[{{{type}}}] {{{reason}}}
{{/data.error.root_cause}}{{texts.summary}} {{#options.result.rssIcon}} RSS {{/options.result.rssIcon}}
{{/texts.summary}} {{#data.hits.hits}}
{{{_source.title}}} {{#_source.showPrice}} {{{_source.displayPrice}}} {{/_source.showPrice}}
{{#_source.showLink}} {{/_source.showLink}} {{#_source.showDate}}{{{_source.displayDate}}}
{{/_source.showDate}}{{{_source.description}}}
{{#_source.additionalInfo}}{{#_source.additionalFields}} {{#title}} {{{label}}}: {{{title}}} {{/title}} {{/_source.additionalFields}}
{{/_source.additionalInfo}}
THOSE WHO GIVE GOOD OR BAD EXAMPLE
Chapter CXV
THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE BROTHERS
AND A CUSTOM OF THE EARLY BROTHERS
155 He used to affirm that the Lesser Brothers had been sent from the Lord in these last times to show forth examples of light to those wrapped in the darkness Prv 7:9 of sins.a He would say that he was filled with the sweetest fragrance and anointed with strength from precious ointment Mt 26:7 whenever he heard of the great deeds Acts 2:11 of holy brothers in faraway lands.
It happened that a brother named Barbaro once threw out an insulting word at another brother in the presence of a nobleman of the island of Cyprus.b But, when he saw that his brother was rather hurt by the impact of that word, he took some donkey manure, and, burning with rage against himself, put it into his mouth to chew, saying: "Let the tongue which spat the poison of anger upon my brother now chew manure!" The knight was thunderstruck at seeing this, and went away greatly edified; from that time on, he freely put himself and all he had at the disposal of the brothers.
All the brothers observed this custom without fail: if any of them spoke an upsetting word to another, he would immediately fall to the ground and embrace the feet of the one he had offended, even if unwilling, with holy kisses.
The saint rejoiced over such behavior, when he heard the examples of holiness which his sons themselves produced, and he would heap blessings worthy of full acceptance 1 Tm 1:15 on those brothers, who, by word or deed, led sinners to the love of Christ. Zeal for souls, which filled him completely, made him want his sons to resemble him as a true likeness.
- This passage echoes that of Gregory the Great: "cum per bona opera proximis lucis exempla monstramus [since we show by good deeds done for our neighbors examples of light]" which was used in Third Nocturn of the Common of Confessors. Cf. Gregory the Great, Homilia in Evangelium XIII 1 (PL 76: 1124).
- At that time Cyprus was under the Latin dynasty of the Lusignans, who had been kings of Jerusalem, and still claimed that title. Others propose the reading "island of Scipio," or Limisiano (Limigiano), near Assisi.