At that time Saint Francis was still dressed as a layman, although he had already renounced the world, and for a long time he had been going around Assisi looking contemptible and so mortified by penance that many people thought he was simple-minded, and he was laughed at as a lunatic and driven away with many insults and stones and mud by his relatives and strangers. Yet being nourished by the divine salt and firmly established in peace of soul by the Holy Spirit, he bore all the insults and scorn with great patience and with a joyful expression on his face, as if he were deaf and dumb.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Chapter 2
Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis
Chapter 2
T
I love it brother Fra! "Firmly established in peace . . . he bore all the insults and scorn with great patience and with a JOYFUL EXPRESSION on his face, as if he were deaf and dumb". Jesus said ". . . bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly". And "blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy! Look. your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets!" Jesus said it, Francis believed and acted on it and . . . reaped the benefits in peace, joy and other blessings. Alleluia! That I might truly believe Jesus' words and follow them as whole-heartedly as Francis did - then the joy and bliss!
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