What Is Not True and Perfect Joy
"St. Francis summoned Brother Leo and said, 'Brother Leo, are you ready to take down some words?' And he answered, 'I am ready.' 'Write, then, this story about true joy: A messenger comes and says that all the teachers of the University of Paris have entered our Order--write that this is not true joy. Or so have all the prelates north of the Alps, and the archbishops and bishops as well, or the King of France and the King of England, too--write that neither is this true joy. Or if he announces that my brothers have gone among nonbelievers and converted them all to the faith, or that I have so much Divine Grace that I heal the sick and perform miracles--I tell you, Brother Leo, none of these things is true joy'......" --Dictated writing of St. Francis
True joy, as we will see in the rest of St. Francis's words, cannot be found outside ourselves.
"St. Francis summoned Brother Leo and said, 'Brother Leo, are you ready to take down some words?' And he answered, 'I am ready.' 'Write, then, this story about true joy: A messenger comes and says that all the teachers of the University of Paris have entered our Order--write that this is not true joy. Or so have all the prelates north of the Alps, and the archbishops and bishops as well, or the King of France and the King of England, too--write that neither is this true joy. Or if he announces that my brothers have gone among nonbelievers and converted them all to the faith, or that I have so much Divine Grace that I heal the sick and perform miracles--I tell you, Brother Leo, none of these things is true joy'......" --Dictated writing of St. Francis
True joy, as we will see in the rest of St. Francis's words, cannot be found outside ourselves.
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