Infidelity to 'The Rule' is the Leprosy of our Order

St. Francis once saw a vision:

It seemed to him that he had to gather the finest crumbs of bread from the gound and to distribute them to the many hungry brothers who were standing around him. But while he was afraid to distribute such small crumbs lest such minute particles of dust should fall from his hands, a voice spoke to him from above: "Francis, make one host out of all these crumbs and give it to those who want to eat of it." When Francis did this, those who did not receive devoutly, or who despised the gift they had received, were soon seen to be infected with leprosy. This voice again came down to him from heaven: "Francis," it said, "the crumbs of last night are the words of the Gospel, the host is the Rule, the leprosy is wickedness." 

Saint Francis of Assisi

Celano, Second Life

Chapter CLIX

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