Caring for the Leper Within
Jungian psychologists invite us to pay attention to our “shadow.” Our shadow that unconscious and repressed parts of our self, things we would rather not face, both negative AND positive.
In this post I’d like to tell you another legend from the life of Francis of Assisi that invites us to care for the “leper” within; that part of us that we find untouchable, repulsive, shameful.
The legend goes like this:
Francis and the Leper
He came down the dark hallway of the hospital for lepers shouting and cursing. The anger on his face and the stinking puss oozing from his rotting skin, made him terrible to behold.
The other lepers who lived in this house of the living dead hurried into their rooms. They knew too well his bad temper and frequent outbursts of anger toward anyone at hand.
Brother John, Brother Sylvester, and Brother Masseo, who were just rounding the corner in that hallway, stopped, turned around, and walked the other way.
“He is beyond our help,” said Brother John. “He is beyond all hope,” said Brother Sylvester.
“Leave him in his room to his fate, there is nothing more we can do for him,” said Brother Masseo. “There are others less difficult and more grateful for us to serve.”
So the three Friars abandoned the man to his disease.
Later that day, St. Francis came to the hospital. The Brothers told him about the leper who they thought was beyond all help.
Francis went and found the leper sitting alone on his straw mat on the dirt floor in his tiny dark room. “God give you peace, dearest brother.”
“Peace!?” growled the leper. “What peace can I have from God, who has taken from me all peace and everything that is good and has made me rotten and stinking?”
“And it is not only my illness that afflicts me. I am sorely wronged by these friars. No one takes care of me as he should.”
Francis listened long and patiently to the leper’s angry complaints. Then he gave him some bread and wine which he had begged in a nearby village and said, “Rest for a while and I will return.”
St. Francis left the hospital and walked deep into the woods to pray.
Oh God. This man is so angry and difficult. The other friars have given up on him. What do you want me to do?
Later Francis returned to the hospital and sought out the ill-tempered leper.
“I have decided to take care of you myself,” said Francis.
“But what more can you do for me than the others?” growled the unhappy man.
“I will do whatever you want me to do.” Francis replied.
“Wash me all over. I smell so bad I cannot stand my own stink!” replied the leper.
So Francis immediately heated a large bucket of water and added many sweet scented herbs to the warm water.
Then Francis carefully peeled the leper’s puss soaked clothes from his rotting flesh, and began to wash him with his own hands.
And wherever Francis touched his body the leprosy disappeared and the flesh healed.
As Francis washed him, the leper wept thinking about how nasty he had been to the friars who had tried to care for him.
After Francis finished bathing him, the leper went to Brother John, Brother Sylvester, and Brother Masseo, and asked their forgiveness for the cursing and abuse he had heaped upon them daily.
The Brothers forgave him and the man returned to his family, full of joy over his healing. And he spent the rest of his days full of the peace of God.
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What part of yourself have you pushed into your shadow that’s crying out for care? How would your inner life be transformed if you washed your “leper” with care and compassion?
How do we care for the shadow parts of us? Here are a few suggestions:
- Journal. Take some time in silence. Invite your shadow parts to speak. Write down what you hear them say. Engage in a dialogue with them.
- Affirmations. As you learn what your internal leper needs offer them affirmations. For example, if your shadow part is fearful of rejection, offer them the affirmation: “You are are loved!” or “I am proud of you!”
- Therapy. Sometimes the parts of us in our shadow have been so wounded they need professional help, someone trained in helping us hear what our “lepers” are saying.
We cannot escape the wounds of living. But we can offer care to the parts of us we have relegated to our shadow. Have you visited the leprosarium in your shadow lately? What parts are crying out for care? Francis’ story invites us to visit.
Jim Cyr is a trained spiritual companion who helps older adults reflect on the meaning of their lives and how God has been present or absent as they face the challenges of aging and end of life.