reading "The Wolf and the Saint"

Just a reminder that to read the play from Act I scene i through to Act IV scene iii, you have to scroll to the bottom and read up.  This is because I posted the play in the order that it was written, not thinking that every time you look at it, it will always begin at the end.  Remember that you may use the play free of charge, but please let me know the results of your production.  And if you charge admission, please donate 10% of your intake to a charity such as the Primate's World Relief, the Red Cross, World Vision Canadian Wildlife or the SPCA, or any other similar (preferably Christian) charity.

Franciscan Times

If you look at the Lent 2014 issue of The Franciscan Times, you'll find an article about a writer, Laurence Houseman, younger brother of A.E. Housman.  He wrote 45 short plays about the life of St. Francis.  These plays are free to be uploaded from the internet.  Here's the link to The Franciscan Times, but you have to click on the right issue. So if you're looking for shorter plays about St. Francis, you can try these.

Act IV scene 3

ACT IV

scene 3 “An Exultation of Larks”

Setting: The forest (left side); San Damiano (centre); forest with larks (right side)

CURTAIN or spotlight opens on the forest

SHEPHERD: What have you heard anything more about Saint Francis since he got back from the Holy Land?  What’s he doing these days?

WOLF: Didn’t you know?  Didn’t you hear? 

SHEPHERD: Me?  Oh, I hardly ever get any news.  I’m usually out in the fields with my sheep, you know. 

WOLF: Of course.  I suppose you wouldn’t hear much out there.  I like to prowl around  outside San Damiano and the various hermitages of the friars, so I overhear some stories.  Some were stories of miracles and some were about his ministering to the sick and the poor.  Even though, towards the end not many people were sicker or poorer than he was.

SHEPHERD: The end?  You mean, Saint Francis is....

WOLF: Yes.  Brother Francis died last October.  Before he died, though, God gave him one last wonderful gift.  Have you ever heard of the Stigmata?

SHEPHERD: Um.  I think so, but I’m not sure.  It has something to do with sore spots on the body that look like the wounds Jesus had.  Is that right?

WOLF: Right.  Brother Francis spent many hour—even days—in retreat, praying.  He still heard voices from Jesus.   And he saw visions, too.  One really frightened him.  He tried to keep it a secret from the friars, but it wasn’t easy.  In fact it was impossible.  That was the stigmata.

SHEPHERD: Is it as painful as it looks?  What do you think?  Did he ever tell anyone about that?

WOLF: It must have been painful, but he didn’t talk about it, except to a few of the  friars.  And he didn’t show the wounds.  But we think that it was during one of those retreats that he received them, right after he saw Jesus in the last vision—Jesus on the cross, with an expression of love and sorrow on his face.  After the vision vanished, Saint Francis said he felt a wonderful glow.  He couldn’t keep it a secret forever.  Not when the blood seeped through his tunic and he had to wipe his hands and feet frequently. 

SHEPHERD: That’s amazing.  Really amazing.

WOLF: Yes.  Excuse me a moment.  I get a little choked up when I think about that.  I wish I could have seen it while he was alive.  But I did see Brother Francis one more time.  I think that was even more wonderful.  I was present when he said farewell to Sister Clare at San Damiano before going to die at home at Portiuncula. 

CURTAIN or spotlight closes on the forest; opens on San Damiano

SHEPHERD: Tell me about when you saw him last.

WOLF: I went to see him while he was in Siena, for the best medical treatment the bishop’s doctors could provide. He was too weak for us to talk.  I think he recognized me, though.  It was clear that Sister Death was coming for him quickly.  I followed as the friars carried him to San Damiano so Sister Clare could see him through the grating where she usually received Holy Communion from the priest.  It was evening, and larks were singing above the trees.  Some friars came in procession, with candles, singing hymns and waving olive branches.  Someone was reading a psalm.  Brother Francis raised his hand in blessing and farewell for the nuns and friars.  That exposed his stigmata wounds and everyone, especially Sister Clare, gasped when they saw them.   And that’s when I saw them, too.

CURTAIN closes on San Damiano; only the forest scene, filled with animals and the birds.

SHEPHERD: Oh, I wish I could have been there.  It’s no wonder he’s a saint.  In fact, everyone has known for years that he is one.  One thing I’d like to ask you, though.  Did you ever get your fourth order of Franciscans, for the animal kingdom?

WOLF: No, but I’ll try to live by a Franciscan Rule of Life anyway.  Just like Sister Clare has been doing all these years.   She is still waiting for her Rule to be approved by the Pope.  He still doesn’t like women vowing to live in poverty.  There’s hope for that, though, since he’s seen her lifelong dedication.  The rumor is that the Pope might get the approval to her before she dies.  She, too, is waiting for Sister Death.

SHEPHERD: It seems this story has a very sad ending.

WOLF: Sad?  Oh, no!  It isn’t sad at all.  In fact, we can all learn from the birds that Brother Francis taught in the forest.  The birds followed Brother Francis to Porziuncula, and I’m told that as the saint’s soul left his body, the larks accompanied it almost all the way to heaven.  They soared up, with a song of praise and in exultation, as Brother Francis went home to his heavenly father.  That’s the happiest ending there is!

~~THE END~~

Act IV scene 2

ACT IV

Scene 2 “St. Francis and the Sultan”

Setting: forest (left side); Muslim camp (centre) ; nativity crèche (right side)

CURTAIN opens on forest scene

SHEPHERD:  Did you ever hear anything more about Saint Francis after he left Assisi?

WOLF:  I heard lots about him!  He’s so famous, and kept  very busy.  First of all, he preached to the birds and animals in the forest, and I heard that later he even preached to some fish.  Best of all, he finally managed to go to preach to the Muslims.

SHEPHERD:  Oh-oh!  That’s dangerous!  Did they kill him?  Is he a martyr?

WOLF:  As saint, but not a martyr.  I think he would have happily given his life for Christ, but it didn’t happen, even though he did put himself in great danger. 

SHEPHERD:  Where did that happen?  Was he hurt?  How did you hear about that?

WOLF:  Wait a minute!  One question at a time!  It’s quite complicated, because for the longest time everyone thought Brother Francis was dead.  He tried three times to leave Europe to go to the Holy Land, or Morocco to be martyred.  The first time, it was on an ill-advised crusade called the Children’s Crusade.  The Pope didn’t want them to do it, but many children and shepherds from all over Europe decided to go to the Holy Land and rescue Jerusalem from the hands of the Muslims.  They left on a boat and all disappeared.  Some drowned and some were captured by pirates and taken to be slaves or killed.  We were sure Brother Francis was among them.

SHEPHERD: But he wasn’t?

WOLF: He might have been, and somehow got home safe.  The next time we heard about him, he was in Spain trying to cross over to Morocco.  But he got sick and came back to Assisi.  I didn’t hear about that until he had left again.  This time, apparently, he actually made it to the Holy Land.  At least, he got to the camp of the Crusaders at Acre. 

SHEPHERD: He must have loved that.  As you say, he always wanted to be a knight.

CURTAIN closes on the forest, and opens on the Muslim camp.

WOLF: The word is that he hated it.  He was so disappointed with the knights.  Even wearing the cross of Christ on their tunics, they behaved worse than thieves and thugs.  But Brother Francis got permission from the Pope’s representative to go and preach to the Muslim camp.  The Sultan was there, and had said that any man who brought back the head of a Christian would receive a gold coin as a reward.  So Brother Francis and the friar he had with him, his name was Brother Illuminato, walked for a few days past so-called Christian crusaders’ camps and Muslim camps to the place where the Sultan was said to be. 

SHEPHERD: Do you think he was afraid?

WOLF: I am sure he must have been.  Even when you want to be martyred, it must be terrifying to be faced with the fact that it could happen any minute.  And he was captured!  But, he was surely being guarded by angels, because the Muslims didn’t kill him.  Brother Francis was shouting “Sultan! Sultan!”  And probably that saved his life, because he was taken straight to the Sultan.

SHEPHERD: How did you hear about all this?

WOLF: I overheard some of Brother Illuminato’s friends talking about it after they got back.  Not many people actually sit down and talk to me personally, you understand, especially since they believe that the Wolf of Gubbio is dead.  But what I heard was that the Sultan and Saint Francis got along very well.  The Sultan didn’t convert to Christianity, unfortunately, but he respected Brother Francis’s courage.  The Sultan wasn’t really against Christians.  He is said to respect everyone who accepts that there is only one God.  And some of his own advisors are Christians. 

SHEPHERD: Then why were they fighting?  Why were they killing Christians?

WOLF: Well, to begin with, the crusaders were invaders.  The Muslims had lived there for four or five hundred years before the first crusade took Jerusalem away from them.  Then, gradually, the Muslims moved back in and there were other crusades.  All unsuccessful.  But most of all, I think it is as I said, the crusaders were not really Christians.  They were there for the money they got for fighting and for whatever they could steal.  The Sultan respected the real Christians, like Brother Francis.  In fact, the Sultan even gave him a gift, a silver and ivory horn to be blown when calling people to come to peace.  He put it with the crucifix at San Damiano.  I haven’t seen it, but it’s a wonderful gift.  I can imagine, though, how Brother Francis must have tried to refuse it.  He doesn’t like to own anything.  But there are times when you can’t say no because you will offend someone.

SHEPHERD: Well, I’m glad he was able to get to preach to the Muslims.

WOLF: Yes.  And even though the Sultan didn’t become a Christian, at least he became a friend.  And, aside from the gift of the horn, he also guaranteed safe passage for Brother Francis and Brother Illuminato to visit all the holy places, such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  That was very important, too.

CURTAIN closed

SHEPHERD: I would love to see those places.

WOLF: Brother Francis understood that.  Did you know that the custom of having a Nativity Crèche in church at Christmas was started by Saint Francis?

SHEPHERD: Really?

WOLF: It started as just a little Christmas surprise that Brother Francis wanted to give a friend.  Friars from all over came from their hermitages to celebrate the birth of Jesus together.  The re-enactment of the miracle was beautiful.  The little grotto in the village of Greccio is known as the Chapel of the Crèche.  The manger, surrounded by the animals, was lit up with candles and the friars sang joyful songs.  Brother Francis said it was Lady Poverty’s celebration, because she was there.  Our Lord was born in extreme poverty, and see how beautiful that is!

SHEPHERD: Why Sister Wolf!  I believe you are growing quite fond of Lady Poverty, Brother Francis’s bride.

WOLF: Yes. Well.  She does grow on you. 

End of Act IV scene 2

Act IV scene 1

ACT IV

 Scene 1 “Thanking the People of Gubbio”

Setting: forest 

(CURTAINS OPEN; CHARACTERS ON STAGE: WOLF & SHEPHERD

WOLF:  So there you have it.  That’s Brother Francis’ life story, most of it.  After he left Assisi to go and preach, I sort of lost touch.  I heard lots of stories about him, but I kept out of sight. 

SHEPHERD:  Really?  So, don’t you go to Assisi anymore?  What do you do now?  Just hang around Gubbio?  The people there are your only friends now, I suppose.

WOLF:  I thought you knew.  I haven’t been around Gubbio for several years now.  Not since shortly after Brother Francis left.

SHEPHERD: Wait a minute!  I thought you were the famous “Wolf of Gubbio”!  Don’t you depend on those good people to feed you?

WOLF:  Oh, something like that.  Yes, I’m the famous one you’ve heard about.  But, as I told you in the first place, I’ve changed.

SHEPHERD:  So, I suppose that means you’ve found a way to be kind to them.

WOLF:  Yes.  I did that some time ago.

SHEPHERD:  I can’t think of much that a wolf could do for people.

WOLF:  It really didn’t take me long to decide what I had to do.  You see, the people were giving me a lot of food.  They couldn’t afford it.  But, I suppose, it was better than having me steal from them.  But one day I overheard some of them talking.  They weren’t being unkind.  In fact, I thought they were being extraordinarily generous.  But they kept mentioning how eating sheep was natural for wolves.  How, they thought I would starve if they didn’t feed me.

SHEPHERD:  Isn’t that true?

WOLF:  Not really.  While I was in the forest with Brother Francis, I got to thinking about my family.  They don’t steal from shepherds.  And no one gives them handouts.

SHEPHERD:  What do they do?

WOLF:  They do what is really natural for wolves.  They hunt other wild animals.  I know.  It isn’t nice to think of that.  Killing other animals.  But, those animals kill others, too.  It’s how our Creator keeps the forest from getting overrun with any one kind of animal. 

SHEPHERD:  What made you take on stealing sheep?  I mean, if hunting wild animals is really natural for you?

WOLF:  Laziness. It was easier to catch slow moving sheep that were always available than to use my brains and talent to earn my keep.  Then, when the people of Gubbio started feeding me, and being so nice about it, too, I got to feeling guilty.

SHEPHERD:  Odd.  You didn’t feel guilty about stealing the sheep.

WOLF:  True!  But I did feel guilty about taking handouts.  Especially when I realized that it wasn’t necessary.  I could feed myself.

SHEPHERD:  I see.    So, did you just say farewell to the people of Gubbio and go back to the forest?

WOLF:  Not exactly.  You see, the people were feeling so good about helping me out, and had begun to treat me like a pet, you know, like one of their dogs.  I stayed away a couple of days, but they sent out search parties for me, and seemed really upset.  They had actually grown to love me.  It was quite a problem.

SHEPHERD:  So what did you do?  It seems that you couldn’t leave, but you felt guilty about staying.  What choice did you have?

WOLF:  Well, you know that I’m not the only wolf in the forest.  I went back to my pack and told them what had happened.  They were very glad that I had come home, and would be leading a more natural lifestyle.  But there were other young wolves who were having a tough time learning to hunt.  So, I told them about Gubbio.

SHEPHERD:  What?  You set a whole pack of wolves on the people of Gubbio?  What sort of kindness is that?

WOLF:  No!  I wouldn’t do that!  I told the young wolves to take turns and only take what they needed.  No extra snacks.  That way more than one wolf could eat what the people offered.

SHEPHERD:  What did the people of Gubbio think of your plan?

WOLF:  They never found out.  It turns out that not so many wolves are as lazy as I am.  So, after a year or two, they stopped going.  When the people noticed the food was not being eaten, they set out to look for me again.  But this time, I managed to elude them.  So they thought I had died.

SHEPHERD:  How did you find out about that?

WOLF:  Brother Masseo told me that Brother Francis had heard I had died.   But Brother Masseo thought I seemed to be in pretty good health for a dead guy.  He told me the people of Gubbio were in mourning over me, and had erected a statue in my honour.  Well, I think it was really in honour of Brother Francis’ taming of this big bad wolf.  Anyway, there’s a statue to me in Gubbio.  I think that’s pretty good.  It means that I really did return their kindness, one way or another.

SHEPHERD:  Wonderful!  

Act III scene 3

ACT III

 Scene 3 “Pray or Preach?”

                                                                        Setting: the forest

                                   

                        CURTAIN OPENS               

(WOLF & FRANCIS standing together at one side of the stage)

WOLF: Where are we going now?

FRANCIS: That’s the problem.  I don’t know.  I don’t know what to do, now that the numbers of my followers are getting out of hand.  Can you believe it?  I have followers I’ve never met.  They’re all over Italy, and even as far away as Spain and Portugal, France and Germany, maybe other countries as well.  I can’t even imagine it.  I just don’t know what I should be doing.  Not only the numbers are a problem for me, but my own lifestyle.  I want to do everything.  And go everywhere, but stay here in retreat, as well.  I’m very restless and have no idea what to do next.  Do you have any ideas?

WOLF: Who, me?  No.  I have no idea what a holy man with followers all over the world should do.  If you have followers, then maybe your job is to be the alpha wolf, you know, the leader.

FRANCIS: Yes.  But lead where?  There’s no point in leading if I don’t know where I’m going.

WOLF: What do your friends say?

FRANCIS: You know, I think that’s a good idea.  I’ll ask them what they think I should do.  I’d start with Clare, but I don’t like to visit her.

WOLF : Don’t you like her anymore?  I thought you two were really close.

FRANCIS: Of course, I still like her.  But I think I’ll ask Brother Masseo to speak to her.  Then he can sit down with Brother Sylvester and get his ideas, too.  Once those three have discussed it, then they can advise me.  Thank you, Sister Wolf, for your wise counsel.  Brother Masseo!  Are you there?

(enter Masseo)

MASSEO: I’m here, Brother Francis.  Did you call?

FRANCIS: Do me a favour, will you?  I need your advice on what to do next.  Should I stay here and pray for the Franciscans?  Or should I go to them and preach, as the pope said I should.  I suppose I really do need to do what the pope said. But the Franciscans need my prayers, too.  Oh, I really don’t know what to do.  And what about missions?  I would really like to travel to the Holy Land.  But maybe I should go to Morocco and be a martyr.  They kill Christians there, you know.  I should go and be a martyr, witness to the truth of the Gospel.  But if I’m martyred, who will lead the Franciscans?  And what am I leading them to do?  Oh, Brother Masseo, please go and speak to Clare and see what she says.  And then go to Brother Sylvester and see what he has to say.  And don’t forget to add your own advice.  And hurry back, because all this uncertainty is making me very restless.

MASSEO : I’ll go right away.  For now, I’d say it would be a good idea for you to pray that God will reveal his plan for you to all of us.

FRANCIS: More wise counsel.  Thank you, Brother.  Come back soon. I’ll stay here and pray.  Sister Wolf, will you pray with me?

(exit Masseo)

WOLF: I’d be happy to, Brother Francis.

FRANCIS & WOLF (silence for 3 beats, then say together): Amen.

WOLF: Here comes Brother Masseo.

(enter Brother Masseo)

FRANCIS: Hello, Brother!  What is your advice?

MASSEO: Hello, Brother Francis!  Hello, Sister Wolf!

FRANCIS: Come and sit down.  I’m anxious to hear what you and the others recommend.

WOLF: We weren’t exactly just sitting here doing nothing.  We’ve been very busy praying.

FRANCIS: True.  Prayers are very important.

MASSEO: We thought so, too.  So the other friars wanted to come with me to speak with you.  It will be interesting to see if the guidance you received in answer to your prayers match the answers Sister Clare, Brother Sylvester and the others and I received.

FRANCIS: You prayed together?

MASSEO: Yes. I gathered the brothers together and we sat outside San Damiano and prayed there with Sister Clare and the other sisters.  When our prayers were finished, we discussed our experiences.  We were amazed that we had all received the same answer.  Although, if you think about it, there’s no reason to be amazed.  Why would God give one solution to one person and a different one to another?

FRANCIS: And what was that answer?  I’m really anxious to know what God said to you and the others.

MASSEO: Well, just out of curiosity, what answer did you and Sister Wolf get when you prayed?

WOLF: I prayed for God to give us a clear vision of the future of the church.  I saw a forest without end, and Brother Francis was walking along a path that led out of the farthest part of the forest.  I believe God wants you to go and preach, not stay and retreat.

FRANCIS: Thank you, Sister Wolf.  It’s amazing how similar my own vision was.  I was getting on a ship and sailing off over the horizon.

MASSEO: Both of your visions are almost exactly what the friars and the sisters saw.  Clearly, Brother Francis, you are being led to go abroad and preach the Gospel. 

FRANCIS: So, what are we waiting for?  Let us go with God.  Any idea which way we should go first?

WOLF: Since I don’t see any ships near here, I suggest we start with the forest in my vision.  Since it is right here.

FRANCIS: Good suggestion, Sister.  Would you like to accompany me?

WOLF: I think I’ll let you and the friars go without me.  For one thing, in my vision, I saw you traveling alone, at least, not with any wolves.  I’ll be praying for you.

FRANCIS: I won’t go alone.  But I can imagine both pros and cons of having you along.  You’d be good company, and you know your way around the forest.  But on the other hand, you might frighten some people and animals away.  So, I’ll accept your withdrawal from my party.  Brother Masseo?  Will you accompany me?

MASSEO: I think I’ll go back and gather the other friars.  We’ll meet you in the forest.

( exit WOLF & MASSEO ...three beats... MASSEO & SYLVESTER & Elias & other friars enter)

FRANCIS: Look!  Some of our sister birds up there in the trees!  And here are some at our feet.  Wait here, Brothers.  I’m going to preach to the birds.

(birds all come to his feet)

(FRANCIS continues): My sister birds, you owe God a debt of gratitude!  Praise God always!  God has provided you with everything you could possibly desire.  You can fly freely.  Praise God everywhere.  You have the most beautiful feathered coats to protect you from the weather.  You have trees for your nests and rocky crags for refuge.  You don’t have to work or even beg for your food.  You have lovely singing voices.  Use them to sing praises to God, who gave you everything.  Don’t be ungrateful.  Praise God! (starts to sing, and the birds join in)

Brothers!  Come and see!   See how happy our sister birds are!  See, they are bowing their heads.  Let’s pray with them.  Bless you, my sister birds. (makes the sign of the cross over the birds at his feet)

BROTHER ELIAS: That’s wonderful, Brother Francis.  I wonder if any other animals of the forest will react the same way.

FRANCIS: Let’s go on and find out. (they walk on, animals too)

(enter WOLF)

WOLF: Hey!  Wait!  I’ll join you!

FRANCIS: Sister Wolf!  Welcome! 

WOLF: I followed you.  I thought if I kept out of sight, I could learn how you would be preaching in the forest.  When I saw you with the birds, how they weren’t afraid of you, I decided that the animals didn’t need  to fear me, either.

FRANCIS: You seem to be right.  Look, here come some deer.  They’ve seen you.  They are safe, aren’t they? 

(DEER come onstage, stop when they see WOLF).

WOLF: From me?  Of course. I won’t hurt them.

FRANCIS: Do you think they know that?

WOLF: I don’t know.  All right. I’ll stay still and quiet.  Maybe the deer won’t be afraid of me if I don’t move.

(DEER move closer)

FRANCIS: Come, Brother Deer and Sister Doe.  Come and praise God with us.  We’ll pray with you. 

(DEER and other animals bow their heads)

WOLF: Amen, and ahem! 

FRANCIS: What’s that you said?

WOLF: I think you have a long journey ahead of you, Brother Francis.  I’m going to leave you for a little while.  I’ll catch up with you in a few days, if that’s all right with you.

FRANCIS: Is there a problem?

WOLF: No.  Not exactly.  But it’s been a long day, and I have to --, I mean, I’ve got to ---, I mean, I’ll just see you later.  All right?

FRANCIS: I see.  You’re hungry, and you need to go and, um, beg for something to eat?

WOLF: Something like that.

FRANCIS: I see.  Just remember, well, you know what you should remember.

WOLF: Yes.  Of course.  If I want to be a member of the Fourth Order, I have to start to work on living according to a Franciscan Rule of Life.  You’ll help me with that?

FRANCIS: We can certainly think about it.  And pray.  You know, of course, that Clare doesn’t have her rule approved yet?  So, it could be that it’ll be a while before there’s a fourth order.

WOLF: All the more reason for me to be careful.  You be careful, too, Brother Francis.  Are you planning to go on that sea voyage now?

FRANCIS: Yes.  I think the time has come to travel to the Holy Land.  There’s a war there, you know.  Brave knights are fighting a holy crusade to rescue Jerusalem from the Muslims.

WOLF: Oh.  So you’re going to be a knight again, are you?  I thought you gave up on that idea a long time ago.

FRANCIS: I’m not going to fight!!  No, I’m going to preach to the Muslims.

WOLF: I hear that’s a dangerous thing to do.  Muslims don’t want to hear the Gospel.

FRANCIS: I know.  That’s why I must go.  I must go with a message of love and peace.  Pray for me.

WOLF: I will.  And, as I said, be careful.

(CURTAINS CLOSE)

End of Act III

Act III scene 2

ACT III

scene 2 “The Third Order”

Setting: forest near Assisi; then, a ship; then a small church (San Damiano).

(CURTAIN CLOSED: WOLF & FRANCIS at one side of the stage)

WOLF: Three!  You have three orders?  The men are the friars, the first order, right?

FRANCIS: Right.

WOLF: And the women are the Poor Clares, the second order.  And rightly so, that women should be second to the men.  But what can the third order be?  If neither men nor women?  Wolves?  Can I join?

FRANCIS: Hey!  That’s not a bad idea.  But you could form a fourth order, animals.  Yes, but I wonder what the Pope would say.   You’re wrong, though, about the women being second just because they aren’t men.  They’re the second order because the men’s order was founded first.  It never occurred to me to have women with us.  It wouldn’t be proper for women to live in ruined churches, begging for their food.  It wasn’t until Clare came along and convinced me that their example of poverty and prayer would be service to God.  And they help with the lepers, too.  That’s very important for all of us.  Do you know what Clare says about herself?  She says she is a flower that I planted in my Garden of Poverty.  Isn’t that wonderful?

WOLF: Yes, yes.  But you haven’t explained about the third order.  Not men, not women, not even wolves, so...?

FRANCIS: Both men and women.  Maybe married, or maybe not.  Might include priests, as the first order does, but mostly lay people like you and me.  Well, like me, anyway.  They hold jobs, have their own homes, raise families, just like everyone else. 

WOLF: I don’t understand.  If they’re like everyone else, how can they be Franciscans?

FRANCIS: They live in the world, but they are not of the world.  They live lives of poverty in that they are generous with what they have.  They hold lightly to the things of this world.  They don’t collect valuable treasures and have things that need guarding.  And they live in the spirit of chastity by being faithful to their families and not taking advantage of vulnerable people.  As for obedience, they have a Rule of Life, too.  And they make a vow to keep that Rule.  Above all, they are obedient to Our Lord Jesus Christ, making every effort to live as the Gospels teach.

WOLF: And what do these people get for following you?  The first and second orders, and the third?

FRANCIS: You know the Friars, and you’ve seen what they get, blisters on their feet and sleeping on floors with few covers and empty stomachs.  Not much for themselves, perhaps.  But there are blessings that are not obvious to outsiders.  The same is true for the Poor Clares, except that they live cloistered lives at San Damiano.    Oh, look!  Here come Luchesio and his wife, Buonadonna.  They’re members of the Third Order.  Why don’t they tell you all about being tertiaries?

(enter LUCHESIO & BUONADONNA )

WOLF: Great!  I like to get my information first hand.  Why don’t you introduce us, Brother Francis?

FRANCIS: Brother, Sister, come over here!  Sister Wolf wants to meet you.

LUCHESIO: Sister Wolf?  A wolf is our sister or brother? 

FRANCIS: Is that a problem?

BUONADONNA: We’re farmers, you know.  Wolves are not, um, usually considered friends, much less sisters and brothers.

FRANCIS: I hope you’ll make an exception in this case.

LUCHESIO: I think we can manage that.  Especially since we aren’t at the farm right now.

FRANCIS: Sister Wolf was wondering what you got out of being Third Order Franciscans.  Maybe you can tell him.

BUONADONNA: It’s a good question.  Because at first, I was not as keen as my husband.  He had been a very prosperous merchant.  As his wife, I had everything I could possibly want.  We were a lot like Brother Francis’ parents, I suppose.  He certainly recognized our greed and selfishness. 

LUCHESIO : My greed, especially.

BUONADONNA: But you, at least, were willing to listen to Brother Francis, and learn that there was a better way to live.

LUCHESIO: It wasn’t easy to hear that I should give up all our wealth.

BUONADONNA: And the lovely home, beautiful clothes, and being the envy of all the women in town.

LUCHESIO: I suppose those things meant more to my wife than to me.  But I did love to see her happy with all the things I was able to buy for her.  She definitely was not happy when I came home and suggested we give it all up and embrace a life of poverty.

BUONADONNA: No, I didn’t like that at all.  Fortunately, Brother Francis realized that as a family we couldn’t live exactly like the Friars Minor or like the Poor Clares.  But we could embrace the spirit of poverty, if not as completely as the first and second orders. 

WOLF: So where do you live, if you aren’t in your big house?

LUCHESIO: We sold the business and our beautiful house.  That gave us enough money to buy a little farm that would provide for our basic needs, and we could give the rest of the money to the poor.

WOLF: Yes.  But what do you get for all that?  You don’t have the blisters and the hungry nights, that the friars and Brother Francis seem to think are so great. Why do you want to be Franciscans?  What do you get?

FRANCIS: What do they get?  How can you ask that?  To begin with, they get the same gifts that God gives to all of us, to enjoy in this life and the next.  In addition, you’ve heard from some of my followers how they feel free in ways they never felt freedom before.  It is a life of joy and hope and wonder.

BUONADONNA: Exactly!  That’s true.  I’ve never felt so free and filled with joy than I do now.  Giving to the poor is so rewarding. Watching the food grow in the farm is better than wandering through a big house filled with expensive trinkets.

LUCHESIO: We don’t have the full joy that you mentioned, blisters and hunger, but we could do that maybe.  In our case, though, there is enough to do at the farm that keeps us to our Franciscan Rule of Life as it was approved for us as members of the Order of Penance. 

BUONADONNA: By the way, speaking of the farm..

LUCHESIO: Yes, you’re right!  We really must get back to work.  I hope we’ve answered all your questions, Sister Wolf.

WOLF: Yes.  Well, Most of my questions.   I don’t understand, though, is how being penitent all the time makes you happy.  But at least you don’t go hungry.  That’s what I really can’t understand.   How can the friars feel joy when they are hungry?  Being hungry never makes me joyful!  Anyway, I’m glad to have met you.  And I’ll remember you whenever I pass a farm, that you are Franciscans, too.

FRANCIS: Good-bye Brother Luchesio and Sister Buonadonna!  Pax et bonum! 

(exit LUCHESIO and BUONADONNA)

WOLF: Three orders, eh?  You know what I keep thinking of?  Your idea of a fourth order for us in the animal kingdom.

FRANCIS: I think that was your idea.

WOLF: Maybe.  But you said you liked it.

FRANCIS: I do.  I’ll have to give it more thought.  I’m not sure I could get a pope to go along with it, though, so don’t get your hopes up.  Besides, we have other things to consider now though.  I’ll need your help.

(exit WOLF & FRANCIS to opposite sides of the stage)