Ecology for Peace: The Franciscan Legacy

Abstract

“Being connected” is one of the key terms of Franciscan Spirituality. St. Francis decided not to become a hermit (although it always was a great temptation for him), but he lived within the world with the people, especially with the poor. He felt a deep connection with everything and everybody on earth. Nature for him was mother, sister, and brother. Therefore, he had to help creation and creatures, whether an animal, a tree, or a leper. Expressions of this deep connection are his demands and the Franciscan characteristics of (evangelical) poverty, being a minor friar in the brotherhood. Peace and the responsibility for creation or ecology for peace are essentials of this connectedness. Francis wanted to live in peace with everybody and tried to create peace wherever it was possible and necessary. St. Bonaventure laid emphasis especially on this aspect of the Franciscan way of life. For today that has consequences: a radical shift, a conversion toward life and peace-making, toward the poor, and the helplessness of creation. Being connected in this way also has consequences for a re-thinking of the common models of economy.

Citation

Dienberg, T. (2015), "Ecology for Peace: The Franciscan Legacy", Business, Ethics and Peace (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 215-229. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-832320150000024013