What is perfect joy:

"The Floretti"



Blessed Francis called brother Leo, "Brother Leo write, What is true joy...
A messanger arrives and says that the masters at Paris have entered the Order.
Write: this is not true joy.
Again: that all the prelates beyond the mountains (the Alps). archbishops and
bishops; and again, that the King of France and the King of England (have entered):
write: this is not true joy.
Again: that my Brothers have gone to the infidels and have converted them all to the faith. Again: that I have such grace from God that I heal the sick and work many miracles: I tell you that all these things there is not true joy!
But what is true joy?
I am returning from Perugia and in the depths of the night I come here to the Porziuncola and in the wintertime, muddy and so cold that icicles form on the bottom of my tunic and hit against my legs and blood comes out of such wounds.
And thus besmirched by mud and cold and ice I come to the door and after I have knocked and called for some time, a brother comes and asks: Who's there?
I answer: Brother francis.
And then he says: Go away! this is not a decent hour to be going about: so you
won't get in!
And if i would again insist, he might answer: Go away! You're no more than a
simpleton and an idiot, so don't come back again! We are so numerous and such that we have no need of you! And I stand again at the door and say: For the love of God take me in this night!
And He would respond: I will not!
Go to the Crosiers' place and ask them!

I tell you (Leo), If I would put up with all this and not be upset, in this is
true and real virtue and the salvation of one's soul!".

(The little flowers of St Francis).