The Catholic Message Board

... if you knew you might die tomorrow?

I believe this comes from one of St Francis Assisi's letters to the faithful.

Myself, apart from finding a confession time near me if possible, it would be all about leaving words for my children/grandchildren and husband I think. Also I would get about doing everything I would normally do but as if Jesus was to visit my house tomorrow.

Since he had no children or grandchildren, it can't come from St. Francis. He didn't have a house either.

When St. Therese of Lisieux was told that she had a terminal illness, her heart soared because she heard her bridegroom at the door. With no spouse, and no children, I'd like to think that I would have the same response.

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:17 am Since he had no children or grandchildren, it can't come from St. Francis. He didn't have a house either.

Or husband. He had no husband... but I'm sure you know that I meant the question itself was what St Francis was proposing for the faithful to consider.

anawim wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 1:16 pm When St. Therese of Lisieux was told that she had a terminal illness, her heart soared because she heard her bridegroom at the door. With no spouse, and no children, I'd like to think that I would have the same response.

We need a 'like' button for posts. Is that a possibility?

I can't find this alleged quotation anywhere attributed to anyone, much less to St. Francis. Do you have a source? (You've triggered my OCD on things like this.)

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:13 pm I can't find this alleged quotation anywhere attributed to anyone, much less to St. Francis. Do you have a source? (You've triggered my OCD on things like this.)

I can't help thinking she forgot to include the actual quote, and the paragraph reflects her own thoughts. And that's exactly what I have in mind to do were I to find out I would be departing this life tomorrow.

You may well be right, because there is a story attributed to St. Francis along these lines: He was weeding a garden when one of the brothers came to him and asked what he would do if he knew that Jesus was returning that night. St. Francis said, "Finish weeding the garden."

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:32 am You may well be right, because there is a story attributed to St. Francis along these lines: He was weeding a garden when one of the brothers came to him and asked what he would do if he knew that Jesus was returning that night. St. Francis said, "Finish weeding the garden."

I heard one about Thomas Aquinas playing poker with other Dominicans when the question of what they would do if Christ returned in the next hour, they all gave a bunch of pious-sounding answers about kneeling and praying the Rosary or whatnot, and St Thomas replies "Boys, I was hoping you would just stay here and finish the game."

Not something that actually happened, for one thing, I don't think poker or even playing cards existed in the 13th century, but it is an interesting anecdote nonetheless.

I’d not heard that before.

It was probably invented by a Dominican who was jealous of that St Francis anecdote and wanted to one-up it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:13 pm I can't find this alleged quotation anywhere attributed to anyone, much less to St. Francis. Do you have a source? (You've triggered my OCD on things like this.)

The question was posed on Twitter citing its source as St Francis' Letters to the Faithful. I've done a quick scan of those letters (there are a lot of them) but haven't come across it yet.

Stella wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:37 pmTwitter

I found the problem.

Yes, I should have known better!