Legend of St Francis: 2. St Francis Giving his Mantle to a Poor Man 1297-99; Giotto

FROM an entry at Christ or Chaos on St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is today:

He preferred to hear himself reviled rather than praised, and when people extolled the merits of his sanctity, he ordered one of the friars to assail his ears with abusive epithets. The friar, all unwilling, called him a bumpkin, a money-lover, an ignoramus, and a worthless fellow, and Francis cheered and said: “Lord, bless you, brother! You have told the truth, and I need to hear such things!” The servant of God wished not so much to be in command as to be subject to authority, not so much to give orders as to carry them out. Therefore he gave up the office of general of his Order, and asked for a guardian, to whose will he would be subject in everything. To the friar with whom he was accustomed to go about he always promised obedience and always kept his promise. (Archbishop Jacobus de Voragine, O.P., The Golden Legend.)

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