1.
Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.
Francis of Assisi
Reflect that when you depart this life, nothing can be taken with you except what was given: a fulfilled soul, enriched by conscientious effort, affection, selflessness and bravery.
2.
Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Francis of Assisi
Begin with the essentials; then pursue what is plausible; and in a trice you are achieving the inconceivable.
3.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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.
Francis of Assisi
4.
Do all you can to preach the gospel and if necessary use words!
Francis of Assisi
Promote the message of salvation without uttering a word.
5.
Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.
Francis of Assisi
6.
God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection.
Francis of Assisi
God demands that we come to the aid of animals when they need us. All living creatures possess an equal entitlement to defence.
7.
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Francis of Assisi
'No amount of gloom can outshine the illumination of one candle.'
8.
The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.
Francis of Assisi
The actions you take may be the only message some people will receive today.
9.
Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.
Francis of Assisi
Enquire of the creatures and they will divulge to you the splendour of this globe.
10.
All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. ... God wants us to help animals, if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.
Francis of Assisi
'All of the products of creation are descendants of the Divine Parent, and thus kin to humankind. ... The Almighty desires us to assist animals if they require it. Every being in difficulty has an equivalent entitlement to be safeguarded.'
11.
What do you have to fear? Nothing. Whom do you have to fear? No one. Why? Because whoever has joined forces with God obtains three great privileges: omnipotence without power, intoxication without wine, and life without death.
Francis of Assisi
12.
What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.
Francis of Assisi
'Actions speak louder than words; but silence speaks even more.'
13.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist
Francis of Assisi
He who toils with his hands, mind and soul is an artisan.
14.
Where there is Love and Wisdom, there is neither Fear nor Ignorance.
Where there is Patience and Humility, there is neither Anger nor Annoyance.
Where there is Poverty and Joy, there is neither Cupidity nor Avarice.
Where there is Peace and Contemplation, there is neither Care nor Restlessness.
Where there is the Fear of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter.
Where there is Mercy and Prudence, there is neither Excess nor Harshness.
Francis of Assisi
15.
If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
Francis of Assisi
If you have individuals who will turn away any of God's living things from the protection of sympathy and mercy, you will have people who will act in a similar way towards their fellow humans.
16.
Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it.
Francis of Assisi
'It is our responsibility to refrain from harming our humble brethren, but that alone does not suffice. We have a higher purpose - to be of aid to them whenever needed.'
17.
Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.
Francis of Assisi
'Achieve greatness in a handful of tasks; the humble pleasures are blessed.'
18.
The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure.
Francis of Assisi
The only thing attained without striving is defeat.
19.
The one you are looking for is the one who is looking.
Francis of Assisi
'The seeker is the sought.'
20.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Francis of Assisi
Entreat, O Lord, that I may be an agent of Your harmony. Where there is animosity, let me spread affection.
21.
While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.
Francis of Assisi
Be mindful that your actions reflect the peace you espouse with your words.
22.
I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
Francis of Assisi
I have been a sinner of the most extreme degree. If the Almighty can use me, he can utilize anyone.
23.
The journey is essential to the dream.
Francis of Assisi
The voyage is paramount to the aspiration.
24.
You cannot all abandon your possessions, but at least you can change your attitude about them. All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others.
Francis of Assisi
'You cannot all relinquish your assets, but at least you can adjust your outlook regarding them. All acquiring isolates you from others; all distributing unifies to others.'
25.
When I think of the happiness that is in store for me, every sorrow, every pain becomes dear to me.
Francis of Assisi
When I contemplate the joy that awaits me, every distress and affliction becomes cherished.
26.
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.
Francis of Assisi
27.
For it is in giving that we receive.
Francis of Assisi
It is in offering that we gain.
28.
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
Francis of Assisi
Purify yourself and you will purify society.
29.
We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen away, and to bring home those who have lost their way. Many who seem to us to be children of the Devil will still become Christ's disciples.
Francis of Assisi
30.
Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.
Francis of Assisi
31.
A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.
Francis of Assisi
32.
By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man's heart and make a dwelling for himself there.
Francis of Assisi
33.
The greatest security we can have in this world that we are in the grace of God, does not consist in the feelings that we have of love to Him, but rather in an irrevocable abandonment of our whole being into His hands, and in a firm resolution never to consent to any sin great or small.
Francis of Assisi
34.
Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer.
Francis of Assisi
35.
Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love.
Francis of Assisi
36.
Go out and preach the gospel and if you must, use words.
Francis of Assisi
37.
Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently.
Francis of Assisi
38.
We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer.
Francis of Assisi
39.
It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.
Francis of Assisi
40.
God could not have chosen anyone less qualified, or more of a sinner, than myself. And so, for this wonderful work He intends to perform through us, He selected me- for God always chooses the weak and the absurd, and those who count for nothing.
Francis of Assisi
41.
What could you do to a man who owns nothing? You can't starve a fasting man, you can't steal from someone who has no money, you can't ruin someone who hates prestige.
Francis of Assisi
42.
It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn't give to someone in greater need than we are.
Francis of Assisi
43.
It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.
Francis of Assisi
44.
Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.
Francis of Assisi
45.
Make me an instrument of thy peace.
Francis of Assisi
46.
You can show your love to others by not wishing that they should be better Christians.
Francis of Assisi
47.
It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things.
Francis of Assisi
48.
Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty.
Francis of Assisi
49.
St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden when someone asked what he would do if he were suddenly to learn that he would die before sunset that very day. "I would finish hoeing my garden," he replied.
Francis of Assisi
50.
Do not put off any longer confessing all your sins, for death will soon come. Give and it will be given you; forgive and you will be forgiven. . . Blessed are they who die repentant, for they shall go to the Kingdom of Heaven!
Francis of Assisi
