The Sources are rich in attestations of Francis' purity of heart, of his concrete living in simplicity of heart, of his being a person free from prejudice and all conformity, knowing that what contaminates or does not contaminate is what comes from within.
Indeed, we read in the Vita Prima of his biographer (Celano):
"How beautiful, stupendous and glorious he was in his innocence, in the simplicity of his word, in the purity of his heart, in his love of God, in fraternal charity, in the readiness of obedience, in courtesy" (FF 464).
And again:
"Although she had already attained a marvellous purity of heart and body, she did not cease to purify the eyes of her spirit with a profusion of tears, regardless of the harm done to the eyes of her body.
In fact, as a result of his continuous weeping, he had contracted a very serious eye disease...
But the saint replied: "O brother physician, we must not, for the sake of the sight we have in common with flies, turn away from us, even in a small measure, the eternal light, which comes to visit us. The gift of sight was not received by the spirit for the sake of the body, but was received by the body for the sake of the spirit'" (FF 1096).
And Clare echoes him, in her Rule, where addressed to her daughters she says:
"Let them attend to what they must desire above all: to have the Spirit of the Lord and his holy operation, to pray to him always with a pure heart" (FF 2811).
And truly "purity of heart" filled that first group to such a degree.
group of disciples of blessed Francis, who, while knowing how to do things
useful, holy and upright things, showed themselves to be totally incapable of drawing from it vain
complacency.
Then the blessed Francis, clasping his sons to himself with great love,
began to manifest to them his plan and what the Lord had revealed to him" (FF 370).
had revealed to him" (FF 370).
Magnificence of the little ones!