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

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Chapter XVI. On cleanliness 34 of heart THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI "Blessed (are) the clean of heart, since they themselves shall see God" (Mt 5:8). · Truly are they clean in heart who despise earthly things, seek heavenly ones and do not ever withdraw from adoring and beholding 35 Our Lord, living and true, with a clean heart and soul. Chapter XVII. On the humble servant of God "Blessed (is) that servant" (Mt 24:46), who does not exalt himself more because of the good, which the Lord says and works through him, 36 than that which He says and works through another. · A man sins, who wants rather to receive from his neighbor, what he does not want to give of himself to the Lord God. Chapter XVIII. On compassion for one's neighbor Blessed (is) the man, who supports his neighbor during his frailty to the extent that he would want to be supported by him, if he falls into an exactly similar situation. · Blessed (is) the servant who renders all his goods to the Lord God, 37 because he who has retained anything for himself "conceals" within himself "the money of his Lord" God (Mt 25:18) and "what" he thought he "had, shall be born away from" him (Lk 8:18). Chapter XIX. On the humble servant of God Blessed (is) the servant, who does not consider himself better, when he is magnified and exalted by men, as when for example he is considered to be vile, simple, and despised, · because as much as a man is before God, that much he is and nothing more. · Woe to that religious, who has been placed on high by others and does not wish to descend by means of his own will. · And "blessed (is) that servant" (Mt 24:46), who is placed on high not by means of his own will and desires always to be beneath the feet of others. 38 Chapter XX. On the good and the vain religious Blessed (is) that religious, who has not cheer and gladness except in the Lord's most holy discourses and works, · and with these leads men forth to the love of God with joy and gladness (cf. Ps. 50:10). · Woe to that religious, who delights himself in idle and vain words and with these leads men to laugh. 39 34 lit. munditia, the state of being clean, free from grime, filth, dirt and stains; here used it in reference to the absence of both vice and the punishment due sin, and a purity of intention. 35 By means of meditation and recollection. 36 see fn. 5. 37 i.e. by employing his talents in the service of God through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. 38 cf. St. Bernard, Tractatus de gradibus humilitatis et superbiae, ch. XV, n. 43; PL 182,966 A, 949 C. 39 cf. Rule of St. Benedict, VII, 59-60; CSEL 75,50. Page - 26
THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Chapter XXI. On the inane and loquacious religious Blessed (is) the servant, who when he speaks, does not manifest all his own (thoughts) in view of (some) wage and is not swift to speak (cf. Prov. 29:20), but wisely provides, what he ought to speak and answer. · Woe to that religious, who does not retain in his heart (Lk 2:19.51) the good things, which the Lord shows him, and does not show them to others through work, but who in view of (some) wage desires rather to show them to men with words. · He himself receives "his wage" (cf. Mt 6:2; 6:16) and (his) hearers bring back little fruit. Chapter XXII. On correction Blessed (is) the servant who would endure discipline, accusation and rebuke as patiently from another as from his very self. · Blessed (is) the servant, who having been rebuked, acquiesces kindly, submits meekly, confesses humbly and makes satisfaction freely. · Blessed (is) the servant, who is not swift to excuse himself and humbly endures shame and rebuke because of a sin, where he has not committed (any) fault. 40 Chapter XXIII. On humility Blessed (is) the servant, who is found to be as humble among his own subjects, as when for example he would be among his own lords. 41 · Blessed (is) the servant, who always remains continually under the rod of correction. 42 · A faithful and prudent servant is he (cf. Mt 24:45), who in all (circumstances) does not delay to punish his own offenses interiorly by means of contrition and exteriorly by means of confession and works of satisfaction. Chapter XXIV. On true love Blessed (is) the servant, who would love (dilectio) his own brother as much, when he is infirm to the point that he cannot repay him, as when he is a healthy (brother), who can repay him. Chapter XXV. Likewise on the same (subject) Blessed (is) the servant, who would so love and fear his own brother, when he is far from him, as when for example he is with him, and would not say anything behind him, which he cannot, with charity, say before him. Chapter XXVI. That the servants of God should honor clerics Blessed (is) the servant, who puts faith in the clerics who live rightly according to the manner of the Roman Church. · And woe to those who despise them; for though they may be sinners, no one however ought to judge them, since God Himself reserves to Himself alone their 40 Since one always has many sins which have gone unpunished, it is only right that one should suffer for them, if even at another occasion. 41 i.e. not just among one's immediate superiors, but among one's highest. 42 i.e. in a state of mind and heart which welcomes correction from superiors and subjects. Page - 27
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Chapter X On the admonition and cor
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eighth year of Our Pontificate. 347
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things throughout the ages. Amen. C
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