Let all humanity tremble,
let all the earth shake
and heaven rejoice,
when Christ, the living Son of God,
is present on the altar in the hands of the priest.
Oh, the astonishing height and remarkable elevation!
Oh, noble humility! Oh, humble exaltation,
when the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God,
humbled himself to the extent that for our salvation he hid
in the form of small bread!
Behold, brothers, the humility of God
and pour out your hearts before him;
bow down humbly, and he will exalt you.
Do not keep anything for yourselves,
so that he may accept you whole when he offers himself completely to you.
(Francis of Assisi /1182–1226/,
excerpt from a letter to the General Chapter)
