St. Katherine Drexel Regional Fraternity
Regional Spiritual Assistant
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
tel: (302) 798-1454 fax: (302) 798-3360 website: skdsfo email: pppgusa@gmail.com
September 2026
Let us desire nothing else, let us wish for nothing else,
let nothing else please us and cause us delight, except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,
the one true God, Who is fullness of Good, all Good, every Good, the true and Supreme Good,
Who alone is merciful and gentle, delectable and sweet,
Who alone is holy, just and true, holy and right,
Who alone is kind, innocent, pure, from Whom and through Whom and in Whom is all pardon, all grace, all glory.
Therefore, let nothing hinder us, nothing separate us or come between us. Let us all, wherever we are
Glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks to the Most High and supreme eternal God.
The following excerpts for the days of the month are taken from Assisi Compilation #114 – #117.
The daily quotes are from various sources.
114 – HE CORRECTS A BROTHER WHO RASHLY JUDGED A POOR MAN
1 – When blessed Francis went to a hermitage of the brothers near Rocca di Brizio to preach to the people of that region, it happened that on the very day that he was to preach, a poor sick man came to him. When he saw him and noticed his poverty and illness, he was moved to piety for him and he began to speak to his companion about the man’s nakedness and illness. “It is true, brother,” his companion said to him, “that he is poor, but perhaps there is no one in the whole province who desires riches more.”
– The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.
2 – Blessed Francis rebuked him for not speaking well and he admitted his fault. Blessed Francis told him: “Do you want to do the penance I will tell you?” “Willingly” he replied.
– The friendship that can cease has never been real.
3 – “Go, strip off your tunic,” he said, “and go to that poor man naked, throw yourself at his feet, and tell him how you sinned against him, how you slandered him, and ask him to pray for you that God may forgive you.” So he went and did everything blessed Francis had told him. When he finished, he got up, put on his tunic, and returned to blessed Francis.
– Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Till your good is better and your better is best
4 – And blessed Francis said to him: “Do you want me to tell you how you sinned against him, and even against Christ?” And he said: “Whenever you see a poor person you ought to consider Him in whose name he comes, that is, Christ, who came to take on our poverty and weakness. This man’s poverty and weakness is a mirror for us in which we should see and consider lovingly the poverty and weakness of our Lord Jesus Christ which He endured in His body for the salvation of the human race.”
– Beauty when unadorned is adorned the most.
115 – A STRATEGY FOR CONVERTING THE ROBBERS OF BORGO SAN SEPOLCRO
5 – At one time robbers used to come sometimes to the hermitage of the brothers above Borgo San Sepolcro to ask the brothers for bread. They hid in the thick forest of that region, coming out from time to time to rob travelers on the streets and footpaths. Some of the brothers of that place said: “It is not right to give them alms because they are robbers and they do many very great evil things to people.” Others, taking into consideration that they begged humbly and were compelled by great necessity, used to give them alms sometimes, always admonishing them to be converted to penance.
– Begin now to be what you will be hereafter.
6 – Meanwhile blessed Francis arrived at that place. The brothers asked him whether they should give them bread, or not. “If you do as I tell you,” blessed Francis told them, “I trust in the Lord that you will win their souls. Go get some good bread and good wine and take it to them in the woods where you know they are staying, and cry out: ‘Come, Brother Robbers, come to us, because we are brothers and we are bringing you some good bread and good wine.’
– Early impressions are hard to eradicate from the mind. When wool has been dyed purple, who can restore it to its previous whiteness?
7 – They will immediately come to you. Then you spread out a table cloth on the ground, placing the bread and wine on it, and, while they are eating, humbly and joyfully wait on them. After the meal, speak to them some words of the Lord. Finally, for the love of the Lord ask them for this first request: make them promise you that they will not strike anyone or injure anyone’s person.
– Everything must have in it a sharp seasoning of truth.
8 – Do not ask for everything all at once, or they will not listen to you. Because of the humility and charity you show them, they will at once make you this promise. The next day, get up and, because of the promise they made to you, besides eggs and cheese, bring them the bread and wine, and take these to them, and wait on them while they eat.
– When we pray, we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.
9 – After the meal, say to them: ‘Why do you stay here all day long, dying of hunger, suffering many evil things and in your actions doing many evil things for which you will lose your souls unless you are converted? It is better to serve the Lord, who will both supply your bodily needs in this world and save your souls in the end.’ Then the Lord in His mercy will inspire them to convert and they will be converted because of the humility and charity you show them.”
– It is worse still to be ignorant of your ignorance.
10 – So the brothers got up and did everything as blessed Francis told them. And by the mercy of God and His grace which descended on them, those men listened and observed to the letter point by point all the requests which the brothers asked of them.
– Whatever we read in the Old Testament we find in the Gospel; and what we read in the Gospel is deduced from the Old Testament. There is no discord between them, no disagreement.
11 – Further, because of the friendliness and charity the brothers showed them, they began carrying wood on their shoulders to the hermitage. By the mercy of God, through the charity and friendliness that the brothers showed them, some entered religion, others embraced penance, promising in the hands of the brothers no longer to commit these evil deeds, but to live by the work of their hands.
– To sin is human, to lay snares is diabolical.
12 – The brothers and others who heard or knew about this, were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis, how he had predicted the conversion of these men who had been perfidious and wicked, and how quickly they converted to the Lord.
– They will learn how better it is, when one is uninformed, to put questions than to make assertions.
13 – After the meal, speak to them some words of the Lord. Finally, for the love of the Lord ask them for this first request: make them promise you that they will not strike anyone or injure anyone’s person. Do not ask for everything all at once, or they will not listen to you.
– The best advice I can give you is this: Church tradition – especially when they do not run counter to the Faith – are to be observed in the form in which previous generations have handed them down.
14 – Because of the humility and charity you show them, they will at once make you this promise. The next day, get up and, because of the promise they made to you, besides eggs and cheese, bring them the bread and wine, and take these to them, and wait on them while they eat. After the meal, say to them: ‘Why do you stay here all day long, dying of hunger, suffering many evil things and in your actions doing many evil things for which you will lose your souls unless you are converted?
– The one unbeliever is sanctified by his holy and believing family. For, when a man is surrounded by a believing crowd of children and grandchildren, he is as good as a candidate for the faith.
15 – It is better to serve the Lord, who will both supply your bodily needs in this world and save your souls in the end.’ Then the Lord in His mercy will inspire them to convert and they will be converted because of the humility and charity you show them.”
– Knowledge, when it is the right kind, is the handmaid to love, for without love, knowledge puffs up.
16 – So the brothers got up and did everything as blessed Francis told them. And by the mercy of God and His grace which descended on them, those men listened and observed to the letter point by point all the requests which the brothers asked of them. Further, because of the friendliness and charity the brothers showed them, they began carrying wood on their shoulders to the hermitage.
– All that the saints say is a prayer to God; their whole prayer and supplication a strong wrestling for the pity of God.
17 – By the mercy of God, through the charity and friendliness that the brothers showed them, some entered religion, others embraced penance, promising in the hands of the brothers no longer to commit these evil deeds, but to live by the work of their hands.
– The liberty of the soul is lost through the windows of the eyes.
18 – The brothers and others who heard or knew about this, were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis, how he had predicted the conversion of these men who had been perfidious and wicked, and how quickly they converted to the Lord.
– To will and to run are mine, but they will cease to be mine unless God brings me His continual aid.
116 – HE REVEALS THAT A BROTHER CONSIDERED A SAINT IS AN IMPOSTOR
19 – There was a brother of a decent and holy way of living, who concerned himself with prayer day and night. He observed constant silence so that when he went to confession to a brother priest, he confessed with signs, not with words. He appeared so devout and fervent in the love of God, that sometimes when he sat down with the brothers, although he did not speak, he rejoiced so much internally and externally on hearing some good words that he moved all the brothers and others who saw him in devotion to God.
– A friend is long sought, hardly found, and with difficulty kept.
20 – He was willingly considered a saint by the brothers and others. After he had been living this way for several years, it happened that blessed Francis came to that place where he was staying. When he heard the brothers tell him about this brother’s way of life, he said: “Know for a truth that this is diabolical temptation and deception, because he does not want to confess.”
– Empower your mind anywhere anytime.
21 – In the meantime the general minister came there to visit blessed Francis and began to praise this brother in front of blessed Francis. “Believe me, brother,” blessed Francis told him, “this brother is led and deceived by an evil spirit.” The general minister replied to him: “I find it amazing and almost unbelievable that a man who shows so many signs and works of holiness, can be what you say he is.” “Test him then,” blessed Francis replied. “Tell him to go to confession twice or even once a week. If he does not listen to you, you will know what I told you is true.” One day when the general minister was speaking to this brother, he told him: “Brother, I want you to confess twice or at least once a week.”
– Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.
22 – He put a finger to his lips and shook his head, showing by signs that he would in no way do that. The minister, however, fearing that he would scandalize him, let him go. A few days later he left the religion of his own will, and returned to the world wearing secular clothing. One day while two companions of blessed Francis were walking along some road, they met him. He was walking alone like a very poor pilgrim. Feeling compassion for him, they said: “You wretch, where is your holy and upright life? You used to love the solitary life so much that you did not want to show yourself to your brothers nor speak to them. And now you go wandering through the world like a man who does not know God or his servants.”
– Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
23 – He began to speak to them, often swearing on his faith like secular people. “Wretched man,” the brothers told him, “why do you swear on your faith like secular people? When you were in religion, you abstained not only from idle words, but from even good ones.” He told them: “It can’t be different.” They left him. And a few days later, he died. The brothers and others were quite amazed, as they reflected on the holiness of blessed Francis who had predicted his fall at a time when he was considered a saint by the brothers and others.
– The scars of others should teach us caution.
117 – HE IS BEATEN BY DEMONS WHILE STAYING IN A TOWEROF CARDINAL LEO OF SANTA CROCE
24 – Blessed Francis once went to Rome to visit the Lord Hugolino, the bishop of Ostia, who later became pope, and stayed with him a few days, and with his permission he visited Lord Leo, Cardinal of the Santa Croce, who was a very kind and courtly man. He was happy to see blessed Francis whom he greatly revered. With great devotion, he asked him to spend a few days with him, especially because it was winter and very cold and almost every day there was heavy wind and rain, as happens during that season. “Brother,” he said to him, “this weather is unsuitable for traveling. If it is agreeable to you, I want you to stay with me until there is good weather for travel. Since I feed a number of poor people in my house, you will receive food from me in place of one poor person.”
– Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.
25 – The Lord Cardinal said this, knowing that blessed Francis, because of his humility, always wanted to be received wherever he lodged as a poor person. And yet his holiness was so outstanding that the Lord Pope, the cardinals, and all the mighty of this world who knew him venerated him as a saint. And he added: “I will give you a good remote house where you can pray and eat if you wish.” Brother Angelo Tancredi, one of the first twelve brothers, was staying with the cardinal. He said to blessed Francis: “Brother, near here there is a beautiful tower on the city walls, quite ample and spacious on the inside, with nine chambers where you can stay as removed as in a hermitage.”
– An open enemy is better than a false friend.
26 – “Let us go to see it,” blessed Francis told him. On seeing it, he liked it, and returning to the Lord Cardinal said to him: “Lord, perhaps I will stay with you a few days.” The Lord Cardinal was pleased. So Brother Angelo went and prepared it so blessed Francis could stay there night and day with his companion. Blessed Francis did not wish to come down day or night as long as he was staying with the Lord Cardinal. Brother Angelo suggested that he bring food for blessed Francis and his companion each day, leaving it outside, for neither he nor any other was supposed to enter.
– A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
27 – Blessed Francis went to stay there with his companion. But when he wanted to sleep there on the first night, demons came and beat him severely. He immediately called his companion who was staying some distance away: “Come to me.” He got up at once and came to him. “Brother,” blessed Francis told him, “the demons have beaten me severely so I want you to stay next to me because I am afraid to stay here alone.” His companion stayed by him the whole night them remained awake that whole night. During that time, blessed Francis talked with his companion: “Why did the devils beat me? Why has the Lord given them the power to harm me?”
– Life is as tragic as you care to make it.
28 – And he began to say: “The devils are the police of our Lord. Just as the podestà sends his police to punish a wrong-doer, in the same way, the Lord punishes and corrects those whom He loves through the demons, who are His police and act as His ministers in this office. “Even a perfect religious very often sins in ignorance. Consequently if he does not realize his sin, he is punished by the devil so that he may see and carefully reflect internally and externally because of that punishment how he may have offended. For in this life the Lord leaves nothing unpunished in those whom He loves tenderly. By the mercy and grace of God, I do not know if I have offended Him in any way which I have not corrected by confession and satisfaction. Indeed the Lord in His mercy granted me this gift. He makes me understand through prayer any way in which I please or displease Him.
– The desire to appear clever often prevents one from becoming so.
29 – “It seems to me that it could be that the Lord punished me through His police because, although the Lord Cardinal gladly does this mercy to me and my body needs to accept, and I can accept it from him confidently, nevertheless, my brothers, who go through the world suffering hunger and many hardships, and other brothers who stay in poor little houses and hermitages, may have an occasion for grumbling against me when they hear that I am staying with the lord cardinal: ‘We are enduring so many hardships while he is having his comforts,’ I am bound always to give them good example; because I was given to them, especially for this. For the brothers are knew this, as we did, we who were with him for some time until the day of his death, and if they brought this back to mind, they would not be able to restrain their tears; and when they suffer some need or troubles, they would bear them with greater patience.
– To have doubted one’s own first principles is the mark of a civilized man.
30 – Very early in the morning, blessed Francis came down from the tower, and went to the Lord Cardinal, telling him all that had happened and everything that he said to his companion. And he added: “People have great faith in me and think that I am a holy man, and as you see the devils have driven me from the cell.” He wanted to stay there as if in a remote cell, not speaking to anyone except his companion. The Lord Cardinal was very happy with him. Nevertheless, since he knew and venerated him as a saint, he was satisfied with his decision not to stay there any longer. Thus, blessed Francis with permission returned to the hermitage of Saint Francis at Fonte Colombo near Rieti.
– We are made equal by the fact that Christ is the brother of us all.
Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
Regional Spiritual Assistant
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