The Mutual Charity and Obedience of the Brethren

One day when two of the brethren were walking together they came upon a certain fool, who began to throw stones at them. One of them, therefore, seeing that stones were thrown at the other, at once put himself in the way of the blows from the stones, wishing that himself should be hit rather than his brother, because of the mutual love wherewith they were inflamed; and so one was ready to lay down his life for another. For they were so founded on humility and charity and rooted therein that one revered another as father and lord, and those who were foremost, either by their office of Superiors or by any [special] grace, seemed to be humbler and meaner than the rest. Moreover, all yielded themselves wholly to obedience, preparing themselves continually to obey him who gave an order, for they distinguished not between a just and an unjust order, but whatever was enjoined they deemed to be according to the will of the Lord, and therefore it was easy and pleasant to them to obey orders.

- 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