One winter day St. Francis was coming to St. Mary of the Angels from Perugia with Brother Leo, and the bitter cold made them suffer keenly. St. Francis called to Brother Leo, who was walking a bit ahead of him, and he said: "Brother Leo, even if the Friars Minor in every country give a great example of holiness and integrity and good edification, nevertheless write down and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that."
And when he had walked on a bit, St. Francis called him again, saying: "Brother Leo, even if a Friar Minor gives sight to the blind, heals the paralyzed, drives out devils, gives hearing back to the deaf, makes the lame walk, and restores speech to the dumb, and what is still more, brings back to life a man who has been dead four days, write that perfect joy is not in that."
5]And
going on a bit, St. Francis cried out again in a strong voice: "Brother
Leo, if a Friar Minor knew all languages and all sciences and
Scripture, if he also knew bow to prophesy and to reveal not only the
future but also the secrets of the consciences and minds of others,
write down and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that."
5]And
as they walked on, after a while St. Francis called again forcefully:
'Brother Leo, Little Lamb of God, even if a Friar minor could speak with
the voice of an angel, and knew the courses of the stars and the powers
of herbs, and knew all about the treasures in the earth, and if be knew
the qualities of birds and fishes, animals, humans, roots, trees,
rocks, and waters, write down and note carefully that true joy is not in
that."
5]And
going on a bit farther, St. Francis called again strongly: "Brother
Leo, even if a Friar Minor could preach so well that be should convert
all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that perfect joy is not
there."
5]Now
when he had been talking this way for a distance of two miles, Brother
Leo in great amazement asked him: "Father, I beg you in God's name to
tell me where perfect joy is."
5]And
St. Francis replied; "When we come to St. Mary of the Angels, soaked by
the rain and frozen by the cold, all soiled with mud and suffering from
hunger, and we ring at the gate of the Place and the brother porter
comes and says angrily: 'Who are you?' And we say: 'We are two of your
brothers.' And he contradicts us, saying: 'You are not telling the
truth. Rather you are two rascals who go around deceiving people and
stealing what they give to the poor. Go away]' And he does not open for
us, but makes us stand outside in the snow and rain, cold and hungry,
until night falls-then if we endure all those insults and cruel rebuffs
patiently, without being troubled and without complaining, and if we
reflect humbly and charitably that that porter really knows us and that
God makes him speak against us, oh, Brother Leo, write that perfect joy
is there!
5]'And
if we continue to knock, and the porter comes out in anger, and drives
us away with curses and hard blows like bothersome scoundrels, saying;
'Get away from here, you dirty thieves-go to the hospital! Who do you
think you are? You certainly won't eat or sleep here'--and if we bear it
patiently and take the insults with joy and love in our hearts, Oh,
Brother Leo, write that that is perfect joy!
5]And
if later, suffering intensely from hunger and the painful cold, with
night falling, we still knock and call, and crying loudly beg them to
open for us and let us come in for the love of God, and he grows still
more angry and says: 'Those fellows are bold and shameless ruffians.
I'll give them what they deserve.' And he comes out with a knotty club,
and grasping us by the cowl throws us onto the ground, rolling us in
the mud and snow, and beats us with that club so much that he covers our
bodies with wounds--if we endure all those evils and insults and blows
with joy and patience, reflecting that we must accept and bear the
sufferings of the Blessed Christ patiently for love of Him, oh, Brother
Leo, write: that is perfect joy!
5]'And
now hear the conclusion, Brother Leo. Above all the graces and gifts of
the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is that of conquering
oneself and willingly enduring sufferings, insults, humiliations, and
hardships for the love of Christ. For we cannot glory in all those other
marvelous gifts of God, as they are not ours but God's, as the Apostle
says: 'What have you that you have not received?' But we can glory in
the cross of tribulations and afflictions, because that is ours, and so
the Apostle says: 'I will not glory save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.'"
5]To whom be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
