The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi - + Saints' Works

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
36-8 [XVI,5-7] The friars who in accord with] the permission of their minister go about
among the infidels c[an] conduct themselves spiritually in two manners. · One manner is, that
they cause no arguments nor strife, but are subjects "of every human creature for God's sake" (1
Pt 2:13) and confess themselves to be Christians. · The other manner is, that when they have seen
that it pleases God, they announce the word of God, so that (the infidels) may believe in the
Omnipotent God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Below:
39-40 [XVI,10-11] And let all the friars, wherever they are, remember, that they have
given themselves and abandoned themselves and their bodies to the Lord Jesus Christ. · And on
behalf of His love (amor) they ought to endure persecution and death by enemies both visible
and invisible; etc.. Below:
41-4 [XVII,3-6] Let all the friars preach by (their) manners. Let no minister or preacher
appropriate to himself the office of minister or the office of preaching, but in whatever (hour) it
has been enjoined upon him, let him lay down his office. · Whence I beseech in the Charity,
which God is (cf. 1 Jn 4:16), all my friar preachers, prayers, laborers, the clerics as much as the
lay (brothers), that they strive to humble themselves in all thing, · not to glory, to rejoice in
themselves nor interiorly to exalt themselves because of the good words and works, indeed
because of no good thing, which God does or says or works at any time in them and through
them, 519 according what the Lord says: "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are
subject to you" (Lk 10:20) etc..
45-6 [XVII,7-8] And let us firmly know, that nothing pertains to us except (our) vices
and sins; · but we ought to rather rejoice, "when" we have fallen "into various temptations" (cf.
Jm 1:2) and have endured whatever anguish and tribulation of soul and body in this world for the
sake of eternal life.
47-53 [XVII,9-16] Therefore let all the friars beware of pride and vain glory; let us guard
ourselves much from the wisdom of this world and the prudence of the flesh. · For the spirit of
the flesh wants and strives much to have words, but little towards working; and it seeks not
religion and sanctity of spirit, · but wants and desires a religion and sanctity appearing outwardly
to men. · And these are those, of whom the Lord speaks: "Amen I say to you, they have received
their wage" (Mt 6:2). · The spirit of the Lord, however, wants mortification and the flesh to be
despised, vile and abject and disgraceful. · And it strives towards humility and patience, pure
simplicity and true peace of spirit. · And above all it desires the divine fear and the divine
wisdom and the divine love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
54-5 [XVII,17-18] And let us render all good things to the Lord God, the Most High and
Highest, and let us recognize that all good things are His. · And let Him accept all honors and
reverences, all praises and blessings, all thanks and glories, of whom is every good, who alone is
good (cf. Lk 18:19).
56 [XVII,19] And when we hear men speak evil or blaspheme the Lord, let us do good
and bless and praise the Lord, "who is blest through the ages" (Rm 1:25).
57 [XIX,3] Let all of us clerics and religious regard (one another) as lords in those things
which pertain to the salvation of the soul, and do not turn aside from my religion; 520 and let us
venerate their state and administration and office in the Lord. Below:
58-66 [XXI,1-9] This or such an exhortation or praise all the friars can announce, as
much as God will have inspired them, among whatever men, with the blessing of God and the
permission of their minister: · Fear and honor, praise and bless, give thanks (1 Th 5:18) and
519 see fn. 5.
520 see fn. 156.
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