The Beginning of Saint Francis' Preaching

Francis and brother Giles, as they went along, exulted exceedingly in the Lord, and the holy man, singing praises in French with loud, clear voice, blessed and glorified the goodness of the Most High. There was in them as much joy as if they had found a great treasure in the evangelic field of the Lady Poverty, for whose sake they had freely and gladly set at naught all temporal things as dung. And the holy man said to brother Giles: 'Our Religion will be like a fisherman who casts his nets into the water and catches a plenteous multitude of fish, and, leaving the little ones in the water, chooses the large ones to put into his vessels.' And thus he foretold that the Order was to be enlarged. Now, though the man of God did not as yet fully preach to the people, still, when he passed through cities and fortresses he exhorted all to love and fear God and do penance for their sins; and brother Giles admonished the hearers to believe Francis, for that he gave them the best advice.

- first impressions of Saint Franci's preaching

Those who heard the admonitions of Francis and Giles said: 'Who are these men, and what are these words that they say?' For at that time the love and fear of God were almost everywhere quenched, and the way of repentance was wholly unknown, and, indeed, reputed folly. For the allurements of the flesh, the covetousness of the world, and the pride of life, had so far prevailed that all the world seemed wholly occupied in these three wickednesses. Therefore opinions differed concerning these evangelic men. Some said that they were fools or drunken; others maintained that such words proceeded not from folly. But one of the hearers said: 'Either they have cleaved to the Lord for the sake of the highest perfection, or else surely they are mad, for their way seems a desperate one, seeing that they use scanty food, walk barefoot, and are clad in the vilest garments.' And meanwhile, though some were smitten with fear at the sight of their manner of life, none followed them as yet.

- 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