Never Deny Anyone An Alms

Another time, when St. Francis was staying at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, a poor woman, who had two sons in the Order, came to the friary asking alms of blessed Francis. He immediately asked Brother Peter Catanii, who was then Minister General, 'Have we anything to give our mother?' For he used to say that the mother of any friar was mother to himself and to all the friars. Brother Peter said to him, 'There is nothing in the house that we can give her, for she wants the kind of alms that can sustain her bodily needs. But in the church we have a single New Testament, from which we read the lessons at Matins.' (For at that time the brothers had no brevaries and few psalters.) So blessed Francis said to him, 'Give the New Testament to our mother, so that she can sell it for ther needs. I am sure that this will please our Lord and the Blessed Virgin better than if we were to read it.'

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 38