Based on this translation of “Perfect Joy” found in Ch. 8 of The Little Flowers of St. Francis

***

One greysome winter, Francis with his fellow friar, Leo 
Through flurries, in their cowls, swiftly hurried to Saint Mary’s
The moaning wind so cold, not face nor finger could they feel
Above the fray yelled Francis, “Brother, heed!”

Then told him, “Even if each friar glowed with holy brightness
While preaching or beseeching for some bread at village homes
Write down that this would not be perfect joy, or true delight!”
So Brother Leo scratched this in his tome

Without restraint, the tonsured Saint kept on, as swept the rain
“O Brother, if each friar could restore the lame and torn
Make straight the crooked, cast out demons, wash the sinner’s shame
Relieve all pain, and hearten souls forlorn

“As for the mute, return their pow’r to speak and laugh and shout
But even if a greater deed than these could they engage
To raise the dead, would still not reach that perfect joy, no doubt!”
This Brother Leo noted on his page

While mushing through the snow, his fervor flowed all in a rush
“O Leo, if our brothers could all languages speak well
And wield the Word of God, the devil’s strongholds strike and crush 
See into souls, or future things foretell

If all the Friars Minor could with tongues of angels sing
And had recourse to knowledge of the courses of each star
Knew all the virtues of each shrub; each beast of fang or wing
Yet such would not be perfect joy, by far!”

While striding, yet abiding in their Lord, up hills of ice
Il Poverello said, “If all our friends so preached the Word
With power to convert the infidel to love of Christ
‘twould not be perfect joy! Think this absurd?”

The weary Leo marveled, til his query could not wait
“Good Francis, teach me please, wherein is perfect joy discovered?”
And he replied, “If when we reach Saint Mary’s convent-gate
Exhausted; fully famished and snow-covered

“The porter at the gate, suspicious, first interro-gates us
With questions of our quest; and having told him, ‘We’re two friars’
He sputters hotly, ‘What ye say is false!’ and truly hates us
Accusing, ‘You’re impostors, filthy liars!’

“‘You steal the meager alms of poor ones; now begone, I say!’
And opens not the gate! We suffer cold and starve till night
If we were to receive such hate with meekness, not dismay
Not ruffled or complaining of our plight

“But trusting that the porter, though quite angry, truly knows us
And that it is our God who makes him spout and do such things
If, when we rap again, again but wrath that doorman shows us
And flings at us a wicked oath that stings

“Then shrieks, ‘Begone, begone, you wretched thieves, now take your flight
For here you shall not enter, no! nor eat, nor drink, nor rest!’
Were we to take with courage every slight without requite
O Leo, that… ‘ He paused as passions deep welled up within him

‘That all would make for perfect joy and blest!”

“Yet further, if we knock once more, and let our sorrow show
Imploring him with tears to aid us for the love of God
Instead, he rushes, red-faced and then rolls us in the snow
And knocks us with a knotted wooden rod

“If we would bear such pain with grace, remaining in God’s peace
While thinking on the suff’rings of the Christ, our King and Lord
This cross we’d share with love for Him, which thereby would increase
O Brother, ‘twould be perfect joy’s reward!” (1)

“Yes, note with care, O Leo, in your book, this tale’s conclusion
The greatest gift that Jesus gives His friends in their affairs, is the
The grace of overcoming self! It’s misery’s solution
Embracing all for Christ, Who with us shares…

“…all thorns and undeserv-éd scorn; all insults, light or grave
For in His many other gifts we truly cannot glory
Such gifts come not from us, but from our God, our souls to save
So says Saint Paul, whose wisdom crowns this story

“Paul asks, ‘What have you that you have not gotten from the Lord?
And if received, why do you glory as if you had not?‘ (2)
Yes, in the cross of tribulation only may we glory
And ‘boast but in the cross of Jesus Christ’“

So… We’ll bear our crosses, friend, and onward go!” (3)

*****

(1) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… -Col. 1:24 (RSVCE)

(2) 1 Corinthians 4:7

(3) Galatians 6:14

St. Francis and Brother Leo, pray for us!

Collect prayer for his feast day, Oct. 4:

O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen.