Minute Meditations

An early follower of Francis was not able to sustain the extreme fasting that Francis himself practiced. Rather than shaming the man, Francis broke his own fast so that his hungry brother could eat.

When Bernard of Quintavalle told Francis he wanted to join his life of poverty, they spoke to the parish priest and, under his guidance, opened the Scriptures three times, a common practice in medieval times.

Francis took a literal approach to the Gospel. He began with the most basic interpretation of a text, but he didn’t stop there.

Anything that prevents us from following Jesus with our whole heart, anything that holds us back, is a stumbling block to Christian discipleship

Time and again, my little worldview is shaken by something wider; my plans are almost always dashed by bigger, better ones.

While there is nothing wrong with hoping for success in our lives, our faith is destined for problems if it becomes an expectation we cannot live without.