Francis' post conversion relationship with his father

[hardesty]

Recently I completed listening to a twelve part scholarly lecture series by Ronald Herzman, Ph.D. and William Cook, Ph.D of the State University of New York at Geneseo titled Francis of Assisi (2000). In addition, I have read the biographical works of Jorgesen (1912) and Sabatier (1922). While I understand that the above named researchers have consulted a great primary and secondary source documents pertaining to the life of Saint Francis, i.e, Thomas of Celano, Saint Bonaventure, etc., there are two general questions / topics of discussion the answer of which I have yet to discover. Perhaps you will share your thoughts or comments??
As I listened to the lectures, particulary the conversion experience of Saint Francis, I began thinking of the many themes similar (and different) to that of Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). One of the many particularly nagging questions I am working on - and hope to flesh out in future research and discussion is in regard to the ability of Francis to be a peacemaker. After his conversion, Francis seemed to be especially successful in reconciling warring cities, political entities and religious factions but strangely enough I have not heard/read of any evidence to suggest that he was ever reconciled with this father? If he did not make peace with his father, what notions or ideas does this suggest or support? This leads to my other question…
As history has shown, Francis embraced the poorest of the poor with joyfulness and in the spirit of compassion. In my personal experience in with working and serving the poor, I have come to believe that many, if not all, personal, social and even political influences that seem to reinforce pain and suffering among us is not only complex but can be thought of as pure evil - certainly to some degree. While I appreciate that the mysteries of salvation and engaging the many spiritual dilemmas encountered by the poor are matters beyond this discussion (I hope to address them eventually), I am nevertheless curious to learn if Francis thought the poor was / is afflicted by the presence of evil in the world. It’s kind of hard to embrace a leper, war victim, etc. with compassion if he himself is hatefully throwing stones at you!! I have not seen this issue being addressed in the literature.
Did Francis attempt to reconcile with his father? Did Francis fail to see that while Pietro may have been a rich and successful cloth merchant, he was perhaps very lonely in his success and/or poor in spirit - perhaps like he had been prior to his own conversion? Unlike the father of the Prodigal Son, was their something downright evil about Pietro that prevented any successful effort to reconcile…., or with a lack of understanding am I just asking all the wrong questions? Any thoughts or comments that you or fellow researchers care to offer? With kindest regards to you and your colleagues I am respectfully yours…,
Joe Hardesty, M.Ed., MLS
Louisville, Ky.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joehardesty

[doyo]

I've read somewhere that St Francis did reconcile with his father some time before his passing during his illness. I wish I remembered where I read it. It would be so hard to imagine that he hadn't done so. But I do wonder, too, why major biographies of him don't mention it.

...I have come to believe that many, if not all, personal, social and even political influences that seem to reinforce pain and suffering among us is not only complex but can be thought of as pure evil - certainly to some degree.

I agree with you on this. But the pain and suffering itself are not at all of evil, since they are common passages to attaining holiness. Which makes me think that God indeed is more powerful than all evil that he even uses them for our salvation! Praise God!!!