It was thus that the Lord granted to me, Brother Francis, to begin my repentance; for when I was in sin it seemed very bitter to me to look upon lepers; but the Lord Himself brought me among them, and I showed them kindness. And as I withdrew from among them, that which used to seem to me bitter was turned into sweetness of soul and body. And not long afterwards I came out from the world.
And the Lord granted me such trust in [His] churches that I used simply to pray in these words: 'We worship You, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and at all Your churches which are in all the world, and we bless You for that You have redeemed the world by Your holy Cross.'
Afterwards the Lord granted me, and still grants me, [to put] such trust in the priests who live according to the form of the Holy Roman Church, by reason of their Orders, that if they persecute me I will betake me to them. And if I had as great wisdom as Solomon had, and were to find poor priests of this world in the parish churches where they abide, I would not preach against their will. And I will fear, love, and honour them and all other priests as my lords; nor will I heed sin in them, because I discern the Son of God in them, and they are my lords.
- 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