“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi was in his early 20’s when he left behind a life of riches and vanity to live a life of Truth, Love, Faith, and Humility. His story is incredibly beautiful but his love for simplicity, humility, and service is even more beautiful.
I have been to Assisi 3 times and I felt the Love and Peace this incredible being left behind. I got to swim in the same love he swam. And thanks to him, I also got to experience that Peace… that incredible Peace that surpasses all understanding.
I hope these quotes of St. Francis of Assisi will inspire you to live a better life and become an even more wonderful human being.
20 Life-Changing Lessons to Learn from St. Francis of Assisi
1. Your walking should be your preaching.
“There is no use in walking anywhere to preach if your walking isn’t your preaching.” ~ St. Francis Of Assisi
“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.”
2. Knowledge not applied is meaningless.
“A man has only so much knowledge as he puts to work.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
3. We have been called to heal wounds.
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
4. Patience and humility banish all worry and anger.
“Where there is charity and wisdom there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility there is neither anger nor worry.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
5. All Saints have a past. All sinners have a future.
“I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.” ~ St Francis of Assisi
6. “We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
7. Keep a clear eye toward life’s end.
“Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.”
“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.”
8. Love is the way.
“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.”
9. Patience reaps great rewards.
‘My dear son, 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.”
10. The enemy is not Out there, the enemy is In you.
“No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.”
11. “What we are looking for is what is looking.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
12. Love is Inclusive, not Exclusive.
“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.”
13. Start by doing what’s necessary.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
14. Light is much more powerful than darkness.
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.”
15. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”
16. “Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.” ~ St. Francis Of Assisi
17. Just do your best.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.”
18. True progress moves along quietly and persistently.
“True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.”
19. A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world.
“A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world, as the vibrations you are receiving are of pure love and contentment.”
20. Let nothing disturb your inner peace.
“By the anxieties and worries of this life, satan tries to dull man’s heart and make a dwelling for himself there.”
21. Whoever has joined forces with God obtains three great privileges.
“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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
22. “Preach the Gospels everyday & only if you have to…use words.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
23. It is in giving that we receive.
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
24. Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves.
“Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
25. Blessed are those who endure in peace.
“Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
26. Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them.
“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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
27. “Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
27. All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others.
“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.” – St. Francis of Assisi
28. “Many who seem to us to be the Devil’s children will still become Christ’s Disciples.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
29. Action stands higher than words. Silence stands higher than action.
“What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
30. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.
“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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
31. We must be simple, humble, and pure.
“We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather, we must be simple, humble, and pure.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
32. God requires that we assist the animals when they need our help.
“God requires that we assist the animals when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection.” – St. Francis of Assisi
“You call it a sin, that I love the dog above all else? The dog stayed with me in the storm, the man, not even in the wind.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
33. Never cease working.
“Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer, and never cease working.” – St. Francis of Assisi
34. . “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
35. Where there is hatred, sow love.
“Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith.”
36. The world is a great stage.
“The world is a great stage on which God displays his many wonders.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
37. Embrace God in all things.
“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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
38. I am as I am in the eyes of God. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Here is one of the best means to acquire humility; fix well in mind this maxim: One is as much as he is in the sight of God, and no more.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
39. “Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
40. You can show your love to others.
“You can show your love to others by not wishing they were better Christians.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
BONUS: Other Famous St. Francis of Assisi Quotes
“Dear God, please reveal to us your sublime beauty, that is everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, so that we will never again feel frightened.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“The Lord bless you and keep you. May He show His face to you and have mercy. May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace. The Lord bless you!” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.” ~ St.Francis of Assisi
“Lord, make me an instrument of your 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. 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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“Every day He humbles Himself just as He did when from His heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb; every day He comes to us and lets us see Him in lowliness when He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar.” ~ St.Francis of Assisi
“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.” ~ St.Francis of Assisi
“Blessed is the servant who esteems himself no better when he is praised and exalted by people than when he is considered worthless, simple, and despicable; for what a man is before God, that he is and nothing more.” ~ St.Francis of Assisi
“A man sins who wishes to receive more from his neighbor than he is himself willing to give to the Lord God.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful. Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for they will be crowned.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“And St. Francis added: “My dear and beloved Brother, the treasure of blessed poverty is so very precious and divine that we are not worthy to possess it in our vile bodies. For poverty is that heavenly virtue by which all earthy and transitory things are trodden under foot, and by which every obstacle is removed from the soul so that it may freely enter into union with the eternal Lord God.
“It is also the virtue which makes the soul, while still here on earth, converse with the angels in Heaven. It is she who accompanied Christ on the Cross, was buried with Christ in the Tomb, and with Christ was raised and ascended into Heaven, for even in this life she gives to souls who love her the ability to fly to Heaven, and she alone guards the armor of true humility and charity.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“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.” – St. Francis of Assisi
“What sublime humility and humble sublimeness, that the Lord of the Universe, the Divine Son of God, should stoop as to hide Himself under the appearance of bread for our salvation! Behold the humble way of God, my brothers.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“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.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
“It is good to read the testimonies of Scripture; it is good to seek the Lord our God in them. As for me, however, I have already made so much of Scripture my own that I have more than enough to meditate on and turn over in my mind. I need no more . .. I know Christ, the poor crucified One.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
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Luminita D. Saviuc
Luminita is the Founder and Editor in Chief of PurposeFairy.com and also the author of 15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy: An Inspiring Guide to Discovering Effortless Joy. For more details check out the 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy Book Page.
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