49. A letter to a Minister

Francis wrote this letter to a Minister between three and five years before his death. It is an extraordinary testimony to the way Francis thought and acted. In the first part of the letter he encourages the Minister to consider as a grace any difficulty that he may meet. Francis says it is true obedience to the Lord God and to Francis himself when the Minister considers it to be a grace when a brother impedes him or even lays hands on him. He adds: 'And may you want it to be this way and not otherwise.' In this Francis is asking a lot of his Minister. Not only must the Minister accept as a grace any hurt done to him but, more than that, he must be ready to forgive any brother who comes to him. The way Francis expresses this is strong and challenging. He says: 'And if you have done this, I wish to know in this way if you love the Lord and me, namely, that there is not any brother in the world who has sinned, who when he has looked into your eyes, would ever depart without your mercy, if he is looking for mercy. And if he were not looking for mercy you would ask him if he wants mercy'. This is a wonderful portrait to put before the Ministers of the Order. It is challenging in asking the Ministers not to take offence and to be ready at all times to show mercy. In this letter Francis is developing what he would later include in the final draft of the Rule. In the final Rule the words from the Letter to a Minister are put in a more succinct form but Francis adds the following words: The Ministers 'must be careful not to be angry or disturbed at the sin of another, for anger and disturbance impede charity in themselves and in others'.