Faith in the Lord: From Writings by Saint Francis of Assisi (vegetarian), Part 1 of 2

Today, we will present excerpts from Saint Francis’s Testament as well as the letter He wrote to His Friars from the book, “The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi.”

“‘We adore Thee Lord Jesus Christ here and in all Thy churches which are in the whole world, and we bless Thee because by Thy holy cross Thou has redeemed the world.’”

“And I desire to fear, love, and honor them and all others as my masters; and I do not wish to consider sin in them, for in them I see the Son of God and they are my masters. […] Wheresoever I find His most holy Names and written words in unseemly places, I wish to collect them, and I ask that they may be collected and put in a becoming place.”

“And we were simple and subject to all. And I worked with my hands, and I wish to work, and I wish firmly that all the other brothers should work at some labor which is compatible with honesty. Let those who know not [how to work] learn, not through desire to receive the price of labor but for the sake of example and to repel idleness.”

“Let the brothers take care not to receive on any account, churches, poor dwelling-places, and all other things that are constructed for them, unless they are as is becoming the holy poverty which we have promised in the Rule, always dwelling there as strangers and pilgrims. […] ”