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 1 1 |        the blessed passage of St. Francis of Assisi from his exile
 2 2 |        and strikingly than in St. Francis. He who called himself the "
 3 2 |         who dealt personally with Francis did not hesitate to recognize
 4 5 |         facts - what love for St. Francis and his work was begotten
 5 6 |    existing in the times when St. Francis lived are well known to
 6 10|        the Providence of God, St. Francis of Assisi who, as Dante
 7 11|               11. As a youth, St. Francis was expansive and highstrung,
 8 12|        exercise of perfect virtue Francis prepared himself to follow
 9 15|     philosophers, was embraced by Francis with so much affection that
10 15|         Legenda Maior, Chap. VII) Francis himself, recommending and
11 16|                16. The reason why Francis particularly loved poverty
12 17|     thinking of these things, St. Francis used to break down and shed
13 17|         poem "The Nuptials of St. Francis and Poverty," in which poem
14 18|   possessed the mind and heart of Francis could not be satisfied by
15 18|           the virtue of humility? Francis well understood this truth;
16 19|           of Christ describes St. Francis in a word when he calls
17 19|        more, saith the humble St. Francis." (Imitation of Christ,
18 21|          prove our point that St. Francis, following the example and
19 22|       become humble of heart. St. Francis by his vow of obedience
20 23|          incredible thing as that Francis was an opponent of the discipline
21 23|       Julian a Spira, Life of St. Francis, No. 28) That which he taught
22 24|        humble Poverello, embraced Francis with great affection and,
23 24|           to him. He also gave to Francis and to his co-laborers the
24 24|      answer to the prayers of St. Francis.~
25 25|      shown by the words which St. Francis uses in commanding that
26 29|   admiration of this kind for St. Francis, so false and even contradictory
27 30|                           30. St. Francis, trained in the manly virtues
28 31|           from Heaven saying: "Go Francis, rebuild my house which
29 31|      Legenda Maior, Chap. II) But Francis, because of that deep humility
30 31|        miraculous vision in which Francis was shown in the act of
31 31|           that the mission of St. Francis was a very special one,
32 32|         out in procession to meet Francis, and there was much ringing
33 32| themselves under the direction of Francis. The number of his sons
34 35|    somewhat in detail to show how Francis either by his own apostolate
35 36|         in the new Order of which Francis was the Father and Teacher.
36 37|                           37. St. Francis, "a man who was truly Catholic
37 39|          the likeness and life of Francis in paintings, in statues,
38 39|          on that very plain where Francis "poor and humble entered
39 40|      limitless admiration for St. Francis among our contemporaries
40 40|       fall in the Garden of Eden, Francis even spoke to the animals
41 40|       genuine picture of the real Francis. As a matter of fact, by
42 40|         of society, the figure of Francis stands forth in all its
43 40|          the goodness of God. St. Francis, too, "saw the image of
44 41|      people preaching the love of Francis toward all men and especially
45 41|        The former admirers of St. Francis, impelled by an excessive
46 42|        the Rieti, all spots where Francis seems to live on teaching
47 42|        are being prepared for St. Francis, it should be borne in mind
48 42|         Christian society another Francis is needed today. But We
49 42|          renewed zeal the ancient Francis as their teacher of piety
50 45|     become like their Father, St. Francis, by giving proof of innocence
51 46|      power the Third Order of St. Francis, either by yourselves or
52 47|           solemn Centenary of St. Francis who "in his life propped
53 47|      great devotion venerated St. Francis as Our patron. We have numbered
54 47|           the intercession of St. Francis, so great an abundance of