In the beginning, when St. Francis was still wearing the clothes of a layman, although he had already renounced the world, he went about Assisi for a long time looking wretched and so emaciated by penance that many thought he'd turned simple-minded. They laughed at him as though he were mad, and relatives and strangers alike drove him away with insults and stones and mud. But he was already seasoned with divine salt and rooted in peace of soul by the Holy Spirit, so he bore patiently all their insults and scorn with a joyful countenance, as if he were deaf and mute.
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
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I am learning more and more each day to do this. Thank you for posting this little flower, brother lesser. It is very encouraging. :-)
ReplyDeleteToo bad I didn't read this before I ranted about my daughter wanting to "recommend" me to the Fashion Nazis.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the perspective.
This immediately brought to mind Servant of God Catherine Doherty's book, "Urodivoi", a Russian word which can be translated as holy fools, holy foolishness, or fools for Christ. In the very first paragraph, she says, "In my heart all day long were the words of St. Francis: The Lord told me to be a fool and simpleton, the like of which was never seen before." She tells us it requires the courage to face ridicule, be a non-conformist, and always speak the truth with humility, no matter how dangerous that may be.
ReplyDeleteYes, Gabrielle, anyone who turns away from and shuns what society deems desirable, can count on being ridiculed and scorned. That's what makes life so exciting!
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