Saint Francis Bewails the Lord's Passion

Once in the early days of his conversion Francis was walking alone near the church of Santa Maria de Portiuncula weeping and wailing with a loud voice. A certain spiritual man heard him, and thought he was suffering from some infirmity or distress; and, moved with pity for him, he asked him why he was weeping. But Francis said: 'I am wailing for the passion of my Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake I ought not to be ashamed to go through all the world weeping aloud.' On this the other likewise began to wail with a loud voice with him. And often when Francis rose from prayer his eyes seemed to be full of blood, for he wept very bitterly. Nor did he afflict himself by tears alone, but also by abstinence from food and drink, on account of the memory of the Lord's passion.

- 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