joy of nine9

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St. Francis of Assisi has inspired a plethora of delightful, even whimsical images for hundreds of years. He was gentle and unconventional, open to nature, communed with animal. Yet he was a stigmatic who lived in stark poverty, albeit with joy. His sayings are profound and even startling.  Francis is complex,  humble with a wonderful sense of humour, a self-deprecating humour .So in honour of his feast day tomorrow, I present 7 Quick Takes on a beloved saint, Brother Sun…St. Francis

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From Francis of Assisi

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.

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Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.

No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.

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It is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

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Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.

Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty: permit the distinctive sign of our order to be that it does not possess anything of its own beneath the sun, for the glory of your name, and that it have no other patrimony than begging.

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