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

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Thou art strong, Thou art great (cf. Ps 85:10), Thou art the Most High,
Thou art the Omnipotent King, Thou "Holy Father" (cf. Jn 17:11) King "of Heaven and
Earth." (Mt 11:25). · Thou art Three and One Lord, God
of gods (cf. Ps 135:2), Thou art good, all good, the Highest Good,
Love 58
Lord God living and true (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). · Thou art Charity;
Thou art Wisdom, Thou art humility, "Thou art patience" (Ps 70:5),
Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness; Thou art security, Thou art quiet,
Thou art our Hope 59
Thou art joy; and gladness, Thou art justice,
all 60 our
Thou art temperance, Thou art riches unto sufficiency. ·
Thou art beauty, Thou art gentleness,
"Thou art Protector" (Ps 30:5), Thou art guard and our defender,
Thou art fortitude (cf. Ps 42:2), Thou art refreshment. · Thou art our hope, 61
Thou art our faith. Thou art our charity,
Thou art our eternal life: 62
Thou art our entire sweetness, Great and admirable Lord, God Omnipotent, merciful Savior.
The Blessing given to Friar Leo
[BenLeo]
Friar Leo was one of St. Francis' close companions. According to the early sources, St. Francis wrote this
blessing to assist Friar Leo in time of temptation. It appears on the reverse of the parchment which he
gave Friar Leo (see above). This writing of St. Francis has the unique honor of containing the signature of
St. Francis, in the form of a Tau Cross drawn in red ink, between the letters of Leo's name [i.e. Le-T-o]. 63
This blessing has become the customary one in Franciscan communities, and is recited over the friars by
the local superior as the last prayer of the day. St. Francis ability to use language emphatically is seen
particularly in the last sentence of this blessing.
saving His people. The Church applies this term "wonder" to the works of Christ in Redemption
of Mankind. In particular the "wonders" which God alone can work are "miracles"; for a
discussion see St. Robert Bellarmine, Explanatio in Psalmos, LXXVI,13.
58 The Latin word amor appears in this position, above that for "charity." According to K. Esser
this replaces the latter, and represents a correction by the Saint himself, cf. p. 168.
59 This phrase, like that of amor above, is written between the lines, and represents a correction,
by insertion, before the phrase "and gladness," cf. K. Esser, p. 169.
60 The Latin words corresponding to "all" and "our" appear between the lines and are meant to be
inserted in the phrase immediately below: "Thou art all our riches...", cf. K. Esser, p. 169.
61 In both this and the following verse, the Latin word for "our" begins the verse which follows it,
rather than ending the verse in which it appears, as is done above in English by necessity.
62 Again, like the others before it, this phrase appears between the lines, and is to be added after
"Thou art our sweetness;" cf. K. Esser, p. 170.
63 The Tau is the biblical sign of election (cf. Ez 9:4), and by this means St. Francis sought to
encourage his companion against final despair, cf. K. Esser, p. 172.
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