Friday, August 2 : Life of Saint Francis of Assisi known as the “Anonymous of Perugia”

Filled with the Holy Spirit’s graces as he already was, blessed Francis foretold to his brothers what was going to happen to them. In the wood beside the chapel of Saint Mary of the Portioncula, where they were accustomed to meet for prayer, he called together those six brothers he already had and said: “Dearest brothers, let us have a good understanding of our vocation: in his mercy God has not called us just for our own benefit but for the service, and even for the salvation, of many others. So let us go out through the world; let us encourage and show men and women, by word and example, how to do penance for their sins and recall those commandments of God they have forgotten for so long.” Then he added: “Do not be afraid, little flock (Lk 12,32) but put your trust in the Lord. Don’t ask each other: ‘And how are we going to preach, we who are ignorant and without learning?’ Remember, rather, our Lord’s words to his disciples: ‘It is not you who will be speaking but the Spirit of your Father who will be speaking in you’ (Mt 10,20). Therefore it is the Lord himself who will transmit his Spirit and wisdom to you, to teach men and women the ways and practices of his commandments”.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team