to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Source: Lent with St. Francis: Francis and the Sultan | Franciscan Media 2021, www.franciscanmedia.org.
Book: Houdek, DM 2012, Lent with St. Francis, Franciscan Media. summarised
Context
Certainly! The encounter between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil in 1219 during the Fifth Crusade is a powerful example of interfaith dialogue and understanding. At that time, the Crusades were in full swing, and there was little actual knowledge of Islamic culture or religion in thirteenth-century Europe. Instead, there were only stereotypes of “the enemy.”
Despite this backdrop, St. Francis left Assisi to cross enemy lines and meet with the sultan in Damietta, Egypt. His humility and respect for other faiths, including Islam, allowed him to spend an extended time—up to three weeks—with Sultan Malik al-Kamil. The sultan sent him away with protection and a gift: a horn used for the Muslim call to prayer. This exchange demonstrated mutual regard and respect between them.
Francis was able to distinguish between institutional evil (such as war) and the individual who is victimized by it. He felt compassion for Christian soldiers while objecting to the war itself. His actions serve as an invitation for us today to engage in interfaith dialogue, crossing borders to understand people who are different from us.
The documentary “The Sultan and the Saint” captures this remarkable encounter and offers valuable lessons for our time. It reminds us that even in times of conflict, reaching out across religious, political, national, and racial boundaries can lead to understanding, compassion, and peace.
References:
1. JayasriHart n.d., In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan: A Model for Peacemaking | Film Review | Spirituality & Practice, www.spiritualityandpractice.com, viewed 24 February 2024, https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/25192/in-the-footprints-of-francis-and-the-sultan-a-model-for-peacemaking.*
2. Moses, P. (2009). The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam, and Francis of Assisi’s Mission of Peace. Doubleday Religion, viewed 24 February 24, 2024
3. Hedley, S 2013, ‘In the Spirit of St. Francis and the Sultan: Catholics and Muslims Working Together for the Common Good. By George Dardess and Marvin L. Krier Mich. Maryknoll, New York, US, Orbis Books 2011. Pp. 205. ’, Mission Studies, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 265–266.