When one considers the writings of Francis of Assisi (not writings about Francis), the topic about which he most often writes, mentions, or points to is obedience. Too often this word in heard as “do what you are told” and there is an element of that in Francis’ writings. But there is always more. Francis sees the life of minority (humility) as the willingness to offer oneself completely as a way of conforming oneself to Christ. One might find it odd that this admonition begins with a reference to Luke 14:33 about giving up one’s possessions – shouldn’t that be about poverty rather than obedience? Part of the possessions that one renounces was addressed in Admonition 2 – the self will.
Admonition 3: Perfect Obedience
1 The Lord says in the Gospel: Whoever does not renounce all that he possesses cannot be my disciple; 2 and: Whoever wishes to save his life must lose it.
3 That person who offers himself totally to obedience in the hands of his prelate leaves all that possesses and loses his body. 4 And whatever he does and says which he knows is not contrary to his will is true obedience, provided that what he does is good.
5 And should a subject see that some things might be better and more useful for his soul than what a prelate commands, let him willingly offer such things to God as a sacrifice and, instead let him earnestly strive to fulfill the prelate’s wishes. 6 For this is loving obedience because it pleases God and neighbor.
7 If the prelate, however, commands something contrary to his conscience, even though he may not obey him, let him not, however, abandon him. 8 And if he then suffers persecution from others, let him love them all the more for the sake of God. 9 For whoever chooses to suffer persecution rather than wish to be separated from his brothers truly remains in perfect obedience because he lays down his life for his bothers. 10 In fact, there are many religious who, under the pretext of seeing things better than those which the prelate commands. Look back, and return to the vomit of their own will. 11 These people are murderers and, because of their bad example, cause many to lose their souls.
It is later in the autumn of 1206 that with his decision to “leave the world” Francis began to be aware of the powerful Divine Presence in his life through, his work among the lepers near Assisi, and his habit of taking refuge in churches for prayer and rebuilding the structures. At San Damiano he encountered the consoling presence of the Savior who had suffered and died for him. It was a presence he soon came to recognize in other church: “And the Lord granted me such faith in churches that I would pray simply and say: We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, in all you churches throughout the world, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.” (Testament 4-7). Francis was at the beginnings of an inner peace. Continue reading 
There are three events that seem to highlight the “period of crisis” in Francis life during the period from late 1205 until the summer of 1206:
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