The Franciscan Path of Descent
If we are not marginalized ourselves in some way, we normally need to associate with some marginalized group to have an enlightened Gospel perspective and to be converted to compassion.
.. Francis actually moved even further down, into the plain below Assisi where there was a leper colony. (The word “leper,” even in the Bible, is a term referring generally to the excluded ones. They did not always have the contagious disease of leprosy, but they were the people society had deemed unacceptable, unworthy, or shameful for any number of reasons.) On that plain was an abandoned, ruined church, which Francis physically rebuilt.
.. We were not to identify with the upper class, nor with the climb toward success, power, and money. Rather, we were to go where Jesus went, which was wherever the pain was.
.. He wanted his followers to be “blue collar” ministers who lived close to the people in every way, and not “white collar” superiors. However, poor Francis was not long in his grave before the Church started ordaining as many Franciscan men as possible–who soon wore stiff white Roman collars. It gave us access, credibility, status, and stipends in academia, church, and society. I know that it was probably inevitable, and not all bad, but it is indeed dangerous for the soul.