St. Francis and Pope Innocent III
It was a dream that removed the stumbling block from Pope Innocent’s heart on this day in 1208 so that the ‘ridiculous’, ‘unsafe’, and ‘impractical’ life proposed by St. Francis was seen as holy — that is, desired by God.
What prevents us from living radical holiness, aka God’s desire for us? Would even a heavenly dream move our hearts to fly in the face of convention and the dictatorship of relativism which daily manifests itself most as the flatness of political correctness? It is difficult but we must look closely at the ‘bumps’ in our daily landscape. They may just be little ‘words’ sent from God to allow us a step up, closer to Him.
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Read more about St. Francis’ trip to Rome in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Why the Franciscan Way Seemed Impractical
Francis and his companions went to Rome seeking the Church’s approval for a way of life marked by Gospel poverty, repentance, brotherhood, and preaching. To many observers, such radical dependence appeared unsafe. Yet the simplicity of the proposal was also its strength: the friars wanted their manner of life to make the Gospel visible.
The account of Pope Innocent III’s dream presents Francis supporting the Church, not by worldly power, but through holiness and humble obedience. Francis did not set out to build a private spiritual project; he sought confirmation from the Church and accepted her guidance.
What This Means for Christians Today
Christian fidelity can still look impractical when it values prayer, service, chastity, generosity, and truth more than comfort or approval. Prudence remains necessary, but prudence is not the same as fear. The life of St. Francis challenges us to ask whether convenience has quietly become the measure of our decisions.
Explore our article on Franciscan poverty and our collection of prayers by St. Francis of Assisi.