Toward the end of his life, Francis had an eye infection cauterized with a white-hot iron. Before the iron was applied, Francis asked the fire to be gentle with him. Courtesy is also a two-way street. Francis extended courtesy to Brother Fire but asked that the same courtesy be shown toward him. Such a profound sense of relatedness may surprise us, but it makes sense when we recall how intimately Francis shared the energy of the Source of all life.

Wayne Simsic, Living the Wisdom of St. Francis