Perfect Joy

Brother Leonard related, in the same place (the Portiuncula), that one day at Saint Mary the blessed Francis called Brother Leo and said: “Brother Leo, write!”

He answered: “I’m ready.”

“Write.”  Francis said, “what true joy is: A message comes and says that all the masters in Paris have come into the Order write: this is not true joy.

Or that all the prelates beyond the mountains have entered the Order; as well as the archbishops and bishop; or that the king of France and the king of England have entered the Order; write: this is not true joy.

Again, that my brothers have gone to the nonbelievers and converted all of them to the faith; again, that I have so much grace from God that I heal the sick and perform many miracles; I tell you that true joy does not consist in any of these things.”

“What then is true joy?”

“I return from Perugia and arrive here in the dead of night; and it is winter time, muddy and so cold that icicles have formed on the edges of my habit and keep striking my legs, and blood flows from such wounds.  And all covered with mud and cold, I come to the gate and after I have knocked and called for some time, a brother comes and asks: Who are you?  I answer: Brother Francis.  And he says: Go away; this is not a proper hour for going about; you may not come in.”  And when I insist, he answers: “Go away, you are a simple and a stupid person; we are so many and we have no need of you.  You are certainly not coming to us at this hour!”

And I stand again at the door and say: “For the love of God, take me in tonight.”

And he answers: “I will not. Go to the Crosiers’ place and ask there.”