Yesterday was Gaudette Sunday and I was looking for some profound meditation on joy. Instead, I found this wonderful story of Saint Francis.
From:
http://feastofsaints.com/perfectjoy.htm
How St. Francis Taught Brother
Leo That Perfect Joy Is Only in the Cross
to left: Giotto's Saint Francis
One winter day St. Francis was coming to St. Mary of the Angels from
Perugia with Brother Leo, and the bitter cold made them suffer keenly. St.
Francis called to Brother Leo, who was walking a bit ahead of him, and he said:
"Brother Leo, even if the Friars Minor in every country give a great
example of holiness and integrity and good edification, nevertheless write down
and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that."
And when he had walked on a bit, St. Francis called him again,
saying: "Brother Leo, even if a Friar Minor gives sight to the blind, heals
the paralyzed, drives out devils, gives hearing back to the deaf, makes the lame
walk, and restores speech to the dumb, and what is still more, brings back to
life a man who has been dead four days, write that perfect joy is not in
that."
And going on a bit, St. Francis cried out again
in a strong voice: "Brother Leo, if a Friar Minor knew all languages and
all sciences and Scripture, if he also knew bow to prophesy and to reveal not
only the future but also the secrets of the consciences and minds of others,
write down and note carefully that perfect joy is not in that."
And as they walked on, after a while St. Francis
called again forcefully: 'Brother Leo, Little Lamb of God, even if a Friar minor
could speak with the voice of an angel, and knew the courses of the stars and
the powers of herbs, and knew all about the treasures in the earth, and if be
knew the qualities of birds and fishes, animals, humans, roots, trees, rocks,
and waters, write down and note carefully that true joy is not in that."
And going on a bit farther, St. Francis called
again strongly: "Brother Leo, even if a Friar Minor could preach so well
that be should convert all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that perfect
joy is not there."
Now when he had been talking this way for a
distance of two miles, Brother Leo in great amazement asked him: "Father, I
beg you in God's name to tell me where perfect joy is."
And St. Francis replied; "When we come to
St. Mary of the Angels, soaked by the rain and frozen by the cold, all soiled
with mud and suffering from hunger, and we ring at the gate of the Place and the
brother porter comes and says angrily: 'Who are you?' And we say: 'We are two of
your brothers.' And he contradicts us, saying: 'You are not telling the truth.
Rather you are two rascals who go around deceiving people and stealing what they
give to the poor. Go away]' And he does not open for us, but makes us stand
outside in the snow and rain, cold and hungry, until night falls-then if we
endure all those insults and cruel rebuffs patiently, without being troubled and
without complaining, and if we reflect humbly and charitably that that porter
really knows us and that God makes him speak against us, oh, Brother Leo, write
that perfect joy is there!
'And if we continue to knock, and the porter
comes out in anger, and drives us away with curses and hard blows like
bothersome scoundrels, saying; 'Get away from here, you dirty thieves-go to the
hospital! Who do you think you are? You certainly won't eat or sleep here'--and
if we bear it patiently and take the insults with joy and love in our hearts,
Oh, Brother Leo, write that that is perfect joy!
And if later, suffering intensely from hunger
and the painful cold, with night falling, we still knock and call, and crying
loudly beg them to open for us and let us come in for the love of God, and he
grows still more angry and says: 'Those fellows are bold and shameless ruffians.
I'll give them what they deserve.' And he comes out with a knotty club,
and grasping us by the cowl throws us onto the ground, rolling us in the mud and
snow, and beats us with that club so much that he covers our bodies with
wounds--if we endure all those evils and insults and blows with joy and
patience, reflecting that we must accept and bear the sufferings of the Blessed
Christ patiently for love of Him, oh, Brother Leo, write: that is perfect joy!
'And now hear the conclusion, Brother Leo. Above
all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is
that of conquering oneself and willingly enduring sufferings, insults,
humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ. For we cannot glory in all
those other marvelous gifts of God, as they are not ours but God's, as the
Apostle says: 'What have you that you have not received?' But we can glory in
the cross of tribulations and afflictions, because that is ours, and so the
Apostle says: 'I will not glory save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.'"
To whom be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.
from The Little Flowers of St Francis, The "Fioretti"
