The St. Katharine Drexel Region of the Secular Franciscan Order

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

November 2025

The daily Franciscan reminders of our Religious Heritage from our Franciscan Sources continues from the ASSISI COMPILATION #75-#85.  The daily quotes are taken from G.K.Chesterton and his witty and provocative sayings – food for thought

Most High, glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me

true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity,

sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out

Your holy and true command. Amen

You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things.

You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.

You are the almighty king. You holy Father,

King of heaven and earth.

You are three and one, the Lord God of gods;

You are the good, all good, the highest good,

Lord God living and true.

You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,

You are patience. You are beauty, You are meekness,

You are security, You are rest,

You are gladness and joy, You are our hope,

75 – HE PREACHES IN THE PIAZZA OF PERUGIA AND FORETELLS A CIVIL WAR

1 – Once blessed Francis was preaching in the piazza at Perugia to a large crowd gathered there. All of a sudden some knights of Perugia began racing their horses around the piazza, jousting with their weapons, and thus disturbing the preaching. Although the men and women, who were intent on listening to the sermon, reprimanded them, they did not stop. Blessed Francis turned to them and, with a fiery spirit, said: “Listen and understand what the Lord is telling you through me, His servant, and don’t say, ‘This one is from Assisi!’”

– To love means loving the unlovable.

2 – Blessed Francis said this because of a long-standing enmity between the people of Assisi and those of Perugia. “The Lord has exalted and elevated you above all your neighbors,” he said. “Because of this, you must acknowledge your Creator all the more, and humble yourselves not only before almighty God but also before your neighbors. But your heart is puffed up by arrogance in your pride and might. You attack your neighbors and kill many of them.

–  You’ll never find the solution if you don’t see the problem.

3 – Because of this I tell you, unless you quickly turn to Him and compensate those whom you have injured, the Lord, who leaves nothing unavenged, to your greater punishment and disgrace, will cause you to rise up against each other. You will be torn apart by sedition and civil war, suffering by a far greater calamity than your neighbors could ever inflict on you.” – Jesus promised his disciples three things—that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.

4 – In his preaching blessed Francis was not silent about people’s vices, through which they publicly offended God and their neighbor. The Lord had given him such grace, that everyone who saw or heard him, small or great, feared and revered him because he had such an abundance of grace from God. As a result, no matter how much he reprimanded them, even to the point of shaming them, they were edified.

– Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.

5 – Indeed, sometimes, for this reason, and so that he would pray to the Lord more intently for them, they would turn to the Lord. A few days later, by divine consent, a scandal broke out between the knights and the people. The people drove the knights out of the city. The knights, supported by the Church, destroyed many of their fields, vineyards and trees, doing as much harm to them as they could. The people likewise destroyed the knights’ fields, vineyards and trees. And thus, that people was afflicted with greater punishment than all of their neighbors whom they had offended. In this way everything that blessed Francis predicted about them was fulfilled to the letter.

– God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else.

76 – HE MEETS A DEVOUT ABBOT, WHO FEELS THE POWER OF HIS PRAYER

6 – When blessed Francis was going through one region, he met an abbot of a monastery who had a great love and veneration for him. Dismounting from his horse, the abbot spoke to him for over an hour about the salvation of his soul. When the time came for them to part, the abbot asked blessed Francis with great devotion to pray to the Lord for his soul. “I will gladly do that,” blessed Francis told him.

–   The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.

7 –  The abbot had gone a short distance from blessed Francis when blessed Francis said to his companion: “Wait for me a little while, brother, for I want to pray for that abbot, as I promised.” And he prayed for him. It was customary for blessed Francis, whenever anyone out of devotion requested him to pray to the Lord for his soul, to offer a prayer as soon as possible, so that he would not forget afterwards.

– Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out.

8 – The abbot was still on his way, not very far from blessed Francis, when suddenly the Lord visited him in his heart. A gentle warmth filled his face, and, for a brief moment, he was raised in ecstasy of spirit. When he came to himself, he immediately knew that blessed Francis had prayed for him. He began to praise God and to rejoice both in body and soul. From that time on, he had an even greater devotion to the holy father, considering in him the greatness of his holiness. As long as he lived he held this to be a great miracle, and he often related to the brothers and others what had happened to him.

– The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.

77 – HE OVERLOOKS HIS OWN ILLNESSES OUT OF LOVE FOR THE PASSION OF THE LORD

9 – For a long time and even until the day of his death, blessed Francis suffered ailments of the liver, spleen, and stomach. From the time when he was overseas to preach to the Sultan of Babylon and Egypt, he had a very severe eye disease, caused by the hardship and fatigue of travel, as he endured the extreme heat both in coming and going.

– A really great person is the person who makes every person feel great.

10 – Because of the fervent spirit he had from the moment of his conversion to Christ, he refused to be concerned about treatment for any of his ailments despite the request of his brothers and many others, moved by piety and compassion for him. What was bitter to his body he accepted and considered sweet on account of the sweetness and compassion that he drew daily from the humility and footprints of the Son of God. Because of the sufferings and bitter experiences of Christ, which He endured for us, he grieved and afflicted himself daily in body and soul to such a degree that he did not treat his own illnesses.

– A society is in decay, final or transitional, when common sense really becomes uncommon.

78 – HE IS SEEN WALKING AND CRYING OVER THE PASSION OF CHRIST

11 – Once, a few years after his conversion, he was walking alone one day along the road not too far from the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, crying loudly and wailing as he went. As he was walking along, a spiritual man met him, someone we know and from whom we learned about this incident, who had shown him great mercy and consolation, both before he had any brothers and afterwards.

– Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.

12 – Moved by piety toward him, he asked him: “Brother, what’s wrong?” He thought that blessed Francis was suffering some painful illness. But he answered: “I should go through the whole world this way, without any shame, crying and bewailing the Passion of my Lord.” At this, the man began to weep and cry aloud together with him. – It is absurd for the Evolutionist to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into everything.

79 – HE REPLIES TO A BROTHER WHO ENCOURAGED HIM TO HAVE SCRIPTURE READ TO COMFORT HIM

13 – On another occasion, at the time of his eye disease, he endured such pain that one day a minister said to him: “Brother, why don’t you have one of your companions read to you from the prophets or other passages of Scripture? In that way, your spirit will rejoice in the Lord and receive great consolation.” He knew that he rejoiced greatly in the Lord whenever he heard the divine Scriptures read to him.

– When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.

14 – “Brother,” he answered him, “every day I find so much sweetness and consolation in my memory from meditating on the humility of the footprints of the Son of God that, if I were to live till the end of the world, I’d have no great need to hear or meditate on other passages of Scripture.”

– It is always the secure who are humble.

15 – He often called to mind and afterward spoke to the brothers this verse of David: “My soul refuses to be consoled.” For this reason, as he frequently told the brothers, because he had to be a model and example to all the brothers, he refused to take, not only medicines, but even necessary food in his illnesses. Because he took these things into consideration, he was severe with his body, not only when he appeared healthy, although he was always weak and ill, but also when he was ailing.

– Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace.

 80 – HE AVOIDS HYPOCRISY, CONFESSING WHAT HE HAS EATEN DURING AN ILLNESS

16 – One time when he had recovered somewhat from a very serious illness, after some consideration, it seemed to him that he had received some little delicacies during that illness, although he ate only a little, since with his many, diverse, and serious illnesses he was not able to eat.

– There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.

17 – One day, although still sick from a quartan fever, he had the people of Assisi called to the piazza for a sermon. When he had finished preaching, he requested that no one leave until he returned.

– A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

18 – Together with Brother Peter of Catanio, whom he chose as the first general minister, and with a few other brothers, he entered the church of San Rufino, going into the confessio. He ordered Brother Peter to obey and not contradict whatever he wanted to say and do to himself. And Brother Peter said to him: “Brother, in what concerns you and me, I cannot, and should not want anything else except what pleases you.”

– Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.

19 – Taking off his tunic, blessed Francis ordered Brother Peter to lead him naked with a rope tied around his neck in front of the people. He ordered another brother to take a bowl full of ashes and, mounting the place from where he had preached, to throw them and sprinkle them on his head. But moved by piety and compassion towards him, the brother did not obey him. Brother Peter got up and, weeping bitterly with the other brothers, led him out as he had been ordered to do.

– Never forget that the devil fell by force of gravity.

20 –  In this way he came back in front of the people naked, to the place where he had preached, and said: “You believe me to be a holy man, as do others who, following my example, leave the world and enter the religion and life of the brothers. But I confess to God and to you that during my illness I ate meat and broth flavored with meat.”

– He who has the faith has the fun.

21 – Almost all the people began to weep out of piety and compassion for him, especially since it was wintertime and was very cold and he had not yet recovered from the quartan fever. They struck their breasts, accusing themselves. “This holy man,” they said, “whose life we know, accuses himself with such shame over a just and manifest necessity.

– Science must not impose any philosophy, any more than the telephone must tell us what to say.

22 – Yet because of excessive abstinence and the severity with which he treats his body from the moment of his conversion to Christ, we see him living in flesh that is almost dead. What shall we do, wretches that we are, we who all our life have lived, and wish to live, according to the will and desires of the flesh?” 

– The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.

81 – HE ABHORS HYPOCRISY BOTH IN EATING AND IN CLOTHING

23 – Likewise, at another time, he was staying in a hermitage for the Lent of Saint Martin. Because of his illness, the brothers cooked the food they gave him to eat in lard, because oil was very bad for him in his illnesses. When the forty days had ended and he was preaching to a large crowd of people, gathered not far from that hermitage, in the opening words of his sermon he told them: “You came to me with great devotion and believe me to be a holy man. But I confess to God and to you that during this Lent in that hermitage, I have eaten food flavored with lard.” 

– If there were no God, there would be no atheists

24 – Indeed, if the brothers or the friends of the brothers, with whom he would eat, occasionally prepared a special dish for him because of his illnesses or the obvious need of his body, it frequently happened that he would immediately tell this to the brothers or lay people who did not know about it, whether inside the house or outside, saying publicly: “I ate such and such foods.” He did not wish to conceal from people what was known to God.

– The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man

25 – Moreover, if his soul were ever tempted to vainglory, pride, or any vice, no matter where he was, or in whose presence, whether they be religious or lay, he would immediately and openly confess it to them, without concealing anything. That is why he told his companions one day: “I want to live before God, in hermitages and other places where I stay, just as the people see and know me. If they believe that I am a holy man and I do not lead a life becoming a holy man, I would be a hypocrite.” 

 –  Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

26 – Thus one time in winter, one of the companions, who was his guardian, acquired a piece of fox fur because of the illness of the spleen and the cold of his stomach. He asked him to permit him to have it sewn under his tunic next to his stomach and spleen, especially because it was then extremely cold. But from the moment he began to serve Christ until the day of his death, in any weather, he did not want to wear or have anything but a single patched tunic.

– Religion is the thing that makes the ordinary man feel extraordinary; it is an equally important truth that religion is the thing that makes the extraordinary man feel ordinary.

27 – Blessed Francis answered him: “If you want me to wear that fur under the tunic, allow me to sew a piece of the fur on the outside of my tunic as an indication to people that I have a piece of fur underneath.” And this is what he had done; and, although it was a necessity on account of his illnesses, he did not wear it long.

– One of the chief uses of religion is that it makes us remember our coming from darkness, the simple fact that we are created.

81 – HE ACCUSES HIMSELF OF VAINGLORY, NOT WISHING TO BE A HYPOCRITE

28 – Another time, he was going through the city of Assisi and many people went with him. A poor old woman asked him for alms for the love of God and he immediately gave her the mantle he had on his back. And, at once, he confessed before everyone that on that account he felt vainglory.

– Neither reason nor faith will ever die; for men would die if deprived of either

29 – We who were with him saw and heard many other examples similar to these but we cannot tell them because it would take too long to write or recount them. Blessed Francis’s highest and principal concern was that he should not be a hypocrite before God.

– The first effect of not believing in God is that you lose your common sense.

30 – Although he needed special food for his body because of his infirmity, nevertheless, he thought that he must always offer good example to the brothers and to others, so that he might take away from them any reason for complaining and bad example. He preferred to endure bodily needs patiently and willingly, and he did endure them until the day of his death, rather than satisfy himself, even though he could have done so according to God and good example.

– Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR BEING YOU AND FOR CREATING EACH ONE OF US

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      email:  skdsfo     email: pppgusa@gmail.com

September 2025

I bend my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

so that, through the prayers and merits of the

holy and glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother,

and of our most blessed father Francis and of all the saints,

the Lord Himself, Who has given a good beginning,

may give increase and may also give final perseverance.

Amen.

(The Testament of St. Clare of Assisi)

Daily excerpts from Assisi Compilation #67 – # 71 – Daily quote from various sources

67 – HIS VISITORS TRAMPLE A PRIEST’S VINEYARD IN RIETI AND IT IS MIRACULOUSLY RESTORED

1 – Because of the disease of his eyes, blessed Francis at that time was staying in the church of San Fabiano near the same city, where there was a poor secular priest. At that time the Lord Pope Honorius and other cardinals were in the same city.  Many of the cardinals and other great clerics, because of the reverence and devotion they had for the holy father, used to visit him almost every day.

– There’s a hole in every human heart that only God can fill.

2 – That church had a small vineyard next to the house where blessed Francis was staying. There was one door to the house through which nearly all those who visited him passed into the vineyard, especially because the grapes were ripe at that time, and the place was pleasant for resting.

– Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness and love.

3 – And it came about that for that reason almost the entire vineyard was ruined. For some picked the grapes and ate them there, while others picked them and carried them off, and still others trampled them underfoot. The priest began to be offended and upset. “I lost my vintage for this year!” he said. “Even though it’s small, I got enough wine from it to take care of my needs!”

– Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.

4 – When blessed Francis heard of this, he had him called and said to him: “Do not be disturbed or offended any longer. We can’t do anything about it. But trust in the Lord, because for me, His little servant, He can restore your loss. But, tell me, how many measures of wine did you get when your vineyard was at its best?” – We are like God when we forgive.

5 – “Thirteen measures, father,” the priest responded. “Don’t be sad over this anymore,” blessed Francis told him, “and don’t say anything offensive to anyone because of it, or argue with anyone about it. Trust the Lord and my words, and if you get less than twenty measures of wine, I will make it up to you.”

– It is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

6 – The priest calmed down and kept quiet. And it happened by divine dispensation that he obtained twenty measures and no less, just as blessed Francis had told him.

– How wonderful it would be if we spent as much energy living our religion as we do arguing about it.

7 – Those who heard about it, as well as the priest himself, were amazed. They considered it a great miracle due to the merits of blessed Francis, especially because not only was it devastated, but even if it had been full of grapes and no one had taken any, it still seemed impossible to the priest and the others to get twenty measures of wine from it.

– No gift is ours till we have thanked the giver.

8 – We who were with him bear witness that whenever he used to say: “This is the way it is . . . or this is the way it will be …”, it always happened as he said. We have seen many of these fulfilled not only while he was alive but also after his death.

– People may doubt what you say but they will believe what you do.

68 – AT FONTECOLOMBO THE DOCTOR HAS DINNER WITH THE BROTHERS AND THE LORD PROVIDES THE FOOD

9 – At that same time, blessed Francis stayed in the hermitage of the brothers at Fonte Colombo near Rieti because of the disease of his eyes. One day the eye doctor of that city a visited him and stayed with him for some hours, as he often used to do.

– Carry the cross patiently, and in the end it will carry you.

10 – When he was ready to leave, blessed Francis said to one of his companions: “Go and give the doctor a good meal.” “Father,” his companion answered, “we’re ashamed to say that, because we’re so poor now we’d be ashamed to invite him and give him anything to eat.”

– Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.

11 – Blessed Francis told his companions: “O you of little faith! Don’t make me tell you again!” The doctor said to blessed Francis and his companions: “Brother, it is because the brothers are so poor that I am happy to eat with them.”

– Life can be understood backward, but it must be understood forward.

12 – The doctor was very rich and, although blessed Francis and his companions had often invited him, he had refused to eat there. The brothers went and set the table. With embarrassment, they placed the little bread and wine they had as well as the few greens they had prepared for themselves.

– Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.

13 – When they had sat down at the table and eaten a bit, there was a knock on the door of the hermitage. One of the brothers rose, went and opened the door. And there was a woman with a large basket filled with beautiful bread, fish, crab cakes, honey, and freshly-picked grapes, which had been sent to brother Francis by a lady of a town about seven miles away from the hermitage.

– In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

14 – After they saw this and considered the holiness of blessed Francis, the brothers and the doctor were greatly amazed. “My brothers,” the doctor told them, “neither you nor we sufficiently recognize the holiness of this saint.”

– There I no saint without a past and no sinner without a future.

69 – HE TELLS A LADY OF LIMISIANO THAT HER HUSBAND WILL BE CONVERTED

15 – One time blessed Francis was going to “Le Celle” of Cortona and was following the road that passes at the foot of a fortified town called Limisiano, near the place of the brothers at Pregio. A noble woman of the town happened to come with great haste to speak to blessed Francis.

– The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.

16 – When one of his companions saw this woman, extremely tired, hurrying after them, he ran to tell blessed Francis. “Father, for the love of God, let us wait for the lady who is following us, since she is quite exhausted from her desire to speak with us.” Blessed Francis, as a man full of charity and piety, waited for her. When he saw her exhausted and coming to him with great fervor and devotion, he said to her: “What is it, please, my lady?”

– To give witness of your faith is like perfume. If it’s really good, you won’t have to advertise it.

17 – The lady answered: “Father, please, bless me.” Blessed Francis asked her: “Are you bound to a man or single?”

“Father,” she said, “for a long time the Lord has given me the will to serve him. I had and still have a strong desire to have my soul. But I have a husband so cruel that he is an antagonist to me and to himself in the service of Christ. Because of this, my soul is tormented to death with great sorrow and anguish.”

– Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.

18 – Blessed Francis was moved by piety for her, considering the burning spirit she had, and especially because she was a young girl and was delicate according to the flesh. He blessed her and said to her, “Go, and you will find your husband at home. Tell him for me that for the love of the Lord who endured the passion of the cross to save us, I beg both you and him to save your souls in your own home.”

– Jesus impacted the lives of his followers more powerfully after his death than before it.

19 – When she returned and entered the house, she found her husband at home, just as blessed Francis had told her. Her husband said to her: “Where are you coming from?” “I’m coming from seeing blessed Francis who blessed me,” she answered, “and his words have consoled and gladdened my soul in the Lord. Moreover, he told me to tell you on his behalf and to beg you that we should both save our souls in our own home.”

– People don’t really pay much attention to what we say about our religion, because they’d rather see what we do about it.

20 – After she said this, the grace of God immediately came down on him, through the merits of blessed Francis. Suddenly changed anew by the Lord, he answered her with great kindness and meekness: “My lady, from now on, as it will please you, let us serve Christ and save our souls, as blessed Francis said.”

– Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.

21 – His wife told him: “My lord, it seems to me that it would be good for us to live in chastity, because it is very pleasing to the Lord and is a virtue with great reward.”

– A leader is someone who knows, goes, and shows the way.

22 – “Lady,” her husband answered, “what pleases you, pleases me. For in this, as in other good deeds, I want to unite my will to yours.” And from then on, for many years, they lived in chastity, giving many alms to the brothers and to other poor people.

– True spiritual vision is the ability to seed the invisible.

23 – Not only seculars, but also religious marveled at their holiness, especially since this man, who once was very worldly, so quickly became spiritual.

– Criticism is like dynamite. It has its place, but it should be handled only by experts.

24 – Persevering till the end in all these things and other deeds, both of them died within a few days of each other. Because of the fragrance of their good life, there was great mourning over these two who had given all the time of their lives to praising and blessing the Lord who had given them graces, sincerity, and harmony during life in His service. Even in death they were not separated, because one died right after the other. Their memory, like that of the saints, is recalled to this day by those who knew them.

– If you cannot find happiness along the way, don’t assume you will find it at the end of the road.

70 – HE REFUSES ENTRANCE TO THE ORDER TO A YOUNG NOBLEMAN FROM LUCCA

25 – At a time when no one was received into the life of the brothers without the permission of blessed Francis, the son of a nobleman of this world from Lucca, together with others who wished to enter the religion, came to see blessed Francis. At the time he was sick and was staying at the palace of the bishop of Assisi. When the brothers presented them to blessed Francis, the son of the nobleman bowed before blessed Francis and began to cry aloud, begging to be received.

– Who has health has hope; who has hope has everything.

26 – Looking at him, Blessed Francis said: “O wretched and fleshly man! Why are you lying to the Holy Spirit and to me? You are crying in the flesh and not in the spirit!” After he said these things, his relatives suddenly arrived outside the palace on horseback, wanting to seize him and take him back home.

– They stand best who kneel most.

27 – When he heard the clatter of horses, he looked out a window of the palace, and saw his relatives. He immediately got up, and went outside to them. He returned to the world with them, just as blessed Francis had known through the Holy Spirit. The brothers, and others who were there, marveled, magnified, and praised God in his saint.

– Who loses wealth loses much, but who loses the spirit loses everything.

71 – HE WANTS TO EAT SOME FISH AND IT IS PROVIDED IN A WONDERFUL WAY

28 – Once when he was very sick and staying in the same palace, the brothers begged and encouraged him to eat. But he answered them: “My brothers, I don’t have the wish to eat; but if I had a bit of that fish called squalo, perhaps I would eat some.”

– When we do what we can, God will do what we can’t.

29 – Once he said this, someone came carrying a basket in which there were three large and well-prepared squali and crabcakes. The holy father gladly ate these. These were sent to him by Brother Gerardo, the minister at Rieti. As they considered his holiness, the brothers were amazed and praised the Lord who had provided for his servant, especially because it was winter and such things were not available in that area.

– Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.

72 – HE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF A CRITICAL BROTHER

30 – Once blessed Francis was travelling with a spiritual brother from Assisi who came from a great and powerful family. Because he was weak and ill, blessed Francis rode on a donkey. Feeling tired from walking, that brother began to think to himself: “His parents were never at the same level as mine, and here he is riding, while I’m worn out, walking behind him, prodding the beast.” While he was thinking this, blessed Francis got off the donkey and said to him: “No, brother, it’s not right or proper for me to ride while you go on foot, for in the world you were nobler and more influential than I.” The brother, stunned and ashamed, fell down at his feet and, in tears, confessed his thought and then said his penance. He was greatly amazed at his holiness, for he immediately knew his thought. In fact, when the brothers petitioned the Lord Pope Gregory and the cardinals in Assisi to canonize blessed Francis, he testified to this before the Lord Pope and the cardinals.

– Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.

Peace and Blessings

Fr. Francis A. Sariego, OFM Cap

Regional Spiritual Assistant

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

July 2025

O loving one, bear in mind your poor children for whom, without You,

their one and only consolation, there is little comfort. They still tearfully cry out to You:

O Father, place before Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High Father, His sacred stigmata;

and show Him the signs of the cross on Your hands, feet, and side,

that He may mercifully bare His own wounds to the Father,

and because of this the Father will ever show us in our anguish His tenderness.

Amen.

(Prayer to St. Francis from the End of the Second Book of the Life of St. Francis by Bl. Thomas of Celano)

Excerpts from Franciscan Sources – Assisi Compilation #58 – #61

58 – HIS WISHES ABOUT HOW THE BROTHERS’ PLACES SHOULD BE BUILT

1 – Once when he was in Siena for treatment of the disease of his eyes, he was staying in a cell, where after his death a chapel was built out of reverence for him. Lord Bonaventure, who had donated to the brothers the land where the brothers’ place had been built, said to him: “What do you think of this place?”

– We discover the treasure of Gospel poverty among the poor.

2 – Blessed Francis answered him: “Do you want me to tell you how the places of the brothers should be built?” “I wish you would, Father,” he answered.

– The beggars and the poor confront us with the Gospel.

3 – And he told him: “When the brothers go to any city where they do not have a place, and they find someone who wants to give them enough land to build a place, have a garden, and whatever is necessary for them, they must first consider how much land is enough for them, always considering the holy poverty we have promised, and the good example we are bound to offer to others.”

– There is no substitute for contact with the “leper”.

4 – The holy father said this because he did not want the brothers for any reason to go beyond the norm of poverty either in houses or churches, in gardens or in other things they used.

– We find freedom in accepting that You are who you are before God and nothing more. The truth will set you free.

5 – And he did not want them to possess the right of ownership to these places, but always to stay in them as pilgrims and strangers.

– There is a sacredness in every person.

6 – For this reason, he did not want the brothers to have to be assigned to places in large groups, because it seemed to him that it was difficult to observe poverty fully.

– What do I cling to and what is God asking me to let go of?

7 – From the beginning of his conversion until the end, at his death, this was his will: that holy poverty be observed to its fullest. Afterwards they should go to the bishop of that city and say to him: “Lord, for the love of the Lord God and the salvation of his soul, such and such a person wants to give us enough land so that we can build a place there.

– Praise the goodness of God in the goodness of His people.

8 – Therefore, we have recourse to you first, because you are the father and lord of the souls of the entire flock entrusted to you, as well as our souls and those of the other brothers who will stay in this place. Therefore, with the blessing of the Lord God and yours, we would like to build there.”

– With living stones, we build the Mystical Body of Christ.

9 – The saint would say this because the good of souls the brothers want to produce among the people was better achieved by peace with prelates and clerics, winning them and the people, rather than by scandalizing prelates and clerics, even though they might win the people.

– Do we dream a future we believe in enough to strive for it a lifetime?

10 – “The Lord,” he used to say, “has called us to help His faith and the prelates and clerics of holy Mother Church. This is why we are always bound to love, honor, and revere them as much as we can. For this reason let them be called Lesser Brothers because, in name as well as example and deed, they should be humbler than all other people of this world.

– The Gospel (Jesus) is the vision of life of the Franciscan.

11 – From the beginning of my conversion, when I separated myself from the world and father in the flesh, the Lord put His word in the mouth of the bishop of Assisi so he could counsel me well in the service of Christ and comfort me.

– Our call to repentance is never ending.

12 – On account of this, as well as many other excellent qualities that I consider in prelates, not only in bishops, but in poor priests as well, I want to love them, revere them and regard them as my lords.

– When you believe you have achieved your spiritual goal, re-evaluate! Eternity determines, not time!

13 – “After receiving the bishop’s blessing, let them go and have a big ditch dug around the land which they received for building the place, and as a sign of holy poverty and humility, let them place a hedge there, instead of a wall.

– The Cross is central in any conversion journey.

14 –  Afterwards they may have poor little houses built, of mud and wood, and some little cells where the brothers can sometimes pray and where, for their own greater decency and also to avoid idle words, they can work.

– The life and the whole being of each Christian must be identified around one central axis: fidelity to Jesus Christ.

15 – “They may also have churches made; however, the brothers must not have large churches made, in order to preach to the people there or for any other reason, for it is greater humility and better example when the brothers go to other churches to preach, so that they may observe holy poverty and their humility and decency.”

– We begin to pray, believing it is our own initiative that compels us to do so.  Instead , we learn that it is always God’s initiative within us.

16 – “And if prelates and clerics, religious or secular, should sometimes visit their places, their poor house, little cells, and churches in that place will preach to them and edify them.”

– Love and prayer are the only sure spiritual levers with which it is possible to lift up the world. And this applies to all areas of life.

17 – “The brothers often have large buildings made, breaking with our holy poverty, resulting in complaints and bad example to their neighbor. Afterwards, they abandon those places and buildings for the sake of better or healthier places, prompting those who gave alms there, as well as others who see or hear about this to be scandalized and greatly upset.

– In a world thirsting for peace, it is indeed urgent that Christian communities proclaim the gospel unanimously.

18 – It is, therefore, better that the brothers have small and poor places built, observing their profession, and giving their neighbor good example, rather than making things contrary to their profession and offering bad example to others.

– It is indispensable that (Christian communities) witness to divine love, which unites them, and make themselves messengers of joy, hope, and peace.

19 – For, if it should ever happen that the brothers leave their little places and poor buildings for the sake of a more decent place, that would be very bad example and scandal.”

– Whoever calls with faith on the name of Jesus can have the experience similar to the one mentioned by Luke: for power came forth from him and healed all

59 – HE DICTATES HIS FIRST TESTAMENT AT SIENA

20 – During those days and in the same cell where blessed Francis spoke about these things to Lord Bonaventure, one evening he wanted to vomit because of the disease of his stomach. Because of the strain he put on himself in vomiting, he vomited up blood all night until morning. When his companions saw him already almost dying from weakness and the pain of his illness, they said to him with great sorrow and flowing tears:

– Only a higher moral vision can motivate the choice for life.

21 – “Father, what shall we do? Bless us and the rest of your brothers. In addition. leave your brothers some remembrance of your will, so that, if the Lord wants to call you away from this world, your brothers may always keep it in their memory and say: ‘Our father left these words to his sons and brothers at his death.’”

–Provided that we approach the word of God and listen to it as it really is, it brings us into contact with God Himself, God speaking to us.

22 – He then told them: “Call me Brother Benedict of Piratro.” He was a brother priest, discerning and holy, an elder in religion. He sometimes celebrated for blessed Francis in that cell, since, although he was sick, he always wanted, gladly and devoutly, to hear Mass whenever he was able. And when he had come, blessed Francis told him:

– May Mary help us love nothing more than Christ, who reveals to the world the mystery of divine love and true human dignity.

23 – “Write that I bless all my brothers, those who are and who will be in the religion until the end of the world.”

– (The word of God) brings us into contact with Christ, the Word of God, the Truth, who is at the same time both the Way and the Life.

24 – For when the brothers gathered in chapter, it was always blessed Francis’s custom in the brothers’ chapters, when the brothers were called together at the end of the chapter, to bless and absolve all the brothers present and the others who were in the religion. And he would also bless all those who were to come to this religion.

– It is decisive for each one of us to meet Christ personally.

25 – He would bless all the brothers in the religion and those to come, not only in chapters, but also many other times. And blessed Francis told him: “Since I cannot speak much because of weakness and the pain of my illness, I am showing my will to my brothers briefly in these three words: as a sign of remembrance of my blessing and my testament, may they always love each other; may they always love and observe our Lady Holy Poverty; and may they always remain faithful and subject to the prelates and all the clerics of holy Mother Church.”

– (Do) not be afraid of openly and courageously expressing (y)our faith in Christ in (y)our daily lives, especially in works of charity and solidarity with those who are in need.

26 – He used to warn the brothers to fear and beware of bad example. Furthermore, he cursed all those who by their wrong and bad example caused people to blaspheme the religion and life of the brothers and the holy and good brothers, who, because of this, were ashamed and distressed.

– The world should be enriched by … (our) goodness.

60 – HE CARRIES A BROOM TO CLEAN CHURCHES

27 – At one time while blessed Francis was staying at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, and there sometimes used to go through the villages and churches in the area around the city of Assisi, proclaiming and preaching to the people that they should do penance. And he would carry a broom to sweep the churches.

– The first step of evangelization is to accept the grace of conversion into our own minds and hearts, to let ourselves be reconciled to God’

28 – For blessed Francis was very sad when he entered some church and saw that it was not clean. Therefore, after preaching to the people, at the end of the sermon he would always have all the priests who were present assembled in some remote place so he could not be overheard by secular people.

– We must first experience God=s gracious mercy, the love of Christ which has reconciled us to himself and given us the work of handing on this reconciliation.

29 – He would preach to them about the salvation of souls and, in particular, that they should exercise care and concern in keeping churches clean, as well as altars and everything that pertained to the celebration of the divine mysteries.

– Man’s relationship with God demands times of explicit prayer, in which the relationship becomes an intense dialogue, involving every dimension of the person.

61 – BROTHER JOHN THE SIMPLE JOINS THE BROTHERS; AND HOW HE IMITATES FRANCIS

30 – One day, blessed Francis went to a church in a village of the city of Assisi and began to sweep it. Immediately talk about this spread through that village, especially because those people enjoyed seeing and hearing him. A man named John heard it, a man of amazing simplicity, who was ploughing in a field of his near the church, and he immediately went to him.

– O Lord of life, when the moment of our definitive “passage” comes, grant that we may face it with serenity, without regret for what we shall leave behind.

31 – Finding him sweeping the church, he said to him: “Brother, give me the broom because I want to help you.” Taking the broom from him, he swept the rest. When they sat down, he said to blessed Francis: “Brother, it’s a long time now that I’ve wanted to serve God, especially after I heard talk about you and your brothers, but I did not know how to come to you. Now that it pleased God that I see you, I want to do whatever pleases you.”

– Jesus asks us to follow him and to imitate him along the path of love, a love which gives itself completely to the brethren out of love for God.

Peace and Blessings

Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.

Regional Spiritual Assistant

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

April 2025

Wherever we are, in every place,

at every hour, at every time of the day, every day and continually,

let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love, honor, adore, serve,

praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks

to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God, Trinity and Unity,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Creator of all, Savior of all who believe and hope in Him, and love Him,

Who, without beginning and end, is unchangeable, invisible, indescribable, ineffable,

incomprehensible, unfathomable, blessed, praiseworthy, glorious, exalted,

sublime, most high, gentle, lovable, delightful,

and totally desirable above all else for ever.

Amen.

(Prayer of Saint Francis taken from the Earlier Rule, chapter 23)

Daily reflections from Franciscan Sources continue from Assisi Compilation nos. 47-50

47 – THE BROTHERS AND STUDY

1 – It grieved the blessed Father when brothers sought learning while neglecting virtue, especially if they did not remain in that calling in which they were first called. He said: “Those brothers of mine who are led by curiosity for knowledge will find themselves empty-handed on the day of reckoning.

– Gratitude is a sign of noble souls.

2 – I would prefer that they grow strong in virtue, so that when the times of tribulation arrive they may have the Lord with them in their distress. For, he said, a tribulation is approaching, when books, useful for nothing, shall be thrown into cupboards and closets!”

– God has two dwellings. One is in heaven and the other in a meek and humble heart.

3 – He did not say these things out of dislike for the study of Scriptures, but to draw all of them back from excessive concern for learning, because he preferred that they be good through charity rather than be dilettantes through curiosity.   Besides, he could smell in the air that a time was coming, and not too far away, when he knew learning would be an occasion of ruin.

– What we need is people who know God other than by hearsay.

4 – After his death he appeared in a vision to one of the companions who was once tending toward preaching, and he forbade it, commanding him to walk on the way of simplicity.

– People want to know how much you care before they care how much you know.

48 – HE DETESTED LAZINESS AND WANTED ALL THE BROTHERS TO WORK

5 – He used to say that the lukewarm who do not apply themselves constantly to some work, would quickly be vomited out of the Lord’s mouth. No idler could appear in his presence without feeling the sharp bite of his criticism.

– Disciples care more than others think necessary.

6 – This exemplar of every perfection always worked, and worked with his hands, not allowing the great gift of time to go to waste. And so he would often say: “I want all my brothers to work and keep busy, and those who have no skills to learn some so that we may be less of a burden to people, and that in idleness the heart and tongue may not stray.”

– Disciples trust more than others think wise.

7 – But he would not have profit or payment for work left to the whim of the worker, but entrusted it to the guardian or the family.

– Disciples serve more than others think practical.

49 – SAINT FRANCIS AND SAINT DOMINIC ARE GUESTS OF CARDINAL HUGOLINO

8 – Those two bright lights of the world, namely, Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, were once in the City with the Lord of Ostia, who later became Supreme Pontiff. As they took turns pouring out honey-sweet words about the Lord, the bishop finally said to them: “In the early Church the Church’s shepherds were poor, and men of charity, not on fire with greed. Why don’t we make bishops and prelates of your brothers who excel in teaching and example.”

– Disciples expect more than others think possible.

9 – There arose a disagreement between the saints about answering, neither wishing to go first, but rather each deferring to the other. Each urged the other to reply. Each seemed superior to the other, since each was devoted to the other.

– You see things as they are and ask, “Why?” But I dream things that never were and ask, “Why not?”

10 – At last humility conquered Francis as he did not speak first, but it also conquered Dominic, since in speaking first, he humbly obeyed Francis. Blessed Dominic therefore answered the bishop, My lord, my brothers are already raised to a good level, if they will only realize it, and as much as possible I would not allow them to obtain any other appearance of dignity.”

– What are riches compared to skill, wisdom, and understanding?

11 – As this brief response ended, Blessed Francis bowed to the bishop and said: “My lord, my brothers are called ‘lesser’ precisely so they will not presume to become ‘greater.’ They have been called this to teach them to stay down to earth, and to follow the footprints of Christ’s humility, which in the end will exalt them above others in the sight of the saints. If you want them to bear fruit in the Church of God, keep them in the status in which they were called and hold them to it.

– Until we lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.

12 – Bring them back down to ground level even against their will. Never allow them to rise to become prelates” These were the replies of the saints. When they finished their replies, the Lord of Ostia was greatly edified by the words of both and gave unbounded thanks to God. And as they left that place, blessed Dominic asked Saint Francis to be kind enough to give him the cord he had tied around him.

— Lord, help me to let go of whatever is keeping me from following you.

13 – Francis was slow to do this, refusing out of humility what the other was requesting out of charity. At last the happy devotion of the petitioner won out, and he devoutly put on the gift under his inner tunic. Finally they clasped hands and commended themselves to each other with great sweetness. And so one saint said to the other: “Brother Francis, I wish your Order and mine might become one, so we could share the same form of life in the Church.”

– Those who know others are learned. Those who know themselves are wise.

14 – At last, when they had parted from each other, Saint Dominic said to the many bystanders: “In truth I tell you, the other religious should follow this holy man Francis, as his holiness is so perfect”.

– Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.

50 – HE EATS WITH A BROTHER WHO CLAIMS HE IS DYING OF HUNGER; AUSTERE WITH HIMSELF, HE WAS COMPASSIONATE WITH OTHERS

15 – One time in the very beginning, that is, at the time when blessed Francis began to have brothers, he was staying with them at Rivo Torto. One night, around midnight, when they were all asleep in their beds, one of the brothers cried out, saying: “I’m dying! I’m dying!”

– To ease another’s heartbreak is to forget one’s own.

16 – Startled and frightened all the brothers woke up. Getting up, blessed Francis said: “Brothers, get up and light a lamp.” After the lamp was lit, blessed Francis said: “Who was it who said, ‘I’m dying?’ ” “I’m the one,” the brother answered. “What’s the matter, brother?” blessed Francis said to him. ‘Why are you dying?”

– To love is to know the sacrifices which eternity exacts from life.

17 – “I’m dying of hunger,” he answered. So that that brother would not be ashamed to eat alone, blessed Francis, a man of great charity and discernment, immediately had the table set and they all ate together with him. This brother, as well as the others, were newly converted to the Lord and afflicted their bodies excessively.

– The only things necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

18 – After the meal, blessed Francis said to the other brothers: “My brothers, I say that each of you must consider his own constitution, because, although one of you may be sustained with less food than another, I still do not want one who needs more food to try imitating him in this.

– When my spirit soars, my body falls on its knees.

19 – Rather, considering his constitution, he should provide his body with what it needs. Just as we must beware of overindulgence in eating, which harms body and soul, so we must beware of excessive abstinence even more, because the Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice.”

– The face of Christ shows us the one thing we need to know, the character of God.

20 – And he said: “Dearest brothers, great necessity and charity compelled me to do what I did, namely, that out of love for our brother we ate together with him, so he wouldn’t be embarrassed to eat alone. But I tell you in the future I do not wish to act this way because it wouldn’t be religious or decent.

– Who lives for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps.

21 – Let each one provide his body with what it needs as our poverty will allow. This is what I wish and command you.”

– We are rich in proportion to the number of things we can do without.

22 – The first brothers and those who came after them for a long time mortified their bodies excessively, not only by abstinence in food and drink, but also in vigils, cold, and manual labor.

– Ignore people who try to belittle you, they’re only trying to cut you down to their size.

23 – Next to their skin, those who could get them wore iron rings and breastplates and the roughest hair shirts, which they were even better able to get.

– Serve one another with what every gift each of you has received.

24 – Considering that the brothers could get sick because of this, and in a short time some were already ailing, the holy father therefore commanded in one of the chapters that no brother wear anything next to the skin except the tunic.

– Where love is, there is God also.

25 – We who were with him bear witness to this fact about him: from the time he began to have brothers, and also during his whole lifetime, he was discerning with the brothers, provided that in the matter of food and other things, they did not deviate at any time from the norm of the poverty and decency of our religion, which the early brothers observed.

– There is no security on earth, there is only opportunity.

28 – Nevertheless, even before he had brothers, from the beginning of his conversion and during his whole lifetime, he was severe with his own body, even though from the time of his youth he was a man of a frail and weak constitution, and when he was in the world he could not live without comforts.

– Pray to God, but row to the shore.

29 – One time, perceiving that the brothers had exceeded the norm of poverty and decency in food and in things, he said in a sermon he gave, speaking to a few brothers, who stood for all the brothers: “Don’t the brothers think that my body needs special food?

– Prayers travel more strongly when said in unison.

30 – But because I must be the model and example for all the brothers, I want to use and be content with poor food and things, not fine ones.”

– If you haven’t got charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.

St. Katharine 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

February 2025

Pope Francis Prayer for the Holy Year 2025

From within both humanity and the Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us in Your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity

enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of Your Kingdom.

May Your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

Your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace

spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To You our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Daily excerpts continue from the Assisi Compilation 23-36, daily quotes from various sources

23-26  THE DWELLINGS OF THE BROTHERS SHOULD BE POOR; ABOUT FURNISHINGS, BOOKS, AND BEDS

1 – He taught his] brothers to make poor little dwellings out of wood, and not stone, and how to build these huts according to a crude sketch. He did not want the brothers to live in any place unless it had a definite owner who held the property rights. He always wanted to have the law of pilgrims for his sons.

– God says to us: With your very wounds I will heal you.

2 – This man not only hated pretense in houses; he also abhorred having many or fine furnishings in them. He disliked anything, in tables or dishes, that recalled the ways of the world. He wanted everything to sing of exile and pilgrimage.

– Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s light shining somewhere nearby.

3 – He taught that in books the testimony of the Lord, not value, should be sought, edification rather than elegance. He wanted few books kept, and these should be available to the brothers who needed them.

– All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

4 – Finally, beds and coverings abounded in such plentiful poverty that if a brother had a ragged sheet over some straw he considered it a bridal couch.

– Give me faith, Lord, and let me help others find it.

27  HE REBUKES A BROTHER WHO TOUCHED COINS LEFT AT THE PORTIUNCULA

5 – While this true friend of God completely despised all worldly things, he detested money above all. From the beginning of his conversion, he despised money particularly and encouraged his followers to flee from it always as from the devil himself. He gave his followers this observation: money and manure are equally worthy of love.

– Lord teach me to be generous.

6 – Now it happened one day that a layman came to pray in the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula and placed some money by the cross as an offering. When he left, one of the brothers simply picked it up with his hand and threw it on the windowsill. What the brother had done reached the saint, and he, seeing he had been caught, ran to ask forgiveness, threw himself to the ground, and offered himself to be whipped.

– A humble knowledge of myself is a surer way to God than a search after learning.

7 – The saint rebuked him and reprimanded him severely for touching coins. He ordered him to pick up the money from the windowsill with his own mouth, take it outside the fence of that place, and with his mouth to put it on the donkey’s manure pile.

– If I saw myself as my friends and other people see me, I would need an introduction.

8 – While that brother was gladly carrying out this command, fear filled the hearts of the rest who heard it. From then on, all of them held in even greater contempt what had been so equated with manure and were encouraged to despise it by new examples every day.

– It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it I a calamity not to dream.

28-30  HIS EXHORTATIONS ABOUT AVOIDING SOFT CLOTHING AND ENDURING LACK OF NECESSITIES

9 – Clothed with power this man was warmed more by divine fire on the inside than by what covered his body on the outside. He detested those in the Order who dressed in three layers of clothing or who wore soft clothes without necessity.

– It is better to be patient than powerful.

10 – As for “necessity” not based on reason but on pleasure, he declared that it was a sign of a spirit that was extinguished. “When the spirit is lukewarm,” he said, “and gradually growing cold as it moves from grace, flesh and blood inevitably seek their own interests.

–  It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities.

10 – When the soul finds no delight, what is left except for the flesh to look for some? Then the base instinct covers itself with the excuse of necessity, and the mind of the flesh forms the conscience.”

– I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.

11 – And he added: ”Let’s say one of my brothers encounters a real necessity: he is affected by some need. If he rushes to satisfy it, what reward will he get? He found an occasion for merit, but clearly showed that he did not like it.”

– Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things “turn out”!

12 – With these and similar words he pierced those who would not tolerate necessity. He taught that not bearing patiently with need is the same as returning to Egypt. He did not want the brothers to have more than two tunics under any circumstances, and these he allowed to be mended with patches sewn on them. He ordered the brothers to shun fine fabrics, and those who acted to the contrary he rebuked publicly with biting words.

– Bing shots are only little shots who keep shooting.

13 – To confound them by his example, he sewed sackcloth on his own rough tunic and at his death he asked that the tunic for his funeral be covered in cheap sackcloth. But he allowed brothers pressed by illness or other necessity to wear a soft tunic next to the skin, as long as rough and cheap clothing was kept on the outside. For he said: “A time will come when strictness will be relaxed, and tepidity will hold such sway, that sons of a poor father will not be the least ashamed to wear even velvet cloth, just changing the color.

– Make sure the thing that you’re living for is worth dying for.

31  HE GIVES AWAY A MANTLE TO A POOR WOMAN

14 – In Celano at winter time, Saint Francis was wearing a piece of folded cloth as a cloak, which a friend of the brothers had lent him. While he was at the palace of the bishop of the Marsi, an old woman came up to him begging for alms. He quickly unfastened the cloth from his neck, and, although it belonged to someone else, he gave it to the poor old woman, saying: “Go and make yourself a tunic; you really need it.”

– Nothing is profane down here for those who know how to see. On the contrary everything is sacred.

15 – The old woman laughed; she was stunned—I don’t know if it was out of fear or joy—and took the piece of cloth from his hands. She ran off quickly, so that delay might not bring the danger of having to give it back, and cut it with scissors.

– A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands.

16 – But when she saw that the cut cloth would not be enough for a tunic, she returned to the saint, knowing his earlier kindness to a degree, and showed him that the material was not enough. The saint turned his eyes on his companion, who had just the same cloth covering his back. “Brother,” he said, “do you hear what this old woman is saying? For the love of God, let us bear with the cold! Give the poor woman the cloth so she can finish her tunic.”

– God’s presence is not discerned at the time that it is upon us, but afterward when we look back.

17 – He gave his; the companion offered his as well; and both were left naked, so the old woman could be clothed.

– God exists within us even more intimately than we exist within ourselves.

32  RETURNING FROM SIENA HE GIVES A MANTLE TO A POOR MAN

18 – Another time, when he was coming back from Siena, he met a poor man, and said to his companion: “We must give back to this poor man the mantle that is his. We accepted it on loan until we should happen to find someone poorer than we are.”

– God is an unutterable sigh, lying in the depth of the heart.

19 – The companion, seeing the need of his pious father, stubbornly objected that he should not provide for someone else by neglecting himself. But he said to him: “I do not want to be a thief; we will be accused of theft if we do not give to someone in greater need.” So his companion gave in, and he gave up the mantle.

– Lord, put into my heart an unshakeable conviction that you have a place for me, even though I might not yet know it.

33  AT THE “LE CELLE” DI CORTONA THE BROTHERS HAVE TO RANSOM HIS MANTLE FROM A POOR MAN

20 – A similar thing happened at “Le Celle” of Cortona. Blessed Francis was wearing a new mantle that the brothers had gone to some trouble to find for him. A poor man came to the place weeping for his dead wife and his poor little family that was left desolate. The saint said to him: “I’m giving you this cloak for the love of the Son of God, but on the condition that you do not hand it over to anyone unless they pay well for it.”

– Ideal are like stars, you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but following them you will reach your destiny.

21 – The brothers immediately came running to take the mantle away and prevent this donation. But the poor man, taking courage from the father’s look, clutched it with both hands and defended it as his own. In the end the brothers had to redeem the mantle, and the poor man left after getting his price.

— Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon succumb to that which is about us.

34  HE GIVES A MANTLE TO A POOR MAN, ON THE CONDITION THAT HE PARDON HIS MASTER

22 – Once when he was at Colleb in the county of Perugia, Saint Francis met a poor man whom he had known before in the world. He asked him: “Brother, how are you doing?” The man malevolently began to heap curses on his lord, who had taken away everything he had. “Thanks to my lord, may the Almighty Lord curse him, I’m very bad off!” Blessed Francis felt more pity for the man’s soul, rooted in mortal hatred, than for his body.

– All people should learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.

23 – He said to him: “Brother, forgive your lord for the love of God, so you may set your soul free, and it may be that he will return to you what he has taken. Otherwise you will lose not only your property but also your soul.” He replied: “I can’t entirely forgive him unless he first gives back what he took.”

– People may doubt what we say, but they will believe what we do.

24 – Blessed Francis had a mantle on his back, and said to him: “Here, I’ll give you this cloak, and beg you to forgive your lord for the love of the Lord God.” The man’s mood sweetened, and, moved by this kindness, he took the gift and forgave the wrongs.

– Lord, put into my heart the desire to get involved in your plan, regardless of what it may cost me.

35 – 36  HE EXPLAINS A PASSAGE FROM EZECHIEL TO A BROTHER PREACHER

25 – While he was staying in Siena, someone from the Order of Preachers happened to arrive; he was a spiritual man and a Doctor of Sacred Theology. He visited blessed Francis, and he and the holy man enjoyed a long and sweet conversation about the words of the Lord.

– What most people tend to forget is that we have unbelievable control over our destiny.

26 – This teacher asked him about the words of Ezekiel: If you do not warn the wicked man about his wickedness, I will hold you responsible for his soul. I’m acquainted with many people, good father, who live in mortal sin, as I’m aware. But I don’t always warn them about their wickedness. Will I then be held responsible for their souls?”

– Today’s decision is tomorrow’s reality.

27 – Blessed Francis then said that he was an unlettered man, and it would be better for him to be taught by the other rather than to answer a question about Scripture. But that humble teacher replied: “Brother, it’s true I have heard these words explained by some wise men; still, I’d be glad to hear how you understand it.”

– The enemy of the best is not the worst but the good enough.

28 – So blessed Francis said to him: “If that passage is supposed to be understood in a universal sense, then I understand it to mean that a servant of God should be burning with life and holiness so brightly, that by the light of example and the tongue of his conduct, he will rebuke all the wicked. In that way, I say, the brightness of his life and the fragrance of his reputation will proclaim their wickedness to all of them.” That man went away greatly edified, and said to the companions of blessed Francis: “My brothers, the theology of this man, held aloft by purity and contemplation, is a soaring eagle, while our learning crawls on its belly on the ground”.

– Life is God’s novel. Let God write it.

Peace and Blessings

Fr. Francis A. Sariego, OFM Cap

Regional Spiritual Assistant