Love of Enemies

Source: Google Books

St. Francis:

Listen, my brothers, to the message that God sends you from heaven through his poor little servant. Love all people, those who are favorable to you and those from whom you have to suffer discomforts; for some are clearly your friends, and the others are in no way your enemies.

Those who love you serve you; they give you food and clothing, these do good to your body. Those who persecute you, become angry with you, and overwhelm you with insults bring goods of more than one kind to your spirit.

All are therefore your friends, and no one should be called an enemy, because all do you good, and no one in reality does you harm. You have no other enemy than yourselves. If, then, you wish to hate your enemies, begin with your body and your sensual appetites. If you wish to take revenge on your enemy, scourge your body and subject it to your spirit as a slave. May God, who created you, and Jesus Christ, who redeemed you, be with you and protect you from all misfortune.