Original Tunic worn by St. Francis at the time of his death Have no fear of being thought insignificant or unbalanced, but preach repentance with courage and simplicity. Have faith in the Lord, who has overcome the world. His Spirit speaks in you and through you, calling men and women to turn to him and observe his precepts. You will encounter some who are faithful, meek, and well disposed; they will joyfully receive you and your words. But there will be more who are skeptical, proud, blasphemous, and who will insult you and resist your message. Prepare yourselves, therefore, to bear everything with patience and humility.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of the Three Companions
Chapter X
Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of the Three Companions
Chapter X
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I like this....and I have never seen this photo before. Very interesting. This post very much speaks to my heart at this time in my life. I thank you for posting it.
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THANK YOU for this post. You always share the most helpful things! I have absolutely no fear of being considered insignificant. I find something very attractive about oblivion. Although I will eventually complete any task God gives me, no matter how stupid or dingy someone might think I am, I do, nonetheless, sometimes initially hesitate because I do like to be considered "balanced" -- a kind of pride, I suppose, that needs to be eliminated. I always have to rely on God to help me get past that barrier. What a wonderful example St. Francis has set for those of us who think that "sanity" or at least the perception of sanity is at all important!
ReplyDeleteFrancis experienced this himself one time when he went begging for scraps of food and saw his friends gathered in his old 'watering hole.' His first reaction was to turn and run but instead gathered the courage to go face to face with them and take his licks.
ReplyDeleteI experience this myself from family members who think I have lost my mind. They are all very successful businessmen and I am afraid I am an embarrassment to them. If they only knew the indescribable joy that comes from spending every waking moment in God's presence rather than the sadness I see in their eyes as a result of being in the presence of their god ($$$).
I recall Francis saying that the brothers were to have one habit and, if they wanted, they 'could patch it up'. I believe he meant make it look worse than it was by adding the patches of other cloth etc. Please correct me if I am wrong about that! Insignificant, for many of us, isn't a big thing but to be thought of as being crazy?! The Little Flowers has numerous stories where both Francis and his brothers were considered crazy. Of course, they are in good company. Jesus' family (cousins) wanted to take control of Him and take Him home since they felt He had lost His mind (because of the 'crazy' things He was saying!) and, in John's Gospel there are several ocassions where His opponents tell Him 'You are mad!' Peace to you all! http://www.poverellopebbles.blogspot.com
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