The Ideal Leader of Jesus' Flock

Such was the zeal which Francis had for the preservation of the perfection in the Order, and such seemed to him the perfection of the profession of the Rule, that he often used to consider who would be sufficient after his death to govern the whole Order and to protect the perfection in it with the help of God— but he came upon none that were fit.

            So near the end of his life, a certain friar said to him, “Father, you will pass away to the Lord, and this family which has followed you will remain in the vale of tears.  Point out any in the Order, if you know one, on whom your mind might be at rest, on whom the burden of the Minister-General may be worthily imposed.” 

            Francis answered, punctuating all his words with sighs, “My son, I behold no sufficient leader of so great an various an army, no shepherd of so wide and scattered a flock, but I will point to you one in whom should shine out how the leader and shepherd of this family ought to be.  

"This man,” he said, “ought to be of the most serious life, of great discretion, having a good reputation, without personal favoritism, unless he should prefer some and so cause scandal in the whole.  There should be in him a strong zeal for prayer, focusing some of his time on his own soul and some on his flock.  Early in the morning, he should put before all things the holy sacrifice of the Mass and there, with devotion, he should most earnestly commend himself and his flock to divine protection.  But after prayer he should put himself in the midst of the friars so that he might be questioned by all, answer to all to provide for all with charity and patience and gentleness.

            “For he should show no favor to anyone, so that he should not pay less attention to the simple or foolish than to the wise and learned.  To those whom the gift of learning is granted, let them display in their manner the stamp of piety and simplicity, of patience and humility and let him cherish these virtues in himself and in others and continually exercise himself in preaching to them, inciting others more by example than by speech.  Let him be a hater of money, which is the chief corruption of our profession and perfection and as the head and example to be imitated by all, let him in no wise be wasted by many store-chests.

            “Let a habit and a book be sufficient for him, but for others writing utensils.  Let him not be a collector of books nor much given to reading, let haply that he be taken from his office which is given to studying.  Let him console piously the afflicted, since he is the last resort of those in tribulation, since if he isn’t seen as having hope for the infirm, the sick would despair of disease.  Let him lead the violent to gentleness, let him bear himself humbly and relax something of his own rights that he might have profit of their soul.  To the runaways of the Order, as to sheep who have perished, let him extend compassion and let him never deny mercy to them—for he should know that those temptations to be very great which could compel a fall to such—such temptations that, if the Lord should permit him to suffer, he might be fated to fall into even a greater chasm.

            “I will that he, as vicar of Christ, be honored by all with devotion and reverence and that he be provided for by all and in all things with all good-will, according to his necessity and the lowliness of our condition.  Yet he should not to smile on honors nor to rejoice more in receiving favors than in receiving injuries, so that his attitude is not changed by honors except for the better.  But if sometimes he may need better food, let him not eat it privately, but in a public place, so that the shame may be taken from others of providing them in their infirmities and weaknesses.  He should distinguish hidden knowledge and to search out the truth from secret vanities.  Let him hold all accusations suspect in the beginning, until the truth begins to appear by diligent examination.  Let him not lend his ear to many speakers, and let him hold them especially suspect in accusations, nor lightly believe them.  He should be this way because of the desire of retaining the honor, never injuring nor relaxing the form of justice and equity.  Even so, he should not be so rigorous that the soul of anyone would be destroyed nor out of excessive gentleness he would generate sloth nor from lax indulgence should discipline be dissolved.  And thus he would be feared by all and loved of those that fear him.  

"Let him always think and feel the office of his prelacy rather a burden than an honor to him.  I wish also that he have for his companions people who are known for their honesty, self-controlled, strong in times of need, pious and compassionate to the straying, giving equal attention to everyone and receiving those coming to them with holy joy and showing the form and observance of the gospel, according to the profession of the Rule, in themselves purely and simply to all.  Behold, I say, such should be Minister-General of this order and such companions that he should have.”

            -The Mirror of Perfection, Section V, Chapter 80

Silence.

Humility Amidst Criticism

Francis once called together many friars and said to them, “I have asked the Lord that he would show me when I am his servant.  The most gracious Lord answered me, ‘I know that you are truly my servant when you think, speak and do holy things.’  Therefore I have called you, brothers, and have shown this to you that I may be put to shame before you when you see me lacking in any of these things.”

                        -Mirror of Perfection Section IV, Chapter 74

The true leader of God must invite and be open to critique.  A great church leader I have known would always, when he was criticized, no matter how petty or narrow minded the complaint, would always respond, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  I will pray about it and consider it."  And he would.  

I wish I had such humility. 

Humble Leadership

The faithful servant, Francis, felt himself to be most thoroughly transformed by the virtue of holy humility in Christ.  Above all other virtues, he desired humility in his brothers.  He wished that they would love, desire, acquire and preserve this grace.  He encouraged them incessantly with both word and example and especially he admonished and induced the ministers and preachers to exercise acts of humility.  He used to say that they should not, because of their work and focus on preaching that they would neglect holy and devout prayer or asking for alms and working at times with their hands and doing work like the other friars, for the sake of the good example and for benefit for their and other’s souls.  

He said, “Lesser friars are much encouraged when their ministers and preachers spend time in prayer and bend themselves willingly to everyday works, especially those less desired.  If did not do so, they could not admonish other friars concerning their work without confusion, prejudice and condemnation of themselves.  For it is by the example of Christ that we not do and then teach, but that we act and teach at the same time.”

                        -Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 73

There is a small group among Christians that say we should be leaderless.  To be a leader is to deny humility, they say.  However, when Jesus spoke of leadership, he didn't deny it's efficacy.  Rather, he said that a leader shouldn't act like a leader: self important, ambitious, knowing better than anyone else.  Instead, a leader should serve, do the tasks others find hard to do, to care for others' needs more than one's own.  

We will always have leaders because that is how humanity works-- we seek those we admire and imitate them. Leaders are essential.  But Christian leaders should be an antidote to worldly, Machiavellian leaders.  A Christian leader should act like the best of mothers, doing the most work, putting herself in the most difficult circumstances for her children, even if it means her children will be ungrateful and spiteful.  Our hope is that the child will look at the mother and want to be like her.

Francis and Christ Crucified

After his initial vision, Francis sought out secluded places, where one could mourn in peace, and he would groan and pray aloud.  Finally, his prayers were answered and he received an answer from the Lord.   At one point completely absorbed in the Lord, he saw a vision of Christ, crucified before him.  Francis’ soul melted within him, and this vision impressed him so strongly that anytime he had remembrance of Christ on the cross, he would have to restrain himself from weeping.    It was by this vision that Francis finally understood the meaning of Jesus’ words, “If you would come after me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.”

From this point on, Francis took on poverty, humility and goodness.   Up until this point, not only the proximity, but even the distant sight of lepers would disgust him.  But since he saw Christ, marred and despised as any leper, he finally overcame himself.  He would constantly seek to offer humble and gentle service to any leper when he saw them.  He would go to lepers’ homes, offer them alms and then kiss their hands and faces. 

When Francis saw the poor, he would never hesitate to give them something, sometimes his own necessity, stripping off his clothes, or tearing at them to give the poor at least a scrap, when he had nothing else to give.  If he saw a poor priest, he would treat them with the utmost respect and offer them not only goods, but something  for them to place on their altar, so he shared in their worship.

At one point, he visited St. Peters and he saw a group of beggars before the church.  He gladly stripped off his garments, gave them to the neediest beggar there.  Then he spent his day with the beggars, gladly partaking in the poverty of the gospel.

All this he did before he had donned any habit or formed his way of life. 

-From The Life of Francis by Bonaventure, Chapter 1, sections 5 and 6

Francis' Vision

Francis had no thought of his future, but was caught up in his father’s textile business and his father’s wealth.  The Lord desired to give Francis insight, so he afflicted Francis with a disabling illness.  Once Francis had recovered, he dressed in his fine clothes and went out.  After leaving, Francis met a soldier who was of noble birth, but had fallen on hard times, and was dressed poorly.  Francis immediately took off his outer garments and gave them to the man, showing his honor to a former soldier and his compassion for a poor man.

That night, Francis slept and dreamed of approaching a huge, opulent castle, filled with banners and shields that bore the cross of Christ.  When he asked the occupants whose they were, he was told that they were his and that all the soldiers were his to command.  

When he awoke in the morning, he knew that the dream had been given to him by God, so he thought how he might act to receive this wonderful prize.  So he walked to Apulia, where a wealthy count was battling.  He thought that to win glory in war was certainly a way to obtain great riches.

On his way to the city, he heard the voice of God speaking to him as if He were a friend, saying, “Francis, who can provide you the greater reward: the wealthy man or the poor man?” 

Francis immediately answered: “Well, the wealthy one, of course.”

The Lord then said, “Then why do you seek help from the servant instead of the Lord, from a poor mortal instead of the wealthy God?”

Francis stopped and said, “Well, then, what should I do?”

He was told, “Go back home. The vision you saw was from the Spirit, and you must seek such wealth from God and not from human counsel.”

Francis rested overnight and then hurried back to Assisi, rejoicing and awaiting God’s instructions.

-Paraphrased from Bonaventure's Life of Francis, 1.2 and 1.3 

Francis the Merchant

THERE was a man in the city of Assisi, by name Francis, whose memory is blessed, for that God, graciously preventing him with the blessings of goodness, delivered him in His mercy from the perils of this present life, and abundantly filled him with the gifts of heavenly grace. For, albeit in his youth he was reared in vanity amid the vain sons of men, and, after gaining some knowledge of letters, was appointed unto a profitable business of merchandise, nevertheless, by the aid of the divine protection, he went not astray among the wanton youths after the lusts of the flesh, albeit given up unto pleasures ; nor among the covetous merchants, albeit intent on his gains, did he put his trust in money and treasure. For there was divinely implanted in the heart of the young Francis a certain generous compassion toward the poor, the which, growing up with him from infancy, had so filled his heart with kindliness that, when he came to be no deaf hearer of the Gospel, he was minded to give unto all that asked of him, in especial if they pleaded the love of God.

But once on a time, when he had been busied with the cares of his trading, and, contrary unto his wont, had sent empty away a certain beggar who besought an alms for the love of God, he forthwith, returning unto his pitiful mind, ran after him, and bestowed alms in merciful wise upon him; promising unto the Lord God that thenceforward he would never, while he could, refuse any that asked of him, pleading the love of God. And this promise with unwearied goodness he did observe until his death, thereby winning abundant increase of the love and grace of God. For he was wont to say in after time, when he had perfectly put on Christ, that, even while he was in the secular state, he could scarce ever hear words telling of the love of God, and remain unmoved in heart. Assuredly the charm of his gentleness and his courtly bearing, his submissiveness and docility surpassing mens wont, his open-handed largesse even beyond his means, were all clear tokens of the fair disposition of the youth, and seemed to be a presage of the abundance of divine blessing that should thereafter be poured out more richly upon him.


-The Life of Francis by Bonaventure, Chapter 1.1

Francis' Weakness

A certain companion once said to Francis, “Father, forgive me if I say anything to you which you may have already considered.  You know how previously through the grace of God the whole Order flourished in the purity of perfection.  You know how all friars with great enthusiasm and encouragement lived out holy poverty in everything, in small and poor buildings and furniture in few and poor books and clothes.  In these areas and in all external actions they were of one mind and action and they were encouraging the observation of all things which pertain to our profession and vocation and example of all.  And thus they were of one mind in the love of God and to their neighbor, as men who were apostolic and evangelical in truth. 

            “But recently this purity and love begins to change.  There are many who excuse the friars on account of its popularity, saying that because of so many friars the Rule cannot be observed by them.  Many friars have, in fact, come to such blindness that they think that people will be more edified and turn to devotion by this way rather than the former, and it seems to them that they now live more decently because they despise and count as nothing the way of holy simplicity, humility and poverty, which was the beginning and foundation of our Order.  Now we observe these things and we believe that they are displeasing to you.  But we wonder that if they really do displease you, why do you allow them and not correct them?”

            Francis answered him, “May the Lord have mercy on you, brother since you will be in opposition to me and try to get be involved in things that do not pertain to my office.  For as long as I had the office of superior over the friars I satisfied them by example and preaching, even though I was often ill,  and they remained in their vocation and profession.  After I saw that the Lord multiplied the number of friars and I saw that they began to depart from the right and secure way by which they had been used to walk and entered the broad way which leads to death because of their lukewarmness and lack of spirit.  They were not following their vocation and profession and a good example.  And they did not abandon this dangerous path, despite my preaching and admonition and the example which I showed to them continually.  Therefore I handed over the rule of the Order to the Lord and the Ministers.  At the time, I excused myself from leadership in the Chapter-General for the reason of my illnesses and I gave up the office of superiority over the friars.  But if the friars desired to walk according to my will even now, for their consolation and usefulness, I would desire that they had no other minister except me to the day of my death. I would actually rejoice at the benefit and the welfare because of the gain they and I would have.  Even if I were lying in bed I would not be ashamed to assist them, because my office of superiority is spiritual only—just to keep under control faults and to correct them spiritually.  

"But since I am not able to correct them by preaching, admonition and example, I will not become an executioner by punishing and flogging them, like the magistrates of this world.  For I trust in the Lord that the invisible enemies, who are the police officers of the Lord for punishment in this world and in the next, will take vengeance on those who have transgressed the commands of God and the vow of their profession and will cause them to be corrected by the men of this world to their disgrace and shame.  In this way, they will return to their vocation and profession.  Yet until the day of my death I will not cease at once to teach the brothers by example and the good works which the Lord has shown me and I will walk by that way which I have taught and show them by word and example.  In this way they will not have an excuse before god and I will not be forced to give an account of them before God.”

                        -Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 71

It is good for leaders to recognize their weakness and their inabilities in leadership.  It is sad when only on leader will keep the organization following Jesus.  But some leaders are better at following Jesus than establishing an organization that will help all within it to follow Jesus.  We all have different giftings.

The Fallen Order

Francis used to say, “The time will come in which this Order, loved by God, will be so disrespected by the bad example of evil friars that it will be ashamed to go out in public.  But they who in that time will come to join the Order, will be led only by the working of the Holy Spirit, and flesh and blood will raise no stain on them, and they will be blessed by the Lord.  Unfortunately, good deeds will not be found in them, since charity which makes the saints work hard grows cold.  Great temptations will come upon them; and those in that time will have been found more worthy than their predecessors.  But woe to those who, in the form and appearance only of religious conversation, applauding themselves in their wisdom and confident in their learning, be found idle.  These idle are not acting in the works of virtue, in the way of repentance and in the pure observation of the Gospel, which, by their profession they are bound to observe pure and simply.  For these will not persistently resist the temptation which shall be permitted to happen for the proving of the elect.  But those who have been tried and approved will receive the crown of life, which, in the meantime, the malice of the reprobate will urge them on.

                        Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 70

Every organization shifts and focuses on a new purpose.  Every organization eventually gets caught up in a mix of dead tradition and moves ahead in purposes grown out of lowest human endeavors.   Most organizations cannot remain in the way of Jesus, no matter how godly or inspired the founders.  Organizations become redundant, self-consuming, a blight on society.  This is not a possibility, it is a prophecy, a certainty that must eventually unfold.  The only way to avoid this is to have the leaders constantly examine themselves and their work to determine if it is following the path Jesus established in the gospels. 

Warning Against Educated Pride

Francis grieved very much if anyone neglected virtue and instead sought after study which causes pride in oneself, especially if anyone did not persist in the vocation to which he was called from the beginning.  He was given to say, “My brothers who are led by the desire of learning shall find their hands empty in the day of tribulation.  I desire that they be strengthened in virtues, that when the time of tribulation will come they will have the Lord with them in their troubles.  For a time of tribulation is to come, when books will be of no use and will be hidden in closets and cupboards.”  He did not say this because the reading of Holy Scriptures displeased him, but only that he might withdraw some from too much care of learning.  For he wished them to be good by charity than by pieces of truth through the desire of knowledge.  He understood ahead of time the time that was to come in which he already knew ahead of time that prideful knowledge would be an opportunity to be ruined.  At one point, he appeared after his death to one of his brothers too intent on the study of preaching, and he reproved and prohibited him and ordered that he should study to walk the path of humility and simplicity.

                        -Section IV, Chapter 69

Study is profitable, but only if it helps us accomplish the desire of God.  To obtain more and more education for its own sake is a constant temptation for some of us.  It is an accomplishment, and it is often mistaken for wisdom.   Education is not an end in and of itself.  God save us from counting the books we read or from trying to impress others with our degrees.  Wisdom only comes through loving action.  Education can be a tool in accomplishing that, as a surgeon, to save lives, must spend years in hard study.   But the education isn’t the end—saving lives and souls is all that really counts.

"Of the making of books there is no end,

And much study wearies the flesh" -Ecclesiastes 12

Fighting Against The New

When Francis was in the Chapter-General at St. Mary of the Porziuncula (which was called the Chapter of the Mats, because there were no dwellings there except made of mats and there were five thousand friars there), several wise and learned friars went to my Lord of Ostia who was there and said to him, “My Lord, we wish that you would persuade Brother Francis to follow the counsel of the wise brothers and to allow himself now and then to be led by them.”  And they quoted the Rule of St. Augustine, of St. Benedict and of St. Bernard who taught thus and thus to live in order.  And when the Cardinal had repeated this to the holy man, by way of admonition, Francis didn’t answer him at all, but took him by the hand and led him to the friars assembled in the Chapter, and spoke thus to the friars in the fervor and power of the Holy Spirit, “My brothers, my brothers, the Lord called me to the way of simplicity and humility and this path he has shown in truth for me and for those who will believe and imitate me.  And therefore I wish that you do not quote to me any other rule—neither St. Augustine’s, St. Benedicts, Bernard’s nor any other way of living—except the way which was mercifully shown to me by the Lord.  And the Lord said to men that He wished me to be a new covenant in this world and He would lead me by another way than by this understanding.  God will confound you through your wisdom and knowledge and I trust in the police of the Lord that God will punish you by them and that you will return to the previous state, whether you wish to or not.”  Then the Cardinal was very amazed and said nothing and all the friars feared greatly.

                        -Mirror of Perfection Section IV, Chapter 68

Religion’s natural tendency is to be conservative, to stick with what worked in previous times.  The way of God is to push boundaries, to lead people to be more in line with His will.  Since we have not yet met the level of His mercy and grace, let alone His wise judgments in our church, then we still need to change, to reform ourselves.  Francis was accomplishing something new, something God-given.  Benedict was certainly accomplishing something new and powerful in his day.  But we must not use the successes of the past to undermine the potential successes of the future.  We must remember the wise counsel of Gamaliel to the Sanhedrin: “If it is not of God, it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, no one can fight against it, or you may find yourself fighting against God.”

Many will keep the old traditions warm.  But dare not fight against the new thing God is accomplishing. 

Lord Make Me An Instrument

This is the most beautiful rendition of the most beautiful prayer ever.

However, this prayer was not written by Francis of Assisi, but probably by a Franciscan monk of the 18th century.  Even so, it reflects the spirit of Francis, as well as the Spirit of Jesus. 

Recognizing God's Discipline

One time Francis went to Rome to visit my Lord of Ostia.  And when he had stayed some days with him, he visited also My Lord Leo the Cardinal, who was very devoted to the friars.  And because it was then winter and altogether unfit for going on foot because of the cold and the winds and the rain, he asked him to stay with him some days, and as a beggar to receive his food from him, with the other beggars who daily used to eat in his house.  The Cardinal said this because he knew that Francis would only be received as a beggar wherever he visited, although the Cardinals and the Pope would receive him with the greatest devotion and reverence and would honor him as a saint.  The Cardinal added, “I will give you a fair house separated from the main house where you may stay and pray and eat as you wish.”  Then Friar Angelo Tancredi, who was one of the twelve first friars, who also stayed with the Cardinal, said to Francis, “Brother, there is a near here a tower that has room and is separated where you may stay as if in a hermitage.”  And when Francis saw it, the room pleased him and he returned to the Cardinal and said to him, “Perhaps I will stay with you for a few days.”  And the Cardinal rejoiced greatly. 

            So Brother Angelo went and prepared the place in the tower for the blessed man and his fellow.  And because Francis would not come down from the tower as long as he should remain with the cardinal, nor did he wish anyone to disturb him, Brother Angelo promised and took orders to daily carry food to him and his fellow.  And when Francis had gone there with his brother, on the first night while sleeping demons came and beat him terribly.  He called his brother, “Brother, demons have beaten me terribly and so please remain with me for I am afraid to stay alone.”  That night his brother stayed with him, for Francis trembled as a man who suffers from a fever, and so both brothers remained alert the whole night.  During the night, Francis asked his brother, “Why have the demons beaten me, and why is the power to hurt me given to them by the Lord?”  And he said, “The demons are the police of the Lord.  For as the Podesta sends police to punish the sinner, so the Lord sends his police—meaning, the demons who in this world are his servants, who corrects and chastens those whom He loves.  For many times the perfect Religious sins ignorantly; but since he does not know he sins, he is attacked by demons, so he might look and consider, within himself and outside, those things in which he has offended.  For the Lord loves with a true love, and nothing in them does he leave unpunished.   But by the mercy and grace of God, I do not know that I have stumbled in anything which I have not made right by confession and penance.  Rather, by his mercy, God has granted me this gift that I may receive in prayer a clear knowledge of all things in which I may please or displease Him.  Perhaps he chastens me now by his police and though it is necessary to my body to receive this rest, yet many friars suffer tribulations and there are other friars who live in hermitages and poor little dwellings.  Perhaps when they shall hear that I live with my Lord Cardinal, they may be tempted to murmur, saying, ‘We bear so many adverse things and he has his consolations.’   I am required to always give them a good example, and it was for this reason I was given to them.  For the brothers are more edified when I abide in their own poor little dwellings amongst them, than in others; and they bear their tribulations more patiently when they hear that I also bear the same.” 

So it was the highest concern of Francis the he might give all good example and that he might take away any occasion of murmuring concerning him from other friars.  And on account of this, whether for good or ill, he suffered so much that the friars who knew him as we who were with him to the day of his death did, as often as they read those things or called them to memory, cannot stop their tears from coming and they sustain all their tribulations and necessities with greater patience and joy.  

So Francis came down early from the tower and went to the Cardinal, telling him all the things which had happened to him and what he had borne with his brother.  He said to him, “Men think me to be a holy man, but demons have cast me out of a religious cell!”  And the Cardinal was happy with him.  Yet because he knew and honored him as a saint, he would not contradict him after he was unwilling to stay there.  And so Francis, after bidding the Cardinal farewell, returned to the hermitage of Fonte Palumbo, near Rieti.

                        Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, Chapter 67

Francis could rightly be called a madman.  He was crazy for God, but there is a time for everyone to listen to their personal insanity.  Clearly, that place was not for Francis, but he had no requirement to remain there, so he moved on.  In fact, Francis was really uncomfortable with comfort.  

The spiritual principle here, however, is that God will communicate to us in various ways what He wants, sometimes subtlety and sometimes with power.  Whatever the case, we need to listen to God's discipline, and not just dismiss it.  We are God's children and God doesn't discipline us because He hates us but because He greatly desires for us to be as functional as possible. 

Ministering to Thieves

Above the Borgo San Sepolcro some friars lived in a hermitage, and to them, from time to time, came certain thieves, who used to lie in the woods and steal from those who passed by.  Some of the friars used to say that it was not good to give hem assistance, but others gave out of compassion, so that they might admonish them to repentance.  At one time Francis came to that place and the friars asked it it was right to give charity to the thieves.

 Francis said to them, “If you will do as I tell you, I trust in the lord that you will gain their souls.  Go, get some good bread and good wine and carry these to the wood in which they live and shout out to them, ‘Brother thieves, come to us, because we are friars and we will bring you good bread and good wine.’  They will come and you should spread a cloth on the earth and place on it the bread and wine and serve them humbly and joyfully until they have eaten.  But after the meal you will speak to them of the Word of the Lord, and finally you shall ask of them for the love of God that they will promise you this first petition, that they will not strike nor do evil to any one, in his body.   For if you ask all things as once, they will not hear you, but on account of your humility and charity they will immediately promise you this.  Then on another day on account of their good promise, you will carry to them with the bread and wine some eggs and cheese.  And you will serve them until they have eaten and after the meal you will say to them, ‘Why do you stay here all day to die of hunger and to bear so much adversity, and do many evil things for which you will lose your souls, unless you be converted to the Lord? It is better that you should serve the Lord, who will give you the necessities of the body in this life and in the end will save your souls.’  Then the Lord shall inspire them.  For the sake of the humility and charity you have shown them, they will be converted.” 

            And so the friars did all these things as the holy Father instructed them; and those robbers, through the grace and mercy of God, heard and kept letter by letter and point by point all things which the friars humbly asked of them.  Rather, on account of the humility and kindness of the friars toward them, they began to humbly serve the friars themselves, carrying on their shoulders their wood up to the hermitage.  And some of them at last entered religion.  But the others, confessing their faults, did penance for their sins, promising in the hands of the friars for the future that they would live by the labor of their hands, and never gain do such deeds.

                        -Mirror of Perfection Section IV, Chapter 66

In the twelfth century, thieves were actually brigands, and were quite dangerous.  They would attack people on the roads and attempt to obtain whatever wealth they could, often with complete disregard to lives.  This ministry Francis sent his brothers on was dangerous, even deadly.  But given the right approach, the most evil people can be delivered from their evil lives and brought to life.

The greatest ministry is accompanied with the greatest danger.  And there is no ministry without risk.