VACHEL LINDSEY
Would I might wake Saint Francis in you all,
Brother of birds and trees,
God's Troubadour,
Blinded with weeping for the sad and the poor:
Our wealth undone, all strict Franciscan men,
Come, let us chant the canticle again
Of mother earth and the enduring sun.
God make each soul
The lowly leper's slave:
God make us saints and brave.
How could anyone forget our dear sister, Clare? It's like forgetting to breathe!
ReplyDeleteSt. Francis once dragged himnself to a well and for a long time just stood looking down into the clear water. Then he lifted his head and said joyfully to Brother Leo: "Brother Leo, little lamb of God, what do you think I've been looking at in the water of the well?"
ReplyDelete"The moon that is reflected there," replied Brother Leo.
"No, Brother Leo, not Sister Moon, but, through our Lord's mercy, I've been looking at the true face of our sister, Lady Clare. Her countenance is so pure and full of holy joy that all my fears are gone. I know now that she has been given that perfect joy which God gives his dear ones by pouring upon them the treasures of holy poverty."
(From a popular Franciscan legend)