From an earlier Rule of St Francis…
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rule and life of these brothers is this: to live in obedience, in chastity,
and without anything of their own, and to follow the teaching and the
footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who says: "If you wish to be perfect,
go and sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. And, "If anyone wishes to
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me".
And again: "If anyone wishes to come to me and does not hate father and
mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own
life, he cannot be my disciple". And, "Everyone who has left father or
mother, brothers and sisters, wife or children, houses or lands because
of me, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life". |
Listen,
sons of the Lord and my brothers, pay attention to my words. Incline the ear
of your heart and obey the voice of the Son of God. Observe His commands with
your whole heart and fulfill His counsels with a perfect mind. Give praise to
Him since He is good and exalt Him by your deeds, for He has sent you into the
entire world for this reason, that in word and deed you may give witness to
His voice and bring everyone to know that there is no one who is all-powerful
except Him. Persevere in discipline and holy obedience and with a firm and good
purpose fulfill what you have promised to Him. The Lord God offers Himself to
us as to His children.
Therefore, kissing your feet and with all that love
of which I am capable, I implore all of you brothers to show all possible reverence
and honor to the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom that
which is in the heavens and on the earth is brought to peace and is reconciled
to the all-powerful God.
St. Francis of Assisi From "A letter
to the Entire Order", December 3, 12 24
AN ADMONITION FROM ST. FRANCIS: The
brothers are not to blaspheme or detract but should love one another tenderly.
"And all the brothers should beware that they do not slander
or engage in disputes, rather, they should strive to keep silence whenever God
gives them this grace. Nor should they quarrel among themselves or with others,
but they should strive to respond humbly, saying: "I am a useless servant".
And they should not become angry, since everyone who grows angry with his brother
shall be liable to judgment; and he who has said to his brother "fool
"
shall be liable to the council; whoever has said "idiot" shall be liable to
the fires of hell. And they should love one another, as the Lord says: This
is my commandment to you: that you love one another as I have loved you. And
let them express the love which they have for one another by their deeds as
the Apostle says: Let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth.
And they should slander no one. Let them not murmur nor detract from others,
for it is written: Gossips and detractors are detestable to God. And let them
be modest, by showing meekness toward everyone. Let them not judge or condemn.
And as the Lord says, they should not take notice of the little defects of others.
Rather they should reflect much more on their own sins in the bitterness of
their own soul. And let them strive to enter through the narrow gate for the
Lord says: Narrow is the gate and hard the road that leads to life; and there
are few who find it."