Letter to a Minister

With Franciscan Clarean Commentary

Opening

To Brother N., minister: May the Lord bless you.

Clarean Commentary:
Simple, direct, affectionate. Francis begins with blessing, not criticism. For Clareans today, this models how we should begin every hard conversation — with love first.

On Mercy and Patience

I speak to you as best I can concerning the state of your soul. You must regard as grace all those things which are an obstacle to you, and which make you impatient, or troubled. And you ought to love those who cause such things to you, and not wish anything different from them, except in so far as the Lord may wish to give it to you. And let this be to you more than a hermitage.

Clarean Commentary:
Francis flips suffering upside down: obstacles are grace, and difficult people are teachers. To love even those who frustrate us — that is true penance. For Clareans today, this is a powerful lesson in trauma-informed patience: hardship can become holy ground if we let mercy shape our response. The “hermitage” is not always a cave — sometimes it’s the difficult people God puts in our path.

On Forgiveness

And you must love those who do these things to you, and you must not demand from them that they be better Christians. That is not what you should want. But rather, love them even when they do not act as Christians should, and that is how you will draw them back to the Lord.

Clarean Commentary:
Here Francis gives one of his most radical instructions: don’t demand others behave as Christians before you love them. Love them into Christ. For Clareans today, this rebukes judgmentalism. We are called to love first, not set conditions. Our mercy can be the doorway through which others return to God.

On Endurance and Joy

And always in this, love them and do not wish that they be better Christians. And let this be more to you than living in a hermitage. And by this I wish to know whether you love the Lord and me, His servant and yours: that there be no brother in the world who has sinned as much as possible, who after he has seen your eyes, ever goes away without your mercy, if he seeks it. And if he does not seek mercy, ask him if he wants it. And if he sins a thousand times before your eyes, love him more than me, that you may draw him back to the Lord. And always be merciful to brothers such as these.

Clarean Commentary:
This is pure Gospel fire. Francis says: let no one walk away from you without mercy. Even if they sin a thousand times — still, love them more than you love me. For Clareans today, this is our chaplaincy rule. The street, the shelter, the jail, the hospital — no matter where we meet people, they must never leave our presence without having tasted mercy. That is how we become Christ’s hands.

Closing Blessing

And always announce this mercy to the brothers when you are able, that they may be strengthened by it.

Clarean Commentary:
Francis ends with mission: spread mercy. Don’t hoard it, don’t ration it — announce it, give it, let it become the air your community breathes. For Clareans today, this is the heart of our identity: a people of mercy, fierce and unending.