The Admontitions of St. Francis

St. Francis of Assisi imitated the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert in using admonitions to prod him and his brothers to follow the Lord Jesus. In the twenty-eight admonitions that make up his book of Admonitions Francis deals with God’s revelation, the Eucharist, the gift and bane of speech, envy, humility, anger, patience, love of enemies, care of the sick, and true glorying.

In his Admonitions Francis reveals that he is heir to many ecclesiastical traditions, and this book presents many examples of his indebtedness. Francis, however, does not parrot these traditions, but creatively adapts them. Admonition after admonition that issues from Francis’ meditations upon following Jesus bears the mantra: "God is good, and what are we disciples going to do about it?"

Francis probably first addressed his admonitions to the friars when they gathered in chapter. Later on a redactor compiled twenty-eight of these admonitions together and generalized them, so that they might apply to all followers of the Lord Jesus.