I think David is right about 'when necessary', I think the 'when necessary' is the sort of thing that makes a statement have a certain startling poetry, but doesn't really add to clarity. Clarity however doesn't seem to have been St Francis' strong point, while poetry does. Words are indeed necessary to give meaning to actions.

I appreciate Mr. Foord's point that the gospel is not our actions; but I took the intent of the statement to be more that our changed actions preach God's power and grace to change; that our love to sinners preaches God's unmerited love? -- that it is not our own actions we are preaching as the gospel, but God's grace that is not merely theoretical but effectual, and has made such things as selflessness and rectitude in people possible in spite of their own and the world's corruption?

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Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

After two days, he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.