Written by Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care

St. Francis had much wisdom to share with his brothers about how to see the good in all people. But also, he offered thoughts on how to be good to all people. One of his sayings comes in Admonition 25. He said, “Blessed is that brother who would love his brother as much when he is ill and not able to assist him as he loves him when he is well and able to assist him. Blessed is the brother who would love and fear his brother as much when he is far from him as he would when with him, and would not say anything about him behind his back that he could not say with charity in his presence.” A Capuchin Franciscan Friar talked about this saying of Francis and noted that it is about loving as much. It’s not polite tolerance. It’s not charitable condescension. Loving as much is not done according to usefulness, productivity, contribution, nor agreement.

We do this as parents. We are careful that our children know that we don’t only love them when they are good, when they have done well at school, when they’ve been a good sibling or a good friend. We love them when they make mistakes, both large and small. We love them when they are sick and are unable to do any chores around the house. We love them when they are grouchy and even surly!

And so should we love our neighbors in the same way. Francis cared for the lepers outside the walls of Assisi. He loved them even when they smelled awful, couldn’t be useful to others, couldn’t care for others. Their worth was not dependent on their utility, kindness, nor health. Francis saw the good in them and cared for them, giving them the dignity they deserved as God’s creation.

Blessed Mary Angela also cared for her neighbor as much when they could be contributing members of society as when they were poor, without housing, and without good health. Her ministry was one of loving as much.

May God guide us to love as much. May God reveal to us that dignity is not conditional. May we see that each person’s dignity is not dependent on their status, their power, nor their utility. Each person is made in God’s image and likeness.

Blessed Angela: “Give aid to all without exception; your vocation obliges you not to exclude anyone, for everybody is our neighbor."