Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible and suddenly you are doing the
impossible.
– St. Francis of Assisi
No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You
have no enemy except yourselves.
– St. Francis of Assisi
He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
– St. Francis of Assisi
We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.
– St. Francis of Assisi
All the brothers should always be intent on good works, for it is written: “Always do
something good so that the devil will find you occupied.” And again: “Idleness is the enemy of
the soul.” Therefore, the servants of God must always give themselves totally to prayer or to
some good work.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
– St. Francis of Assisi
We can never know how patient or humble someone is when everything is going well with
him. But when those who should cooperate with him do exactly the opposite, then we can
know. A man has as much patience and humility as he has then, and no more.
– St. Francis of Assisi
If we can enter the church day and night and implore God to hear our prayers, how careful
we should be to hear and grant the petitions of our neighbors in need.
– St. Francis of Assisi
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is
patience and humility, there is neither anger nor vexation. Where there is poverty and joy,
there is neither greed nor avarice. Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither
anxiety nor doubt.
– St. Francis of Assisi
It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn’t give to someone in greater need than
we are.
– St. Francis of Assisi
A man truly loves his enemy when he is not offended by the injury done to himself, but for
love of God feels burning sorrow for the sin his enemy has brought on his own soul, and
proves his love in a practical way.
– St. Francis of Assisi
A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Each one should confidently make known his need to the other, so that he might find what he
needs and minister to him. And each one should love and care for his brother in all those
things in which God will give him grace, as a mother loves and cares for her son.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Those who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity will
deal likewise with their fellow man.
– St. Francis of Assisi
True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where
there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where
there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be
loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.
– St. Francis of Assisi
We may know with certainty that nothing belongs to us except our vices and sins.
– St. Francis of Assisi
That person sins who wishes to receive more from his neighbor than what he is willing to give
of himself to the Lord God.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Let us, therefore, have charity and humility and give alms because it washes the stains of
our sins from our clothes. For people lose everything they leave behind in this world; but they
carry with them the rewards of charity and the alms which they gave, for which they will
have a reward and a just retribution from the Lord.
– St. Francis of Assisi
So great is the good which I expect that all pain is to me a delight.
– St. Francis of Assisi
I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.
– St. Francis of Assisi
We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those
who have lost their way.
– St. Francis of Assisi
The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.
– St. Francis of Assisi
My brother, when thou seest a poor man, behold in him a mirror of the Lord, and of His poor
Mother. In the sick, in like manner, consider that He bore our sicknesses.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything.
– St. Francis of Assisi
We must rejoice when we would fall into various trials and endure every sort of anguish of
soul and body or ordeals in this world for the sake of eternal life.
– St. Francis of Assisi
If we endure things patiently and with gladness thinking on the sufferings of our blessed Lord,
and bearing all for the love of Him: herein is perfect joy.
– St. Francis of Assisi
You are holy, Lord,
the only God,
and your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong,
you are great,
you are the Most High,
you are the almighty King.
You, holy Father, are King of the heaven and earth.
You are Three and One,
God above all gods.
You are good, all good, supreme good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love,
You are wisdom,
You are humility,
You are endurance,
You are beauty,
You are gentleness,
You are security,
You are rest,
You are joy.
You are our hope and happiness,
You are justice and moderation,
You are all our riches,
You are beauty,
You are gentleness,
You are our protector,
You are our guardian and defender.
You are strength,
You are consolation,
You are our hope,
You are our faith,
You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness,
You are our eternal life,
great and admirable Lord,
God almighty,
merciful Savior.
– St. Francis of Assisi
But let everyone know that whenever or however a person dies in mortal sin without making
amends when he could have done so and did not, the devil snatches up his soul out of his
body with so much anguish and tribulation that no one can know it unless he has experienced
it.
– St. Francis of Assisi
Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that have
received, only what you have given.
– St. Francis of Assisi
But as for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from
man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the Holy Rule
rather by example than by word.
– St. Francis of Assisi