Joyfully Give The Poor Brother Your Coat

Rivo Torto

In the early days of the Order when blessed Francis was living at Rivo Torto with the only brothers who were with him, a man, who must have been the third brother, left the world to share their life. He had been living there a few days wearing the clothes he had brought with him, when a poor man presented himself to ask for an alms from the blessed Francis. The saint said to the one who was to be the third brother: "Give the poor brother your coat." He immediately and joyfully took it off and gave it to the poor man. And it was very evident that in this incident the Lord had put a new grace in his heart, because he had given his coat joyfully.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 55

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