What really is Perfect Joy?
by Fred Schaeffer, SFO

    When we read Leo's transcription of Perfect Joy as Saint Francis told him to write, we're likely to miss what the good saint was really trying to tell us. Francis forgave everyone who humiliated him. When we have forgiveness for everyone we're non-judgmental. The greatest joy is to be free from judging others. Jesus told us to love our brothers and sisters. Judging them is wrong and damages the relationship Jesus wants us to have with all others and with Him. Thus if Jesus' wishes were carried out perfectly, that is perfect joy.

   Does St. Francis ever mention that he forgives the porter or says that he would? No. He is not concerned with the offense of the porter because he's totally non-judgmental. In our relationship with God, we are told, we must be like children. In the Gospel of Mark (10:15), Jesus said: "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." This child-like relationship simply does not allow judgment of others.

   Francis knows himself and that his relationship to God is solid. He knows that in his continual spirit of compassion and forgiveness of others, he is obedient to God's Will. He knows he is a son of the Father, as we all are, and this relationship is unbreakable. Thus, when we do not exercise judgment our forgiveness is total.

Francis' total love in God is humility by totally accepting God's Will and being obedient in carrying it out to the letter.

When we judge others we are harming ourselves. When we take offense from others we are allowing them to do so and to control us. When we do not react to the offensive statements then we are obedient to God's wish for us not to judge the offender.
 Total obedience to God is always perfect joy !

Perfect Joy
as written down by Brother Leo.

One day in winter, as St Francis was going with Brother Leo from Perugia to St Mary of the Angels, and was suffering greatly from the cold, he called to Brother Leo, who was walking on before him, and said to him: "Brother Leo, if it were to please God that the Friars Minor should give, in all lands, a great example of holiness and edification, write down, and note carefully, that this would not be perfect joy."

A little further on, St Francis called to him a second time: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor were to make the lame to walk, if they should make straight the crooked, chase away demons, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and, what is even a far greater work, if they should raise the dead after four days, write that this would not be perfect joy."

Shortly after, he cried out again: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor knew all languages; if they were versed in all science; if they could explain all Scripture; if they had the gift of prophecy, and could reveal, not only all future things, but likewise the secrets of all consciences and all souls, write that this would not be perfect joy."

After proceeding a few steps farther, he cried out again with a loud voice: "O Brother Leo, thou little lamb of God! if the Friars Minor could speak with the tongues of angels; if they could explain the course of the stars; if they knew the virtues of all plants; if all the treasures of the earth were revealed to them; if they were acquainted with the various qualities of all birds, of all fish, of all animals, of men, of trees, of stones, of roots, and of waters - write that this would not be perfect joy."

Shortly after, he cried out again: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor had the gift of preaching so as to convert all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that this would not be perfect joy."

Now when this manner of discourse had lasted for the space of two miles, Brother Leo wondered much within himself; and, questioning the saint, he said: "Father, I pray thee teach me wherein is perfect joy." St Francis answered: "If, when we shall arrive at St Mary of the Angels, all drenched with rain and trembling with cold, all covered with mud and exhausted from hunger; if, when we knock at the convent-gate, the porter should come angrily and ask us who we are; if, after we have told him, `We are two of the brethren', he should answer angrily, `What ye say is not the truth; ye are but two impostors going about to deceive the world, and take away the alms of the poor; begone I say'; if then he refuse to open to us, and leave us outside, exposed to the snow and rain, suffering from cold and hunger till nightfall - then, if we accept such injustice, such cruelty and such contempt with patience, without being ruffled and without murmuring, believing with humility and charity that the porter really knows us, and that it is God who maketh him to speak thus against us, write down, O Brother Leo, that this is perfect joy.

From: "The Little Flowers of St. Francis, Chapter VIII"