St. Francis was not a bird feeder

The Poor Man of Assisi embraced the Cross and climbed the holy mountain of God. He bore the marks of the crucifixion and if his experience was like that of his spiritual son, St. Pio, he must have suffered every day of his life.  He was not skipping around Italy singing with a bluebird on his shoulder  and kissing St. Bernards. The sentimental presentations of him are cheap and don't come anywhere near the truth of the mighty saint.












*A curious man once asked Padre Pio if his stigmata hurt. The saint replied, "Do you think the Lord gave them to me for a decoration?"