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THE TESTAMENT OF ST. FRANCIS

Thus did the Lord grant to me, friar Francis, to begin to do penance: who when Iwas exceedingly in my sins, to see lepers seemed a bitter thing to me. And the Lord Himself led me among them and I worked mercy among them. And when I was fleeing from them, because it seemed to be a bitter thing, it was changed for me in to sweetness of soul and body; and I remained for a little while afterward and [then] I went forth from the world [de saeculo]. And the Lord granted me such faith in churches, that I would pray simply and say: "We adore Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, and for all Thy churches, which are in the whole world [mundo], we also bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world [mundum]." Afterwards the Lord granted me and grants so much faith in priests, who live according to the form of the Holy Roman Church on account of their state in life [propter ordinem], that if they would stir up a persecution against me, I want (sic) to have recourse to these. And if I would have as much wisdom, as Solomon had, and I would come upon the l ittle poor priests of this age, in the parishes, where they stay, I do not wish to preach beyond their will [to do so]. And they and all other [priests] I want to fear, love, and honor, as my lords. And I do not want to consider sin in them, because I discern in them the Son of God, and they are my lords. And I do that on account of this, because I see nothing corporally in this age of the Most High Son of God Himself, except His Most Holy Body and Most Holy Blood, which they receive and which they alone minister to others. And these most holy Mysteries I want above all things to honor, to venerate and to place in precious places. Wherever I find written the most holy Names and His words in unlawful places, I want to gather them together and I pray, that they are gathered together and placed together in an honorable place. And all theologians and those, who minister the most sacred divine words, we should honor and venerate, as those who minister to us spirit and life (cf Jn 6:64)

And after the Lord gave me brothers,

no one showed me, what I ought to do

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