During the time of his conversion], when Francis was praying fervently to the Lord one day, he received this answer: 'Francis, you must despise and hate all the things you have loved after the flesh and have desired to have, if you will do My will; but if you begin to do this, the things which seemed to you sweet and delightful before shall be intolerable and bitter to you; and from the things from which you did shrink before, you shall derive immeasurable sweetness.'
Rejoicing, therefore, herein, and encouraged by the Lord, he chanced, while riding near Assisi, to meet a leper. And since he had been used to feel a great loathing for lepers, he forced himself to dismount, offered the leper money, and kissed his hand. Then, having received a kiss of peace from him, he mounted his horse once more and went on his way.
- text taken from Franciscan Days: being selections for every day in the year from ancient Franciscan writings, translated and arranged by Alan George Ferrers Howell