The Life of the First Friars - Chapter VII of the book St. Francis of Assisi. A Biography by Omer Englebert (Article 3, Continuation)

The Rule commanded the friars to welcome all visitors, “including thieves and robbers.”

About the year 1213, Brother Angelo Tarlati, who like his namesake, Angelo Tancredi, was a former knight. He lived at the hermitage of Monte Casale.

One day, as porter, he received a visit from three notorious robbers. These robbers used to rob travelers in the neighboring woods and now has come to the convent to beg for alms. Brother Angelo Tarlati gave them a very poor reception: “What? Murderers like you, not satisfied with robbing honest folks from the fruit of their toil, would likewise want to take the little belonging of GOD’s servants! You, who have no respect for GOD or man and don’t deserve that the earth should hold you! Get out of here, and don’t let me see you again!” Perhaps the fiery guardian called on his sword which in former days he used to thrust through rascals like them.

Be that as it may, the robbers withdrew very angry. But scarcely had they left when Francis had returned, laden down with the bread and wine which he had collected as alms. Learning what had happened, he reproached the porter; “You have behaved like a man with no religion!” he said. “Does not the Gospel which we have promised to follow declare that it is the sick and not the well who need the doctor? Take this bread and this wine in the name of obedience, and go and find those robbers! Run up hill and down dale until you find them; and as soon as you see them, shout, ‘Come, brother robbers! Come and eat the good things Brother Francis begs you to accept!’ And they will come. Then spread a cloth on the ground and put this bread and this wine on it, to which you will add some egg and cheese. And serve these unfortunate men with humility and good humor until they are satisfied. Then, and not until then, ask them no to kill anybody anymore, adding that serving GOD is not merely so hard as their profession. And I do not doubt that the Lord in His mercy will inspire them with better sentiments.” Indeed, the conversion of the three robbers were not long delayed.

For from this time on, says the chronicler, they were to be seen everyday at the hermitage, bringing on their backs the firewood needed by the friars. And not only did they pledge themselves to gain their living from then on by honest toil, but all three ended up by entering the Order, in which they died the death of saints.

The growing brotherhood thus excluded no one; and like our Lord, Francis received sinners gladly. Did he not have the power to turn dross into gold? Even eccentrics were kindly received by Francis, and his affection for John the Simple and Brother Juniper is well known.

John the Simple was a plowman, and is believed to have lived in Nottiano, eight miles from Assisi, east of Mount Subasio. While tilling his field, he learned that Francis was sweeping a church in the neighborhood. Leaving his oxen, he went off to find him, took the broom out of his hand and finished the cleaning. Then he sat down beside him by the side of the road and open his heart to him: “I have been hearing about you for a long time,” he said, “and wanted to meet you. But I didn’t know where to find you. Since GOD has permitted this meeting, what do I have to do to enter your company?” The Saint decided at once that this simply hearted man would make an excellent friar. “If you want to come with us,” he said, “you must first forsake lawful possessions and give them to the poor, as my other friars have done.” John hastened to unyoke one of his oxen and brought it to Saint Francis. “Here,” said he, “is my lawful portion of the inheritance; for since the time I have been working for my parents, it seems to me that I have earned this ox. So I want to give it to the poor the way you told me to do.” Now John’s parents, poor themselves and with children to take care of, were appalled to learn of their double loss and began to utter cries of distress. Francis took pity on them. “I do not want to see you weep anymore,” he said. “Prepare a good meal. We will eat together; and while we are eating, I will tell you something that will make you happy again.” They sat down to table and presently the Saint began to speak to the parents: “It is a good honor for you to have your son decide to enter GOD’s service, for to serve GOD is to reign. It also means that you will truly become rich, for all the brothers John will find in the Order will become in a sense your own children.

You must then be very happy. But to make you still happier, you will do me the favor of keeping, in memory of your son, this ox which according to the Gospel he ought to have given to the poor?” Now as Francis talked, their tears began to stop, and when the parents learned that John was not going to take his ox when he went away, it was such a relief to them that they were completely consoled.

On receiving the habit, John also took the resolution to imitate his spiritual father in everything. Did Francis stop to pray? At once, Brother John stopped short and began to pray. When Francis knelt, he knelt, and sighed, wept, and raised his arms to heaven the same time Saint Francis did, coughed when he coughed, and, in a word, copied his slightest movement. Puzzled, the Saint asked him one day the reason for all this. “Father,” he replied, “I have resolved to become holy by following your example in everything. And that is why I wouldn’t, for anything in the world, let a single action of yours go by without imitating it.” Francis felt a special affection for John and frequently took him along as his companion. John died early; but often afterwards the Saint used to speak of him, and always called him “our brother St. John.” So sure was he that John was in heaven.

(Ibinahagi mula sa Thailand ni Kapatid Larry delos Santos/Fra Masseo Charbel Mary)