Issues on Franciscan Values - Essay Example

Francis and his followers, commonly known as the Franciscans lived a very religious life full of values that earned him great admiration the world over (Robinson, 127). Among the values spearheaded by the Franciscans include compassion, love, trust in God, peace, respect, service simplicity and joy. These values were also very influential in the history of both Romans and Greeks and were brought up by various authors in their literature.

One Franciscan value that was prevalent in a majority of the pieces of literature during this century is the value of compassion. The Franciscan value of compassion refers to the act of empathizing with others and sharing in their misery. Compassion is a very important component of leadership where leaders are expected to respond to the needs of their subjects and uplift them when they feel disillusioned. The value of compassion as understood by Franciscans is therefore tied to the concept of leadership.

In one work of literature, Aeneids, written by Virgil, the Franciscan value of compassion has been clearly illustrated. In the text, Aeneas, the son of Anchises and Venus is the protagonist. He is identified by the gods to lead his people in building the foundations for a successful Roman Empire. Aeneas's fate as Rome’s founder takes a very historical design in the text where Aeneas decides to accept the prophecy and incorporate his destiny in his actions despite having challenges that seem to destruct him from his fate. Aeneas is highly regarded as a hero in his community due to various acts of compassion that he engaged in with his followers. Aeneas is overwhelmingly concerned about the good of his people and their general welfare.

As he moved with the Trojans from Carthage on their way to Italy, Aeneas’ leadership skills strengthened from time to time (Virgil, 90). Along the way, he showed his compassion towards his subjects by being sympathetic to their state throughout the journey. He, therefore, gave the fleet of men with him a lot of encouraging speeches to raise their spirits higher. In Book V of Aeneids, he develops great compassion toward the unburied people that he observed in the underworld. He, therefore, made it his goal to bury all the people killed during his wars along the way, both his enemies and his people.

Aeneas also had great compassion towards his own family. This is evidenced in the scene where he carries his old father on the back as he escorted him out of Troy. Aeneas also abandoned his relationship with Dido because he viewed it as destruction from his intended fate of serving and leading his people as it had been destined. This act of leaving his emotional benefits and attending to his followers is regarded as one of the most compassionate acts a leader can express.

Aeneas also showed compassion towards a Danaan sailor who had been left by Ulysses on the island because his clothes had disguised him as being an enemy of the Trojans (as in Odysseus). Aeneas treats him like any one of their own and takes him in his team despite the sailor being a Greek (Gian, 100). Aeneas also shows the same compassion towards another individual of Latin descent who had died at his hands. He let the child know that he wouldn’t strip off his amour and even opted to return him to his people for a proper burial.

Aeneas is also distinguished from other heroes in the story such as Turnus, who is regarded as being highly skilled in battles and for his courage. Turnus is however a selfish and proud leader who interpreted the signs given to him by the gods for his benefit. Unlike him, Aeneas's compassion led him to interpret the signs he received from the gods for the benefit of everybody in the community (Gian, 119).