Brother Rich and all,

I am trying to recall the exact wording of a quote and the source of it. My recollection (vague) is that at the end of his life, St. Francis gathered the men of his order into his room, and even after all he was blessed to accomplish said... (recollected quote follows:) "men, we have accomplished nothing for we have done no more beyond than what the Lord has asked of us. Let us begin again."

I don't know where or how I have come to have this impression. Perhaps from a video on the life of St. Claire. I would like to use this in a talk, and would appreciate any input from any Franciscans out there.

-- ubi (ubi@petros.com), May 27, 1999

Answers

Like most people I have no clue at all what God wants me to do, & the church is no help. Hearing that "you've done nothing but what God wanted you to do" would certainly be more than enough for me. Feedback, what a concept.

-- an RC (not@this.address), May 27, 1999.

That is pretty close to the exact quote. I would have to dig a little to find it, but I have read it many times. My favorite is "Preach the Gospel everywhere you go and when necessary use words"

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), May 27, 1999.

Thanks Bro Rich. Would it be a difficult or time consuming thing to dig up the exact quote? I don't want to make a misquote in a public speech, but if it is too time consuming please don't bother.

I find that the spirituality of St. Francis is complemented by St. Therese of Lisieux and very helpful to me. Thanks to the Fransciscans. Fr. Scanlon and the conferences at FUS are a refreshing source of renewal and continue St. Francis' divine directive to "rebuild my church".

-- ubi (ubi@petros.com), May 27, 1999.

I wonder if in the book The Writings of St. Francis this would be? It canbe obtained from I am sure a Friary and definately from the Poor Clairs. Also if I may a very fine book on St. Francis is by G.K Chesterson.

St. Teresa of Liseux, St. Teresa of Avila. St. Bridget, St. Catherine of Sienna are all very exciting to read three of which are Doctors of The Church I believe.

Peace And Well Being.

Jean Bouchard

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 27, 1999.

I will look for you it may take a few days. Yes their feast days are back to back or very close to one another.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), May 28, 1999.

Ok, Maybe this is what you are looking for. "Let us begin, brothers, to serve the Lord God, for up to nowwe have made little or no progress." Many books have paraphrased this. The quote above is from "The First Life of Francis" book 1, paragraph 103 by St. Thomas Celano. It is from the time about 6 months prior to the death of Francis, on his way back to Assisi.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (REPSFO@PRODIGY.NET), May 28, 1999.

dear jean. only two of the holy women you mention are doctors of the church, namely St. Teresa of AVila and St Catherine of Siena.

ENRIQUE

-- ENRIQUE ORTIZ (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 01, 1999.

Enrique,

Did not Jean Paul our Pope bring ' The Little Flower ' as the youngest Doctor of the Church? Bro Rich can you anyone else help?

Peace - Jean

-- jean bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 04, 1999.

Yes, John paul II did make her a Doctor of the Church. This happened on the day that my mother died. St. Therese of Lisieux (The little flower) is a Saint that I had asked to comfort my mother over the course of her illness the prior year.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), June 04, 1999.

Bro. Rich. my answer to jean was a trick in order to know when St. Therese of Lisieux was made a doctor. will you please give us the date. Thanks

ENRIQUE

-- ENRIQUE ORTIZ (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 05, 1999.

Oct. 19 1997

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), June 05, 1999.