As if it were Gods voice

Francis had always been attracted to the mystery of God. For hours, he would withdraw, pray, and meditate. Nothing and no one should  ever disturb him in this.

But he had decided for a life in the world, he wanted to be poor with the poor, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to embrace lepers. But when he saw the serene faces of Clare and of the other Sisters who lived secluded from the world in San Damiano, a big question arose in him: Should he not also withdraw from all the turmoil of the world? Would it not be better to live in the Carceri above or in any other lonely place? To avoid people and their quarrels? To know only God and to worship Him undisturbed and unhindered by  the world?

How should he find an answer?  Francis knew that he could not give himself an answer. He needed the advice and prayer of others.  So he turned to Clare, his beloved Sister, and to Brother Sylvester.  And both told him the same thing: Francis, God did not call you only for your own sake; you must get your feet dirty.  You should not completely retreat from the world, the people need you. Do what God did, who walked the earthly ways of human beings so that people may be able to meet him and experience his presence among them. The identical answers of those two beloved persons were to him, as if it was the voice of God Himself.  And so Francis got involved in the destiny of the world, wholly turning to God who had identified Himself with the needs of the people.

Fior 16 and LM 12,1f