St. Francis: "When necessary, use words..."

[Spotty]

Hey everyone,

Can anyone tell me where this quote was used? A sermon? A prayer by Francis? My roomate misquoted this to say "and if necessary, use words," and proceeded to call it a half-truth and further his dislike of Catholicism. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

-Spotty

 

[AMDG]

Have seen both "if" and "when" used. "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words." and "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." We AREN'T supposed to be *examples* for (or to) others? Silly me, here I thought that being an example (and living my faith in Jesus) was as important as merely talking a good talk (and not necessarily living it). Live and learn.

 

[Aymn27]

I've seen it both ways also - and I tried to find it so I could cite it in a paper, but was never able to do so. I'm interested to see if someone knows where it is exactly!!

 

[Debi1967]

One last story about St. Francis….



One day Francis said to one of the young monks, “Let us go down into

the town and preach!” The novice, delighted at being singled out to be

a companion of Francis, obeyed with great enthusiasm. They passed

through the main streets, turned down many of the



byways and alleys, made their way into the suburbs, and at great

length, returned by a circuitous route to the monastery gate. As they

approached the gate, the younger monk reminded Francis of his original

intention.



“You have forgotten, Father, that we went to the town to preach!”



“My son,” Francis replied, “we have preached. We were preaching while

we were walking. We have been seen by many; our behavior has been

closely watched; it was thus that we have preached our morning sermon.

It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere

as we walk.”



Francis’ words to us are, “Preach the Gospel always and if necessary

use words.” How many sermons have you preached without even knowing

it? We are called, as Christians, to bring the love and peace of

Christ into the world not only with our lips but also in our lives.

Let us resolve to live the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.



Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;



Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in forgiving that we are forgiven;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.



Pray it; preach it; live it!

 

[Debi1967]

Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.​

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. ​

​

​

 

[Spotty]

So did Francis even say this, or was this an extrapolation from his sermons and prayers and deeds?

And thanks for the responses.

-Spotty

 

[Debi1967]

So did Francis even say this, or was this an extrapolation from his sermons and prayers and deeds?

And thanks for the responses.

-Spotty

It seems that it is an extrapolation of his sermon that I posted...

This it was used to sum up what was being said. Only problem is that I cannot find who made the extrapolation to begin with....

 

[marciadietrich]

Last week the Baptist church just North of my parish had this as their message to read as you drive by. They are pretty cool though as they have allowed our overflow parking in their lot for special events that our parking lot doesn't accomodate.

 

[Ave Maria]

I have always loved that quote. What use is it to preach the Gospel if you can't live the Gospel?

 

[Spotty]

After another half-hour or so of internet searching, I finally came across something useful regarding the quote. It turns out, that a good deal of Franciscan scholars did an informal study on this little mystery and were unable to find anything of the sort until 200 years after St. Francis' death. Since it's a sort of quasi-parable regarding his ministry, people have translated it both if and when, (but usually "when") which makes sense given the context of the Order.

Ahh...now I can relax.

-Spotty

 

[RedTulipMom]

If or when..does it make a difference?? doesnt it mean the same thing either way???
karen

 

[D'Ann]

One last story about St. Francis….



One day Francis said to one of the young monks, “Let us go down into

the town and preach!” The novice, delighted at being singled out to be

a companion of Francis, obeyed with great enthusiasm. They passed

through the main streets, turned down many of the



byways and alleys, made their way into the suburbs, and at great

length, returned by a circuitous route to the monastery gate. As they

approached the gate, the younger monk reminded Francis of his original

intention.



“You have forgotten, Father, that we went to the town to preach!”



“My son,” Francis replied, “we have preached. We were preaching while

we were walking. We have been seen by many; our behavior has been

closely watched; it was thus that we have preached our morning sermon.

It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere

as we walk.”



Francis’ words to us are, “Preach the Gospel always and if necessary

use words.” How many sermons have you preached without even knowing

it? We are called, as Christians, to bring the love and peace of

Christ into the world not only with our lips but also in our lives.

Let us resolve to live the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.



Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;



Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in forgiving that we are forgiven;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.



Pray it; preach it; live it!

This is soooooooooooooo beautiful. I had to repeat it. Thank you for posting this.

God's Peace,

D'Ann

 

[Debi1967]

If or when..does it make a difference?? doesnt it mean the same thing either way???
karen

KarenMarie,
I want you to see something.... That in word usage which to Catholics since we use a lot of older venacular and definitions of the words being asserted, then it would make a difference as to what usage is being assigned at anytime when it was originally said or written, because then even the slightest of word definition could change the true meaning of it drastically different to that of the reader....

These are Archaic Hebrew and Greek assignments to the applications of definitions of the words "if" and "when". You will also see that even withing language variations that it also makes a difference....

If
hebrew
'ô 'av
o, av
The first form is presumed to be the “constructive” or genitival form of the second form which is short for H185; desire (and so probably in Pro_31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if: - also, and, either, if, at the least, X nor, or, otherwise, then, whether.

hebrew
'ûlay 'ûlay
oo-lah'ee, oo-lah'ee
From H176; if not; hence perhaps: - if so be, may be, peradventure, unless.
'âzan
aw-zan'
A primitive root (rather identical with H238 through the idea of scales as if two ears); to weigh, that is, (figuratively) ponder: - give good heed.

Greek
paiō
pah'-yo
A primary verb; to hit (as if by a single blow and less violently than G5180); specifically to sting (as a scorpion): - smite, strike.

Greek
paralutikos
par-al-oo-tee-kos'
From a derivative of G3886; as if dissolved, that is, “paralytic”: - that had (sick of) the palsy.

When

Hebrew
'achar
akh-ar'
From H309; properly the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjugation, after (in various senses): - after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence [-forth], when, with.

Hebrew
day
dahee
Of uncertain derivation; enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases: - able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient (-ly), too much, very, when.

Greek
eimi
i-mee'
First person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):

Greek
epei
ep-i'
From G1909 and G1487; there upon, that is, since (of time or cause): - because, else, for that (then, -asmuch as), otherwise, seeing that, since, when.

I had a hard time with this as well, then later I became interested in the study of the Ancient languages, part of it so that I may better understand what we really believed and how we came to those beliefs.... It is an interesting study....

 

[D'Ann]

Thanks Debi, I didn't know any of this...

God's Peace,

D'Ann