The Testament of St. Francis

Excerpts of the testament

The Lord gave me, Brother Francis, thus to begin doing penance in this way: for when I was in sin, it seemed too bitter for me to see lepers. And the Lord himself laws me among them and I showed mercy to them. And when I left, what had seemed bitter to me was turned into sweetness of soul and body. And afterwards, I delayed a little and left the world.

And after the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what I had to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel. And I had this written down simply in a few words and the lord Pope confirmed it for me. … We desired nothing more. And we were simple and subject to all.