The Admonitions VII – LET GOOD ACTION FOLLOW KNOWLEDGE

ADMONITIONS VII–LET GOOD ACTION FOLLOW KNOWLEDGE
St. Francis of Assisi

The apostle says: The letter kills, but the spirit gives life. (2 Cor 3)

Those people are put to death by the letter who only wish to know the words alone, that they might be esteemed wiser than others and be able to acquire great riches to give to their relatives and friends.

And those religious are put to death by the letter who are not willing to follow the spirit of the divine letter but, instead, wish only to know the words and to interpret them for others.

And those people are brought to life by the spirit of the divine letter who do not attribute every letter they know, or wish to know, to the body but, by word and example, return them to the most high Lord God to Whom every good belongs.

Source: St. Francis of Assisi, The Saint, Early Documents