The Letters of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi was not a systematic theologian, nor did he leave behind shelves of books. What he left instead were a handful of letters — brief, urgent, pastoral notes sent to clergy, rulers, brothers, and all the faithful. They are not polished essays but living words: exhortations, prayers, warnings, and blessings, written from a heart burning with love for Christ and for creation.
In these letters, Francis’s voice is clear and unfiltered. He writes with the directness of a street preacher and the tenderness of a shepherd:
To the faithful, he urges conversion and joy, calling them to become spouses, brothers, and mothers of Christ.
To the clergy, he pleads for reverence for the Eucharist and holiness in their calling.
To rulers, he exhorts them to govern with humility and justice.
To ministers and brothers, he offers both correction and comfort, reminding them that leadership is service, and mercy always triumphs over harshness.
To his beloved Brother Leo, he writes a simple, handwritten blessing — perhaps the most intimate glimpse we have of Francis’s soul.
For us as Franciscan Clareans, these letters are more than historical artifacts. They are living correspondence, still addressed to us across the centuries. In them we hear Francis’s prophetic urgency, his mystical tenderness, and his radical simplicity. They remind us that the Gospel is not an idea to be debated but a life to be lived — in poverty, peace, joy, and mercy.
In the commentary you’ll find here, we approach these letters not as museum pieces but as conversation partners. They speak into our time of ecological crisis, economic injustice, religious division, and human suffering. And we respond with the same boldness Francis had: by seeking to embody the Gospel in deed as well as word, in joy as well as penance, in kinship as well as poverty.
The letters of Francis are short, but they cut deep. Read them slowly. Let them pierce. Let them bless. Let them send you, as they once sent a ragtag band of brothers, into the world with nothing but peace, poverty, and Christ.
Letter to the Rulers of the Peoples
Sister Abigail Hester 
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