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Boyd-Boland, J. (2009). //Celebrating the charism inspired by St Francis of Assisi//. Paper delivered at the Light for the Journey, Townsville Catholic Education, July. 

What Animates a Franciscan? “Francis’ vision of the human person is fundamentally optimistic ….All people [are] equal in God’s sight, worthy of respect, reverence, concern and care….not because of being attractive, pleasant, productive or profitable…or of some holy office, military might or political influence.” ( Boland, 2009, p.1) “In a world.. of …dominance and oppression of the less powerful by the more powerful, Francis and Claire showed a new way of engaging people – a life marked by true deference, love, and equal regard for others” ( Boland, 2009, p.1) “It is always people who count, not other things in the paper work, in the organisation, the meetings, the budget, the funding – It is always about people.” ( Boland, 2009, p.1) “ We live as images of God when we recognise everything is God’s not ours” ( Boland, 2009, p.2) “Knowledge… is not intended for our self-advancemnt… We strive to share our abilities and skills generously…. Knowledge for its own sake is a form of vanity…learning in an academic disconnected community was quite meaningless” ( Boland, 2009, p.2) “The person who is served and the person in charge of the organisation are to be treated with equally great dignity and respect.” ( Boland, 2009, p.2) “Each and every person is to be served, whatever race, creed, colour, sex- each individual. If in the days of St Francis it was the leper, today it is any who are outcast, discriminated against, and at the margins of society.” ( Boland, 2009, p.3) “That no one should take Superiorship upon himself. I did "not come to be ministered unto, but to minister," says the Lord. 4 Let those who are set above others glory in this superiority only as much as if they had been deputed to wash the feet of the brothers; and if they are more perturbed by the loss of their superiorship than they would be by losing the office of washing feet, so much the more do they lay up treasures to the peril of their own soul” (St Francis’ IVth Admonition) Francis reacted to the notion of courtesy equals courtliness, and aristocratic elegance… He provided an alternative view.. “True Courtesy is taking the hand of a person suffering from Hansen’s disease and kiss[ing] it”. ( Boland, 2009, p.3) “Courtesy can be exemplified in very simple ways – speaking quietly and gently to others, never correcting a person in front of others, never belittling others, never using one’s authority in a domineering fashion” ( Boland, 2009, p.4) “Teach your pupils as mothers do not as masters” ( Boland, 2009, p.3) “This joy - this attitude of life …is not the pleasure of the passing moment- it is not a mood in which we put the tough things out of our minds….Franciscan joy looks at all reality in the face…. Not overcome by the trials of this life. ( Boland, 2009, p.4) Boyd-Boland, J. (2009). //Celebrating the charism inspired by St Francis of Assisi //. Paper delivered at the Light for the Journey, Townsville Catholic Education, July. St Francis’ IVth Admonition, from []. Last accessed 15th August, 2009
 * __ The primacy of the human person __**
 * __ Everything is Gift __**
 * __ Knowledge and Learning __**
 * __ Service and Human Dignity __**
 * __ Concept Of Courtesy __**
 * __ Joy and Cheerfulness __**
 * References **