Carefully Sourced from His Writings
Saint Francis of Assisi — Feast Day: October 4
A publication-ready collection for Catholic devotional and educational use
Saint Francis of Assisi left behind a relatively small body of writings, but they contain an extraordinary richness of spirituality. His authentic writings include the Admonitions, First and Second Rules of the Friars Minor, Testament, letters, prayers, Salutation of the Blessed Virgin, Praises of God, Office of the Passion, and Canticle of the Creatures, among others. The surviving manuscript tradition and critical Franciscan scholarship distinguish these works from numerous later sayings and writings attributed to Francis.
The quotations below use the Paschal Robinson English translation of the Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi (1905/1906), a historical public-domain translation. Modern translations may use somewhat different English wording, but the underlying Franciscan references remain identifiable. The Robinson edition was published with ecclesiastical approval and is available through Franciscan sources.
I. CHRIST, THE GOSPEL AND THE CROSS
1. “He is truly obedient who, when he is commanded, obeys as promptly as he would wish, and does not seek to escape.”
Source: Admonitions, 3, Of Perfect and Imperfect Obedience.
Francis connects obedience with love rather than mere external compliance.
2. “Let us therefore glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Source: Admonitions, 5, That no one should glory save in the Cross of the Lord.
For Francis, Christian glory is inseparable from Christ Crucified.
3. “Those who love the Lord with all their heart and soul and mind and strength, and their neighbor as themselves…”
Source: Admonitions, 18, Of Compassion toward one’s Neighbor.
4. “The servant of God ought to rejoice in all things.”
Source: Admonitions, 21, Of the Happy and the Vain Religious.
Francis repeatedly links holiness with spiritual joy.
5. “He who perseveres unto the end shall be saved.”
Source: Admonitions, 6, Of the Imitation of the Lord.
6. “Let us consider, brothers, the Good Shepherd, who suffered the Passion of the Cross to save His sheep.”
Source: Admonitions, 6, Of the Imitation of the Lord.
Francis’ spirituality is fundamentally Christ-centred and cruciform.
II. THE EUCHARIST
7. “Behold, each day He humbles Himself.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
Francis marvels at Christ’s continuing humility in the Eucharist.
8. “He comes to us under a humble form.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
9. “O sublime humility! O humble sublimity!”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
This is one of Francis’ most beautiful Eucharistic expressions.
10. “The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself for our salvation.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
11. “Let everyone be struck with fear, let the whole world tremble, and let the heavens exult, when Christ, the Son of the living God, is on the altar in the hands of the priest.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
12. “O wonderful loftiness and stupendous condescension!”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
13. “He humbles Himself as when He came from His royal throne into the Virgin’s womb.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
Francis sees the Eucharist in continuity with the Incarnation.
14. “Let the whole of mankind tremble, the whole world shake, and the heavens exult.”
Source: Admonitions, 1, Of the Lord’s Body.
The Eucharistic Christ is at the centre of Francis’ reverence for the Church.
III. LOVE OF GOD AND NEIGHBOUR
15. “He truly loves his enemy who does not grieve because of the wrong done to himself.”
Source: Admonitions, 9, Of Love.
16. “He is afflicted for love of God because of the sin on his [brother’s] soul.”
Source: Admonitions, 9, Of Love.
17. “He shows his love by his works.”
Source: Admonitions, 9, Of Love.
This short sentence is particularly important: for Francis, Christian love becomes visible through action.
18. “To the servant of God nothing should be displeasing save sin.”
Source: Admonitions, 11, That one must not be seduced by Bad Example.
19. “The servant of God who does not trouble himself or get angry about anything lives uprightly and without sin.”
Source: Admonitions, 11.
20. “Blessed is he who keeps nothing for himself.”
Source: Admonitions, 11.
IV. HUMILITY
21. “If the Lord should work some good through him, his body … is not therefore puffed up.”
Source: Admonitions, 12, Of Knowing the Spirit of God.
22. “He rather becomes viler in his own sight.”
Source: Admonitions, 12.
23. “He esteems himself less than other men.”
Source: Admonitions, 12.
24. “How much interior patience and humility a servant of God may have cannot be known so long as he is contented.”
Source: Admonitions, 13, Of Patience.
25. “As much patience and humility as he then shows, so much has he and no more.”
Source: Admonitions, 13.
This is one of Francis’ sharpest tests of genuine humility.
26. “What a man is in the sight of God, so much he is, and no more.”
Source: Admonitions, 20, Of the Good and Humble Religious.
This is among the safest and most useful authentic Franciscan quotations for devotional writing.
27. “Blessed is that servant who is raised in dignity not by his own will and who always desires to be beneath the feet of others.”
Source: Admonitions, 20.
28. “Blessed is the servant who bears discipline, accusation, and blame from others as patiently as if they came from himself.”
Source: Admonitions, 23, Of True Correction.
29. “Blessed is the servant who, when reproved, mildly submits, modestly obeys, humbly confesses, and willingly satisfies.”
Source: Admonitions, 23.
V. PATIENCE AND PEACE
30. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Source: Admonitions, 15, Of Peacemakers.
Francis then applies Christ’s Beatitude directly to Christian life.
31. “They are truly peacemakers who amidst all they suffer in this world maintain peace in soul and body.”
Source: Admonitions, 15.
32. “They are clean of heart who despise earthly things and always seek those of heaven.”
Source: Admonitions, 16, Of Cleanness of Heart.
33. “They never cease to adore and contemplate the Lord God Living and True, with a pure heart and mind.”
Source: Admonitions, 16.
VI. COMPASSION AND MERCY
34. “Blessed is the man who bears with his neighbor according to the frailty of his nature.”
Source: Admonitions, 18, Of Compassion toward one’s Neighbor.
35. “As much as he would wish to be borne with by him if he should be in a like case.”
Source: Admonitions, 18.
36. “Let them love one another.”
Source: First Rule, Chapter 11, That the Brothers ought not to speak evil or detract, but ought to love one another.
37. “Let them show their love by the works they do for each other.”
Source: First Rule, Chapter 11.
38. “Let them be gentle, showing all mildness toward all men.”
Source: First Rule, Chapter 11.
39. “Let them not judge and not condemn.”
Source: First Rule, Chapter 11.
Francis explicitly connects fraternity with mercy, restraint in judgment and practical love.
VII. POVERTY AND DETACHMENT
40. “Blessed is the servant who gives up all his goods to the Lord God.”
Source: Admonitions, 19, Of the Happy and Unhappy Servant.
41. “He who retains anything for himself hides ‘his Lord’s money.’”
Source: Admonitions, 19.
42. “The brothers shall appropriate nothing to themselves, neither a house nor place nor anything.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 6.
43. “As pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 6.
44. “The Lord made Himself poor for us in this world.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 6.
45. “Poor in goods, but exalted in virtue.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 6.
46. “Never desire to possess anything else under heaven.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 6.
These passages are among the clearest primary sources for Franciscan evangelical poverty.
VIII. WORK AND SERVICE
47. “Let those brothers to whom the Lord has given the grace of working labor faithfully and devoutly.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 5, Of the Manner of Working.
48. “In banishing idleness, the enemy of the soul.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 5.
49. “They do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion.”
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 5.
50. “All temporal things must be subservient” to prayer and devotion.
Source: Second Rule, Chapter 5.
Francis does not oppose work and prayer; he insists that work remain ordered toward God.
IX. HIS CONVERSION
51. “When I was in sin it seemed to me very bitter to see lepers.”
Source: Testament of Saint Francis, opening section.
52. “The Lord Himself led me amongst them and I showed mercy to them.”
Source: Testament, opening section.
53. “That which had seemed to me bitter was changed for me into sweetness of body and soul.”
Source: Testament, opening section.
54. “And afterwards I remained a little and I left the world.”
Source: Testament, opening section.
These are among the most important autobiographical words Francis left us. They reveal that his conversion began not with an abstract theory but with an encounter with suffering people.
X. THE CROSS OF CHRIST
55. “We adore Thee Lord Jesus Christ here and in all Thy churches which are in the whole world.”
Source: Testament.
56. “We bless Thee because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.”
Source: Testament.
57. “The Lord gave me so much faith in priests.”
Source: Testament.
58. “In them I see the Son of God.”
Source: Testament.
59. “I see nothing corporally of the most high Son of God Himself except His most holy Body and Blood.”
Source: Testament.
60. “These most holy mysteries be honored and revered above all things.”
Source: Testament.
Francis’ Testament provides exceptionally strong evidence of his Eucharistic faith, reverence for the priesthood and love for the Church.
XI. LIVING THE HOLY GOSPEL
61. “The Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the holy Gospel.”
Source: Testament.
62. “We were simple and subject to all.”
Source: Testament.
63. “I worked with my hands and I wish to work.”
Source: Testament.
64. “The Lord give thee peace.”
Source: Testament.
This is especially significant because the greeting is genuinely found in Francis’ own Testament. It should not be confused with the later “Peace Prayer of Saint Francis.”
XII. THE SPIRITUALITY OF PRAYER
65. “Almighty, most holy, most high, and supreme God, highest good, all good, wholly good, who alone art good.”
Source: Prayer, in the authentic Praises of God collection.
66. “To Thee we render all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing.”
Source: Praises of God.
67. “We shall always refer all good to Thee.”
Source: Praises of God.
These words come from Francis’ authentic prayer tradition preserved in the manuscript tradition.
XIII. THE LOVE OF GOD
68. “Thou art charity, love.”
Source: Praises of God.
69. “Thou art wisdom. Thou art humility. Thou art patience.”
Source: Praises of God.
70. “Thou art joy and gladness.”
Source: Praises of God.
The Praises of God are particularly important because the text is associated with Francis’ autograph preserved at Assisi. The Robinson edition records the manuscript evidence and identifies the text as based upon the Assisi codex.
XIV. SAINT FRANCIS AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
71. “Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mother of God, Mary who art ever Virgin.”
Source: Salutation of the Blessed Virgin.
72. “Hail thou His palace! Hail thou His tabernacle! Hail thou His house.”
Source: Salutation of the Blessed Virgin.
73. “Hail thou His garment! Hail thou His handmaid! Hail thou His Mother.”
Source: Salutation of the Blessed Virgin.
The Salutation of the Blessed Virgin is regarded in the critical tradition as an authentic Franciscan prayer.
XV. THE LOVE OF CHRIST
74. “I beseech Thee, O Lord, that the fiery and sweet strength of Thy love may absorb my soul from all things that are under heaven.”
Source: Prayer to Obtain Divine Love.
75. “That I may die for love of Thy love as Thou didst deign to die for love of my love.”
Source: Prayer to Obtain Divine Love.
This prayer expresses the heart of Franciscan mysticism: the soul desires to be completely consumed by the love revealed in Christ.
XVI. THE CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES
The Canticle of the Creatures is one of the most important authentic works of Francis. The surviving Italian text is preserved in early manuscripts, including Assisi MS 338, and the Franciscan scholarly tradition accepts it as authentic.
76. “Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, Praise, glory and honor and benediction all, are Thine.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures, opening stanza.
77. “To Thee alone do they belong, most High.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
78. “Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
79. “Praised be my Lord for sister moon and for the stars.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
80. “Praised be my Lord for brother wind.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
81. “Praised be my Lord for sister water.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
82. “The which is greatly helpful and humble and precious and pure.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures, stanza on Sister Water.
83. “Praised be my Lord for brother fire.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
84. “By the which Thou lightest up the dark.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
85. “Praised be my Lord for our sister, mother earth.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
86. “The which sustains and keeps us.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
87. “Praised be my Lord for those who for Thy love forgive.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
88. “Blessed those who shall in peace endure.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
89. “Praised be my Lord for our sister, the bodily death.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
90. “Blessed those who shall find themselves in Thy most holy will.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
91. “For the second death shall do them no ill.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
92. “Praise ye and bless ye my Lord, and give Him thanks.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures.
93. “And be subject unto Him with great humility.”
Source: Canticle of the Creatures, concluding line.
The Canticle moves from praise of the Creator through creation to forgiveness, suffering, death and finally humble submission to God.
XVII. THE TESTAMENT AND FINAL BLESSING
94. “This is a remembrance, a warning, and an exhortation and my Testament.”
Source: Testament.
95. “As the Lord has given me to speak and to write the Rule and these words simply and purely.”
Source: Testament.
96. “So shall you understand them simply and purely.”
Source: Testament.
97. “With holy operation observe them until the end.”
Source: Testament.
98. “May he be filled in heaven with the blessing of the Most High Father.”
Source: Testament, concluding blessing.
99. “And on earth with blessing of His Beloved Son together with the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.”
Source: Testament, concluding blessing.
100. “I, Brother Francis, your little one and servant, in so far as I am able, I confirm to you within and without this most holy blessing.”
Source: Testament, concluding blessing.
The Testament ends not with self-glorification but with Francis describing himself as “your little one and servant.”
The Most Important Authentic Francis Quotes for Devotional Use
If you want only the strongest 20 quotations for prayer cards, feast-day graphics, homilies and social media, I would particularly recommend these:
- “What a man is in the sight of God, so much he is, and no more.”
— Admonitions, 20 - “He shows his love by his works.”
— Admonitions, 9 - “They are truly peacemakers who amidst all they suffer in this world maintain peace in soul and body.”
— Admonitions, 15 - “He esteems himself less than other men.”
— Admonitions, 12 - “Blessed is the man who bears with his neighbor according to the frailty of his nature.”
— Admonitions, 18 - “The Lord made Himself poor for us in this world.”
— Second Rule, 6 - “Poor in goods, but exalted in virtue.”
— Second Rule, 6 - “When I was in sin it seemed to me very bitter to see lepers.”
— Testament - “The Lord Himself led me amongst them and I showed mercy to them.”
— Testament - “That which had seemed to me bitter was changed for me into sweetness of body and soul.”
— Testament - “We adore Thee Lord Jesus Christ here and in all Thy churches which are in the whole world.”
— Testament - “By Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.”
— Testament - “The Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the holy Gospel.”
— Testament - “The Lord give thee peace.”
— Testament - “Thou art charity, love.”
— Praises of God - “Thou art wisdom. Thou art humility. Thou art patience.”
— Praises of God - “Most high, omnipotent, good Lord.”
— Canticle of the Creatures - “Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures.”
— Canticle of the Creatures - “Praised be my Lord for those who for Thy love forgive.”
— Canticle of the Creatures - “And be subject unto Him with great humility.”
— Canticle of the Creatures
Important Note on Authenticity
For a Catholic website, it is worth being particularly careful with Saint Francis quotations.
Several extremely popular sayings circulating online should not be published as direct quotations from Francis without qualification.
1. “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”
This sentence is not found in the authentic writings of Francis. It is a later saying commonly attributed to him. The authentic writings actually contain explicit instructions concerning preaching and the proclamation of the Gospel.
2. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”
The famous Prayer of Saint Francis is not a prayer demonstrably written by Francis. It originated many centuries after his death and was subsequently associated with his name.
3. “Start by doing what’s necessary; then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
There is no reliable Franciscan primary source for this saying. It should not be presented as an authentic quotation of Francis.
4. “Where there is hatred, let me sow love…”
These lines belong to the later Prayer of Saint Francis, not to Francis’ own surviving writings.
Why Exact Sources Matter
Saint Francis is particularly vulnerable to misquotation because his name has been attached to hundreds of beautiful devotional sayings.
For serious Catholic publication, it is much safer to use his actual writings:
- Admonitions
- First Rule
- Second Rule
- Testament
- Letter to the Faithful
- Letter to a Minister
- Letters to the Custodians
- Praises of God
- Salutation of the Blessed Virgin
- Canticle of the Creatures
- Office of the Passion
- Rule for Hermitages
- authentic Franciscan texts associated with Saint Clare’s Rule
The Quaracchi critical tradition specifically removed doubtful and spurious material from earlier collections and identified the authentic corpus.
Recommended Citation Format for nelsonmcbs.com
For your website, I recommend citing each quotation like this:
“What a man is in the sight of God, so much he is, and no more.”
— St Francis of Assisi, Admonitions, 20
Or:
“Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures.”
— St Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures
Or:
“The Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the holy Gospel.”
— St Francis of Assisi, Testament
This is preferable to simply writing “— St Francis of Assisi,” because the reader can actually verify the quotation.
Primary Sources Consulted
1. The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi
Translated by Fr. Paschal Robinson, OFM, published by The Dolphin Press, Philadelphia, 1906. The edition includes the Admonitions, Rules, Testament, Letters, Prayers, Praises of God, Salutation of the Blessed Virgin, Canticle of the Sun and Office of the Passion.
2. Franciscan manuscript tradition
The Robinson edition records important manuscript witnesses, including the Assisi Codex 338, which preserves several of Francis’ writings, including the Second Rule, Testament, Admonitions, Letter to the Faithful, Instruction concerning the Eucharist, Salutation of the Virtues and Canticle.
3. Critical Franciscan tradition
The Quaracchi editors distinguished authentic writings from doubtful and spurious material. Their work is particularly important when compiling a collection of “authentic quotations.”
4. Official Franciscan presentation of the Testament
The Order of Friars Minor preserves the Testament of Francis and describes it as the document Francis prepared before his death as a remembrance, admonition and exhortation concerning the Rule.
Final Thought
The safest way to quote Saint Francis is not to ask:
“Does this sound like Francis?”
but:
“Where did Francis actually write this?”
That distinction is especially important for Catholic publishing.
The authentic Francis speaks repeatedly about Christ, the Cross, the Eucharist, poverty, humility, mercy, obedience, the Gospel, prayer, peace, creation and total love of God.
Those themes are far richer than the collection of popular sayings that have accumulated around his name.
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
May the Lord give you peace.
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