,,the ,,life ,,and ,,legends ,,of ,,saint ,,francis ,,of ,,assisi ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,french ,,of ,,father ,,candide ,,chalippe1 ,o4,f4,m4 ,,revised ,,and ,,re-,,edited ,,by ,,father ,,hilarion ,,duerk1 ,o4,f4,m4 ,imprimatur ,,father ,,samuel ,,macke ,o4,f4,m4 ,min4 ,prov4 ,st4 ,louis ,september #a1 #aiag ,nihil obstat ,,arthur ,j4 ,,scanlan1 ,s4,t4,d4 ,censur ,librarum ,imprimatur ,,john ,,cardinal ,,farley ,new ,york ,this ,jubilee ,edition of the ,life and ,legends of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi is ,respectfully ,dedicated to all ,members of the ,third ,order in the ,city of ,cleveland and ,vicinity1 above all1 to the ,nobel ,patrons and ,zealous ,workers of ,our ,tertiary ,branches4 ,,introductory ,,note ,the ,life and ,legends of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi by ,father ,candide ,chalippe1 ,o4,f4,m41 need no apology4 ,the work was first published at ,paris in #agbg4 ,it is not only well written and reliable withal1 but also instructive1 elevating and inspiring4 ,the facts and legends mentioned are drawn from the oldest and most reliable sources4 ,the abundance of incidents and anecdotes not to be found elsewhere make the volume eminently interesting1 while the reflexions and applications which the author now and then interweaves with the narrative are so replete with practical hints on spiritual life1 that they will undoubtedly produce the best spiritual results in the reader4 ,the style though simple1 at times graphic1 is very pleasing2 the narrative flows on with equal ease and freedom4 ,in #aheb a priest from the ,oratory of ,st4 ,philip ,neri made a translation into ,english from what was then the latest ,french edition4 ,this ,french edition came from the press in #ahej4 ,with the ,english translation the original work appeared in an abridged form4 ,the original work is divided into six books1 the ,english translation contains but half of these1 so rearranged for the sake of clearness that they form five books4 ,most elucidations of the original work regarding characteristics of ,st4 ,francis1 events and dates that are doubtful1 are omitted1 likewise most of the writings of ,st4 ,francis4 ,the former were and still are undergoing changes1 owing to new historical researches and discoveries made by students of ,franciscan sources1 while the latter were but lately again newly translated into ,english and edited as completely as possible with many critical notes and references of great value by the scholarly ,father ,paschal ,robinson1 ,o4,f4,m4--,the ,writings of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi by ,father ,paschal ,robinson1 ,o4,f4,m4 ,the ,dolphin ,press1 #aijf4 ,the marvellous progress the ,third ,order of ,st4 ,francis is making in this country causes the story of the life of ,st4 ,francis that is herewith presented to the public in a newly revised edition to be especially welcome4 ,for all ,tertiaries know that mere devotion to ,st4 ,francis is of itself not sufficient to acquire the spirit of their ,seraphic ,father2 all are aware that membership in the ,third ,order does not necessarily argue the possession of this spirit--and yet1 every real ,tertiary desires nothing more than to acquire the poor1 humble1 loving spirit of ,st4 ,francis4 ,this spirit can scarcely be acquired1 unless the life of ,st4 ,francis be well known1 meditated upon and imitated as far as practicable4 ,the ,life and ,legends of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi by ,father ,candide ,chalippe1 ,o4,f4,m41 is peculiarly adapted to help ,tertiaries to perform this task2 the spirit of ,st4 ,francis breathes in every page4 ,not once1 but several times may ,tertiaries read this book to great advantage4 ,with every reading new items of interest will be discovered1 new lessons will present themselves to be learnt1 new inspirations will be imparted to the soul from above4 ,the more this book is read1 the more it will be loved2 the more it is studied1 the more it will be admired4 ,for ,tertiaries a book of this kind is a necessity2 it is as necessary for them as a text-book is for a scholar4 ,may this wonderful work spread in the future even more rapidly than before1 may it receive the hearty welcome it deserves among the innumerable ,tertiaries and clients of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi and be to them a sure guide to ,god's abundant graces in this world and to life everlasting in the next4 ,,preface ,,by ,,the ,,author ,,wherein ,,the ,,prejudices ,,of ,,certain ,,persons ,,against ,,miracles ,,which ,,are ,,recorded ,,in ,,the ,,lives ,,of ,,the ,,saints ,,are ,,shown ,,to ,,be ,,both ,,unreasonable ,,and ,,dangerous1 ,,and ,,that ,,the ,,miracles ,,attributed ,,to ,,saint ,,francis ,,are ,,very ,,well ,,authenticated4 ,a very common failing amongst men is to adopt one extreme in the endeavor to avoid another1 and sometimes not to perceive that the extreme into which they fall is greater than that which they had sought to flee from4 ,to insure themselves against weak incredulity1 some have imbibed such prejudice against the miracles in the ,lives of the ,saints1 that they cannot endure to hear of them2 the very ideas of miracles1 revelations1 ecstasies1 visions1 apparitions1 are hateful and disgusting to them2 all that is said on these subjects they look upon as fabulous and incredible2 they call in question the most undeniable evidence1 or attribute these wonders to natural and unknown causes4 ,the wonders which are recorded in the ,life of ,st1 ,francis1 afford an opportunity of grappling with these prejudices4 ,in the first place1 no man using his right reason will reject the wonders recorded in the ,lives of the ,saints1 because of their impossibility4 ,miracles are extraordinary events1 which break through the laws of nature1 and exceed the force of all natural causes2 it is only necessary to make use of our reason to be aware that ,god1 whose power is infinite1 having freely established these laws1 may1 whenever ,he thinks fit1 break through them ,himself by the ministry of ,his creatures1 whom ,he makes use of as ,he pleases2 that these suspensions may enter into the external designs of ,his wisdom and providence1 and that they occur by successive acts1 without there having been any change in ,him1 because it is an act of ,his will which causes them1 as it does every other thing4 ,now this proves that miracles are possible1 and that there is no impossibility in the wonders recorded in the ,lives of the ,saints4 ,in the second place1 these wonders ought not to cause an incredulous surprise in any sensible person who pays due attention to the wonders of nature4 ,man1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 sees extraordinary things happen1 and he admires them1 while he himself1 the admirer1 is a great wonder1 and a much greater miracle than any things which are done by the intervention of man4 ,there is nothing more marvellous done in the world1 which is not less wonderful than the world itself4 ,all nature is full of what is miraculous2 we seem unconscious of it1 because we see those things daily1 and because this daily repetition lowers them in our eyes4 ,and this is one reason why ,god has reserved to ,himself other things out of the common course of nature1 on which ,he shows ,his power from time to time1 in order that their novelty may strike us2 but when we consider attentively1 and with reflection1 the miracles we constantly see1 we find that they are far greater than others1 however surprising and uncommon these may be4 ,the holy doctor admits that the prodigies which are out of the common course of nature1 and which are properly called miracles1 are to be viewed with astonishment1 since they are works of ,god1 worthy of admiration2 he only requires that the surprise they cause shall be qualified by a consideration of the wonders of nature1 to which he likewise gives the name of miracles1 in a more extended sense3 on the same principle1 and a fortiori1 what there is surprising in them should not make them appear to us incredible4 ,an enlightened mind does not believe in miracles which are communicated to him1 unless due proof of them is adduced2 but it is not because what is wonderful in them renders him incredulous1 because he sees more marvellous things in the universe and in himself4 ,if men who apply themselves to the study of nature1 are pertinacious in refusing to believe in the miracles of the saints1 it is because they do not make use of the light they have received1 and do not reason deductively2 they have only sought to gratify their curiosity1 or to gain credit for their discoveries2 and do not some of them lose themselves in their speculations1 and become impious1 even so as to recognize no other ,god than nature itself8 ,in the third place1 faith in the great mysteries of religion must incline us to believe in the wonders we read in the ,lives of the ,saints4 ,are we1 then1 not called upon to say to those whose prejudices we oppose3 ,as you belong to the society of the faithful1 you not only believe that three ,persons make only one ,god2 that the ,son of ,god was made man2 that the dead shall rise again2 but also1 that ,jesus ,christ becomes every day present on our altars1 under the species of bread and wine1 at the words of consecration2 and you believe all the other astonishing wonders that are proposed to you in our holy religion3 why1 then1 do you find such repugnance in believing those of the ,lives of the ,saints1 which are far inferior to the former8 ,it is useless to say in answer1 that these last are only based on human testimony1 which we are not obliged to receive2 that the mysteries are propounded to us by ,divine authority1 to which we are bound to submit2 for this is not the question before us4 ,we only compare one wonder with another1 and we maintain that the belief in the one should facilitate the belief in the other4 ,in fact1 if we believe with a firm and unshaken faith what ,god1 in ,his goodness1 has been pleased to effect for the salvation of all men1 and what ,he continues daily to effect in the ,eucharist2 may we not easily convince ourselves that ,he may have given extraordinary marks of ,his affection for his most faithful servants8 ,in the fourth place1 similar wonders to those which are found in the ,lives of the ,saints are also found in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,raptures1 ecstasies1 frequent visions and apparitions1 continual revelations1 an infinity of miracles1 miraculous fasts of forty days1 are things recorded in the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,we believe all these wonderful circumstances1 and we are obliged to believe them1 although they far surpass our understanding2 on what1 then1 shall we rely for maintaining that the wonders recorded in the ,lives of the ,saints are improbable1 and that we may reasonably call them in question8 ,reason1 on the contrary1 marks them as so much the more probable and worthy of credit1 as we know and believe similar ones which we may not doubt of4 ,christians should be accustomed to what is marvellous1 and require nothing but proofs for the most unusual prodigies4 ,in the fifth place1 the promise which ,jesus made that the power of working miracles should be given to true believers1 gives authority to the belief in miracles in the ,lives of the ,saints4 ,amen1 amen1 ,i say to you1 he that believeth in me1 the works that ,i do he shall do also1 and greater than these shall he do2 because ,i go to the ,father4 ,and whatsoever you ask the ,father in my name1 that will ,i do4 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe3 ,in my name they shall cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents2 and if they shall drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay their hands upon the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,our ,saviour1 according to the doctrine of the ,holy ,fathers1 has promised the gift of miracles1 not to each one of the faithful in particular1 but to the ,church in general2 and ,his promise is for all times1 when the good of religion requires its accomplishment4 ,heretics pretend that it only related to the days of the apostles1 and that miracles were only required for the establishment of the faith4 ,what right have they to limit the words of the ,son of ,god8 ,do they imagine that they understand the ,scriptures better than the holy doctors8 ,how will they prove that since the time of the apostles there have been no combinations of circumstances in which the good of religion shall have required that miracles should be performed8 ,they were required for the infidels1 to whom the ,gospel has been preached in different centuries1 as well as for the ,greek and ,roman idolaters1 to whom it was first announced4 ,the ,church has required them to silence the heretics who have successively endeavored to impugn her dogmas1 and to strengthen the faith of her own children4 ,they have been always useful for manifesting the eminence of virtue1 for the glory of ,god1 for the conversion of sinners1 for reanimating piety1 for nourishing and strengthening the hopes of the good things of another life4 ,we are1 therefore1 justified in saying that the promise of ,jesus ,christ is for all times1 in certain occasions1 and that the belief in the miracles in the ,lives of the ,saints is authorized thereby4 ,in the sixth place1 that there have been miracles in the ,lives of the ,saints are facts1 the proofs of which are unquestionable4 ,the ,acts of the ,martyrs1 which have always been read in the ,church1 and the genuineness of which has been admitted by the most talented critics1 contain recitals of the most wonderful events3 the confessors of the faith instantaneously cured1 after having undergone the most cruel tortures2 wild beasts tamed and crouching at their feet2 lights and celestial voices1 apparitions of ,jesus ,christ and ,his angels1 and many other wonderful circumstances4 ,in the first six centuries there are scarcely any ecclesiastical writers and ,holy ,fathers who do not record miracles worked by the servants of ,god1 and by their relics2 and they speak of them as of things which they have either seen with their own eyes1 or were of public notoriety4 ,saint ,justin ,martyr1 in the second century1 speaking of the power of ,jesus ,christ over the demons1 in his ,apology1 addressed to the ,emperors ,marcus ,aurelius and ,lucius ,verus1 and to the ,roman ,senate1 says3 ,you have proofs of what passes before your eyes1 and in your city1 and in all the rest of the world2 for you know that many of those possessed1 not having been able to be delivered by your exorcists1 enchanters1 and magicians1 have been so by the ,christians who have exorcised them in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 who was crucified under ,pontius ,pilate4 ,saint ,ireneus assures us that in the same century some true disciples of ,jesus ,christ had received supernatural gifts1 which they made use of advantageously for other men3 ,some1 says he1 drive away devils2 and this is certain1 that often those who have been delivered embrace the faith1 and join the ,church4 ,to others it is given to know the future1 and to have prophetic visions4 ,others cure the sick by the imposition of hands1 and restore them to perfect health4 ,very often1 even in every place1 and for some requisite cause1 the brethren solicit1 by fasting and fervent prayers1 the resurrection of a dead person1 and obtain it2 these dead1 thus revived1 have lived with us for several years afterwards4 ,what shall ,i say further8 ,it is not possible to enumerate the extraordinary gifts which the ,church receives from ,god1 and what she operates in every part of the world1 in favor of the nations1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ crucified4 ,we can1 says ,origen1 writing against ,celsus1 show an immense multitude of ,greeks and barbarians who believe in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 there are some who prove their faith by the power of working miracles4 ,they cure the sick by invoking their ,god1 the ,creator and the ,sovereign ,lord of all things2 and the name of ,jesus ,christ1 our ,saviour1 of whose ,gospel they recite a part4 ,we ourselves have seen several sick persons delivered from the most formidable maladies1 and the cured are too numerous to be counted4 ,tertullian1 in his ,apology1 and in another work1 records plainly the miraculous fall of rain which was obtained from heaven by the prayers of the ,christian soldiers1 which saved the army of the ,emperor ,marcus ,aurelius1 which was reduced to the last extremity4 ,he proves the truth of this fact by the very letter of the emperor4 ,we have also authentic proofs of this event in the authors and records of paganism itself4 ,tertullian1 likewise1 tells us that the pagans received extraordinary graces by means of the ,christians1 some of which he quotes1 and he adds3 ,how many persons of distinction1 without mentioning other people1 have been thus delivered from the devil1 and cured of their evils6 ,st4 ,cyprian upbraided an idolater in the following terms1 while refuting him3 ,the gods whom you adore we exorcise in the name of the true ,god1 and they are compelled to leave the bodies which they possessed4 ,oh1 if you chose to see and hear them1 when suffering under the power of our words1 as if they were spiritual scourges1 and feeling the secret operation of the ,divine ,mastery6 ,they howl terrifically1 entreat of us to spare them1 declare1 in presence of their adorers1 whence they came1 and confess a future judgment4 ,come and be convinced of the truth of what we say2 to be at least moved4 ,those whom you adore1 fear us2 those to whom you pray1 entreat of us to spare them2 those whom you revere as sovereigns1 are as prisoners in our hands1 and tremble as so many slaves4 ,we interrogate them1 and in your presence they declare what they are2 they cannot dissemble the impostures which they make use of to deceive you4 ,such are the miracles which many of ,god's servants operated in the second and third centuries1 and which cannot be called in question4 ,how many different kinds are recorded in subsequent times by ,st4 ,basil1 and by ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa1 in the life of ,st4 ,gregory ,thaumaturgus2 by ,st4 ,athanasius in the life of ,st4 ,anthony2 by ,sulpicius ,severus1 in the life of ,st4 ,martin2 by ,st4 ,chrysostom1 ,st4 ,jerome1 ,st4 ,ambrose1 ,st4 ,augustine1 ,st4 ,paulinus1 in many parts of their works2 by ,theodoret1 in his religious history2 by ,pope ,st4 ,gregory1 in his dialogues2 by ,st4 ,hilary of ,arles1 ,st4 ,ouen1 and very many others worthy of credit6 ,these saintly and learned ,bishops1 ,avitus1 ,metropolitan of ,vienne1 ,stephen of ,lyons1 ,eon of ,arles1 conferring with the ,arians1 in presence of ,gondebauld1 ,king of the ,burgundians1 after having proved the consubstantiality of the ,word1 by the testimony of the ,scripture1 and by powerful arguments1 offered to give additional proof thereof by miracles1 if the heretics would promise to acquiesce in consequence2 and quoted the example of ,st4 ,remigius1 ,apostle of the ,french1 who was then living1 and setting up the faith on the ruins of idolatry by a multitude of prodigies4 ,the miracles operated by means of relics are neither less well authenticated1 nor less celebrated2 they were known to the whole world4 ,st4 ,augustine was an eyewitness of them2 being at ,milan when ,st4 ,ambrose discovered1 by means of a revelation1 the spot where the bodies of ,,ss4 ,gervasius and ,protasius reposed4 ,he saw a great many miracles performed in ,africa by the relics of ,st4 ,stephen1 of which he makes mention in his book of the ,city of ,god1 written for the confutation of the most learned of the pagans1 wherein he says that1 to quote only those operated in the ,dioceses of ,calame and ,hippo1 several books would not suffice4 ,nicetius1 ,bishop of ,treves1 writing to ,clodosvinda1 or ,glotinda1 ,queen of the ,lombards1 to exhort her to solicit the conversion of ,king ,alboin1 her husband1 advised her to make use of the visible miracles which were operated at the tomb of ,st ,martin1 and by the invocation of ,st4 ,germanus1 ,st4 ,hilary1 ,st4 ,lupus1 ,st4 ,remigius1 and ,st4 ,medardus4 ,they were so evident1 that the heretics dared not call them in question1 and could not deprive them of their splendor4 ,god made use of these for the conversion of kings1 and of the entire nations4 ,in all ages after the six first centuries1 the prodigies of the ,lives of the ,saints are noticed by numerous authors of all countries1 whose talents1 learning1 probity1 holiness1 and dignity1 render them respectable to the most searching critics4 ,they are supported by incontrovertible evidence1 by juridical depositions1 by authentic acts1 and by splendid monuments which have been erected to their memory by bishops1 princes1 magistrates1 cities and kingdoms to perpetuate the recollections of these splendid achievements4 ,we find that the saints have made numerous predictions1 which have been justified by the event2 and that1 either moved by the ,spirit of ,god1 or compelled by obedience1 they have admitted the supernatural operations which they felt in their souls4 ,finally1 the prodigies which are found in the ,lives of the ,saints have always been considered as indubitable facts amongst the faithful2 the ,church recognizes them1 and they form one of the objects of their piety and devotion2 no one is placed in the catalogue of saints whose sanctity has not been attested from heaven1 by means of miracles2 and she takes such rigorous precautions1 and carries their strictness so far1 that1 according to all human prudence1 it is impossible she should be deceived4 ,we now ask whether it can be permitted to think and to say that such facts are absolutely false1 and should only be looked upon as fables unworthy of credence8 ,in such case it would be necessary to abrogate the rule judiciously and universally received in the world1 that facts which have nothing incredible in themselves are not to be controverted when duly proved2 it would be also necessary to refuse credence to all that is related in sacred and profane history2 to lay down as a maxim to believe nothing but what we see1 and to refuse to receive the testimony of the honorable people with whom we live4 ,now1 this is what is requisite to prove and convince every man of good sense that the prejudice against the miracles of the ,lives of the ,saints is quite unreasonable2 but this does not point out its quality sufficiently2 it is senseless and ridiculous1 it is rash1 and1 what is more1 it is dangerous4 ,whoever denies what the ,fathers of the ,church attest as having seen1 or having been authentically informed of1 must conclude that they were either very credulous1 or deceived the people4 ,to refuse to believe the marvels which have reached us by an uniform and universal tradition1 is to call in question all tradition2 to render all its channels suspicious1 and to cause it to be looked upon as a questionable proposition4 ,what can be thought of the saints1 if the miraculous graces1 which they certify that they have received from ,god1 are to be treated as chimeras2 if the accomplishment of what they have foretold1 is to be attributed to chance8 ,what even can be thought of their most heroic victims8 ,what opinion will be formed of their acts8 ,will they be deemed more trustworthy in other matters8 ,when it is asserted that there have been no miracles since the days of the apostles1 it must be said1 by a necessary consequence1 that the ,church1 which grounds canonization on miracles1 makes use of falsehood in that most solemn and religious act1 and that the public worship which the ,church directs is uncertain4 ,now this very much resembles heresy2 for the great principles of religion teach us that on these occasions the ,church receives peculiar enlightenment from the ,holy ,ghost1 by which she can neither be deceived herself1 nor can she deceive others4 ,these miracles1 it is said1 are not articles of faith1 and the ,church does not oblige us to believe them4 ,as if nothing was believed in the world but such things as are of faith2 as if it was not dangerous obstinately to reject those things which are sanctioned by the authority of the ,holy ,fathers1 by reason and by piety1 by tradition and by the ,church1 and which cannot be rejected without fatal consequences6 ,this incredulity attacks1 moreover1 one of the proofs of the divinity of ,jesus ,christ1 which the fathers adduced against the pagans4 ,st4 ,chrysostom having asserted1 on the subject of the miracles of the martyr1 ,st4 ,babylas1 that our ,saviour1 on the night of ,his ,passion1 had promised to those who should believe in ,him1 the power of working these miracles1 adds3 ,it had been antecedently seen that many had taken upon themselves the character of masters1 who had disciples1 and who boast of performing wonders2 nevertheless1 we do not hear of any who had ventured to promise their disciples the same power4 ,the insolence of their impostures did not go so far1 because they knew that no one would believe them2 all the world being convinced that it is only given to ,god to make a similar promise1 and to fulfil it4 ,on this principle the holy doctor proves that ,jesus ,christ is ,god1 since ,he has given to those who believe in ,him the power of working miracles1 which ,his disciples actually did1 and which ,his servants now do4 ,st4 ,augustine makes use of the same proofs1 in his book of the ,city of ,god4 ,thus the miracles of the saints have in all ages been adduced as proofs of the ,divinity of our ,saviour2 and this is what those endeavor to do away with1 who1 without reflection1 consider them as fables4 ,another danger is1 that they speak of these marvels according to their own prejudices4 ,they openly say that they do not believe them1 and that persons ought not to have the weakness to believe them2 they speak contemptuously of the books in which they are recorded2 they cannot endure that they should form part of panegyrics of the saints4 ,they make use of impious derisions1 and turn into ridicule the faithful who credit them1 and they censure the conduct of the ,church which consecrates them4 ,such discourse sanctions heresy and licentiousness2 worldlings and the indevout applaud it1 the tepid seem to consent to it1 and the falsely devout approve it2 it is a scandal to the weak1 and a dishonor to religion4 ,it is also to be feared that prejudices against what is wonderful in the ,lives of the ,saints may spread to other subjects1 if we only judge from the principles which are the cause of them4 ,for1 in what do these principles consist8 ,they are not grounded on reason or religion2 they must1 therefore1 have a basis of incredulity for everything which they do not understand3 the foolish vanity of being thought singular2 ignorance1 which boldly repudiates what it knows nothing of2 keeping company with libertines2 a conformity of feeling with heretics1 and the spirit of the world1 which is the enemy of all piety4 ,such calamitous causes give room to fear the most fatal effects4 ,in general1 the liberty only to believe those things which we choose1 on points in which religion is concerned1 is very dangerous2 it often makes a destructive progress1 for its first attempts embolden it4 ,persons are easily persuaded that all miraculous narratives are false1 though the ,church guarantees the truth of many2 and when this same ,church pronounces on dogmatical facts1 declaring3 such and such propositions to be heretical which are in such and such a book1 and exacts an interior submission of heart and mind1 do these doubters show more docility8 ,do they not cloak their disobedience by a respectful silence1 always ill kept and finally broken through by open rebellion8 ,do we not see persons in the world speaking irreverently of relics1 purgatory1 indulgences1 and even of the holy mysteries1 after having treated contemptuously the marvels of the ,lives of the ,saints8 ,certain critics admit these marvels1 but have imbibed the idea that falsehood is so mixed up with the truth1 that they cannot be separated but by using certain rules1 which they take upon themselves to lay down4 ,this prejudice is not less dangerous1 nor less unreasonable than the other4 ,because some inconsiderate writers1 who cannot be too severely censured1 have given scope to their imagination in certain legends1 and have employed fiction for the embellishment of their narratives1 the doubters pretend that the whole history of the saints is full of impostures2 nevertheless1 pure sources have been the basis of their authentic acts1 in the works of the ,fathers1 and in an infinity of authors well worthy of credit1 and in the ,bulls of ,canonization4 ,an ,asiatic priest1 as related by ,st4 ,jerome1 who quotes ,tertullian1 composed false acts of ,st4 ,thecla through an ill-understood sentiment of devotion3--does it follow from that that the truth of many other acts which were there read1 and which we still possess1 is to be set aside8 ,moreover1 the ,church has remedied the evil2 she has rejected the false prodigies2 she has expunged from the legends the indiscreet additions2 a new edition has been long since placed in the hands of the faithful1 which only contains the well-authenticated and certain miracles4 ,a learned man has demonstrated that the rules of these critics for the elucidation of these miracles are not judicious2 that they are extravagant1 and that it would be risking too much to follow them2 that they are contradictory1 and not in unison with each other2 that it often happens that they reject or admit miracles against their own principles4 ,if they find splendid ones1 and many of them in the same legend1 they hold them to be suppositions or altered1 although1 the oldest and most authentic documents contain similar ones2 they reject them as false1 without assigning any reason in proof of their having been falsified2 they pretend that the authors who have recorded them were too credulous1 though they received other articles on the testimony of these same authors4 ,in order to believe them1 they require perfect certainty1 although they give credit to many circumstances in ecclesiastical and profane history on mere probabilities4 ,one of them professes not to omit a single miracle which is vouched for by good authority1 nevertheless1 he suppresses many of the most considerable2 and many of those which he feels compelled to bring forward1 he does so in terms which mark doubtfulness1 to say nothing more4 ,thus1 the ultra-critics while admitting the wonders of the ,lives of the ,saints1 reduce them to nothing by rules1 which they invent for separating truth from falsehood1 as those who profess to believe an infallible authority in the ,church make that infallibility to depend on so many conditions1 that they may always maintain that the ,church1 dispersed or assembled1 has never come to any decision in opposition to their errors4 ,it is1 they say1 the love of truth which induces them to examine most scrupulously the miracles of the saints2 nothing should be believed1 or be proposed to belief1 but what is true4 ,but ,bossuet said of bad critics3 ,they are content1 provided they can pass for more subtle observers than others1 and they find themselves sharper1 in not giving credit to so many wonders4 ,the love of truth does not consist in denying its existence1 where so many persons of first-rate genius have found it2 it does not depend on rendering obscure the light it sheds1 nor in giving to the public ,lives of ,saints accompanied by a dry1 bitter1 and licentious criticism1 calculated to throw doubt on all that is extraordinary in them1 and thereby to give scandal4 ,the learned ,jesuits1 the continuators of ,bollandus1 show1 by the precision of their researches1 that they are sincere lovers of truth1 but we do not see that they endeavor to diminish the number of miracles3 ,they have no idea of taking them for fictions2 nothing astonishes them in the lives of the friends of ,god1 provided it be well attested4 ,father ,thomassen1 of the ,oratory1 in his treatise on the ,celebration of ,festivals1 speaks of a miraculous event which occurred in the sixth century1 and which is reported by ,bollandus1 and he adds3 ,these sorts of miracles are by no means articles of faith1 but nevertheless1 they are not to be rejected by sage and considerate persons4 ,upon reading the works of ,st4 ,cyprian1 ,st4 ,augustine1 ,st4 ,ambrose1 and ,st4 ,jerome1 and those of ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa1 of ,st4 ,basil1 and ,st4 ,athanasius1 we can have no doubt that these fathers had no difficulty in believing similar occurrences1 similarly attested4 ,st4 ,augustine1 indeed1 has related several much more incredible2 and it is greatly to be feared that to set one's self above the ,augustines1 the ,jeromes1 the ,gregories1 and the most learned ,fathers of the ,church1 must be the effect of a most dangerous pride4 ,it is objected that the multitude is credulous2 that it likes the marvellous1 and should not be exposed to believe untruths4 ,but credulity is far less dangerous than incredulity2 the one admits of cure much easier than the other2 the former1 in proper limits1 may be very useful1 the latter engenders nothing but evil4 ,some one has said1 that the love of the marvellous is the ancient malady of mankind2 it would1 perhaps1 be more accurate to say1 that it is a remainder of their original greatness2 and that1 being created to witness the marvels of the ,divinity1 they are impelled1 by an interior impulse1 to believe whatsoever seems to them to approach to them1 until such1 time as their visions shall be fully gratified4 ,this impulse only becomes a malady when it receives wonderful things which are absurd1 or without any foundation4 ,aversion from the marvellous1 which has its origin in the weakness of a mind oppressed by sin1 is a much greater malady1 and may have most dangerous consequences1 in a wholly marvellous religion which we must love4 ,these marvels are displeasing in pious narratives1 where they are fully proved1 and they are sought for in theatrical compositions1 where they are mere fictions3 the distinction is dishonorable to ,christians4 ,finally1 as to the falsehood3 ,what risk does the pious multitude run1 in believing the miracles of the ,lives of the ,saints8 ,they find nothing in them which is not proved1 or worthy of belief2 nothing but what may very prudently be believed2 nothing but what is edifying2 and this1 according to ,st4 ,augustine1 is a sufficient guarantee from falling into any dangerous credulity4 ,we should be very dangerously credulous1 if we put our faith in false and deceitful miracles1 which only tend to seduce the mind1 and corrupt our belief4 ,we are warned in the ,gospel1 that there shall arise false christs and false prophets1 and shall show great signs and wonders1 insomuch as to deceive 7if it be possible7 even the elect2 and ,st4 ,paul teaches us that ,antichrist1 that man of perdition1 will come according to the working of ,satan in all power1 and signs1 and lying wonders4 ,the father of lies has often inspired the heretics to produce miracles1 which they have asserted to have been performed by persons of their party1 living or dead1 from whence they inferred that ,god authorized the doctrines they taught4 ,ecclesiastical history furnishes many examples of this1 and there are some very recent ones4 ,but ,jesus ,christ has furnished us with a sure and infallible rule to avoid the contagion3 it is to hear the ,church2 it is to consider those only as true miracles of which she approves1 and of which she sanctions the publication2 it is to believe firmly that no one who is in revolt against the ,church will ever perform a miracle favorable to his sect1 whatever appearance of austerity1 piety1 charity1 or sanctity1 he may put on2 which ,st4 ,thomas bases mainly on this principle3 that it is impossible that ,god1 who alone can give the power of working a true miracle1 shall ever communicate that power to confirm a false doctrine2 from whence it follows1 that all the miracles produced by sectarians1 notwithstanding all their evidence1 and all their pretended attestations1 must neither be examined nor listened to1 and must only be looked upon as purely natural effects1 or as impostures1 or as delusions and diabolical operations4 ,this is the way in which ,st4 ,augustine expresses himself on the subject of the miracles which the ,donatists claimed to have performed1 and claimed as evidence in favor of their schism4 ,let ,catholics1 therefore1 reject with horror the false prodigies of sectarians1 but let them piously give credit to the miracles of the saints1 without paying attention to the ultra-criticism which strives to throw doubts upon them2 and let them be intimately persuaded that the ,church1 which approves of them1 has founded that approval on evidence irreproachable4 ,the marvels which are found in the ,life of ,st4 ,francis are perfectly well attested4 ,that ,life was first written by ,thomas de ,celano1 one of his companions1 who was directed by ,pope ,gregory ,,ix4 to compile it1 and who afterwards added a second part on additional memoirs4 ,john or ,thomas de ,ceperano1 ,apostolic ,notary1 who was a staunch friend of the ,saint1 published at the same time what he knew of his actions4 ,crescentius de ,jesi1 ,general of the ,order of the ,friars ,minors1 gave directions1 by circular letters1 to collect and transmit to him whatever had been seen or learnt1 relative to the sanctity and miracles of the blessed ,father4 ,he addressed himself particularly to three of his twelve first companions3 ,leo1 his secretary and his confessor2 ,angelus and ,rufinus3 all three joined in compiling what is called ,the ,legend of the ,three ,companions4 ,the others noted separately what they had themselves seen1 and the things which they had learnt from others4 ,saint ,bonaventure1 being at the head of the ,order1 was urgently entreated1 by the general chapter1 to write the life of their holy ,patriarch4 ,with the intention of learning1 with certainty1 the truth of the facts1 he went expressly to ,assisi1 ,there1 he says1 in the preface to his work1 ,i had frequent and serious conferences with those who had been in the confidence of the great man1 and who were still living2 and principally with those who were most intimately consociated with him1 and who have become the most faithful imitators of his holy life1 to whose testimony we must undoubtedly give credit1 because their acknowledged sanctity assures us that they have spoken truth4 ,now1 what can the most exact and severe criticism wish more1 in order to give warranty to the marvels in the ,life of ,st4 ,francis1 than contemporaries1 ocular witnesses1 holy persons1 his own companions1 who lived with him and enjoyed his confidence8 ,the legend of ,saint ,bonaventure was spread everywhere1 as soon as it appeared1 and was everywhere highly approved3 there are many manuscripts of it4 ,lipoman1 ,bishop of ,verona1 caused it to be printed in #aeef4 ,no one ever attempted to call its accuracy in question4 ,octavian quoted it1 in his petition to ,pope ,sixtus ,,iv4 for the canonization of the holy doctor1 in #adhb4 ,the first legends have been preserved in manuscript2 the celebrated annalist of the ,order of ,friars ,minors1 ,luke ,wading1 saw them and made use of them4 ,he was one of the most learned men of his time1 and all other learned men have been loud in his praise1 not only on account of his profound erudition1 but because he was so ardent a lover of truth1 which he sought for with great care1 and having developed it1 nothing could hinder him from publishing it and committing it to writing4 ,the uprightness of his heart was conspicuous on a certain occasion1 which is too honorable to him for us to pass it over in silence4 ,he had been one of the examiners nominated by ,pope ,innocent ,x4 to inquire into the writings of ,jansenius1 ,bishop of ,ypres1 and he had convinced himself that the five propositions which appeared to be censurable in those writings might be tolerably explained in a certain theological sense4 ,those who are themselves upright are not easily brought to think ill of others1 particularly in difficult affairs1 and they sometimes endeavor to justify them1 through charitable feelings1 which are praiseworthy in principle1 but which may have evil consequences1 when a doctrine is in question which has been widely spread1 and which is supported by a cabal4 ,wading1 seeing that the five propositions were censured by various constitutions of the ,pope1 made a report on the whole affair1 with the following beautiful declaration1 worthy of a truly ,catholic ,doctor3 ,if1 before this decision1 any one shall have been of a different opinion 7as to the five propositions7 on whatever reasonings1 or whatsoever authority of doctrine1 he is now obliged to bend his mind to the yoke of faith1 according to the advice of the apostle4 ,i declare it to be what ,i do with all my heart1 condemning and anathematizing all the aforesaid propositions1 in all and every sense in which ,his ,holiness has proposed to condemn them1 although1 before this decision1 ,i thought they might have been maintained in a certain sense1 in the manner ,i have explained in the suffrage which has been just seen4 ,we may feel assured that a man of this upright character1 such a lover of truth1 and1 moreover1 one of such eminent talents1 would not have made use of the two ,legends of ,thomas de ,celano and that of the ,three ,companions1 without having ascertained their correctness4 ,moreover1 the critics of his time1 who were particular1 and in great numbers1 had it in their power to examine them as those of our times have1 also1 since they are still extant in the convent of ,st4 ,isidore at ,rome4 ,the first1 which was composed under the ,pontificate of ,gregory ,,ix41 was quoted by ,luke1 ,bishop of ,tuy1 when he wrote against the ,albigenses1 in #abca4 ,it is to be found in the ,abbey of ,longpont1 of the ,order of ,citeaux1 in the diocese of ,soissons1 and in the ,abbey of ,jouy1 of the same order1 in the ,diocese of ,sens4 ,the ,legend of the ,three ,companions is in the king's library1 at the ,recollets of ,louvain1 and in their convent at ,malines4 ,these are the principal sources which were consulted by ,wading for writing the ,life of ,st4 ,francis1 which forms part of the first tome of his ,annals4 ,he also consulted the acts and public monuments1 the constant tradition1 and some manuscripts of the thirteenth century1 which contain other testimonials from the companions of ,st4 ,francis1 and were published by contemporaries who lived with them1 who collected their very words1 and who are worthy of credence4 ,but the most marvellous thing which he relates1 relative to the actions of the ,saint1 he has taken from the legends1 as well as a great number of the splendid miracles which were operated by his intercession after his death1 and of which ,pope ,gregory ,,ix4 was fully informed1 as he declares in the ,bull of ,canonization4 ,all modern authors who have given the ,life of ,st4 ,francis in various languages1 have adhered mostly to ,wading2 in this work1 also1 we have made a point of following him2 and the learned1 who have so much esteem for that great man1 will agree that we could not have taken a better guide4 ,baillet admits that1 among the writers of the ,life of ,st4 ,francis1 ,luke ,wading is one of the most careful and most accurate2 and yet he taxes him with not having written methodically1 when he adds3 ,after all the labors of so many persons1 who have been zealous for his glory1 we are still compelled to wish for a methodical history of his life4 ,whoever may read the ,annals of ,wading1 and his notes on the works of ,st4 ,francis1 will find in them as much method as research and accuracy2 but according to some ultra-critics1 it is not considered writing methodically1 when marvels which they dislike are permitted to find their way into history4 ,baillet might have said that it has been long a subject of complaint that we have not in our language a complete and methodical ,life of ,st4 ,francis4 ,this complaint is the more just1 as the saint had a particular liking for ,france2 he had learned the language with so much facility1 and spoke it so readily1 that they gave him the name of ,francis1 although he was baptized ,john4 ,paris was one of the first objects of his zeal2 he would even have gone thither1 if a cardinal had not detained him in ,italy for reasons which related to his ,order4 ,not having it in his power to undertake this mission1 which he had much at heart1 he destined for it some of his principal followers4 ,there are some who affect to think that1 in the ,lives of the ,saints1 their example should alone be proposed to the public1 imagining that the miracles they have performed can nowise contribute to the edification of souls2 and two authors of this century have ventured to suppress all miracles in the ,lives of ,saints which they have published4 ,the ,church1 nevertheless1 causes them to be recited in the ,divine ,office1 and they are carefully related by the holy fathers2 neither does any author of repute1 of the centuries preceding1 fail to bring them forward4 ,in fact1 no one can deny that they add great resplendency to the merits of the saints1 and1 consequently1 give great weight to the example they afford us4 ,they uphold and increase the idea we have of the power of ,god1 of ,his providence1 ,his justice1 ,his bounty1 and ,his mercy1 by which they excite us to glorify1 love1 and serve ,him2 and1 in showing ,his special good-will to ,his servants1 they induce us to invoke their mediation with confidence4 ,moreover1 miracles strengthen the faithful in their faith1 because1 being performed in the bosom of the ,catholic ,church1 they confirm the truth she teaches4 ,now1 it is not of less consequence to strengthen faith1 than to propose that which tends to the correction of morals1 particularly when incredulity makes as much progress as licentiousness4 ,moreover1 the miraculous actions of the saints frequently contain most salutary instructions1 and are always accompanied by virtues which may be imitated1 which will be very apparent in the ,life of ,st4 ,francis4 ,some may1 perhaps1 think that his virtues are too transcendent for imitation1 and content themselves with admiring them1 without gathering any fruit from them4 ,a celebrated heresiarch admired them in this manner1 in the last century4 ,bossuet remarks1 in his excellent ,history of the ,variations1 that ,luther reckoned among the saints not only ,st4 ,bernard1 but also ,st4 ,francis1 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 and others of the thirteenth century2 and that ,st4 ,francis1 amongst all the rest1 appeared to him to be an admirable character1 animated with wonderful fervor of mind4 ,but the faithful in admiring his virtues1 must not think them not to be imitated1 for they consisted in following the ,gospel2 and they are all obliged to live according to the precepts of the ,gospel4 ,,rev4 ,,candide ,,chalippe1 ,o4,f4,m4 ,,contents ,,book ,i ,his birth--,prediction of his future greatness--,his studies--,he applies himself to commerce--,his purity1 and affection for the poor--,he is taken prisoner--,he falls sick--,his charity increases towards the poor--,he has a mysterious dream--,he wishes to go to the war--,jesus ,christ dissuades him--,he is rapt in spirit--,his conversion--,he kisses a leper--,jesus ,christ crucified appears to him--,salutary effects of this apparition--,he goes to ,rome--,mingles with the poor--,is tempted by the devil--,a voice from heaven commands him to restore the ,church of ,s4 ,peter ,damian--,his devotion to the passion of ,jesus ,christ--,he takes some pieces of cloth from his father's house1 and sells them1 to restore the ,church of ,s4 ,damian--,he escapes from the anger of his father1 and retires to a cave--,he appears in ,assisi1 where he is ill-treated--,his father confines him--,his mother delivers him1 and he returns to ,s4 ,damian--,he manifests his intention to his father1 who appeals to justice1 and cites him before the ,bishop of ,assisi--,he renounces his inheritance1 and gives back his clothes to his father--,the poverty of his clothing--,he is beaten by robbers--,retires to a monastery--,they give him a hermit's habit--,he devotes himself to the leprous--,receives the gift of healing1 and returns to ,assisi1 where he searches for stone to restore the ,church of ,assisi--,he toils at building as a laborer--,he lives on alms--,his father and brother exercise his patience--,the victories he gains over himself--,people begin to esteem and honor him--,he predicts something which is fulfilled--,he restores the ,church of ,s4 ,peter and that of ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or the ,portiuncula--,dwells at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and is favored there with heavenly apparitions--,he is called to the apostolical life--,renounces money and goes discalced--,his poor and humble habit--,god inspires him to preach--,he weeps bitterly over the sufferings of ,jesus ,christ--,receives three disciples1 and retires with them to a deserted cottage--,he goes on a mission1 and his disciples accompany him--the way they are treated--,he receives three other disciples--,he makes them beg for alms--,what he said to the ,bishop of ,assisi1 on renouncing all his possessions--,he predicts to the ,emperor ,otho the short duration of his glory--,it is revealed to him that his sins are remitted--,he is rapt in ecstasy1 and predicts the extension of his ,order--,he makes several other predictions1 and receives a seventh disciple--,he proposes a new mission to them--,the address he makes them on their preparation for1 and conduct during1 the mission--,he returns near to ,assisi1 where he receives four more disciples--,he assembles all his disciples--,composes a ,rule1 and goes to obtain the ,pope's approval--,he makes a marvellous conversion--,he knows miraculously what will happen to him at ,rome--,he is at first repulsed by ,pope ,innocent ,,iii41 but is afterwards received favorably--,difficulties on the approbation of his ,rule--,he overcomes them by an address he makes the ,pope--,the ,pope approves his ,rule1 and accumulates favors on it--,he leaves ,rome with his friars for the valley of ,spoleto--,god provides for his necessities--,he stops at a deserted church--,consults ,god on his mission1 and returns to the cottage of ,rivo-torto--,his sufferings there--,the instructions he gives--,god shows him to his brethren under a most marvellous aspect--,the church of ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels is given to him--,he establishes himself there with his ,friars ,,book ,,ii ,he receives many novices--,instructs and models them--,sends them to different provinces of ,italy--,what he says on this occasion--,he departs for ,tuscany1 and passes by ,perugia1 where he makes a prediction which is accomplished--,many young men enter his ,order--,they build a house for him near ,cortona--,his miraculous fast during ,lent--,he commands the devils1 and they obey him--,he cures many miraculously--,he preaches at ,florence--,makes a prediction--,preaches in various places in ,tuscany--,what his friars are doing in other places--,he preaches the ,lent at ,assisi1 with great fruit--,he consecrates1 to ,jesus ,christ1 ,clare1 and1 ,agnes1 her sister--,establishes ,clare and ,agnes in the ,church of ,s4 ,damian--,he erects a monastery there1 the first one of his second ,order1 which he then instituted--,he is troubled by a serious doubt1 on which he consults his brethren--,his doubt is cleared up by an oracle from heaven--,he goes out to preach--,restores a blind girl to sight1 and converts many worldly people--,he sighs for martyrdom--,asks permission of the ,pope to preach to the infidels--,makes conversions at ,rome1 and establishes his ,order there--,returns to ,assisi and leaves for the ,levant--,embarks1 but is obliged to put into a harbor in ,sclavonia--,goes by sea to ,ancona--,a miracle which ,god performs in his favor--,he converts a celebrated poet--,returns to ,tuscany1 and to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,he falls sick--,wonderfully humbles himself--,tries a vocation--,falls sick again and writes to all ,christians--,departs for ,spain and ,africa1 in search of martyrdom--,his miracles and other particulars of his journey--,his profound humility--,he raises the dead--,count ,orlando gives him ,mount ,alverna--,god miraculously protects him--,he preaches in ,piedmont and passes into ,spain--,works a miraculous cure there--,the king1 ,alphonso ,,ix1 permits him to establish his ,order there--,he receives houses there--,a violent sickness prevents him going to ,morocco--,his actions whilst he is delayed in ,spain--,he returns to ,italy--,his route thither--,he arrives at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and disapproves a building there--,he goes to ,mount ,alverna--,is beaten by devils--,mortifies his sense1 and taste--,makes water spring from a rock--,visits the mountain--,converts there a celebrated brigand--,leaves for ,rome--,discovers some relics by revelation--,makes predictions1 and performs miracles and conversions--,arrives at ,rome whilst the ,council of ,lateran is sitting--,the ,pope declares to the ,council that he has approved the ,rule--,he appoints a general chapter at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels1 whither he returns--,he holds the chapter and sends his friars to various countries--,he thinks of going to ,paris--,reunites an illustrious family that had been divided--,rejoices in his poverty and asks of ,god a greater love of holy poverty--,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul appear to him at ,rome--,his alliance with ,s4 ,dominic--,he goes to ,florence1 where ,cardinal ,hugolin dissuades him from going to ,paris--,he returns to the ,valley of ,spoleto1 and sends three of his disciples to ,france--,a celestial vision induces him to ask of the ,pope a cardinal protector for his ,order--,what he says on this subject--,he preaches before the ,pope--,what happened to him in the pulpit--,the ,pope gives him ,cardinal ,hugolin1 as protector of the ,order--,he preaches in the ,valley of ,rieti--,delivers the country from two plagues1 and makes some conversions there--,the houses he builds there--,he appoints a general chapter at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels1 for the year #abai--,what he did during the year #abah--;,efficacy of his prayers--,he wishes to pull down a new house which he found at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels ,,book ,,iii ,he goes to ,perugia1 to consult the cardinal protector--,his opinion on the promotion of his friars to ecclesiastical dignities--,he returns to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,his thoughts on these dignities--,more than five thousand ,friars ,minors are present at the chapter he had appointed--,he addresses the assembly1 and forbids them troubling themselves about their food--,assistance comes to him from all sides--,he receives more than five hundred novices during this chapter--,he forbids indiscreet mortifications--,the devils are incensed against him and his ,order--,he cautions his friars1 and upon that gives them some instruction--,he humbles them to preserve them from vainglory--,he confounds those who wish the ,rule mitigated--,he wishes not for privileges which can engender disputes--,he gives his friars instructions about their conduct to ecclesiastics--,he obtains from the ,pope letters apostolical confirming the approval of the ,order--,what he decrees in the chapter--,he sends his friars through the whole world--,the travels of his ,friars in various parts of the world--,in ,greece--,in ,africa--,in ,spain and ,portugal--,in ,france--,in the ,low ,countries--,he himself prepares to go to the ,levant--,on the government of the monastery of ,s4 ,damian1 and other houses of the same order--,he sends six of his friars to ,morocco--,what he says to them--,he starts on his voyage to ,syria1 with twelve companions--,he rejects a postulant too much attached to his parents--,a house at ,ancona is given to him--,he appoints1 by means of a child inspired by ,god1 those who are to accompany him to ,syria--,he embarks at ,ancona and anchors at the isle of ,cyprus--,arrives at ,acre--,distributes his companions in different parts of ,syria1 and comes to the army before ,damietta--,he arrives at the camp before ,damietta1 and predicts the ill-success of the battle the ,crusaders are about to give--,his prediction is accomplished--,he finds out the sultan of ,egypt--,announces to him the truths of the faith1 and offers to throw himself into the fire to prove them--,he refuses the sultan's presents--,is esteemed and respected--,the good dispositions with which he inspires the sultan--,he obtains permission to preach in his ,states--,he receives some disciples from the army of the ,crusaders--,visits the holy places--,some whole monasteries of religious embrace his ,institute--,he returns to ,italy--,establishes his ,order in various places--,preaches at ,bologna with great success--,what he says and does on seeing a house of his ,order too much ornamented--,he makes a retreat at ,camaldoli--,returns to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,reads the thoughts of his companion--,confounds the vanity of ,brother ,elias--,abolishes the novelties introduced into the ,order by ,brother ,elias--,in a vision the fortunes of his ,order are made known to him--,he holds the chapter in which he deposes ,brother ,elias1 and in his place substitutes ,peter of ,catania--,he renounces the generalship--,will not receive anything from novices entering his ,order--,he learns the news of the martyrdom of the friars he had sent to ,morocco--,what he says on the subject of their martyrdom--,the martyrdom of these friars is the cause of the vocation of ,s4 ,antony of ,padua--,his friars pass into ,england--,he visits some convents--,receives the ,vicar ,general's resignation1 and re-appoints1 by the command of ,god1 ,brother ,elias to his place--,he holds a chapter1 and sends missionaries to ,germany ,,book ,,iv ,s4 ,francis begins his ,third ,order of ,penance--,draws up the rule for it--,what his idea was in founding this ,order--,he returns to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,sends ,agnes1 the sister of ,clare1 to ,florence1 to be ,abbess there--,he obtains from ,jesus ,christ the ,indulgence of ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels or of the ,portiuncula--,pope ,honorius ,,iii4 grants him the same indulgence--,clare and others1 hearing him talk of ,god1 are ravished in ecstasy--,he cannot bear the distinction of persons which ,brother ,elias made--,makes a terrible prediction--,he gives his blessings to seven of his brethren1 to go and preach the faith to the ,moors1 and they are martyred--,he makes a journey1 which is attended with remarkable circumstances--,cures a cripple--,mixes with the poor1 and eats with them--,foretells of an infant1 that he would one day be ,pope--,he changes the bed of thorns into which ,s4 ,benedict had thrown himself1 into a rose-bush1 and performs other great miracles--,goes to honor the relics of ,s4 ,andrew1 and those of ,s4 ,nicholas--,discovers a trick of the devil--,he visits ,mount ,garganus--,his presence silences a demoniac--,he learns at ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels the success of the ,german mission--,bids ,antony preach--,gives ,antony permission to teach theology to the brethren--,alexander ,hales enters the ,order--,jesus ,christ appoints the day for the ,indulgence of the ,portiuncula--,he obtains from the ,pope a confirmation of the same day--,promulgates it1 with seven bishops--,he has a revelation about his ,rule--,god makes known to him that he must abridge it--,the ,holy ,spirit dictates it to him--,some entreat him to moderate it--,jesus ,christ tells him it must be kept to the very letter--,his brethren receive it--,he declares it comes from ,jesus ,christ1 and speaks in praise of it--,he obtains a bull from the ,pope1 in confirmation of the ,rule--,is attacked by devils-- ,celebrates the feast of ,christmas with much fervor--,our ,lord appears to him as an infant--,his sentiments on the celebration of feasts--,discovers a stratagem of the devil--,he commands one of his dead brethren to cease working miracles--,draws up a rule for ,clare and her daughters--,appears with his arms stretched out in the form of a cross while ,s4 ,antony was preaching--,foretells a conversion which immediately came about--,he goes into retreat on ,mount ,alvernus--,his contemplation and raptures--,jesus ,christ promises him special favors--,he fasts rigorously--,a piece of his writing delivers his companion from a temptation--,what he had to suffer from the devil--,he prepares for martyrdom--,he receives extraordinary favors in prayer--,his perfect conformity to the will of ,god--,jesus ,christ crucified appears to him under the figure of a ,seraphim--,receives the impression of the wounds of ,jesus ,christ--,he composes canticles full of the love of ,god--,tells his brethren of the ,stigmata--,they are seen and touched--,he leaves ,mount ,alvernus1 to return to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,cures a child of dropsy--,other miracles which he performed on the way--,he strengthens himself with new fervor in the service of ,god--,his patience in great sufferings--,his desires for the salvation of souls--,his prayer in suffering--,god assures him of his salvation--,he thanks ,him in a canticle--,he learns the time of his death1 and rejoices at it--,he has various illnesses1 and suffers extreme pain--,he multiplies the grapes in a vineyard--,god gives him sensible consolation--,a heated iron is applied to the temple1 and he feels no pain from it--,he weeps incessantly1 and says he does so to expiate for his sins--,he prefers the danger of losing his sight to restraining his tears--,his gratitude towards his physician--,a miracle is worked by some of his hair1 in favor of this physician--,he miraculously heals a canon--,his sufferings diminish--,goes to preach--,drives away a devil--,foretells a sudden death1 and it comes about--,cures ,st4 ,bonaventura in his infancy--,all his sufferings increase--,causes to be found for the love of ,god what could not be found for money--,they take him back to ,assisi--,they take him to ,sienna--,he answers difficult questions1 and foretells several things--,he causes the blessing which he gave to his brethren to be written--,they take him to ,celles1 and thence to ,assisi--,the bishop has him taken to his palace--,the state of his ,order at the time of his last illness ,,book ,v ,the violence of his illness does not prevent him from exhorting his brethren--,he is touched at the fatigue which his illness caused them-- ,thanks ,god for the pains he suffered--,dictates a letter to ,clare and her daughters--,rejoices and thanks ,god for his approaching death--,blesses his children--,has himself carried to ,s4 ,mary of the ,angels--,blesses the town of ,assisi--,informs a pious widow of his approaching death--,blesses his brethren a second time1 and makes them eat a bit of bread1 blessed by his hand--,gives a special blessing to ,bernard1 the eldest of his children--,what we may presume were his dispositions in receiving the last sacraments--,he stretches himself naked on the bare ground--,desires to be buried in the place of execution--,exhorts his brethren--,he has the praises of ,god sung when at the point of death--,he speaks to his children1 and blesses them for the last time--,has the passion of ,jesus ,christ read to him--,he recites the #adast psalm1 and dies after the last verse--,miraculous proofs of his beatitude--,state of his body after death--,the ,stigmata are seen and touched publicly--,his obsequies--,clare and her daughters see and kiss the ,stigmata--,he is buried at ,assisi1 in the church of ,s4 ,george--,the circular written after his death--,his canonization--,the ,church of ,s4 ,francis at ,assisi--,he is buried there--,researches are made to find the sacred body--,the mission of ,st4 ,francis--,the fruits of his labor4 ,devotion of ,s4 ,francis towards ,jesus ,christ crucified--,to what a degree he loved poverty--,how great was the austerity of his life--,his humility--,his obedience--,his gift of prayer and contemplation--,his love of ,god--,his sentiments of filial love on the mystery of the ,incarnation--,on the fast of ,jesus ,christ in the desert--,on the mystery of the ,eucharist--,s4 ,francis1 in his humility1 would not be made priest--,his devotion towards the ,mother of ,god--,towards the angels and saints--,his charity towards his neighbor--,his zeal for the salvation of souls--,his affection for the poor--,the affection of his heart for all creatures--,the pains he took to lead his brethren to perfection--,his tender charity towards his brethren--,his discretion and wisdom in the government of the ,order--,his supernatural and acquired knowledge--,the efficacy of his words--,his supernatural and miraculous gifts--,he drives away devils--,brings the dead to life--,heals the sick--,has the gift of prophecy and discernment of spirits--,he commands animals1 and is obeyed--,he performs many other miraculous actions--,the great honors which were paid to him--,his character and appearance--,in what sense he was simple ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,legends ,,of ,,saint ,,francis ,,of ,,assisi ,,book ,i ,we here offer1 to the pious reflections of the faithful1 the life of a man who proposed to himself to practise literally the precepts of the ,gospel1 to conform himself entirely to ,jesus ,christ crucified1 and to inspire the whole world with ,god's love4 ,such a purpose must seem great to all those who can appreciate true grandeur by the light of religion4 ,in its contempt of the goods of the world1 it manifests an elevation of mind far above the ostentation of the ancient philosophers2 in its deep humiliations1 an heroical courage2 in its extreme simplicity1 the most exalted sentiments2 in its weakness1 and in the apparent foolishness of the cross1 the strength and wisdom of ,god4 ,the infidels themselves admired all this1 and it will be not less meet to revive the fervor of ,christians1 and to increase the veneration they have always entertained for ,st4 ,francis4 ,he was born at ,assisi1 a town of ,umbria1 in ,italy1 in the year #aahb1 under the ,pontificate of ,lucius ,,iii4 ,peter ,bernardo1 his father1 was a rich merchant1 whose principal commercial transactions were with ,france4 ,his mother1 whose name was ,pica1 had only two sons1 ,francis and ,angelo4 ,the latter married at ,assisi1 and some of his descendants were still at ,assisi in #aecd4 ,god1 who has often condescended to usher in ,his saints by portents1 was pleased1 at the birth of ,francis1 to give signs of what he would be during his life4 ,for some days ,pica had suffered great pains1 without being able to give birth to her child1 when a man1 dressed as a pilgrim1 came to tell her that she would only be delivered of her infant in a stable2 he would be born on straw4 ,although this communication appeared most strange1 relatives1 nevertheless1 acted upon it4 ,the patient was removed to the nearest stable1 where she was successfully delivered2 an event which may well be looked upon1 as in the intention of ,providence1 thereby to mark the conformity of the holy man to ,jesus ,christ1 poor and humble2 as much1 at least1 as the creature can be in conformity with the ,creator1 and the servant with the ,master of the universe4 ,this stable has been turned into a chapel1 called in ,italian1 ,san ,francesco il piccolo--,st4 ,francis the ,little4 ,over the door the following words1 in very old writing1 are inscribed3 ,this chapel was the stable of the ,ox and the ,ass1 ,where ,francis was born1 the mirror of the world4 ,his mother had the name of ,john given to him at his baptism1 his father being then absent in ,france4 ,a stranger presented himself as his godfather1 and he was accepted as such2 whether it was that something extraordinary was perceived in this person1 or that they had been struck with astonishment at the first event4 ,the uniform tradition at ,assisi is1 that this stranger disappeared after the ceremony1 and that he left the impression of his knees on a marble step of the altar1 which is shown in the cathedral church1 with the baptismal font1 on which these words in ,italian are engraved3--,this is the fountain in which the ,seraphic ,father1 ,st4 ,francis1 was baptized4 ,at the return from the baptismal ceremony1 a man1 who seemed to have been sent by ,god1 as well as the other two1 or rather an angel in human form1 came to beg that he might be allowed to see the child and hold it4 ,he took it in his arms1 caressed it a good deal1 and impressed upon its right shoulder a well-formed cross1 as a mark of his consecration1 recommending the nurse to take particular care of the child1 not to expose him to the snares of the devils1 who had a foresight that he would one day wage a severe war against them4 ,one of these evil spirits was obliged to confess by the mouth of one possessed1 whom they were exorcising1 that the princes of darkness1 alarmed at the birth of ,francis1 had tried various ways to take away his life2 and it was the ,saint himself who expelled this devil afterwards4 ,these portents1 marvellous as they are1 are less surprising1 when we consider the singular and marked favors which heaven destined for him4 ,his parents brought him up with great care1 and he was put to study with the clergy of the ,parish of ,st4 ,george4 ,after he had acquired some knowledge of letters1 he was initiated in commercial affairs1 the correspondence of which necessitated his learning the ,french language2 he acquired it with so much ease1 that his father gave him the name of ,francis1 a name which he bore ever after4 ,bernardo and ,francis pursued their avocation in a very different manner4 ,the first1 with no other object than his worldly interest1 thought of nothing but his profits1 and had no other care than that of accumulating4 ,francis1 who had not a particle of avarice1 and had less thought of his profit than of dealing with honor1 traded with nobler and more elevated feelings4 ,but he loved the world1 he frequented society1 and spent a good deal in dress1 festivities1 and parties of pleasure4 ,his father frequently reprimanded him on the subject of his expenses1 but his remonstrances had little effect1 because he had no consideration of the value of money1 and he wished to be distinguished amongst his young companions1 who always considered him as their leader4 ,his mother1 who was tender and generous1 had more patience with him2 and she said to those who spoke to her of his profusion1 that from what she remarked in his conversation1 in his actions1 and even in his amusements1 she had reasons to hope something great when he should come to maturer years4 ,indeed1 in all his demeanor1 excellent prognostics for the future were observable3 his temper was exquisite1 mild1 and condescending1 his manners were agreeable and very polite2 he was lively1 and had great good sense3 he was brave1 and had a strong inclination to be generous1 even to give beyond his means4 ,although he plunged into the vain amusements of the world1 there was nothing blamable in his moral conduct4 ,by the special protection of heaven1 he avoided the rocks on which youth is too often wrecked2 he preserved the inestimable treasure of purity2 it was also remarked that he was distressed at any licentious expressions1 and never made any reply to them4 ,god had imprinted in his heart great feelings of compassion for the poor1 which increased from his infancy1 and which induced him to afford them liberal aid1 so that1 following the ,gospel precept1 ,give to every one that asketh thee1 he made a resolution to give to all who should ask alms of him1 and principally if they should solicit it for the love of ,god4 ,this feeling for the love of ,god had its effect upon him1 even then1 notwithstanding his dissipation2 he could seldom hear the expression made use of1 as he has since admitted1 without being sensibly affected4 ,it having once happened to him1 in the hurry of business1 to turn away a poor person who had asked a charity for the love of ,god1 his conscience smote him immediately1 and he ran after the poor man1 relieved him amply1 and made a promise to ,god that he would never refuse a single individual as long as it was in his power1 when an alms should be asked for ,his love1--a promise which he faithfully kept to his death1 and which1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 was of essential service in increasing the grace and love of ,god in his heart4 ,what is there more likely to bring down the grace of conversion and sanctification1 and increase the love of ,god1 than the practice of works of mercy8 ,the amiable qualities of ,francis rendered him a favorite throughout the town1 where he was looked up to as the flower of the youth1 and great hopes were entertained for the future in his regard4 ,a man of simple manners1 but enlightened from above1 caused a still greater esteem to be entertained for him4 ,when he met him in the streets1 he spread his cloak on the ground before him1 and as a reason for showing him so unusual a mark of respect1 exclaimed3--,this young man will soon do great things3 he will deserve all sorts of honors1 and will be revered by the faithful4 ,francis1 who was unconscious of the designs of ,god1 did not understand the meaning of this prediction4 ,he knew not that these honors were to be rendered him only after severe humiliations1 according to the words of the ,gospel4 ,engrossed by the affairs of the world1 and attached to its vanities1 he thought little of this ,divine truth1 and he had less taste for it2 nevertheless he hoped that he should some day receive the honors which others foretold1 and which ,god permitted him likewise to predict of himself in an affliction which came upon him4 ,the towns of ,assisi and ,perugia were at war with each other2 he was taken prisoner with some of his fellow-citizens3 whether it was that he had taken up arms in the service of his country1 or that he was beyond the limits of the town of his commercial affairs4 ,his captivity1 however1 did not affect his spirits1 he preserved his cheerfulness and good humor4 ,his companions1 who were dejected and cast down1 were offended at this1 and upbraided him with it1 saying that he might1 at least out of feeling for them1 disguise them1 disguise his satisfaction4 ,i am very sorry for you he replied1 but as to myself1 my mind is at ease and ,i am thankful that it is so4 ,you see me now a prisoner1 but at a future period1 you will see me honored by the whole world4 ,there was one among the prisoners whose quarrelsome temper and extreme ill humor caused him to be shunned by the others4 ,francis entreated them to draw a distinction between his person and his defects1 and to bear with him3 not being able to induce them to do so1 he had the charity to keep him company himself1 and by his good advice1 he rendered him more gentle4 ,all were so delighted with his goodness of heart1 that they sought his friendship4 ,liberated from captivity1 he returned to ,assisi1 where ,god visited him with a long and severe illness1 which reduced him to a state of great weakness4 ,this was to prepare his soul for the influence of grace4 ,as soon as he could walk1 he wished to enjoy the beauty and air of the country2 but he failed to be pleased therewith1 and was even disgusted with what he had previously liked the most2 he felt contempt for what he had before esteemed1 and his own conduct appeared to him to be senseless4 ,this change surprised him much1 but it did not as yet make any alteration in his heart4 ,the return of health renewed his attachment to the world1 his ambition and vanity revived2 he entertained fresh hopes of greatness1 and paid once more great attention to his dress4 ,thus it frequently happens that when ,god sends illness to worldly persons with a view to their conversion1 these have no other effect than momentary reflections and promises1 which are soon forgotten on the return of strength4 ,however1 ,francis became more and more charitable1 and gave to all the poor either money or his clothes4 ,having met a poor and ill-clad officer who was of a noble family1 he saw in him the poverty of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,king of kings1 and being moved to pity1 he gave him the new suit of clothes he had on4 ,the following night ,god showed him in his sleep a great and magnificent palace1 full of warlike arms1 all marked with the sign of the cross1 to give him an idea of the reward his charity was to receive4 ,he asked whom all that belonged to2 and he was answered1 that the arms were for his soldiers4 ,not as yet understanding the meaning of mysterious dreams1 he took this as a token of the success he was to have in warlike achievements1 without suspecting that the crosses he had seen had a totally different signification4 ,at that time ,walter1 ,count of ,brienne1 in ,champagne1 was waging active war against the emperor1 in the kingdom of ,naples1 on the subject of the claims of his wife ,alberia1 the eldest daughter of ,tancred1 ,king of ,cicily1 who had been some years dead4 ,francis resolved to offer him his services1 in the hope of gaining military honors4 ,he attached himself to an officer of distinction1 who belonged to the count's army1 and he set out with a good retinue1 after having assured his friends that he was sure of acquiring great renown4 ,he first went to ,spoleto1 and there ,jesus ,christ addressed these benevolent words to him during the night3 ,francis1 which of the two1 think you1 can be of the greatest service to you3 the master or the servant1 the rich or the poor8 ,it is the master and the rich1 he answered without any hesitation4 ,why then1 continued our ,lord1 do you leave ,god who is the master and rich1 to seek man1 who is the servant and poor8 ,o ,lord6 exclaimed ,francis1 what is it your pleasure ,i should do8 ,jesus ,christ then said to him3 ,return to your town2 what you have seen signifies nothing but what is spiritual4 ,it is from ,god1 and not from man1 that you will receive their accomplishment4 ,the very next morning he retraced his steps towards ,assisi1 to await the orders of the ,lord1 without troubling himself as to what the world should say as to this precipitate return4 ,his friends came as usual to propose a party of pleasure4 ,he received them1 as was his custom1 with great politeness1 and feasted them magnificently to bid them1 thus honorably1 an eternal adieu4 ,on parting from them1 he found himself suddenly struck with the vanity of all terrestrial things1 and with the grandeur of all that is heavenly1 by a communication from the ,spirit of ,god1 full of mildness1 but so internal1 and so forcible1 that his senses were brought into a state of inaction1 and he himself remained motionless4 ,he afterwards told his confessor1 that1 if he had been torn to pieces in this state of rapture1 he would not have felt it2 that1 in that moment1 he could only feel at the bottom of his soul4 ,the company1 quite alarmed1 drew near him2 and when he had recovered his usual serenity1 they enquired of him1 laughing1 what had occasioned his extraordinary reserve2 if1 perhaps1 he was not thinking of taking a wife8 ,it is so1 he replied3 ,i shall take one1 but one so noble and so beautiful1 that such another will not be found in the whole world4 ,evangelical poverty1 which he afterwards embraced1 was the spouse to which the ,holy ,ghost inspired him to allude4 ,after this divine favor he disembarrassed himself as much as possible of his commercial affairs1 to beg of ,god to know what ,he would have him do2 and he usually went to pray in a grotto with a confidential friend1 who left him there in entire liberty4 ,the frequent recourse to prayer excited in his heart so ardent a desire for the celestial country1 that he already looked upon everything that was earthly as nothing4 ,he felt that this happy disposition contained a treasure1 but he did not as yet know how to possess himself of the hidden prize4 ,the ,spirit of ,god merely insinuated to him that the spiritual life1 under the idea of traffic1 must begin by a contempt of the world1--and under the idea of warfare1 by a victory over self4--,all spirituality not based upon these two ,divine lessons1 will never have anything solid in it4 ,francis had soon occasion to put these lessons in practice4 ,as he was riding across the plains of ,assisi1 he perceived a leper coming straight to him4 ,at first he felt horror-stricken1 but calling to mind that he had formed a resolution to labor to attain perfection1 and that1 in order to be a soldier of ,jesus ,christ1 it was necessary to begin by obtaining a victory over self1 he dismounted1 kissed the leper1 and gave him an alms4 ,when he again mounted his horse1 he no longer saw any one1 though he looked all round the plain4 ,filled with astonishment1 and transported with joy1 he fell on his knees to thank ,god1 and formed a firm resolution to aim at still greater perfection4 ,this is the effect of generous and courageous efforts1 they draw down fresh graces1 and reanimate our courage4 ,he acquired also more inclination for retirement1 he had no longer any liking but for solitude1 for those places which were adapted to the holy sorrow of penance1 where he unceasingly addressed himself to ,god in fervent prayer1 accompanied by lamentations1 which cannot be described3 ,god at length favorably heard him4 ,his fervor daily increasing1 insomuch that he was wholly absorbed in ,god1 ,jesus ,christ appeared to him as if attached to the cross4 ,his soul1 at this stupendous scene1 was wholly penetrated1 and1 as it were1 dissolved1 and the image of his crucified ,saviour became from that time so strongly and intimately imprinted on his heart1 that every time it recurred to his mind1 he had a difficulty in restraining his sobs and tears4 ,in this marvellous apparition he was made aware that these words of the ,gospel were personally addressed to him3 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross and follow ,me4 ,he received from them that foretaste of poverty and humility which became his characteristics1 and so ardent a charity inflamed his heart1 that he had the courage to devote himself to the service of the lepers4 ,before this day they were so much his horror1 that1 far from allowing them to be in his presence1 as soon as he saw them1 at whatever distance1 he turned away from them1 and if they were near he passed on quickly1 holding his nose4 ,but for the love of ,jesus crucified1 who was pleased to represent ,himself to the ,prophet ,isaias under the despised figure of a leper1 he lowered himself to attending upon them in their hospitals1 where1 having abundantly supplied them with alms1 he made their beds1 dressed their sores1 and performed for them the most abject services2 he often even kissed their hands and their faces with great feelings of commiseration4 ,the words which our ,saviour one day addressed to him while at prayer1 stimulated him to continue this charitable exercise1 notwithstanding his natural repugnance3 ,francis1 if thou desirest to know ,my will1 thou must despise and hate all that thou hast loved and wished for till now4 ,let not this new path alarm thee1 for1 if the things which now please thee must become bitter and distasteful1 those which now displease thee1 will become sweet and agreeable4 ,shortly before his death he declared that what had seemed to him most bitter in serving the lepers1 had been changed into what was pleasing both for soul and body2 and all those who strive to overcome themselves for the love of ,god feel1 as he did1 that the severest practices are soon softened down by the unction of grace4 ,the sight of ,jesus ,christ fastened to the cross made him feel the misery of the poor so intensely1 that he would have wished to employ all he had1 and his own person1 in their relief4 ,sometimes he did strip himself to clothe them2 and when he had not enough to satisfy them all1 he unsewed or tore his clothes to divide among them4 ,in the absence of his father he caused much more bread to be brought to table at their meals than was necessary2 and when his mother asked the reason1 he said1 that it was in order to give more quickly to those who came to ask for food4 ,this pious mother saw with pleasure the charity of her son2 and far from endeavoring to check it1 she was not displeased at his leaving her alone at table1 while he took to the neighboring sick the viands of which he stinted himself4 ,an equally lively and respectful zeal induced him to come to the aid of such priests as were in want2 he took particular care to provide for the decoration of the altars1 in order the better to assist at the divine service4 ,he bought the finest linen1 and distributed it to the poor country churches to be employed at the sacrifice of the mass2 and when this august sacrifice was about to be celebrated1 if anything was wanting1 or if the altar was not properly found in everything requisite1 he would offer himself to the officers of the church1 in order to supply what was required either from his purse or by his personal assistance4 ,but all these good works did not come up to what he had figured to himself as requisite for perfection4 ,he could have wished to withdraw into some distant country1 there to practise voluntary poverty1 which had already inflamed his heart4 ,at first he resolved to go to ,rome1 to visit the tomb of ,st4 ,peter1 moved by that grand devotion which ,god has often inspired in ,his saints1 and which has been so frequent since the fourth century4 ,he also proposed to himself to solicit from the ,almighty1 by the intercession of the ,prince of the ,apostles1 the grace to carry out the resolution he had come to of leading an ,apostolic life4 ,after having recited his prayer in this holy place1 he noticed that in the crowd of people some made but a slender offering1 while others made no donation whatever4 ,what then1 said he1 is devotion grown so cold8 ,how is it that men do not offer all they have1 and do not even offer themselves on a spot where the ashes of the ,prince of the ,apostles repose8 ,how does it happen that they do not decorate with all possible magnificence this ,peter1 on whom ,jesus ,christ has founded ,his ,church8 ,he contributed to the best of his power1 leaving a considerable sum for that purpose2 and what he had wished was subsequently executed4 ,the ,sovereign ,pontiffs1 and in particular ,sixtus ,v1 who was a religious of his ,order1 have rendered the ,basilica of ,st4 ,peter so sumptuous and magnificent1 that it is now the admiration of the universe4 ,on going out of the church1 he saw a multitude of poor1 whom he immediately joined1 as much for the affection he had for them1 as for the love of poverty4 ,he gave his clothes to him who appeared to be the most necessitous4 ,the following day1 having dressed himself with propriety1 he set out on his return to ,assisi1 praying ,god to guide him in the ways of holy poverty4 ,the devil1 who was sensible that the young man would become confirmed in his intention if he persevered in prayer1 appeared to him under a most terrific form1 and threatened him1 if he persisted1 to render him a dreadful deformity like unto an old woman of the town1 who was so hideous that he could not even look at her4 ,but the newly-enlisted soldier of ,jesus ,christ1 who began to be inured to warfare1 laughed at the threats of the tempter1 and was more urgent in his prayers1 for which purpose he chose underground places1 where he could better defend himself against the snares of his enemy4 ,the fruit of these holy exercises was a lively sorrow for the use he had made of the first years of his youth1 and a great perseverance in the mortification of his senses1 in order to bear the cross of ,jesus ,christ in his body1 as he bore it in his heart4 ,it was thus that ,francis acted before having changed his habit1 or quitted the world4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that he had then no other master from whom he received instructions than ,jesus ,christ2 nevertheless1 an author quoted by ,wading1 assures us that he sometimes consulted the ,bishop of ,assisi4 ,we may here say1 in order that there may be no seeming contradiction between the two1 that he received instructions from ,jesus ,christ only because he was inspired by ,him1 but that he communicated with the bishop on the points on which he had been inspired2 and we may be the more assured of this1 as we shall see hereafter that this prelate had his confidence1 and that there is reason to think that he was his spiritual ,father4 ,the servant of ,god1 walking and meditating one day out of ,assisi1 near the church of ,st4 ,damian1 which was very old and falling into ruin1 was moved by the ,holy ,spirit to enter it to pray4 ,there1 prostrated before the crucifix1 he repeated three times the following beautiful words1 which gave him great interior consolation1 and which he subsequently made frequent use of3 ,great ,god1 full of glory1 and ,thou1 my ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,i entreat you to enlighten me and to dispel the darkness of my mind1 to give me a pure faith1 a firm hope1 and an ardent charity4 ,let me have a perfect knowledge of ,thee1 ,o ,god6 so that ,i may in all things by guided by ,thy light1 and act in conformity to ,thy will4 ,he cast his eyes1 filled with tears1 upon the crucifix1 when a voice came forth from it1 and he heard distinctly these words repeated three times1 not interiorly1 but loudly pronounced3 ,francis1 go and repair my house1 which thou seest is falling into ruin4 ,so wonderful a voice1 in a place where he was alone1 alarmed him greatly1 but he felt immediately the salutary effects of it1 and he was transported with joy4 ,the sense of these words chiefly related to the state of the ,church which ,jesus ,christ had purchased at the price of ,his blood1 which the holy man was to repair in all its defects by his ministry and the labors of his disciples1 according to the explanation which the ,holy ,spirit gave to him of them subsequently1 which he communicated to his brethren1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure tells us4 ,nevertheless1 the powerful protection which he received from heaven for the repair of the church of ,st4 ,damian1 was an indication that the same words were to be understood to relate to that building also3 as the sacred oracles had a twofold literal sense in the mouths of the ,prophets1 one of which related to events which were at hand1 and the other to a distant time1 and to mysteries wholly spiritual4 ,francis came to himself2 he left the church fully resolved to undertake its repair1 and left money in the hands of a priest named ,peter1 who did the parochial duties of it1 to keep a lamp burning before the crucifix1 promising to give more1 and to employ all he had for the use of this holy place4 ,the voice which had issued from the crucifix renewed in his mind and heart the impression of the mystery of the ,passion4 ,he felt himself interiorly wounded through the wounds of ,jesus ,christ1 and he shed such burning tears1 that his eyes were quite inflamed1 and1 as it were1 full of blood1 when he returned from prayer4 ,to make his body participate in the sufferings which penetrated his very soul1 and to punish himself for the levities of his youth1 he imposed on himself a very rigorous abstinence1 with various other kinds of mortification4 ,the eagerness he felt to commence the repair of ,st4 ,damian's church1 suggested to him means by which the work might be begun4 ,after having fortified himself by the sign of the cross1 he took from his father's stores several pieces of cloth1 which he sold at ,foligno1 together with his horse4 ,he came back on foot1 and offered the money respectfully to the priest of ,st4 ,damian for the repair of the church1 and in aid of the poor2 humbly entreating him to allow him to remain some time with him4 ,the priest consented to receive ,francis1 but refused the money1 fearing the displeasure of his father2 and ,francis1 who had utter contempt for money1 not valuing it more than so much dust1 when it was of no use for good works1 threw it upon one of the windows of the church4 ,the heretics of the last century1 who calumniated the ,saint for many things1 have deemed it criminal in him to have taken these pieces of cloth from his father's stores4 ,st4 ,bonaventure is of a different way of thinking2 he has not thought that this action required justification2 on the contrary1 he calls the sale of the cloth and of the horse a fortunate bargain4 ,and1 indeed1 without going into the right which the son may have had in the commercial affairs of his father1 in consequence of their partnership1 and of his age of twenty-five1 had he not reason to think that1 having received orders from heaven to repair a church1 ,god1 who is the ,master and ,dispenser of all goods1 permitted him to employ a portion of the goods which were under his paternal roof1 since he had no other means of obeying the injunction8 ,but it is an extraordinary case1 which must not be drawn into precedent4 ,the general rule of ,christian morality is1 that children may not dispose of anything without the permission of their parents even under the pretext of piety4 ,bernardo on his return from a journey1 having heard what his son had done1 came in great wrath to ,st4 ,damian's with several members of his family2 and ,francis1 who had not yet sufficient strength of mind to encounter the storm1 and wished to avoid the first ebullition1 went and hid himself in the priest's room4 ,three contemporary authors assure us that1 having placed himself behind the door1 and pressing himself against the wall1 when the door was opened he was miraculously let into the wall1 so that he was not seen by those who were looking for him4 ,when his father was gone1 he retired secretly into a cavern1 which was known only to one servant1 from whom he received what was necessary for his immediate sustenance1 and where he occupied himself in continual prayer1 shedding abundance of tears1 in order that he might be delivered from those who pursued him1 and be able to accomplish the work which ,god had inspired him to undertake4 ,after having passed a month in this place1 he considered that it was in ,god alone that he ought to hope1 without putting any confidence in his own exertions1 and this thought filled him with interior joy1 and raised his depressed spirits4 ,reproaching himself1 therefore1 with his pusillanimity1 he left his cavern and went straight to the town1 as a soldier1 who1 feeling ashamed of having fled1 returns intrepidly to the charge4 ,of what is not he capable1 who is fully persuaded that he can do nothing of himself towards his salvation1 but that he can do all through ,god who imparts strength to him8 ,on these two principles the saints have undertaken1 and carried into execution1 the greatest things4 ,the inhabitants of ,assisi1 who saw his face all pale and wan1 and who remarked how changed were his conversation and opinions1 thought that his mind was disturbed4 ,he was called a madman1 they threw mud and stones at him1 and followed him1 hooting and calling after him4 ,but1 without paying attention to these insults1 and being on the contrary well pleased to bear these marks of the holy folly of the cross1 the servant of ,god continued his way as if he had been deaf and insensible4 ,bernardo being told that his son had returned1 and was made the object of public derision1 went immediately in pursuit of him1 reproached him bitterly with his conduct1 seized him and dragged him to his house1 where he beat him severely1 and confined him in a hole under the staircase4 ,this severity had no effect in shaking the resolution of the holy prisoner2 he even acquired more firmness1 and encouraged himself to suffer by the words of the ,gospel3 ,blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4 ,a short time after1 when his father was on a journey1 his mother1 who did not approve of the severity with which he was treated1 and who moreover had no hope of overcoming his constancy1 set him at liberty4 ,he gave thanks to ,god for it1 and made use of it1 to return to the church of ,st4 ,damian4 ,bernardo1 not finding him in his confinement at his return1 was not content with upbraiding his wife in the severest terms1 but went off to ,st4 ,damian's to drive him out of the country if he should not succeed in bringing him back4 ,francis1 to whom ,god had given strength1 presented himself boldly to his father1 and told him decidedly that he cared not for his blows1 nor for his shackles--that he was prepared willingly to suffer all sorts of evils for the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,his father1 seeing that there was nothing more to hope in his case1 thought of nothing further than to get back the money for the cloth and the horse4 ,he found it in the window where ,francis had thrown it1 when the priest refused its acceptance1 and then his wrath was somewhat appeased4 ,avarice1 which is never satisfied1 induced ,bernardo to believe that his son had other money1 and he had him summoned before the city magistrates1 to account for it4 ,francis appeared before their tribunal and told them that he had changed his state of life1 that ,god had delivered him from the slavery of the world1 and that he had nothing more to do with its affairs4 ,the magistrates1 who knew his conversion and his perseverance1 saw something grand in his demeanor1 and told his father1 who urged them to put interrogatories to his son1 that this affair ought to be carried into the bishop's court4 ,bernard addressed himself to that authority1 not only to compel his son to give up what money he had1 but to force him to renounce his claims to any paternal inheritance4 ,francis1 who was a sincere lover of poverty1 cheerfully consented to all that was required of him1 and said that he would willingly appear before the bishop1 who was the pastor and father of his soul4 ,as soon as he was there1 without waiting for his father to make his demand1 and without saying anything himself1 he gave up what money he still had1 and then stripped off his clothes1 even to his shirt1 under which it was seen that he wore a hair-shirt1 and gave them up to his father1 addressing him in the following beautiful words3 ,until this time ,i have called thee father on earth2 but from henceforward ,i may boldly say1 ,our ,father who art in ,heaven1 in whom ,i have placed all my treasure1 and all my confidence4 ,the prelate1 who was a man of great worth1 admiring this excess of fervor1 and moved even to tears1 rose up1 and embracing the servant of ,god1 covered him with his cloak1 and ordered his servants to bring such clothing as was necessary for him4 ,it was no doubt by a dispensation of ,divine ,providence that a bishop pressed to his bosom him who was to combat so strenuously for the service of the ,church4 ,they brought an old cloak belonging to a laborer1 who was in the employ of the bishop1 which ,francis received with great satisfaction1 and with which he clothed himself1 making on it a cross with some mortar which he met with accidentally2 thus manifesting what he wished to he1 a half-naked poor one1 and a crucified man4 ,this occurred in the year #abjf1 when he was in his twenty-fifth year4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who gives the name of spiritual intoxication to the admirable fervor with which he stripped himself in order to be able to follow ,jesus ,christ nailed on the cross1 says that1 moreover1 in order to avoid the shipwrecks of the world1 he fortified himself with the representation of the wood which was the instrument of our salvation4 ,emancipated from the ties of worldly desires1 as he had wished to be1 he now sought for some sequestered spot1 where alone and in silence he might listen to the voice of ,god4 ,in a wood1 through which he was passing1 singing the praises of ,god in the ,french language1 some thieves surrounded him and asked him who he was4 ,i am the herald of the great ,king1 he replied1 in a prophetical sense1 with perfect confidence in ,god4 ,on receiving this answer1 they beat him cruelly1 threw him into a hole that was full of snow1 and ridiculed the title he gave himself4 ,when they had left him1 he again began to sing the praises of ,god in a louder voice than before1 delighted to have had an opportunity of suffering4 ,at a neighboring monastery1 where he implored alms1 which he received as a contemptible beggar1 they employed him for some days in the vilest affairs of the scullery4 ,but seeing that this interfered too much with his spiritual exercises1 he came to ,gubbio1 where one of his friends1 having recognized him1 gave him1 in order that he might be more decently clad1 a hermit's dress1 a short tunic1 a leathern girdle1 shoes1 and a staff4 ,in this penitential habit1 he subjected his body to additional austerities2 and in order to fulfil all the functions of humility1 to which he was much attached1 he devoted himself to the service of the lepers4 ,he was constantly seen in their hospitals1 moving about in all directions to aid them1 preventing all their wants1 showing the greatest compassion for them1 washing their feet1 cleansing their sores1 removing the matter1 and1 by a wonderful effort of charity1 kissing their disgusting ulcers4 ,he received from ,god in reward the gift of healing2 and this was a figure of the ,evangelical cures1 which he was soon to apply to the diseases of the soul4 ,among many proofs which ,st4 ,bonaventure adduces of his having the gift of healing miraculously1 he mentions that of a man of the ,duchy of ,spoleto1 whose mouth and cheeks were eaten away by a dreadful cancer1 and for whom all sorts of remedies had been fruitlessly employed4 ,this man met ,francis returning from ,rome 7whither he had been to implore the assistance of the blessed ,apostles71 who1 out of great respect1 wished to kiss his feet2 this the humble ,francis prevented1 but kissed the cancerous face1 which was instantaneously cured4 ,the same saint remarks3 ,i know not which is most to be admired1 such a kiss1 or such a cure6 ,the servant of ,god1 who now acknowledged no other country than heaven1 and who was fearful of being the cause of some of his father's violences1 proposed to himself to take up his abode in ,gubbio and devote himself to the exercises of charity1 without returning to ,assisi2 but calling to mind the order which had been given him by the voice which came from the crucifix1 to repair the ,church of ,st4 ,damian1 he thought himself bound to obey it1 at least by questing for what was requisite for working at it4 ,the profound humility which he had acquired by the degradations he had subjected himself to1 gave him the courage he required for begging in his native town1 where he had been known to have possessed everything in plenty4 ,having cast aside all bashfulness for the love of ,jesus ,christ poor and crucified1 he went through the centre of ,assisi as one inspired1 publishing the glories of ,god1 and soliciting stones for the repair of the church2 addressing his fellow-citizens with simplicity1 thus3 ,whosoever will give me a stone1 shall have a reward2 whoever will give two shall have a double reward2 and he who gives three shall be rewarded threefold4 ,many treated him with contempt1 and turned him into ridicule4 ,others could not understand how a young man of a good and opulent family1 with excellent prospects1 hitherto considered as the model of the young men of the place1 could demean himself to such a degree as to beg in his native town4 ,some thought that such a change could only come from ,god1 and were greatly moved by it4 ,but the new-made pauper1 having no respect for the opinions of men1 and receiving cheerfully the insults put upon him1 after the example of ,jesus ,christ1 thought of nothing but the church of ,st4 ,damian1 for which he quested so successfully1 that many persons1 moved by his exhortations1 furnished sufficient for its repair4 ,he himself worked at it daily1 and carried the materials on his shoulders as a common laborer1 without any regard for his body1 which was emaciated by the rigors of penance and fasting4 ,the priest of ,st4 ,damian took compassion on the pious workman1 and took care to provide him with a substantial meal when he came in from work4 ,francis having received this charitable succor for some days running1 reflected on his situation1 and said to himself as he afterwards told his disciples3 ,will you find everywhere a priest who has so much consideration for you8 ,this is not the sort of life you have chosen3 go1 then1 henceforward from door to door1 as a poor man1 and solicit food for the love of ,god1 with an empty plate1 on which you will put whatever may be given you4 ,for it is thus you must live for the love of ,him who was born poor1 who lived poorly1 whom they affixed naked to the cross1 and who was put after ,his death into another man's tomb4 ,one must be very dead to self1 have great contempt of the world1 and a sincere love of ,god1 to entertain such feelings and carry them out4 ,the following day he took a plate1 and went begging from door to door1 and sat down in the street to eat4 ,at the first mouthful he took of this disgusting mess1 he felt a nausea in his stomach1 which made him recoil4 ,animated at the same instant by the love of poverty1 he became ashamed of his weakness1 and reproached himself for the feeling2 after which1 he ate the remainder without reluctance1 and with so much relish1 that he thought he had never eaten a better meal4 ,he also felt an interior joy and strength in his body1 which enabled him to bear with pleasure1 for ,god's sake1 whatever might be most severe or bitter4 ,after having returned fervent thanks to the ,father of the poor1 who had given him so wonderful a taste1 he went to the priest and entreated him to take no further trouble with respect to his nourishment1 because1 he said1 ,i have found an excellent purveyor1 and a very able cook1 who can season his dishes in a superior way4 ,he often used such jocose expressions1 which were as much the effect of the spiritual joy he felt1 as of his natural lively and joyous turn of mind4 ,bernardo1 vexed in the greatest degree at seeing his son begging and exposed to the jeers of the public1 was inflamed with anger1 and either turned from him when he met him1 or cursed him4 ,francis admitted that these curses affected him more than any other suffering he endured1 and he hit upon a method of protecting himself4 ,it was to take another poor and miserable man with him1 who should be as a father to him4 ,he was engaged to bless ,francis1 making the sign of the cross on him whenever his father cursed him4 ,francis then said to ,bernardo3 ,believe me1 my father1 that ,god can give me1 and indeed has given me1 another father1 from whom ,i receive blessings for your curses4 ,his brother ,angelo1 a young man full of the love of the world1 also mocked him1 and turned him into ridicule4 ,seeing him one day in church shivering with cold in his poor hermit's dress1 and praying devoutly1 he said to one of his friends3 ,go and ask him to sell you a little of his sweat6 ,francis replied1 ,i do not choose to sell my sweat to men2 ,i can sell it at a better price to ,god4 ,if all ,christians thought thus1 they would not suffer much pain for the world1 which pays so ill1 and they would do much for ,god1 who rewards so magnificently4 ,the pauper of ,jesus ,christ gained many other victories over himself in the quest he had taken upon himself for the building of ,st4 ,damian4 ,he suffered with admirable patience the persecution of some worldly persons1 who treated him as a fool1 and insulted him in a thousand ways4 ,every time that it happened to him to blush when he met any of his acquaintances or friends1 he reprimanded himself as if he had committed some great fault2 he humbled himself the more1 and begged for alms more submissively1 to take down all influence of pride4 ,one day when he was begging for oil for two lamps which he wished to keep constantly burning before the crucifix1 from which the miraculous voice had been heard1 he went into a house where some persons of his acquaintance were collected together for gaming4 ,their sight struck him1 and gave him a feeling of shame which induced him to retire4 ,he had scarcely left the door1 when1 thinking on what he had done1 he considered himself guilty of a great want of firmness1 and he immediately returned to the place where they were at play1 he acknowledged his fault before all present1 and begged boldly for the lamps of the church in the ,french language1 which set the company into an immoderate fit of laughter4 ,such efforts show the truth of the remark of ,st4 ,ambrose3 that the saints were no less liable than ourselves to fall into faults2 but that they had greater care to practise virtue1 and to correct the faults into which they fell4 ,pious and well-thinking persons remarked that the conduct of ,francis was maintained with an equality of fervor1 and they found a high degree of wisdom in what appeared to the generality of the world to be littleness of mind and folly4 ,these opinions gradually spread and brought over many to esteem and venerate him2 even those who had despised and insulted him1 came forward to solicit his forgiveness4 ,the prior of the monastery where he had served in the kitchen1 who was then at ,assisi1 and who there became acquainted with his rare virtues1 showed him great respect1 begged him to pardon the treatment he had received1 and excused himself1 by saying1 that he could not then be known under the miserable disguise under which he had hid himself4 ,the man who had foretold that he would do great things1 added to this prediction1 while applauding himself3 ,you know what ,i before said to you of this young man2 you only see the beginning of his holiness1 but you will see the continuation3 ,jesus ,christ will do wonders through him1 which all the world will admire4 ,the dispositions which were now entertained in his regard1 procured for him the means of completing the repairs of ,st4 ,damian towards the close of the year #abjf4 ,in the course of this work1 it was remarked that he said to those who passed by1 ,assist me in finishing this building2 there will be a monastery here some day of poor females of holy life1 whose reputation will tend to glorify our ,heavenly ,father throughout ,his ,holy ,church4 ,this was a real prophecy1 the accomplishment of which was witnessed five years afterwards1 when he placed there the holy virgin ,clare and her companions1 whom he had consecrated to ,jesus ,christ4 ,this prophecy was so well known1 that ,saint ,clare inserted its very words in the will she made in the year #abec4 ,at the beginning of the year #abjg1 ,francis1 not to remain idle1 undertook a new work4 ,he proposed to restore the church of ,st4 ,peter1 which was at a little distance from the town1 in consequence of the devotion with which the purity of his faith inspired him towards the ,prince of the ,apostles2 and this intention was soon put in force1 because1 it having been seen how carefully he had made use of the donations he had received for his first work1 he was now furnished with what he required1 more readily and more abundantly4 ,he now was desirous of effecting some essential repairs to a third church or chapel1 about a mile from ,assisi1 which was very ancient1 but so deserted and in such a state of ruin1 that it only served as a refuge for herdsmen in bad weather3 its name was ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and ,ottavio1 ,bishop of ,assisi1 thus describes its foundation3 ,in the year of #ceb1 a year after the appearance in the heavens of a luminous cross on the #gth of ,may1 in broad daylight1 over the ,city of ,jerusalem1 which extended from ,mount ,calvary to the ,mountain of ,olives1 a cross which was more brilliant than the sun1 as ,st4 ,cyril1 then bishop of that city1 and one of the eye-witnesses of the phenomenon1 relates in his letter to the ,emperor ,constantius1--four holy hermits came from ,palestine into ,italy1 and obtained from ,pope ,liberius leave to remain in the ,valley of ,spoleto1 and settled themselves in the vicinity of ,assisi1 with the permission of the authorities of the town4 ,there they built a chapel which was called ,st4 ,mary of ,josaphat1 because they placed in it a relic of the sepulchre of the ,blessed ,virgin1 and because the altar was consecrated by the title of her glorious ,assumption4 ,in the sixth century it was given to the ,religious of the ,order of ,st4 ,benedict1 who enlarged and strengthened it2 and it was afterwards called ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,we shall soon explain the reason of this4 ,it was also called ,portiuncula1 because of some portions of ground which the ,benedictines of ,mount ,saubazo possessed in the vicinity4 ,we can easily understand that a man without any property1 who was poor and a beggar1 could not have accomplished these works without assistance from above2 but ,st4 ,bonaventure finds in it a still further mystery4 ,he says that ,divine ,providence1 who guided ,francis in all his actions1 preordained things in such manner1 that he repaired three churches previous to instituting there his orders1 in order that the material temples should be the types of the three spiritual edifices which he was to raise up2 and that passing from what is perceptible to the senses1 to what is only apparent to the mind1 and rising gradually to what is still more elevated1 he was enabled to give to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ three descriptions of soldiery able to combat for the reformation of morals1 and worthy to triumph gloriously in heaven4 ,we may add1 that the austerities1 labors1 and humiliations of the servant of ,god had been for the two previous years as so many strokes of the hammer1 which rendered him a chosen and living foundation-stone on which these sacred edifices might be based4 ,such is the method which is adopted by our ,lord4 ,he prepares all things1 and brings them successively to perfection2 instead of which1 men are always hurried1 and often endeavor in the way to perfection to advance faster than the grace which directs them4 ,of the three churches which ,francis had repaired1 he chose that of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels for his residence1 in order to honor the ,mother of ,god and the ,celestial ,intelligences4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that he was often favored by visits from ,angels1 on account of the frequent apparitions of these blessed spirits there4 ,the man of ,god passed days and nights there in fervent prayer1 when he entreated the ,blessed ,virgin1 that as she had conceived and brought forth the ,word of the ,father1 full of grace and truth1 she would have the goodness to obtain for him a participation therein2 it was there also1 that1 by the merits of this powerful advocate1 he had the happiness to conceive and bring forth1 if it may be so expressed1 his evangelical life2 the precious fruit of grace and truth1 which the ,son of ,god had come to bring upon earth4 ,one day when he was assisting in this church at a mass of the ,apostles1 which he had requested the priest of ,st4 ,damian to say1 he listened attentively to the ,gospel where this form of life is prescribed by our ,saviour for the mission of ,his ,apostles3 ,do not possess gold1 nor silver1 nor money in your purses2 nor scrip for your journey1 nor two coats1 nor shoes1 nor a staff4 ,after mass1 he asked the priest to explain these words to him2 he understood the sense of them well1 and impressed them well on his heart1 finding in them the image of that poverty which he loved3 ,this is what ,i seek for1 he exclaimed1 quite overjoyed1 this is what ,i desire with my whole heart4 ,at the same instant he threw away his purse with a feeling of horror for money1 he took off his shoes1 he replaced his leather girdle by a cord1 and devoted his thoughts to putting in practice what he had just heard1 and to conforming himself in all things to the ,evangelical rule4 ,it is a vocation similar to that of ,st4 ,anthony1 of whom ,st4 ,athanasius relates1 that having heard in the church these words of ,jesus ,christ1 ,if thou wilt be perfect1 go sell what thou hast1 and give it to the poor1 he went immediately to put this counsel in practice1 in order to attain perfection4 ,the hermit's tunic1 which ,francis still retained1 appeared to him too delicate2 he therefore got one coarse and rough1 of an ash gray1 which came down to the feet1 and the sleeves of which reached to the fingers2 to this he added a hood1 which covered sufficiently the head and face4 ,this description of dress he continued to wear during the remainder of his life1 except that the tunic and hood had sometimes more or less length or breadth1 as is seen in his habits which are preserved with great veneration at ,assisi1 at ,mount ,alvernia1 and at ,florence4 ,seeking nothing but poverty and humility1 he chose the dress that was the plainest1 the most despicable1 and the most likely to make himself despised by the world1 whose vanities he held in utter contempt2 it was also the dress most like to that of the shepherds1 and other country peasants1 who chose it to protect them from the weather2 or rather he imitated the prophets1 who only covered themselves with a sack1 to which he afterwards added a short cloak4 ,all the events just narrated happened in the year #abjh1 which is reckoned the first year of the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 because it is the one in which he took the habit1 which he gave in the following year to such as chose to imitate him1 and in which the first stone was laid which served as a foundation for this spiritual edifice4 ,then ,god inspired him to preach1 to exhort sinners to repentance1 and to cause evangelical perfection to be loved in the world4 ,although he expressed himself in a very plain manner1 his discourses had nothing in them that was low2 they were solid and animated with the ,spirit of ,god1 and so effectually penetrated the hearts of his hearers1 that every one was surprised at it4 ,he always began them by the following salutation1 which he afterwards declared had been revealed to him by ,god2 ,may the ,lord grant you ,his peace4 ,it was noticed that a very pious man1 who was in the habit of addressing the two following words to all whom he met1 ,peace and weal1--,peace and weal6 was not seen in ,assisi after ,francis began to preach2 as if he wished it to be understood that his mission had ended by the presence of him whose precursor he was4 ,in fact1 this new preacher was in truth an angel of peace sent from heaven to reconcile a great number of sinners with ,jesus ,christ1 and to draw down on them all sorts of benefits4 ,he joined to the ministry of the word the exercise of every sort of virtue1 and applied himself particularly to prayer1 where the sufferings of our ,blessed ,saviour made such impression on his soul that he groaned and sobbed aloud1 when he found himself at liberty4 ,one of his friends1 passing by the church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 having heard him1 went in1 and seeing him bathed in tears1 reproached him with it as of a weakness unbecoming in a man4 ,i weep for the ,passion of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 answered ,francis1 and ,i ought not to be ashamed of weeping openly before the whole world4 ,this enviable emotion was in the heart of ,st4 ,augustin1 when he said to his people3 ,the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ1 which the ,church puts every year before us1 moves and affects us as if we saw ,him personally stretched on the cross2 there are none but the impious who can be insensible to it4--,as for me1 ,i wish to lament with you in considering this affecting spectacle4 ,this is the time in which to weep1 to acknowledge ourselves criminals1 and to pray for mercy4 ,which of us would have it in his power to shed a sufficiency of tears to equal the merit of so great and so worthy a subject of grief8 ,every ,christian ought to blush1 if he is wanting in these sentiments of gratitude and love4 ,the words and actions of ,francis soon became noised abroad4 ,some became converted1 and embraced the penitential course he preached4 ,others formed the resolution of leaving all and joining him4 ,the first was ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 a rich and discreet man1 of one of the best families of ,assisi1 who had great influence in the town1 and guided it by his advice4 ,this respectable man1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure called him1 considering the contempt with which ,francis viewed all the things of this world1 was desirous of ascertaining whether it was in truth an effect of sanctity1 or of littleness of mind4 ,he invited him1 therefore1 to supper and to sleep at his house1 and had a bed prepared for him in his room4 ,while he feigned to sleep soundly1 he saw by the light of a lamp ,francis get up1 fall on his knees1 melt into tears1 his eyes raised to heaven1 his arms crossed1 pronounce slowly these words3 ,deus meus et omnia1--,my ,god1 and my all1 which he repeated during the whole night4 ,so ardent and so tender an expression is quite convincing that he was then in an exalted state of contemplation1 where interior communications made him sensible that the ,lord was especially his ,god1 and filled the whole soul4 ,happy he who can with truth say1 ,deus meus et omnia4 ,for this it is requisite that he should belong wholly to ,god1 and that the world should be nothing to him4 ,bernard did not interrupt ,francis in his holy exercise1 but1 filled with devotional feelings1 he said to himself1 ,truly this is a man of ,god4 ,after having put him to other proofs1 he resolved to give all his goods to the poor and follow him1 and he put this question to him3 ,if a man had received from his master a certain portion for several years1 and then wished no longer to make use of it1 what do you think it would be best for him to do8 ,francis said in answer1 that he ought to return it to the master from whom he had received it4 ,it is ,i1 replied ,bernard1 who have received a great deal from ,god1 and much more than ,i have deserved2 ,i return it willingly into ,his hands1 and place it at your disposal2 for ,i mean to attach myself to you4 ,at these words1 ,francis1 delighted to find that ,god began the accomplishment of his works by so worthy a personage3 ,your intention1 he said1 is one of great importance2 you must consult ,god upon it1 to learn from ,him how you are to put it in execution4 ,early to-morrow morning we will ask the ,curate of ,st4 ,nicholas1 who is known to be a most worthy man1 to say a mass for us1 and after having heard it1 we will continue in prayer till the hour of ,tierce4 ,we see in this the mode of acting of one who has the spirit of ,god2 he hurries nothing1 he has recourse to prayer1 and he makes use of the ordinary practices of the ,church4 ,the following day they did what they had proposed2 after which1 ,francis1 who had great devotion to the three ,persons of the ,blessed ,trinity1 opened three times in their honor the book of the ,gospels1 entreating the ,almighty to confirm1 by the testimony of their texts1 ,bernard's holy resolution4 ,at the first opening they found the following3 ,if thou wilt be perfect1 go sell all thou hast1 and give it to the poor4 ,at the second3 ,take nothing for the journey4 ,at the third3 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself1 and take up the cross1 and follow ,me4 ,then ,francis1 addressing himself to ,bernard1 said3 ,there is the life we must lead1 the rule we must follow1 you and ,i1 and all those who shall desire to join us4 ,go thou and put in execution what thou hast just heard4 ,the new disciple1 intimately convinced that his design came from ,god1 sold1 as fast as he could1 all his effects1 from which he got a considerable sum1 which he had carried to the ,square of ,st4 ,george1 and distributed it entirely among the poor whom he could collect4 ,francis then gave him a habit similar to his own2 he called him his eldest son1 and was always tenderly attached to him3 he was indeed a most holy man4 ,peter of ,catania1 ,canon of the ,church of ,st4 ,ruffinus1 the ,cathedral of ,assisi1 edified by the self-denial and charity of ,bernard1 was disposed to become a disciple of the same master1 and received the penitential habit on the same day1 which was the #afth of ,april4 ,all three retired to a hut which had been deserted1 near to a rivulet called ,rivo ,torto1 on account of its winding so very much4 ,seven days after that1 a very pious man called ,giles1 who was greatly looked up to in ,assisi1 on his return from the country learnt what his two fellow-citizens had done1 which had excited the admiration of the whole town1 and felt an ardent wish to imitate them1 and thus carry out an intention he had entertained of devoting himself to the service of ,god4 ,he passed the following night in prayer1 when he was inspired to offer himself to ,francis1 for whom he had already great esteem1 on account of the extreme contempt of the world and of himself1 which was remarked in the whole of his conduct4 ,in the morning he went to the ,church of ,st4 ,george1 whose festival it was1 there to implore the saint's intercession1 that he might find him whom he was seeking1 of whose abode he was ignorant4 ,seeing out of the town three roads1 without knowing which to take1 he addressed the following prayer to ,god3 ,o ,lord1 most holy ,father1 ,i entreat ,thee by ,thy mercy1 if ,i am to persevere in this holy vocation1 so to guide my steps that ,i may arrive at the place where ,thy servant lives whom ,i am seeking4 ,he took one of the three roads as ,god inspired him2 and as he walked full of his holy project1 ,francis1 who was at prayer in a neighboring wood1 came out to meet him4 ,as soon as ,giles saw him1 he went to him1 and threw himself at his feet1 and begged the favor of being received into his society4 ,the holy man1 who was at once satisfied of the faith and piety of the postulant1 replied3 ,my brother1 your request is that ,god would receive you as ,his servant and soldier4 ,this is no small favor4 ,it is as if the emperor were to come to ,assisi1 and wish to make choice of a favorite2 each one would say1 ',i wish to ,god it may be myself4' ,it is thus ,god has made choice of you4 ,he assured him that his vocation came from heaven and exhorted him to persevere4 ,then presenting him to ,bertrand and ,peter1 he said3 ,here is a good brother1 whom ,god has sent us4 ,and when he was alone with them1 he told them that ,giles would one day excel in sublime virtue4 ,after a slender meal1 and a spiritual conference1 ,francis set out with his new postulant for ,assisi1 to procure what was requisite for clothing4 ,on the way1 a woman having asked charity of them1 the ,saint turned to ,giles1 and with an angelic countenance1 said3 ,my dear brother1 let us give this poor woman the cloak you have on for the love of ,god4 ,giles gave it immediately1 and it seemed to him that this alms ascended to heaven1 which filled him with great joy4 ,they begged at ,assisi for some very coarse cloth1 with which ,francis clothed his third disciple1 in the small hut where he instructed him in the religious exercises of a religious life4 ,francis did not permit his disciples long to enjoy the sweetness of a life of retirement4 ,having informed them that they were bound to go forth to instruct their neighbors by unstudied words and an edifying life1 he sent ,bernard and ,peter into ,emilia1 and set out himself with ,giles for the ,march of ,ancona4 ,these apostolic men preached everywhere the grandeur and goodness of ,god1 the obligation of each one to love ,him1 to obey ,his love1 and to do penance4 ,when they wanted the necessaries of life1 they rejoiced1 as if it were a treasure that they had purchased at the price of all they had possessed4 ,some persons received them obligingly1 and did them good offices2 but the singularity of their dress1 and the rigor of their mode of life1 shocked most of those who saw them4 ,they were even frequently insulted1 covered with mud1 dragged by their hood1 and severely beaten3 this they joyfully bore1 judging from the interior profit which they derived from it1 that it was greatly to their advantage4 ,their virtue1 nevertheless1 caused them to be treated at times with respect1 and honors were even rendered to them4 ,this mortified them1 ,giles in particular1 who only gloried in the mortifications which he suffered for ,jesus ,christ's sake1 and could not bear to be so honored4 ,he said to his father3 ,when men honor us1 we lose our glory4 ,he also expressed to him his dissatisfaction that the mode of greeting which he had taught them1 ,may the ,lord grant you ,his peace1 was ill received by the men of the world4 ,pardon them1 replied ,francis1 for they know not what they do4 ,i verily assure you that hereafter there will be many nobles and princes who will respect you and your brethren1 when you shall address those words to them4 ,he foretold to him likewise that his ,institute would spread1 and that it might aptly be compared to a net which a fisherman casts into the river1 with which he catches a multitude of fish4 ,the pious missionaries having gone through several towns1 and given great satisfaction1 returned to the hut at ,rivo ,torto1 when a fourth disciple offered himself3 his name was ,sabbatin4 ,morique1 a religious of the ,order of ,crosiers1 or cross-bearers1 was the fifth4 ,being sick1 and in extremity1 given over and abandoned by the medical men of the hospital of ,st4 ,saviour of ,assisi1 where all strangers were received1 he got himself recommended to the prayers of ,francis1 who willingly prayed for him1 and mixed a little crumb of bread with the oil of the lamp which burnt before the altar of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,this he sent him by two of his brethren1 saying to them3 ,take this to our dear ,brother ,morique4 ,the power of ,jesus ,christ will not only restore him to perfect health1 but will cause him to become a generous soldier1 who will enter into our militia1 and will persevere in it4 ,the sick man had hardly swallowed the remedy when he was quite cured1 and he soon after entered the ,institute of his charitable physician1 in which he lived in prodigious austerity during a long life1 and enjoyed perfect health4 ,a sixth disciple1 called ,john1 and surnamed ,de ,capella1 began well1 but finished ill4 ,he was employed to distribute to his brethren what was given to them in alms1 and he took willingly the trouble of procuring for them what was wanted4 ,but by little and little he got attached to temporal things1 went too much abroad1 and was very much relaxed from the regular discipline4 ,the holy founder having frequently reprimanded him severely1 and without effect1 he threatened him for his contumacy with a severe illness and a miserable death4 ,in fact1 this unworthy religious was stricken with a horrible leprosy1 which he had not patience to endure4 ,he forsook the poor of ,jesus ,christ1 his companions1 and1 letting himself fall into despair1 he hanged himself1 as ,judas had done4 ,st4 ,antonius remarks that the life of ,st4 ,francis was in conformity with that of ,jesus ,christ1 even in the circumstance of having had an unworthy disciple4 ,he only became such by his depraved will2 but ,god in ,his wisdom made him serve as an example to show that we may be lost even in the most holy states of life if we cease to labor with fear and trembling for our salvation4 ,peter ,rodulphus1 ,bishop of ,sinigaglia1 in the ,duchy of ,urbino1 adds1 that the loss of one of the first children of ,st4 ,francis1 and still more that of ,judas in the ,apostolic ,college1 should induce those who are inclined to think ill and contemptibly of a whole order1 on account of the ill-behavior of some individual1 to reform their method of forming their opinions4 ,among the instructions which ,francis gave to his disciples1 he laid great stress on poverty1 the practice of which might appear to them to be very severe4 ,in order to render them wise herein by experience1 and to make them feel that their subsistence depended on the charity of the faithful1 he took them all into ,assisi1 and made them beg from door to door4 ,this voluntary mendicity1 which seemed new1 and which had hardly been seen till then1 drew down upon them derision1 contempt1 rebuffs1 and angry words4 ,in one place they were treated as sluggards and idlers1 and turned away with curses2 in another they were told they were fools to have given up their own property to go begging from other people4 ,the parents and relatives of those who were thus begging1 asserted that their families were dishonored by these practices1 and made loud complaints4 ,there were1 however1 some who respected their poverty1 and aided them with good will4 ,such was the feeling of the public of those times in regard to evangelical poverty1 which differs but little from what it is in our own days4 ,after this quest1 ,francis went to report to the ,bishop of ,assisi the proceedings of his new soldiers4 ,this worthy prelate1 who greatly valued him1 and gave him his support on all occasions1 could not help telling him then1 that he thought the sort of life he had chosen1 in which they gave up all possessions whatsoever1 hard and grievous4 ,as to me1 replied the holy man1 ,i find it still harder and more grievous to possess anything2 for one cannot take care of what one possesses without much solicitude and embarrassment4 ,it gives rise to lawsuits1 which must be undertaken2 sometimes people are obliged to take up arms to protect it2 and all this extinguishes the love of ,god and of our neighbor4 ,the bishop approved of his remarks1 and once more promised him his protection4 ,it is true that the state of voluntary poverty in which a person possesses nothing whatever1 has its inconveniences2 and where does human corruption fail to find such8 ,but it cannot be denied that the state in question is very favorable to salvation1 since it is based upon the counsel of ,jesus ,christ2 and that1 on the contrary1 the possession of property is dangerous for salvation1 since ,he ,himself has said emphatically3 ,how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,while the ,evangelical poor continued at ,rivo ,torto1 the ,emperor ,otho ,,iv1 who was on his way to ,rome with a great train1 in order to be consecrated and crowned by ,innocent ,,iii1 passed by their hut4 ,they were too mortified to pay any attention to the pomp of his retinue2 but ,francis ordered one of them to go to the emperor and tell him that all the glory which surrounded him would be but of short duration4 ,the religious obeyed1 and boldly told the emperor what had been commanded4 ,the prediction displeased the prince1 who1 nevertheless1 admitted from the event that it was well founded4 ,for1 having violated his coronation oath1 and committed various injustices towards the ,church1 he was excommunicated the following year by the same ,pope2 and afterwards deprived of his empire1 and abandoned by the whole world4 ,it is thus that the greatness of the world1 so fickle in itself1 and always put an end to by death1 falls sometimes even before that1 by misconduct1 and by the just judgments of ,god4 ,zeal for the salvation of souls induced ,francis to move his small troop into the ,valley of ,rieti4 ,he halted at an abandoned hermitage on a large rock1 which he thought to be a convenient place for entering into conversation with ,god4 ,being at prayer one day on this rock1 and ruminating in the bitterness of his soul on his past years1 he was assured1 by a fresh inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 that his sins were forgiven him1 which filled him with joy4 ,we cannot doubt but that his sins had been remitted him at the period of his conversion1 by sincere contrition and the sacrament of penance4 ,but in this happy moment he received the assurance thereof by revelation1 and he learnt at the same time that the remission was entire1 that is to say1 that all the temporal punishment due to his sins had been remitted4 ,st4 ,bridget1 whose revelations are sanctioned and respected by the ,church1 relates that she learnt from our ,saviour that1 when ,francis retired from the world to enter on the way of perfection1 he obtained from ,god a lively sorrow for his sins1 which enabled him to say3 ,there is nothing on earth which ,i am not heartily willing to give up2 nothing so laborious and so toilsome that ,i would not joyfully endure1 nothing that ,i would not undertake1 according to the strength of my body and soul1 for the glory of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and ,i will1 as far as is possible1 excite and induce all others to love ,god with their whole hearts1 and above all other things4 ,such beautiful sentiments1 well lived up to and exemplified by actions and conduct1 would give us1 not an entire assurance as to the remission of our sins1 but a firm and well-founded confidence thereof4 ,the holy penitent received with this plenary indulgence the grace of an ecstasy1 wherein1 by a bright illumination from on high1 ,god communicated to him what was to occur to his order4 ,when he returned to join his disciples he said3--,take courage1 my dear children1 rejoice in the ,lord4 ,be not cast down at the smallness of your numbers4 ,let not my simplicity nor yours alarm you1 for ,god has shown me clearly that1 by ,his blessing1 ,he will spread this family of which ,he is the ,father1 into all parts of the world4 ,i should wish to be silent on all that ,i have seen1 but charity compels me to communicate it to you4 ,i saw a great multitude coming to us to take a similar habit1 and to lead the same life4 ,i saw all the roads filled with men who walked hither1 and hastened themselves very much4 ,they came in great numbers1 ,french1 ,spaniards1 ,germans1 ,english1 and from almost all nations4 ,the noise of such as come and go1 to execute the orders of holy obedience1 still sounds in my ears4 ,so magnificent a prediction reminds us of the prophet ,isaias on the establishment of the ,church3 ,jerusalem1 thou who sayest1 ,i am barren6 lift up thine eyes and look all around thee4 ,all this vast multitude surrenders itself up to thee4 ,i see them coming from afar--some from the ,north1 others from the ,west1 others from the land of the ,south2 a thousand will come forth from the smallest among them1 and from the very least a great people4 ,the event has verified1 in the eyes of the universe1 the prophecy of the holy ,patriarch4 ,there was in a very short time a great number of religious2 his order extended itself to all parts with astonishing rapidity1 and it has multiplied itself so wonderfully for seven centuries1 that it may be looked upon as a representation of the birth and progress of the ,church4 ,the disciples1 greatly comforted by what they had just heard and persuaded that their master had the spirit of prophecy1 entreated him to inform them what would in future be the situation of his ,order4 ,he explained to them in parables the good which would be effected by it1 and at the same time the relaxations which would be introduced into its discipline1 in order that the graces of ,god1 which were to be bestowed on it1 might excite their utmost gratitude1 and that the fear of their weakness and want of fervor might render them vigilant and humble4 ,the odor of sanctity which issued through the environs of the hermitage1 and the holiness of their lives1 brought many persons to them for instruction1 and to profit from the edification they would receive4 ,a very worthy person1 whose name was ,philip the ,long1 was desirous of entering the state of ,evangelical poverty4 ,francis made him his seventh disciple1 and he brought them all back to the hut at ,rivo ,torto4 ,in this holy retreat he spoke to them frequently of the ,kingdom of ,god1 of the contempt of the world1 of renouncing of their own will1 of the mortification of the senses1 and other maxims of a spiritual life4 ,he opened to them also his intention of sending them into the four parts of the world2 for1 with the seven children which evangelical poverty and simplicity had given him1 it was his wish to bring all the faithful to penance1 and to generate them in some measure anew by the word of truth1 to give them1 or rather to restore them1 to ,jesus ,christ4 ,in fine1 he told all his disciples openly1 but with great humility1 that the ,divine ,majesty had1 in ,his wisdom1 decided to employ them1 and the companions they should aggregate to their community1 to renew the face of the earth1 by their preaching and their example1 in order that the losses the ,church had sustained by the corruption of morals1 might be made good2 and that it was for this purpose that grace had put it in their power so promptly to exercise the holy ministry4 ,in order to prepare them for this mission1 he made them the following discourse1 which is worthy of being recorded at full length1 in the words in which it has been preserved by his companions1 to whom it was addressed3-- ,let us consider1 my dear brethren1 what our vocation is4 ,it is not only for our own salvation that ,god has called us by ,his mercy1 but it is for the salvation of many others4 ,it is in order that we should exhort all the world1 more by example than by words1 to do penance and to keep the ,divine precepts4 ,we are looked upon as senseless and contemptible1 but let not this depress you2 take courage1 and be confident that our ,lord1 who conquered the world1 will speak efficaciously through you4 ,let us be cautious1 after having given up all1 not to lose the kingdom of heaven for a trifling gain4 ,if we find money anywhere1 let us consider it as valueless as the dust which we tread under our feet4 ,let us not judge and despise the rich who live in luxury and wear the ornaments of vanity4 ,god is their ,lord1 as ,he is ours2 ,he may call them and justify them2 we must honor them as our brethren1 and as our masters4 ,they are our brethren1 because we have all the same ,maker2 and they are our masters1 because they befriend the good by the assistance they afford them4 ,go then1 and exhort men to do penance for the remission of their sins1 and for peace4 ,you will find some among the faithful mild and good1 who will receive you with pleasure and willingly listen to you4 ,others1 on the contrary1 people without religion1 proud and violent1 will censure you1 and be very hostile to you4 ,but make up your minds to bear all this with humble patience1 and let nothing alarm you4 ,in a very short time many learned and noble persons will join themselves to you1 to preach to kings1 to princes1 and to nations4 ,be therefore patient in tribulations1 fervent in prayer1 and fearless in labor4 ,be unassuming in speech1 be grave in your manner1 and grateful for the favors and benefits you may receive4 ,the kingdom of ,god1 which is eternal1 will be your reward4 ,i entreat the one and only ,god1 who lives and reigns in three ,persons1 to grant it to us1 as ,he doubtless will grant it to us1 if we are faithful to fulfil all that we have voluntarily promised4 ,this discourse filled them with fresh ardor4 ,they threw themselves at the feet of the holy man1 and joyfully received the orders he gave them1 in addressing to each one of them these words of the psalmist1 which he was accustomed to repeat when he gave those instructions which required obedience3 ,cast thy care upon the ,lord1 and ,he shall sustain thee4 ,having divided the routes they were to take1 by forming a cross which pointed to the four quarters of the globe1 and knowing that he was to be the model for his brethren1 he took one side for himself with a companion1 and sent the other six1 two and two1 to the other sides4 ,wherever they found a church1 they prostrated and made use of this formula1 which they had learnt from their ,father3 ,we adore ,thee1 ,o most holy ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 here and in all ,thy churches which are in the whole world1 and we bless ,thee for having redeemed the world by ,thy holy cross4 ,they had a great veneration for all chapels1 for all crosses1 and for all that had any relation to the worship of ,god4 ,as soon as any one addressed them1 they wished him peace1 and instructed him in the way to gain it4 ,if any one appeared to them to have strayed from the way of salvation1 they endeavored to bring him back in a mild and humble manner4 ,in their sermons they spoke ingenuously whatever was inspired them by the ,holy ,ghost1 pointed out the true way to heaven1 showed what were the duties of charity1 and endeavored to bring all to love and fear the ,creator and keep ,his holy commandments4 ,when they were asked from what country they came1 and to what profession they belonged1 they replied3 ,we are penitents come from ,assisi2 for they would not as yet give the name of religion to their society4 ,there were worthy people who received them with pleasure2 but there were many others who disapproved of their habit1 their institute1 their discourses1 imagining also that it was dangerous to give them house-room1 and that alms ought not even to be given to them2 so that these poor of ,jesus ,christ1 cast off on all sides1 had often to pass the nights under porticos4 ,bernard and ,giles went as far as ,florence4 ,a pious individual named ,guy offered them some money1 which they refused1 and when it was wished to know from them1 why1 being so poor1 they would not take it1 they made this answer3 ,we have left all that we possessed1 according to the ,evangelical counsel4 ,we have voluntarily embraced poverty1 and we have renounced the use of money4 ,so perfect a detachment1 joined to an ardent zeal for the salvation of souls1 and to sublime virtues1 and particularly a patience full of meekness and charity in the midst of insults and injurious treatment1 caused them to be looked upon in the town as holy personages2 they were consulted in cases of conscience1 and dwellings were offered them4 ,while these ,apostolic men continued their mission1 ,francis1 guided by the ,spirit of ,god1 returned to the hut at ,rivo ,torto1 where he received four additional disciples3 ,constantius1 or ,john of ,st4 ,constantius2 ,barbarus2 ,bernard of ,viridant1 or ,vigilantius2 and ,sylvester1 who was a priest ,he was the first in the order1 and his vocation was marvellous1 of which the following are the circumstances4 ,he had sold some stones to ,st4 ,francis for the ,church of ,st4 ,damian1 and had received the payment of their value4 ,when he saw him preside over the distribution of the property of ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 he complained of having been injured in the sale of the stones1 and demanded a compensation4 ,the servant of ,god1 who did not choose to have any dispute with him on the subject1 taking a bag full of money1 gave him handfuls1 saying3 ,take this for the payment you demand from me1 but which ,i do not owe you4 ,he offered him some a second time1 but ,sylvester would not take it1 but left him well satisfied with what he had got4 ,at night the injustice of what he had done occurred to him2 he conceived a sincere sorrow for it1 asked pardon of ,god1 and promised to restore what he had extorted to the prejudice of the poor4 ,nevertheless1 he formed his opinion of ,francis according to the ideas of the world1 and he looked with disgust on his mode of life4 ,god was pleased to will that he should be cured of this prejudice1 which was dangerous for his salvation1 and that he should surrender himself to the saint as one of his disciples1 which was effected by means of a mysterious dream4 ,during the night he saw a horrible dragon1 which surrounded the town of ,assisi1 as if about to destroy it1 together with the entire country4 ,francis immediately came forth1 and from his mouth there came forth a golden cross1 which reached up to heaven1 and the arms of it extended to the extremities of the earth1 and its splendor put the dragon to flight4 ,having had this dream three successive nights1 he perceived in it something divine1 and he went and related it to ,francis1 with the minutest exactness4 ,this humble servant of ,jesus ,christ1 far from having the least complacency at it1 only made use of it to admire the goodness of ,god who grants such favors1 and to animate himself to combat the infernal dragon with renovated energy1 and publish the glory of the cross of our ,saviour4 ,but ,sylvester1 profiting by the grace attached to the vision1 was not satisfied with restoring what he had unjustly extorted2 he resolved1 moreover1 to leave all that he possessed1 to embrace poverty under the guidance of ,francis1 which his affairs did not permit him to carry into execution till the end of the year #abji4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that on authentic proof of the truth of the vision was the holiness of the life he led when in the order4 ,in fact1 he undertook so sincerely to walk in the footsteps of ,jesus ,christ1 and made such vast progress in prayer1 that1 according to the account of this blessed ,father1 he conversed with ,god in a manner nearly similar to what is written of ,moses3 ,that the ,lord spoke to him as a man is accustomed to speak to his friend4 ,francis1 full of the tenderest feelings for his children1 was desirous of having them all assembled together4 ,he entreated the ,lord1 who had in former times congregated the people of ,israel dispersed among the nations1 to do him a similar favor in regard to his small family1 and his prayer was heard4 ,the six who were out on missions returned to ,assisi from various places1 as if they had acted in concert1 without having any notice given them4 ,the pleasure which their return gave him was greatly increased by the sincere and modest recital which they made him of all that had passed in their travels for the glory of ,god and the benefit of their neighbor4 ,they gave an account1 with evident joy1 of the outrages and blows they had endured and suffered1 pleased to have been found worthy to undergo those trials in the service of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the last comers envied them1 and were only consoled by the thought and hope that a time would come when they would be employed in this holy warfare1 and1 should an opportunity be given them1 of displaying equal courage2 the seniors embraced the latter1 and congratulated them on having chosen this holy estate of life3 they all exhorted each other to perseverance4 ,their common ,father brought them up in the practice of the most rigorous penances1 but with the utmost mildness and kindness4 ,he did not impose upon them any considerable number of prayers because he was not desirous of compelling devotion1 and rather wished that these exercises of piety should be spontaneous4 ,he only then prescribed to them to say daily1 for each part of the ,divine ,office1 the ,lord's ,prayer three times1 and to hear ,mass1 at which he desired they should employ themselves in meditating on the mystery4 ,it is1 in fact1 the very best way of assisting at the ,holy ,sacrifice1 and the faithful should be advised to practise it4 ,but those are not to be censured who make use of vocal prayer during ,mass1 provided they do so with attention and piety in the very spirit of the mystery2--since there is nothing in prayer but what is good1 and because1 moreover1 every one has not the talent of meditation4 ,the servant of ,god1 considering that the number of his brethren increased1 thought seriously of forming a ,rule for them1 and having assembled the eleven1 the number they then were1 he said to them3 ,i see1 my dear brethren1 that ,god1 in ,his infinite goodness1 proposes to extend our society2 it is therefore necessary that we should prescribe for ourselves a rule of life1 and go and give an account thereof to the most holy ,roman ,pontiff2 for ,i am persuaded that in matters of faith1 and in such as concern religious orders1 nothing can be done which is pure and stable without his consent and approbation4 ,let us then go and find our ,mother1 the ,holy ,roman ,church4 ,let us make known to our ,holy ,father the ,pope1 what ,god has deigned to begin through our ministry1 in order that we may pursue our course according to his will1 and under his orders4 ,a celebrated ,bishop of ,france said1 in an assembly of his clergy3 ,paul1 having returned from the third heaven1 came to see ,peter1 in order to give a form to all future ages1 and that it be established forever1 that1 however learned or holy we may be1 were any of us another ,st4 ,paul1 we must see ,peter4 ,these sentiments are in entire accordance with those of ,st4 ,francis1 and contain an important principle1 from which it is easy to deduce the consequence4 ,all the disciples applauded the proposal of their master1 declaring that they were ready to receive the rule that he would give them1 and to go to ,rome to solicit its confirmation4 ,francis betook himself to prayer1 and composed1 in a plain1 unadorned style1 in twenty-three chapters1 a rule of life1 the immovable basis of which was the observance of the ,gospel2 to which he added some exercises1 which he considered necessary for the sake of uniformity4 ,besides the three vows of ,poverty1 ,chastity1 and ,obedience1 they renounced all possessions whatsoever1 and they bound themselves to live on charity without ever receiving money4 ,clerics and laymen were alike admitted to embrace this ,institute1 under the name of ,friars ,minor4 ,there were also some regulations relative to the ,divine ,office1 prayer1 the practice of virtue1 fasts1 the bareness of the feet1 preaching1 and the missions1 which will be noticed when we come to speak of the second rule which the ,patriarch gave in the year #abbc1 which they keep in his ,order1 and which is nothing more than an abridgment of the first4 ,this first having been read and accepted1 ,francis with his brethren set out for ,rome1 to which1 through humility1 he chose that ,bernard de ,quintavalle should lead them4 ,they pursued their journey with great simplicity1 only speaking of ,god and of things calculated for edification2 they often retired to some by-place for the purpose of praying1 without troubling themselves where they should pass the night2 and ,god raised up persons who received them hospitably4 ,by an effect of ,his ,providence1 they went out of their way to go to ,rieti1 where they remained two days4 ,francis met in one of the streets an officer of the army1 whose name was ,angelo ,tancred4 ,he was quite unknown to him1 but1 nevertheless1 he accosted him by his name1 and said3 ,angelo1 you have worn long enough your spurs1 your sword1 and your belt2 it is time that you should have a thick cord instead of a belt2 the ,cross of ,jesus ,christ instead of a sword2 and mud and dust instead of spurs4 ,follow me1 therefore1 and ,i will make you a soldier of ,jesus ,christ4 ,at the very moment the officer quitted all things1 followed ,francis1 took his poor habit1 and became his twelfth disciple1 who now by their number resembled the twelve ,apostles1 whose lives they revered4 ,this wonderful conversion shows that ,god sometimes moves sinners by his active and powerful grace2 as when ,he said to ,matthew1 ,follow me1 and ,matthew followed ,him4 ,but it must also make us reflect that1 in the ordinary course of things1 ,he invites to repentance by graces1 the impressions of which upon the mind are not so active4 ,the holy ,patriarch continued his route1 placing his entire confidence in ,god2 but the others became alarmed at their own simplicity1 they were fearful that it would impede their design2 but ,god removed their fears by a vision which their holy ,father had4 ,it seemed to him that he was walking along a way where there was a very high tree4 ,coming near it1 he went under it to admire it1 when all on a sudden he felt himself raised up in the air by divine power1 so that he had reached the top of the tree1 and that from thence he easily made the tallest branches bend quite to the ground4 ,the ,holy ,spirit pointed out to him that this was a presage of the favorable issue of his application to the ,apostolic throne4 ,this filled him with joy1 and his recital of it to his brethren renovated their courage4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi1 whom they found at ,rome1 received them with great kindness4 ,the sight of them at first gave him some uneasiness1 being apprehensive that it was their intention to leave his diocese1 and that his people would be deprived of the examples of these holy men4 ,but having learnt from them the motive of their journey1 he promised them to use his influence in their favor1 and gave them hopes of succeeding through the intervention of ,cardinal ,john of ,st4 ,paul1 ,bishop of ,sabina1 who was his intimate friend4 ,this prelate was of the ,colonna family2 he was the friend of the poor1 and of all worthy persons2 he was respected for his many eminent qualities1 and had great authority at the ,roman court4 ,what the ,bishop of ,assisi had already told him of ,francis and his companions1 of their holy life1 and of the singularity of their ,institute1 had excited in him a great wish to see them4 ,as soon as he had heard of their arrival1 he had them brought to his palace1 received them with great honor1 and was so pleased with their conversation1 that1 after having assured them of his favor1 he begged them to consider him from thenceforward as one of themselves4 ,he also declared himself their protector1 and by his interference he soon procured for them the friendship of the principal persons in the ,sacred ,college1 particularly that of ,cardinal ,ugolini1 nephew to the ,pope1 and subsequently ,pope by the name of ,gregory ,,ix4 ,francis1 who was anxious to get his affairs expeditiously brought to a termination1 got himself introduced to the ,pope by an officer of his acquaintance4 ,the ,pope1 who was walking at that moment in a place called the ,mirror1 and being deeply engaged respecting some difficult affairs of the ,church1 would not so much as listen to him1 but repulsed him rudely as a stranger of no very respectable appearance4 ,the servant of ,god humbly withdrew2 and it is recorded that he then restored to sight a blind man who had had his eyes torn out4 ,the ,holy ,father saw in his sleep a palm-tree grow slowly at his feet and become a fine large tree4 ,pleased with what he saw1 but not understanding its meaning1 he learnt by a ,divine inspiration that the palm-tree represented the poor man whom he had ungraciously repulsed the day before4 ,as soon as it was day1 he gave directions that the poor man should be sought for4 ,he was found in the hospital of ,st4 ,anthony1 and came to the feet of the ,pope1 and laid before him the rule of life he followed1 with energetic though humble solicitations for ,his ,holiness's approval thereof4 ,innocent ,,iii1 a ,pontiff of great wisdom1 acknowledged the candor and the admirable courage and zeal of the servant of ,god4 ,he received him into his favor as one truly poor in ,jesus ,christ1 and he was inclined to comply with his request2 however1 he postponed doing so1 because his mode of life appeared novel to some of the cardinals1 and so much1 beyond what human strength could endure2 the evil times1 and the coldness of charity1 making them think it very difficult and almost impossible for an order to subsist without possessing any effects whatever4 ,cardinal ,john of ,st4 ,paul was indignant at these obstacles1 and he expressed himself with great warmth to the other cardinals in presence of the ,pope4 ,if you reject the prayers of this poor man1 on the pretence that his rule is novel1 and too austere1 let us take care that we do not reject the ,gospel itself2 since the rule of which he solicits the approval1 is in conformity with what the ,gospel teaches2 for1 to say that ,evangelical perfection1 or the vow to practise it1 contains anything unreasonable and impossible1 is to blaspheme against ,jesus ,christ1 the author of the ,gospel4 ,the ,pope1 struck with this reasoning1 said to ,francis3 ,my son1 pray to ,jesus ,christ that ,he may make known ,his will to us1 that so we may favor your wishes4 ,the servant of ,god retired to pray1 and soon after returned and set forth this parable4 ,most ,holy ,father1 there was a beautiful young girl1 who was very poor1 and who lived in a wilderness4 ,the king of the country1 who saw her1 was so charmed with her beauty that he took her for his wife4 ,he lived some years with her1 and had children1 who all resembled their father1 and had1 nevertheless1 the beauty of their mother2 he then came back to his court4 ,the mother brought up her children with great care1 and after some time said to them3 ',my children1 you are born of a great king1 go and find him1 tell him who you are1 and he will give you all that is befitting your birth4 ,as to myself1 ,i will not leave this desert1 and ,i even cannot4' ,the children went to the king's court1 who1 seeing their resemblance to himself1 and that they had the beauty of their mother1 received them with pleasure1 and said to them3 ',yes1 you are my true children1 and ,i will support you as the children of a king2 for1 if ,i have strangers in my pay1 if ,i maintain my officers with what is served at my table1 how much more care should ,i not have for my own children1 the offspring of so beautiful a mother6 ,as ,i love the mother extremely1 ,i will keep the children she has had by me at my court1 and ,i will feed them at my table4' ,this king1 most ,holy ,father1 continued ,francis1 is our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,this beautiful girl is poverty1 which1 being everywhere despised and cast off1 was found in this world as in a desert4 ,the ,king of kings coming down from ,heaven1 and coming upon earth1 was so enamored of her1 that ,he married her in the manger4 ,he has had several children by her in the desert of this world1 ,apostles1 ,anchorites1 ,cenobites1 and many others1 who have voluntarily embraced poverty4 ,this good mother sent them to their ,father with the marks of royal poverty1 as well as of her humility and obedience4 ,this great ,king received them kindly1 promising to maintain them1 and said to them3 ',i who cause my sun to shine on the just and on sinners1 who give my table and my treasures to pagans and to heretics1 food1 clothing1 and many other things1 how much more willingly shall ,i give to you what is necessary for you1--for you and all those who are born in the poverty of my much-cherished ,spouse4' ,it is to this celestial ,king1 most ,holy ,father1 that this ,lady1 ,his spouse1 sends her children whom you see here1 who are not of a lower condition than those who came long before them4 ,they do not degenerate2 they have the comeliness both of their ,father and their mother1 since they make profession of the most perfect poverty4 ,there is1 therefore1 no fear of their dying of poverty1 being the children and heirs of the ,immortal ,king1 born of a poor mother1 of the image of ,jesus ,christ1 by the virtue of the ,holy ,ghost2 and being to be brought up in the spirit of poverty in a very poor order4 ,if the ,king of heaven promises that such as imitate ,him shall reign with ,him eternally1 with how much more confidence ought we believe that ,he will give them what ,he usually gives1 with so much liberality1 to the good and to the bad4 ,the ,pope listened very attentively to the parable and to its application4 ,he was greatly pleased with it1 and had no doubt but that ,jesus ,christ spoke by the mouth of ,francis4 ,he was also convinced by an interior light of the ,holy ,spirit1 that in him a celestial vision which he had but some days before would be accomplished1 and which1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure informs us1 he himself related4 ,while he slept1 he saw that the ,lateran ,church was on the point of falling1 when a poor and miserable man supported it on his shoulders4 ,on which he exclaimed3 ,yes truly1 it is that man who will support the ,church of ,jesus ,christ by his works and by his doctrine4 ,he thus foretold the great service ,francis and his children would render to the universal ,church1 which indeed they have rendered1 and1 for the last six centuries1 have not ceased to render3 this was what was prefigured by the vision2 although it has been remarked as something very singular1 that the ,lateran ,church has been repaired1 improved and ornamented by three ,popes1 the children of the blessed ,patriarch1 to wit1 ,nicholas ,,iv1 ,sixtus ,,iv1 and ,sixtus ,v4 ,innocent ,,iii1 moved and greatly affected by these celestial portents1 conceived for ,francis a most tender friendship1 which he preserved ever after4 ,he approved his rule verbally1 granted him several other favors1 and promised many more4 ,after having received in his own hands the profession of the founder1 and of those who accompanied him1 he directed him to preach penance in all parts1 and to labor for the extension of the ,catholic faith4 ,in order to enable them to employ themselves more freely in preaching1 and to assist the priest with greater dignity in the performance of the holy mysteries1 he directed that the lay brethren who were then with them1 should receive the ,tonsure1 and wear small crowns2 he even conferred minor orders on them1 and deacon's orders on ,francis1 whom he constituted ,superior ,general of all the ,religious of the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 present and to come4 ,those who were present promised obedience to ,francis1 and ,francis promised to obey the ,pope4 ,the pious ,pontiff gave this new ,patriarch1 with paternal kindness1 instructions in various matters which related to the well-being and strengthening of the ,institution1 and he assured him of his peculiar favor2 and finally1 having embraced each one of them1 he gave them his blessing1 and dismissed them filled with joy and consolation4 ,we have witnessed these favors renewed in #agbc by ,innocent ,,xiii1 of happy memory1 the fifth ,pope of the ancient and illustrious house of the ,counts of ,segni1 to which ,innocent ,,iii belonged4 ,the ,holy ,father1 assisted by four cardinals1 had the goodness to preside at the general chapter of the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 held at ,rome in the convent of ,ara ,coeli1 making known to all ,christendom on that splendid occasion1 that he looked upon the ,friars ,minor as his children1 as much from family affection1 as from his dignity of ,supreme ,pontiff4 ,the illustrious author of the ,variations1 who quotes the ,abbot of ,ursperg1 says that it was to give the ,church true poor1 more denuded and more humble than the false poor of ,lyons1 that ,pope ,innocent ,,iii approved the institution of the ,friars ,minor assembled under ,francis1 who was a model of humility1 and the wonder of the age4 ,the false poor1 who are also known by the name of ,vaudois1 and are placed in the number of heretics by ,pope ,lucius ,,iii1 assumed the exterior of poverty and humility1 although they had none of the spirit of poverty and humility4 ,they were filled with hatred of the ,church and its ministers1 whom they reviled in their secret assemblies4 ,in #abab they feigned submission1 and had the daring to go to ,rome1 to solicit the approbation of the ,holy ,see for their sect1 but they were rejected by the ,pope1 and from that time were obstinate and incorrigible heretics4 ,conrad1 ,abbot of ,ursperg1 who was at ,rome when they came there in #abab with ,bernard their master1 remarks that the ,friars ,minor were very different from the false poor1 practised poverty with sincerity1 and were free from all errors2 that they went barefooted in winter1 as well as in summer2 that they received no money1 and lived wholly on alms1 and were in everything obedient to the ,holy ,apostolic ,see2 an obedience which will ever be a mark by which true virtue may be distinguished from false4 ,francis1 finding himself protected by the ,almighty1 and authorized by the ,pope1 acquired great confidence4 ,he placed his most apostolical ,order under the immediate protection of the holy ,apostle1 whose tomb he visited4 ,he took leave of the ,cardinals1 ,john of ,st4 ,paul1 and ,ugolini1 whom he made acquainted with his intentions1 and to whom he expressed his great gratitude2 then he took his departure from ,rome with his twelve companions1 and bent his steps to the ,valley of ,spoleto1 there to practise and preach the ,gospel4 ,on the way he conversed with them on the means of adhering faithfully to the rule1 and relative to the manner in which they should strive to attain perfection1 so that they might be examples to others4 ,one day the conference lasted so long1 that the hour for their meal passed by without their having stopped2 finding himself tired1 they went a little out of the way to rest4 ,they were very hungry1 but they had no means of satisfying their craving4 ,there then came to them a man who brought them a loaf1 and immediately disappeared1 without their having had it in their power to notice from what side he had come1 or which way he had gone from them4 ,then1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 ,divine ,providence came to the aid of the poor of ,jesus ,christ1 when all human assistance failed them4 ,they were well aware that the company of their holy founder procured them this favor from ,heaven2 and the miraculous nourishment they had just received1 which renovated the strength of their minds as well as that of their bodies1 by the interior consolation they received from it1 inspired them with a firm resolution never to swerve from the poverty to which they had devoted themselves4 ,pursuing their route towards ,orta1 they came in the plain near that town to a church which had been deserted1 and where1 having offered up their prayers1 they agreed to stop1 until such time as they should learn where it was ,god's intention they should settle themselves4 ,from thence they went1 daily1 to the town to preach penance in the public places2 and it was with much fruit for the salvation of souls4 ,the people began to feel attached to them2 and as they saw that on their quest they refused everything but what was strictly necessary1 they took very many things to the church in which they had retired1 and those considered themselves fortunate who could make themselves useful to them4 ,they even came in crowds to see them1 and to listen to the discourses of these new men1 whose actions and whose speech made them appear as persons descended from heaven4 ,but ,francis1 who found that this concourse of people interrupted and disturbed their spiritual exercises1 determined to leave this place4 ,the very beauty of it decided him to do so4 ,it was a most agreeable spot2 on one side there were meadows covered with beautiful flowers2 on the other1 a thick wood1 where birds carolled the livelong day2 near the church there was a fine spring1 and a rivulet1 whose waters murmured pleasantly around them2 the view of the whole plain1 with that of the town beyond it on the heights1 was all that could be wished4 ,the holy man was fearful lest so delicious an abode should enervate the minds of his disciples1 that the vigor of their intellect1 so requisite for penitential reflections1 should become relaxed when surrounded by objects so pleasant to the senses2 and lest that which inspired gladsomeness should make them lose the seriousness necessary in prayer1 and deprive them of the spiritual delight which is felt therein4 ,thus1 as a skilful general who was the leader of the soldiers of ,jesus ,christ1 and only followed ,his intentions1 he made his little band raise their camp at the end of a fortnight1 and resume their march towards the ,valley of ,spoleto4 ,in the way they counselled together whether they should communicate with the world1 or whether they should retire into some solitary retreat4 ,francis1 not choosing to trust either to his own lights or to those of his companions1 had recourse with them to prayer1 to ascertain what the will of ,god was on this head2 and he learnt by a revelation1 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that ,god had sent him expressly to gain souls which the devil was endeavoring to draw away from ,jesus ,christ4 ,he therefore resolved to dedicate himself to this holy employment1 and to live a life which should be useful to his neighbor rather than to himself2 being likewise animated thereto by the example of ,him of whom ,st4 ,paul said3 ,one died for all4 ,with this view he continued his route to the ,valley of ,spoleto1 and brought his brethren to the hut at ,rivo ,torto1 near ,assisi1 where he had been before4 ,one must feel surprised that ,st4 ,francis1 with all the assurances he had of his vocation1 could have doubted for a single instant that he had been sent by ,god for the spiritual service of his neighbors4 ,but his doubts only had their rise in the powerful attractions he had for contemplation1 which the tenderness of his conscience made him fearful of resisting1 by employing himself in the exercises of an active life2 and it was this that lessened his inclination for the functions of ,apostolicity2 for1 according to the doctrine of the ,fathers1 and of ,saint ,bernard in particular1 there are no more worthy ministers of the ,gospel than such as devote themselves to conversation with ,god in retreat1 and who leave that retreat to preach the doctrines of salvation only when they have reason to think that ,god calls upon them to do so4 ,our ,lord1 who thus in his wisdom permitted that ,his servant should labor under this uncertainty1 revealed to him already that he was destined to labor for the salvation of souls1 and we shall see1 further on1 that ,he assured him again by other revelations4 ,the hut in which these men devoted to evangelical poverty had retired1 was so small and so confined1 that1 far from being able to lie at full length in it1 there was barely room for them to sit1 insomuch that their ,father was obliged to assign to each his place by writing his name on the joists1 in order that they might pray and take their rest without being incommoded4 ,they remained some time in this miserable habitation1 which might be looked upon more as a tomb for the living1 or rather for such as were dead to the world2 and they bore it for the love of ,god1 with more fraternal charity and gaiety than can be described4 ,the life they led there was so laborious1 and so poor1 that frequently1 not having a morsel of bread1 necessity compelled them to search the country for herbs and roots1 which they ate with satisfaction2 preferring to be nourished with tears rather than with any other food4 ,their most frequent exercise was prayer1 and that more mental than vocal1 because they had not as yet books for saying the ,divine ,office4 ,a wooden cross1 of moderate size1 which ,francis had fixed in the middle of the hut1 round which they prayed1 served them instead of a book4 ,they meditated on it unceasingly1 and read in it with the eyes of faith1 instructed by the example of their saintly chief1 who often discoursed to them on the ,passion and ,cross of ,jesus ,christ4 ,however1 they wished to learn from him what vocal prayers they ought to recite2 and he told them1 as our blessed ,saviour had told the ,apostles3 ,this is the prayer that you will say3 ,our ,father1 who are in heaven1 hallowed be ,thy name1 etc4 ,to which he added the ,act of ,adoration which he had before taught them3 ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 we adore ,thee in all the churches in the whole world1 and we bless ,thee for having redeemed the world by ,thy holy ,cross4 ,he likewise taught them to praise ,god in all things1 to make use of all creatures1 to raise up their minds to ,him1 to have great respect for priests1 to be inviolably attached to the true faith1 which is believed and taught by the ,holy ,roman ,church1 and to confess it plainly4 ,his faithful disciples put in practice all that he taught them1 and conformed to all his maxims1 which they did in still greater perfection after the marvel which we are about to relate4 ,francis being one ,saturday in ,assisi1 in order to preach on the ,sunday morning in the cathedral1 as it was his custom to do1 retired to a small shed in a garden belonging to the canons of the church1 to pass the night in contemplation1 which he usually did4 ,about midnight1 a fiery car of great brilliancy1 on which there was a globe as bright as the sun1 and which gave a light equal to that of noon1 entered into the hut in which the brethren were collected1 and moved round it three times4 ,some of them were watching and praying2 the others1 who were taking a little rest1 awoke4 ,it is not to be said how great their astonishment was when they found themselves enlightened1 as well interiorly as exteriorly1 by this penetrating light1 which manifested to them the state of their consciences4 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks on the subject of this marvellous light1 on the testimony of those who had been witnesses of it1 that they understood well1 by this luminous and burning figure1 ,god represented to them the lively and holy flames which illuminated their ,father1 who1 though absent in the body1 was present with them in spirit1 in order that1 as true ,israelites1 like unto ,eliseus1 they might look up to and imitate this new ,elias1 whom ,he had appointed the light and guide for spiritual men4 ,doubtless1 he continues1 the ,lord1 who opened the eyes of the servant of ,eliseus1 that he might see around that ,prophet1 that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire1 would also1 at the prayer of ,francis1 open those of his disciples to shew them the marvel which was operating in their favor4 ,at his return from ,assisi1 the ,father conversed with his children on the prodigy which they had witnessed1 and took occasion from it to confirm them in their vocation4 ,he entered in detail as to the secret dispositions of their consciences2 he foretold them many circumstances relative to the increase of his ,order2 he made known to them1 in fine1 so many sublime things beyond human ken1 that they became perfectly aware that the ,spirit of ,god rested fully on him1 and that their greatest security would be in a conformity of themselves to his life and doctrine4 ,people were so greatly moved and affected by his virtues and his discourses1 that many presented themselves to join his ,order1 but he declined as yet to receive them1 because the hut was too small for the twelve he had2 but he availed himself of the opportunity to say to these3 ,my dear brethren1 ,god1 in ,his goodness1 has made known to me that ,he proposes to increase our poor family4 ,i cannot receive those who wish to join us1 until ,i have a place large enough to admit all4 ,we require a larger habitation1 as well as a church1 where we may hear mass1 say the ,divine ,office1 and deposit in peace those of our society who may die4 ,let us therefore go to our lord ,bishop and the canons4 ,let us earnestly entreat of them1 for the love of ,god1 to cede to us some church near the town1 and to put our rising ,order under cover in some part of their domain4 ,if they cannot assist us1 we will go and ask the same favor of the ,religious of ,mount ,soubazo4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi and the ,canons had it not in their power to promote such views1 having no church at their disposal2 but the ,abbot of ,mount ,soubazo1 with the consent of the community1 granted him for himself and his brethren the chapel of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or of ,portiuncula1 which he had put into repair1 but he added this condition1 that1 if the ,institution became more extended1 this church should be always considered the place of its origin1 and the chief monastery4 ,francis received the present1 and accepted the condition with great thankfulness4 ,he came and told his brethren of it1 expressing the pleasure he felt1 in having1 for the first church of his ,order1 a church of the ,blessed ,virgin1 very small and very poor1 obtained by begging1 and in which he had first taken upon himself the ,apostolic life4 ,on the same day he went to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where a pious ecclesiastic of ,assisi was living1 whose name was ,peter ,mazancoli1 to whom the care of that church had been intrusted after it had been repaired4 ,he communicated to him the cession which the ,religious of ,mount ,soubazo had made to his ,order1 and begged him to come and live with his brethren4 ,as true piety1 which is charity itself1 is never jealous1 and is delighted in what is of advantage to its neighbors1 the ecclesiastic embraced ,francis1 and assured him how desirous he was to see the ,blessed ,virgin honored and praised in this place1 which she loved1 where concerts by the angelic host were constantly heard4 ,as a proof of this1 he called a laborer of the vicinity1 who certified to have several times heard in the night melodious canticles1 and to have seen a great light come forth from the windows4 ,the experience of ,francis himself was an additional proof4 ,for1 being in prayer during the following night in order to recommend his family to the protection of the ,blessed ,virgin1 he saw on the altar1 by means of a splendid light1 our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 ,his holy ,mother1 and a multitude of angels1 who cast upon him looks of great benignity4 ,he adored1 and recited these words3 ,o most holy ,lord1 ,king of ,heaven1 ,redeemer of the world1 sweet ,love6 and thou1 ,o ,queen of ,angels6 by what excess of goodness do you come down from heaven into this small and poor chapel8 ,he immediately heard this reply3 ,i am come with my ,mother to settle you and yours in this place1 which is very dear to us4 ,all then disappeared1 and ,francis exclaimed3 ,truly this place is holy1 which ought to be inhabited by angels1 rather than by men4 ,as long as ,i possibly can1 ,i will not leave it2 it shall be1 for me and mine1 an eternal monument of the goodness of ,god6 ,it became1 in fact1 a great object of devotion and veneration for himself and his brethren1 particularly after it had been revealed to him that1 among all the temples consecrated under the name of the ,blessed ,virgin1 this was the one for which she had the greatest attachment4 ,at break of day he sent for the other religious by his companions1 with directions to bring with them the few pieces of furniture which they had in the hut at ,rivo ,torto1 in order to place them in the house adjoining the church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 which the pious ecclesiastic willingly gave up to them4 ,he communicated to the new guests the sanctity of the place they were about to inhabit1 and recommended them to live therein holily1 never ceasing to praise the ,lord4 ,then he said to them3 ,you must be very grateful to the ,benedictine ,fathers for the benefit they have conferred upon us4 ,they have consecrated all the habitations we shall hereafter have1 by this house of ,god1 which is the model of the poverty which must be observed in all the houses of our ,order1 and the precious germ of the holiness which we must seek for in it4 ,but1 in order to show that he did not live there as on a property wholly his1 as well as for a mark of his gratitude to his benefactors1 he took care to have taken yearly to the ,abbey of ,mount ,soubazo1 as a ground-rent1 a basket of fish1 a species of mullet1 which is taken in quantities in the ,river ,asi1 or ,chiascio1 near the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,the ,friars ,minor have always cherished the feelings of the blessed ,patriarch for the ,order of ,st4 ,benedict4 ,they will ever manifest1 with sincerest gratitude1 that it is to this great order1 so ancient and so celebrated in the ,church1 that they are indebted for their first establishment1 and for many other benefits4 ,,book ,,ii ,a4 ,d4 #abaj ,it was therefore in the small ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or of ,portiuncula1 that ,francis laid the foundations of the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 which spread over the whole earth with wonderful rapidity4 ,this holy place was1 as it were1 the cradle of the ,institute1 and the nursery of the houses of the religious2 the source which supplied a great river1 which was divided into various channels2 the citadel from whence numerous brave warriors went forth to encounter the enemies of the ,church2 the school which has produced a very great number of saints1 and a multitude of learned men1 whose doctrine and piety have been equally celebrated4 ,the new habitation1 less confined than the hut of ,rivo ,torto1 enabled the ,patriarch to receive the postulants who had before presented themselves2 among whom may be noticed1 ,leo1 ,rufino1 ,masseo of ,marigan1 and ,juniper3--,leo1 whom ,francis chose for his confessor and secretary1 and whom he generally called ,pecorella ,di ,dio 7the sheep of ,god71 on account of his admirable candor4 ,rufino1 of whom he said3 ,i learnt1 by a revelation1 that he is one of the most faithful and of the most pure souls that there is in this world1 and ,i should have no fear of giving him1 though in a mortal body1 the title of ,saint1 since he is already canonized in heaven4 ,masseo1 whom he often sent1 instead of going himself1 to converse with persons of piety1 in order not to be interrupted in his own meditations1 because this religious added great mildness and suavity of manner to a rare talent of speaking about heavenly things4 ,juniper1 whom he found so valuable for his evangelical simplicity1 for his contempt of himself1 and for his great desire to attract upon himself the contempt of the world1 that1 alluding to his name1 he used to say good-humoredly3 ,i wish to ,god we had a wood full of such ,junipers4 ,the charitable father had all his children in his heart1 and he brought them up with a tenderness truly maternal4 ,he was the first to go from door to door1 to ask charity to provide for their wants2 sometimes he even went alone1 to spare them the mortification of begging1 under the impression that they might still retain the prejudices of the world on this head4 ,but the weakness of his frame not admitting of his providing for all1 and his religious being bound to subsist on charity alone1 he resolved to teach them to solicit it for the love of ,god1 and he made them the following exhortation1 which they have recorded3-- ,my very dear brethren and well-beloved children1 be not ashamed of soliciting alms1 since our ,lord became poor in this world for the love of us1 and that1 following ,his example1 we have chosen this state of the most perfect poverty4 ,for1 if we have made this choice for the love of ,jesus ,christ1 we must not blush at begging in our quality of poor4 ,heirs of the kingdom of ,god should not blush at what is a pledge of their heirship4 ,yes1 we are heirs of heaven2 this is a benefit which our ,lord has obtained for us1 to which ,he has given us a right1 as ,he has to all those who choose to live in a state of holy poverty4 ,i make known to you as a truth1 that a great number of the most noble of the age will become members of the ,order1 who will consider it an honor to solicit alms1 and who will look upon it as a favor to be permitted to do so4 ,you1 therefore1 who are the very first of the ,order1 do this cheerfully2 do not refuse to practise what you will have to teach these saintly personages4 ,go1 then1 and with the blessing of ,god solicit alms1 full of confidence and joy1 more than would be felt by him who should offer a hundred for one4 ,for it is the love of ,god you offer in asking1 when you say1 ',for the love of ,god1 bestow your charity on me2' and in comparison with this divine love1 heaven and earth are as nothing4 ,to mitigate the reluctance still felt by some of them1 he brought forward the two following motives3 ,the bread which holy poverty causes to be collected from door to door1 is the bread of angels1 because it is the good angels who inspire the faithful to bestow it for the love of ,god4 ,it is thus that the words of the prophet1 ',man ate the bread of angels1' are fulfilled in these holy poor ones4 ,god has given the ,friars ,minor to the world in these latter times1 that the elect may have it in their power to practise what will cause them to be glorified by the ,supreme ,judge1 when ,he will address them in these mellifluous words3 ',what you did to one of these1 the least of ,my brethren1 you did it to ,me4' ,it is pleasing to solicit charity in the capacity of a ,friar ,minor1 whom our ,master seemed to designate expressly by the appellation1 'the least of ,my brethren4' ,the disciples1 persuaded and moved by this appeal1 went of their own accord to quest in the neighboring places1 to get the better of the natural repugnance they felt to it4 ,at their return they presented themselves to their ,father with satisfied countenances1 which delighted him1 and by a holy emulation they were proud of the things they had collected for the love of ,god4 ,one of them returning one day with much cheerfulness1 singing loudly the praises of the great ,benefactor of men1 ,francis took from him the weighty wallet1 which was full of bits of bread1 placed it on his own shoulders1 kissed the shoulders of him who had carried it1 and came and said publicly3 ,so it is that ,i wish my brethren to go always on the quest1 and return from it3 ever gay1 and glorifying ,god for all the good which ,he does in our favor4 ,the blessed founder employed himself day and night unceasingly in inspiring them with the love and practice of the most sublime virtues2 he warned and exhorted each one of them in particular1 and he made discourses to them when collected1 on the most essential heads2 and this again he enforced by his own good example2 knowing that they were called by ,god to train up those who would embrace his rule in the different parts of the earth1 and that on the instruction of the one depended that of the others4 ,under such a master1 with the powerful assistance which they received from ,heaven1 they made in a short time such considerable progress1 that the latest comers were not less competent for the exercise of the ,evangelical ministry than the first4 ,altogether animated with the same spirit1 watching1 fasting1 praying1 penetrated with the fear of ,god1 full of holy desires1 they resembled in a great degree the primitive ,church confined in the supper-room4 ,francis1 who was perfectly acquainted with their most inward feelings1 and with the intentions of ,divine ,providence1 thought that he ought not to delay sending them forth on missions according to the idea of ,st4 ,chrysostom1 who says that the ,apostles1 who were commissioned to labor in the conversion of the world1 were necessarily separated1 and that it would have been very prejudicial to the interests of the universe had they kept together longer4 ,but1 as he had not yet heard them preach1 he desired prudently to judge by his own experience of their respective talents4 ,having assembled them together1 he desired ,bernard de ,quintavalle to speak on the mysteries of religion4 ,he immediately obeyed1 and spoke beautifully on the several points4 ,peter of ,catania was directed to set forth the greatness of ,god1 which he did with as much facility and learning as if he had been long perfect in the art of preaching4 ,a third was called upon to give an exhortation on avoiding sin1 and practising virtue1 which he complied with in powerful language4 ,in short1 they all handled the subjects which were allotted to them1 so as plainly to show that wisdom was given to them from on high4 ,after they had made this essay in preaching1 or rather this masterpiece of eloquence1 ,jesus ,christ1 who had inspired their thoughts and words1 appeared in the midst of them in the form of a very beautiful young man1 and gave ,his blessing to each of them successively1 with wonderful benignity4 ,this astonishing vision threw them into a rapturous transport2 after which1 ,francis addressed them as follows3 ,my brethren1 and dear children1 give abundant thanks to ,god most powerful1 and to ,his ,son1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 for having deigned to have communicated celestial treasures through the speeches of the most simple of men2 for it is ,god who causes infants to speak1 who opens the mouths of little children1 and makes the tongues of the most ignorant eloquent3 ,his goodness renders ,him compassionate to the world1 which is loaded with crime4 ,he has resolved to warn men of the woes into which they are plunging themselves2 and in order to root out from amongst them the works of the devil1 which are sins1 ,he has chosen vile and despicable preachers1 so that no one shall have reason to glorify himself before ,him1 and that every one shall acknowledge that all the good which is done comes from ,him4 ,although there are few among you of whom it can be said that they have worldly wisdom1 or are powerful or noble1 yet it is you whom the ,lord hath chosen for this important work4 ,it is ,his will that you should go into all parts to honor ,him by your actions and by your words1 bringing to ,his fear and to ,his love such as have strayed into evil ways4 ,prepare yourselves therefore to set forth2 gird your loins according to the commands of ,jesus ,christ2 be courageous2 put on the armor of faith2 be devoted to the service of the ,gospel2 always prepared to let yourselves be carried away as clouds1 whithersoever the ,spirit of ,god may direct you1 by the guidance of obedience1 to shed the dew of the divine word on the dry and arid soil of hardened hearts4 ,for our ,lord has not called you into this ,institute to think of nothing but saving your own souls quietly1 without any fatigue1 in the hearts of your country1 and in the bosom of your families2 ,his intention is1 that you carry ,his name and ,his faith into the nations1 and before the kings of the earth4 ,now1 lest we should appear to be slow in carrying ,his will into execution1 we will divide ,italy amongst us2 and soon after1 we will make other missions into more distant countries4 ,to this discourse the disciples replied1 that they were prepared for everything2 that1 having renounced their own will1 they only waited the order to commence the journey2 and that the distrust they had of themselves in consequence of their simplicity1 was counterbalanced by the confidence they had in the assistance of the ,almighty1 which animated them4 ,the next morning ,francis divided ,italy among them1 taking ,tuscany for himself with ,sylvester1 who was the first priest in his ,order1 so that he might1 by this arrangement1 be at the shortest distance from ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where he left some of the brethren to guide the novices whom he should send there4 ,two reasons induced him to make his beginning in ,italy4 ,the first was1 that it appeared to him to be just that the ,divine ,word should be first spread in that country1 of which the preachers were natives1 as the ,apostles had done in regard to the ,jews4 ,the second was1 that he might judge from what they should effect among the ,italians1 what they were capable of effecting elsewhere3 in which his judgment is to be admired4 ,he could not doubt but that the vocation of his children came from ,god2 nevertheless1 he used all the precautions which prudence dictated1 because he knew that the ,lord1 who acts according to ,his good pleasure by secret and supernatural means1 chooses that men on their part should pursue the ordinary course in all that depends on them4 ,this is a sure ground-work1 which is not only a rule in all that relates to salvation1 but also is applicable to the affairs of this life4 ,the man of ,god1 having commenced his route towards ,tuscany1 passed through ,perugia1 where he preached in the great square1 as is customary in ,italy4 ,some young gentlemen1 of the first families of the place1 came also there for the exercises of the tournament1 and made so much noise that the preacher could be no longer heard4 ,as they continued their lance exercises1 notwithstanding the remonstrance of the people1 the ,saint1 turning to the side in which they were1 addressed them in the following words with great animation3-- ,pay attention1 and learn what the ,lord declares to you through me1 who am ,his servant1 and do not imagine to satisfy yourselves by saying1 ,this is only a man from ,assisi who speaks to you4 7,a precaution he took because ,perugia and ,assisi1 neighboring towns1 were always opposed to each other47 ,what ,i tell you1 ,i do not tell you as man4 ,god has raised you above all the adjacent countries2 in gratitude for which you should humble yourselves1 not merely in ,his eyes1 but before all the world4 ,but1 on the contrary1 your strength and your glory have so inflamed your pride1 that you have pillaged and laid waste all that surrounds you1 and you have killed no inconsiderable number4 ,for which reason ,i declare to you that1 unless you be speedily converted1 and repair the damage you have done1 the ,lord1 who suffers no evil to be committed with impunity1 will take revenge on your sins4 ,in order to create in you the greater dismay1 ,he will suffer you to rise up one against the other1 to excite a popular commotion1 and to do yourselves much greater injury than any of your neighbors could do to you4 ,he remained some time at ,perugia1 where they soon saw the effect of his threats4 ,the nobles were irritated against the plebeians1 the clergy joined the party of the nobles1 and they came to blows2 the people1 who were the strongest1 drove the others out of the town4 ,the discomfited party1 in order to be revenged1 laid waste everything in the country which belonged to the people2 who1 by way of reprisals1 pillaged the houses of the nobles1 and massacred their servants and even their children4 ,indeed the disaster was so great1 that1 according to the prediction1 armed neighbors could not have caused any greater4 ,the ,perugians having thus1 at their cost1 discovered the holiness of the preacher1 wished to retain him in their city1 and entreated him to choose what place he pleased for his abode4 ,many young persons of pure morals joined his ,order2 one among others1 whose vocation was very singular4 ,as he was walking one day out of the town1 his mind intent upon his wish to consecrate himself to ,god1 ,jesus ,christ appeared to him1 and said3 ,man of desires1 if you hope to be in the enjoyment of what you wish for1 and to effect your salvation1 take a religious habit and follow ,me4 ,he immediately asked into what order he should enter4 ,our ,lord answered him3 ,join the new ,order of ,francis of ,assisi4 ,he then made this further inquiry3 ,lord1 when ,i shall have joined that ,order1 what mode of life shall ,i follow1 to be more agreeable to ,thee8 and this is the answer he received3 ,lead the usual life2 enter into no particular intimacies with your brethren2 take no notice of the defects of others1 and form no opinion to their disadvantage4 ,these are admirable means for living holily and peaceably in a community4 ,the young man came and offered himself to ,francis1 who knew that ,jesus ,christ had sent him1 and he admitted him immediately1 giving him the name of ,brother ,humble1 on account of the humility he found in his heart4 ,at ,crotona1 to which place he next took the word of ,god1 there was another young man named ,guy1 who1 moved by his preaching1 had invited him to dinner3 ,this young man1 said ,francis1 will enter our militia to-day1 and will sanctify himself in this town4 ,he was the oldest of his family1 brought up in study and in virtue1 and the excellence of his conduct exceeded even that of his education4 ,he frequented the churches and the sacraments1 he gave great alms1 and visited the sick to assist them2 he wore a hair-shirt1 and chastised his body severely1 to enable him to preserve his virginal purity4 ,he had made a vow to do this4 ,after the dinner1 he knelt down and petitioned for the habit of a ,friar ,minor1 which he received in the principal church of the town1 in the presence of a numerous concourse of people1 after having first fulfilled two conditions which the father had prescribed for him3 ,the first was1 to give to the poor all that he had inherited by his right of primogeniture2 the second was1 to renounce all the rest of his fortune4 ,it was in the same town that he lived a most holy life1 as had been foretold1 honored by many miracles2 now by permission of the ,holy ,see1 he is publicly invoked4 ,the love of prayer and retirement made ,francis wish to find in the neighborhood of ,crotona a fit place for building a house suitable for the education of his novices4 ,guy pointed one out to him in the valley1 near a place called ,celles4 ,this location greatly pleased him1 because it was solitary2 and by the aid of some pious persons1 he built a very poor dwelling1 which he soon filled with novices1 and where he received the celebrated ,brother ,elias1 of whom we shall have much to say hereafter4 ,having spent nearly two months in preaching at ,crotona1 and in forming his novices at the ,convent of ,celles1 he was inspired to pass over to a desert island in the middle of the ,lake of ,perugia4 ,lent was drawing near4 ,he recommended the care of the house to ,sylvester1 without letting him know what his own intention was2 and on ,ash-,wednesday he caused himself to be taken to the island by a boatman1 having with him only two loaves of bread4 ,the boatman was a worthy man and his friend4 ,he begged him not to tell any one where he was1 and only to come to him on the ,wednesday of ,holy-,week1 to take him back to the shore4 ,having made himself there a sort of hut in one of the thickets1 to preserve himself from the cold1 he had his intercourse with ,god alone during two and forty days2 and his fast was so rigorous1 that of the two loaves he brought with him he only ate half a one4--,in ecclesiastical history we meet with examples of these miraculous fasts1 of which the ,holy ,fathers have had an assured knowledge1 and which the weakness of human nature was enabled to sustain by virtue of the ,spirit of ,god1 which supported them4 ,the fruit which they were to derive from it1 was to animate the faithful to keep1 with as much exactness as was in their power1 the fasts prescribed by the ,church1 and particularly the fast of ,lent1 which many principal motives of religion render so venerable4 ,on ,wednesday in ,holy-,week1 the boatman went to fetch ,francis and bring him back to ,crotona4 ,on the passage the ,saint stilled a storm1 by making the sign of the cross on the waves2 and as soon as he had landed he went to the ,convent at ,celles1 where he passed the remainder of the ,holy-,week with his brethren4 ,his confidant did not think it necessary to keep the secret of the marvellous fast4 ,the rumor spread1 and many persons went to the island to see and venerate the hut in which he had lived4 ,the miracles which were wrought there by the merits of the ,saint1 induced some persons to build there2 and gradually a small town arose1 where later a church was built1 with a convent of his ,order1 near a spring at which he had drunk2 sick were afterwards cured there4 ,after the ,easter solemnities1 he placed a superior in the convent2 then having tenderly embraced the religious1 he made the sign of the cross on them1 and separated himself from them to go to ,arezzo4 ,this town was at that time greatly agitated by internal dissensions1 which were likely to bring on its entire ruin4 ,francis being lodged in the suburbs1 where he had been hospitably received1 saw over the town1 with the penetrating sight which the ,almighty had given him1 devils who excited the citizens to massacre each other1 and who appeared to be transported with joy4 ,to put these evil spirits to flight1 he sent ,sylvester1 as his herald1 and gave him this command3 ,go to the gate of the town1 and standing before it1 order the devils1 in the name of the ,almighty ,god1 and in virtue of obedience1 instantly to retire4 ,sylvester1 who was a man of extraordinary simplicity1 praising ,god beforehand for what was about to happen1 went as fast as possible1 and cried out with all his might3 ,all you devils who are here1 begone1 go far from hence4 ,it is in the name of ,god and of ,his servant1 ,francis1 that ,i call upon you to go4 ,at this very moment the citizens1 who were on the point of flying to arms1 came to an understanding on the points which were in dispute1 and peace was restored to the town4 ,on which ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that the obedience and humility of ,francis had obtained for him that absolute power over the proud spirits who fear and fly from the sublime virtue of the humble4 ,it became known in ,arezzo who the author was of so sudden a reconciliation1 because the words which had been spoken by ,sylvester had been heard4 ,francis was sought for and brought into the town in a sort of triumph1 notwithstanding the efforts he made to escape from this honor4 ,he preached in the great square on the love of peace1 and on the means of preserving it2 pointing out to them that dissensions and quarrels came from1 and are promoted by1 the evil spirit4 ,the magistrates entertained him at the town-house1 and had a convent built for his ,order according to his wishes1 that is to say1 according to holy poverty2 in which he placed some worthy subjects who had presented themselves to him4 ,a child was brought to him who was quite distorted2 he took it into his arms1 and it forthwith became straight4 ,this miracle1 and several others which he performed during his stay1 proved that ,god had given him as much power over bodily complaints as over the evil spirits4 ,from ,arrezo he bent his steps to ,florence1 preaching with great success throughout the route4 ,the lords of ,ganghereto received him with great respect1 and were so pleased with the holiness of his life1 that they begged his acceptance of a field and a small wood for the service of his religious4 ,he set up a hut there1 where his infirmities compelled him to remain some time4 ,after preaching and prayer1 to which he daily gave some time1 one after the other1 he employed himself in building a small wall round a spring of water which he got miraculously1 and which still flows1 the water of which ,god was pleased to render salutary4 ,as soon as his health was in some degree restored1 he continued his way towards ,florence1 where he went to lodge in the hospital4 ,the following day he preached in the town1 and was listened to as a saint4 ,they gave him a small dwelling near the church of ,st4 ,gall1 about five hundred paces from the city1 in which he received several novices1 who rendered themselves illustrious by their exalted virtues2 among whom ,john ,parent is particularly noticed1 who was a native of ,carmignano1 near ,pistoria4 ,his conversion was attributable to a very peculiar circumstance4 ,as he was walking one evening in the environs of the town1 he saw a swineherd who was endeavoring to drive his pigs into a stable1 and who1 being in a great passion because1 instead of going in1 they dispersed themselves in all directions1 called out to them in his anger3 ,swine1 get into this stable as judges get into hell4 ,he had scarcely said the words1 when these animals went quietly in4 ,that which might have appeared to this magistrate nothing but an impertinence1 struck him1 and made so strong an impression upon him1 that1 having seriously reflected on the dangers incurred by a judge 7which are indeed very great7 as to salvation1 he threw up his magistracy1 and retired to ,florence4 ,there he saw ,francis1 examined his conduct1 admired his virtues1 and felt himself called by ,god to imitate him4 ,an only son of his had a similar vocation4 ,the father and the son divided their all among the poor1 and became disciples of the ,saint1 whose prophecy began thus to be fulfilled3 that the wise and learned of the world would enter into his ,order4 ,such a conversion sets before us this important truth3 that the ,spirit breatheth where ,he will2 that the ,lord gives ,his grace sometimes to what is most common1 most simple1 and even most base1 according to the notions of the world2 that it is necessary to be attentive1 that we may not receive the grace of ,god in vain2 and that1 little as it may seem at first1 by being carefully attended to1 it may have the most beneficial results4 ,not to be thankful for it1 to neglect it1 to resist it1 is a heavy loss4 ,while ,francis was at ,st4 ,gall1 he foretold a thing which the event justified a few years afterwards4 ,three men at ,florence brought each a child to receive his blessing4 ,as soon as he was apprised of it1 he went into the garden and gathered five figs1 then he came in1 and gave one to the first of the children1 one to the second1 and three to the third1 to whom he addressed the following words3 ,you will be my dear child4 ,that one1 when he had attained the proper age1 took the habit of the ,friars ,minor1 and was called ,brother ,angel1 which he deserved by his angelic life1 which was the fruit of his great devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin1 from whom he received very marked favors4 ,from the month of ,october1 #abaa1 to the beginning of #abab1 the man of ,god visited the ,towns of ,pescia1 ,pisa1 ,san ,miniato1 ,sarthiano1 ,cetona1 and other places in ,tuscany1 where he made many wonderful conversions1 and left some of his brethren to continue the work of ,god4 ,we shall relate1 at the end of his life1 the great honors which were publicly shown him1--honors which he received with the greatest humility1 and yet with the most generous sentiments4 ,the brethren whom he had dispersed in the other provinces of ,italy1 and who partook of his apostolic spirit1 labored on their part with great zeal and success4 ,they founded many establishments1 and formed many disciples1 whom they sent to the holy ,founder in order to receive the habit of the ,order from him4 ,they mention particularly what happened at ,bologna to ,bernard de ,quintavalle4 ,as soon as he made his appearance1 his extraordinary and very poor habit made him looked upon as a person not worthy of notice4 ,he went to the great square in order to preach the truth of salvation1 and he went there several times without having collected an audience4 ,children and idle people surrounded him2 some pulled him by the hood1 others threw mud and stones at him2 and he was daily assailed with fresh outrages1 which he bore with exemplary patience4 ,a lawyer1 having noticed this1 made his reflections on it1 and it occurred to him that his conduct might be attributed to virtue rather than insensibility4 ,one day1 then1 he came up to ,bernard and asked him who he was1 and what he had come to do at ,bologna4 ,you will know who ,i am1 replied ,bernard1 if you will take the trouble to read what ,i now offer you4 ,it was the ,rule of ,francis1 of which he had a copy1 and which he placed in his hand4 ,the lawyer having read it with astonishment1 said to those who accompanied him3 ,i own ,i have never seen anything so perfect or so heroic as this mode of life4 ,those who ill-use this man are very criminal2 he ought1 on the contrary1 to be loaded with honors1 as a special friend of ,god4 ,then1 addressing himself to ,bernard1 he said3 ,if you will follow me1 ,i will give you a place in which you may serve the ,lord4 ,bernard1 having accepted the offer1 was taken to the house of his benefactor1 who received him with affection1 and gave him a house1 which he furnished with everything necessary1 and promised to protect him and his companions4 ,after this1 ,bernard was so highly respected in ,bologna1 that people considered themselves fortunate if they could get near him1 touch him1 or even see him4 ,this truly humble man1 mortified at the honor which was shown him1 went to ,francis1 and said1 ,my ,father1 all is in good order at ,bologna4 ,but send any other religious thither rather than me1 for ,i have no longer any hopes of being useful there3 it is even to be feared that ,i may lose many graces on account of the great honors ,i receive4 ,this prudent mistrust of himself was as pleasing to the holy ,father as the affection of the ,bolognese1 to which he responded by sending them several of his disciples1 who subsequently spread the ,order throughout all ,romagna4 ,the holy ,patriarch returned some time before ,lent to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where his first care was to examine rigidly whether in his ,evangelical progress some worldly dust might not have adhered to him in consequence of his communications with seculars2 and in those instances in which the extreme delicacy of his conscience gave him room for self-reproach1 he purified himself by very severe penitential observances4 ,he then applied himself carefully to the formation of the novices1 whom he had collected from various places1 and he preached during the ,lent at ,assisi4 ,his discourses1 backed by his example1 and his prayers and exhortations1 animated by an ardent zeal1 were so efficacious1 that in the town and county of ,assisi a very great number of persons was converted1 and the fire of divine love was kindled in every heart4 ,then1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 using the words of the ,holy ,scriptures1 the vine of the ,lord spread its branches and bore flowers of a most agreeable odor1 and produced fruits of glory in abundance4 ,there were many young girls who made vows of perpetual virginity2 amongst whom1 says the same holy doctor1 the ,blessed ,clare appeared as the most beautiful plant in the garden of the ,celestial ,spouse1 and as a star more brilliant than all the others4 ,this illustrious maiden was the daughter of a rich and noble family of ,assisi4 ,the ,cavaliere ,favorine1 or ,favarone1 her father1 was descended from the ancient and powerful houses of ,scifi and ,fiumi4 ,her mother1 of equal high birth and exalted piety1 was called ,hortulana4 ,she had the talent of joining the care of her household to the practice of good works1 and to regulate her time so well1 that she found enough in which to visit1 with the consent of her husband1 many holy places3 she even made a pilgrimage to the ,holy ,land4 ,if this practice is no longer usual in these days1 particularly as regards distant countries1 it arises from the circumstances of the times being very different1 and from there having been a great change in manners4 ,but ,christian piety does not permit us altogether to condemn 7independently of abuses7 voyages or journeys of devotion1 since they are sanctioned by the examples of the saints1 have been approved by the ,fathers of the ,church1 and since at one time they were directed as sacramental penances for certain sinners4 ,hortulana had three daughters1 ,clare1 ,agnes1 ,beatrix4 ,being about to be confined of the first1 and praying to ,god before a crucifix in a church for a safe delivery1 she heard a voice1 which said to her3 ,woman1 fear not1 thou wilt bring forth1 without danger1 a light which will illuminate a vast space4 ,this was the reason she gave the name of ,clare to the daughter to whom she gave birth1 in the hopes of seeing the accomplishment of what it might signify4 ,indeed1 from her earliest years1 her virtue shone as an aurora1 the prognostication of a fine day4 ,she received with docility the instructions of her mother1 and her whole conduct was the fruit thereof2 the exercise of prayer became familiar to her2 she every day recited the ,lord's ,prayer a number of times1 which she marked with small stones1 in order to be exact in the daily number she had assigned for herself4 ,in that she resembled the solitary of the ,desert of ,seethe1 who kept an account of the number of his prayers1 offering them to ,god three hundred times each day4 ,naturally tender and compassionate to the poor1 she aided them voluntarily1 and the opulence of her family enabled her to assist them abundantly4 ,but1 in order to render her charities more agreeable to ,god1 she sent to the poor1 by confidential persons1 the nicest eatables which were served to herself4 ,the love of ,god1 with which these holy practices inflamed her heart1 inspired her with a hatred of her own body1 and showed her the vanity of all the things of this world4 ,under her own costly dresses1 which her situation in society obliged her to wear1 she constantly had a hair-shirt2 and she cleverly refused a proposal of marriage which her parents wished her to accept1 recommending to ,god her virginity1 which she intended to preserve in entire purity4 ,although she was at that time confined in the bosom of her family1 and solely intent on sanctifying herself in secret before the eyes of ,god1 her virtue became the subject of admiration1 without her being conscious of it1 and drew down upon her the esteem and praise of the whole town4 ,the great celebrity which the sanctity of ,francis gained in the world1 could not be unknown to young ,clare4--,aware that this wonderful man renewed a perfection on the earth which was almost forgotten1 she wished much to see him and to have conversations with him4 ,francis also1 having heard the reputation of ,clare's virtues1 had an equal desire to communicate with her1 that he might tear her from the world and present her to ,jesus ,christ4 ,they saw and visited each other several times4 ,clare went to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels with a virtuous lady1 a relation of hers1 whose name was ,bona ,guelfucci2 ,francis also came to see her1 but always taking the necessary precautions to have the pious secret kept4 ,she placed herself entirely under his guidance1 and he soon persuaded her to consecrate herself to ,god4 ,an interior view of eternal happiness inspired her with such contempt for the vanities of the world1 and filled her heart with such divine love1 that she had a complete loathing for finery1 which it was not as yet permitted her to throw aside2 and from that time she entered into engagements to live in a state of perpetual virginity4 ,the holy director did not choose that so pure a soul should continue longer exposed to the contagion of the world4 ,she had herself come to him some days before ,palm-,sunday to hasten the execution of her intention2 he told her to assist at the ceremony of the delivery of palms dressed in her usual ornaments1 to leave ,assisi the following night1 as our ,blessed ,saviour had left ,jerusalem to suffer on ,mount ,calvary1 and to come to the church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where she would exchange her worldly ornaments for a penitential habit1 and the vain joys of the world for holy lamentations over the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ4 ,on the #ahth of ,march1 being ,palm-,sunday1 ,clare1 magnificently dressed1 went with other ladies to the ,cathedral ,church1 and as she remained in her place out of bashfulness while the others crowded forward to receive the palms1 the bishop came down from the altar1 and carried a palm branch to her1 as a symbol of the victory she was about to gain over the world4 ,the following night1 accompanied as propriety required1 she arranged her flight as her spiritual ,father had directed1 and according to the earnest wish of her soul4 ,not being able to get out by the front door1 of which she had not the key1 she had the courage and strength to break open a small door which had been blocked up with stones and wood1 and she repaired to the church1 where ,francis and his brethren1 who were saying their matins1 received her with great solemnity1 bearing lighted tapers in their hands4 ,they cut off her hair before the altar1 and after she had taken off her ornaments with the help of the females who accompanied her1 she received the penitential habit1 consecrating her virginity to ,jesus ,christ1 under the protection of the ,queen of ,virgins1 while the religious chanted hymns and canticles4 ,it was a touching scene to see a young noble lady1 only eighteen years of age1 in solitude1 in the middle of the night1 renounce all the advantages and allurements of the world1 put on sackcloth and a cord1 and devote herself to a rigorous system of penitential exercises1 solely for the love of ,god4 ,similar sacrifices can only be made by a supernatural virtue2 they prove that the religion which inspires them is divine2 and justly does ,st4 ,ambrose consider them to be far above the most heroical pagan virtues4 ,it must be remarked1 moreover1 that the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 which was the cradle of the ,order of the ,poor ,evangelical ,brethren which ,francis had just established1 was also the place where ,clare made profession of the same poverty1 that she subsequently prescribed to the ,order of ,women1 which she instituted together with the holy ,patriarch4 ,this gives to the two orders the pleasing consolation of knowing that they belong to the ,mother of ,god from their origin1 and that she is specially their mother4 ,as soon as the ceremony was over1 ,francis1 who was always guided by the spirit of wisdom1 took the new bride of ,jesus ,christ1 followed by her companions1 to the monastery of ,benedictines of ,st4 ,paul1 there to remain until ,divine ,providence should provide a dwelling for her4 ,when morning dawned1 and her parents learnt what had occurred during the night1 they were overwhelmed with grief4 ,they equally disapproved of what ,clare had done1 and of the manner in which she had carried her intention into execution2 and they went in great numbers to the monastery of ,st4 ,paul1 to compel her to leave it4 ,at first they spoke to her in mild and friendly terms2 they represented to her that she was choosing a vile and contemptible state of life1 which was disgraceful to her family1 and that there was no precedent in the whole country of such an occurrence4 ,after which they attempted by violence to force her from the monastery2 which they might easily have done1 because in those times the religious females did not keep strict enclosure1 beside which her relations were all military men1 accustomed to acts of violence4 ,clare uncovered her head to show them that she was shorn2 and she protested1 clinging to the altar1 that nothing in the world should tear her from ,jesus ,christ4 ,either because they had too much respect for religion to venture to violate so holy an asylum1 or that ,god restrained them by ,his power1 they molested her no farther4 ,she had only to resist the fresh efforts they made to induce her to return to her father4 ,but the love of ,god gave her courage to resist with such determined firmness1 that1 giving up all hopes of conquering her1 they left her in peace4 ,a short time after1 ,francis removed her from the ,monastery of ,st4 ,paul to that of ,st4 ,angelo de ,panso1 of the same ,order of ,st4 ,benedict1 near ,assisi1 to which she drew her sister ,agnes4 ,the conformity of their inclinations and manners1 which rendered them tenderly united1 had made them sensibly feel their separation4 ,clare was greatly grieved that ,agnes1 at so tender an age1 should be exposed to the dangers of the world4 ,she prayed fervently to the ,almighty to cause her sister to feel the sweets of ,his grace1 so that she might grow disgusted with the world1 and become her companion in the service of ,jesus ,christ4 ,her prayer was soon favorably heard1 for1 a fortnight after her consecration1 ,agnes came to her1 and declared that she was decided to give herself wholly to ,god4 ,i return ,him thanks1 replied ,clare1 for that ,he has thus relieved me from the uneasiness ,i was in on your account4 ,the indignation of the family was extreme1 when it became known that one sister had followed the other4 ,on the morrow1 twelve of its principal members hastened to the ,monastery of ,st4 ,angelo4 ,at first they feigned to have come in a peaceful mood2 but1 having been admitted1 they turned to ,agnes1 for they had no longer any hopes of ,clare1 and said3 ,what business have you here8 ,come immediately home with us4 ,she replied that she did not choose to leave her sister1 when one of the knights1 forgetting himself altogether1 attacked her furiously1 struck her with his fist1 kicked her1 pulled her down by the hair1 and the others carried her off in their arms4 ,all that this innocent lamb could do1 thus torn by the wolves1 was to cry out3 ,my dear sister1 come to my aid2 do not let them separate me from ,jesus ,christ4 ,clare could give her no assistance1 but by praying to ,god to render her steadfast1 and to check the violence of her ravishers4 ,this prayer was followed by a miraculous effect1 similar to what the ,church records in the life of the illustrious virgin and martyr1 ,st4 ,lucia4 ,as the relations of ,agnes dragged her down the mountain1 tearing her clothes1 and scattering her hair along the road1 because she continued violently to resist1 she became suddenly so heavy1 that they were unable to raise her from the ground1 even with the help of persons who flocked from the fields and the vineyards4 ,they were blind to the finger of ,god in so extraordinary an event1 and they even made a jest of it2 for ill-disposed persons1 like the ,pharisees of the ,gospel1 do not submit to the evidence of miracles1 but carry their impiety to the length of turning all miracles into ridicule4 ,the one which ,god was pleased to perform in the person of ,agnes1 threw her uncle1 whose name was ,monaldi1 into such a rage1 that he raised his arm to strike her in such a manner as would have killed her1 if the ,divine power had not arrested the blow by bringing such an excessive pain into the limb as to disable it2 this pain lasted a considerable time4 ,this is a grand lesson for those parents who prevent their children from consecrating themselves to ,god in a religious state4 ,if they do not experience in this world the effects of ,his anger1 they ought to fear the consequences of the anathema in the next with which the ,council of ,trent menaces1 not only them1 but those also who compel their children to embrace a religious state4 ,clare came to the field of battle1 where she found her sister half dead4 ,she entreated the relations to retire and to leave her in her care1 which they regrettingly did4 ,agnes then rose with great ease1 glad to have had a share in the cross of ,jesus ,christ4 ,she returned to the monastery with her sister1 to consecrate herself to ,god under the direction of ,francis1 who cut off her hair with his own hands1 and instructed her in the duties of the state she was about to enter4 ,clare1 not having her mind quite at ease in the ,monastery of ,st4 ,angelo1 removed to the house which adjoined the ,church of ,st4 ,damian1 the first of the three which he had repaired1 and where he had foretold that there would be one day a monastery of poor females1 who should lead a sanctified life1 and whose reputation would cause our ,heavenly ,father to be glorified4 ,clare had scarcely fixed herself there1 when the fame of her sanctity spread all around1 and produced wonderful effects4 ,the influence of grace was so great1 that there were many persons of all sexes and all ages1 of all states of life1 nobles and rich1 who took to a religious life4 ,they mutually incited each other in families1 as ,st4 ,jerome tells us that it occurred in all ,africa1 when the illustrious virgin1 ,demetrias1 moved by the exhortation of ,st4 ,augustine1 took the holy veil4 ,it was even seen that married persons separated by mutual consent1 and entered separate convents3 and those who could not do this1 strove to sanctify themselves in the world4 ,the virtues of the holy spouse of ,jesus ,christ1 as a precious perfume1 attracted pure and innocent souls1 who made the house of ,st4 ,damian a numerous community1 and the cradle of the ,order of the ,poor ,clares1 or ,poor ,ladies1 the second of the three orders which were established by ,st4 ,francis4 ,he appointed ,clare ,abbess of ,st4 ,damian1 although her humility made her wish to be the servant of the others1 and he only overcame her repugnance by enforcing that obedience which she had promised him4 ,it was there that this holy abbess was enclosed during a period of forty-two years in the practice of the most eminent perfection1 and which we shall have an opportunity of referring to1 when we come to speak of her rule4 ,after ,francis had regulated the spiritual exercises of these nuns1 provided for the enclosure1 and placed the house in good order1 he turned in his mind things personal to himself1 as to what should be his future way of life4 ,in order to come to a decision1 he consulted those of his brethren with whom he was in the habit of having familiar intercourse1 and proposed to them his difficulties as follows3 ,my brethren1 what do you advise me8 ,which of the two do you think best3 that ,i shall give myself to prayer1 or that ,i shall go forth to preach8 ,to me it seems that prayer is what is most advantageous to me1 for ,i am a simple person1 who am not a good speaker1 and ,i have received the gift of prayer1 rather than that of speech3 moreover1 we gain much by prayer2 it is the source of graces2 but1 in preaching1 we only distribute to others what ,god has communicated4 ,prayer purifies the heart and the affections2 it unites us to the sole true and sovereign good1 and strengthens us in virtue4 ,preaching renders the feet of the spiritual man dusty2 it is an employment which dissipates and distracts1 and which causes regular discipline to be relaxed4 ,in fine1 in prayer we speak to ,god1 and we listen to ,him2 we converse with the angels1 as if we lived an ,evangelic life4 ,in preaching we must have much condescension towards men1 and1 living with them1 we must hear and see1 speak and think1 in some measure as they do1 in a human way4 ,but there is one thing which seems to prevail over all this before ,god1 which is1 that the ,only ,son1 who is in the bosom of ,his ,father1 and is the ,sovereign ,wisdom1 came down from heaven to save souls1 to instruct mankind by ,his example and by ,his word1 to redeem them by ,his blood1 and to make of this precious blood a bath and a celestial beverage3 all that ,he had ,he gave up liberally and without reserve for our salvation4 ,now1 having bound ourselves to do all things according to the model given us in ,his person1 it seems more in conformity to the will of ,god1 that ,i should give up my own repose in order to labor for the benefit of others4 ,after all these reflections1 he continued in an anxious state of uncertainty as to the course he ought to take2 and this man1 who had wonderful knowledge through the spirit of prophecy1 had no light thrown on his doubts by prayer3 ,god permitting at that time that he should not be sensible to the evident proofs he had1 that he was called to the apostolic life4 ,we have already seen that powerful attractions to a contemplative life had given rise to similar difficulties arising in his mind4 ,as he wished in all things to act faithfully and perfectly1 his principal care was to apply himself to the virtues which he knew1 by the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 to be most agreeable to ,god4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that this was the ground of his doubt1 and he gives two reasons why ,god permitted that the ,saint should not have been able to solve the difficulty1 the solution of which appeared so easy4 ,the first is1 in order that the heavenly oracles which had announced that ,francis was destined to preach the ,gospel1 should give a more exalted idea of the merits of that ministry2 to this may be added1 that it was of consequence that it should be known with certainty that the holy ,founder and his disciples were destined by ,heaven to labor for the salvation of souls1 since in after times it has been found that some of their adversaries have contested it4 ,secondly1 the doubt of the servant of ,god was useful in preserving his humility and rendering it still greater4 ,in the capacity of a ,friar ,minor1 he was not ashamed of seeking the advice of the least of his brethren1 he who had been taught such elevated things from the ,sovereign ,master4 ,it was likewise one of his maxims throughout his whole life1 and of the principles of the sacred philosophy1 of which he made profession1 to address himself to the simple as well as to the learned1 to the imperfect as well as to the perfect1 to the young as to the old1 with the ardent desire to find from intercourse with them in what way and by what means he could best serve ,god according to ,his good pleasure1 and raise himself to the greatest perfection4 ,finally1 we must not be surprised that he entreated ,god to grant him additional proofs of his vocation1 after having received such convincing ones by revelations1 by miracles1 and from the mouth of the ,vicar of ,jesus ,christ2 when we see in the ,sacred ,scriptures1 that ,gideon1 having been chosen by ,god to fight the enemies of ,his people1 and this choice having been manifested by the apparition of an angel1 by a miracle and by a revelation1 he nevertheless begged the ,lord to give other miraculous signs1 in order to be still further assured of it1 and his prayer was granted4 ,would to ,god1 that1 without asking for miracles and without expecting them1 all vocations1 particularly those for the holy ministries1 and other affairs of conscience1 were examined on such sound principles1 and weighed by means as likely to deserve the light of ,heaven4 ,in order to know how finally to decide1 ,francis sent two of his religious1 ,philip and ,masse1 to ,brother ,sylvester the priest1 who was then on the mountain near ,assisi1 continually intent on prayer1 begging him to consult the ,lord on the subject of his doubt1 and to let him know the result4 ,he made a similar application to ,clare1 recommending her to put the same question to her sisters1 and particularly to the one who should appear to her to be the most pure and most single-minded4 ,the venerable priest and the consecrated virgin gave similar answers1 and pronounced that it was the will of ,god that ,francis should go forth to preach4 ,when the two religious returned1 ,francis received them with great respect and affection2 he washed their feet1 embraced them1 and gave them their meal4 ,he then took them into the wood1 where he knelt bareheaded and inclined1 with his hands crossed upon his breast1 and said to them3 ,now tell me what my ,lord ,jesus ,christ commands me to do8 ,my very dear brother1 and my ,father1 replied ,masse1 ,sylvester and ,clare received precisely the same answer from our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is1 that you set out to preach2 because it is not for your salvation alone that ,he called you1 but for the salvation of others also2 and for them ,he will put ,his words into your mouth4 ,then ,francis1 moved by the ,spirit of ,god1 as the prophets had been1 and inflamed by the fire of charity1 rose up1 saying3 ,let us then go in the name of the ,lord2 and he set out with two of his companions1 ,masse of ,marignan1 and ,angelo of ,rieti4 ,he walked so fast to obey the words of ,heaven1 that it was easy to see that the ,lord acted upon him1 and that he had received fresh strength from above for the ministry of preaching4 ,his companions were the more convinced of this by the very extraordinary wonders which were worked by him on the route4 ,the apostolical preacher went first to ,bevagna1 where he pronounced an excellent discourse on the love of ,god2 after which1 in presence of the whole audience1 he restored the sight of a blind girl by putting spittle three times on her eyes in the name of the ,blessed ,trinity4 ,this miracle had a salutary effect on a number of sinners1 who were converted2 and many of them joined him who was the instrument of the ,divine ,power4 ,so many souls gained to ,jesus ,christ in one place1 stimulated him to carry the faith into the ,levant4 ,the triumph of martyrs1 whose charity could not be extinguished by the violence of persecutions1 excited in him a holy jealousy4 ,burning with similar fire1 he wished to offer himself1 as they had done1 a sacrifice1 in order to mark his gratitude in some measure1 by the effusion of his blood1 for the goodness of ,jesus ,christ1 who vouchsafed to die for our salvation1 thus the better to excite others to love ,him4 ,but he desired to have the sanction of the ,sovereign ,pontiff for this undertaking1 and therefore bent his steps to ,rome1 preaching as he went the truths of salvation1 which ,god confirmed by miracles4 ,arrived at ,rome1 he sought an audience with the ,pope4 ,innocent ,,iii still filled the ,papal throne2 he first communicated to him the wonderful extension of his ,order1 the holy lives of his brethren1 and the design which ,god had to bring about a reformation of morals in the world1 which was growing old1 and was visibly in a state of decay4 ,then he disclosed the project he had of transporting himself to the lands of the ,mahometans and ,tartars1 to endeavor to give them some knowledge of the ,gospel4 ,it must be remarked1 that the ,saint attributed to the world that decay which is the effect of old age1 but he did not extend this to the ,church1 because he well knew that1 although old1 she was not infirm4 ,st4 ,augustine says1 that her old age is always young1 fresh1 vigorous1 and that she bears fruit in abundance4 ,the ,pope1 who was very religious1 was highly gratified at the fortunate success which he now learnt had attended the ,saint's labors2 he willingly granted the servant of ,god leave to preach to the infidels1 and he affectionately gave him his blessing4 ,two sermons which ,francis preached at ,rome procured him two disciples1 ,zachary and ,william2 the one was a ,roman1 the other was an ,englishman4 ,john de ,capella1 of whom we have before spoken1 having left the ,order about this time1 and having had a similar end to that of ,judas1 ,william was substituted for him1 as ,st4 ,mathias had filled the place of the traitor in the ,apostolate1 and ,william was afterwards always considered as the twelfth of the first companions of the ,patriarch4 ,a ,roman widow1 very noble and very rich1 called ,jacqueline de ,settesoli1 having heard the ,saint preach1 was very anxious to have an interview with him4 ,he agreed to it1 although reluctantly1 and he gave her such salutary instructions1 that she committed the care of all her affairs to her two sons1 who were afterwards senators1 in order that she might apply herself to the sanctification of her soul1 employing the gift of tears which ,god had given her1 to weep incessantly the neglects of her past life4 ,this lady and ,st4 ,clare were the only two persons of the female sex with whom the servant of ,jesus ,christ had any intimate relations on the subject of their salvation2 which ought to serve as a caution for this sort of direction lest it be too greatly multiplied1--and be unholy4 ,as there is no affection more solid or more effective than that which is grounded on charity1 the pious widow rendered to ,francis and his brethren all the good offices in her power4 ,when they came to ,rome she provided them with lodgings1 she fed them1 clothed them1 and assisted them in their sicknesses with the tenderness of a mother4 ,it was she who procured for them from the ,benedictines of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,cosmas beyond the ,tiber1 a refuge in the ,hospital of ,st4 ,blaise2 and this hospital with its church was entirely ceded to them by the same religious order in the year #abbi1 at the request of ,pope ,gregory ,,ix2 it is to this day the ,convent of ,st4 ,francis of ,ripa4 ,thus the ,friars ,minor are indebted to the children of ,st4 ,benedict for the first establishment they had in ,rome1 as well as for that of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or ,portiuncula1 the first of the whole ,order4 ,francis1 having terminated his business at ,rome1 returned to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where he communicated to his brethren his intention of proceeding to the ,levant4 ,he exhorted them in the strongest terms to perfect themselves in the exercises of a religious life2 he left them ,peter of ,catania as superior during his absence1 and set out with one companion for ,ascoli4 ,at that place they were extremely anxious to see and hear this admirable man1 who was everywhere looked upon as a saint3 he had scarcely arrived in the town when all flocked to him2 whichever way he went1 a crowd followed him2 every one was anxious to get near him1 and they pressed upon each other in order only to be able to touch his miserable habit4 ,his presence and preaching in this town procured him thirty disciples1 some priests1 and some laymen1 whom he placed in different houses of the ,order4 ,the desire of martyrdom which he aspired to from the infidels1 did not admit of a longer stay at ,ascoli2 he therefore made for the sea-side1 and embarked on board a vessel which was bound for ,syria4 ,but on the passage the winds became adverse1 and they were obliged to come to anchor off ,sclavonia1 where he remained some days in hopes of finding some other vessel bound to the ,levant4 ,not finding any1 and perceiving that his intention had been foiled1 he applied to some seamen who were about to sail to ,ancona1 to take him on board their vessel for the love of ,god4 ,they refused obstinately to do so1 because he had no money wherewith to pay his passage2 notwithstanding this1 the holy man contrived to slip secretly on board with his companion4 ,an unknown person came on board the vessel and brought provisions with him1 saying to one of the passengers3 ,worthy man1 ,i confide these provisions to you1 for the use of two poor religious who are secreted in the vessel2 take care of them1 and give food to them when required4 ,who could this charitable purveyor be8 ,there is reason to think1 with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 that he was sent by ,god to the assistance of these two poor religious1 who were only poor for love of ,him4 ,stormy weather rendered the passage disastrous2 they could neither carry sail1 nor return to land4 ,all the sailors' provisions were expended3 there was nothing left but the provisions put on board for the two religious4 ,divine ,providence was pleased to multiply these1 inasmuch that they sufficed for all who were in the vessel for several days1 during which they were still at sea1 before they reached ,ancona4 ,the sailors1 astonished at this miracle1 were convinced that the poor man whom they had refused to receive on board1 had1 by his merits1 saved their lives1 and they returned thanks to ,god for ,his mercy4 ,after having landed1 ,francis went to several places1 spreading the word of ,god as a precious seed1 which produced an ample harvest4 ,many came to see him from afar1 so greatly had his reputation been disseminated4 ,a celebrated poet came amongst others1 having heard his entire contempt for the things of this world spoken of4 ,he was of the class of persons who were called in ,provence ,troubadours1 who invented fables1 and composed different pieces of poetry1 which were sung in the houses of the nobles4 ,the art of versifying in the vulgar tongue was uncommon in those times1 and was only practised by the nobility4 ,the ,italians imitated the people of ,provence1 and translated into their language the best compositions of the ,troubadours4 ,the poet of whom we are speaking excelled in this art1 and the ,emperor ,frederic ,,ii had crowned him as the ,prince of ,poets1 which caused him to be usually called ,the ,king of ,verse4 ,coming then to see ,francis1 he passed through the ,borough ,town of ,san ,severino1 and entered the church of a monastery1 where the ,servant of ,god was preaching on the mystery of the ,cross4 ,he listened to him at first without knowing him2 but ,god disclosed ,francis to him in the course of the sermon1 by two shining swords pierced through the ,saint cross-wise1 one from the head to the feet1 and the other from one hand to the other through the breast2 from this he became aware that the preacher was the holy man of whom so much was spoken4 ,the first impression which the vision made upon him was1 that he ought to lead a better life2 but the words of the preacher filled him with such compunction1 that he felt as if he had been pierced by the sword of the spirit which came out of his mouth4 ,he went after the sermon to renounce in ,francis' hands all the vanities of the world1 and to embrace his ,institute4 ,francis1 seeing him pass so perfectly from the agitations of the world to the peace of ,jesus ,christ1 gave him the name of ,brother ,pacificus4 ,st4 ,bonaventure adds1 that he was a man of so much holiness that he received the additional favor from ,god of seeing on the forehead of his ,blessed ,father a great ,t1 painted in a variety of colors1 which threw a remarkable softness on his countenance4 ,this letter1 which represents the cross1 showed the interior comeliness which the love of the cross gave to his soul4 ,watchfulness and affection inspired the ,father with the wish to return to ,tuscany1 to visit the establishments he had founded there the preceding year1 and to learn from his own inspection how they progressed in the ways of ,god4 ,the family of the ,ubaldini1 which is among the most illustrious of ,florence1 gave him a convent which had been built and founded by their ancestors for the religious of the ,order of ,st4 ,basil1 in the sixth or seventh century1 some leagues from the city1 in the middle of a wood1 and which had been since occupied by hermits4 ,he put some of his companions into it1 and returned towards the end of ,october to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 preaching1 as was his custom1 in all the places he passed through4 ,the repose he allowed himself after so much fatigue1 was that of applying himself to the instruction of his disciples1 and addressing discourses to them full of wisdom4 ,at the end of this year he had an attack of ague1 which became quartan1 and reduced him to a great state of languor4 ,the bishop of ,assisi1 who was a most charitable prelate1 and his particular friend1 having heard of his illness1 came to see him1 and1 notwithstanding his resistance1 had him removed to his palace1 where he attended to his recovery with the charity of a pastor and the affection of a parent4 ,his religious came to him there to seek the light they required4 ,they also brought to him such postulants as presented themselves1 and those who were recommended to him 7at times there were thirty or forty7 by the missionaries he had in various parts of ,italy2 for none were then received who had not been examined by the founder himself4 ,a young gentleman from ,lucca came with tears in his eyes1 to entreat him to give him the habit4 ,unfortunate young man1 said the ,saint1 why do you attempt to show by your eyes what is not in your heart8 ,you have1 without due consideration1 formed a plan which you will soon as lightly give up4 ,in fact1 a few days after he went home with two of his relations who had come in search of him1 and he thought no more of becoming a religious4 ,the servant of ,god1 having regained some portion of strength during his residence with the bishop1 by relaxing in the severity of his abstinences1 which were extreme1 became irritated with his own body1 and was inflamed with the desire of humbling himself3 ,it is not right1 he said1 that people should think me austere1 while ,i am pampered in secret4 ,upon which the spirit of humility suggested to him an act1 which ,st4 ,bonaventure records1 not as an example1 but as a prodigy1 to be compared only with those extraordinary things which ,god commanded the ,prophets to perform4 ,he rose1 and accompanied by a great number of his brethren1 he went to the great ,square of ,assisi1 assembled the people1 and led them to the cathedral4 ,then he caused himself to be dragged by the vicar of his convent from the church to the place of execution1 stripped1 and with a cord round his neck1 as the ,prophet ,isaias4 ,there1 weak as he still was1 and shivering with cold1 he addressed the assembly with surprising energy1 and said in a loud voice3 ,i assure that ,i ought not to receive honor as if ,i were a spiritual man4 ,i am a carnal1 sensual1 and greedy man1 whom you ought thoroughly to despise4 ,the hearers1 who knew the austerity of his life1 struck with such a scene1 admitted that this extraordinary humility was more to be admired than imitated4 ,nevertheless1 the holy doctor1 whom we have just named1 finds in this some wholesome instruction4 ,it teaches us1 he says1 that1 in the practice of virtue1 we must avoid with great care everything having any tendency to hypocrisy1 repress the slightest approaches of vanity1 and have a sovereign contempt for praise4 ,the humble ,francis1 who strenuously labored for his interior sanctification1 did many things with a view of rendering himself contemptible1 endeavoring1 above all1 to prevent men from being deceived in the idea they might have formed of his sanctity4 ,this is the characteristic of true devotion2 it has no borrowed exterior2 it is1 or it endeavors to be1 all that it seems4 ,the religious whom ,francis had sent into ,lombardy1 fulfilled the mission in an admirable manner4 ,they acquired so much esteem at ,milan by their preaching and by their good example1 that the archbishop of that city1 ,henry ,satalas1 gave them an establishment there1 which became considerable later1 by the liberality of the ,milanese4 ,one of the fruits of their apostolic labors was the vocation of a young man of rank1 who was rich and talented1 and who solicited the habit of the ,order4 ,upon their acquainting him that1 to become a ,friar ,minor1 it was requisite to renounce all temporal goods1 he immediately disposed of all of which he was then master1 and distributed the greater part to the poor1 reserving the remainder to pay the expenses of his journey to ,assisi1 where he was told that it was necessary to present himself to the founder1 who alone had the power of receiving novices4 ,he induced some of his relations and friends to accompany him1 and took with him a considerable number of servants2 one of the religious was also requested to go with them1 in order to introduce the postulant1 and favor his reception4 ,when they arrived at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 ,francis1 seeing such a number of persons1 and such an appearance of vanity1 asked the religious who was with them1 who these lords were1 and what they wanted8 ,he answered3 ,my ,father1 this is a young man1 learned and rich1 of one of the first families of ,milan1 who wishes to become your disciple4 ,francis replied1 before them all1 smiling3 ,this young man does not seem to me to be fit for our ,order1 for1 when people come with so much pomp1 which is the mark of a proud spirit1 to embrace a state of poverty1 we are led to believe that they have not yet sufficient contempt and aversion for the world1 and that they are not prepared wholly to relinquish it4 ,but ,i will consult our brethren on the subject4 ,he assembled them all1 and asked their opinion1 which was not to receive him1 because he had still a fund of pride1 and because the love for the splendor of the world was not yet eradicated from his heart4 ,the young man who was present burst into tears2 and ,francis1 who was moved with compassion1 said3 ,my brethren1 will you receive him if he consents to serve in the kitchen8 it will be the means of inducing him to renounce the vanities of the world4 ,they assented on this condition1 which the postulant willingly agreed to1 protesting that he was prepared to do anything that was required of him4 ,the ,father embraced him1 after having returned to those who accompanied him his money and his equipage4 ,he sent him to the hospital of ,st4 ,blasius of ,rome1 there to act as cook2 and the young novice attained to such perfection in that humble employment1 that ,francis judged him worthy to be placed over others1 and made him superior of the same place4 ,the line adopted in respect to this young man shows evidently1 that for the religious profession neither birth1 nor riches1 nor talents1 are to be heeded1 but that the essential qualifications principally to be considered for this holy state1 are1 to be sincerely prepared to die to the world and to self4 ,at the beginning of the year #abac1 the fever of which ,francis had been cured at the bishop's palace of ,assisi recurred2 sometimes it was tertian1 sometimes quartan1 but always with great severity4 ,he bore the suffering with great equanimity1 because of the hatred he felt for his body1 and from the patience taught by ,jesus ,christ4 ,the violence of the fever which burned his body1 was1 in his opinion1 a lesser evil than the fire of temptations which inflame the soul2 his sufferings appeared to him a gain4 ,all the saints have had a like way of thinking1 and the principles of ,christianity admit of no other4 ,the only uneasiness the sickness gave to the holy man1 was its having prevented him putting in force the intentions he had in view for the salvation of souls4 ,but charity1 which is ever active1 suggested to him to exhort the faithful in writing1 as he could not do so in person2 he therefore addressed them a short letter1 couched in the following terms3-- ,o how happy are all those who love ,god1 and who worthily practise all that ,jesus ,christ has taught in ,his holy gospel4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart1 and with thy whole soul1 and thy neighbor as thyself4 ,let us love and adore ,god with great purity of mind and heart2 for that is what ,he seeks for above all things4 ,he has said that the true adorers shall adore the ,father in spirit and in truth1 and that they who adore ,him1 must adore ,him in spirit and truth4 ,i salute you in our ,lord4 ,this short letter was still fresh from his hand1 when an infinity of copies were made of it1 so anxious were all people to see anything that came from the hand of so holy a person4 ,in this simple and brief exhortation they admired the candor of his soul and the extent of his charity1 and1 in reading it1 they were moved by a power which penetrated the soul2 for the words of the saints have a secret unction which is not found elsewhere4 ,these spiritual services1 and others which ,francis rendered to his neighbor1 with the continual instruction he gave to his brethren1 were his occupations during his sickness1 and until such time as returning health permitted him to do more4 ,he was somewhat better in the spring1 as is usually the case with those who have the quartan ague2 but his extraordinary austerities had so weakened his constitution1 that he never wholly recovered his health1 and the remainder of his life was little else than a state of languor4 ,as soon as he could commence travelling1 he committed the care of his ,order to ,peter of ,cantania1 and set out with ,bernard of ,quintavalle and some others1 in order to go to ,morocco1 through ,spain1 to preach the ,gospel to the ,miramolin and to his subjects1 in the hopes of attaining by this means the crown of martyrdom1 which was the great object of his wishes4 ,the servant of ,god did not reach ,spain till near the end of the year1 because he had stopped in various places to preach1 to visit the houses of his ,order1 and to receive accounts of others4 ,his whole route was a succession of miracles1 and other remarkable things1 which contain admirable instructions4 ,at ,foligno1 the sign of the cross which he made on the house of his host1 protected it from various accidents1 and particularly from fire1 which did no damage to that dwelling1 although the adjoining houses were three or four times on fire3 the flames were even seen to take a contrary direction4 ,at ,spoleto1 knowing that a rich man thought ill of his ,institute1 and refused his brethren alms1 he asked him only to give him a loaf2 and1 having received it1 he divided it among his religious1 and directed them to say the ,lord's ,prayer and the ,evangelical ,salutation three times1 for the person who had given it4 ,their scanty meal was scarcely finished1 when this man came to ask forgiveness for the harshness he had shown them1 and he was1 after that1 the best friend of their convent1 so good an idea of their ,institution had the saint impressed upon him4 ,at ,terni1 the bishop who had listened to one of ,francis' sermons1 ascended the pulpit when he had done1 and said to the people3--,my brethren1 the ,lord1 who has often enlightened ,his ,church by men illustrious for their science1 has now sent you this ,francis whom you have just heard1 a poor illiterate man1 and contemptible in appearance1 in order that he may edify you by his word and his example4 ,the less learned he is1 the more does the power of ,god shine in his person1 who chooses those who are foolish according to the views of the world1 to confound all worldly wisdom4 ,the care which ,god takes of our salvation obliges us to honor and glorify ,him2 for ,he has not done the like to other nations4 ,francis followed the prelate1 fell on his knees1 kissed his hand1 and said3--,my lord1 in very truth1 no one has ever done me so much honor as ,i have this day received from you4 ,some attribute to me a sort of sanctity1 which noway belongs to me1 and which ought to be referred to ,god alone1 the author of every perfect gift4 ,but you1 my lord1 have wisely separated what is valuable from what is vile1 the worthy from the unworthy1 the saint from the sinner2 giving the glory to ,god1 and not to me1 who am but a miserable mortal4 ,it is1 indeed1 only to ,god1 the ,king of ,ages1 immortal and invisible1 that men should give honor and glory for ever and ever4 ,the bishop1 even more pleased with this specimen of his humility than with his preaching1 embraced him affectionately4 ,in the same city1 by the sign of the cross he rendered some sour wine perfectly good1 and that before persons who had tasted it in its acid state4 ,but he performed a much greater miracle1 which was universally admired1 on a young lad who had been just crushed by the fall of a wall2 having had him brought to him1 he applied himself to prayer1 and1 extending himself on the corpse1 as the ,prophet ,eliseus had done on the child of the ,sunamite1 he restored him to life4 ,in the ,county of ,narni1 he was lodged in the house of a worthy man who was in great affliction for the death of his brother1 who had been drowned1 and whose body could not be found1 so that it might be buried4 ,after having privately prayed for some time1 he showed a spot in the river where he said that the body certainly was at the bottom2 it had been stopped there by the entanglement of the clothes4 ,they dived at that place and found the body1 which he restored to life in the presence of the whole family4 ,the fever1 and a severe stomach complaint1 caused him to faint in a hermitage which had been given him near the ,borough of ,st4 ,urban1 and he asked for some wine to recover from the weakness which had ensued4 ,as there was none to be had there1 he had some water brought to him1 which he blessed1 by making the sign of the cross over it1 and it was instantly changed thereby into excellent wine4 ,the little that he took of it renovated him so promptly1 that it was a double miracle4 ,upon which ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that this wonderful change is a type of the change he had effected in his heart1 in casting off the old man to put on the new4 ,in the ,city of ,narni1 he cured a man who had lost the use of his limbs for five months from palsy1 employing no other remedy than a sign of the cross1 which he made over his whole body2 this he did at the request of the bishop of the place1 and by virtue of the same sign he restored the sight of a blind girl4 ,being at ,orti1 he straightened a child1 who was so deformed that its head touched its feet4 ,at ,san ,gemini1 he prayed1 with three of his companions1 for the wife of his host1 whom the devil had possessed for a long while1 and the evil spirit left her4 ,such evident miracles1 publicly performed1 and in great numbers1 gave a wonderful splendor to his sanctity4 ,in the archives of the ,town of ,poggibonsi1 in ,tuscany1 the act of donation of a house given to him is preserved1 which commences thus3--,we cede to a man named ,francis1 whom all the world considers as a saint1 etc4 ,the discourses of so holy a man1 of one so gifted with the power of miracles1 had the greatest effect upon the hearts of his hearers1 and made the people very anxious to have houses of his ,order established among them4 ,he settled some of his religious at ,foligno1 at ,trevi1 at ,san ,gemini1 at ,sienna1 and in several other places4 ,fresh disciples joined him from all quarters1 but he did not receive any until he had strictly examined their vocation4 ,a young gentleman1 having heard him preach at ,monte ,casale1 a town in the ,appennines1 came to acquaint him with the design he had long formed of entering his ,order4 ,you must think seriously of it1 replied ,francis2 for the kind of life we lead must appear very hard to those who have been tenderly brought up4 ,the young man answered courageously3 ,my ,father1 are not you and yours of the same nature as ,i am1 and formed of the same earth8 ,i hope1 with ,god's help1 to bear without much inconvenience what my fellow-men can bear so willingly4 ,these ideas were very pleasing to the ,patriarch1 and the postulant was received4 ,it must be admitted that man has resources of strength which he might make use of to imitate the saints in many things1 if he were not wanting in exertion and confidence in ,god4 ,from ,monte ,casale ,francis passed over the ,appennines1 and went through the ,valley of ,marecchia to reach ,monte ,feltro1 or ,st4 ,leo4 ,he learnt on the road that the lord of that town was about to be knighted at his castle1 where he was giving a grand feast1 accompanied by games and theatricals1 to a numerous assembly of the nobility1 among whom was ,count ,orlando ,catanio1 lord of ,chiusi ,nuovo1 and of all the ,casentino4 ,being near the castle1 and hearing the sound of the trumpets1 which denoted that the revelry was about to begin1 he said to his companions3--,let us go hither also1 and let us combat the devil with all our might1 who never fails in these rejoicings to lay his snares into which many fall2 for it is our duty to labor everywhere and in all places for the salvation of souls4 ,he went up to the castle1 and heard the solemn mass with all those who accompanied the new knight4 ,as soon as it was over1 he took a position on a height near the church1 in order to preach from thence1 and the crowd gathered round him to listen4 ,he took the following ,italian words for his text3--,tanto e il ben che aspetto1 che d'ogni pena mi diletto3 which means--the good which ,i hope for is so great1 that to obtain it all suffering is pleasurable4 ,he proved his text by this passage from ,st4 ,paul3--,the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come2 by the example of the apostles1 who were filled with joy for having been found worthy to suffer for the name of ,jesus2 by the example of the martyrs1 who willingly exposed themselves to torments and death1 that they might obtain heaven2 and1 finally by such cogent reasons1 so pathetically set forth1 that all the auditors admired the doctrine1 and felt what he wished to inspire them with4 ,they found in the preacher something divine1 which commanded respect1 and they fixed their looks upon his countenance as if it had been that of an angel4 ,count ,orlando1 more impressed with what he had heard than the rest1 went after the sermon to embrace the preacher1 and he entreated him particularly to instruct him in the affairs of his salvation4 ,francis1 who1 in addition to his ardent zeal1 had much discretion and suavity of manner1 said3--,count1 go now and do honor to your friends whom you have invited1 and we will talk of this affair at a more convenient time4 ,the count1 complying with this advice1 joined the nobility who waited for him1 and did not forget to take care of the servants of ,god4 ,the feast having ended1 he returned to the prudent director1 with whom he had a lengthened conversation1 with which he was so much struck1 that in order to have the comfort of seeing familiarly the religious of the ,institute1 he offered ,francis the ,mountain of ,alvernia1 with a promise1 if he agreed to it1 of building there a convent4 ,as this was a lonely place1 very fit for contemplation1 ,francis gladly accepted the offer1 and promised to send two of his brethren to ,chiusi1 before he should leave ,italy4 ,he did in fact send them1 and the count having received them as angels sent from heaven1 he took them to ,mount ,alvernia1 where they fixed upon a spot which appeared to them an apt location for a church4 ,fifty soldiers who had been brought thither began immediately to fell timber1 and a place was cleared1 where hutting was set up to lodge the religious1 in which they dwelt until the church and convent were built4 ,these are the circumstances under which the ,friars ,minor were settled on this mountain1 which subsequently became so celebrated in the ,christian world by the stigmata of ,st4 ,francis4 ,the place was ceded to them by an authentic document which the count gave them1 and which is preserved in the original in the archives of the convent4 ,we shall speak further of this holy place when we come to relate the first visit the ,saint paid it on his return from ,spain4 ,he continued his journey through ,bologna1 from whence1 after having visited his brethren1 he came to ,imola4 ,he first went to offer his respects to the bishop1 and asked permission to preach to his people4 ,i preach1 replied the bishop coldly1 and that is quite enough4 ,francis bowed humbly1 and retired2 but an hour afterwards he returned1 and the bishop1 surprised and angered at seeing him again1 asked him what he could possibly want8 to which he replied1 in a tone of sincere humility3 ,my lord1 if a father drives his son out of the house by one door1 it is right that the son should return through another4 ,the bishop mollified by this mild address1 embraced him with affection1 and said3 ,from henceforth you and your brethren may preach in my diocese4 ,i give you a general leave1 it is what your humility has merited4 ,is there anything which can soften minds and obtain favors sooner than this virtue8 ,the humility of ,francis was accompanied with great courage1 which rendered him firm and confident in the most imminent dangers1 this was owing to the great confidence he had in ,god4 ,night overtook him once when he was in company with ,leo1 between ,lombardy and the ,trevisan ,marshes1 on a road having on one side the ,po1 one of the most considerable rivers in ,italy1 and on the other a deep morass4 ,leo1 much alarmed1 exclaimed3 ,father1 pray to ,god to deliver us from the danger we are in4 ,francis1 full of faith1 replied3 ,god can1 if it is ,his good pleasure1 give us light to dissipate the darkness of the night4 ,these words were hardly spoken1 when they found themselves surrounded by a brilliant light1 which not only made the way clear to them1 but enabled them to see many things on either side of the way1 although the darkness was very dense everywhere else4 ,they pursued their route1 singing the glories of ,god2 the celestial torch served them as a guide till they reached the place where they were to be lodged1 which was then very far off4 ,this miraculous light was a notification to the ,saint that it was ,god's pleasure that he should have a dwelling in the place to which ,his goodness had led him1 and he told this to his companion4 ,the inhabitants made no difficulty in assigning him one1 after having heard him preach1 and he gave the convent the name of ,the ,holy ,fire1 as it is still called4 ,in ,piedmont1 where he was well received1 his preaching1 with the reputation of his sanctity1 confirmed by many miracles1 converted a considerable number of persons1 and procured him several houses4 ,from thence he went into ,spain1 but the writers of his life have not recorded by what route4 ,now1 it is scarcely to be doubted that he went by land1 and through ,france2 ancient documents show that he entered ,spain through ,navarre1 and that he arrived in the year #abac at ,logrono1 a ,town of ,old ,castile1 which had formerly belonged to ,biscay4 ,on the road he came up with a poor and abandoned invalid1 for whom he felt so much pity that he directed ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 one of his companions1 to stay with him and take care of him1 which ,bernard willingly undertook to do4 ,at ,logrono he miraculously cured a young gentleman who was on the point of death2 then he went on to ,burgos1 where ,alphonso ,,ix41 7or ,,viii41 according to some17 father of ,blanche ,queen of ,france and mother of ,st4 ,louis1 then was4 ,francis presented himself before the king1 he showed him the rules of his ,institute1 and entreated him to receive the ,friars ,minor into his states4 ,this monarch1 who1 in addition to his political and military talents1 had a great fund of goodness and piety1 received the holy man very favorably2 he condescended to read the rules1 and after having conversed with him for some time1 gave him leave to build houses in ,spain4 ,francis now fixed his thoughts only on advancing towards the sea-side in order to embark for ,morocco1 there to suffer martyrdom1 for this was the great object of his wishes4 ,if we only formed our opinion of things by the ordinary rules of prudence1 we should be surprised1 that a man1 visibly sent by ,god for the institution of a new order of religious1 should leave it so short a time after its birth1 to seek for death among the infidels4 ,but the saints only thought of following the impulses which the ,spirit of ,god suggested to them1 with reference to the works which they had commenced by ,god's order4 ,st4 ,anthony1 father of a great number of ,cenobites1 left his monastery1 and followed at ,alexandria certain confessors of the faith2 he attended upon them in prison1 and exhorted them under torment to procure for himself the palm of martyrdom4 ,st4 ,dominic1 animated by a similar spirit1 had formed the intention of going among the ,saracens1 only two years after the institution of his order4 ,francis1 thus inspired from above1 desired to meet death for ,jesus ,christ1 and left to ,god the care of his rising family4 ,this disposition1 which was the fruit of ardent charity1 was very pleasing to ,god2 it entered into the economy of ,his providence for the salvation of souls and for the aggrandizement of the new ,order1 for the ,saint did not cease his labors when he took the route which was to lead to martyrdom4 ,nevertheless1 ,god did not choose that his design should be carried into execution2 and ,his will was made known to ,his ,servant by a violent illness1 which put it out of his power to embark for ,morocco4 ,francis gave up his wishes1 obeying what was thus signified to him4 and came to the resolution to return to ,italy for the guidance of his flock1 however1 he did not set out till the close of the year4 ,the authors of the ,order are agreed in saying that he went to visit the tomb of the ,apostle ,st4 ,james1 at ,compostella1 the capital of ,galicia1 to which place devotion has attracted1 for many centuries past1 crowds of pilgrims1 and that an angel appeared to him there1 and assured him that it was ,god's will that he should return to ,italy1 after having founded some establishments in ,spain4 ,they also say that he went into ,portugal1 where he raised to life the daughter of his host at ,guimaraens1 a town of the diocese of ,braganza1 which caused him to be spoken of as a saint throughout the whole country2 and that he went through nearly the whole of the ,kingdom of ,arragon and the adjacent provinces2 and1 finally1 they relate the following most extraordinary circumstance3 ,francis being one evening on the banks of the ,river ,orbego1 with his companions1 where there was no food1 a young man of the ,town of ,novia overtook them1 and carried them over on some horses he had with him1 and received them hospitably4 ,the gratitude the ,saint had was shown by saying3 ,may the ,lord reward you for the kindness you have shown us1 when ,he rewards the just4 ,some short time after this1 the young man1 having gone to ,rome out of devotion1 and having endeavored to put his conscience in a good state1 prayed fervently to ,god1 to take him out of this world before he should commit a mortal sin4 ,his prayer was heard2 he died4 ,his father desired to have a funeral service said for him1 and thirty ,friars ,minor attended to it without having been asked2 none knew from whence they came1 nor whither they afterwards went1 which made it thought that the assistance was miraculous2 and as it was known what the holy man ,francis had said to the deceased1 it was understood that he had1 by this means1 procured the reward of the just for him whose hospitality he had received4 ,gonzagues1 ,bishop of ,mantua1 who had been ,general of the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 says1 that it is held as certain that ,st4 ,francis commenced the establishments of ,gasta1 ,arevalo1 ,avila1 ,madrid1 ,tudela1 and caused several other convents to be built4 ,it is easily understood that in the eight or nine months in which he remained in ,spain after his illness1 he arranged much by himself and by his companions2 the old inscriptions which are still seen on the tombs of many ,minors are an additional proof4 ,moreover1 it is certain that his holy life and his preaching were of the greatest benefit to souls1 and that his ,order was received in ,spain with an affection which has passed from age to age1 from fathers to sons2 so that ,spain is one of the countries of the world in which we find the greatest veneration for ,st4 ,francis1 and the greatest consideration for the ,order of ,friars ,minor4 ,the same bishop tells us1 on the testimony of universal and unvaried tradition1 of many miracles performed by the ,almighty1 through the ministry of the holy man4 ,we shall satisfy ourselves by relating one of them1 which is warranted by manuscripts and documents4 ,francis was lodged at ,compostella1 at the house of a poor dealer in charcoal1 whose name was ,cotolai1 and he often went to pass the night in contemplation on a neighboring mountain4 ,god made known to him1 that it was ,his will that he should build a convent between two valleys1 the one of which was commonly called the ,valley of ,god1 and the other the ,valley of ,hell4 ,he knew that this ground belonged to the ,benedictines of ,compostella1 of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,pay1 or ,pelagius1 since transferred to that of ,st4 ,martin2 and1 bearing in mind the favors which the religious of this holy order had done him in the gifts of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and at ,rome1 he called upon the ,abbot and asked unhesitatingly for permission to build a convent between the two valleys4 ,what will you give me in payment8 said the abbot4 ,francis replied3 ,as ,i am very poor1 ,i have neither money1 nor anything else to give you1 if you grant me what ,i ask4 ,yet what will be most precious to me1 ,i will give you in quit rent yearly--a small basket of fish if they can be caught in the river4 ,the abbot who was a very pious man1 admiring his simplicity and his confidence1 granted him his request on the condition proposed1 and an act to that effect was prepared and signed by both4 ,the holy man came to ,cotolai and told him what had passed between the ,abbot of ,st4 ,pay and himself1 and added3 ,my dear host1 it is ,god's will that you should build this convent2 therefore prepare yourself for the work4 ,oh1 how shall ,i be able to do that1 answered ,cotolai1 ,i who am so poor1 and who live by my daily labor8 ,take courage1 said ,francis1 take a pickaxe1 and go to the spring which is close by2 make a hole a little in front of it1 and you will find a treasure which will enable you to execute the order of ,heaven4 ,cotolai1 relying on the ,saint's word1 searched as he was bidden1 found the treasure1 and built the convent1 which is known by the name of ,st4 ,francis to this day4 ,this fact is narrated in an authentic manuscript in the archives of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,martin1 from whence this is copied2 and in two very old inscriptions1 one of which is on the tomb of ,cotolai and his wife1 whose name was ,mary de ,bicos1 and the other over the gate of the church of the convent in which their tomb is4 ,the deed which was executed by ,francis and the ,abbot of ,st4 ,pay1 is preserved in the original in the archives of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,martin of ,compostella4 ,the ,prince of ,spain1 ,philip the ,second1 saw it in the year #aeed1 when he was about to embark at ,corunna1 to espouse the ,queen of ,england4 ,however1 the marvel has nothing in it which should be the cause of much surprise3 our ,saviour1 who made ,st4 ,peter find in the mouth of a fish wherewithal to pay the tribute for his ,master and himself1 could easily cause a treasure of money to be found sufficient to build a house for his faithful ,servant ,francis4 ,when the ,apostolical man had terminated his mission in ,spain1 he went to rejoin ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 whom he had left on entering it1 in charge of the poor sick man1 who was perfectly cured4 ,francis came through ,aragon into ,catalonia4 ,the magistrates of ,barcelona1 where he stopped for a short time1 were so pleased with his poverty1 his humility1 and his other virtues1 that1 for the sake of having some religious of his ,order1 they converted the hospital where he was lodged into a convent1 the church and cloister of which are still extant1 and are venerable from the remembrance of the ,saint4 ,at ,san ,saloni1 a small town between ,barcelona and ,gerona1 an adventure occurred to him which seemed purely accidental1 but which ,god turned to good4 ,as he walked by the side of a vineyard1 his companion gathered a bunch or two of grapes to refresh himself4 ,he who had charge of the vineyard1 perceiving it1 came violently upon the religious1 beat him and abused him in no measured terms1 and took from him his poor cloak4 ,francis asked to have the cloak back1 alleging mildly1 that what had been taken had done no injury to the vineyard2 and that good feeling required that this assistance should be given to a passer-by who needed it4 ,but1 not having succeeded in procuring its restoration1 he went to the proprietor of the vineyard1 from whom he had no difficulty in getting it back1 after having told him what had happened4 ,he then conversed with him on heavenly things with such effect1 that the man1 devoting himself from that moment to his service1 promised to receive hospitably all the ,friars ,minor who should pass through ,san ,saloni1 and furnish them with whatsoever they might require1 as far as his means would allow2 which he never failed to do as long as he lived4 ,francis1 in return1 granted him participation in all the spiritual merits of his ,order1 and gave him the name of ,father of the ,friars ,minor4 ,it is from this precedent that the superiors of the ,order give letters of filiation1 as they are called1 in virtue of which the holders participate in the merits of all the practices of the community4 ,this is grounded on the communion of saints1 one of the articles of the apostolic symbol by which each member of the faithful who is not excommunicated1 and principally if he be in a state of grace1 participates in the good works of others4 ,besides this general communication1 the faithful may assist each other by their prayers1 and their own merits1 as is done in confraternities and all pious associations4 ,this is the way in which the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 and all other religious orders1 manifest their gratitude to their benefactors2 in this they do that which ,st4 ,augustine says of the ministers of ,jesus ,christ in regard to the faithful who support them2 ,they give spiritual things1 and only receive temporal ones2 they give gold1 and only receive brass4 ,those who know what the communion of saints is1 and who neglect nothing which can contribute to their salvation1 have great esteem 7as1 indeed1 they ought7 for letters of filiation1 and strive to live in a ,christian-like manner in order to profit by them4 ,from ,catalonia1 ,francis continued his route through ,roussillon1 and it is believed that he placed some of his religious at ,perpignan1 the capital4 ,he then entered ,languedoc1 which the errors and arms of the ,albigenses had alike tended to desolate4 ,the ,catholics at that time enjoyed some calm by the valor of the illustrious ,simon1 ,count of ,montfort1 who had just overthrown the heretics1 principally by the celebrated victory obtained1 at ,muret1 over ,peter1 ,king of ,aragon1 whom ill-understood interests had made protector of the ,albigenses1 to the detriment of religion1 and who was killed in that battle4 ,the saintly traveller did not make any stay in ,languedoc2 perhaps because it was the field destined by ,providence to be cultivated by ,st4 ,dominic1 whose preaching and miracles had made an infinity of conversions1 and who was then at ,carcassonne1 where he gave the nuptial benediction to the marriage of ,amaury de ,montfort1 the son of ,simon1 with the ,princess ,beatrice1 the daughter of the ,dauphin1 ,count of ,viennois4 ,francis arrived at ,montpellier at the time when they were about to open the council1 at which ,simon of ,montfort was loaded with praises1 and chosen to be possessor of the ,city of ,toulouse1 and the other conquests of the ,crusaders2 he preached there1 and foretold that a convent would be built soon for his brethren at the hospital where he lodged2 a prophecy which was fulfilled in the year #abbj4 ,his bad health1 the fatigues of his journey1 and the rigor of the season1 had brought him into a state of great languor1 and compelled him to stop one day4 ,his malady gave him a disgust for all sorts of food1 and he thought that he could only relish some wild fowl4 ,as he was speaking of it to his companion ,bernard1 a well-appointed cavalier brought him one ready dressed1 saying1 ,servant of ,god1 take what the ,lord sends thee1 after which he disappeared4 ,francis1 admiring the goodness of ,god1 who fulfils the desires of those who fear ,him1 ate willingly of this celestial food1 and was so strengthened by it1 that he rose up immediately and continued his journey through ,dauphiny and ,piedmont2 from whence he went to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 continuing to perform the functions of an ,apostle and ,patriarch of the ,order on his way1 but not without having to endure the honors which his miracles and the reputation of his sanctity procured him from all parts4 ,his return was the subject of great rejoicing to his children1 to ,clare in particular1 and to a number of young men1 among whom were many nobles and many learned persons who were waiting to be received into the ,order4 ,he was surprised to find a building which ,peter of ,catania1 his own vicar had constructed during his absence2 he inquired the reason of it1 and ,peter having replied1 that it was for the accommodation of their guests1 where they might say the divine office more commodiously1 ,he said3--,brother ,peter1 this place is the rule and the model of the ,order2 ,i choose that those who come to it shall suffer the inconveniences of poverty as well as those who live in it1 in order that they may tell others how poorly we live at ,st4 ,mary's of the ,portiuncula2 for if the guests see that they are provided with everything they can wish for1 they will expect the same thing in their provinces1 and will say1 that they only do as they do at ,portiuncula1 which is the original place of the ,institution4 ,he was desirous that the building should be pulled down1 and he even directed it to be done2 but1 upon the representations of the need they had of it1 he consented to let it stand4 ,they could not do without room to lodge the number of people who were drawn thither by the rumor of his great virtues1 and the multitudes of his religious who came from various parts to consult him4 ,those whom he had destined for ,mount ,alvernia1 having come with several others to congratulate him on his return1 informed him that ,count ,orlando had loaded them with favors2 that they were settled on the mountain1 and that it was the place1 of all others1 proper for contemplation4 ,this gave him a wish to go thither1 and he set out with three companions1 ,leo1 ,masse1 and ,angelo of ,rieti4 ,it was his custom in travelling to name one of those who accompanied him as guardian and leader1 and he obeyed him humbly in all things4 ,on this occasion1 he gave this commission to ,masse1 desiring him not to disquiet himself about their food1 and giving no other instructions1 except that the divine office should be punctually and piously recited1 that silence should be rigidly observed1 and that their deportment should be reserved4 ,he preached1 as usual1 wherever he went1 and performed many miracles4 ,one night he went into a church which was deserted1 in order to pass the night in prayer1 knowing from experience that the ,spirit of ,god was communicated more freely to the soul in quiet solitary places4 ,at the beginning of the night1 the devils used every sort of artifice to interrupt his prayers and to disturb him4 ,then they attacked him in person1 as ,st4 ,athanasius relates that they did ,st4 ,anthony1 so that they seemed to come to blows with him4 ,the more they annoyed him1 the more fervently he prayed1 and the more strenuously he invoked ,jesus ,christ with confidence1 in the words of the prophet3--,protect me under the shadow of thy wings from these wicked ones who pursue me2 and he said to the devils3--,spiteful and deceitful spirits1 do all you can against me1 for you can do nothing but what ,god permits1 and here ,i am1 ready to suffer with pleasure all the afflictions it is ,his pleasure to send me4 ,then the devils cast themselves upon him with still greater violence2 they pushed him about on all sides1 they dragged him along the ground and beat him severely4 ,in the midst of his sufferings1 he exclaimed3--,my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i give ,thee thanks for all ,thy benefits2 this is not one of the least2 it is an assured mark of the goodness ,thou hast for me4 ,thou punishest my sins in this world to spare me in the next4 ,my heart is ready1 ,o my ,god1 my heart is ready to suffer still more if such be ,thy holy will4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 that he was often tormented in this manner by demons2 but that these proud spirits1 not being able either to overcome him1 or to bear his constancy1 retired in confusion4 ,such a resistance would repress all the efforts of the tempter when he attacks us invisibly4 ,in the morning1 he could not disguise from his companions what had happened to him1 and the extreme weakness which it had brought on obliged him to desire his companions to go to the neighboring village1 to procure for him1 in ,god's name1 some means of riding on with them4 ,the farmer to whom they applied1 having learnt that it was for ,francis of ,assisi1 of whom he had heard so much good spoken1 went to fetch his own ass to carry him on1 during the journey4 ,on the way1 ,francis bethought himself of stopping for a short time at this farmer's to recruit his strength by some poultry and other delicacies of the country2 but1 wishing to punish himself for having merely listened to such a suggestion1 he took up a half-rotten fowl from a dunghill1 and smelt at it1 saying to himself3--,here1 glutton6 here is the flesh of the poultry that you so anxiously wished for2 satisfy your longing1 and eat as much as you like4 ,to support himself1 he ate nothing but bread1 on which he sprinkled ashes1 and he drank nothing but water4 ,he blessed the house of his host1 and promised him very long lineage1 who should be neither poor nor very rich4 ,the remembrance of this prediction has been carefully preserved in this place1 and the house still exists1 bearing the name of ,st4 ,francis1 where the religious of his ,order are always charitably received4 ,this lesson is taught by the apostle3--,that ,god1 by ,his blessing1 gives to charitable persons the means of continuing and multiplying their good works4 ,the invalid was replaced on the ass1 and they took the road to ,chiusi which they reached by noon4 ,count ,orlando was greatly pleased to see them1 and would have been but too glad to detain them1 if only for that day2 but ,francis would go as soon as dinner was done to ,mount ,alvernia1 whither the count accompanied him4 ,the ,mountain ,alvernia is on the confines of ,tuscany1 not far from ,camaldoli and ,val ,ombrosa2 it is part of the ,apennines1 and it rises higher than the adjacent mountains from which it is separated3 two rivers flow at its foot1 the ,tiber and the ,arno4 ,on their sides it has rocks so perpendicular and so smooth that they might be mistaken for walls2 and on the side on which the top may be reached1 no one would dare to attempt the ascent but for the number of beech trees and underwood which hide the precipices4 ,these trees1 which are very lofty1 hide some extensive and beautiful pasturages4 ,there also an abundance of plants is found called carline or ,caroline which is a cure for the plague4 ,the farmer1 who was their guide1 made bold to address ,francis thus3 ,brother1 ,i hear much good spoken of you1 and ,i understand that ,god has shown you great favors1 for which you are greatly indebted to ,him2 strive1 then1 to be what it is said you are1 and never to change in order that those who have confidence in you may not be deceived2 this is a piece of advice ,i give you4 ,francis1 delighted at what he had heard1 dismounted1 kissed the man's feet1 thanked him1 acknowledging the great mercy of ,god1 who had been pleased to cast ,his eyes on the lowliness of ,his servant4 ,although this advice came from a poor countryman1 it was nevertheless the very best that could be given to a saint4 ,so true it is that no one should be despised1 and that the most simple-minded persons often say more sensible and more spiritual things than men of the greatest genius4 ,the same man being very thirsty at the steepest part of the mountain1 exclaimed loudly3 ,i shall die1 if ,i cannot get something to drink4 ,francis immediately alighted1 threw himself on his knees1 raised his hands to heaven1 and prayed until he knew that he had been heard4 ,then1 pointing out a large stone to the man1 he said1 ,go there quickly1 and you will find some living water3 it is ,jesus ,christ who1 out of ,his great mercy1 makes it spring from this rock that you may drink4 ,the man ran directly1 found water1 and drank as much as he required4 ,no spring had ever been known to be in that place1 and no water was ever found there afterwards4 ,wonderful goodness of the ,almighty1 exclaims ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who thus with so much benevolence grants the prayers of ,his servants4 ,the birds seeing ,st4 ,francis and his companions approaching came in great numbers to welcome him to their home4 ,at length they reached the top of ,mount ,alvernia1 where the religious resided4 ,the father was well pleased with their dwelling1 because everything was on a small scale and poor4 ,count ,orlando returned in the evening and came back next day1 bringing something for their dinner4 ,after they had finished their meal1 he gave orders for the construction of a small chapel under a very tall beech tree1 and a cell1 which ,francis had asked him for1 and1 calling the others aside1 he said3 ,since your founder has given his consent to the donation ,i made you two years ago of this mountain1 you may consider it as yours1 and hence both myself and mine will be always devoted to your service whenever you shall need it4 ,you will not be able to please me more than by addressing yourselves to me1 looking upon me as your servant2 and even1 if you will do me that favor1 considering me as one of your brethren4 ,after the departure of the count1 the holy ,patriarch made them the following discourse1 relative to the count's kindness1 which they took care to commit to writing3 ,my dear children1 it is ,god who thus turns the hearts of the faithful towards ,his little and useless servants1 in which ,he does us a very great favor4 ,on what we have hitherto received let us place our hopes for what is to come2 if that seems but little1 the ,lord1 who is infinitely liberal1 will add to it by ,his goodness still greater benefits1 provided we are faithful to ,him4 ,let us1 then1 leave to ,him the care of all that relates to you1 and ,he ,himself will feed you1 as ,he fed ,elias1 ,paul1 and ,anthony in the desert4 ,the birds of the air neither sow1 nor reap1 nor gather into barns1 yet your ,heavenly ,father nourishes them2 how much more will ,he do this for ,his servants8 ,if ,he tries you1 it will be only for a time1 for it is written1 that ,he will not suffer the just to waver forever2 the eyes of the ,lord are on them that fear ,him1 and on them that hope in ,his mercy to deliver their souls from death and feed them in famine4 ,trust not to the princes of the earth1 nor to the charitable offers made you by our benefactor1 ,count ,orlando1 for cursed is the man that trusteth in man1 and maketh flesh his arm4 ,this lord has acted nobly by us1 and according to his piety2 let us do on our parts what depends on us1 and fail not therein2 that is to say1 let us not have recourse to his generosity1 as to a treasure of which we are the masters1 and in that regard let us have the greatest reserve that we may not in any respect trench upon holy poverty4 ,be sure1 my dear children1 that our best resource for providing for our wants1 is to have none to provide for4 ,if we are truly evangelical poor1 the world will have compassion upon us1 and will generously give us all that is necessary for our subsistence2 but if we swerve from holy poverty1 the world will shun us2 the illicit means which we might take for avoiding indigence1 would only make us feel it the more4 ,is not such a discourse sufficient to show us1 that ,st4 ,francis had great talents and judgment1 joined to great knowledge of the practice of virtue8 ,count ,orlando had a church built on ,mount ,alvernia1 according to the plan which the ,saint had given him1 which1 it was confidently said1 had been given to ,francis by the ,blessed ,virgin1 who appeared accompanied by ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 and ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist4 ,while they were at work at this building and at the cells for the brethren1 ,francis explored the mountain on all its sides1 to discover the sites best adapted for contemplation4 ,he found one1 where there were some large openings in the rock1 great masses overhanging them1 deep caverns1 and frightful pits2 and what seemed to him to be most curious1 there was a rock so split that the interior formed a room with a smooth flooring1 and a sort of ceiling which had a small opening which admitted the light4 ,he was anxious to know whether this was the natural formation of the rock1 or whether it was not the effect of an earthquake2 and1 after having recited the seven penitential psalms1 he begged ,god to grant him information on this head4 ,an angel acquainted him1 in an apparition1 that this had happened at the death of ,jesus ,christ1 when the earth shook and the rocks were rent asunder4 ,this circumstance gave ,mount ,alvernia additional value in the eyes of the servant of ,jesus ,christ crucified4 ,he never afterwards saw these openings without thinking of the sufferings his ,divine ,master endured on the cross1 and without wishing that his feelings of compassion might break his heart4 ,in the opinion of the holy ,fathers1 the rocks which were rent when ,jesus ,christ expired were reproaches to the ,jews for the hardness of their hearts1 and this reproach falls equally on ,christians who are insensible to ,his sufferings4 ,we can have no difficulty in thinking1 with ,cardinal ,baronius1 that the rocks on ,mount ,alvernia were split at the death of our ,saviour1 since the earthquake was universal1 according to the opinions of ,eusebius1 ,st4 ,jerome1 and many others1 and even according to the testimony of pagan authors4 ,it is also very credible that the ,son of ,god has manifested to ,his special servants1 some of the effects of this motion of the earth1 in order to impress more vividly on their minds the remembrance of ,his ,passion2 and may we not think that the ,lord1 who is the beholder of all ages1 as the wise man says1 and who had selected ,mount ,alvernia as the place in which ,he would do ,his ,servant ,francis the favor of imprinting the stigmata on him1 as we shall see further on1 was pleased to give this mountain some resemblance to that of ,calvary1 where ,st4 ,cyril of ,jerusalem assures us1 that in his time the rents caused by the earthquake were seen8 ,among the masses of rock on ,mount ,alvernia1 there is one much more elevated and much larger than the rest1 and which is separated from them by precipices1 to which there is no access but by throwing a bridge across4 ,there1 as in an insulated citadel1 a celebrated brigand had his stronghold1 who was called the ,wolf1 on account of the plunder and murders he committed in the surrounding country1 either by himself1 or by the gang of which he was the chief4 ,he often1 also1 by means of a flying bridge1 confined travellers in this place1 whom he had surprised on the high-roads1 and whom he detained till their ransom was paid4 ,the establishment of ,francis and his brethren displeased him greatly3 people of that sort do not like having neighbors4 ,he gave them several times notice to begone1 and he threatened them should they not obey4 ,their great poverty gave them nothing to fear from thieves1 but there was just cause for apprehending that the murderer might massacre them all4 ,divine ,providence1 however1 saved them by a change which might well be called the work of the ,most ,high4 ,the villain came one day determined upon expelling them1 and used the most atrocious language to them4 ,francis received him with so much mildness1 listened to him with so much patience1 and induced him by degrees to hear reason1 so that his anger entirely fell1 and he not only consented to their remaining1 but he begged that they would admit him into their poor dwelling4 ,he witnessed during several days their angelic mode of life1 and he became so changed1 that he determined upon adopting a similar plan4 ,the ,saint perceiving that from a ravenous wolf he was become a gentle lamb1 gave him the habit of the ,order1 and the name of ,brother ,agnello1 under which he expiated his crimes by religious penance1 of which he rigidly fulfilled all the duties4 ,this fact was of such notoriety1 that the rock to which he used to retire has always been called since1 and is still known1 by the name of ,brother ,wolf's prison4 ,all things being put in order at ,mount ,alvernia1 he left it to go to ,rome4 ,he passed through ,monte ,casale1 ,fabriano1 ,osimo1 ,ancona1 ,macerata1 ,ascoli1 ,camerino1 and many other places1 preaching in all the truths of salvation1 gaining disciples1 founding houses for his ,order1 prophesying and working miracles2 we shall only put on record here the most remarkable1 and those that are most edifying4 ,god favored him1 as ,he had done ,st4 ,ambrose1 with power of discovering relics which were hidden4 ,he knew by revelation that there were some in a certain church in which he had prayed1 and some business calling him away from thence1 he communicated the circumstance to his brethren1 desiring them to take them from thence and place them in a more suitable situation2 but they either through forgetfulness or neglect did not do so4 ,one day as they were preparing the altar for ,mass1 they found under the altar-cloth some beautiful bones1 from which a sweet perfumed smell issued1 and they immediately recollected that these were the relics of which their ,father had spoken4 ,at his return he inquired whether they had been disinterred1 and the religious1 having told him exactly what had occurred1 he said3 ,blessed be the ,lord1 my ,god1 who1 of ,his goodness1 has done what you ought to have done out of obedience2 but he imposed a penance upon them in expiation of their fault4 ,at the ,monastery of ,monte ,maggiore1 a joy and interior consolation which he felt on entering the church1 made him sensible that the high altar contained something which had been used by the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,he spoke of it to the religious1 who searched closely1 and found that it was true4 ,in ecclesiastical history we find that ,god had often caused the relics of ,his saints to be discovered1 in order to do them honor1 and the ,holy ,fathers have taught the faithful to venerate them and to preserve them with great care4 ,while he was preaching at ,fabriano in the middle of the market-place1 some workmen who were employed at a palace made so much noise1 that it prevented his being heard4 ,having entreated them to be quiet for a short time1 to which they paid no attention1 he said that the work of those who were building the house would be of no use1 because the ,lord did not build it1 but that it would soon fall2 however1 that neither man nor beast would be injured by it2 and this happened but a few days after it had been finished1 as he had foretold4 ,he assured the people at the same town1 that at a place called the ,poor ,valley1 his brethren1 who were poor1 would some day have a habitation4 ,and1 in fact1 in the year #abib1 the town of ,fabriano placed ,friars ,minor there4 ,among the most considerable establishments which he placed on his route1 was that of ,st4 ,mary of the ,stony ,valley1 so called from its being situated in a very rocky valley1 between two mountains1 four miles distant from ,fabriano4 ,it was a church dedicated to the ,blessed ,virgin1 with a monastery1 which the ,religious of ,st4 ,benedict had abandoned in order to take refuge in the town1 on account of the wars1 and it is one of the most beautiful solitudes of all ,italy4 ,devotion to the ,mother of ,god1 and the love of retreat1 had induced ,francis to ask for this place2 and it was given him by those who were its proprietors4 ,the first time he went there1 he lost his way1 with his companion1 and asked a ploughman to take him to the valley4 ,what1 says the man1 shall ,i leave my plough and lose my time1 to serve you8 ,however1 he took him to the place1 mollified by ,francis' mildness1 and by his promising him that he should be no loser by so doing3 on returning1 after receiving the ,father's blessing1 he found his field quite ploughed4 ,some workmen who were employed repairing a house which had been given him1 at a place called ,trabe ,bonata1 being very tired1 asked him to give them some wine4 ,he sent two of his brethren to procure some in a neighboring village1 from some charitable benefactor2 but the workmen being very urgent1 out of compassion for them he went to a spring1 made the sign of the cross over it1 and in an instant1 instead of water1 wine issued from it1 which flowed for a whole hour4 ,those who drank of it published in all places the miraculous effect of the ,saint's charity4 ,in a parish called ,la ,citta1 he was very well received by the curate1 whose name was ,raniero1 with whom he became very intimate1 so that he was in the habit of visiting him1 and going to confession to him4 ,one day after confession he gave him1 in a very humble manner1 notice1 that he1 the curate1 would become one of his brethren1 because they had become too closely united to live different kinds of lives3 ,but1 he said1 this will not happen till after my death4 ,the event verified the prediction3 as soon as the curate learnt that his friend ,francis shone by an infinity of miracles1 and was just canonized1 he entered the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 and adhered to the rules with great regularity4 ,the holy man coming to ,osimo1 was greeted1 notwithstanding his great humility1 and brought into the town1 with great honors4 ,the next day he preached on the vanity of the world1 in so persuasive a strain1 that all his hearers1 penetrated with compunction1 turned their thoughts seriously to their reformation1 and thirty young men entered his ,institute4 ,on the same journey1 he and his companions lodged at the house of a gentleman1 the greatness of whose soul equalled the antiquity of his nobility1 and whose politeness was joined to piety4 ,the welcome he received there was followed by this open-hearted proffer3 ,man of ,god1 he said1 ,i place my person at your disposal1 and all that ,i possess1 all is yours1 do as you please with it2 if you want clothing1 or a cloak1 or books1 or whatever it may be1 take it1 and ,i will pay for it4 ,be assured that ,i am wholly at your service4 ,god has given me wealth2 ,i have wherewithal to assist the poor1 and it is but just that ,i do not fail in so doing4 ,francis merely at the time contented himself with making those grateful acknowledgments which so handsome and obliging an offer required2 but when he left him1 he could not refrain from admiring the generosity of this gentleman1 and he said to his companion3 ,indeed1 brother1 he would be an excellent subject for our ,order2 he is humbly thankful for what he has received from ,god2 he loves his neighbor very sincerely2 he gives willingly to the poor2 and he exercises hospitality from his heart2 he is extremely affable and polite2 and politeness is sister to charity2 it puts down contention and promotes concord2 he is naturally benevolent2 and this feeling is highly pleasing to our ,father who is in ,heaven1 who causes the sun to rise on the good and on the wicked4 ,so many excellent qualities which ,i see in this young man1 make me wish to have him to be one of us1 and ,i should admit him with pleasure4 ,we must pay him another visit1 and exhort him to devote himself to the service of ,god2 perhaps the ,holy ,ghost may incline him to do so2 meanwhile let us implore the ,lord to grant our wish1 if ,he judges it right4 ,in fact1 they did pray for this purpose4 ,some days afterwards they returned to this person's house1 who had the curiosity to watch what ,francis did in the night2 he saw him in prayer1 and in an ecstasy raised from the ground1 and surrounded by a splendid light1 and he felt interiorly a certain celestial fire1 which inspired him with an ardent desire to imitate his mode of life4 ,in the morning1 he communicated his feelings to the ,saint1 who was already made aware of them by revelation1 and who thanked the ,giver of all good gifts for them4 ,the postulant gave all he had to the poor1 took the habit of a ,friar ,minor1 and lived holily2 preserving always the same affable and polite manners1 with which he received the guests of the convents in which he resided4 ,this endeared him still more to the ,patriarch1 who was very zealous in the exercise of hospitality4 ,the duties of hospitality1 lauded by the pagans1 taught by the ,gospel1 enforced by the ,apostles1 and all the ,holy ,fathers1 are exercised in the ,order of ,st4 ,francis with so much the more care as1 being totally dependent on charity1 they consider themselves bound to give all in the same manner1 and they apply to themselves these words of the ,son of ,god to the ,apostles1 on the gift of miracles3 ,freely you have received1 freely give4 ,this is what draws down the blessing of ,god1 and which makes so many houses subsist1 without any revenue1 by the charity of the faithful4 ,the holy ,patriarch of the ,friars ,minor arrived at ,rome when everything was preparing for the opening of the ,twelfth ,ecumenical ,council1 the #dth of ,lateran1 one of the most numerous ever held in the ,church4 ,innocent ,,iii had convoked it for the extinction of heresies1 for the reformation of morals1 for regulating the discipline of the ,church1 and for the recovery of the ,holy ,land by the union of the ,christian princes4 ,francis came to ,rome to induce the ,sovereign ,pontiff to give a public approval to the ,rule of his ,order1 which was of the highest importance in order that the prelates might have it in their power to distinguish the poor of ,jesus ,christ1 true children of the ,church1 from certain sectaries of those times who affected1 as has been already said1 to bear the marks of ,apostolic poverty4 ,what the ,servant of ,god required was put in force2 the ,pope declared before all the ,fathers of the ,council1 that he approved the ,order and the ,rule of ,st4 ,francis1 although he had hitherto issued no bull4 ,this is a fact which is related by the companions of the ,saint who wrote his life1 and by two authors of the ,order of ,st4 ,dominic1 ,jordan of ,saxony1 a disciple of that blessed ,patriarch1 and ,st4 ,antoninus4 ,moreover1 in order to avoid too great a variety of religious orders1 the council prohibited the formation of any new ones1 and directed that the existing ones should be considered sufficient4 ,yet it is clear that the ,pope could not1 in this instance1 avoid making known the approbation he had given to an ,order so new and peculiar as was that of the ,friars ,minor1 which in the last five years1 had spread over ,italy1 and was established in ,rome4 ,the holy friendship which was subsequently formed between ,st4 ,dominic and ,st4 ,francis1 renders it proper that we should here record that ,st4 ,dominic came also to this ,lateran ,council1 together with ,fulke1 ,bishop of ,toulouse1 in order to propose to the pope an intention he had of instituting an order of preachers1 and that the ,pope had seen in a dream ,st4 ,dominic supporting the ,lateran ,church1 which was falling1 in the same way as he had seen ,francis supporting it five years before4 ,he praised his undertaking1 but told him1 according to the decree of the council1 to return with his brethren1 and prepare a rule for the guidance of the order1 and then come back to have the order confirmed1 which the holy patriarch complied with4 ,the ,council of ,lateran having terminated its labors1 ,francis left ,rome at the beginning of ,december to return to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,when he had reached his convent1 ,clare1 who1 being very humble1 had accepted only through obedience the quality of ,abbess of ,st4 ,damian1 wished to lay it down into his hands1 to which he would by no means assent1 because he knew that by the disposition of ,divine ,providence1 she was to form the disciples who were to establish his ,order in various places1 from whence it was to spread throughout the ,church4 ,clare had admitted many virgins during the three years she had presided over ,st4 ,damian1 among whom were some of her own relatives4 ,beatrice1 the youngest of her sisters1 came a short time afterwards2 and ,hortolona1 her mother1 as soon as she became a widow1 decided upon consecrating herself to ,god1 with her three daughters1 in the same monastery1 where miracles testified to the holiness of her life4 ,finally1 the virtues of ,clare were so resplendent1 and the miracles which it pleased the ,almighty to work by her means1 threw so much splendor around her1 that1 according to the remark of ,pope ,alexander ,,iv1 in the bull of her canonization1 the truth of the prediction which was made to her mother1 was clearly seen3--,that she would give to the world a light which would even enlighten the world4 ,the sequel of the life of the ,father will afford further opportunity for speaking of the daughter4 ,the ,benedictines of ,mount ,soubazo1 in this year1 gave the holy ,patriarch a convent on this very mountain1 two miles from ,assisi4 ,it has been called the prison of ,st4 ,francis1 because he often shut himself up there in contemplation after his ,apostolical labors4 ,his oratory is still there1 also3 his cell1 the stone and the wood which served him for bed and pillow1 and a copious spring which1 by his intercession1 he obtained from ,god4 ,from the beginning of the following year1 #abaf1 to the #cjth of ,may1 the ,festival of ,whitsuntide1 the day on which the general chapter was held1 which was the first of the ,order1 he had as much leisure as he could desire for conversing with ,god1 for giving instruction to his brethren at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and to the ,town of ,assisi and its environs4 ,in the assembly1 provincial ministers were appointed1 to whom power was given for admitting postulants into the ,order2 which the ,founder had previously reserved to himself4 ,one whose name does not appear1 was sent into ,apulia1 and ,john de ,strachia was sent into ,lombardy2 ,benedict of ,arezzo1 into the ,marches of ,ancona2 ,daniel the ,tuscan1 into ,calabria2 ,augustin of ,assisi1 into the ,terra di ,lavoro2 ,elias of ,cortona1 into ,tuscany4 ,evangelical laborers were chosen for different nations4 ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 for ,spain2 ,john ,bonella1 a ,florentine1 with thirty companions1 for ,provence2 ,john de ,penna1 and sixty of his brethren1 for ,upper and ,lower ,germany2 ,francis took for his share ,paris and what is properly called ,france and the ,low ,countries4 ,the ,apostolic laborers being all assembled at the feet of their ,father1 to receive his orders1 he addressed them with paternal tenderness1 in the following discourse3-- ,in the name of the ,lord1 go forth modestly1 two and two1 observing strict silence from the morning till after the hour of ,tierce1 praying to ,god from your hearts4 ,let no idle or useless words be heard among you2 although you are travelling1 your deportment should be as humble and as decorous as if you were in a hermitage1 or in your cells4 ,for wherever we are1 and1 whithersoever we may be going1 we have always our vocation with us2 our brother1 the body1 is our cell1 and the soul is the hermit1 who dwells in it to think of ,god and to pray to ,him4 ,if a religious soul does not dwell quietly in the cell of the body1 the external cells will be of little use to him4 ,behave1 then1 in such manner in the world1 that whosoever may see or hear you1 may be moved to devotion1 and praise our ,heavenly ,father to whom alone all glory belongs4 ,proclaim peace to all men1 but have it in your hearts1 as well as in your mouths4 ,give to no one cause for anger1 nor for scandal2 on the contrary1 by your own mildness1 induce every one to feel benignly1 and draw them to union and to concord4 ,we are called to heal the wounded1 console the afflicted1 and to bring back those who err2 many may seem to you to be members of the devil1 who will one day be disciples of ,jesus ,christ4 ,what ,francis said of the inutility of exterior cells1 where the soul is not at ease in the cell of the body1 is in conformity to these words of ,st4 ,bernard3--,you may be alone when you are in the midst of the world1 as it may so happen that you may be in the midst of the world when you are alone4 ,the children of the holy ,patriarch received his blessing2 and having recommended themselves to the prayers of their companions1 they set out for those places to which obedience sent them4 ,the success of the several labors will be adverted to further on4 ,the missionaries for ,provence remained some days after the breaking up of the chapter1 to receive further instructions relative to their mission4 ,the day of their departure1 there were only three loaves of bread in the convent1 two of which had been sent there by ,clare2 these were found sufficient for more than thirty who were present1 and there was a great deal to spare1 a circumstance which was considered to be a good omen4 ,francis1 having animated all the others by his zeal1 prepared himself for setting out for ,paris4 ,besides the natural affection he had for ,france1 of which he liked the language1 as it was familiar to him1 he chose this city preferably to many others1 because he knew that their devotion was great towards the blessed sacrament1 and this was a great attraction for his piety4 ,may the ,parisians ever entertain and transmit to their posterity this fervent devotion of their ancestors1 which ,pope ,urban ,,iv41 who was a native of ,france1 stirred up in the hearts of the faithful forty-six years afterwards1 by the institution of the ,feast of the ,most ,holy ,sacrament1 which is celebrated throughout the ,church1 with so much solemnity4 ,the bull which he issued on this occasion1 enters into the strongest and most moving arguments calculated to inspire veneration1 love1 and the zeal which the precious memorial of the goodness of the ,son of ,god calls for1 and to invite to a frequent and worthy participation in the divine mystery1 which the ,council of ,trent has since expressed its anxiety to see reestablished4 ,before his departure1 ,francis undertook to reconcile the members of the illustrious family of the ,baselennesi1 a long time disunited by unhappy family dissensions1 and he succeeded to the satisfaction of all parties4 ,out of gratitude they had built for him1 on one of their estates on a spot near the ,tiber1 surrounded with very beautiful trees1 a convent called ,st4 ,angel of ,pantanellis4 ,he chose to go once more to ,rome to recommend to the holy ,apostles his journey to ,france4 ,on the road1 having seated himself close to a spring to take his meal1 he put some pieces of bread1 which had been given to him on his quest1 and which were very hard and mouldy1 on a stone near him2 he expressed much satisfaction1 and he pressed his companion ,masse to give thanks to ,god for so great a treasure2 and he repeated several times the same thing1 elevating his voice more and more4 ,but of what treasure are you talking said ,masse1 at a time when we are in want of many things8 ,the great treasure is1 replied ,francis1 that1 being in want of so much1 ,god has had the goodness to furnish us by ,his providence with that bread and this spring1 and to find us this stone to serve as a table4 ,he went shortly after into a church1 where he prayed to ,god to give him and his children the love of holy poverty2 and his prayer was so fervent that fire seemed to issue from his countenance4 ,full of this celestial ardor1 he went towards ,masse with open arms1 calling him by name with a loud voice2 ,masse1 in great astonishment1 going to throw himself into the arms of his ,father1 was raised into the air several cubits high1 and felt such sweetness in his soul1 that he frequently afterwards declared that he had never experienced anything like it4 ,after this ecstasy1 ,francis spoke to him on the subject of poverty in an admirable strain4 ,when at ,rome1 in a chapel of the ,church of ,st4 ,peter1 while he was praying with tears that the holy ,apostles would give him instructions on the subject of holy poverty and of an ,apostolic life1 they appeared to him surrounded by lights1 and1 after tenderly embracing him1 said3 ,brother ,francis1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ has sent us to tell you that ,he has favorably heard your prayers and tears on the subject of holy poverty1 which ,he ,himself had followed1 as well as ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and we1 who are ,his ,apostles1 after his example4 ,this treasure is granted to you for yourself and for your children2 those who shall carefully adhere to it1 will have the kingdom of heaven for their reward4 ,the ,servant of ,god1 filled with consolation1 went to his companion ,masse1 to whom he communicated what had passed1 and they went together to give thanks at the place which is called the ,confession of ,st4 ,peter1 which is his tomb4 ,while ,francis was at ,rome1 ,pope ,innocent ,,iii died at ,perugia4 ,he was of the illustrious house of the ,counts of ,segni1 which has given five popes to the ,church1 the last of whom was ,innocent ,,xiii1 of blessed memory4 ,it was at the ,university of ,paris that his merit was first noticed2 he shone there above the many who were its honor and its ornament4 ,it was his rare and transcendent qualities which induced the cardinals unanimously to elect him to the pontificate2 and these qualities shone with additional splendor when his humility urged his resistance to the election1 from which he prayed with unaffected tears to be released4 ,his government and the works he has left to posterity1 show1 that he had great genius1 great science1 prudence1 and probity1 with solid piety1 and ardent zeal4 ,he was1 says a ,french contemporary writer a man of great courage and great wisdom1 who had no equal in his day1 and who did marvellous things4 ,he was indeed one of the most eminent men who have filled the chair of ,st4 ,peter4 ,the affection he bore to ,francis1 and the favors he conferred on his ,order1 have compelled us to do this justice here to his memory4 ,on the #ahth of ,july1 they elected for his successor ,cardinal ,savelli1 who took the name of ,honorius ,,iii4 ,he was a learned and worthy man4 ,he generally followed the designs of his predecessor1 and had a similar affection for the religious orders1 of which he gave substantial proofs in the favors he bestowed on that of ,st4 ,francis4 ,some months after his election1 he gave his approval of the ,order of ,st4 ,dominic4 ,this holy patriarch having returned to his companions to fix upon a rule1 as had been recommended to him by ,pope ,innocent at the ,lateran ,council1 and having adopted the rule of ,st4 ,augustine1 to which he had added some more austere regulations1 came back to ,rome to procure the approval of the ,holy ,see4 ,while he solicited it from ,honorius1 who had arrived from ,perugia1 he made acquaintance and contracted an intimacy with ,francis1 in consequence of a miraculous vision which he had in the ,church of ,st4 ,peter1 where he prayed unceasingly with great fervor for the success of his enterprise4 ,he saw the ,son of ,god seated on the right hand of ,his ,father1 who rose up greatly irritated against sinners1 holding three darts in ,his hand1 for the extirpation of the proud1 the avaricious1 and the voluptuous4 ,his holy ,mother threw herself at ,his feet1 and prayed for mercy1 saying that she had persons who would remedy the evil2 and she at the same time introduced to ,him ,dominic and ,francis1 as being proper persons for reforming the world1 and reestablishing piety2 this pacified ,jesus ,christ4 ,dominic1 who had never seen ,francis1 met him next day1 recognized him1 ran to him and embraced him1 saying3 ,you are my companion2 we will work in concert with each other2 let us be strictly united1 and no one will be able to master us4 ,francis himself communicated this favor of ,heaven to the children of ,dominic3 and ,st4 ,vincent ,ferrer1 and some other authors quoted by ,wading1 say that ,francis had received a similar favor from ,heaven4 ,the event proved the truth of the ,vision4 ,dominic alone1 without any human aid1 having nothing to command success but poverty1 humility1 and prayer1 obtained the approbation of his order1 which was an affair of great difficulty1 particularly at the commencement of a ,pontificate1 when the ,pope is occupied by most important affairs4 ,we may here notice the groundwork of the ardent zeal of the ,friars ,preachers and the ,friars ,minor for the glory of the ,mother of ,god4 ,persuaded that their orders were established under her protection1 and that she is especially the mother of their holy patriarchs1 they strive by every means in their power to restore the devout veneration due to her4 ,it is the common interest of all the faithful who see that she is1 according to the expression of the ,holy ,fathers1 their advocate and their mediatrix2 that she prays and solicits for them2 that she interposes between them and the wrath of her ,son1 and appeases ,him3 this affords great room for confidence in her1 and should induce them to invoke her for their conversion and sanctification4 ,dominic and ,francis1 confident of the protection of the ,blessed ,virgin1 entered into a strict friendship and resolved to spare no pains in their exertions for the glory of ,god1 and concerted together as to the best means for attaining their object4 ,upon which an author quoted by ,wading1 makes a most appropriate reflection3 ,it was1 he says1 something admirable to see two men1 who were poor1 badly clad1 without power or interest despicable in the eyes of the world1 divide between them the world itself1 and undertake to conquer it4 ,who would not have turned their plans into ridicule hearing them seriously consult together on such an undertaking1 since they seemed to have so little means of carrying them into execution8 ,nevertheless1 they succeeded2 because ,god selected by their means to confound what is strong4 ,they resembled ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul1 proposing to themselves1 in the same ,city of ,rome1 to convert the universe by the preaching of the ,gospel2 this shows that ,god made use of means for reanimating the faith1 similar to those which ,he had employed to establish it4 ,it is reported1 that while ,dominic and ,francis were still at ,rome1 ,angelus1 of the ,order of the ,carmelites1 who was afterwards martyred in ,sicily1 was also there2 that1 preaching in the ,church of ,st4 ,john ,lateran1 where the two others were among the hearers1 he foretold that they would become two great pillars of the ,church2 that when the sermon was finished1 they foretold to one another what would happen to each of them1 and even that ,francis would receive the stigmata2 then the three together cured a man afflicted with leprosy1 and passed a day and a night together in prayer and conversing on holy subjects4 ,francis left ,rome at the end of the year1 intending to continue his journey into ,france4 ,he passed through ,sienna and by ,mount ,alvernia and arrived at ,florence in the month of ,january1 #abag1 to pay his dutiful respects to ,cardinal ,ugolino1 who was ,papal ,legate there4 ,this cardinal1 who had declared himself his protector and his friend1 when he went to request the approbation of his rule from ,pope ,innocent ,,iii41 in #abaj1 received him with great kindness1 detained him some days1 inquired into the affairs of his ,order1 and said to him on the subject of his journey3 ,francis1 your ,order is still in its infancy4 ,you know the opposition it met with in ,rome1 and you have still there some secret enemies2 if there is not some one there to watch over your interests1 it will be an easy matter to cause all you have obtained to be revoked4 ,your presence will go a great way in upholding your work1 and those who are attached to you will have a greater stimulus for giving you their support4 ,as to myself1 ,i am from this moment wholly yours4 ,the holy man1 after having thanked the cardinal1 replied3 ,i have sent many of my brethren into far distant countries4 ,if ,i remain quietly in our convent1 without taking any share in their labors1 it will be a great shame for me2 and these poor religious1 who are suffering hunger and thirst1 will have great reason to murmur and complain2 but instead of that1 if they find that ,i work as much as they do1 they will bear their fatigues more willingly1 and ,i shall more easily persuade them to undertake similar missions4 ,the cardinal1 feeling for the sufferings of these missionaries1 said3 ,but why1 brother1 have you the harshness to expose your disciples to such arduous journeying and to so much suffering8 ,my ,lord1 replied ,francis1 who was urged by a prophetic spirit1 you think that ,god has sanctioned the ,institute for this country only2 but ,i tell you that ,he has formed it for the good of the universe1 and for the salvation of all men1 without excluding the infidels3 for religious of this ,order will go into their territories2 and provided they live in conformity to the ,gospel1 ,god will provide amply for all their wants1 even among the enemies of ,his name4 ,these words made a great impression on the cardinal1 who was a very holy man1 and increased his affection for ,francis1 whom he again exhorted in stronger language than before1 to remain in ,italy to consolidate an ,institute which was to have such beneficial results4 ,the ,saint having yielded to the reasoning of the cardinal1 entreated him to be the protector of the ,friars ,minor1 according to his promise1 and to be so good as to be present at the next general chapter2 after which he took the road to the ,valley of ,spoleto4 ,there he learnt that some of his brethren had been seriously ill-treated by several prelates1 and that at the court of ,rome there were persons who spoke against his ,order4 ,this news confirmed him in the resolution he had taken to remain in ,italy2 and he named three of his disciples for the ,french mission1 to wit3 ,pacificus of the ,marches of ,ancona1 the celebrated poet1 whose conversion we have related2 ,angelus1 and ,albert1 both of ,pisa4 ,he likewise intended to request the ,pope to nominate a cardinal of the ,holy ,roman ,church1 to protect his ,order against all who should attack it4 ,three of his companions1 the writers of his life1 say1 that he was induced to this by a celestial vision in his sleep4 ,he saw a hen endeavoring to gather all her chickens under her wings1 to protect them from a hawk2 she could not cover them all1 and many were about to become its prey2 but another large bird appeared1 spread its wings over them1 and preserved them from the danger4 ,on awaking1 ,francis prayed our ,lord to explain to him the meaning of this1 and he learnt that the hen represented himself1 and the chickens were his disciples1 that the bird with the large wings represented the cardinal1 whom they were to solicit for their protector4 ,he told all this to his brethren1 and addressed them as follows3-- ,the ,roman ,church is the mother of all the churches1 and the sovereign of all religious orders4 ,it is to her that ,i shall address myself to recommend to her my brethren1 in order that her authority may silence those who are hostile to them1 and that she may procure for the children of ,god full and perfect liberty to advance quietly in the way of eternal salvation2 for when they shall be under her protection1 there will be no more enemies to oppose them1 nor disturb them2 there will not be seen among them any son of ,belial to ravage with impunity the vineyard of the ,lord4 ,the holy ,church will be zealous for the glory of our poverty2 she will not suffer that the humility which is so honorable to her1 shall be obscured by the clouds of pride4 ,it is she who will render indissoluble among us1 the bonds of charity and peace1 rigorously punishing the authors of dissensions4 ,under her eyes1 the holy evangelical observance will ever flourish in its pristine purity2 she will never permit these holy practices to flag even momentarily1 those practices which shed around them a vivifying light4 ,may the children1 then1 of that holy ,church be very grateful for the great favors which they receive from their mother2 let them kiss her feet with profound veneration1 and remain forever inviolably attached to her4 ,the first words of this discourse show that ,st4 ,francis was perfectly cognizant of the prerogatives of the ,church of ,rome1 and of the extent of the authority of the ,holy ,see4 ,it was not in vain that he sought her protection1 since his ,order was established1 extended1 supported1 and sometimes even renovated under this powerful authority2 and the attachment to the ,holy ,see1 which he so strongly recommended to his brethren1 has been so visibly manifested during five centuries1 that it has procured for them the esteem and love of all ,catholics1 as well as the hatred of the heretics1 so that they have the honor of having some share in the eulogiums which ,st4 ,jerome passed on ,st4 ,augustine3 ,the ,catholics esteem and respect you1 and1 what enhances your glory1 all the heretics detest you4 ,they hold me in equal hatred2 and if they durst not put both the one and the other of us to death1 they have at least the wish to do so4 ,this wish of the heretics has not been without effect as regards the children of ,st4 ,francis1 for of a thousand martyrs which they reckon in his ,order1 a very great number of them were put to death with greater cruelty in this and latter times by the sectarians than by idolatrous tyrants4 ,heresy will be ever so1 the daughter of a parent1 who1 according to the words of ,jesus ,christ1 was a murderer from the beginning4 ,the holy ,patriarch went then to ,rome1 where he found ,cardinal ,ugolino1 who was returned from ,tuscany1 to whom he communicated the intention he had of soliciting the pope for a protector4 ,the cardinal at the same time expressed his wish to hear him preach before the pope and the sacred college4 ,francis excused himself from this as much as he could1 assigning for reasons1 his ignorance1 his simplicity1 and his uncultivated mind1 which unfitted him for speaking in the most august assembly in the world4 ,but he was obliged to yield to the pressing instances of the cardinal1 who entreated him as a friend to comply1 and even ordered him to prepare himself for the task1 recommending him to compose carefully a sermon wherein there should be as much erudition and reasoning as such an audience required4 ,up to that time1 the ,servant of ,god had never prepared himself for preaching2 he only spoke from the pulpit what the ,holy ,ghost inspired4 ,nevertheless1 he1 in this instance1 obeyed the cardinal2 he prepared a sermon as carefully as he could1 and learned it by heart4 ,when he came into the presence of the ,pope1 he forgot every part of the discourse1 and could not utter a syllable of it4 ,but after having humbly explained the circumstance1 and implored the aid of the ,holy ,ghost1 words flowed copiously from his mouth1 and he spoke with so much eloquence and animation1 that the ,pope and cardinal were deeply affected4 ,having been admitted to an audience of the ,pope in presence of ,cardinal ,ugolino1 he said3 ,most ,holy ,father1 ,i am not in fear of becoming importunate for the interests of your lowly servants1 the ,friars ,minor1 while you are occupied with so many important affairs which regard the whole ,church4 ,i entreat you to give us this cardinal1 to whom we may have recourse in our wants1 always under your sanction1 since it is from you1 the ,head of the mystical ,body1 that all power emanates4 ,the ,pope granted his request with alacrity1 and recommended the cardinal to take great care of the ,order4 ,from that time1 the ,orders of ,friars ,minor have always had a cardinal protector1 whose powers are extended as the ,pope shall see fit2 the terms of the ,rule1 which oblige the ,order by obedience to apply for one1 show1 that it was the intention of ,francis1 that his powers should be most ample4 ,cardinal ,ugolino was one of the most accomplished men of the ,city of ,rome2 his person well made1 his countenance mild and majestic1 his genius quick1 with great memory and eloquence1 possessing in perfection all human sciences1 civil and canon-law1 and particularly the ,holy ,scriptures2 he was very expert in all public business2 a lover of virtue and order1 and of a pure and exemplary life4 ,his first care in undertaking the office of protector1 which he did willingly1 was1 to defend the ,friars against all those who attacked them1 to conciliate the prelates in their favor and to spread them into all parts for the salvation of souls2 his great authority silenced their enemies4 ,as often as his affairs admitted of it1 he assisted at their general chapters2 then he officiated pontifically4 ,francis acted as his deacon1 and preached4 ,he conformed to the rule of the ,institute as much as was in his power1 and was1 when with them1 as one of themselves1 and even endeavored to appear as the lowest among them4 ,a contemporary author1 who was an ocular witness1 expresses himself thus3 ,o how often has he been seen humbly to divest himself of the marks of his high dignity2 put on the poor habit1 and1 with bare feet1 join the religious in the regular exercises1 in order to imitate their evangelical life6 ,a lively and enlightened faith1 a solid and fervent piety1 and a superior mind1 convinced him that since the time of the abasement of the ,son of ,god1 humiliation is honorable1 and adds to the splendor of the highest dignities2 a truth which is not understood by persons of little faith1 by the proud1 the indevout1 and those of little mind4 ,this great cardinal respected ,francis as much as he loved him2 looking upon him as a man sent down from heaven4 ,his presence was a source of pleasure to him1 and he often admitted1 as the above-quoted author states1 that from the time he had made acquaintance with this holy man1 as soon as he saw him and heard him speak1 all that caused in him uneasiness of mind1 or grief at heart was dispelled2 his countenance became serene1 and his soul was filled with fervor4 ,francis1 on his side1 had great veneration for the cardinal4 ,he insisted on his brethren considering him as the ,pastor of the ,flock1 and1 with an attachment as tender as that of an infant for its mother's breast1 he gave him in all things marks of the profoundest deference4 ,one day1 hearing that he was about to receive a visit from him he ran away and hid himself in the thickest part of the wood4 ,the cardinal had him sought for1 and went himself in search for him4 ,having found him he asked ,francis as his friend to tell why he avoided him4 ,my ,lord and my ,father1 answered the humble ,francis1 as soon as ,i knew that your ,grandeur intended to honor me with your presence1 me who am the poorest and the most despicable of men1 ,i was covered with confusion1 and ,i blushed at the thought of my baseness1 finding myself wholly unworthy to receive so distinguished an honor1 for ,i truly revere you as my ,lord and my ,father4 ,these feelings were partly owing to a vision he had1 which revealed to him that this cardinal would be ,pope2 he foretold it to him1--this is recorded by ,st4 ,bonaventure2 and in the private letters which he wrote to him1 he put on the heading3 ,to my ,reverend ,father and ,lord ,ugolino1 who is one day to be the ,bishop of the whole world1 and the ,father of all nations4 ,the respectful gratitude of the ,friars ,minor required that we should insert all these anecdotes in memory of ,cardinal ,ugolino1 who honored the holy ,patriarch of his ,order1 as well as that of ,st4 ,clare1 with his affection1 his protection1 and his liberality1 and who surpassed all his former favors ten years afterwards1 when he was ,pope under the name of ,gregory ,,ix4 ,when ,francis had obtained from the ,pope so powerful a protector1 and had put his various affairs in order1 he set out on his return to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 but he spent the remainder of the year in the ,valley of ,rieti1 where he performed many wonderful things1 of which one of his companions has given a very ample account4 ,at ,grecio1 or ,grecchia1 a very dissolute town in which he first preached1 no one frequented the ,sacraments2 no one listened to the ,word of ,god1 and marriages within the prohibited degrees were of ordinary occurrence4--,by word and example he urged them to repentance and made such an impression that they entreated him to make some brothers stay among them4 ,he willingly agreed to do so1 in the hope of their conversion1 which took place in a short time2 meanwhile he retired to a mountain1 from whence he came to ,grecio and other places to preach4 ,on returning one day from ,cotanello1 a neighboring town1 and not being able to find the way to the mountain1 he asked a farmer to be his guide4 ,this man excusing himself1 saying that there were wolves in that direction that committed great havoc1 ,francis promised him1 and pledged himself as his surety1 that he should not be attacked by any wolf either in going or coming back2 he found that the ,saint was correct1 for1 in returning1 two wolves which were in the way1 played with him as dogs do1 and followed him to his house without doing him any harm4 ,the farmer reported this over all his neighborhood1 and said that1 assuredly1 the man to whom he had served as guide1 must be a great favorite with ,god1 who gave him such absolute command over the wolves4 ,upon this they assembled in great numbers1 and came to the ,man of ,god1 entreating him to deliver them from their calamities4 ,two sorts of calamities bore hard upon them1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 wolves and hail4 ,the wolves were so ravenous in the environs of ,grecio1 that they devoured both cattle and men2 and the hail fell every year in such quantity and of such large size1 that their crops of corn were destroyed1 and their vineyards sorely damaged4 ,francis preached on this subject1 and pointed out to them that scourges of this nature were the punishment of sin2 and he ended by saying3 ,for the honor and for the glory of ,god1 ,i pledge my word to you1 that if you choose to give credit to what ,i say1 and have pity on your own souls1 by making a good confession1 and showing worthy fruits of repentance1 ,god will look upon you with a favorable eye2 will deliver you from your calamities1 and render your country abundant in all sorts of good things4 ,but ,i also declare to you that if you are ungrateful for these benefits1 if1 like the dog1 you return to the vomit1 ,god will be still more irritated against you1 and you will feel the effects thereof twofold by the fresh afflictions ,he will then send4 ,they believed the preacher1 and did penance2 from that moment the scourges ceased2 nothing more was heard of wolves1 and there was no more hail2 and1 what seemed most remarkable1 continues ,st4 ,bonaventure1 was1 that when it hailed in the vicinity1 the cloud1 on nearing their lands1 either stopped or went off in another direction4 ,this lasted as long as those people remained faithful to ,god4 ,four authors1 in different centuries1 who have written the history of the ,valley of ,rieti1 assure us1 that when dissoluteness recommenced in that country1 the wolves returned and made great havoc4 ,wading1 who wrote in ,italy in the #agth century1 says1 that the inhabitants of the valley admitted this to be the case4 ,it is certain by the testimony of the ,holy ,scriptures1 that the sins of the people call down not unfrequently the scourges of the wrath of ,god1 which may be averted by repentance1 or be rendered useful to salvation4 ,but how many afflicted sinners are there1 of whom it may be said with the prophet3 ,o ,lord1 ,thou hast struck them1 and they have not grieved2 ,thou hast bruised them1 and they have refused to receive correction2 they have made their faces harder than the rock1 and they have refused to return4 ,a knight1 whose name was ,john ,velita1 who was converted by the preaching of ,francis1 became his intimate friend1 and used often to go to see him and consult him in his hut1 which was made of the branches of two large hornbeams intertwined4 ,as he was an elderly man1 and very corpulent1 whom the steepness of the road greatly fatigued1 he begged ,francis to come nearer to the town3 this would be agreeable to all1 and he offered to build him a convent on any spot he should select4 ,the ,servant of ,god assented to the proposal1 and1 smiling1 promised the knight not to settle farther from the town than the distance to which a child could throw a lighted brand4 ,upon this they went together down the mountain1 and when they reached the gates of ,grecio1 the knight sent the first child he met to fetch a lighted brand1 and desired him to throw it as far as he could1 not thinking he could throw it very far4 ,but the child1 with a strength surpassing that of men1 threw the brand to a distance of more than a mile1 and it fell on a hill belonging to the knight1 and set fire to the wood which covered it1 and lit at length on a very stony spot4 ,this prodigy made it clear that ,god desired that a convent should be built there1 and it was cut out of the rock4 ,the oratory1 the dormitory1 and the refectory1 which are still extant1 on the ground floor1 are only thirty feet long by six broad2 precious remains1 which show us the love of poverty which planned them4 ,the ,saint founded three other establishments in the ,valley of ,rieti1 at ,st4 ,mary of the ,woods1 at ,monte ,raniero1 or ,monte ,columba1 and at ,pui ,buscone4 ,these four houses1 which are situated on eminences on the four sides of the valley1 formed together a cross4 ,in each of them1 as in the ,town of ,rieti1 and all around the lake which surrounds it1 traces are shown of several miracles which were performed by the man of ,god4 ,he returned to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels in the ,month of ,january1 #abah1 and he determined upon convoking a general chapter1 which he proclaimed by circular letters1 to be held on ,whitsuntide of the year #abai1 in order that he might be made acquainted with the state of the missions intrusted to his disciples1 and that he might send missionaries into parts where there had hitherto been none4 ,while he was thus occupied by his important projects for the salvation of souls1 ,god1 in order to prevent any emotions of pride stealing into his heart1 and to maintain in him a profound humility1 was pleased to permit that he should be attacked by a violent temptation2 it was an extraordinary depression of spirits1 which lasted several days4 ,he made every effort to surmount it by his prayers and his tears2 and one day when he was praying with more than ordinary fervor1 a celestial voice said to him3 ,francis1 if thou hadst the faith of a grain of mustard-seed1 and thou wert to say to this mountain1 go thither from hence1 it would go4 ,not understanding the meaning of these words1 he asked what is the mountain2 and he was answered3 ,the mountain is the temptation4 ,he immediately replied1 weeping and humbling himself3 ,lord1 ,thy will be done4 ,and from that moment the temptation ceased1 and his mind became perfectly at ease4 ,the year #abah was divided between the stay he made at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 for the instruction of his brethren1 and some excursions he made to ,mount ,alvernia and to some other places1 where new dwellings were made over to him4 ,his route was always marked by the fruits of his preaching1 and by the splendor of his miracles4 ,passing by ,montaigu1 above the ,valley of ,caprese1 before a ,church of ,st4 ,paul1 which was being repaired1 and seeing that two of the masons could not succeed in lifting a stone1 which was to be placed as a jamb for the door1 his compassion and zeal induced him to lift it and place it as required1 which he did alone1 and with a strength which was not that of a mortal4 ,the ,abbot of the ,monastery of ,st4 ,justin1 in the ,diocese of ,perugia1 met him1 and alighted from his horse to compliment him1 and to speak to him on some matters of conscience4 ,after a conversation replete with unction1 the abbot1 recommended himself humbly to his prayers4 ,francis replied3 ,i will pray with all my heart2 and they parted4 ,at a little distance from thence1 the ,saint said to his companion3 ,wait a little1 brother1 ,i will here perform my promise4 ,he knelt to pray2 and while he was so doing1 the abbot1 who was riding on1 felt his mind inflamed with a suavity of devotion1 such as he had never before experienced4 ,he stopped1 and the vivid impressions with which ,god favored him1 threw him into an ecstasy4 ,but when he came to himself again1 he became aware that it was entirely owing to the prayers of ,francis4 ,on his return from his last journey in #abah1 which was much longer than any of the others had been1 ,francis found that another building1 large and commodious1 had been erected in his absence1 close to the ,portiuncula convent4 ,displeased at seeing this infringement of the rules of holy poverty1 he took some of his brethren with him1 and went on the roof1 to begin to break it down1 which he certainly would have carried through1 had not some of the people from ,assisi1 who were there1 informed him that the building belonged to the town2 that it had been built by them for the foreign religious1 who daily arrived there1 it being dishonorable to the town to see them compelled1 in consequence of the want of room in the convent1 to sleep outside1 and even in the fields2 that the town had destined this building for their accommodation1 and that they would be received there in its name4 ,on hearing this he came down1 and said3--,if that1 then1 is your house1 ,i leave it1 and shall not meddle with it2 we shall have nothing to do with it1 neither myself nor my brethren2 take care of it yourselves4 ,it was decided in consequence by a deliberation of the municipality1 that the magistrates should provide for the repairs4 ,,book ,,iii ,the time of the general chapter drew near1 of that chapter which became so celebrated by the number of religious which attended it1 and by many other marvellous circumstances4 ,before its assembling1 the holy ,patriarch proposed to go to ,perugia1 to confer with the cardinal protector1 who was living there1 on the affairs of the ,order4 ,wading states1 on good authority1 that ,st4 ,dominic was there at the same time1 and that they had several deliberations together with the cardinal1 who had a like esteem for both4 ,one day when they were in serious conversation on the affairs of the ,church1 the cardinal asked them whether they should consider it advisable for some of their members to be raised to ecclesiastical dignities2 for1 said he1 ,i am persuaded that they would have no less zeal for the glory of ,god and the salvation of souls1 than those bishops of the early ages of the ,church1 who1 although in great poverty1 animated by ardent charity1 fed their flocks with salutary instructions and the example of a good life4 ,after a contest of humility between the two patriarchs1 as to who should speak first1 ,dominic1 urged by ,francis to take the lead1 said to him3--,you excel me in humility1 and ,i will excel you in obedience4 ,he then gave the cardinal this answer3--,my lord1 my brethren may well consider themselves as holding a very elevated rank4 ,what is there more honorable than teaching others from the ,evangelical pulpit8 ,what should well-thinking minds desire more than to be employed in defence of the faith1 and to combat the enemies of the ,church8 ,for this reason ,i strenuously desire that my brethren may remain as they are1 and ,i will keep them so as long as ,i can4 ,francis made the following reply3--,my lord1 my brethren have received the appellation of ,minors1 in order that they might never have the presumption to become great4 ,if it be your intention that they shall bear fruit in the ,church1 leave them in their vocation1 and never permit them to be raised to prelatures4 ,the cardinal was greatly edified by their answers1 and highly commended the humility of their opinions1 but he did not therefore change his views4 ,he thought1 on the contrary1 that such ministers would be most useful in the ,church1 considering the corruption of the times4 ,the ,church has since followed the opinion of this eminent dignitary1 having made many bishops and cardinals from the two orders1 and several have been even elevated to the sovereign pontificate4 ,but the ,friars ,preachers and the ,friars ,minor1 who have preserved the spirit of their vocation1 have never had any other feelings than those of their holy patriarchs on the subject of ecclesiastical dignities4 ,they have refused them as long as they could1 and those who have accepted them1 have been compelled to do so by superior authority1 which they could not be dispensed from obeying4 ,brother ,leo1 the companion and confessor of ,st4 ,francis1 who was at ,perugia1 and who assisted at all the conferences1 says1 that they spoke much on the propagation of the faith and the salvation of souls2 that1 having made reciprocal inquiries into the peculiarities of their respective orders1 ,dominic proposed to ,francis to unite them1 and make but one order1 in order that the difference of the ,institute should not divide those whom the intimate friendship of their fathers had closely united4 ,to this proposition ,francis replied3--,my dear brother1 it has been ,god's will that our orders should be different1 the one more austere than the other1 in order to their being by this variety better adapted to human infirmity1 and to give an opportunity to such as could not bear a life of very great austerity to embrace one which was somewhat milder4 ,leo adds1 that they took steps for maintaining permanent agreement between the two orders2 and1 after having mutually praised their congregations1 they recommended to their companions who were present1 reciprocal respect and friendship for each other2 that ,dominic requested ,francis to give him his girdle1 which was a cord with large knots2 and1 having obtained it after many entreaties1 he wore it during the remainder of his life under his habit1 as a bond and perpetual symbol of the charity which so intimately united them4 ,francis having discussed with the cardinal protector all the affairs of his ,order1 left ,perugia to return to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,as he discoursed on the road with his companion ,leo1 on the virtue of humility and entire abnegation of self1 he said in a moment of fervor3 ,my dear brother1 ,i do not believe myself to be a ,friar ,minor1 and1 in truth1 ,i am not one1 unless ,i can bear humbly and with entire tranquillity of mind1 all that could happen to me under circumstances which ,i can figure to myself4 ,i suppose1 then1 that my brethren came to seek me1 with great respect and confidence1 to assist at the general chapter which is about to be holden1 and solicit me to preach at it4 ,if1 after having exhorted them in such terms as ,god shall have inspired me1 they were to rise up against me1 and manifest openly that they hold me in aversion1 saying3--',we will no longer have you to govern us2 we are ashamed of having such a man as you at our head1 who has neither learning nor eloquence1 who is simple and ignorant1 with very little prudence and experience2 therefore1 in future1 do not have the arrogance to call yourself our superior4' ,if they were to put other affronts upon me1 and to drive me ignominiously from the assembly1 ,i should not consider myself to be a true religious1 unless ,i were to receive all this as patiently and with equal serenity of countenance as ,i should receive those who would load me with praise and honor4 ,to this he added3 ,assuredly1 places of honor are very dangerous to salvation1 not only from the vainglory which is to be feared1 but likewise from the government1 which is very difficult2 whereas1 in opprobrium1 there is nothing but merit to be acquired4 ,if ,i am removed from the headship1 ,i shall be exempt from being accountable to ,god for a great number of souls4 ,prelature is a station of danger1 and praise brings one to the very edge of the precipice4 ,in an humble1 lowly station1 there is much to be gained4 ,why1 then1 do we look to and prefer what is dangerous to what has so much more spiritual advantage1 since it is for this that time is given to us8 ,these are sentiments which should be well considered by persons in every station of life1 whether they aspire to honors1 or fear the losing of them4 ,the profound humility of ,st4 ,francis does not admit of a doubt of his having gone through the trial which he here supposes2 and even in putting it thus hypothetically1 he strengthened in his mind the virtue requisite for supporting it in reality4 ,these sorts of suppositions1 which might be stumbling-blocks to the weak1 are very useful to those who aspire to perfect humility4 ,the ,friars ,minor assembled for the general chapter of their ,order at the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or ,portiuncula1 near ,assisi1 at the ,feast of ,pentecost1 and their number exceeded five thousand4 ,this circumstance is truly amazing1 particularly when it is recollected that some remained in their respective convents2 that the ,order had only existed ten years since its institution2 and that the novices had always been admitted by the ,founder himself1 except since the chapter of the year #abaf1 when he had given the provincial ministers power to receive them4 ,it is nevertheless certain1 that more than five thousand ,friars ,minor assisted at this celebrated chapter3 the fact is attested by four of ,st4 ,francis' companions1 who were present at it2 by ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who lived with them and by many others4 ,what can be said on this subject1 except that it pleased ,god to recall in some measure1 by the rapid establishment of this ,order1 the wonderful spread of the ,gospel by the preaching of the ,apostles8 ,st4 ,augustine says that the ,apostles were as dark clouds from whence lightning and thunder emanated2 that1 by their poverty and their simplicity1 they shone in the eyes of the universe2 that1 by the powerful virtue and splendor of their admirable actions1 they overthrew everything which was opposed to the empire of ,jesus ,christ1 and1 in a short time1 christianized the world4 ,may we not also say1 that ,francis and his companions1 men poor and simple1 were a representation of the ,apostles2 that ,jesus ,christ rendered them powerful and eminent in words and works1 to bring back sinners to ,his empire1 and that by them1 in an inconceivably short period of time1 an immense number of ,apostolic men was collected and formed who embraced the same ,institute1 in order to exercise the same ministry8 ,what assists us in comprehending that in ten years it had been possible to build a sufficient number of houses1 to contain so many thousand men is1 that they were poor and without any income4 ,the religious of this chapter were lodged in huts made of matting1 erected all round the ,portiuncula convent1 from which this chapter has been called the ,chapter of ,mats4 ,they were there separated from the world1 but perfectly united among themselves1 all lovers of watching and fasting after the example of their ,father2 zealous in prayer and in the recital of ,psalms1 in spiritual reading1 and in readiness to execute all works of mercy1 and having no other hope than that of the happiness of a future life4 ,cardinal ,ugolino1 as ,protector of the ,order1 came to preside over the chapter1 and all the religious went in procession before him4 ,he opened the assembly on ,whitsunday the #bfth of ,may3 he officiated pontifically1 and preached2 and he deemed it his right to inspect the ranks of this holy army of the ,lord1 in which he found everything in good order4 ,these soldiers of ,jesus ,christ were not seen wandering about2 but all were collected in groups1 a hundred in one spot1 sixty in another1 more or less1 and conversing on holy subjects1 on their own salvation1 or on that of their neighbours1 and on the means of reforming the morals of a corrupt world4 ,the cardinal1 delighted with so interesting and unusual a scene1 said to those who followed him1 as ,jacob had when he met the angels on his way3 ,truly1 this is the ,camp of ,god4 ,we might also apply to it what ,balaam could not prevent himself from saying1 when he saw the ,israelites encamped3 ,how beautiful are thy tabernacles1 ,o ,jacob1 and thy tents1 ,o ,israel6 ,francis1 as a general in his camp1 went through all the tents2 he encouraged his troops to fight valiantly the battles of the ,lord1 assuring them of receiving assistance from on high1 animating some1 and fulfilling in every place the duties of a vigilant chief4 ,he assembled all his brethren1 and addressed them in an excellent discourse1 of which the following embraces the subject3 ,we have promised great things2 and we have been promised greater4 ,let us keep the first1 and let us sigh after the others3 ,pleasure is of short duration2 the penalty is eternal4 ,sufferings are light2 glory is infinite4 ,many are called2 but few are chosen4 ,each one will receive according to his deserts4 ,on this beautiful text he exhorted them1 in the most forcible and moving terms1 to the practice of virtue and to the duties of a religious life2 urging them1 above all things1 to implicit obedience to our ,holy ,mother the ,church1 to a contempt of the world1 to purity of mind and body1 to a love of holy poverty and humility1 to charity1 to concord and mildness1 to continued watchfulness1 and to an ardent zeal for the salvation of souls4 ,he recommended to them to pray for all the faithful1 and particularly for the exaltation of the ,holy ,roman ,church1 and for the benefactors of the ,order4 ,after which he positively forbade them to have any anxiety whatever for anything concerning the body1 and he quoted to them these words of the psalmist3 ,cast thy care upon the ,lord and ,he shall sustain thee4 ,he had conformed strictly to the rule he laid down1 for he had made no provision for the chapter4 ,st4 ,dominic1 who1 out of friendship for ,st4 ,francis1 had come with six of his companions to this assembly and who heard this discourse1 was fearful lest what he said and did was perhaps an exaggeration1 and that it might seem to be tempting the ,lord1 if some steps were not taken for procuring food for so great a multitude4 ,but he was of a very different way of thinking shortly after when he saw arrive from ,assisi1 ,perugia1 ,spello1 ,foligno1 ,spoleto1 and many more distant towns1 ecclesiastics1 laics1 nobles1 burgesses1 and persons of every state of life who brought with them not only what was necessary for the subsistence of such vast numbers1 but pressed forward to serve the religious themselves with an emulation of humility and charity4 ,so marked an interposition of ,providence in behalf of these ,evangelical poor struck the ,patriarch of the ,friars ,preachers with astonishment2 and it is believed that it suggested to him the intention which he carried into execution the year after1 when he assembled the first general chapter of his order at ,bologna1 in which it was resolved that the ,friars ,preachers should adopt the system of entire poverty1 and consider it as the fundamental rule of their order1 renouncing forever all property in land1 or revenue arising therefrom1 even what they had at ,toulouse1 which the ,pope had confirmed to them by his first bull4 ,in dying1 he recommended to them this ,evangelical poverty as the foundation of their institute2 and lest this foundation should be undermined by the prudence of the flesh1 he forbade in the strongest terms1 on pain of the curse of the ,almighty1 and of his also1 the introduction into the order of any temporal possessions4 ,may ,evangelical poverty that made so strong an impression on the mind of ,st4 ,dominic teach the faithful never to be mistrustful of the care of ,divine ,providence6 ,however1 we are not to look for1 or expect miraculous assistance2 this is not in the ordinary course of ,god's dispensations2 but after doing all that depends on ourselves1 provided there be no irregularity on our part1 and that our desires are within the bounds of moderation1 without any impatience as to the event1 we may assure ourselves that1 according to the words of the wise man3 ,no one hath hoped in the ,lord and hath been confounded4 ,several prelates1 and other persons of quality1 who had been invited by ,cardinal ,ugolino to the ,chapter1 as to a grand and admirable sight1 had the curiosity to examine everything minutely4 ,they saw the religious in their miserable huts1 coarsely dressed1 taking but a very small portion of nourishment1 sleeping on mats spread on the earth with a log of wood for a pillow4 ,they noticed at the same time that they were quite calm1 that joy and concord were universal amongst them1 and that they were entirely submissive to their saintly founder4 ,admiring all these things1 they said to each other3 ,this shows that the way to heaven is narrow1 and that it is very difficult for the rich to enter into the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,we flatter ourselves that we shall eke out our salvation in the enjoyment of all the comforts of life1 having our ease in all things1 while these people1 to save their souls1 deprive themselves of everything1 mortify their bodies1 and are notwithstanding not without great apprehension4 ,we should like to die as they will1 but we do not choose to live as they live4 ,similar reflections converted a great number of persons1 and more than five hundred took the habit of the ,friars ,minor during the chapter4 ,the holy ,patriarch found that many of his religious submitted themselves to extraordinary mortifications1 which either shortened their days or rendered them useless to the ,order by the illnesses which were the consequence4 ,he therefor publicly forbade them1 by the virtue of holy obedience1 to make use of such means1 and ordered all who had coats of mail1 iron girdles1 or other instruments of mortification1 to leave them off and deliver them up to him4 ,this was done1 and some most extraordinary modes of inflicting self-punishment were discovered4 ,the number of coats of mail and iron girdles which were delivered up were more than five hundred2 they were put into a heap1 and the ,patriarch thought proper to show them to the cardinal and his company1 for their edification4 ,they were astonished on witnessing so great a love of such penitential austerities1 in men of such pure and holy lives4 ,in their presence he again forbade his dear brethren indiscreet mortifications1 which are injurious to the body2 representing to them that they either hasten death1 or throw the body into such a state of languor and weakness1 as makes it unfit for spiritual exercises1 or an impediment to the practice of good works4 ,oh1 fortunate and happy times1 when it was necessary to check such failings6 ,god made known to ,francis1 in a revelation he had during the sitting of the chapter1 that the ,prince of ,darkness1 alarmed at the fervor of the new ,order1 had collected thousands of demons1 to concert together on the means of bringing it to ruin2 and that one of them1 more astute than the rest1 had put forth an opinion which it had been decided should be acted upon4 ,it was1 not to attack the ,friars ,minor openly1 but to have recourse to artifice2 to induce them to receive into their society nobles1 learned men1 and youths4 ,nobles1 in order by their means to introduce effeminacy in which they had been brought up2 learned men1 who1 proud of their learning1 should have a contempt for humility2 and youths1 who1 being weak and delicate1 would greatly relax in the regular discipline4 ,religion teaches us that there are demons1 and that they are subordinate one to the other2 that ,god1 when it pleases ,him1 permits them to tempt mankind1 and even torment them corporally2 and ,st4 ,paul speaks of the ,prince of the powers of this air4 ,we know what ,satan did to holy ,job2 and what our ,lord said to ,st4 ,peter3 ,satan hath desired to have you1 that he might sift you as wheat2 and what ,he stated elsewhere3 ,when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man1 he taketh with him seven spirits more wicked than himself1 and they enter in and dwell there4 ,thus we need have no difficulty in believing that the prince of darkness had collected such a number of demons against ,st4 ,francis and his ,institute4 ,st4 ,gregory says1 that they attack with greater violence those in whom they find a greater disposition to holiness1 and that the principal demons are employed in the attacks on the bravest soldiers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,what must be the wrath of these malignant spirits against the apostolical men1 whose lives are wholly employed in effecting the salvation of souls6 ,francis had already been made aware by the words of a young female who was possessed1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure relates1 that the devils1 irritated by the injury he did them1 had assembled against him1 and then he merely said1 as ,paul did3 ,i am the stronger4 ,but he was alarmed when he learnt from ,god ,himself the increase of their rage4 ,he retired for two days to an oratory to pray for grace to be able to escape from their snares1 and that he might be protected by good angels4 ,his prayer gave him fresh courage2 he returned to the chapter1 and addressed his brethren with energy on the watchfulness with which it was incumbent on them to work out their salvation1 without placing too much reliance on the holiness of their state of life1 from which they must be apprehensive lest they should fall off by the machinations of their enemy4 ,you know1 he said1 the examples we have2 ,satan fell from ,heaven1 and drew with him a number of the angels2 he caused ,adam and ,eve to be driven from ,paradise2 he prayed to be allowed to sift the ,apostles as wheat is sifted2 and he did so with such effect1 that one of them betrayed his ,master1 another denied ,him1 and all fled when ,he was captured4 ,the ,saint then explained to them what ,god had made known to him of the designs of the devil2 and in order that the enemy's malignity might fall on himself1 he warned them to pay more attention in the reception of advices to the sentiments of the mind than to the advantages of birth2 to be very careful that the learned whom they should admit1 should be devoid of pride1 and were fit to edify others by their humility1 and to be careful that such as joined them in the flower of youth1 should be informed of all that they would have to practice in future4 ,for the holy man did not think it requisite1 in consequence of ,satan's malice1 to prohibit noblemen from joining his ,order1 since their example has great influence1 and the elevated sentiments which are found in that class1 render them more fit to do great things for the service of ,god4 ,he did not wish to drive away the learned1 since learning is necessary for the exercise of the functions of religion1 and since those men who join the knowledge of sound doctrine to an ,evangelical life1 are most instructive teachers in the ,church1 for the dissipation of error and the establishment of virtue4 ,he also desired that they should receive such young men as should present themselves in the tenderest age1 because it is good for man to bear the yoke from his youth3 to leave the world1 before having any knowledge of it1 except through the lights of the ,church1 and to offer themselves as pure victims1 rather than to bring to ,him the remains of a heart stained by the passions2 and1 moreover1 our ,saviour said to ,his disciples1 who turned away the children who came to ,him3 ,suffer them1 and forbid them not to come to me4 ,we know that there are in the world censorious people who condemn the custom of permitting young persons to enter into a religious state2 it would be easy to show1 if it were not for fear of rendering this work too voluminous1 that their arguments are based on a superficial foundation1 and are contrary to the maxims of ,christianity2 we therefore content ourselves with saying that at the ,council of ,trent1 which was guided by the ,spirit of truth in its discipline1 as well as in its dogmas and morality1 permission was given to persons of either sex1 to make profession as a religious at the full age of sixteen2 that rule is authorized by the ordinances of all ,christian princes1 and it therefore seems very extraordinary that any individuals should be rash enough to oppose their private opinions to so respectable an authority4 ,francis1 who was desirous of encouraging the fervor of his disciples1 apprised them of what they had to fear1 and anticipated the smallest inclinations to pride in them1 by salutary humiliations4 ,the cardinal protector having one day preached before all the religious of the chapter1 and having concluded his sermon by bestowing on them considerable praise1 the holy ,patriarch asked his permission to address the audience4 ,he foretold to them1 and represented in lively colors1 all that was to happen to the ,order2 the temptations to which they were to be exposed2 the tribulations they were to suffer2 the changes that would be brought in1 and their decline4 ,he reproached them with their laxity1 and with their want of fervor in cooperating with the peculiar graces they had received from ,god2 he spoke so energetically1 that1 in censuring their foolish obsequiousness1 if such a fault they had1 he covered them with confusion4 ,the cardinal was somewhat mortified1 and said3--,pray1 why1 brother1 did you gainsay me1 setting the imperfections of your brethren in opposition to the praises ,i had given them8 ,my lord and my father1 answered ,francis1 ,i did so1 in order to preserve the substance of your praise4 ,i was apprehensive that such praise being given by a person of your exalted rank1 might inspire vanity into the minds of those in whom humility has not as yet thrown out deep roots4 ,this affords great matter for reflection for those virtuous persons who voluntarily receive praise1 at least when it is artfully administered2 and for indiscreet flatterers1 who expose virtue to a dangerous trial4 ,what occurred on the following day1 showed that the holy man had received from ,god the perfect means of appreciating men's minds4 ,brother ,elias1 who was the provincial for ,tuscany2 ,brother ,john of ,strachia1 who was provincial for ,bologna1 and several others came to the cardinal protector and entreated him to tell ,francis1 as from himself1 that he ought to listen to the advice of his brethren1 among whom there were many learned men1 fully capable of governing2 particularly as he himself was a simple and unread man1 whose ill health did not permit him to bring their affairs into good order4 ,they added1 that respect ought to be paid to the ancient rules of ,st4 ,basil1 of ,st4 ,augustine1 and of ,st4 ,benedict1 and that ,minors should not differ so widely by a new rule and excessive severity1 as if they wished to be better than their fathers4 ,the cardinal took his time1 and then proposed all these things to ,francis1 as maxims which he deemed good for the government of the ,order4 ,the ,saint being immediately made aware by the ,spirit of ,god1 that these things were suggested by others1 rose up from the place in which he had been seated with the cardinal1 took him respectfully by the hand1 and led him to the brethren who were assembled in chapter1 and said3 ,my brethren1 my brethren1 ,god has called me by the way of simplicity and humility1 in order that ,i might follow the folly of the cross3 it is for ,his glory and my confusion1 and for the security of your consciences ,i am about to tell you what ,he said to me3--',francis1' ,he said1 ',i desire that you may be in the world a new little idiot1 who shall preach by thy actions and by thy discourses the folly of the cross4 ,do thou and thine follow me only1 and not any other manner of life4' ,speak not to me therefore of any other rule1 he added1 for ,i shall not follow1 nor prescribe any other than that which ,god has in ,his mercy given me2 those who swerve from it1 ,i fear1 will feel the ,divine vengeance1 and will be covered with confusion1 when at length they shall be obliged once more to enter into this path1 which ,god has shown me4 ,then addressing himself to the cardinal1 he said3--,my lord1 these wise people1 whom your lordship praises so much1 would wish by their worldly prudence to deceive both ,god and you2 but they deceive themselves1 endeavoring to destroy what ,god has ordained for their salvation1 through me1 his unworthy servant4 ,i attribute nothing to myself of what ,i do1 or of what ,i say2 ,i rely not on my own lights in the government of the ,order2 ,i arrange everything by long prayers with our ,divine ,father1 who governs it sovereignly1 and who has made ,his will known to us by so many manifest signs1 in order to bring to perfection the work ,he has commenced by so miserable a man as ,i am1 for the salvation of souls1 and the edification of our holy mother the ,church4 ,those who prefer the wisdom of the world to the will of the ,lord1 expose themselves manifestly to be lost4 ,having spoken thus1 ,francis retired4 ,the cardinal1 who admired the energy of his words1 and the light which disclosed to him at once the most secret thoughts1 said to the superiors who were abashed3--,my dear brethren1 you have seen how the ,holy ,ghost has himself spoken by the mouth of this apostolical man2 his words came forth as a two-edged sword1 which has penetrated to the bottom of the heart4 ,take care that you do not grieve the ,spirit of ,god2 be not ungrateful for the favors ,he has done you4 ,he is truly in this poor man1 and manifests to you1 through him1 the marvels of ,his power2 in listening to him1 it is ,jesus ,christ that you hear2 in despising him1 it is ,jesus ,christ whom you despise4 ,humble yourselves1 therefore1 and obey him1 if it is your desire to please ,god1 and not lose the fruit of your vocation2 for ,i know by experience1 that everything which either the devils or men are about to attempt against his ,order1 is revealed to him4 ,whatsoever may be said to him with good or bad intention1 it is difficult to find him off his guard2 neither my advice1 nor that of any other person1 will turn him from his purpose4 ,the provincials who had given rise to this scene were moved1 and submitted themselves to the will of the ,patriarch4 ,among the religious who had congregated at the chapter1 there were many who came to seek a remedy for the ill-treatment they had received in many places out of ,italy1 which had its rise in two causes2 the first was1 that they had no authenticated letters to show that their ,institute had been approved by the ,church2 the second was1 that the pastors would not allow them to preach4 ,they begged therefore that the ,pope might be solicited to give them written testimonials to certify that they had his approbation of their ,institution2 and1 moreover1 that they should obtain from the ,holy ,father a privilege1 in virtue of which they might preach wherever they thought proper1 even without leave from the bishops4 ,the holy founder could not hear this second article without indignation4 ,what my brethren said he1 are you still devoid of understanding2 and do you not know the will of ,god8 ,it is ,his pleasure that we should gain the good will of our superiors by our respect for them1 and by humility2 and then by word and good example1 those who are under them4 ,when the bishops see that you live holily1 and that you do not encroach on their authority1 they themselves will apply to you to work for the salvation of the souls which are committed to their care2 they themselves will collect their flocks to listen to you1 and to imitate you4 ,let it be our sole privilege to have no privilege calculated to swell our pride2 to give ourselves a confidence which shall be to the prejudice of others1 and be the cause of contentions4 ,let us ask nothing of the ,holy ,see but what is calculated to aid us in serving ,god1 in extending the faith1 and in gaining souls under the good pleasure of the prelates1 without causing any disturbance among the people4 ,some represented that they had found many of the heads of the parochial clergy so harsh1 that they had been unable to mollify them1 either by entreaties1 or by labor1 by submissiveness or good example1 so as to obtain leave to preach to their parishioners1 or to receive from them any corporal assistance2 to this ,francis replied3 ,my brethren1 we are sent to the aid of priests1 to make good that in which they may be deficient4 ,each one will receive his reward1 not according to the degree of his authority1 but in proportion to his labors4 ,know1 then1 that what is most agreeable to ,god is1 to work for the salvation of souls1 and that we shall best succeed in this by living in concord with the priests than by living separately from them2 if they throw obstacles in the way1 ,god1 to whom all vengeance belongs1 will give them in ,his good time what is their due4 ,be therefore submissive to ecclesiastical superiors1 in order to avert1 as much as may be in your power1 any jealousies4 ,if you are children of peace1 you will soon ingratiate yourselves with the clergy and the people1 and this will be more acceptable to ,god than if you gained over the people1 and thereby gave scandal to the clergy4 ,hide the faults of the priests1 make good what they are deficient in1 and be only in consequence the more humble4 ,the ,religious of ,st4 ,francis must not be surprised if they1 even in these days1 meet with opposition in the exercise of their holy ministries4 ,it is an occurrence which the similarity of men may at all times bring about2 and which ,st4 ,paul experienced more than any other in the course of his ministry4 ,but let them be careful to put in practice the advice of their ,father1 in order that they may be able to say in truth with the apostle3--,we have injured no man ,and1 finally1 the advice which he gave them must induce us to notice his moderation and his discretion1 in an age when the ,church had reason to renew the laments of one of the ,prophets against the pastors of ,israel4 ,he judged it proper1 by the advice of the cardinal protector1 to procure ,apostolic letters to make known the approbation his ,institute had received2 and he obtained them from the ,pope1 who was then at ,viterbo4 ,these were the first which were given to the ,order of ,friars ,minor3 their contents are as follows3 ,honorius1 ,bishop1 servant of the servants of ,god1 to the ,archbishops1 ,bishops1 ,abbots1 ,deacons1 ,archdeacons1 and other ,superior ,ecclesiastics-- ,as our dear son1 brother ,francis and his companions1 have renounced the vanities of the world1 and embraced a state of life which the ,roman ,church has justly approved2 and1 following the example of the ,apostles1 are about to go into different parts to announce the word of ,god2 we beg and exhort you in our ,lord1 and we command you by these ,apostolical letters1 to receive as ,catholic and faithful1 the brothers of this ,order1 the bearers of these letters who may apply to you1 to be favorable to them1 and to treat them with kindness1 for the honor of ,god1 and out of consideration for us4 ,given this #c;d of the ,ides of ,june1 the third year of our pontificate4 ,many cardinals and other illustrious persons added their letters of recommendation to those of the ,pope1 particularly ,cardinal ,ugolino1 the protector of the ,order1 who testified by a document addressed to all prelates1 which certified the intimate knowledge he had of the virtues of the ,founder and of his religious1 and the great fruit that was to be expected from them for the propagation of the faith1 and the benefit of the whole ,church4 ,they made a great number of authenticated copies of these letters1 to give them to those friars whom ,francis had resolved to send in all directions1 even into the most distant lands4 ,three things were decreed at this general chapter4 ,the first was1 that on every ,saturday a solemn mass should be celebrated in honor of the immaculate ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,this glorious title of ,immaculate1 which the general councils of the seventh and eighth centuries1 and the ancient fathers of the ,church1 have given to ,mary1 has been used by the ,council of ,trent1 which has declared in its decree on the subject of original sin1 that it is not its intention to include therein the blessed and immaculate ,virgin ,mary1 ,mother of ,god4 ,the use which the ,friars ,minor made of it in #abai1 shows clearly that they adopted1 as did their sainted ,patriarch1 the common opinion of the ,greek ,church1 which was already spread in various parts of the ,latin ,church1 in honor of the ,conception of the ,blessed ,virgin1 because they thought it wholly pure and exempt from the stain of original sin4 ,their successors have always1 with admirable zeal1 maintained this opinion1 which ,god in so far blessed1 that they have now the advantage and consolation of seeing the institution of the ,feast of the ,immaculate ,conception in the whole ,church1 and of knowing that what was at one time only a pious opinion is now a dogma4 ,it is proper to notice here1 that at the head of the ,friars ,minor1 who supported the proposition of the ,immaculate ,conception1 was the celebrated ,john ,duns ,scotus1 so respected in the ,church for his penetrating genius1 for the solidity of his doctrine1 and for his singular piety4 ,he silenced his opponents1 and his success was so manifested that all considered him to have had the special aid of the ,blessed ,virgin1 and his reasonings were so convincing that the ,university of ,paris admitted them1 and declared in favor of the doctrine of the ,immaculate ,conception1 which it has maintained ever since4 ,in the fifteenth century1 the faculty of ,theology passed a solemn decree on this point1 in which it declared that in consonance with the opinions of its predecessors1 and in order to oppose the enemies of the ,blessed ,virgin1 it bound itself by oath to maintain the proposition that the ,mother of ,god was preserved from original sin1 framing a law1 not to receive any doctor who should not take this oath2 which practice was continued till the dogma was declared in #ahed1 when it was no longer necessary4 ,this is the pious triumph of all the ,sons of ,st4 ,francis who1 in gratitude for so singular a privilege1 honor the ,blessed ,virgin as the ,patroness and ,protectress of their ,order1 under the title of her ,immaculate ,conception1 and by celebrating the festival thereof with every possible solemnity4 ,the second statute directed1 that express mention should be made of the names of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul1 in the prayer1 ,protege nos ,domine1 etc41 and in another which begins with these words--,exaudi nos ,deus1 etc41 in memory of what had been revealed to ,st4 ,francis1 that these apostles interceded powerfully with ,god for his ,institute4 ,this is practised by the whole ,church since ,innocent ,,iv revised and reformed the ,roman ,breviary1 through ,aymon1 an ,englishman1 who was the fifth general of the ,order of ,friars ,minor4 ,in the third statute it was said that poverty should be apparent in everything1 in the convents which they should build2 that the churches should be small and low1 and that the walls of the rest of the buildings should be of wood or mud4 ,some difficulties were started to this2 many represented that in their provinces wood was dearer than stone1 and that walls of masonry1 if they were not too high1 would better denote poverty1 because they would be solid and not compel frequent repair4 ,the holy ,founder would not argue this matter with them2 for it is remarked that not to give rise to any dispute1 and not to give scandal to the weak1 he often condescended to the opinions of others in similar matters4 ,nevertheless he recommended to them all1 not to receive either churches or houses which were not in conformity to holy poverty which was their rule4 ,it was not possible always to follow out his intentions4 ,the prelates and princes who were greatly attached to his ,order had beautiful convents built1 which his religious could not avoid receiving2 and ,st4 ,bonaventure even says that a numerous community which has different exercises to perform1 requires large houses1 although care should be taken that holy poverty should be apparent throughout1 and that superfluity should not preponderate over what is reasonably necessary4 ,the chapter being ended1 ,francis1 following the example of the ,apostles1 divided the world among his brethren1 in order to bring it all in subjection to the ,empire of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the first mission to ,germany had not been successful4 ,those who had been sent thither by the preceding chapter1 not knowing the language1 and answering badly the questions put to them1 were suspected from their poor and unusual habit to belong to those heretics who were prosecuted in ,italy1 in consequence of which they were cruelly ill-treated and driven away4 ,the recital which they gave on their return made ,germany so unpopular among the brethren that they said that none ought to go there but such as aspired to martyrdom1 and that many prayed to ,heaven to be preserved from the ferocity of the ,germans4 ,francis did not think proper to send any more there till such time as he should have received some novices from thence who might go there with others2 but he sent some into ,hungary4 ,as soon as the several missions had been fixed upon1 the missionaries prepared to set out4 ,before we give an account of ,st4 ,francis' voyage to the ,levant1 we think it desirable to give an abridgment of what his children did in various parts of the world1 because the principal glory is due to him1 and these proceedings naturally belong to the history of his life4 ,benedict of ,arezzo embarked with his companions for ,greece1 where their preaching1 backed by the holiness of their lives1 and confirmed by miracles1 produced abundance of fruit for the salvation of souls1 and procured so many houses for the ,order that in a very short time it was formed into an entire province1 and was called ,romania4 ,giles and ,electe1 who anxiously aspired to martyrdom1 and who were only lay-brothers1 had appeared to ,st4 ,francis to be more fit to be sent to the ,saracens than even those of the clergy1 and they hastened to go into ,africa with several others4 ,what chiefly animated the zeal of brother ,giles1 as the author of his life remarks1 was his having heard that the ,saracens treated with great cruelty those ,christians who spoke ill of the law of ,mahomet4 ,when he reached ,tunis with a party of missionaries1 he generously preached the faith in public1 and this continued for some time4 ,a person who was looked up to among the ,saracens for his great wisdom1 having come forth from his retreat1 told the people that they ought to put to the sword all those infidels who spoke against the law of their prophet4 ,giles and his companions were delighted at the prospect of an early martyrdom2 but the ,christians with whom they had their domicile1 fearing lest they might be included in the massacre1 took away these preachers and compelled them to go on board a vessel in the harbor1 and did not permit them again to land4 ,as they did not cease addressing the ,mahometans who crowded to the sea-shore1 with a view to induce them to embrace the faith of ,jesus ,christ1--their desire to sacrifice their lives for ,his glory being so ardent1--the ,christian residents hastened to have them removed to ,europe4 ,thus seeing that even their fellow-believers were opposed to their views1 they returned to ,italy4 ,electe was more fortunate2 during some years he performed the functions of an apostle in another town in ,africa1 where he received the crown of martyrdom4 ,a body of ,saracens rushed upon him while he was preaching1 upon which he fell on his knees1 grasped the ,rule with both hands1 asked pardon for his faults from ,god and from his companions1 and then presented his neck to the infidels who took away his life4 ,this did not happen till after the death of ,st4 ,francis4 ,he had entered the ,order when very young1 and had lived in it with great austerity1 always wearing a coat of mail on his bare body1 so that he prepared himself for the martyrdom of blood by the martyrdom of penance1 as was recommended to the ,christians in time of persecution4 ,those who went into ,spain with ,john ,parent proceeded with so much speed that ten of them arrived at ,saragossa by the ,feast of the ,assumption2 a very short time after their departure1 ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 who was sent into this kingdom after the chapter of #abaf had established two convents1 the one at ,toledo1 the other at ,carrion de los ,condes1 a town in the ,kingdom of ,leon4 ,some of his companions had been admitted at ,lerida1 and at ,balaguer1 in ,catalonia1 under very extraordinary circumstances1 which are omitted not to be too prolix4 ,zachary and ,gautier1 who had been sent into ,portugal1 had had much to suffer in the beginning2 but ,queen ,urraqua1 the wife of ,alphonso ,,ii1 who then reigned1 was a most pious princess4 ,she1 having caused their ,institute to be examined by very learned men1 and having had full assurance of the holiness of their lives1 now obtained leave from the king for their being received into his states1 and permission for their building convents4 ,a house was given them1 with a chapel attached to it1 of ,st4 ,anthony1 near ,coimbra1 where the court then was1 and subsequently one on a larger scale at ,lisbon4 ,princess ,sancia1 the daughter of ,sancho ,i1 and sister of ,alphonso ,,ii1 highly praised by historians for her piety and chastity1 protected ,zachary1 and gave him a third house1 called of ,st4 ,catharine1 at some distance from the ,town of ,alenquer1 which was her own2 but in consequence of the distance and the insalubrity of the air1 she some years after converted her own palace into a convent1 which she gave to the ,friars ,minor4 ,gautier1 one of ,bernard's companions1 who had made many great conversions by his virtues and his miracles1 near ,guimaraens1 had built a convent not very far from that town4 ,while at the convent of ,st4 ,catharine1 a very queer thing occurred1 which we have not thought right to omit here on account of the instruction it contains4 ,one of the ladies1 in waiting on the princess whose name was ,maria ,garcia1 often came to have some pious conversation with one of the holy religious1 who was very averse to receiving her1 because he feared the company of females4 ,one day when he was at prayer1 she came to the church1 and expressed a wish to see him1 but he refused to go to her4 ,the historian says that in order to obtain what she wished for1 she did what women generally do under such circumstances1 she became more importunate1 and cried bitterly1 and protested that it would give her great pain if she might not speak to the holy man4 ,he therefore came1 to get rid of her importunities2 but he brought some straw in one hand1 and some fire in the other2 he set the straw on fire in her presence1 and then said to her3 ,although1 madam1 all your conversations are pious1 ,i refuse to hold them with you in private1 because what you see has happened to the straw1 is what religious persons have to fear may occur to them if they have private and familiar intercourse with women2 and at least they lose the fruits of their holy communications with ,god in prayer4 ,the lady blushed1 retired1 and troubled him no more4 ,st4 ,jerome1 who so strongly recommended to ecclesiastics and religious to avoid conversations with the female sex would certainly have approved of this action4 ,john ,parent arrived at ,saragossa in the month of ,august1 #abai1 with nine of his brethren who were followed by many others soon after2 he addressed himself to the ,bishop and to the magistrates who assembled to hear him4 ,he explained to them who ,francis of ,assisi was1 his vocation1 his mission1 his mode of life1 his ,institute1 the approbation given to his ,rule by ,pope ,innocent ,,iii and ,honorius ,,iii1 and the testimonials given to him by several cardinals4 ,he remarked to them that the new ,order had been exceedingly multiplied in a very few years1 and that they had seen more than five thousand religious at the general chapter which had been lately assembled in the neighborhood of ,assisi1 which was considered to be miraculous2 that their ,father had sent a great number of his children into all parts of the world to combat vice and encourage virtue1 which circumstance should be considered as a bountiful effect of ,divine ,providence towards ,his ,church1 in such calamitous times4 ,he concluded by saying3 ,if our ,institute is agreeable to you1 we earnestly entreat you to give us some small place in which we may recite the ,divine ,office1 and fulfil the other ministries which our ,founder has recommended to us4 ,have no anxiety as to our subsistence1 for we solicit no part of your goods2 we content ourselves with very little2 we are poorly clad2 work and questing furnish us with all that we require4 ,all the assembly admired the spirit of humility which prevailed through this discourse1 and the reading of the ,papal ,bull1 with the testimonials of the cardinals1 were proofs that nothing had been set forth but what was true4 ,they conceived such a liking to the ,order1 that they took immediate measures for giving to ,john ,parent and his companions a dwelling of which they took possession on the #bhth of ,august4 ,the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 as well as that of ,st4 ,dominic1 began from that time to spread through all ,spain4 ,on all sides preachers of the two orders were found1 and new convents were erected1 as ,luke1 ,bishop of ,tuy1 a contemporary author1 mentions in his chronicle when he speaks of the marvels of the reign of ,st4 ,ferdinand1 ,king of ,castile and ,leon4 ,it would clearly appear that both the one and the other were in the ,city of ,leon about that time1 since the same author1 in his excellent work against the ,albigenses1 says that they exerted themselves with great zeal and energy against the heretics1 who1 to seduce the faithful1 published pretended miracles which they asserted to have been performed by the bones of one ,arnold a man of their sect who had been dead sixteen years1 and they also accused the good religious who exposed their impostures of heresy4 ,such is the mode adopted by certain sectarians2 they endeavored to establish their false doctrine by fictitious miracles2 while they insolently refused credence to those which the ,catholic ,church admitted as certain2 and all have sufficient audacity to treat as heretics the orthodox who prove them to be heretics themselves4 ,the mission to ,france was equally successful with that of ,spain4 ,pacifico and his companions who began it in #abaf1 were exposed to hunger1 cold1 and all other kinds of inconveniences1 which men are exposed to suffer when out of their own country1 unknown1 and destitute of everything1 and moreover living an unusual and extraordinary sort of life4 ,they went to that office of the night which is called matins in those churches in which it is said at midnight1 as is still the custom at ,notre ,dame1 in ,paris4 ,if there was no service in the places where they were1 they then prayed by themselves at that hour1 and they passed the whole night at the foot of the altar2 after which1 if no one offered them a meal1 they went questing from door to door4 ,the remainder of the day was spent in the hospitals1 making the beds of the lepers and other sick1 dressing their wounds1 and rendering them such other services of humility and charity as they had learned from the example and instruction of their ,father ,francis4 ,so saintly a life attracted the attention of all1 gained their esteem1 caused many to embrace the ,institution1 and procured for them many establishments1 notably the one at ,paris4 ,angelo of ,pisa1 one of the missioners sent by ,st4 ,francis1 was the first warden of the ,parisian convent4 ,this convent soon became a college1 where young men1 from all parts of the world came to study1 and1 subsequently1 to take out degrees in the university4 ,several great men have1 in the last five hundred years1 rendered this college illustrious4 ,pacifico1 whom ,st4 ,francis had appointed provincial of the ,french missions1 sent some of the religious into different parts of the kingdom1 where they were well received4 ,he went with some companions into ,hainault1 and other provinces of the ,low ,countries1 where1 by the liberality and under the protection of the ,countess of ,flanders1 ,joanna of ,constantinople1 he caused many houses to be built4 ,thomas de ,chantpre1 a ,canon ,regular of ,st4 ,austin1 and subsequently a religious of the ,order of ,st4 ,dominic1 states1 as an eye-witness1 a very marvellous thing which deserves to be recorded in the life of ,st4 ,francis1 since it occurred during his lifetime1 relative to his ,order4 ,at ,thorouth1 a town in ,flanders1 a child of five years of age1 whose name was ,achaz1 of a good family1 having seen1 in #abai1 the habit of the ,friars ,minor1 begged his parents to give him a similar one4 ,his entreaties and tears induced them to gratify him4 ,he was therefore habited as a ,friar ,minor1 with a coarse cord and bare feet1 not choosing to have any money1 not even to touch it1 and he practised as much as was in his power the exercises of the religious4 ,among his companions he was seen to act as preacher1 cautioning them against evil1 exciting them to virtue by the fear of the pains of ,hell1 and by the hopes of the glories of ,heaven2 teaching them to say the ,lord's ,prayer1 and the ,angelic ,salutation1 and to honor ,god by genuflections4 ,he reproved such as did anything wrong in his presence1 even his own father1 if he heard him swear1 or saw him in a state of inebriety4 ,my ,father1 he would say1 with tears in his eyes1 does not our cure tell us that those who do such things will not possess the ,kingdom of ,god8 ,being one day at church with his mother1 who was dressed in a handsome gown of a flame color1 he pointed out to her a crucifix1 as a censure on her vanity1 and warned her to be careful that the color she wore did not cause her to fall into the flames of ,hell1 which warning had so great an effect that his mother never after wore anything but the plainest dress4 ,such a precocious mind1 with so much matured wisdom and piety1 was universally admired1 and every one took pleasure in seeing and listening to this amiable child4 ,god took him from this world before he had attained his seventh year4 ,in his last illness1 he confessed1 and solicited most earnestly to be allowed to receive the ,body of ,christ4 ,the cure not venturing to comply with his request1 on account of his tended age1 although his reason was so mature and his holiness so manifest1 he raised his hands to ,heaven1 and said1 in tender accents3--,my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,thou knowest that all that ,i wish for in this world is to receive ,thee4 ,i begged for ,thee1 and have done what ,i could2 ,i hope with entire confidence that ,thou will not deprive me of the happiness of possessing ,thee4 ,he then consoled and exhorted his parents and others who surrounded him1 after which he gave up his pure soul to ,god1 praising ,him1 and ejaculating prayers to ,him4 ,the ocular witness adds two circumstances which are very remarkable2 the first is1 that the religious habit which this holy child wore disappeared1 and could never afterwards be found4 ,the second1 that the ,friars ,minor who1 as well as himself1 went to pray at his grave1 could not go through the ,de profundis which they had commenced1 notwithstanding all the efforts that they made to do so2 by which they understood1 that so pure a soul stood in no need of prayer2 and1 no doubt1 they only endeavored to offer up some under the impression that a mind so early in other respects matured1 might have been capable of contracting some stain4 ,francis1 having despatched his disciples to the several missions allotted to them1 as has been said1 prepared to go himself to the ,levant1 with a zeal equal to that with which he had inspired his brethren1 when ,cardinal ,ugolino1 the protector of the ,order1 entered into discussion with him on the subject of the government of the establishment of ,st4 ,damian's1 in which ,clare presided1 and of the other monasteries of females which had been commenced on that model4 ,cardinal ,ugolino1 by the advice and authority of the ,pope leaving to ,francis the guidance of the ,monastery of ,st4 ,damian of ,assisi1 took upon himself the direction of all the others who had adopted that rule1 and nominated as visitor-general under his orders1 a prudent religious of the order of ,citeaux1 called ,ambrose4 ,he gave them the rule of ,st4 ,benedict1 with constitutions which ,wading gives at length4 ,we do not transcribe them here1 because1 in the year #abbd1 ,st4 ,francis gave them another rule1 which will be spoken of later1 and which is the only one which ought to be called the rule of ,st4 ,clare or of the ,second ,order4 ,the holy ,patriarch being now about to set out in order to preach the ,gospel to the ,mahometans of the ,levant1 resolved to send to those who were in the west1 some of his brethren4 ,he chose six for ,morocco3 ,vidal1 a very prudent and pious religious1 whom he nominated superior2 ,berard de ,carbio1 from the vicinity of ,narni1 who was well versed in the ,arabian language2 ,peter1 of ,st4 ,geminien1 and ,otho1 who were in priests' orders2 and ,ajut1 and ,accurse1 who were lay-brethren4--,having sent for them he spoke as follows3-- ,my dear children1 it is ,god who has commanded me to send you amongst the ,saracens1 to make known ,his faith1 and refute the law of ,mahomet4 ,i shall go in a different direction to work for the conversion of the same infidels1 and thus ,i shall send preachers over the whole earth4 ,prepare yourselves1 therefore1 to fulfil the will of the ,lord4 ,to render yourselves worthy of it1 take great care to preserve peace and concord among yourselves1 as the ever-subsisting ties of charity4 ,avoid envy which was the first cause of the loss of mankind4 ,be patient in tribulations1 and humble in success2 which is the means of coming off victorious in all encounters4 ,imitate our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in his poverty1 chastity1 and obedience2 ,he was born poor1 ,he lived poor1 and it was in the bosom of poverty that ,he died4 ,to manifest how highly ,he loved chastity1 ,he chose to be born of a virgin1 ,he took virgins for ,his first soldiers1 ,he kept1 and counselled virginity1 and ,he died in presence of two virgins4 ,as to obedience1 ,he never ceased from practising it from ,his birth to ,his death on the cross4 ,place your hopes in the ,lord1 ,he will guide and assist you4 ,take our rule with you1 and a breviary1 in order that you may be punctual in saying the ,divine ,office1 and be always submissive to ,brother ,vidal1 your superior4 ,my children1 although ,i am greatly pleased to see the good-will with which you embrace this undertaking1 yet our separation is painful to my heart from the sincere affection ,i bear you2 but the commands of our ,lord are to be preferred to my own feelings2 ,i entreat you to have the ,passion of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ always present to your mind2 it will strengthen you and powerfully animate you to suffer for ,his glory4 ,these apostolic men1 encouraged by this address of their ,father1 replied that they were ready to go into any country and expose themselves to the severest labors for the interests of the faith2 that he need not hold out an example for them1 by going himself among the infidels1 as if his word was not sufficient2 that they did not think his orders too strict1 and that they expected assistance from above for carrying them into execution2 but that they required his prayers and blessing in order to gather some fruit in unknown lands1 among barbarous people1 enemies of the ,christian name4 ,he1 rejoined the ,saint1 with great animation1 who sends you1 it is ,he who will take care of you2 you are under ,his protection1 under the protection of ,god2 you belong no more to me from this moment2 ,i tear you from my bosom to send you as ,his laborers4 ,they threw themselves on their knees1 kissed his hands and prayed for his last blessing which he gave them weeping1 in the following terms3--,may the blessing of ,god the ,father be upon you1 as it descended on the apostles2 may it strengthen you1 guide you1 and console you in your sufferings4 ,fear not2 the ,lord is with you1 as an invincible warrior2 go1 in the name of ,god who sends you4 ,we shall speak of their voyage when we come to relate the martyrdom they suffered in ,morocco1 on the #afth of ,january1 #abbj4 ,at length1 ,francis1 anxious for the crown of martyrdom in which he had been twice disappointed1 confided the government of his ,order during his absence to ,brother ,elias1 the ,provincial of ,tuscany1 and set out on his voyage to ,syria with twelve companions1 the principal of whom were ,peter of ,catania1 ,barbaro ,sabbatino1 ,leonard of ,assisi1 and ,illuminus of ,rieti4 ,in the ,marches of ,ancona through which they passed1 in order to embark at the last-named place1 a young man came to solicit to be received into the society of ,friars ,minor1 and the ,saint said to him3 ,if you have the intention of joining the ,poor of ,jesus ,christ1 go and bestow upon the poor all that thou hast4 ,the postulant went away and gave all he had to his parents whom he loved very much1 without giving any to the poor4 ,he then returned and said how he had disposed of his property4 ,francis censured his conduct in the strongest terms1 considering him as a man who would be totally useless1 and nowise fit for evangelical perfection4 ,tender brother1 he said to him 7for so he called all those whom he considered of no real value71 ,tender brother1 go thy ways1 you have neither left your country nor your kindred2 you have given what you had to your parents1 and disappointed the poor2 you do not deserve to be received into the company of those who make profession of holy poverty4 ,you commenced by the flesh1 which is an unstable foundation for a spiritual edifice4 ,this carnal and animal man returned to his parents1 resumed his property1 and rather than give it to the poor1 he gave up the good purpose he had entertained4 ,the love of his relations did as much disservice to this young man as the love of riches did to him whom our ,saviour desired to sell all he had and give unto the poor4 ,perhaps also he had an intention of finding a resource in what he gave to his relations1 which is contrary to the entire renouncing of everything which ,jesus ,christ requires4 ,for which reason1 when ,st4 ,bonaventure relates this circumstance1 he says1 that ,st4 ,francis only admitted those into his ,order who gave up all they had1 and did not in any manner keep anything back4 ,the man of ,god received many novices on his way4 ,many of his brethren in the vicinity accompanied him as far as ,ancona1 to witness his departure1 as sorrowful1 as had been the faithful of ,miletus and ,ephesus1 who accompanied ,st4 ,paul embarking for ,jerusalem1 although he had not told them1 as the ,apostle did1 that they would see him no more4 ,the arrival of this holy band was so agreeable to the magistrates at ,ancona1 that they immediately allotted a spot for the erection of a convent1 and had it commenced at their own expense4 ,it was so large that when ,francis returned from ,palestine he caused it to be reduced out of love for holy poverty1 and then he gave the model of a church which is still extant4 ,the captain of a vessel who was about to take succor to the ,christian forces before ,damietta1 was so good as to receive him1 one of twelve1 on board his ship4 ,all the religious who were there were desirous of going to sea with him1 and each one vied for the preference1 not only that they might accompany the ,patriarch1 but that they might obtain the crown of martyrdom1 which they ardently wished for2 but not to mortify any of them1 and to show no preferences1 he prudently and with the mildness of a common father1 addressed them as follows3-- ,my very dear children1 there is not one of you1 from whom ,i should wish to be separated2 ,i wish you would all accompany me on the voyage ,i am about to make2 but it would have been unreasonable of me to ask the captain of the vessel to take you all4 ,on which account1 and that none should have reason to complain1 nor to be jealous of the others1 ,i will not make the selection2 it must be ,made by ,god4 ,and thereupon calling a child who happened to be on board1 he said3 ,the ,lord has often made ,his will known by the mouth of children1 and ,i have no doubt ,he will do the same now2 let us ask this child1 and let us credit what he shall say2 ,god will speak through him4 ,then asking the child1 whether it was ,god's will that all the religious who were with him should put to sea and make the voyage with him8 the child replied with a firm voice3 ,no1 it is not ,god's will4 ,he then again asked which of them among those who were there present he should take8 ,the child1 inspired by the ,almighty1 selected eleven1 pointing them out with his finger1 and going up to them as he named them4 ,the religious1 full of astonishment1 were all satisfied3 those who were destined to remain behind as well as those who were selected to accompany him4 ,they fell on their knees1 received the blessing of their common ,father1 and separated after having given to each other the kiss of peace4 ,francis embarked with his eleven companions2 they weighed anchor1 and shortly after they reached the ,island of ,cyprus1 where they remained a couple of days4 ,in this interval1 one of the religious committed a fault which was soon atoned for4 ,in a gust of passion he made use of some harsh expression to one of his brethren before the others1 and before another person who might have been scandalized at the event4 ,reflecting on what he had done1 and being immediately sorry for it1 he took up some dung1 and1 returning to the spot1 he put it into his mouth1 and began chewing it1 saying3 ,it is but just that he who has offended his brother by his speech1 should have his mouth filled with filth4 ,this act of penance was fully satisfactory to him who had been offended1 and made such impression on a gentleman who had witnessed the scene1 that he offered himself and all he possessed to the service of the ,order4 ,from ,cyprus1 ,francis proceeded to ,acre1 from whence he sent his companions1 two and two1 into such parts of ,syria in which missionaries were most wanted4 ,he himself preached for some days in the vicinity of the town1 where he did some good1 and then embarked again with ,illuminatus to join the army of the ,crusaders who were besieging ,damietta4 ,we shall now speak of the ,crusade1 and of this siege4 ,at the council of ,lateran1 which was held in #abae1 ,pope ,innocent ,,iii represented so energetically the miserable state to which the ,christians in the ,holy ,land were reduced under the domination of the ,saracens1 that in order to deliver them from so cruel a slavery1 the council ordered the assembly of a similar crusade to that which had been ordered two centuries before1 for the same object4 ,the bishops proclaimed it everywhere with great ardor1 and the ,pope1 to give it greater weight1 went himself into ,tuscany to preach it after having published it at ,rome4 ,this great ,pope1 dying on the #afth of ,july1 #abaf1 ,honorius ,,iii1 who succeeded him1 imitated his zeal1 and wrote to the princes and prelates of all ,europe1 and sent legates everywhere1 to urge the execution of what had been decreed in the ,council of ,lateran4 ,the success was as prompt as it was fortunate1 so that at the time fixed1 that is1 on the #ast of ,june1 #abag1 an infinity of crusaders1 principally from the ,north of ,europe1 were in readiness to set out for ,palestine1 by land and by sea4 ,after some expeditions1 the crusaders thought that1 instead of operations in ,palestine1 to which they had hitherto confined themselves1 it would be advisable to carry the war into ,egypt1 because it was thence that the sultans sent large armies into the ,holy ,land against the ,christians2 and this had been the opinion of ,pope ,innocent at the ,lateran ,council4 ,it was therefore decided to lay siege to ,damietta1 the strongest town in ,egypt1 and from its situation the key of that kingdom4 ,the first of those who sailed arrived before the place on the #cjth of ,may2 they disembarked1 and intrenched themselves without meeting with any resistance1 and when the remainder of the army arrived1 the attack commenced4 ,the siege lasted nearly eighteen months1 with enormous losses1 yet some astonishing acts of bravery were witnessed4 ,coradin1 7or ,moaddam7 the ,sultan of ,damascus1 came with an army much more numerous than that of the ,crusaders1 and besieged them in their intrenchments2 and ,meledin1 7or ,melic ,camel7 his brother1 ,sultan of ,egypt or of ,babylon1 having brought an equally numerous army1 they drew up their troops in order of battle1 on the last day of ,july1 #abai1 in the early morning1 and appeared before the ,crusaders' lines1 which they attacked on several points4 ,the battle was obstinately contested2 it lasted till night1 and the ,saracens seemed to have the victory1 but it was torn from them1 chiefly by the indomitable bravery of the ,french1 supported by the ,grand ,master of the ,temple1 and the ,teutonic knights1 who drove the infidels far from their lines with great slaughter4 ,dissensions then arose between the cavalry and infantry of the ,crusaders4 ,they accused each other of cowardice1 a reproach very grating to military men2 the consequence was1 that a turbulent rivalry ensued1 in order to prove which had the greatest courage1 and they compelled ,john de ,brienne1 ,king of ,jerusalem1 who commanded the army1 to lead them to the enemy and offer him battle4 ,it was at this moment that ,francis arrived at the camp1 having no other arms than those of faith4 ,he said to his companion1 with deep sighs3-- ,the ,lord has revealed to me1 that if they come to blows1 the ,christians will be worsted4 ,if ,i tell them this1 ,i shall be considered an idiot2-- and if ,i do not tell it1 my conscience will reproach me2 what do you think of it8 ,his companion1 whose name was ,illuminatus1 and who indeed was filled with light1 replied3--,my brother1 do not let the opinions of men guide you2 it is not the first time that you have been looked upon as one bereaved of sense4 ,clear your conscience1 and fear ,god more than the world4 ,francis immediately went and warned the ,christians not to fight1 and foretold them that if they did1 they would be beaten4 ,minds were1 however1 too much excited to listen to sound reason2 the words of the ,saint were taken for ravings4 ,on the #bith of ,august1 when the heat was overpowering1 the whole of the ,christian army left their lines and offered battle4 ,the enemy at first retired1 in order to draw the ,crusaders to an extensive plain1 where there was no water1 and when he saw that thirst and fatigue had caused their ranks to be broken1 he turned suddenly and fell upon the cavalry of the right wing which he took by surprise2 it was broken and dispersed2 its rout caused the infantry which was supported by it1 to flee1 and the whole army would have been cut to pieces had not the king1 followed by the knights of the three orders of ,french1 ,flemish and ,english1 and other troops1 placed themselves in front and stopped the ,saracens who were pursuing the fugitives and effecting an awful retreat4 ,the ,christians lost on this occasion near six thousand men1 besides prisoners1 among whom were many of considerable note4 ,this loss was the accomplishment of what ,francis had foretold2 and it showed1 adds ,st4 ,bonaventure1 that his valuable advice ought not to have been disregarded1 since1 according to the words of the ,holy ,scriptures1 'the soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things1 more than seven watchmen that sit on a high place to watch4' ,the faults of the ,crusaders1 and the ill-successes which often attended their measures1 have given room to minds disposed to censure1 to condemn all wars undertaken against infidels1 or heretics4 ,nevertheless1 the ,crusades1 during two centuries1 were suggested by the ,sovereign ,pontiffs1 and by the councils of the ,church1 proclaimed by most holy personages1 and authorized by their miracles2 led by ,christian princes of all ,europe1 by many of our kings1 by a ,saint ,louis1 by men full of religious zeal1 such as ,godfrey of ,bouillon1 and ,simon1 ,count of ,montfort4 ,is there not the greatest rashness in including such men as these in one sweeping condemnation8 ,if all the ,crusaders had not equally pure intentions2 if debauchery insinuated itself into their armies1 if prudence did not always regulate their proceedings2 if sometimes even success did not crown their best-concerted measures1 are these sufficient grounds for blaming the enterprise1 or1 are we only to judge of measures by the event8 ,saint ,bernard preached the crusade which was decided on in the year #aadd1 of which ,louis ,,vii1 ,king of ,france1 had first formed the plan1 and of which ,pope ,eugenius ,,iii1 and the bishops of ,france approved4 ,the preaching of the holy abbot was publicly supported by a prodigious number of miracles1 which even his humility could not dissemble4 ,two powerful armies1 the one commanded by the ,emperor ,conrad ,,iii1 the other by the ,king of ,france1 with the princes and nobility of the states1 were calculated to inspire the infidels with terror4 ,nevertheless1 from various causes1 nothing could have been more unfortunate than the issue of this war2 and1 as the loss of these two armies was felt through the whole of ,france and through the whole of ,germany1 where ,st4 ,bernard had preached1 and promised glorious success1 public indignation fell upon him1 and he was treated as a false prophet4 ,what he wrote to ,pope ,eugenius in his justification1 must be considered as an answer to all those who1 even in these days1 condemn the ,crusades1 the result of which was disastrous4 ,he says1 that ,moses1 in ,god's name1 had solemnly promised the people of ,israel to lead them into a very fertile land1 and that ,god had even confirmed that promise by splendid miracles2 that1 nevertheless1 all those who went out of ,egypt perished in the desert without entering into the land of promise1 in punishment of the sins of the people during the journey2 that it cannot be said that this punishment was a contradiction of the promise1 because the promises which ,god1 in ,his goodness1 makes to man1 never prejudice the rights of ,his justice2 and this reasoning the ,saint applies to the crimes committed in the armies of the ,crusades4 ,this digression may1 perhaps1 appear long1 but we could not dispense with it for the honor of the religious and of the preceding ages2 and1 besides1 it is connected with the life of ,st4 ,francis1 who certainly approved of the ,crusades1 although1 by a supernatural inspiration1 he blamed a particular enterprise of the ,crusaders which had the unfortunate issue which he had foretold4 ,the ardor of his charity which urged him to labor for the conversion of the ,saracens1 and to expose himself to martyrdom1 induced him to take the resolution to present himself to the ,sultan of ,egypt4 ,we saw1 says ,james de ,vitry1 ,brother ,francis1 the founder of the ,order of the ,friars ,minor1 a simple and unlearned man1 though very amiable and beloved by ,god and man1 who was respected universally4 ,he came to the ,christian army1 which was lying before ,damietta1 and an excess of fervor had such an effect upon him1 that1 protected solely by the shield of faith1 he had the daring to go to the sultan's camp to preach to him and to his subjects the faith of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the two armies were in sight of each other1 and there was great danger in going from one to the other1 particularly as the sultan had promised a handsome reward in gold to any one who should bring him a ,christian's head4 ,but this would not deter such a soldier of ,jesus ,christ as was ,francis1 who1 far from fearing death1 eagerly sought it4 ,he betook himself to prayer1 from which he arose full of strength and confidence1 saying with the prophet3 ,since ,thou art with me1 ,o ,lord1 ,i will fear no evil1 though ,i should walk in the midst of the shadow of death2 and he set out for the infidel camp4 ,two sheep which he met on setting out1 gave him much joy4 ,he said to his companion3 ,my brother1 have confidence in the ,lord1 the word of the ,gospel is being fulfilled in us1 which says3 ',behold ,i send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves4' ,in fact1 only a very little farther on1 some ,saracens rushed upon them1 as wolves upon sheep1 insulted and beat them1 and bound them4 ,francis said3 ,i am a ,christian1 lead me to your master2 and ,god permitted that he should be so led to comply with the desire of ,his servant4 ,the ,sultan ,meledin asked him who sent them1 and for what purpose they came8 ,francis answered with courageous firmness3 ,we are not sent by men1 but it is the ,most ,high who sends us1 in order that ,i may teach you and your people the way of salvation1 by pointing out to you the truths of the ,gospel4 ,he immediately preached to him1 with great fervor1 the dogma of one ,god in three ,persons1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,saviour of mankind4 ,then was seen verified what our ,saviour said to ,his apostles4 ,for ,i will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist or gainsay4 ,meledin became so mild and tractable1 that1 admiring the courage of ,francis1 he listened quietly to him for some days1 and invited him to stay with him4 ,the man of ,god said3 ,if you and your people will be converted1 ,i will remain for the love of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and if you hesitate between ,his law and that of ,mahomet1 let a great fire be lit up1 and ,i will go into it with your priests1 in order that you may see thereby which is the faith to follow4 ,i do not believe1 replied the sultan1 that any of our priests would go into the fire1 or suffer any torments for his religion4 ,he answered thus because he perceived that as soon as the fire was proposed1 one of the eldest of the priests1 one who was of the most considerable of them1 got quickly away4 ,if you will promise me1 added ,francis1 that yourself and your people will embrace the ,christian faith1 in case ,i come forth from the fire safe and sound1 ,i will enter it alone2 if ,i am burnt let it be imputed to my sins2 but if ,god preserve me1 you will then acknowledge that ,jesus ,christ is the true ,god and ,saviour of mankind4 ,meledin acknowledged that he dared not accept this challenge1 lest it should be the cause of a sedition2 but he offered him rich presents which the servant of ,god despised from his heart as so much dirt4 ,such entire disengagement from the good things of this world inspired the prince with such veneration and confidence that he entreated the ,saint to receive his presents1 and to distribute them among the poor ,christians or to the churches for the salvation of his soul4 ,francis who had a loathing of money1 and who did not find in the sultan any groundwork of religion1 persisted in his refusal of these offers4 ,he1 moreover1 thought it was time to leave the infidels when he saw no prospect of effecting any good1 and where he had no further chance of gaining the crown of martyrdom2 and he learnt by a revelation that what he intended was conformable to the will of ,god4 ,the sultan1 on his part1 fearing that some of his people might be moved by the discourse of ,francis1 and1 being converted1 might join the ,christian army1 caused him to be escorted with marks of consideration to the ,christian camp before ,damietta1 after having said to him in private3 ,pray for me1 that ,god may make known what religion is most agreeable to ,him1 in order that ,i may embrace it4 ,was it not a sight worthy of ,god1 worthy of angels1 and of men1 to see on one side ,francis1 clothed in sackcloth1 pale1 emaciated1 disfigured by his penitential austerities1 pass through an army of infidels1 and present himself boldly before their sovereign1 speak to him against the law of their prophet1 and exhort him to acknowledge the divinity of ,jesus ,christ8 and1 on the other side1 the ,sultan of ,egypt1 the mortal enemy of the ,christians1 elated by the victory he had just gained over them1 and anxious to shed more of their blood1 suddenly lose all his ferocity1 become mild and tractable1 listen attentively to the poor one of ,jesus ,christ1 endeavor to retain him1 offer him large presents1 admire his poverty1 his disinterestedness1 his courage1 ask the aid of his prayers1 that he might know and embrace the true religion1 and send him back to the ,christian camp with honor8 ,how certain it is that the religion of ,jesus ,christ will never be made more respectable and amiable to the infidels than by the practice of the exalted virtues which it teaches1 and by which it became established in the world4 ,another scene which is not less striking in the eyes of piety1 is the heart of ,francis1 burning with anxiety to shed his blood for the glory of his ,master1 and not being able to satisfy that ardor4 ,already1 in the hope of attaining it1 he had embarked for ,syria1 and contrary winds had driven him back to the ,christian shores4 ,he had gone into ,spain in order to pass into ,africa1 when a violent illness compelled him to desist from the undertaking4 ,he thinks he already grasps the palm1 when he finds himself in ,egypt2 in order to hasten the accomplishment of his desires1 he places himself in the hands of the infidels1 and attacks the tyrant on his throne2 when1 instead of the opprobrium and tortures which he sought1 he finds nothing but mildness and curiosity1 attentions and honor4 ,he seeks for martyrdom1 and martyrdom flies from him4 ,it was1 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 by an admirable disposition of ,divine ,providence1 who chose that the ardent desire of his faithful servant should give him the merit of martyrdom1 and that his life should be preserved to receive the glorious stigmata which were to be impressed on his body by a singular prerogative1 in reward of his great love for ,jesus crucified1 who inflamed his heart4 ,wading relates1 upon the authority of a religious of the ,order1 who was a contemporary of ,st4 ,francis1 whose name was ,ugolino of ,st4 ,mary of the ,mount1 corroborated by some other writers of the ,order1 that the sultan was converted and baptized4 ,some later authors deny this1 and remark that they have mistaken the ,sultan of ,egypt for the ,sultan of ,ieonium1 who never saw ,st4 ,francis1 and of whom ,james of ,vitry says1 that he was believed to have received baptism at his death which happened in the year when ,damietta was besieged4 ,it is admitted that ,wading was mistaken in quoting this passage to prove the conversion of the ,sultan of ,egypt1 but that does not weaken the evidence of ,ugolino4 ,he says that ,francis went a second time to the sultan before his return to ,italy4 ,he urged him to be converted4 ,the ,saint1 not being able to induce him to overcome the human obstacles which stood in the way1 prayed fervently for him for several successive days1 and then felt that his prayers were heard4 ,this he communicated to ,meledin1 who imbibed still greater affection for him1 and wished to detain him1 but he departed according to the command that he had received from heaven4 ,some years after1 this prince being dangerously ill1 the ,saint appeared to two of his religious who were in ,syria and ordered them to go to him1 instruct him1 baptize him1 and remain with him till he should expire2 all this was complied with4 ,there is nothing in this legend which is not very probable1 and which is not consistent with circumstances that cannot be called into question3 #a4 ,we have seen1 in the narratives of ,james of ,vitry1 and of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 that ,meledin said to ,francis3 ,pray for me1 that ,god may make known to me which religion is most agreeable to ,him2 and that he wished to induce him to receive his presents1 in order to distribute them to the poor ,christians1 or to the churches1 for the salvation of his soul4 #b4 ,after he had seen the holy man1 he treated the ,christians with great humanity1 and shortly after their discomfiture1 he sent some of his prisoners to their camp1 to offer terms of peace4 ,in the year #abba1 their army1 which was coming to offer him battle1 entangled itself between two branches of the ,nile1 where it must have inevitably perished4 ,he behaved to his enemies1 says one of our authors1 in such a manner as could not reasonably have been expected from a ,saracen1 and which in these days would do honor to a ,christian prince were he to do it4 #c4 ,an author1 whose testimony on such a point is beyond suspicion1 says1 that this sultan1 being on his deathbed1 caused a large sum of money to be distributed among the poor ,christians who were sick in the hospitals1 and that he left a considerable revenue for the same purpose2 that he enfranchised many slaves1 that he had performed various other acts of mercy1 and that his death was greatly lamented by the ,christians1 whom he spared to the utmost of his power4 ,the ,emperor ,frederic was inconsolable after ,meledin's death1 having had strong hopes that he would receive baptism according to a promise he had given him1 and that he would strenuously contribute to the propagation of ,christianity in the ,levant4 #d4 ,it may have happened that ,st4 ,francis who was then in heaven1 appeared to two of the religious of his ,order1 and that he sent them to ,meledin2 that these religious instructed and baptized him2 and that the thing was done secretly from the circumstances of the times2 that the authors of those times were not informed of it1 and that ,ugolino learned it from the religious themselves4 ,in short1 it is not improbable that the conversion of this soul should have been granted to the zeal1 labors1 prayers and tears of such a friend of ,god as ,st4 ,francis4 ,thus1 the baptism of the sultan is not so very uncertain1 and those who have recorded it have not given the ,saint praise which may be called false1 as ,wading has been acrimoniously taxed with4 ,after all1 if ,meledin was not converted1 it is a judgment of ,god1 which those must be fearful of who recommend themselves to the prayers of the pious1 forming projects of conversion1 and even doing some good works1 who yet positively resist the grace vouchsafed them1 which requires an effectual change of heart4 ,if he was converted1 which is probable1 it was a great effect of divine mercy1 which sinners must not abuse by deferring their repentance2 these graces are very rarely given1 and those who wait for them run great risk of their salvation4 ,there is reason for thinking that ,meledin gave ,francis and his companions leave to preach in his dominions1 since it is well known that the ,friars ,minor began from that time to spread themselves amongst the ,saracens1 as ,james de ,vitry says3--,even the ,saracens1 blinded as they are1 admire the humility and perfection of the ,friars ,minor1 receive them well1 and provide them cheerfully with all the necessaries of life1 when they go boldly amongst them to preach the gospel2 they listen to them willingly1 speaking of ,jesus ,christ and ,his doctrine2 but they beat them and drive them away if they attack ,mahomet1 and hold him as a liar and infidel4 ,an anecdote1 related by ,st4 ,bonaventure1 may have easily happened in those times4 ,a ,saracen seeing some ,friars ,minor1 was moved by their poverty and offered them some money1 which they refused to accept1 and this astonished him4 ,having understood that it was for the love of ,god that they refused money1 he conceived such a liking for them1 that he undertook to provide them with everything necessary as long as he was able to do so4 ,the holy doctor exclaims on this3--,o inestimable excellence of poverty1 which is so powerful to inspire a barbarian with such tender and generous compassion6 ,it would be a shameful and very criminal thing1 were ,christians to despise and trample under foot this precious evangelical pearl1 for which a ,mahometan showed such esteem and respect4 ,while ,francis remained in ,egypt1 he did not gather much fruit from among the infidels2 but his words were a fertile seed which his disciples reaped the abundant harvest of1 when afterwards sent thither by ,gregory ,,ix and ,innocent ,,iii4 ,the ,saracens were not the only objects of the zeal of ,francis4 ,he labored also for the salvation of the ,christians in the army of the ,crusaders1 and some of them became his disciples4 ,james de ,vitry1 ,bishop of ,acre1 writing to his friends in ,lorraine informed them that ,renier1 the ,prior of ,st4 ,michael1 had joined the ,order of the ,friars ,minor2 and that three of the most eminent of his clergy had followed his example1 and that it was with difficulty he prevented the chorister and several others from taking the same course1 to which he adds that this religious ,order spreads fast in the world because it is an exact imitation of the form of the primitive ,church1 and of the life of the ,apostles4 ,the most ancient records of the ,order assure us that after some months' residence in ,egypt1 the holy ,patriarch went to ,palestine1 and visited the holy places1 but they enter into no particulars4 ,what we may safely conjecture is1 that ,god1 who led him into the ,holy ,land1 seemed to say to him1 as ,he had said to ,abraham3 ,arise and walk through the land in the length and in the breadth thereof1 for ,i will give it to thee4 ,rather more than a hundred years after his death1 the ,sultan of ,egypt permitted the ,friars ,minor to take charge of the ,holy ,sepulchre of our ,lord1 and they still have the care of it in the midst of the infidels1 under the protection of the ,eldest ,son of the ,church4 ,this privilege1 which is so honorable for the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 is justly considered by them as the fruit of the fervent devotion of the blessed ,patriarch to ,jesus ,christ crucified4 ,from ,palestine ,francis went to ,antioch1 the capital of ,syria1 and passed by the black mountain1 where there was a celebrated monastery of the order of ,st4 ,benedict4 ,the abbot who had died only a short time before1 had foretold that a saintly man would soon come to their house1 who was much beloved by ,god1 the ,patriarch1 of a great ,order1 who would be poorly attired and of mean appearance1 but very much to be revered2 in consequence of which the religious1 hearing of his coming1 went in procession to meet him1 and received him with all the honors due to a man of ,god4 ,he remained some days with them1 and the holiness which they observed in him made such an impression upon them1 that they embraced his ,institute1 placing all their effects at the disposition of the patriarch of ,antioch4 ,some other monasteries followed their example2 and1 in a few years1 there was a flourishing province in that country1 which continued until such time as the ,saracens ravaged the whole of ,syria4 ,while ,francis was thus employed in extending his ,order in the ,east1 ,brother ,elias1 who was his vicar-general in the ,west1 was destroying it there4 ,he said to the religious1 in their conferences1 that the life of their ,founder was worthy of the highest praise1 but that it was not given to all to imitate it2 that among the things which he had prescribed for them1 some appeared in the eyes of prudence very difficult of observance1 others absolutely impracticable and beyond the strength of man2 that1 in the opinion of the most prudent1 some modification was requisite and some change required1 some practices necessary1 which were not so strictly regular--by specious insinuations of this nature1 he brought over many to his opinions1 and even some of the provincials who ventured to represent the simplicity of their ,father as imprudent4 ,the vicar-general1 nevertheless1 in conjunction with the ministers1 made some regulations for the government of the provinces which were very useful2 but1 by a strange inconsistency1 at the time when they were talking of modifications1 they prescribed total abstinence from meat1 and forbade its use either in or out of the cloisters1 which was a direct contradiction of the rule1 which permits the ,friars ,minor1 except in times of fasting1 to eat1 according to the terms of the ,gospel1 whatsoever is put before them4 ,all those who had the true spirit of ,god were greatly grieved to see that human prudence was preferred to the divine will1 and that the vineyard of the ,lord was rendered desolate by ,brother ,elias4 ,they put up fervent prayers to ,god for the speedy return of their pastor1 so necessary for the flock2 and1 after having secretly concerted together1 they sent ,brother ,stephen into ,syria1 to communicate to their ,founder what was going on4 ,stephen went and gave him a full detail of all things4 ,francis was not cast down by this deplorable intelligence1 but he had recourse to ,god1 and recommended to ,his protection the family he had received from him4 ,as to the regulation which prescribed entire abstinence from meat1 he1 with great humility1 asked the advice of ,peter of ,catana1 who replied3 ,it is not for me to judge2 it is for the legislator to decide thereon1 as on all the rest4 ,francis deferred the decision till his return1 and embarked immediately for ,italy4 ,his voyage was not a long one2 they soon anchored at the ,isle of ,candia1 from whence they came to ,venice where they landed4 ,he sent circular letters to convene the chapter which he proposed holding at the ensuing ,michaelmas1 to remedy the evil which had been brought about by ,brother ,elias4 ,he built a small chapel near the ,venetian lakes1 7,lagunes17 in which two of his religious were to say the ,divine ,office1 in memory of an extraordinary thing which happened to him at this place4 ,the ,saint then went to ,padua1 ,bergamo1 ,brescia1 the island of the lake of ,garda1 to ,cremona and ,mantua2 at all these places there were convents of his ,order4 ,we are assured that ,st4 ,dominic joined him on his way2 that they conferred together and with ,john of ,navarra de ,torniella1 ,bishop of ,bergamo1 on the salvation of souls2 that they made some pious visits to the solitaries of the valley of ,astino1 and that the patriarch of the ,friars ,preachers celebrated ,mass there1 that of the ,minors being the deacon at the service4 ,when they were in spiritual conference at ,cremona1 the religious came to request them to bless the well1 and to solicit the ,almighty to purify the water which was thick and muddy4 ,dominic1 at the entreaty of ,francis1 blessed a vessel full of the water1 and caused it to be thrown back into the well1 and all water that subsequently was drawn from it was clear and wholesome to drink4 ,the two saints separated1 but1 shortly after1 met again at ,bologna4 ,francis going to ,bologna1 met a woman whose son was epileptic1 and who came to beg the aid of his prayers4 ,he wrote on a slip of paper some short but very devout ejaculatory prayers which he thought might be taken to the sick youth2 they had no sooner been given to him1 than he was entirely cured2 in gratitude whereof1 he placed himself at the service of the ,friars ,minor in the convent of ,parma4 ,the reputation of the holy man was so great that1 according to ,sigonius1 the streets were choked with the number of students who wished to see and hear him4 ,it was with difficulty that way was made for him to reach the principal square1 where he preached in so sublime a manner that they thought they heard an angel and not a man4 ,the greater part of the audience was converted2 and many solicited the habit of the ,order1 among whom were ,nicholas of ,pepulis1 ,bonizio1 ,pelerino1 ,falleroni1 and ,riger or ,ricer of ,modena4 ,nicholas was that learned jurisconsult who had been so kind to ,bernard de ,quintavalle in #abaa1 when every one had treated him with contempt at ,bologna4 ,bonizio excelled in the love of holy poverty1 and was very useful to the ,saint in affairs of importance1 by the talent he had of managing with prudence4 ,pelerino and ,riger were young gentlemen from the ,marches of ,ancona1 who were students at ,bologna--to them ,francis foretold all they would do in the course of their lives4 ,the first would only be a lay-brother1 although he was well versed in canon-law2 it was said of him that when he was in company with men of the world1 either from necessity or from charitable motives1 he left them as soon as he could2 and when he was censured for so doing as being guilty of rudeness1 he replied3 ,when we have sought ,jesus ,christ our ,master1 we have never found ,him either amongst relatives or amongst our acquaintances4 ,the second attached himself to his holy ,patriarch1 and strove to imitate him in all things4 ,although he was eminently favored with the gift of chastity1 he nevertheless avoided with great care the conversation of females1 and he said to those with whom he was intimate1 who were surprised at it3 ,i should perhaps lose the gift with which ,i have been favored1 by a just judgment of ,god1 if ,i took fewer precautions3 he who loves danger will perish in it4 ,here is an authentic testimonial as to one of the sermons which ,francis preached at ,bologna in the year #abbj2 it is taken from the ,archives of the church of ,spalatro1 and it is found in the history of the bishops of ,bologna1 written by ,sigonius3 ,i1 ,thomas1 citizen of ,spalatro1 and archdeacon of the cathedral of the same town1 saw1 in the year #abbj1 on the day of the ,assumption of the ,mother of ,god1 ,st4 ,francis preach in the square in front of the little palace where almost the whole city was collected4 ,he began his sermon thus3 ',the angels1 the men1 and the demons4' ,he spoke of these intelligent beings so well and with such precision1 that many learned men who heard him1 were astonished to hear such a discourse from the mouth of so simple a man4 ,he did not diverge to draw a moral from different subjects1 as preachers usually do1 but as those who dilate upon one point1 he brought everything to bear upon the sole object of restoring peace1 concord1 and union which had been totally destroyed by cruel dissensions4 ,he was very poorly clad1 his countenance was pale and wan1 and his whole appearance was uninviting2 but ,god gave such force and efficiency to his words1 that they led to the reconciliation of a great number of gentlemen who were greatly exasperated against each other1 and whose irritation had caused the shedding of no small quantity of blood4 ,the love and veneration for the ,saint were so universal1 and went so far1 that men and women ran to him in crowds1 and those esteemed themselves fortunate who could only touch the hem of his garments4 ,the author who records this testimonial adds that he performed miracles also in ,bologna4 ,a child of quality was taken to him1 who had what is called a pearl on his eye1 which rendered his eye quite blind1 and no remedy could be found for it4 ,francis made the sign of the cross over him from the head to the feet1 and he was perfectly cured4 ,having subsequently entered the ,institute of his miraculous physician1 he saw much better with the eye on which the pearl had been than with the other4 ,this miracle1 which was known throughout the city1 increased the zeal and respect which the ,bolognese had for the servant of ,god so much1 that they could not tear themselves from him1 and they gave him a second house for his ,institute1 situated in a wood about a mile from the town4 ,after these apostolical functions1 he went to see ,cardinal ,ugolino1 who was then legate in ,lombardy1 by whom he was received with marks of the most sincere affection4 ,he proposed next to visit the convent of his ,order which was close to one of the gates of ,bologna1 but as soon as he saw it1 finding it much more spacious and handsome than was requisite for strict poverty1 he turned away his eyes from it1 and said indignantly3 ,is this the dwelling of the poor ,evangelical laborers8 ,such grand and superb palaces1 are they for ,friars ,minor8 ,i do not acknowledge this house as one of ours1 and ,i do not look upon those who dwell in it as my brethren4 ,i1 therefore1 order and enjoin all those who wish to continue to bear the name of ,friars ,minor1 to leave this house forthwith1 and to give up to the rich of the world buildings which are only fit for them4 ,he was so implicitly obeyed1 that even the sick1 among whom was ,brother ,leo1 one of his first companions1 who is the relator of this circumstance1 were carried out on the shoulders of their brethren and exposed to the air4 ,there they all remained till the arrival of the legate1 who1 having been informed of what was going on1 had come and appeased the holy man4 ,he represented to him that it was necessary to allow the convents to be more spacious1 in order that the infirm might have more air for restoring their health2 and that such as were well should have more room for relaxing their minds4 ,but as to the property1 he added1 ,i can assure you that your brethren have no part in it1 as it remains entirely to the founders4 ,moreover1 if you have any further scruples on the subject1 ,i declare to you that ,i take the whole upon myself in the name of the ,holy ,roman ,church4 ,francis could not resist the powerful reason of the prudent and pious legate1 the protector of his ,order4 ,he1 therefore1 consented that his brethren should remain in the convent2 he even ordered them to return to it1 but he would not go into it himself1 and he chose to take the repose which nature required1 in the house of the ,friars ,preachers1 where he passed some days with his friend ,saint ,dominic4 ,it would appear that ,st4 ,bonaventure had this circumstance in view1 when he said3 that if it happened that ,st4 ,francis found in the houses which his brethren occupied1 anything which looked like property1 or that was too elegant1 he wished the houses to be pulled down1 or that the religious should quit them1 because he maintained that the ,order was grounded on ,evangelical poverty as its principal foundation1 so that if this poverty was adhered to in it1 it would flourish1 but that it would perish if it was set aside4 ,while the ,saint was with the ,friars ,preachers1 one of them1 from feelings of compassion1 begged him to return to his children1 and to pardon the fault they had committed1 but he replied3 ,indulgence which gives rise to an easy relapse into sin1 is not be commended4 ,i will not sanction by my presence what has been committed against holy poverty4 ,this charitable religious endeavored to induce him at least to see them1 in order that they might be made aware of their fault1 and be corrected4 ,we will come back here together1 he said1 if you do not choose to remain there1 after having performed this duty of superior4 ,francis yielded to this prudent advice2 he went to his children1 and seeing them grieved and repentant1 and ready to receive the penance he might inflict1 he pardoned them4 ,his indulgence did not extend to the provincial1 whose name was ,john de ,strachia1 one of those who wished to have the rule mitigated in #abai4 ,he censured him severely for having had so beautiful a house built1 or1 at least1 for having permitted it to be built4 ,he upbraided him in strong terms for having1 without consulting him1 opened a school for the studies of the ,friars ,minor1 and for having made regulations for its conduct more favorable to science than to piety4 ,he did away with this school1 because he chose that his religious should pray rather than study1 and that the other provincials might learn to be more humble and more religious in all that had relation to studies4 ,and here we must advert to what happened at a later period2 the provincial had the rashness to reestablish the school after the departure of the ,founder1 who1 having been informed of it1 and knowing from interior revelation the obduracy of this man1 cursed him publicly1 and deposed him at the ensuing chapter4 ,the ,saint was entreated to withdraw this curse1 and to give his blessing to ,brother ,john1 who was a noble and learned man1 but he answered3 ,i cannot bless him whom the ,lord has cursed4 ,a dreadful reply which was soon after verified4 ,this unfortunate man died1 exclaiming3 ,i am damned and cursed for all eternity4 ,some frightful circumstances which followed after his death confirmed his awful prognostic4 ,such a malediction which pride and disobedience brought upon this learned man1 ought to strike terror into those vain men who forsake piety for science1 and in whom great talents have no other effect than to produce in them great attachment to their own conceits1 and proud indocility1 which induces1 at length1 even a revolt against the ,church4 ,st4 ,francis was not averse to studies1 as will be seen1 when1 two years after1 he caused theology to be taught4 ,but he chose that they should so study as not to extinguish the spirit of prayer4 ,he approved of science1 but of that only1 which the ,holy ,spirit calls religious1 which is sanctified by the fear of the ,lord1 of which ,st4 ,augustine says3 that it is the companion of charity1 and teaches humility4 ,cardinal ,ugolino proposed to the ,servant of ,god that they should make a retreat of some days together1 at ,camaldoli1 in order to give his body some rest1 which was borne down by fatigue1 and relax his mind from the various cares which oppressed it4 ,he willingly assented to this1 because he liked the life of a recluse4 ,they1 therefore1 went to this holy solitude1 and they remained there nearly a month1 solely employed in meditation on heavenly things4 ,the cardinal took a cell at the entry of the desert where it is still to be seen2 and ,francis took one near it1 which had been inhabited by ,st4 ,romnald4 ,it has since taken the name of ,st4 ,francis' cell1 and is only occupied by the prior1 or major of ,camaldoli4 ,the writers of the country add1 that the festival of ,st4 ,francis is celebrated solemnly there1 and that it is decreed by the statutes that the anthem which the ,friars ,minor chant shall be sung on that day3 ,salve1 ,sancte ,pater1 c4 ,the two pious solitaries went from thence to ,mount ,alvernia1 where they only stayed a few days4 ,the cardinal returned to ,bologna1 and ,francis took the route for ,assisi1 in order to open the chapter at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 as he had given notice4 ,on the way1 ,st4 ,bonaventure acquaints us what occurred to him4 ,his infirmities and fatigue having compelled him to mount on an ass1 his companion1 ,leonard of ,assisi1 who followed him on foot1 and was also very much fatigued1 gave way to human feelings1 and said to himself3 ,his parents were not the equals of mine2 yet1 there he rides1 and ,i am forced to trudge on foot and lead him4 ,as he was thus giving way to these thoughts1 ,francis1 to whom ,god had made known what was passing in ,leonard's mind1 dismounted1 and said3 ,no1 brother1 it is not fitting that ,i should ride while you walk on foot1 because you are better born than ,i am1 and are of greater consideration in the world4 ,leonard1 greatly surprised1 and blushing for shame1 threw himself at his ,father's feet1 acknowledged his fault1 and with tears solicited his pardon4 ,as soon as the holy ,patriarch entered the ,valley of ,spoleto1 his children came in crowds from various parts to meet him1 and to congratulate him on his return4 ,he was greatly gratified on seeing them1 and communicated freely with them1 encouraging the weak1 consoling those who were in affliction1 censuring such as were in fault1 and exhorting them all to adhere strictly to the rules4 ,it was there that he received a confirmation of the complaints which had been made to him in the ,levant1 against the government of ,elias1 his vicar general1 and he had himself the proof of it4 ,elias ventured to present himself to him1 in a newer habit and one made of finer cloth than those of the other brethren1 the cowl of which was longer and the sleeves wider1 and he assumed an air little suitable to his profession4 ,francis1 dissembling what was passing in his mind1 said to him before the assistants3--,i beg you to lend me that habit4 ,elias did not dare refuse3 he went aside and took it off and brought it to him4 ,francis put it on over his own1 smoothed it down1 plaited it nicely under the girdle1 threw the cowl over his head1 and then1 strutting fiercely with his head erect1 he paced three or four times round the company1 saying1 in a loud voice 3--,god preserve you1 good people4 ,then taking the habit off indignantly1 he threw it from him with contempt1 and1 turning to ,elias1 ,that is the way1 he said1 that the bastard brethren of our ,order will strut4 ,after this he resumed his usual demeanor and walked humbly with his old and tattered habit1 saying3--,such is the deportment of the true ,friars ,minor4 ,then1 seating himself amongst them1 he addressed them in the mildest manner1 and spoke on poverty and humility1 of which he so forcibly pointed out the perfection1 that it seemed to them that those whom they had previously considered the poorest and most humble1 had made but small advance in the practice of those two virtues4 ,in fine1 he annulled all the novelties which the vicar-general had introduced into the ,order during his absence1 except the prohibition of eating meat1 which he thought it necessary to retain some time longer1 lest he might be thought to encourage gluttony4 ,the means he had taken to curb the foolish vanity of ,brother ,elias1 showed both his prudence and his authority1 and made such an impression on his disciples1 that there was not one of them who ventured to say a word in favor of the vicar-general1 although he had his partisans amongst them4 ,some time afterwards1 the ,patriarch had an opportunity of taking off the prohibition of eating meat1 in consequence of a wonderful event which is worthy of being recorded4 ,a young man in the dress of a traveller1 came in haste to the door of the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and said to ,brother ,masse1 who was the porter3--,i wish to speak to ,brother ,francis1 but ,i know he is meditating in the woods2 call ,brother ,elias to me1 who is said to be learned and prudent1 in order that he may satisfy a doubt which presses upon me4 ,the porter was turned away by ,brother ,elias1 and was puzzled what reply to give the stranger1 not to scandalize him1 and not to say what was untrue4 ,the young man anticipated him1 saying3 ,brother ,elias does not choose to come1 ,i must therefore beg you to go to ,brother ,francis1 in order that he may order him to come to speak to me4 ,masse went1 and did as he was requested1 and ,francis1 having his eyes fixed on heaven1 said1 without changing his position3--,go and tell ,brother ,elias that ,i order him to speak to the young man4 ,this order vexed ,elias1 and he came to the door in great irritation1 asking what he was wanted for8 ,do not be angry1 said the young man1 ,i ask you1 if those who profess to follow the ,gospel may not eat whatever is given to them1 as ,jesus ,christ has observed2 and if any one may rightfully direct the contrary8 ,elias1 seizing hastily the door to shut it1 said3--,i know all that1 and have no answer to give you but3 go your ways4 ,the young man replied3--,i cannot tell what you would answer1 but ,i know very well that you ought to give an answer4 ,when ,elias got calm in his cell1 he reflected on what had passed1 and on what would be proper to say in answer to the question which had been put to him2 and1 finding it difficult1 and being sorry that he had given the young man so ungracious a reception1 in whom he thought he had remarked something extraordinary1 he returned to speak to him1 but he was gone and could not be found4 ,francis learned from ,god that it was an angel1 and1 on his return to the convent1 he said to ,brother ,elias3--,you do what is not right2 you turn contemptuously away angels who come from ,god to visit and instruct us2 ,i greatly fear that your pride will render you unworthy of the humble institution of ,friars ,minor1 and that you will die out of that state4 ,it was then that he revoked the statute which forbade eating meat4 ,bernard of ,quintavalle returning from ,spain and being on the border of a river which he could not cross1 the same angel appeared to him in the same form1 and greeted him in the ,italian language4 ,bernard1 surprised at hearing the language of his country1 and taken with the good looks of the young man who addressed him1 asked him from whence he came4 ,the angel then told him what had just occurred between him and ,brother ,elias4 ,he took him by the hand1 carried him across the river1 and disappeared1 leaving him so full of consolation1 that he had no fatigue during the remainder of his journey4 ,when he arrived in ,italy1 and had related the circumstance1 with the day and hour1 he found that it was in fact the same angel4 ,before the opening of the chapter1 ,francis1 reflecting mournfully on the relaxation which had been introduced into his ,order by those who ought to have been most zealous in promoting the purity of its observance1 had a vision which was very extraordinary4 ,a great statue appeared before him1 and he saw it with his bodily eyes2 it greatly resembled that which ,nabuchodonosor had seen in a dream1 the interpretation of which had been given him by the ,prophet ,daniel4 ,god chose to employ this mode to acquaint the holy ,patriarch with the various revolutions which would take place in his ,order1 and he signified them to him by the statue itself1 by the different metals of which it was composed1 either thus to modify by these humiliating foreshowings the honor which he derived from being the ,founder of so wonderful a work as that of the establishment of his ,order2 or to inspire him with the intention of sending up fervent prayers to heaven1 which should draw down graces on his flock at all times1 which1 in fact1 he did with a profusion of tears2 or1 in fine1 it was a foresight given him of the relaxations which would be introduced1 to enable him to advise his religious to be more vigilant1 as ,st4 ,paul had predicted the errors and irregularities which were to occur in the ,church1 in order to excite the vigilance of the bishops4 ,in ,nabuchodonosor's vision1 a stone was separated from the mountain1 which1 striking the feet of the statue1 shivered it to pieces2 the statue was wholly broken1 and disappeared4 ,this did not occur in the vision which ,francis had2 for the great body of religion which it represented1 which has had its vicissitudes1 as all others 7and with more lustre than any1 because of its more extensive and greater exposure to the eyes of the public7 has nevertheless continued to have existence1 to maintain itself1 to serve the ,church at all times1 and to furnish it with saints4 ,it has even often renewed itself with features which bring to mind its primitive beauty2 by which it may be said to be a type of the mystical body of ,jesus ,christ1 which notwithstanding the decay of ages1 does not cease to have vigorous and healthy members who are as fervent as those of the earliest periods4 ,the holy ,founder having listened to all that was said against the government of ,brother ,elias1 and to what he had alleged in his justification1 held his chapter on the ,festival of ,st4 ,michael1 in the ,convent of ,portiuncula4 ,he substituted ,brother ,gratian1 in the place of ,brother ,john of ,strachia1 as ,provincial of ,bologna1 of which we have spoken before2 and ,brother ,peter of ,catania1 in place of ,brother ,elias4 ,peter had been the second of his disciples1 and into his hands he committed the whole guidance of his ,order1 not only because he did not think himself able to look to it in person1 on account of the multitude of religious now belonging to it1 and on account of his infirmity1 but in order to improve himself in the virtue of humility1 to which he was so much attached4 ,he then assembled them and said3--,i am now dead to you all2 there is ,peter of ,catania1 who is your superior1 whom henceforward we must all obey1 you and ,i1 and prostrating himself at the feet of ,peter1 he promised to obey him in all things as minister general of the ,order4 ,this title of minister general was displeasing to the religious1 who did not wish it should be given to any one during the lifetime of their ,father1 and they agreed that he who took his place should only have the title of vicar general4 ,francis being on his knees1 with his hands clasped1 and his eyes lifted up to heaven1 said1 with affecting emotion3 ,my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i recommend to ,thee this family1 which is ,thine own1 and which up to this moment ,thou hast confided to me4 ,thou knowest that my infirmities incapacitate me from having any longer the care of it2 ,i leave it in the hands of the ministers2 if it should so happen that on their part1 negligence1 scandal1 or too great severity1 should be the cause of any one of the brethren perishing1 they will render to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 an account of it at the day of judgement4 ,from that time till his death he continued as much as it was in his power in the humble state of an inferior1 although he did not fail to communicate to the superiors the lights which ,god gave him for the good government of the ,order1 and on several occasions he could not avoid acting as its ,founder and ,general4 ,st4 ,dominic1 his friend1 had similar feelings as to the employments of office4 ,in this year he held the first chapter of his ,order at ,bologna1 and wished to resign the station of superior1 of which his humility made him consider himself incapable and unworthy2 but his religious would not permit it4 ,these have been the feelings of all the saints1 because they knew that1 for the purpose of salvation1 it is safer to obey than to command4 ,eight days before the chapter1 ,pope ,honorious issued a bull addressed to ,francis1 and to the superiors of the ,friars ,minor1 by which he forbade them to receive any one to profession1 unless after a twelvemonth's probation1 and directing that1 after profession1 no one whosoever should leave the order2 forbidding1 also1 any persons from receiving such as should quit it4 ,what gave rise to this measure was that1 at the commencement of the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 and of that of the ,preachers1 there were some who made their profession without a novitiate1 according as the superiors thought proper under different circumstances1 and this sort of precipitate engagement was found to have its inconveniences4 ,peter of ,catania1 acting as vicar general1 and finding that he could not provide for the multitude of religious who came to the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 as to the chief monastery of the ,order1 thought that1 in order to provide for this1 some portion of the property of the novices might be retained2 on which he consulted ,francis to know whether he thought the suggestion proper1 and if he would permit it4 ,francis said3 ,my dear brother1 ,god preserve us from this sort of charity1 which would render us impious in respect to our rule1 in order to acquire consideration in the sight of men4 ,the vicar then asking what he should do for the relief of the guests2 ,strip the altar of the ,blessed ,virgin1 replied ,francis1 take away all the ornaments which are there2 the ,lord will send you what is requisite to restore to his ,mother what we shall employ in charity4 ,believe firmly that the ,virgin will be pleased to see her altar stripped1 rather than that there should be any contravention of the ,gospel of her ,son2 and he took occasion again strenuously to recommend holy poverty4 ,he also said many things relative to books1 to science1 and to preaching1 which will be recorded in another part of his life4 ,brother ,casar of ,spires1 who had been professor of theology before becoming a ,friar ,minor1 and who was a man of great piety1 having heard all that the ,father said on the subject of science1 and the learned1 had a long conversation with him on the state of his soul1 and on the observance of the rule1 which he concluded thus3 ,my ,father1 ,i have made a firm resolution1 with ,god's grace1 to observe the ,gospel and the rule1 according to the instruction of ,jesus ,christ1 until my death2 and now1 ,i have a favor to ask you1 which is that1 if it may happen in my lifetime that some should swerve from it1 as you have foretold1 you give me your blessing from this moment1 and your leave to separate myself from such transgressors1 in order that ,i may adhere to the rule alone with those who have a like zeal with myself4 ,rejoicing at this proposition1 ,francis embraced him and blessed him1 saying3 ,know1 my son1 that what you solicit is granted to you by ,jesus ,christ1 and by me2 and placing his hands on his head1 he added3 ,thou art a priest forever according to the order of ,melchisedech--the holy man desiring to have it understood thereby that all the promises he had received from ,jesus ,christ1 would have their accomplishment to the end1 in those who adhered to the rule4 ,it was at this time that he addressed a letter to the religious of his ,order1 and particularly to the priests1 upon the profound veneration which we ought to have for that august mystery of the ,eucharist4 ,in the course of the year #abbj1 ,francis received the news of the martyrdom of the five religious whom he had sent to ,morocco4 ,we must relate the circumstances1 more at length1 since they belong to the life of the holy ,patriach1 who gave this mission to these valorous soldiers of ,jesus ,christ1 and since they are the first martyrs of the ,order4 ,berardus1 ,peter1 ,otho1 ,ajut1 ,accursus1 and ,vital1 their superior1 having left ,italy for ,morocco1 after having received their ,father's blessing1 as has already been noticed1 arrived shortly after in the kingdom of ,arragon4 ,there ,vital was detained some time by a lingering illness1 which induced him to think that it was not ,god's will that he should continue his journey4 ,he therefore let the other five proceed1 who soon reached ,coimbra1 and were favorably received by ,urraca1 queen of ,portugal1 the wife of ,king ,alphonso ,,ii4 ,this princess conceived so high an opinion of their virtue and placed such confidence in them1 that she entreated them to pray to ,god to inform them of the time at which she should die4 ,they promised to do so1 although they considered themselves unworthy of making such a request2 but they were so favorably heard1 that they foretold to the queen that they were to suffer martyrdom with all the circumstances thereof2 that their relics would be brought to ,coimbra1 and that she would receive them honorably1 after which she would be called from this world4 ,predictions which were fully verified4 ,they went from thence to ,alanquer1 where the ,princess ,sancia1 sister to the king of ,portugal1 approving their plans1 induced them to put secular clothing over their religious habits1 without which precaution they would not have been able to pass into the territories of ,morocco4 ,having reached ,seville1 which was then occupied by the ,moors1 they remained a week concealed in the house of a ,christian1 where they threw off their secular clothing4 ,their zeal induced them to go forth1 and they got as far as the principal mosque1 which they attempted to enter in order to preach to the infidels1 but they were driven back with loud cries and severely beaten4 ,from thence they went to the gate of the palace1 saying that they were ambassadors sent to the king from ,jesus ,christ1 the ,king of kings4 ,they were introduced1 and said many things relative to the ,christian religion1 to induce the king to be converted and receive baptism2 but they afterwards added much against ,mahomet and against his law1 which irritated him to such a degree1 that he ordered them to be beheaded2 but being mollified by the entreaties of his son1 he was satisfied with having them confined at the top of a tower1 from whence he had them removed to the ground-floor1 because1 from above1 they continued to speak of ,jesus ,christ1 and against the prophet1 to those who entered the palace4 ,having caused them to be again brought before him1 he engaged to pardon them1 if they would change their religion3 ,prince1 they replied1 would to ,god that you would have mercy on yourself6 ,treat us as you think proper4 ,it is in your power to take away our lives1 but we are sure that death will lead us to a glorious immortality4 ,the king1 seeing their unshakeable firmness1 sent them1 by the advice of his council1 to ,morocco1 with ,don ,pedro ,fernandas de ,castro1 a gentlemen of ,castile1 and some other ,christians4 ,they found there the ,infant ,don ,pedro of ,portugal1 who had retired to that country in consequence of some misunderstanding which he had with his brother1 ,king ,alphonso1 and who now commanded the troops of the king of ,morocco4 ,this prince received them with great respect and charity as apostolical men1 and had them provided with every thing necessary for their subsistence4 ,knowing what had occurred to them at ,seville1 in consequence of their preaching1 and seeing that1 consequently1 they were still in a state of great weakness1 he endeavored to dissuade them from doing the same thing in ,morocco2 but the generous missionaries1 solely intent upon their pious object1 ceased not to preach without any fear1 wherever they met with any ,saracens4 ,one day1 when ,berardus was giving instruction to the people and was declaiming against ,mahomet from a wagon1 the king passed by1 going to visit the tombs of his predecessors1 and seeing that he continued his talking notwithstanding his presence1 he thought the declaimer must be out of his mind1 and instantly directed that all the five should be driven out of the town1 and sent back to the country of the ,christians4 ,the ,infant ,don ,juan gave them an escort to convey them to ,ceuta1 whence they were to embark4 ,on the road1 they got stealthily away from their escort1 and returned to ,morocco1 where they recommenced preaching in the great square4 ,the king1 being informed of this1 became greatly irritated1 and had them imprisoned1 in order to starve them to death4 ,they were there twenty days without food or drink4 ,during this time the heat became so excessive and caused so much sickness1 that it was thought that the hand of ,god fell heavily upon them to avenge his servants4 ,the king became alarmed1 and by the advice of a ,saracen named ,abaturino1 who loved the ,christians1 he liberated the prisoners4 ,they were extremely surprised to find that1 after twenty days' confinement1 without any nourishment whatsoever1 they came out in full health and strength4 ,as soon as they had left the prison1 they were anxious to recommence their preaching2 but the other ,christians1 who were apprehensive of the wrath of the king1 opposed themselves to it1 and had them taken to the place of embarkation2 but they again made their escape1 and returned to ,morocco4 ,then the ,infant ,don ,pedro was induced to keep them in his palace1 and to place guards over them to prevent their appearing in public4 ,this prince being obliged to set out1 some short time after1 to take the command of the army which the king sent against some rebels1 he took the ,friars ,minor with him1 as well as several other ,christians1 fearing lest1 during his absence1 they should escape from those who had charge of them4 ,as he returned victorious1 his army was three days without water1 and was reduced to the greatest distress4 ,brother ,bernardus resorted to prayer1 and having made a hole in the ground with a pickaxe1 he caused a spring to flow from it1 which sufficed for the whole army1 and enabled them to fill their goat-skins1 after which it dried up4 ,so palpable a miracle procured for them from all parts the greatest veneration4 ,many even went so far as to kiss their feet4 ,when they returned to ,morocco1 the ,infant continued to take the same precautions as before1 to prevent their appearing in public2 nevertheless1 they found means to get out secretly one ,friday1 and to present themselves before the king1 as he was passing1 according to his custom1 to visit the tombs of his predecessors4 ,berardus again got upon a wagon1 and spoke in his presence with astonishing intrepidity4 ,the king1 irritated beyond control1 gave orders to one of the princes of his court to have them put to death4 ,this prince only had them put in prison1 because he had witnessed the miracle which we have recorded above4 ,they were very ill-treated in this confinement1 but continued to preach even there1 when there were either ,christians or ,saracens to listen to them4 ,all this occurred towards the end of the year #abai4 ,at the beginning of the year #abbj1 the ,saracen prince who had received the order to put them to death1 having sent for them from the prison1 found them very firm in their faith1 and that they spoke with the same boldness against their prophet ,mahomet4 ,he was so enraged at this1 that1 forgetful of the miracle he had witnessed on the return of the army1 he directed them to be kept separated and tortured in various ways4 ,they tied their hands and feet1 and dragged them along the ground by a cord fastened round their necks1 and they were so cruelly scourged that their bowels nearly protruded4 ,thirty men who were employed for this cruel service did not leave them till they had poured boiling vinegar and oil into their wounds1 and rolled them upon broken pieces of earthenware covered with straw4 ,some of those who guarded them1 saw a great light which came from ,heaven1 and which seemed to raise these religious up1 with an innumerable number of other persons2 they thought that they had left the prison and entered it in great haste1 where they found them in fervent prayer4 ,the king of ,morocco1 informed of what had been done1 desired that they might be brought into his presence4 ,they brought them to him1 their hands tied1 and they were driven in with blows and cuffs4 ,a ,saracen prince who met them endeavored to induce them to embrace the law of ,mahomet4 ,brother ,otho rejected the proposition with horror and spat on the ground1 to mark his contempt of such a religion2 this brought upon him a severe box on the ear1 upon which he turned the other side1 according to the direction of the ,gospel1 and said to the prince3--,may ,god forgive thee1 for thou knowest not what thou doest4 ,when they had reached the palace1 the king said to them3 ,are you then those impious persons who despise the true faith1 those foolish persons who blaspheme the prophet sent from ,god8 ,o king1 they answered1 we have no contempt for the true faith2 on the contrary1 we are ready to suffer and die in its defence2 but we detest your faith1 and the wicked man who was its author4 ,the king1 imagining that he might perhaps gain them over by the love of pleasure1 of riches or of honors1 said to them1 in pointing out to them some ,saracen women whom he had brought there on purpose3 ,i will give you those women for wives1 together with large sums of money1 and you shall be highly esteemed in my kingdom1 if you will embrace the law of ,mahomet2 if not1 you shall die by the sword4 ,the confessors of the faith answered without hesitating3 ,we want neither your women nor your money3 keep those for yourself1 and let ,jesus ,christ be for us4 ,subject us to what tortures you please1 and take away our lives4 ,all suffering is light to us1 when we think of the glories of heaven4 ,then the king1 having lost all hopes of overcoming them1 took his scimitar1 and with his own hand split their skulls in two2 and thus was completed the martyrdom of the five ,friars ,minor1 on the #afth of ,january1 #abbj4 ,their bodies1 having been dragged out of the town and cut to pieces by the infidels1 were collected by the ,christians2 and the ,infant ,don ,pedro took them into ,spain1 from whence he sent them into ,portugal to ,king ,alphonso1 not daring as yet to revisit his own country4 ,this king1 accompanied by ,queen ,urraca and some of the grandees of the kingdom1 came with the clergy to meet them1 and had them placed with great pomp in the monastery of ,regular ,canons of the ,holy ,cross1 at ,coimbra1 where they still are4 ,the celebrated miracles which were achieved there in great numbers as well as those which were performed in ,morocco1 and on the way to ,europe1 are recorded by contemporary authors1 who have written their acts4 ,pope ,sixtus ,,iv recognized them solemnly as martyrs1 in the year #adfa1 and gave permission to the religious to say their office4 ,at the time of their death1 the ,princess ,sancia of ,portugal1 was in the act of prayer2 they appeared to her with a bloody scimitar in their hands and told her that by their martyrdom they were on their way to heaven1 where they would pray to ,god continually for her and would thus reward the good she had done them4 ,what they had foretold ,queen ,urraca1 as to the time of her death1 came to pass1 and her confessor1 a canon regular of ,santa ,cruz1 a most exemplary man1 of great piety1 was made acquainted with it by a very marvellous vision4 ,a short time after the bodies of these glorious martyrs had been placed in the church of this monastery1 he saw in the middle of the night the choir filled with religious1 who were singing very melodiously1 which surprised him exceedingly1 neither knowing what brought them there1 nor how they got in4 ,he asked one of them1 who replied3 ,we are all ,friars ,minor4 ,he whom you see at the head1 is ,brother ,francis1 whom you have longed so much to see2 and the five who are more resplendent than the rest1 are the martyrs of ,morocco1 who are honored in this church4 ,our ,lord has sent us hither in order to pray for ,queen ,urraca1 who is dead1 and who had great affection for our ,order2 and he has willed that you should see all this1 because you were her confessor4 ,the vision disappeared1 and the confessor's door was immediately knocked at1 to communicate to him that the queen was dead4 ,the severe vengeance with which ,god visited the king of ,morocco and his subjects was also noticed4 ,the right hand with which this prince had struck the holy martyrs1 and the whole of his right side1 from the head to the feet1 was paralyzed and became perfectly dry4 ,during three years1 no rain fell in the whole country1 and an infinity of people died by pestilence and famine1 which scourges lasted five years1 ,god choosing to proportion the duration of the punishment to the number of the martyrs4 ,all these marvels which he wrought in their favor1 and the title of martyrs1 which the ,church gives them1 must convince every faithful ,christian1 enlightened by the wisdom which is from above1 that it was by a particular impulse from the ,holy ,ghost that they exposed themselves to death with so much ardor1 against the advice of the other ,christians4 ,human prudence is very rash when it takes upon itself to blame what is approved by ,god and by ,his ,church4 ,it would be difficult to express the joy which filled the heart of ,francis1 when he learned that his brethren had suffered martyrdom4 ,he said to those who were with him3--,it is now that ,i can rest assured that ,i have had five true ,friars ,minor6 and he called down a thousand blessings on the convent of ,alanquer1 where they had prepared themselves for martyrdom1 which had such effect1 that there have been always since a great number of religious there1 and at least one who has been distinguished for religious perfection4 ,brother ,vital1 who had been the superior of these generous martyrs1 was delighted on hearing of their triumph1 and greatly regretted not having shared therein4 ,it was not in good-will that he was deficient2 he was only arrested by his illness1 of which he died at ,saragossa some time afterwards4 ,one of the authors of the life of ,st4 ,dominic1 tells us that this great patriarch1 who held his general chapter at the time1 was in ecstasies of joy1 when he heard that five ,friars ,minor had received the crown of martyrdom2 that he looked upon it as the first fruits of the plans of his friend ,francis1 and1 at the same time1 as a powerful incentive for his brethren to aspire to what is most perfect1 which is to suffer for the faith of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,friars ,preachers have profited by the example1 as is evinced by the great number of martyrs of their order1 by whom the ,church has been enriched4 ,it was not without a special dispensation of ,providence that the relics of the five martyrs were deposited at ,coimbra1 in the ,church of the ,canons ,regular of ,santa ,cruz1 since our ,lord made them subserve to the vocation of ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua1 who is one of the most striking ornaments of this renowned ,order4 ,he was a native of ,portugal1 of a very noble family of ,lisbon1 born in the year #aaie1 and had received the name of ,ferdinand in ,baptism4 ,the first years of his life had been passed in innocence and piety2 the fear of being seduced by the world1 and the wish to consecrate himself wholly to ,god1 made him take the resolution1 at the age of fifteen1 to enter the ,order of ,regular ,canons1 in the ,convent of ,st4 ,vincent1 at ,lisbon4 ,two years afterwards1 in order to avoid the frequent visits of his friends1 which interfere with habits of retirement1 he asked permission of his superior to remove to the convent of ,santa ,cruz at ,coimbra1 which is of the same order4 ,he had some difficulty in obtaining this leave1 because they had great esteem for him personally4 ,he made use of the quiet he now enjoyed to apply himself to the study of sacred literature1 and1 as if he had foreseen what he was to do at a future period of his life1 he not only taught himself what was requisite for his own sanctification1 but also what was useful for instructing others in the paths of virtue2 he gathered also from the ,holy ,scriptures1 and from the study of the ,fathers1 what could serve to confirm the truths of faith1 and to impugn error4 ,the assiduity with which he pursued his studies1 together with the excellence of his memory1 and his surpassing talents1 with the light he received from ,heaven1 rendered him in a short time very learned4 ,the relics of the five ,friars ,minor who had been martyred at ,morocco1 and which were taken to ,santa ,cruz1 at ,coimbra1 at that time1 inspired in his heart an anxious desire to die for ,jesus ,christ as they had done1 and made him entertain the thought of becoming a member of that ,order1 as the school of martyrdom4 ,some old authors add that ,st4 ,francis1 who was then at ,assisi1 appeared to him1 and induced him to embrace his ,institute1 foretelling him what would happen4 ,the ,friars ,minor of the convent of ,st4 ,anthony of ,olivares1 near ,coimbra1 having come to the ,canons ,regular of ,santa ,cruz to quest1 ,ferdinand could not control his zeal1 but taking them aside1 he opened to them the wish he had to enter their community4 ,they were highly pleased on hearing this1 and fixed the day with him for putting his design into execution4 ,in the meantime1 he asked leave of the ,superior of ,santa ,cruz to effect the change1 and with great difficulty obtained it4 ,the ,friars ,minor returned on the appointed day1 and gave him the habit of the ,order1 in the ,convent of ,santa ,cruz itself1 and took him back with them to that of ,st4 ,anthony4 ,the loss of so estimable a member was very distressing to the canons2 one of them who felt it more than the others1 said to him with bitterness1 as he left the house3--,go1 perhaps you shall become a saint4 ,to which ,ferdinand answered with humility3--,when you hear that it is so1 you will doubtless give praise to ,god4 ,he was not satisfied with having changed his order2 he chose likewise to change his name1 in order by that means to disappoint those who might endeavor to seek for him2 and as ,st4 ,anthony was the titular saint of the convent1 he begged the superior to call him ,anthony1 which is the name he was ever after known by1 and to which was added of ,padua1 because his body reposes in that city1 and is there honored by the faithful4 ,the wish to shed his blood for the faith of ,jesus ,christ1 which was the source of his vocation1 was constantly increasing in his mind and gave him no rest4 ,he solicited leave from the superiors to go into ,africa1 which was granted to him1 as had been promised him1 when he entered the ,order4 ,being come into the land of the ,saracens1 he was seized with a violent illness1 which confined him the whole winter1 and obliged him to return to ,spain in the spring for his recovery4 ,he embarked for this purpose1 but the ,almighty1 who had destined him for the martyrdom of the apostolical life1 and who intended by his means to convert an infinity of souls in ,italy and ,france1 gave him a passage in a contrary direction4 ,the wind drove the vessel he was in to ,sicily1 where he landed1 and from thence he went to ,assisi1 where we shall meet him in the general chapter at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,it was in the year #abbj1 that the ,friars ,minor1 ,angelus and ,albert1 both natives of ,pisa1 after having stayed some time at ,paris in order to arrange the first establishment there1 crossed the channel to ,england1 whither ,francis had sent them at the general chapter of #abai4 ,the religious of ,st4 ,dominic had already a convent at ,canterbury1 where they received the two new comers with great charity4 ,king ,henry ,,iii1 who reigned at that time1 settled them with royal magnificence at ,oxford4 ,there he held his court1 and he conceived so great a liking for them that he had a lodge built near their convent1 to which he occasionally retired in order to converse with them4 ,the reason which primarily induced him to show them so much consideration1 was his having learnt from authentic sources what had occurred to them on their journey from ,canterbury to ,oxford4 ,the prior1 the sacristan1 and the cellarer of the abbey of ,abingdon1 who were at one of their farms1 contrary to the usual practice of their order1 where hospitality is always given1 as recommended by ,st4 ,benedict1 refused it to these poor religious1 and turned them from their doors1 although it was at nightfall4 ,a young religious1 who was in their company1 seeing that they were about to pass the night in the wood1 introduced them secretly into the barn1 brought them some food1 and recommended himself urgently to their prayers4 ,in the night he had a dreadful vision of the justice with which ,god visited the prior and the two others1 but which did not fall on him1 because he had been charitable4 ,in the morning he went to them with a view of telling them what he had seen in his sleep1 and found them all three dead in their beds4 ,struck with astonishment he left the farm1 from whence the two ,friars ,minor had departed before daybreak1 and went to relate what had happened to the abbot of ,abingdon2 they both had serious reflections on this subject1 which ended in their entering into the ,order of ,friars ,minor4 ,so extraordinary an occurrence could not be kept secret2 many persons heard it2 the king was made acquainted with it1 and this caused the favorable reception he gave to ,angelus and ,albert4 ,his open protection1 with the sanctity of their lives1 caused the ,institute to flourish throughout the kingdom4 ,several doctors of theology embraced it2 and subsequently ,robert ,maideston1 ,bishop of ,hereford1 an enlightened prelate of great distinction at court1 obtained leave from ,gregory ,,ix to give up his bishopric to take the poor habit of ,st4 ,francis1 under which he became a model of humility and poverty4 ,three hundred years after1 ,king ,henry ,,viii destroyed all these monuments of science and religion1 which his predecessor ,henry ,,iii had raised with so much zeal1 and tyrannically treated the successors of those who had been received with so much benevolence4 ,the strange revolution which the incontinence and heresy of this prince brought about in ,england1 reduced the ,friars ,minor1 and all other missionaries1 to the necessity of running greater risks in endeavoring to maintain the remnant of faith1 than what they had to incur amongst the infidels4 ,we suppress all comment on so deplorable a subject1 and we are satisfied with offering up our prayers to the ,almighty that ,he might deign to cast the eyes of ,his mercy upon those islands which formerly gave so many saints to the ,church2 that by ,his grace1 the talent and learning which are found there1 may be employed in searching for the truth and appreciating that truth which the illustrious ,pope ,st4 ,gregory had taught there in the sixth century2 that these talents may be no longer employed in the defence of a variety of sects1 equally at variance with the doctrines of antiquity1 condemned by the principles of the ,christian religion1 and by the rules of right reasoning2 and that it shall no longer be said that men of learning make use of the light they have received and cultivated1 to countenance every description of falsehood2 so that1 as ,st4 ,leo said of idolatrous ,rome1 dictating to almost all other nations1 she herself was the slave of all their errors4 ,francis1 having received the resignation of his vicar general1 on his return from his visitations1 deferred the choice of his successor till the assembly of the chapter which was held on ,whitsunday4 ,he consulted ,god on the election1 who made known to him by revelation that ,brother ,elias should be restored2 he communicated this to his companions1 and when the chapter met1 he named ,elias vicar-general4 ,we may feel assured that after having deposed him for laxness1 he would not again have placed him at the head of his ,order1 had he not been certain that ,god himself had ordered it4 ,as soon as the saints are made aware of the will of ,god1 they have no thought but of obeying1 whether it be that they know ,his reasons1 or that they be hidden from them4 ,thus1 three hundred years before ,st4 ,francis1 ,st4 ,stephen1 the third ,abbot of ,citeaux1 did not fail sending ,arnaud to ,morimond to be its first abbot1 although he knew by divine inspiration1 that this post would be prejudicial to him1 and that it would not turn out well3 it was enough for him that it was ,god's will that he should be so sent4 ,thus we find in ,holy ,writ that ,eliseus1 by ,god's order to ,elias1 consecrated ,hazael ,king of ,syria1 who1 he foresaw would bring such great evils on the people of ,god1 that the foresight moved him to tears4 ,human prudence must not censure in the saints what they have only done from supernatural views1 against their own impressions1 and their own inclinations4 ,in these extraordinary cases we must only adore the counsels of ,divine ,wisdom1 without endeavoring to penetrate them3 we must acknowledge1 as ,tobias did1 that all ,his ways are ways of mercy1 truth1 and justice2 and say with one of the prophets3 ,thy loss comes from thyself4 ,at the chapter ,francis sat at the feet of ,elias and1 as his infirmities prevented him from making himself heard1 it was through ,elias that he proposed all that he wished to communicate to the assembly4 ,towards the close he pulled him by the tunic and told him in a low tone of voice his intention of sending some of the brethren into parts of ,upper ,germany1 into which they had not yet penetrated4 ,elias laid the affair before the brethren in the following terms3 ,my brethren1 this is what the ,brother says 7for thus they designated ,francis1 as a mark of great respect74 ,there is a part of ,germany1 the inhabitants of which are ,christians and devout2 they go1 as you know1 through our country during the heats with long staves and great jack-boots1 singing the praises of ,god and ,his saints1 and thus visit the places of devotion4 ,i sent some of our brethren into their land1 who returned often having been sorely ill-treated4 ,for this reason1 ,i compel no one to go thither1 but if there are any sufficiently zealous for the glory of ,god and the salvation of souls1 to undertake this journey ,i promise him the same merit as is attached to obedience1 and even more than if he made a voyage over the sea4 ,about ninety offered themselves for the mission which they considered as an opportunity for suffering martyrdom4 ,the chief was named with the title of ,provincial ,minister of ,germany1 and ,brother ,caesar1 a ,german1 was selected for that office4 ,he was an ecclesiastic of ,spire1 who had been drawn into the ,order by the preaching of ,brother ,elias1 some time before1 he himself having the character of a good preacher4 ,he had permission to select those whom he desired to take with him from among those who had volunteered2 however1 he only chose twenty-seven1 twelve of whom were priests1 and fifteen lay-brethren1 among whom there were some ,germans1 and some ,hungarians1 excellent preachers4 ,he remained nearly three months in the ,valley of ,spoleto1 with leave from ,francis1 and sent his companions into ,lombardy to prepare themselves for the great work they were about to undertake2 then they set forth dividing themselves into small groups of three and four4 ,we shall further on give the details of their journey1 and of their labors and success4 ,in the choice which ,casar made of those whom he thought adapted to the ,german mission1 something occurred which at first was amusing1 but which turned out very serious and very useful4 ,some one having suggested to him to take one of the brethren named ,jourdain1 he went to him and said3--,and you ,brother ,jourdain1 you will come with us8 ,i8 replied he1 ,i am not one of yours2 if ,i rose up1 it was not with any intention of going with you1 it was to embrace those who were about to go into ,germany1 and who1 ,i am certain1 will all be martyred4 ,he was so apprehensive that the ,germans by their cruelty1 and the heretics of ,lombardy by their artifices1 would be the causes of his losing his faith1 that he daily prayed to ,god for the favor of being kept away from the one and from the other4 ,casar1 continuing to urge him to go with him1 and ,jourdain continuing to refuse1 they went to the vicar general1 who1 after having been informed how the matter stood1 said to ,jourdain3--,my brother1 ,i command you1 on your holy obedience1 to decide absolutely upon going into ,germany or not going4 ,this order put his conscience in a dilemma3 if he should not go1 he feared its reproach for having followed his own will1 and did not like to lose a glorious crown2 and1 on the other hand1 he could not determine on going1 thinking the ,germans so cruel as he had been led to believe4 ,in order to come to a conclusion1 he consulted one of the religious who had greatly suffered in the first mission1 and had been stripped in ,hungary no less than fifteen times1 who said to him3--,go to ,brother ,elias1 and tell him that you are neither willing to go into ,germany nor to stay here1 but that you will do whatsoever he shall desire you to do4 ,you will hardly have addressed him1 then your difficulties will be done away4 ,he followed this advice1 and ,elias ordered him by the obligation of obedience to accompany ,brother ,casar into ,germany4 ,he went and labored assiduously1 and more than any of the others1 to extend the order throughout the country4 ,his obedience quieted his mind for a man is never more satisfied with himself than when he obeys4 ,experience shows1 says ,st4 ,bernard1 that the yoke of obedience is light1 and that self-will is oppressive4 ,anthony had heard in ,sicily that the chapter was to assemble at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and although he was still in a state of weakness1 he had come to it with ,philippinus1 a young lay brother of ,castile4 ,when the chapter was over1 the brethren were sent back to their convents by the vicar general1 but no one asked to have ,anthony1 because no one knew him1 and he appeared so feeble1 that he did not seem fit for work4 ,he offered himself therefore to ,brother ,gratian1 who was ,provincial of ,bologna1 or of ,romagna1 whom he begged as a master1 to instruct him in the rules of regular discipline1 making no mention of his studies1 or of any talent he had1 and showing no other desire than to know and love the crucified ,jesus4 ,gratian delighted with these his sentiments1 asked to have him1 and took him with him into his province1 with ,philippinus1 who was sent to ,citta di ,castello1 and from thence to ,columbario1 in ,tuscany1 where he died a holy death4 ,anthony1 who only wished for solitude1 had leave from the provincial to live at the hermitage of ,mount ,st4 ,paul1 near ,bologna1 where he wished to have a cell cut in the rock1 which was separated from all the others2 this the brother who had cut it out for himself ceded to him4 ,there he lived in as much solitude as obedience allowed him1 devoting himself to contemplation1 fasting on bread and water1 and practising such other austerities1 as to be thereby so weakened1 that1 according to the savings of his brethren1 he could hardly stand when he came to them4 ,although he was full of zeal1 he did not dare attempt to preach2 the martyrdom which he had escaped in ,africa had rendered him timid2 he abandoned himself to ,divine ,providence1 without any other anxiety than that of inciting himself to the more perfect love of ,god1 and strengthening himself in the hope of enjoying the good things of ,heaven1 and resisting the attacks of the tempter1 who strove to dissuade him from the holy exercise of prayer4 ,living thus in great simplicity among his unpretending brethren1 he disguised under a plain exterior the vast light he received from ,heaven2 but by that humility he deserved to be brought forward for the accomplishment of the designs of ,providence1 who generally prepares those in secret1 whom he destines to splendid ministrations4 ,,book ,,iv ,after the chapter1 ,francis1 notwithstanding the bad state of his health1 actuated by his zeal1 undertook to preach repentance in the towns adjacent to ,assisi1 where he dilated1 in forcible language1 on vice and virtue1 and the sufferings and happiness of a future life4 ,the inhabitants of ,canaria were so moved by his preaching1 that they followed him in crowds1 forsaking their usual occupations4 ,many also1 from the neighboring villages1 joined them1 and all together solicited him to teach them how to profit by his instructions4 ,many married men were desirous of separating themselves from their wives1 in order to embrace the religious state1 and many married women were anxious to shut themselves up in cloisters2 but the holy ,patriarch1 not wishing to break up well-assorted marriages1 nor to depopulate the country1 advised them to serve ,god in their own houses1 and promised to give them a rule by which they might progress in virtue and live as religious1 without practising the austerities of that state of life4 ,he was under the necessity of repeating the same injunctions in several towns in ,tuscany1 particularly in ,florence1 where similar views prevailed1 and where they had already commenced building a monastery for females1 who were desirous of renouncing the world4 ,while he was yet ruminating on the mode of life he should prescribe for them1 he assembled them all1 and formed them into two congregations3 the one of men1 and the other of women2 and having given each of them a president1 they gave themselves separately up to exercises of piety and practices of mercy1 with so much fervor1 that a contemporary author compares them to the ,christians whom ,tertullian so eloquently eulogizes4 ,with the alms which the two congregations collected1 they built a hospital for the sick and aged1 on the outskirts of the town where all the virtues of charity were assiduously exercised2 an establishment which is extant to this day4 ,st4 ,antoninus1 when ,archbishop of ,florence1 removed these pious assemblies to a locality near the ,church of ,st4 ,martin1 for the convenience of the poor4 ,the vicinity of the church and their good works procured for them the name of the ,good ,men of ,st4 ,martin2 and they were afterwards called the ,penitents of ,st4 ,francis1 because they followed the rule of the ,third ,order of ,penance1 which the ,saint instituted4 ,one day ,st4 ,francis having gone from ,florence to ,gagiano1 near ,poggibonzi1 in ,tuscany1 met a shop-keeper of his acquaintance1 whose name was ,lucchesio1 who had been very avaricious1 and an enthusiastic partisan of the faction of the ,guelphs1 but who1 having been converted a few months before1 now lived a very ,christian-like life1 gave away great sums in alms1 attended the sick in hospitals1 received strangers hospitably into his house1 and endeavored to instil similar sentiments into ,bonadonna1 his wife4 ,they had already asked ,francis to put them in a way of sanctifying their lives1 which should be suitable to their position2 and the holy man had given them this answer3 ,i have been thinking of late of instituting a ,third ,order1 in which married persons might serve ,god perfectly2 and ,i think you could not do better than to enter it4 ,after having given the subject serious consideration1 ,lucchesio and his wife entreated him to admit them into this new ,order4 ,he made them assume a modest and simple dress1 of a grey color1 also a cord with several knots in it for a girdle1 and he prescribed verbally certain pious exercises1 which they were to follow until such time as he should have composed the rule4 ,this was the beginning of the ,third ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 which many persons in the environs of ,poggibonzi embraced1 and which was soon established in ,florence by the congregation of men and women of which we have just spoken4 ,the following year1 at latest1 the ,founder composed a rule for this ,order1 which he called the ,order of the ,brethren of ,penance1 in which the sisters were comprised1 which was also called the ,third ,order1 or the ,order of ,tertiaries1 as relative to the two older ,orders3 the ,order of ,friars ,minors1 which is the first1 and that of the ,poor ,clares1 which is the second4 ,this rule was subsequently confirmed by ,pope ,nicholas ,,iv1 and ,leo ,,xiii1 with some changes1 which they considered advisable as well in regard to the times as to the ,order itself4 ,the holy ,patriarch manifests therein not only the zeal which animated him in all that concerned the purity of the faith1 but also the prudence which guided all his actions4 ,he requires that all those who apply for admission into the ,order shall be carefully examined in the ,catholic faith1 and their submission to the authority of the ,church1 and he directs that they shall only be received after having made profession of all the orthodox truths2 and that great care shall be taken not to admit any heretic1 nor any one suspected of heresy2 and should any such be detected after having been admitted1 he insists on their being immediately informed against4 ,he1 likewise1 directs that their previous conduct may be inquired into1 to ascertain whether any notorious crimes are imputed to them1 or whether their morals are irreproachable1 and he desires that they be warned to restore what they have which belongs to any other person2 he also forbids receiving any married female into the ,order without the consent of her husband4 ,the profession consists in a promise to keep all ,god's commandments1 and to perform such penances as the visitor shall enjoin for faults committed in breach of the practices required by the rule4 ,the habit is similar to what was given to ,lucchesio and his wife2 but so1 that this may be dispensed with1 according to the state of life of the persons1 and the customs of the country in which they may be4 ,the spiritual exercises laid down in the rule1 have nothing in them which can interfere with the different stations of persons living in the world4 ,days of fasting and abstinence are prescribed1 but modified prudently for the infirm1 for pregnant women1 for travellers1 and for laboring people2 and it is clearly explained that these observances are not obligatory under pain of sin1 and that they only bind the transgressor to perform the penance imposed on him1 unless the transgression has at the same time contravened any law of ,god1 or commandment of the ,church4 ,st4 ,francis1 moreover1 strenuously recommends to the brethren and sisters1 to avoid all words tending to swearing or imprecation1 the theatre1 dancing1 and all profane meetings2 to undertake no law-suits1 and to live in fraternal union2 to take great care of the sick of the ,order1 to bury the dead1 and to pray for them4 ,he adds to this1 an article which is deserving of peculiar notice2 it is1 that all persons who enter the ,order and have property over which they have the disposal1 shall make their wills within a few months after their profession1 lest they should die intestate4 ,we see that his intention was to make them think on death1 and to have their minds free for meditating on the important affair of their salvation1 and to prevent those dissentions which frequently occur after the death of such as have not regulated their temporal affairs1 before being called away4 ,wills which are made during a last illness are frequently exposed to deceit and fraud4 ,they are never better made than when executed while the testator is in good health1 in possession of all his faculties4 ,by the institution of the ,third ,order1 ,francis proposes to himself to reanimate the fervor of the faithful1 to induce all the world1 those in orders1 laics1 married persons of either sex1 and such as were living in a state of celibacy1 to a stricter observance of ,god's commandments1 to live a more ,christian and ,catholic life1 and to add the practice of virtues to the duties of civil life4 ,his views met with astonishing success2 the ,order was established1 and spread with the greatest rapidity through all conditions of life4 ,cardinals1 bishops1 emperors1 empresses1 kings1 queens1 considered themselves honored in being admitted into it1 and it has given to the ,church an infinite number of saints and blessed of either sex1 who are publicly revered with her sanction4 ,wading says1 that in his day1 7that is in #afbc17 there were at the court of ,madrid more than sixty lords who belonged to the ,third ,order2 and ,cardinal ,trejo1 who had joined it1 wrote to him in these terms on the subject of the works of ,st4 ,francis1 which that author was about to give to the public with learned notes4 ,you praise me with some surprise1 that wearing the purple of a cardinal1 ,i should have taken the habit and made solemn profession to adhere to the rules of the ,third ,order of ,st4 ,francis4 ,could ,i do less than devote myself wholly to his ,order1 ,i1 who owe to him all that ,i have1 and all that ,i am8 ,does not the cord of ,st4 ,francis deserve to gird even royal purple8 ,st4 ,louis1 ,king of ,france1 ,st4 ,elizabeth1 ,queen of ,hungary1 wore it1 as well as many other sovereigns and princesses4 ,in our own day1 ,philip ,,iii1 ,king of ,spain1 died in the habit of the blessed ,father2 ,queen ,elizabeth1 wife of ,philip ,,iv1 the reigning monarch of ,spain1 and the ,princess ,mary1 his sister1 have made their profession in the ,third ,order4 ,why1 then1 should it be a subject of astonishment to you1 that a cardinal should cover his purple with a garment of ash color1 and gird himself with a cord8 ,if this dress seems vulgar and vile1 ,i require it the more1 because1 finding myself raised to a high degree of honor1 ,i must humble myself the more in order to avoid pride4 ,but is not the garb of ,st4 ,francis1 which is of ash color1 a real purple1 which may adorn the dignity of kings and cardinals8 ,yes1 it is a true purple1 dyed in the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 and in the blood which issued from the stigmates of ,his servant4 ,it gives1 therefore1 a royal dignity to those who wear it4 ,what have ,i done1 therefore1 in clothing myself with this garment8 ,i have added purple to purple1 the purple of royalty1 to the purple of the cardinalate2 thus1 far from being humiliated by it1 ,i have reason to fear that ,i have done myself too much honor1 and that ,i derive from it too much glory4 ,these sentiments of this learned and pious cardinal1 are well calculated to silence the proud and irreligious spirits who turn into ridicule practices which the ,church approves1 and which her most illustrious children embrace with fervor4 ,we have seen ,queen ,ann of ,austria receive1 at ,paris1 the holy habit of a penitent1 and make profession of the rule of the ,third ,order of ,st4 ,francis2 ,queen ,maria ,theresa of ,austria1 wife of the renowned king1 ,louis ,,xiv1 follow this example1 and even permit herself to be chosen superior of the sisters of the congregation1 established in the church of the great convent of the ,observance1 under the protection of ,st4 ,elizabeth of ,hungary1 and assist at the various pious exercises with great edification4 ,the ,holy ,see has loaded the brethren and sisters of the ,third ,order with many spiritual favors2 and has granted them many privileges and indulgences4 ,it has given to them a participation in all the merits which are gained in the other two ,orders4 ,what is singular is1 that shortly after its institution1 congregations of ,tertiaries were formed1 in which they lived in community of property1 making the three vows of poverty1 chastity1 and obedience1 and practising the works of mercy4 ,god and the ,sovereign ,pontiff raised them to a religious body4 ,thus1 besides the secular ,third ,order1 there is now a religious one1 of both sexes1 which ,pope ,leo ,x confirmed and extended by his bull1 dated #bhth of ,january1 #aeba1 in which he abridged the rule and adapted it to the observances of the religious state4 ,st4 ,elizabeth of ,hungary1 being a widow1 joined the three vows of religion to the profession of the ,third ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 three years after the death of the blessed ,patriarch1 which makes her to be justly considered as the mother of the religious of both sexes of the ,third ,order1 since she was the first ,tertiary who took these solemn vows4 ,lucchesio and his wife1 who were the first ,tertiaries whom ,st4 ,francis received1 acquired by the exercise of prayer and good works1 a holiness which ,god honored by many miracles during their life and after their death2 but the wife was sanctified by the husband4 ,although she had embraced1 after his example1 the state of piety1 she continued to disapprove the great donations of alms which he made1 and to prevent them as much as was in her power1 in consequence of that spirit of avarice and self-interest1 which constantly induces such tempers to fear that they shall come to want4 ,one day1 ,lucchesio having given all the bread that was in his house to the poor1 he begged his wife to give something to others who followed4 ,she flew into a passion1 like the wife of ,tobias2 and having reproached him with the care he took of strangers to the prejudice of those of his own household1 she said that it was quite plain that his fasts and watchings had disordered his brain4 ,the husband1 as patient as he was charitable1 was not irritated by these reproaches1 but quietly requested his wife to look into the place where the bread was kept1 thinking of ,him1 who by ,his power had satiated several thousand persons with a few loaves and fishes4 ,she did so1 and found a large quantity of fresh bread1 sufficient to supply the wants of all the poor4 ,this miracle had such an effect upon her1 that from that time forward1 he had no occasion to exhort her to the performance of works of mercy2 both husband and wife gave themselves up to them with emulation1 and devoted themselves to them until their deaths4 ,the husband's charity shows us that almsgiving does not impoverish2 but that1 on the contrary1 ,god increases1 even sometimes by miracles1 the property of such as give liberally2 and the conversion of ,lucchesio's wife shows that the spirit of interest and avarice1 covered by pretence of economy1 renders piety false and deceitful4 ,after having established his ,third ,order1 ,francis preached in several parts of ,tuscany1 and received an establishment at ,columbario1 in a very solitary situation1 which was the more agreeable to him from the great attraction he had for contemplation4 ,he had it erected under the title of the ,annunciation of the ,blessed ,virgin1 in honor of her ,divine maternity2 he then returned to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels4 ,an abbess was requested from the ,monastery of ,st4 ,damian for that of ,moncel1 of the same institute1 which was forming at ,florence2 he consulted thereon the cardinal protector1 and by his advice he selected ,agnes1 the sister of ,clare4 ,agnes1 out of obedience1 set out willingly2 she found a very fervent1 very united1 and very submissive community1 and the ,sovereign ,pontiff granted all that she required for their spiritual wants4 ,but ,agnes was seriously grieved to have to part from ,clare1 and to satisfy her heart1 she wrote to her a most affectionate letter1 full of the most tender sentiments1 in which we see that the feelings of nature are elevated and sanctified by virtue1 instead of being weakened4 ,at that time1 about the month of ,october1 ,francis obtained the famous indulgence of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or of ,portiuncula1 of which we shall here relate the circumstances4 ,the great lights and inspirations which this holy man received in prayer1 discovered to him the wretched state of sinners2 he deplored their blindness1 and was moved to compassion1 and he often prayed for them4 ,one night1 when he was soliciting their conversion from ,god with great fervor1 he was directed by an angel to go to the church1 where he would find ,jesus ,christ and his ,blessed ,mother1 accompanied by a host of celestial spirits4 ,greatly rejoiced1 he went and prostrated himself to render due homage to the ,majesty of the ,son of ,god4 ,our ,saviour said to him3 ,francis1 the zeal which thou and thy followers have for the salvation of souls is such1 that it entitles thee to solicit something in their favor1 for the glory of my name4 ,in the midst of the marvels which enraptured him1 he made the following prayer3 ,o ,jesus1 my ,saviour1 ,i entreat ,thee1 although ,i am but a miserable sinner1 to have the goodness to grant to men1 that all those who shall visit this church may receive a plenary indulgence of all their sins1 after having confessed them to a priest2 and ,i beg the ,blessed ,virgin1 ,thy ,mother1 the general advocate of humankind1 to intercede that ,i may obtain this my request4 ,the ,blessed ,virgin did intercede1 and ,jesus ,christ spoke the following words3 ,francis1 what thou askest is great1 but thou wilt receive still greater favors2 ,i grant thee this one2 ,i desire thee1 nevertheless1 to go to my vicar1 to whom ,i have given power to bind and to loose1 and to solicit him for the same indulgence4 ,the companions of the ,saint who were in their respective cells1 heard all these things2 they saw a great light which filled the church1 and the multitude of angels2 but a respectful fear prevented them from approaching nearer4 ,in the early morning1 ,francis assembled them1 and forbade their speaking of this miraculous event1 and then set out with ,masse of ,marignan for ,perugia1 where ,pope ,honorius then was4 ,when he came into his presence1 he said to him3 ,most ,holy ,father1 some years ago ,i repaired a small church in your dominions2 ,i beg you to grant to it a free indulgence1 without any obligation of making an offering4 ,the ,pope replied1 that the request could not reasonably be granted1 because it was but just that he who wished to gain an indulgence should render himself deserving of it by some means1 particularly by some work of charity4 ,but1 added he1 for how many years do you ask me for this indulgence8 ,most ,holy ,father1 replied ,francis1 may it please your ,holiness1 not to give me so many years but so many souls4 ,and in what way do you desire to have souls8 rejoined the ,pope4 ,i wish1 added ,francis1 that it may be the good pleasure of ,your ,holiness1 that those persons who enter the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 are contrite1 shall have confessed their sins1 and have properly received absolution1 may receive an entire remission of their sins1 as well in this world as in the next1 from their baptism1 to the time of their so entering the church4 ,the ,pope then said to him1 ,francis1 what you solicit is a thing of great importance4 ,the ,roman court has not been accustomed to grant any similar indulgence4 ,most ,holy ,father1 returned ,francis1 ,i ask not this for myself1 it is ,jesus ,christ who sent me2 ,i come from ,him4 ,upon which1 the ,pope said publicly three times3 ,it is my desire that it be granted to you4 ,the cardinals who were present1 represented to him1 that in granting so important an indulgence1 he was subverting the throne of the holy law1 and that of the sepulchre of the holy ,apostles4 ,the concession is made1 replied the ,pope1 nor is it right it should be revoked2 but let us modify it4 ,and recalling ,francis1 he said to him3 ,we grant you this indulgence which you have solicited4 ,it is for all years in perpetuity2 but only during one natural day2 from one evening including the night1 to the evening of the following day4 ,at these words ,francis humbly bowed down his head4 ,as he went away1 the ,pope asked him3 ,whither art thou going1 simple man8 ,what certitude hast thou of what thou hast just been granted8 ,holy ,father1 he replied1 your word is sufficient for me4 ,if this indulgence is the work of ,god1 ,he will make it manifest4 ,let ,jesus ,christ and ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and the angels1 be the notary1 on this occasion1 the paper1 and the witnesses4 ,i require no other authenticated document4 ,this was the effect of the great confidence he had in ,god4 ,he left ,perugia to return to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and midway he stopped at a village named ,colle1 at a leper hospital1 where he rested awhile4 ,on awaking1 he had recourse to prayer2 then he called ,masse1 and said to him with great exultation3 ,i can assure you that the indulgence which has been granted to me by the ,sovereign ,pontiff is confirmed in ,heaven4 ,the day had not been fixed1 however1 until the beginning of the year #abbc4 ,clare wished to see once more the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels in which she had renounced the world1 and to take another meal with ,francis1 her spiritual ,father4 ,he refused her his leave for some time2 but his companions having represented to him that he treated a virgin whom he himself had consecrated to ,jesus ,christ1 with too much harshness1 he consented to what she wished4 ,an appropriate day was fixed on1 and she came to the convent of ,portiuncula1 accompanied by some of her nuns1 and some ,friars ,minor who went on purpose to the convent of ,st4 ,damian4 ,after having prayed fervently in the church1 and visited the convent1 the ,friars and the nuns seated themselves round the reflection which ,st4 ,francis had laid out on the ground1 in pursuance of his usual practice of humility1 which was his daily observance1 whenever it was in his power4 ,the first nourishment they took was for the soul4 ,the holy ,patriarch spoke of ,god1 but in so moving a manner1 and with so much unction and animation1 that all who heard him were thrown into ecstasy1 as he was himself4 ,at the same time1 the convent1 the church1 and the woods seemed to the inhabitants of ,assisi and environs1 to be on fire4 ,many ran thither to afford their aid2 but finding everything in good order1 they entered the convent1 where they saw1 with still greater surprise1 the whole assembly in a state of ecstasy4 ,by that they were made aware that what had seemed to them to be a fire1 was the type of the fire which inflamed these holy bosoms1 and they returned greatly edified4 ,by this marvel the ,lord clearly showed that ,he approved the request1 which ,clare had made1 to be allowed to come to the ,portiuncula2 as by another marvel ,he approved of the prayer which ,st4 ,scholastica made to detain her brother1 ,st4 ,benedict1 whom she wished to hear speak of the happiness of the future life1 in the place in which they had just dined together4 ,such1 was the condescension of ,his goodness for the consolation of these two saints1 and it is thus that1 according to the words of the ,prophet1 ,he fulfils the wishes of those who fear ,him4 ,the repast finished without any one having chosen to eat anything1 so much were they filled with celestial aliment2 and ,clare returned to the ,monastery of ,st4 ,damian1 where her sisterhood received her with so much the more satisfaction1 as they had been fearful that they would have given her the direction of some new establishment1 as they had1 a short time before1 sent her sister ,agnes to ,florence as abbess4 ,they knew that ,francis had said to her on other occasions3 ,be prepared to go wherever it may be necessary2 and that she had obediently answered1 ,my ,father ,i am ready to go whithersoever you may send me4 ,her having gone out seemed to them a preparation for some longer journey and their grief for having lost ,agnes1 their dear companion increased the fears they had1 lest they should lose ,clare1 also1 who was in their regard a most excellent mistress of spiritual life4 ,but they had not1 thereafter1 any similar alarms2 this was the only time in forty-two years that their holy mother left the enclosure4 ,elias1 the vicar general1 gave ,francis great uneasiness1 by his erroneous views4 ,many of the ,friars ,minor came to see their ,patriarch1 who received them with every mark of kindness4 ,the vicar made great distinction between them4 ,he was very particular in honoring those whom science and dignities rendered considerable in the ,order2 he never failed giving them the first places1 and he took care to satisfy all they needed2 while he left the others in the lowest places1 and often without attending to their necessary wants4 ,in his station he did what the ,apostle ,st4 ,james forbids all ,christians to do4 ,their common ,father1 who could not endure that so great a difference should be made1 particularly amongst persons of the same ,institute1 affected1 one day1 at table1 after grace had been said1 to call two of the most simple of the brethren1 and to place one on each side of him1 without showing any attention to the merits of others4 ,he did this1 not because he disapproved of peculiar consideration being shown to those to whom it is due1 according to the maxim of ,st4 ,paul1 in consequence of their character1 their dignity1 or their personal qualifications1 but because he did not choose that these considerations should be to the disadvantage of those who had not similar circumstances to recommend them1 and to whom1 according to the same apostle1 besides the feelings of charity to which they and all others are entitled1 a certain degree of honor should be shown4 ,the vicar general1 who was not impressed with a similar way of thinking1 was highly indignant at this act of the ,saint1 and murmuring to himself1 he said3 ,ah6 ,brother ,francis1 it is quite certain that your extreme simplicity will be the ruin of the ,order4 ,you place alongside of you1 men who have neither learning nor talents1 and you affront those who are the support of the ,order by their science4 ,francis1 who by a supernatural revelation1 was made aware of what his vicar had passing in his mind1 replied immediately to his thought3 ,and you1 ,brother ,elias1 you do much greater injury to the ,order by your vanity1 and by the prudence of the flesh1 with which you are filled4 ,the judgments of ,god are impenetrable2 ,he knows you as you are1 and nevertheless1 ,he chose that you should be ,superior of the ,order2 and it is ,his desire that ,i leave it in your hands4 ,alas6 ,i fear that the people1 and he who governs them1 resemble each other1 and that ,god has only given a pastor1 such as ,he foresees the flock will be4 ,the holy ,patriarch well knew that the whole of the flock would not be corrupted by ,brother ,elias1 and that the majority of the members would resist him1 as it came to pass4 ,and thus the fear which he experienced in general terms1 was a warning to keep them all to their duty4 ,but what he added was a true prophecy3 ,unhappy man1 as you are1 you will not die in this ,order2 ,god has so decreed4 ,you have been weighed in the balances1 and have been found wanting1 because you are puffed up with the science of the world4 ,the following is the way in which this matter is related in the ancient legend which is followed by ,st4 ,antoninus4 ,francis1 knowing by a revelation that ,brother ,elias would die out of the ,order1 and would be damned1 avoided conversing with him1 and even seeing him4 ,elias noticed this1 and did not rest till he discovered the reason4 ,terrified and dismayed at such a prophecy1 he threw himself at the feet of his kind master1 and entreated him to intercede with ,god to prevent one of the flock committed to his care1 from perishing eternally3 ,let not the sentence which has been revealed to you1 discourage you2 for the ,lord may change ,his decree1 if the sinner corrects his sin4 ,i have such confidence in your prayers1 my very dear ,father1 that ,i should think they would mitigate my sufferings even if ,i were in hell1 as you have been told ,i shall be4 ,pray for me1 my ,father2 pray1 and ,i have no doubt but that ,god will modify ,his decree1 and that ,i shall be converted4 ,francis prayed1 and obtained from ,god that ,brother ,elias should not be damned1 but he could not obtain the reversal of the decree which said that he should not die in the ,order4 ,it was1 in fact1 out of the ,order that he died2 but1 previous to his death1 he gave great signs of contrition4 ,wading makes on this a judicious remark1 worthy of a sound theologian4 ,he says that ,brother ,elias1 who was universally admitted to be a learned man1 was not ignorant that the decrees of ,god which are absolute1 are immutable1 because ,he ,himself is incapable of change2 but he also knew that the ,lord sometimes expressed ,himself in absolute words against sinners1 which decrees are merely threats1 which may be changed by their repentance1 without ,his changing1 according to what ,he has said by the ,prophet ,jeremy3 ,i will suddenly speak against a nation1 and against a kingdom1 to root out1 and to pull down1 and to destroy it4 ,if that nation against which ,i have spoken shall repent of their evil1 ,i also will repent of the evil that ,i thought to do them4 ,jonas sent from ,god1 had positively announced that in forty days ,nineveh should be destroyed1 and nevertheless the penitence of the ,ninevites hindered the destruction of their city4 ,st4 ,gregory says1 that in this sense ,god changed ,his decrees1 but did not change ,his design2 and ,st4 ,thomas says1 that ,god proposes the change of certain things1 but that in ,his will no change takes place4 ,sinners1 however1 must not abuse this doctrine1 and imagine that ,god only threatens them1 and that ,he will not damn them1 for ,he has an absolute will to damn eternally those who die in mortal sin1 as well as to crown with immortal glory such as die in a state of grace4 ,in truth1 it is ,his wish that sinners should be converted1 and ,he places the means in their power by ,his mercy3 ,but1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 ,he has not promised a to-morrow to your delay2 and as the ,apostle has it3 ,according to thy hardness and impenitent heart thou treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath1 and revelation of the just judgment of ,god1 who will render to every man according to his works4 ,the example of the holy ,patriarch1 who had sought three times1 the crown of martyrdom1 and the triumph of the five brethren martyred at ,morocco1 had inspired many with an ardent desire to die for ,jesus ,christ4 ,shortly after ,elias had been restored as vicar general1 ,daniel1 ,minister in the ,province of ,calabria1 asked leave to go and preach the faith to the ,moors1 with six other brethren1 whose names were ,samuel1 ,donule or ,daniel1 ,leo1 ,hugolin1 ,nicholas1 and ,angelus4 ,having received the permission of the vicar general1 and the blessing of ,francis1 they embarked in a port of ,tuscany1 from whence they sailed to ,tarragona4 ,their first intention was to have gone to ,morocco1 to mingle their blood with that of their martyred brethren1 but some reasons1 probably favorable to their intention1 induced them to go to ,ceuta4 ,daniel arrived first with three of his companions1 the master of the vessel not having thought proper to take on board more4 ,they lived out of the town1 in a village inhabited by traders from ,pisa1 ,genoa1 and ,marseilles1 because ,christians might not enter the town without a particular permission4 ,their occupation here was to preach to these traders1 until they should be joined by their companions1 who arrived there on the #bith of ,september4 ,the following ,friday1 which was the first of ,october1 they consulted together as to their future plans1 and the aids they should require in the formidable combat they were about to sustain4 ,on the ,saturday1 they confessed and received the ,holy ,communion1 without which1 when it is possible to receive it1 ,st4 ,cyprian would not suffer confessors to be exposed to martyrdom for the faith1 because it is the ,body and the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ which gives the strength to endure it4 ,st4 ,chrysostom and ,st4 ,bernard1 also1 say that it is the firmest defence which can be opposed to the temptations of the devil1 and to the allurements of sin1 which are powerful motives for having recourse to frequent ,communion4 ,the seven brothers went forth from the holy table1 according to the expression of ,st4 ,chrysostom1 as roaring lions1 breathing fire and flames1 and they could not restrain the zeal which animated them4 ,on the evening of the same day1 they washed each other's feet1 in order to follow the example of the ,son of ,god1 who washed ,his disciples' feet before ,his ,passion2 and very early on the ,sunday morning1 before there were any persons in the streets1 they entered the town1 having their heads strewed with ashes1 and commenced crying out with a loud voice1 ,there is no salvation but through ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,moors soon collected1 abused and beat them1 and led them to the king4 ,the missionaries then repeated1 in presence of the learned in the law1 what they had previously said to the people1 ,that it is requisite to believe in ,jesus ,christ2 that there is no salvation in any other name than ,his1 which they proved by the most forcible arguments4 ,the king1 who fully understood that in thus upholding the name of ,jesus ,christ they rejected that of ,mahomet1 looked upon them as idiots1 and thought that their shaven heads1 with a crown of hair round them1 was a proof of their folly4 ,however1 to prove their constancy1 he had them confined in a loathsome jail1 where he kept them eight days in irons1 and where they were cruelly treated4 ,their confinement did not prevent their finding means to write to the ,christians who were in the vicinity of ,ceuta4 ,their letter was addressed to ,hugh1 ,cure of the ,genoese1 and to two religious1 one of their own ,order1 and the other of the ,order of ,friars ,preachers1 who had just returned from the farthest part of ,mauritania4 ,they blessed1 in the first instance1 the ,father of ,mercies1 who consoled them in their tribulation2 and1 after having quoted several passages from the ,scriptures to justify their mission and to animate themselves to suffering1 they assured their brethren that they had borne witness1 and strongly argued in presence of the king1 that there is no salvation but in the name of ,jesus ,christ2 and they concluded by referring to ,god the glory of all that they had done4 ,the judge1 whose name was ,arbold1 wishing to see what they did in prison1 saw that they were no longer chained1 that their faces shone with a splendid light1 and that they sang the praises of ,god with extraordinary joy4 ,the king1 having been apprised of this1 caused them to be brought before him on ,sunday1 the tenth of ,october1 and offered them great wealth if they would become ,mussulmen4 ,they boldly replied1 that they utterly despised all the things of this world and of the present life1 in consequence of the happiness of the future life4 ,they were then separated1 and each was separately tempted1 by promises and threats1 but they were all found steadfast in their resolution4 ,daniel1 speaking with great energy1 one of the ,moors cut him across the head with his scimitar1 from which he did not even wince1 and another exhorted him to embrace the law of ,mahomet1 to save his life with honor4 ,wretch6 exclaimed ,daniel1 your ,mahomet and all his followers are but ministers of ,satan1 and your ,koran is but a series of lies2 be no longer misled1 but embrace the ,christian faith4 ,as soon as the seven brothers were collected together1 six of them threw themselves at ,daniel's feet1 who had procured this mission for them1 and who was their leader1 and said to him with tears of joy3 ,we give thanks to ,god and to you1 our father1 for having procured for us the crown of martyrdom2 our souls will follow yours2 bless us and die2 the struggle will be soon over1 and we shall enjoy eternal peace4 ,daniel tenderly embraced them1 gave them his blessing1 and encouraged them by these words3 ,let us rejoice in the ,lord2 this is for us a festival day2 angels surround us1 the heavens are opened to receive us2 this day we shall receive the crown of martyrdom1 which will last forever4 ,in fact1 the king1 seeing that they were resolute1 and not to be shaken1 condemned them to be beheaded4 ,they were stripped1 had their hands tied behind them1 and were taken to the place of execution1 whither they went as to a banquet1 preceded by a herald1 who proclaimed the cause of their death1 and where1 after having recommended their souls to ,god1 they were decapitated1 on the tenth of ,october1 in the year #abba4 ,infidel children and adults broke their skulls to pieces1 and mutilated the remains of the holy martyrs2 but these precious relics were gathered up by the ,christians1 and removed into the storehouse of the ,marseillese1 and were afterwards buried in their dwellings beyond the walls of ,ceuta4 ,it is asserted that some years afterwards they were transferred to the ,church of ,st4 ,mary1 near ,morocco1 and that ,god manifested them by miracles1 and particularly by a splendid light1 which even the ,moors saw during the night2 and that some time afterwards an ,infant of ,portugal1 having obtained them from a ,king of ,morocco1 had them removed into ,spain1 where fresh miracles rendered them celebrated4 ,whatever truth there may be in the account of these translations1 it is not known now where the relics of these seven martyrs are4 ,this is certain--that the faithful had their memory in great veneration1 and that in #aeaf1 the ,friars ,minor solicited leave from ,pope ,leo ,x1 to recite an office in their honor1 which leave he most willingly granted to them1 placing them in the number of martyrs recognized by the ,church1 as they are commemorated in the ,roman ,martyrology on the #acth of ,october4 ,we may imagine the satisfaction their triumph gave to ,francis1 from the ardent desire he always evinced for the crown of martyrdom1 and the tender love he bore for his children4 ,he had1 moreover1 in this year another great consolation on this subject4 ,pope ,honorius sent to almost all the bishops of ,europe1 desiring them to send him four men from each province1 or at least two1 noted for their science and the integrity of their lives1 whom it was his intention to commission to preach to the idolaters1 and to the ,saracens1 for whose conversion he was most anxious1 and amongst the number thus selected there were many ,friars ,minors1 and ,friars ,preachers who generously exposed themselves to every sort of peril for the salvation of souls4 ,the intimate union which the love of ,god had formed between ,st4 ,dominic and ,st4 ,francis1 induces us to note here1 that the blessed ,patriarch of the ,dominicans died this year1 on the sixth day of ,august at the age of fifty-one years4 ,the eminent sanctity of his life1 the great miracles he performed2 the ardor and splendor of his zeal for the destruction of heresy2 his inviolable attachment to the holy ,see2 his tender piety to the ,blessed ,virgin1 whom he causes to be generally and daily honored in the devotion of the ,rosary2 and the establishment of his ,order1 so useful by its science1 by its piety1 and by the great service it still renders to the ,church1 cause him to be illustrious through the entire ,church4 ,among the ,friars ,minor1 there is not one who1 if animated by the spirit of ,st4 ,francis1 must not have a special devotion for ,him1 and a respectful affection for those of his order4 ,charity1 which inflamed the breast of ,francis1 soon drew him from his retreat4 ,he set out at the beginning of the year #abbb1 for the ,terra di ,lavoro1 ,apulia and ,calabria1 and1 in the course of this journey1 ,god worked many splendid miracles by his hand4 ,passing1 first1 through the ,town of ,toscanella1 on the road to ,rome1 he received hospitality from a knight1 whose only son was lame in both legs1 and was in a state of suffering through his whole body4 ,the afflicted father asked him to procure the cure of his son from ,god2 he abstained from doing this for some time out of humility1 esteeming himself unworthy of being loved by others1 but being prevailed upon by reiterated entreaties1 he placed his hands upon him1 and made the sign of the cross upon the boy1 who1 at the same moment1 stood upright and firm on his legs1 and was entirely cured1 to the great astonishment of his whole family4 ,at ,rome1 he made acquaintance1 and became intimate with a nobleman1 named ,mathew de ,rubeis1 of the illustrious family of the ,orsini4 ,one day1 on which he had been invited to dinner there1 and having got there at the appointed hour1 not finding his host yet returned from town1 he joined1 unperceived1 the poor to whom they were giving a meal1 and he received the alms with them4 ,the nobleman arrived shortly after1 and inquired where ,brother ,francis was1 and as they did not find him1 he declared he would not eat his dinner1 if he did not come4 ,while they were looking for him1 he saw him seated in the yard with a group of poor4 ,he went to him1 and said3 ,brother ,francis1 since you won't dine with me1 ,i am come to dine with you2 which he did1 placing himself on the ground near him1 and in the group1 where he found himself very comfortable in that company4 ,when he heard that the holy man had established a ,third ,order for secular persons of all ranks1 he prayed for admission into it1 and had himself instructed in the practices to be observed4 ,the consideration which his rank in life gave him in the world1 threw great splendor on the new institution1 and drew many persons to it4 ,there was a little child called ,john whom he requested ,francis to bless2 the servant of ,god gave him his blessing2 he took him in his arms and foretold to all there that he would bring great glory to his house1 and that he would be ,sovereign ,pontiff4 ,then1 fixing his eyes upon the child1 he spoke to him as if he had had the use of reason2 he entreated him seriously1 and in most affectionate terms1 to be favorable to his ,order2 after which the prophet continued as follows3 ,he will not be a religious of our ,order1 but he will be its protector2 he will not be reckoned among its children1 but he will be acknowledged as its father2 and our brethren will be delighted at seeing themselves under his shadow4 ,i consider the immense benefits we shall receive from this child1 ,i see them already in his little hands4 ,such a prediction caused as much pleasure as surprise to the lord of the family of the ,orsini1 but he never spoke of it till he saw its fulfilment1 which happened fifty-five years afterwards4 ,his son1 cardinal1 under the title of ,st4 ,nicholas1 was chosen ,pope in the year #abgg1 and took the name of ,nicholas ,,iii4 ,his singular benevolence for the ,order of the ,friars ,minor showed that its holy ,founder had not spoken in vain to him in his infancy4 ,from ,rome ,francis went to visit the ,grotto of ,st4 ,benedict4 ,he considered with great attention the bush covered with thorns1 into which the great ,patriarch of the monastic life had the courage to throw himself1 in order to overcome a temptation of the flesh4 ,in admiration of such extraordinary fervor1 he touched this bush as a sacred relic2 he kissed it1 and made on it the sign of the cross4 ,god1 in order to honor his two servants1 changed it immediately into a beautiful rose-tree1 the flowers of which have served in many cases for the cure of the sick2 the place has since been held in greater respect4 ,in a chapel which is near it1 and which was consecrated by ,gregory ,,ix1 we see that ,pope1 with ,francis on his left hand1 who holds a scroll of paper1 on which these words1 taken from the ,gospel of ,st4 ,luke1 are written1 ,peace be to this house1 words which he constantly used as a salutation4 ,the remainder of his journey was remarkable for many other wonders which were worked through his means1 in announcing the word of ,god4 ,while preaching at ,gaeta1 on the border of the sea1 seeing that a crowd of people were anxious1 from a devotional feeling1 to touch him1 he threw himself into a boat to avoid these demonstrations of respect1 which were disagreeable to him4 ,the boat1 which had no sailors in it1 floated to a certain distance out to sea1 and then became stationary2 from thence he gave instruction to those who were on the shore1 and the crowd dispersing after having received his blessing1 the boat returned of itself to its former place4 ,st4 ,bonaventure thereupon says3--,who1 after this1 will have a heart so hardened and so irreligious as to despise the preaching of ,francis1 to which inanimate things lent their aid1 as if they had reasoning faculties8 ,the inhabitants of ,gaeta1 admiring the power which ,god gave to ,his servant1 entreated him to stay some time in their town1 and to permit them to build there a convent for his ,order4 ,he assented to this1 and the work was commenced forthwith4 ,while the church was in progress1 a carpenter was crushed by the falling of a beam4 ,as the other workmen were carrying him home1 ,francis1 who was returning from the country1 met them1 and directed them to lay the dead man on the ground2 he then made the sign of the cross on him1 took him by the hand1 called him by his name1 and commanded him to arise4 ,the dead man rose immediately and went back to his work4 ,this is well-known in the country by successive tradition1 and a small chapel has been erected1 under due authority1 on the spot where the miracle was performed1 in order to perpetuate the memory thereof4 ,the earliest authors of the life of our ,saint record a very singular miracle which he performed on his route1 in the house of a gentleman4 ,all the inhabitants of the place were gone to the great square to hear him preach4 ,a female servant who had been left in a house to take care of a child1 wishing to hear the sermon1 left the child alone4 ,on her return1 she found the child dead1 and half-boiled in a copper of hot water1 into which it had fallen4 ,she took it out1 and in order to hide the disaster from the father and mother1 she shut it up in a trunk2 the parents1 however1 learnt their misfortune1 which was the more afflicting as this was their only child4 ,the husband entreated his wife not to let her distress appear1 out of respect for the servant of ,god1 who was to dine with them4 ,during dinner1 ,francis endeavored to inspire them with a holy joy1 knowing what the ,almighty had in store for their consolation1 and at the end of the dinner he feigned a wish to eat some apples4 ,they expressed their regret that they had none to offer him2 but pointing to the trunk in which the child was shut up1 he said3 ,let them look there1 and some will be found4 ,it was in vain that they assured him that there were none there2 he insisted on having the trunk opened4 ,the gentleman1 to oblige him1 and with a view of hiding the object of their grief1 opened the trunk1 when1 judge of his astonishment on finding his child alive and well1 and1 with a smiling countenance1 holding an apple in each hand4 ,transported with joy1 he carried the child and placed it in the arms of the holy man4 ,the people of ,capua were so moved by his preaching1 and by the miracles he performed1 particularly on his having saved from the waters a woman whom the river ,volturnus had carried off1 that the town made him the offer of a convent4 ,st4 ,anastasius1 ,bishop of ,civita di ,penna1 gave him another1 with great marks of regard1 after having gone out to meet him1 on an inspiration he had in his sleep that ,francis would come the next day to his town1 a circumstance which is recorded by a painting in the church1 and is explained in two ,latin verses4 ,the servant of ,god having preached during the entire day at ,montella1 went to pass the night in a wood in the vicinity of that town1 where he seated himself with his companion under an evergreen oak4 ,some persons who passed by1 in the morning1 perceived that there was no snow where the two religious sat1 although there had been a heavy fall in the night1 and they related the circumstance to the ,lord of ,montella1 who sent for ,francis1 and entreated him to remain in that country1 or to leave some of his companions amongst them1 for the instruction of the people4 ,he left two1 for whom they built a house on the very spot where heaven had been so favorable to him4 ,the force which ,god gave to his discourses1 and the miracles of which ,he made him the instrument1 converted sinners1 and animated the piety of the good4 ,both the one and the other were anxious to retain him amongst them1 or1 at least1 to have some of his religious4 ,in this journey alone1 he founded more than twenty houses1 among which was one at ,amalfi1 whither his devotion had led him to honor the relics of the ,apostle ,st4 ,andrew4 ,the inhabitants of ,acropoli1 who at first had been deaf to his instruction1 were penetrated with contrition1 and gave him a convent1 after having been reproached with the hardness of their hearts by a multitude of fish1 that ,god caused to collect round a rock from which ,francis preached those truths which this people had refused to listen to4 ,the ,emperor ,frederic ,,ii was1 at that time1 with his court at ,bari4 ,the servant of ,god went there1 no doubt1 to venerate the relics of the great bishop ,st4 ,nicholas2 he preached in the town1 and as his discourses were always made suitable to the wants of his auditors1 he spoke energetically on the dangers of the court1 and particularly against impurity4 ,on leaving ,bari1 he found on the road a purse1 which appeared to be full of money4 ,his companion1 who was aware of his great charity1 said that he ought to take it for the poor4 ,francis refused to do so1 saying that it was only a snare of the devil1 and that1 if it was really money which had been lost1 it would not be right to take what belonged to others to give away in alms2 so they continued their route4 ,his companion was not satisfied2 he thought that an opportunity was lost of doing a good action1 and he tired ,francis with his remonstrances4 ,the holy man1 who was very mild and very obliging1 returned to the spot where the purse was1 not intending to do what his companion wished1 but to expose to him the artifice of the evil spirit4 ,a young man was passing at the time1 in whose presence he told his companion to take up the purse2 he1 trembling from a secret misgiving of what was about to happen1 would have been glad not to have anything to do with it2 but1 obliged to obey1 he put his hand to it1 which he had no sooner done than he saw a large snake slide out1 which disappeared with the purse4 ,on which1 ,francis said to his companions3 ,brother1 money is1 as regards the servants of ,god1 but as a venomous serpent1 and even the devil himself4 ,we may here add1 that it is the same thing for those who are too fond of it1 and who avariciously keep it1 or make it serve for the gratification of their passions4 ,a chapel1 which has been built in that place1 is a memorial of the teaching of the ,patriarch to the poor of ,jesus ,christ4 ,his devotion induced him also to visit the grotto consecrated by the apparition of the ,archangel ,michael1 on ,mount ,gargano4 ,they wished1 out of respect1 to take him to the very spot where the blessed spirit was manifested1 and where mass is offered up1 a privilege which is not allowed to all4 ,but through humility he stopped at the door1 and1 as he was urged to enter1 he said3 ,i dare not go farther2 this place is awful2 it is the dwelling of angels1 whom men should respect in all ways4 ,the place where he stopped to pray is shown to this day4 ,these sentiments of humility should abash those ,christians who crowd round our altars in unbecoming postures1 and particularly those worldly women who1 in immodest postures and in an air of vanity1 approach contemptuously the sanctuary in which the ,sacred ,body of ,jesus reposes4 ,francis placed some of his religious near ,mount ,gargano and in some other parts1 after which he came to ,gubbio1 where he cured a woman1 the sinews of whose hands were contracted4 ,near ,gubbio1 a soldier called ,benvenuto1 asked to be admitted into the ,order2 he was admitted as a lay-brother1 with directions to wait upon the lepers4 ,profound humility1 implicit obedience1 an ardent charity1 the love of poverty and of silence1 assiduity in prayer1 perfect patience in sickness1 and a tender devotion to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 rendered this soldier an excellent religious4 ,god honored him with so many miracles during his lifetime and after his death1 which happened in the year #abcb1 that ,pope ,gregory ,,ix had information taken on the subject1 in #abcf1 through the ,bishops of ,malfi1 ,molfetta1 and ,venosa1 and permitted these three dioceses to allot to him an office1 which is now said by the whole ,order of ,friars ,minor4 ,there lived1 between ,gubbio and ,massa1 an old advocate of the ,roman court1 called ,bartholomew ,baro1 who had retired thither to avoid the tumults and dangers of the world1 and lived in great reputation of sanctity4 ,francis1 delighted at what he had heard of him1 wished to see him4 ,they discoursed on spiritual things1 and ,bartholomew1 hearing that there was a ,third ,order1 willingly entered it4 ,the holy ,founder who saw that great prudence was associated with his consummate piety1 placed confidence in him regarding the affairs of his ,order1 and left some of his religious with him4 ,st4 ,antoninus relates1 that ,bartholomew had in his hermitage a man possessed by the devil1 who was incessantly talking1 but who did not speak a word during the three days that ,francis was there4 ,after his departure he recommenced talking1 and ,bartholomew having asked him why1 during the stay of ,francis1 he had kept silence3 ,it was1 he said1 because ,god had so tied his tongue that it was out of his power to speak a single word4 ,how is it1 then1 replied ,bartholomew3 is ,francis so great a man1 that his presence has such an effect8 ,truly1 rejoined the demoniac1 his virtue is so great1 that all the world will see in him most wonderful things4 ,it is not long since our prince called us all together1 and told us that ,god1 who in all times had sent men for the conversion of sinners1 has similar designs in regard to this man1 and that ,jesus ,christ proposes to renew ,his passion in ,francis1 in order to imprint it in the hearts of men from whence it is obliterated4 ,as this was said two years before ,francis received the stigmata1 it would seem that the prince of darkness had some knowledge of the favors which ,jesus ,christ intended to confer on ,francis4 ,st4 ,augustine says1 that the ,son of ,god made ,himself known to the demons on earth1 making certain signs to them of ,his presence2 but that it was only as far as ,he thought proper2 that ,he made use of it1 when necessary to inspire them with terror2 and that1 at other times1 ,he left them in doubt as to ,his divinity4 ,according to this doctrine1 it might be said that ,god1 to confound the demons1 had made known to their chief ,his intention to renew the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ in the person of ,francis1 without informing him in what manner this was to happen1 for it is certain that this spirit of darkness1 neither by his natural lights1 nor by conjectures1 had the means of discovering a favor which solely depended on the ,divine will4 ,at length1 having labored for the salvation of souls with great fatigue1 nearly the whole year1 the holy ,patriarch returned to his dear home1 ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 to attend more immediately to his own sanctification4 ,he there received ,brother ,casar of ,spire1 who had returned from ,germany1 and the subject of whose mission we must now resume1 having lost sight of it since the year #abba4 ,this zealous missionary left ,italy with twenty-seven companions1 divided into small parties1 and before the ,feast of ,st4 ,michael1 they arrived successfully at ,trent1 where they remained fifteen days1 during which the bishop provided liberally for all their wants4 ,on the day of the festival1 ,casar preached to the clergy1 and ,barnabas to the people4 ,an inhabitant of the town1 named ,pellegrino1 was so moved by ,barnabas's discourse1 that he had all the brethren newly clothed1 and shortly afterwards he sold all his property1 gave it to the poor1 and took the same habit himself4 ,casar left some of the brethren at ,trent1 exhorting them to the practice of patience and humility1 and then set out with the remainder4 ,on their way they attended with greater interest to spiritual than temporal wants1 although they had commissioned some of their companions to provide what was necessary for them4 ,the ,bishop of ,trent1 whom they found at ,posen1 detained them for some days1 and gave them leave to preach in the whole of his diocese4 ,from thence they went to ,brixen1 where the bishop received them very charitably2 but from thence they had much to suffer in the mountains1 where they could procure nothing to eat1 after long and fatiguing marches1 and were reduced to feed upon wild fruits1 and even then they had a scruple of tasting these on ,friday morning1 because it was1 by their rule1 a fast1 although they had slept in the open air1 and had had scarcely anything to eat the preceding day4 ,but ,god supported them1 and they reached ,augsburg1 where the bishop embraced them all1 and gave them special marks of his benevolence4 ,in #abba1 near the ,feast of ,st4 ,gall1 which is on the sixteenth of ,october1 ,casar assembled the first chapter of the ,order which had been held in ,germany2 there were about thirty of his brethren1 whom he distributed in several provinces of this vast country4 ,some were sent to ,wurtzburg1 ,mentz1 ,worms1 ,spire1 and ,cologne1 where they exerted themselves with much success for the salvation of souls1 and built convents4 ,giordano was sent with two companions to ,saltzburg1 and the archbishop of that city received them with great benevolence4 ,three others went to ,ratisboa1 where they founded an excellent establishment4 ,the provincial followed them1 animating them by word and example4 ,while at ,wurtzburg1 he gave the habit of the ,friars ,minor to a young man of good family1 named ,hartmod1 who had enjoyed a good education4 ,he called him ,andrew1 because the day of his reception was that of the holy ,apostle4 ,andrew1 having taken holy orders some time after1 became a celebrated preacher1 and was the first warden in ,saxony4 ,rodinger was also admitted into the ,order1 who was afterwards warden of the convent of ,halberstad1 and director of ,st4 ,elizabeth of ,hungary1 before ,dr4 ,conrad of ,marburg4 ,in #abbb1 ,casar1 having received a great number of novices1 some of whom were made priests1 assembled a chapter at ,worms1 and finding that the ,order was taking firm root in ,germany1 he instituted as vice-provincial1 ,thomas de ,celano1 and returned into ,italy with ,simon de ,collazon1 who had preferred the humble state of ,friar ,minor to the nobility of his birth4 ,the reason of ,casar's return was the anxious desire he had to see once more his holy ,patriarch1 and his companions in the ,valley of ,spoleto1 with whom he was intimately united through virtue4 ,he was a man greatly attached to contemplation1 very zealous for holy poverty1 and highly esteemed by his brethren1 who1 after their holy ,father1 looked up to him above any other4 ,the religious whom he had left in ,germany pursued their mission with great success4 ,even in this year1 or shortly after1 they penetrated1 with the ,friars ,preachers1 into the ,kingdom of ,sweden1 and into some other countries of the ,north1 according to the testimony of ,john the ,great4 ,archbishop of ,upsal1 and ,legate of the ,holy ,see1 who notices this circumstance in the history of his church4 ,this prelate remarks that one of the first who entered the ,institute of the ,friars ,minor1 was ,laurence ,octavius1 an illustrious man1 whose conversion made such a sensation1 that it drew into the ,order many persons of high rank4 ,the poor habit which he wore1 and which he honored by his splendid virtues1 and particularly by love of suffering1 did not render it less venerable than his sciences4 ,octavius could not avoid giving his consent1 in the year #abdd or #abde1 to the election which was unanimously made of his person1 by the clergy and people1 for the ,archbishopric of ,upsal1 which was confirmed by ,innocent ,,iv4 ,in this dignity1 he continued to live the life of a true ,friar ,minor1 and did so much for the salvation of his flock1 as well as for the benefit of the whole kingdom1 that1 if heresy had not destroyed in ,sweden all sentiments of piety with the light of faith1 his memory would still be honored there as one of their greatest as well as holiest persons4 ,he died a saintly death1 in the year #abfg1 and chose to be buried among the ,friars ,minor1 with whom he would have gladly spent his life4 ,while the ,institute of ,st4 ,francis thus flourished in ,germany and in the ,north1 a treasure was discovered in ,italy1 which had been up to this time overlooked4 ,it was the great ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua1 who was leading a hidden life in the ,hermitage of ,st4 ,paul near ,bologna4 ,his superior sent him1 with some others1 to ,forli1 in ,romagna1 to take orders4 ,some ,friars ,preachers were also present4 ,being assembled together at the hour of conference1 the superior of the place requested the ,friars ,preachers to give them an exhortation4 ,as they excused themselves because they were not prepared1 he turned to ,anthony1 and without being aware of the depth of his learning1 he ordered him to say whatever the ,holy ,spirit should suggest to him4 ,anthony replied with great humility that he was ill fitted for such a task1 and that he was much more qualified for cleaning the plates than for preaching4 ,however1 yielding to the superior's reiterated order1 he began to discourse with simplicity and timidity2 but ,god1 proposing to place conspicuously the lamp which was hidden under the bushel1 he continued his discourse with so much eloquence1 and showed himself to possess so profoundly learned a doctrine1 that the audience was most agreeably surprised1 and admitted that they had never heard anything to equal it2 and they did not know which most to admire1 his learning or his humility4 ,it was1 indeed1 requisite to be possessed of rare and extraordinary humility1 to hide with so much care such sublime learning1 and talents so varied2 for ,anthony had earnestly requested the guardian of the convent in which he was1 to employ him in cleaning the plates and dishes1 and in sweeping the house4 ,this man1 who1 according to the saying of the ,apostle1 was ,a vessel of honor1 sanctified and profitable to the ,lord1 prepared unto every good work1 treated himself1 and wished to be considered by his companions1 as one of the vilest amongst men4 ,he was deserving of the highest place1 and took the very lowest4 ,he was so deeply versed in the ,holy ,scriptures1 that his memory served him as a book2 and he penetrated so well into the most obscure passages that he was the admiration of the most profound theologians2 but he was more anxious to be confounded with the unlearned1 and to be unknown1 than to let his learning be discovered1 and to appear capable of instructing others4 ,we may here notice a reflection of ,st4 ,bernard on a somewhat similar case3 ,let this passage be remarked by those who undertake to teach what they have not learnt themselves2 seeking for scholars1 without having had masters1 they are the blind leading the blind4 ,but justice is done them2 although it is admitted that they have some talent1 it is soon found that they have nothing solid1 and they are treated with contempt4 ,the fortunate discovery that was thus made of the talents of ,anthony1 soon reached the ears of ,francis1 who ordered him to apply himself to the pulpit4 ,he desired1 however1 that the preacher1 in order to exercise his ministry with the greatest effect1 should study theology at ,vercelli1 under the ,abbot of ,st4 ,andrew1 who gave lessons with great reputation1 and who is supposed to have been the celebrated ,doctor ,thomas1 a canon regular of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,victor of ,paris4 ,he was sent to be the first abbot at the ,abbey of ,st4 ,andrew of ,vercelli1 which was founded about the year #abbj4 ,anthony had as a fellow-student another ,friar ,minor1 named ,adam de ,marisco1 an ,englishman1 who was afterwards a doctor of the ,university of ,oxford1 the holiness of his life1 his learning1 and his writings rendered him famous throughout the whole realm of ,england4 ,he was subsequently elected ,bishop of ,ely4 ,the application which ,anthony gave to the study of theology did not prevent his preaching during all ,lent at ,milan1 and at other times in some parts of the duchy4 ,but his preaching was no hindrance to his studies1 because the lights he had previously acquired1 and those he received from above1 together with his splendid talents1 gave him an insight into the most sublime truths4 ,his progress was so quick and so great1 that his master often declared1 that he learnt many things from his scholar4 ,speaking of the book of the celestial hierarchy which he was explaining1 he said that his scholar ran over the several orders of blessed spirits with so much precision1 and a penetration so surprising1 that it might have been thought that the whole heavenly host passed before him4 ,this exalted wisdom1 joined to his eminent virtues1 induced his illustrious preceptor to give him the name of ,saint1 and to apply our ,blessed ,lord's eulogy of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist to him3 ,he was a burning and a shining light4 ,anthony was requested by his fellow-students to communicate to them the learning in which he abounded1 and to give lessons in the convent1 but he would not take upon himself to exercise the functions of master1 without having first consulted the holy ,founder of the ,order4 ,he wrote to him on the subject1 and received the following answer3 ,to my dear ,brother ,anthony1 ,brother ,francis sends greeting in ,jesus ,christ4 ,i entirely approve of your teaching the brethren sacred theology2 in such a manner1 however1 that the spirit of prayer be not extinguished in you or in them1 according to the rule which we profess4 ,adieu4 ,this is a proof that ,francis was not hostile to study1 but that he only wished it to be conducted in a religious manner1 without prejudice to piety4 ,anthony1 having obtained leave1 taught first at ,montpellier1 and then at ,bologna1 where studies were again set on foot1 to which disobedience had put a stop1 as has been said2 then he taught at ,padua1 at ,toulouse1 and in other places where he was stationed3 always joining to this holy exercise1 that of preaching with wonderful success4 ,at the time when he began taking lessons from the ,abbot of ,vercelli1 the most celebrated doctor of the ,university of ,paris took the habit of the ,friars ,minor4 ,this was ,alexander d',hales or d',hels1 or ,hales1 thus named from the place of his birth in the ,county of ,gloucester1 where1 from the year #abdf1 ,richard1 ,earl of ,cornwall1 had founded a convent of the ,order of ,citeaux4 ,having gone through his course of humanities in ,england1 he came to ,paris1 where he studied philosophy and theology1 took a doctor's degree1 taught1 and was universally admired4 ,st4 ,antoninus believes that what led to his vocation was this3 having made a vow to grant1 if he possibly could1 whatever should be asked of him for the love of the ,blessed ,virgin1 for whom he had a singular devotion1 a person who was questing for the ,friars ,minor1 came and said to him3 ,it is now long enough that you have been laboring for the world1 and you have acquired celebrity in it4 ,i entreat you1 for the love of ,god1 and of the ,blessed ,virgin1 to enter into our ,order1 which you will honor1 and you will sanctify yourself4 ,the doctor was surprised at this request1 but ,god touched his heart1 and he replied to the brother3 ,i shall follow you very soon2 and shall do as you wish1 and shortly after1 he took the habit of a ,friar ,minor4 ,others1 however1 are of opinion1 that he was induced to quit the world by the example of his fellow-countryman1 ,john of ,st4 ,gilles1 an illustrious doctor1 who1 preaching one day to the clergy1 with great energy1 on voluntary poverty1 in the convent of the ,friars ,preachers1 descended from the pulpit in the middle of his sermon1 and in order to give force to his words by his example1 he took the habit of ,st4 ,dominic1 and returned to the pulpit to finish his discourse4 ,however this may be1 the holy life and happy death of ,alexander ,hales in the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 bore testimony to his having been called by ,god4 ,it is said that1 at first1 the practices were difficult to him1 and that some interior suffering made him think of leaving the ,order1 but that1 in this agitation1 he saw in spirit ,francis bearing a heavy wooden cross1 and endeavoring to carry it up a very steep hill2 that he offered to assist him1 but that the holy ,patriarch spurned his aid indignantly1 saying3 ,begone1 you feeble man2 you have not the courage to bear your own light cross1 and you would attempt to bear this heavy one6 ,this vision having enlightened the doctor who was a novice1 he was delivered entirely from the temptation under which he labored4 ,he continued to teach with the same repute2 and the faculty of theology1 to do honor to his merits1 gave him the privilege of presenting one of his brethren and disciples for a doctor's degree2 which he did the first time by an interior revelation1 in favor of ,brother ,john de la ,rochelle1 who afterwards became very celebrated4 ,alexander had many other disciples distinguished both for their learning and their piety1 but there are none who have done more honor to his instructions than ,st4 ,bonaventure1 and1 according to the opinion of many authors1 ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas4 ,among his writings1 which are very numerous1 and on all sorts of subjects1 his ,summa is much esteemed1 in which1 by order of ,pope ,innocent ,,iv1 he arranged methodically the theological subjects4 ,this is the first ,summa which was compiled1 and it has served as a model for all others4 ,pope ,alexander ,,iv spoke in the highest terms1 both of the author and of his work4 ,gerson1 ,chancellor of the ,university of ,paris1 in speaking of ,alexander's doctrine1 expresses himself as follows3 ,it is not to be told how many excellent things it contains4 ,i declare to have read in a treatise1 that some one having asked ,st4 ,thomas what was the best mode of studying theology1 he replied1 ',to study the works of a single theologian2' and being asked what theologian it was desirable to fix on1 he named ,alexander ,hales4 ,thus1 continues ,gerson1 the writings of ,st4 ,thomas1 and principally the ,seconda ,seconda1 show how familiar the works and doctrine of ,alexander were to him4 ,so then learned men entered the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 as ,st4 ,francis had foretold2 and this is the reason why he recommended that prayer should be joined to study1 lest learning should obliterate piety4 ,the indulgence granted to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or the ,portiuncula1 two years previous to this time1 had not yet had the day fixed on which the faithful could gain it4 ,francis waited till ,jesus ,christ1 who first conceded so precious a boon1 should ,himself mark the day1 nor was he disappointed4 ,it occurred as follows3 ,one night1 when he was praying in his cell1 at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 in the beginning of the year #abbc1 the tempter suggested to him not to watch and pray so much1 but rather to adopt other modes of penance1 because1 from his age1 more sleep and rest was absolutely necessary for him1 and these watchings would be his death4 ,being aware of the malice of his infernal enemy1 he retired to the woods1 and threw himself down into a bush of briars and thorns1 till he was covered with blood4 ,for1 said he to himself1 it is much better that ,i should suffer these pains with ,jesus ,christ1 than that ,i should follow the advice of an enemy who flatters me4 ,a brilliant light which surrounded him1 disclosed to him a great number of white and red roses1 although it was the month of ,january1 and the winter was very severe4 ,this was an effect of the power of ,god1 who had changed the briars into rose-trees1 which have ever since been evergreen and without thorns4 ,angels1 who appeared in great numbers1 said to him3 ,francis1 hasten to return to the ,church1 ,jesus ,christ is there1 together with ,his ,blessed ,mother4 ,at the same time1 he perceived himself miraculously clothed with a new habit of pure white2 he gathered twelve roses of each color1 and went to the church4 ,after a profound adoration he addressed the following prayer to ,jesus ,christ1 under the protection of the most ,blessed ,virgin3 ,most holy ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 ,saviour of man1 deign1 through ,thy great mercy1 to fix the day of the indulgence which ,thou hast been pleased to grant to this sacred place4 ,our ,lord answered him1 that it was ,his desire that it should be from the evening of the vigil of the day when ,st4 ,peter the ,apostle was delivered from his chains1 to the evening of the following day4 ,francis1 again asking in what manner this should be publicly made known1 and whether his own assertion would be given credit to1 he was directed to present himself before the vicar of ,jesus ,christ1 to take with him some white and red roses as testimonials of the truth of the fact1 also a number of his own brethren1 who would testify to what they had heard2 for1 from the cells which were near the church1 they had1 indeed1 heard all that had been said4 ,then the angels sang the hymn ,te ,deum laudamus4 ,francis took three roses of each color in honor of the ,most ,blessed ,trinity1 and the vision disappeared4 ,francis1 accompanied by ,brothers ,bernard de ,quintavalle1 ,peter of ,catania1 and ,angelus of ,rieti1 set out for ,rome1 where he related to the ,pope all that had happened at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 in proof whereof1 he presented to him the roses he had brought1 and his companions testified to what they had heard4 ,the ,pope1 astonished to see such beautiful and sweet-smelling roses in the depth of winter1 said3 ,as to myself1 ,i believe the truth of what you tell me1 but it is a matter which must be submitted to the cardinals for their opinions4 ,in the meantime1 he directed his attendants to see that they should not want for anything4 ,the next day1 they came before the consistory1 where ,francis1 by the ,pope's desire1 said1 in presence of the cardinals3 ,it is the will of ,god that whoever shall1 with a contrite and humble heart1 after having confessed his sins1 and received absolution by a priest1 enter the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 in the ,diocese of ,assisi1 between the first vespers of the first day of ,august and the vespers of the second day1 shall obtain an entire remission of all the sins he may have committed from his ,baptism until that moment4 ,the ,sovereign ,pontiff1 seeing that the words of ,francis were not thought to have any deceit in them1 having conferred with the cardinals thereon for some time1 confirmed the indulgence4 ,and he subsequently ordered the ,bishops of ,assisi1 ,perugia1 ,todi1 ,spoleto1 ,foligno1 ,nocera1 and ,gubbio1 to meet at the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 on the first of ,august of that year1 and there solemnly to publish this indulgence4 ,all these prelates met on the day specified1 and having mounted a large platform1 which had been prepared outside of the church1 they made ,francis mount there also1 to explain to the assembly1 which was very numerous and gathered from all parts of the country1 the cause of their meeting4 ,he spoke with so much fervor that it seemed to be rather an angel who addressed the meeting than a man1 and he ended his discourse by announcing the plenary and perpetual indulgence which ,god and the ,sovereign ,pontiff granted to this church every year on that day4 ,the bishops were not satisfied with his publishing it to be in perpetuity4 ,brother ,francis1 they said1 although the ,pope desires us to do on this occasion whatever you wish1 it is not1 however1 his intention that we should do things which are not suitable2 therefore you must give notice that the indulgence is only to last for ten years4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi was the first to restrict it to this time1 but he could not help saying1 as ,st4 ,francis had1 in perpetuity4 ,the other bishops endeavored successively to announce this restriction1 but ,god permitted that1 without intending it1 they should all say1 in perpetuity4 ,by this1 they were made sensible of the will of ,god1 and willingly proclaimed the indulgence to be perpetual4 ,many of those who were at the sermon preached by ,francis1 have left testimony in writing to the effect1 that he had in his hand a small scroll on which was written these words3 ,i wish you all to go to ,paradise4 ,i announce to you a plenary indulgence which ,i have obtained from the goodness of our ,heavenly ,father1 and from the mouth of the ,sovereign ,pontiff4 ,all you who are assembled here to-day1 and with a contrite and humble heart have confessed with sincerity1 and have received absolution from a priest1 will have remission of all your sins2 and in like manner1 those who come every year with similar dispositions1 will obtain the same4 ,such is the way in which the famous indulgence of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 or of ,portiuncula1 was published on the second day of ,august2 an indulgence which the ,sovereign ,pontiffs have since extended to all the churches of the ,order of ,st4 ,francis4 ,the seven prelates consecrated the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 and performed a similar ceremony for the ,church of ,st4 ,damian1 at the request of ,francis and ,clare4 ,the remembrance of this is commemorated yearly at ,assisi1 on the ninth of ,august4 ,the benevolent feeling which ,honorius ,,iii expressed to the holy ,patriarch1 when he was at ,rome1 for the indulgence of the ,portiuncula1 induced him to wish that this ,pontiff would authorize solemnly the ,rule of the ,order1 which ,innocent ,,iii had only verbally approved4 ,he had in the night the following revelation1 which is thus recorded by ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,it seemed to him that he had taken up from the ground some very small crumbs of bread1 in order to distribute them to the half-starved brethren who surrounded him1 and how1 fearful lest such small crumbs should fall out of his hands1 a heavenly voice said to him3 ,francis1 collect all these crumbs and make a host of them1 and give of it to such as wish to eat of it4 ,he did so1 and all those who did not partake of it devoutly1 or treated it contemptuously1 after having received it1 seemed to be infected with leprosy4 ,in the morning1 he related all this to his companions1 and was distressed at not comprehending the mystery4 ,the following day1 while he was at prayer1 a voice from heaven said to him3 ,francis1 the crumbs of last night are the words of the ,gospel1 the host is the ,rule1 and the leprosy is iniquity4 ,the term of ,host1 to designate the ,rule1 is worthy of particular consideration4 ,its import is that1 as bread without leaven1 which is called the ,host1 is made of the finest flour1 so the ,rule is composed of what is most perfect in the ,gospel2 and as this bread1 by the words of consecration1 is changed into the ,body of ,jesus ,christ1 the true ,host immolated on the altar1 so those who make profession of the ,rule1 must be transformed into hosts1 or victims1 and immolate themselves to ,god4 ,it is thus that ,st4 ,paul warns ,christians1 ,to become as a new paste without leaven1 and to pass the whole time of their lives as a continual festival1 presenting their bodies a living sacrifice1 holy and pleasing unto ,god4 ,st4 ,peter also says to them1 that they are a ,spiritual house1 a holy priesthood1 to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to ,god by ,jesus ,christ4 ,the oracle of ,heaven communicated to ,francis that the ,rule which he sought to have approved1 and which was composed of sentences from the ,gospel1 required abridgment1 and putting into order with greater precision4 ,in order to effect this1 he was inspired1 after the publication of the indulgence1 to go to ,mount ,columbo1 near ,rieti1 where he retired into an opening in the rock1 with ,brothers ,leo and ,bonzio1 fasting on bread and water2 and this fast1 according to the statement of ,marianus1 lasted forty days4 ,there he wrote the ,rule1 according to the dictation of the ,holy ,spirit manifested to him1 in prayer4 ,on his return to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 he put it into the hands of his vicar1 ,brother ,elias1 to read it1 and keep it4 ,elias thought it too severe1 and some days afterwards1 in order to suppress it1 he feigned to have lost it by negligence4 ,the holy men returned to the same place1 and wrote it out a second time1 as if ,god had dictated it to him with ,his own mouth4 ,the vicar-general communicated to some of the provincial ministers what had happened1 and told them that the ,founder was desirous of imposing upon them a stricter mode of life than that to which they had hitherto adhered4 ,they concerted together what they should do to avert this1 and it was agreed that ,elias1 as vicar-general1 should go and represent to him the inconvenience of such increased austerity1 and the objections of his brethren4 ,elias1 who was aware of the firmness of ,francis in these matters1 and had been severely rebuked by him on other occasions1 acknowledged that he did not dare execute this commission alone1 but he offered to accompany them for the common cause1 and they consented to this arrangement4 ,while they were drawing near to the mountain1 ,francis had a revelation of what was passing4 ,when they had reached the top1 he left the opening of the rock quickly1 and demanded of ,elias what he and all these ministers who were with him wanted4 ,elias1 with downcast eyes1 and trembling1 said1 in a low tone of voice3 ,these ministers1 having learnt that you were about to give them a new ,rule above the strength of man to endure1 have engaged me to come here1 in my capacity of vicar-general1 to entreat you to modify it1 because they will not receive it1 if it is too austere4 ,at these words1 the ,saint1 in great emotion and shuddering1 raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed3 ,lord1 did ,i not say that these people would not believe me8 ,as to myself1 ,i will keep this ,rule to the day of my death1 with those of my companions who love poverty2 but ,i shall not have it in my power to compel those who do not choose it1 and who make so much resistance4 ,jesus ,christ appeared in a luminous cloud above ,francis1 and said1 so that all heard him3 ,little man1 why are you discontented1 as if this is your work8--,it is ,i who have dictated the ,rule2 no part of it is yours4 ,i insist on its being literally observed to the very letter--to the very letter1 without gloss or comment4 ,i know what frail man can endure1 and what support ,i can and will give him4 ,let those who will not keep the ,rule leave the ,order2 ,i will raise up others in their place2 and if it be requisite1 ,i will bring them forth from these stones4 ,then ,francis1 from the top of the rock on which he had knelt down1 addressed these words to the vicar-general and to the others1 who were greatly alarmed3 ,you now know that your conspiracy has been solely an opposition to the will of ,god1 and that instead of taking into consideration what ,he can do for us1 you have only consulted the feeble light of your human prudence4 ,have you heard1 have you1 yourself1 heard the voice which came forth from the cloud1 and which spoke so audibly8 ,if it did not resound in your ears1 ,i will take steps to cause you to hear it once more4 ,upon this1 ,elias and his companions1 astounded and beside themselves1 retired without saying a single word4 ,the holy ,patriarch having returned to join his faithful children in the small fissure of the rock1 in which they lay prostrate at the voice of the ,lord1 said to them3 ,rise up now1 and fear nothing1 but as true soldiers of ,jesus ,christ put on the armor of ,god1 in order to be on your guard against the snares which the devil will not fail to throw in the way of your following ,him4 ,he left the mountain and went to the nearest convent to show the ,rule to his brethren1 intending to communicate it afterwards to the others1 in order to know what each one thought of it4 ,his countenance1 animated and shining1 was a manifestation that ,god himself had dictated to him the rule of life which he proposed to them4 ,it was a striking representation of ,moses coming down from ,mount ,sinai1 his face shining brightly4 ,the resemblance cannot be too much admired in its several relations4 ,moses1 after a fast of forty days1 received1 on a mountain1 the ,law which ,god gave him4 ,jesus ,christ having fasted forty days1 was on a mountain when ,he taught that doctrine which embraces1 as ,st4 ,augustine observes1 all the perfection of the ,christian life4 ,and it was on a mountain that it was ,his pleasure to give ,his servant ,francis1 who fasted rigorously1 a ,rule in which the perfection of the evangelical life is contained4 ,some having read the ,rule1 said to ,francis1 that it was necessary that his ,order should have something in common1 as the other religious orders had2 seeing that the number of the brethren was already very great1 and that1 according to all appearance1 the ,order would be so extended2 that it would not be possible to exist in so restricted a state of poverty4 ,the ,saint returned to the place he had left1 and having had recourse to prayer1 he consulted ,jesus ,christ1 the true ,legislator1 who gave the following reply3 ,it is ,i who am their portion and their inheritance1 ,i do not choose that they should be encumbered with the things of this world4 ,provided they adhere strictly to the ,rule1 and that they place their confidence in me1 ,i will take care of them2 ,i will not suffer them to stand in need of anything necessary to life2 the more their numbers increase1 the more will ,i manifest my providence to them4 ,we must here render to that adorable and loving ,providence the justice due to it4 ,it has never been wanting to the ,order of ,st4 ,francis1 and they have never had greater proofs of ,his care than when they have chosen to live most poorly4 ,we see verified to the letter1 in these poor evangelical brethren1 the imitators of ,jesus ,christ crucified1 what is said in the twenty-first psalm1 in which the ,son of ,god has clearly foretold ,his ,passion3 ,the poor shall eat and shall be filled1 and they shall praise the ,lord that seek ,him1 their hearts shall live forever and ever4 ,were ,he now to ask the ,religious of ,st4 ,francis1 as ,he asked the ,apostles3 ,when ,i sent you without purse1 or scrip1 and shoes1 did you want for anything8 ,there is not one who would not answer as they did3 ,no1 we have not wanted for anything4 ,for a poor evangelical brother is bound to consider himself as not wanting anything while he lives1 and to look upon having nothing but what is necessary as the treasure of his state of life4 ,a religious order which1 without any revenue1 maintains many thousand men1 was a subject of admiration for an infidel prince1 and the ,founder was considered by him as a very great man4 ,he was not aware of the cause of this wonderful effect1 but religion teaches us that it is ,god himself who provides for the wants of ,his servants1 by the charity with which ,he inspires the faithful4 ,francis communicated to the ministers what our ,lord had said to him4 ,they submitted to everything1 and returned with him to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 where the ,rule was approved by the brethren who were there1 and was then sent into the provinces to be examined before it was submitted for confirmation4 ,speaking of the ,rule1 he said to his children3 ,i have not put anything into it of my own2 ,i caused it all to be written as ,god revealed it to me2 and he adduced this motive to incite them the better to keep it4 ,he confirmed the revelation in his will1 in the following terms3 ,when the ,lord confided to me the guidance of the brethren1 no one communicated to me how ,i was to behave towards them1 but the ,almighty ,himself revealed to me that ,i ought to live according to the form prescribed by the ,gospel2 ,i caused it to be written out in few and simple words1 etc4 ,this is the eulogium he passed on it3 ,my brethren and my dear children1 a very great favor was done to us in giving us this ,rule2 for it is the book of life1 the hope of salvation1 the pledge of glory1 the marrow of the ,gospel1 the way of the cross1 a state of perfection1 the key of ,paradise1 and the bond of our eternal alliance4 ,none of you is ignorant how greatly advantageous to us holy religion is4 ,as the enemy who fights against us is extremely clever in inventing and executing everything which is malicious1 and strews in our way all sorts of snares to effect our perdition1 there are many whose salvation he would have brought into great peril1 if religion had not been their shield4 ,study1 therefore1 your ,rule1 all of you1 not only for alleviating your pains1 but in order that it may remind you of the oath you have taken to keep it4 ,it is necessary that you should employ yourselves in meditating on it1 that it may sink into your hearts1 and be always before your eyes1 so that you may observe it with exactness1 and hold it fast at your deaths4 ,st4 ,bridget being in prayer at ,jerusalem2 where she was interceding for a ,friar ,minor who had some conscientious scruples on the subject of the ,rule1 our ,saviour caused her to hear the following words3 ,the ,rule of ,st4 ,francis was not the composition of the human mind2 it is ,i who made it2 it does not contain a single word which was not inspired by my spirit2 and thus ,francis gave it to the others4 ,pope ,nicholas ,,iii says1 that it bears on the face of it1 the evidence of the ,trinity2 that it is descended from the ,father of ,light1 that it was taught to the apostles by the example1 and by the doctrine of ,his ,son1 and that the ,holy ,ghost inspired it to the blessed ,francis and to those who had followed him4 ,he also declares1 as ,gregory ,,ix had done before1 that it is established on the word of the ,gospel1 authorized by the life of ,jesus ,christ1 and supported by the actions and words of the ,apostles1 who founded the ,church ,militant4 ,it consists1 according to the remark of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 in observing the ,holy ,gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 because all its substance is taken from the pure source of the ,gospel4 ,it is1 therefore1 no new rule2 it is only a renewed rule2 literally the same as what the ,son of ,god laid down for the ,apostles1 when ,he sent them forth to preach2 and that ought always give great spiritual consolation to those who keep it4 ,this holy doctor considers the impressions of the wounds of ,jesus ,christ1 which ,francis received from the hand of the living ,god1 some time after the revelation of the ,rule1 as a bull of ,jesus ,christ1 by which that ,high ,pontiff confirmed it2 and ,pope ,nicholas ,,iii was of the same opinion1 in his decrial4 ,finally1 the ,rule of the ,friars ,minor1 given by ,st4 ,francis1 is wholly ,evangelical1 and wholly ,apostolical2 there never was one which was so universally and so promptly followed4 ,men illustrious by their birth1 by their knowledge1 by their talents1 by their virtue1 embraced it and have followed it1 during a number of centuries1 in all parts of the ,christian world2 it has given to the ,church a new family1 in numbers most extensive1 whose fecundity does not become exhausted1 and it has produced a great galaxy of saints4 ,the children of the ,patriarch1 having most willingly received it1 he left them in the month of ,october1 in order to solicit the approval of the ,sovereign ,pontiff4 ,when at ,rome1 he was invited to dine with ,cardinal ,ugolino1 the ,protector of the ,order1 who had a sincere affection for him2 but he did not come to the invitation1 until he had begged some pieces of bread1 as he was accustomed to do1 when he was to dine with persons of rank4 ,being at table1 he drew this bread from his sleeve and began to eat of it1 and he gave some to the other guests1 who partook of it from devotion4 ,after dinner1 the cardinal embraced him1 and said1 smiling3 ,my good man1 why1 as you were to dine with me1 did you put the affront on me1 to go and beg bread first and bring it to my table8 ,my ,lord1 replied ,francis1 far from doing anything to affront you1 ,i did you honor1 in honoring1 at your board1 a much greater ,lord than you are1 to whom poverty is very agreeable1 especially that which goes as far as voluntary mendicancy1 for the love of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i have resolved not to give up in favor of false and passing riches1 this virtue which is of royal dignity1 since our ,lord ,jesus ,christ became poor for us1 in order that1 by ,his poverty1 we might become rich and heirs to the kingdom of heaven4 ,an admirable reply1 which is quite in unison with what was said by ,st4 ,gregory ,nazianzen4 ,if ,i am reproached for my poverty1 ,i am sure that it is my treasure2 and with these words of ,st4 ,ambrose1 on the birth of ,christ3 ,his poverty is my patrimony2 ,he chose to want for everything1 in order that all others might be in abundance4 ,the cardinal presented ,francis to the ,pope1 that he might solicit the confirmation of his ,rule4 ,the ,holy ,father read it1 and1 finding it too severe1 he desired some changes might be made in it2 but1 the man of ,god protesting by everything that was most sacred1 that he had not put a single word into it1 and that ,jesus ,christ had dictated it1 as it there stood1 the ,pontiff1 after discussing it with the cardinals1 confirmed it4 ,his bull commences thus3 ,honorius1 bishop1 the servant of the servants of ,god4 ,to our dearly beloved sons1 ,brother ,francis1 and other brethren of the ,order of ,friars ,minor1 health and apostolical benediction4 ,the ,apostolic ,see is accustomed to assent to pious intentions and to favor the laudable wishes of those who solicit her favors4 ,for which reason1 our dear children in ,jesus ,christ1 we confirm by apostolical authority1 and we strengthen by this present writing1 the ,rule of your ,order1 which was approved by ,pope ,innocent1 of glorious memory1 our predecessor1 expressed in these terms1 etc4 ,after having gone through it all1 he concludes as follows3 ,let no person1 therefore1 have the temerity to violate the contents of our present confirmation1 or to contravene it4 ,should any one dare to do so1 let him know that he will incur the indignation of ,almighty ,god1 and that of ,his blessed ,apostles1 ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul4 ,given in the ,lateran palace1 the twenty-ninth day of ,november1 #abbc1 the eighth of our pontificate4 ,the original of this bull1 with its leaden seal1 is preserved as ,assisi1 in the ,convent of ,st4 ,francis1 where ,wading saw it1 in #afai1 with a copy of the ,rule written by ,st4 ,francis' own hand4 ,while ,francis was still at ,rome1 he proposed to himself to celebrate the ,festival of the ,nativity of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ at ,grecio1 with all the solemnity possible1 in order to awaken the devotion of all in that vicinity4 ,he wrote a letter on the subject to his friend1 ,john ,velita1 begging him to prepare all things2 and in order that there should be no room for censuring what he was about to do1 he spoke to the ,pope about it1 who approved highly of this pious ceremony1 and granted indulgences to those who should assist at it4 ,st4 ,bonaventure informs us that1 before his departure from ,rome1 he went to pay his respects to ,cardinal ,leo ,brancaleone1 titular of ,santa ,croce1 with whom his friendship began in #abaj1 when he first came to have his ,rule approved4 ,this cardinal invited him to stay some days in his palace1 because the severity of the weather and the floods might impede his journey2 it was the month of ,december4 ,he retained1 to remain with him1 with ,francis' leave1 ,brother ,angelo ,tancredi1 whose miraculous conversion we have related2 at that time1 there were but few of the cardinals who did not wish to have some of the ,friars ,minor in their company2 such was the veneration they had for their virtue at the ,roman court4 ,francis1 however1 found excuses for not spending more than two or three days in the palace of ,brancaleone1 saying that it was not fitting for the poor to dwell in the palaces of princes4 ,the cardinal told him that he would receive him as a pauper1 and give him a bed1 not in his palace1 but in an adjacent tower near the city walls quite out of the way of any noise1 where he might repose from his fatigue for some time4 ,tancredi entreated him not to refuse this satisfaction to a prince of the ,church1 who was a person of great piety1 and a generous benefactor to the ,order2 therefore1 out of respect1 and from gratitude1 he consented to stay1 and with his companion took up his abode in the tower4 ,the following night1 when he was about to take some repose1 the devils came and beat him so long1 and so violently1 that they left him half- dead4 ,he called his companion1 and told him what had happened1 and he added3 ,brother1 ,i believe that the devils1 who can do nothing without the leave of the ,almighty1 have ill-used me to this degree1 because of my having remained with great people1 here2 if so1 it augurs no good4 ,my brethren who dwell in very poor houses1 knowing that ,i am the guest of cardinals1 might suspect that ,i enter willingly into the concerns of the world1 that ,i glory in honors1 and that ,i am living daintily4 ,i therefore think that a man who is to be an example to others1 should leave the court1 and dwell humbly with the humble1 in places adapted to the profession of humility1 in order that he may inspire those with fortitude1 who suffer the inconveniences of a life of poverty1 by suffering with them4 ,in the morning1 he took leave of the cardinal1 and set out for ,grecio4 ,it is necessary here to remark that ,st4 ,francis1 who permitted some of his brethren to remain with the cardinals1 did not think that he himself1 who was the superior1 ought to spend a single night in their palaces1 lest others should be disedified thereby1 and that it was his duty to give good example to all4 ,this shows how much persons in power should strive not to do anything calculated to give bad examples1 and to abstain from certain things which1 though irreprehensible in themselves1 and which would not be noticed in a lowly individual1 might be a cause of scandal in one of high station1 who ought to be a model of virtue4 ,on this principle1 ,st4 ,paul said to the ,christians3 ,all things are lawful for me1 but all things are not expedient4 ,all things are lawful for me1 but all things do not edify4 ,i do all for your edification4 ,he recommended his disciples1 ,timothy and ,titus1 whom he had ordained bishops1 to be an example to the faithful1 in word1 in conversation1 in charity1 in faith1 in chastity1 in the practice of good works4 ,st4 ,gregory1 ,st4 ,bernard1 and all the ,holy ,fathers have always required of prelates1 as a primary qualification1 that they should greatly edify2 which is the more necessary in the superiors of religious communities1 as their example is under more immediate observation4 ,the bad health of ,francis1 the beating which he had received from the devils1 and a constant fall of rain1 compelled him to ride on an ass4 ,during his journey he dismounted to say the ,divine ,office1 standing2 he remained on the same spot without paying attention to the rain1 and did not mount till he had quite finished4 ,having reached ,grecio1 he found all things prepared for the celebration of the festival by his friend ,velita4 ,they had prepared a crib in the wood1 in which was represented the ,nativity of our ,saviour2 they had placed straw there1 and1 during ,christmas-night1 also took there an ox and an ass4 ,many ,friars ,minor had arrived at the wood from the neighboring convents1 and the people of the environs came in crowds to the ceremony4 ,the wood was lit up by numerous torches1 and resounded melodiously from the sound of a thousand voices which sang the praises of ,god with untiring zeal4 ,francis1 full of devotion1 and with his eyes bathed in tears of holy joy1 knelt before the manger1 above which an altar had been placed1 where mass was celebrated at midnight2 he acted as deacon1 and after having sung the ,gospel1 he preached on the birth of the newborn ,king1 became poor4 ,velita1 who had prepared the ceremonial1 assured them that he had seen a most beautiful child in the manger1 who was asleep1 and whom ,francis tenderly embraced in order to awaken it4 ,there is so much the more reason for giving credit to this marvel1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 since he who relates it1 having been an eye-witness thereof1 was a very holy man1 and since it was confirmed by many miracles2 for the straw on which the child appeared to be sleeping1 had the virtue of curing various maladies amongst cattle2 and1 what is still more wonderful1 those who came to visit the spot1 however tepid and indevout they may have been1 were inflamed with the love of ,god4 ,after the death of the ,saint1 a chapel was erected on the spot1 and the altar was placed at the manger1 in order that the flesh of the man-,cod immolated on the cross1 might be eaten on the spot on which ,he had chosen to appear as a sleeping infant4 ,after the ceremony1 ,francis retired to the convent of ,grecio1 where some of the provincial ministers had collected1 who had come thither to communicate to him the affairs of their respective provinces4 ,the refectory had been set out in a better style than usual1 with napkins and glasses1 not only on account of the solemnity of the day1 but to show respect to the guests4 ,francis was displeased at this1 and1 during dinner1 he went to the door of the convent1 and took the hat and staff of a pilgrim who was soliciting alms1 and then1 in this garb1 came to the refectory to beg as a poor pilgrim4 ,the superior1 who knew him by his voice1 said to him1 smiling3 ,brother pilgrim1 there are here very many religious1 who stand in great need of what has been bestowed upon them out of charity2 however1 come in1 and they will give you what they can4 ,francis came in and sat himself on the ground1 where he ate very contentedly some scraps of bread and other things which they gave him on a platter1 without choosing to have anything else4 ,francis remained some time at ,grecio1 where1 one night1 when he intended to lay himself down to sleep1 he felt a severe headache1 and a shivering over his whole body1 which quite impeded his resting4 ,thinking that this might be caused by a feather pillow which his friend ,velita had compelled him to accept1 in consequence of his infirmities1 he called his companion1 who was near his cell1 and said3 ,take away this pillow3 ,i believe the devil is in it4 ,his companion1 who took it away1 found it extremely heavy1 and he had hardly left the cell1 when he found himself motionless and dumb4 ,the ,father1 not doubting of the malignity of the devil1 ordered the brother1 under obedience1 to come back directly2 the wicked spirit having immediately left him1 he came back and related the state in which he had found himself4 ,the ,saint1 confirmed by this in the idea with which he had been impressed1 that what he had suffered had been brought on by his enemy1 said3--,it is true that yesterday1 when reciting ,compline1 ,i perceived that the devil was approaching1 and ,i prepared to resist him4 ,he is full of malice and artfulness2 as he could not sully a soul which ,god protects by ,his grace1 he endeavored to injure the body1 and to prevent the necessary aid being afforded to it2 desiring to induce it to commit some fault1 at least of impatience1 and prevent its having recourse to prayer4 ,the holy man was delivered from his sufferings1 and got the rest he could not obtain1 when his head was laid upon a feather pillow4 ,to what a height of perfection did not ,god propose to raise this ,his faithful ,servant8 ,he did not even allow him to have a small relief from his sufferings4 ,he is a holy ,god1 jealous of the sanctity of souls1 who desires to have them purified by all sorts of sacrifices2 but1 then1 ,his rewards are great4 ,whilst ,francis was at ,grecio and in its environs1 ,peter of ,catania1 his first vicar-general1 died in the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 on the #b;d day of ,march1 #abbd4 ,as soon as he was in the tomb1 ,god bore witness to his merit by many miracles4 ,the people crowded to his grave1 and left valuable offerings1 which greatly disturbed the quiet of the religious1 and caused them much uneasiness on account of their strict poverty4 ,francis1 having been informed of it1 went to the tomb1 and1 moved by holy zeal1 he addressed the dead man in a commanding tone1 with which ,god alone could have inspired him3 ,brother ,peter1 whilst you were living1 you always obeyed me punctually3 ,i command you to obey me similarly now4 ,those who come to your grave are very troublesome to us4 ,our poverty is offended1 and our quiet infringed on1 so that our discipline becomes relaxed2 thus1 ,i command you1 by your vow of obedience1 to refrain from performing any more miracles4 ,his order was obeyed4 ,from that moment no more miracles were performed at the tomb of ,brother ,peter4 ,an ancient manuscript chronicle which is preserved in the ,vatican1 mentions that ,francis1 having directed the body of ,brother ,peter to be removed sometime afterwards1 it was found that it was turned and kneeling1 the head bowed down1 and in the posture of one who obeys a command given him4 ,to mark the value of obedience and the respect due to it1 ,god was pleased to permit a dead person to obey the orders of a superior1 as if he had been living4 ,a similar prohibition from performing miracles after death1 is recorded in the life of ,st4 ,bernard4 ,gosvin1 ,abbot of ,citeaux1 who was at his funeral with many other abbots of his order1 seeing the commotion caused by the numerous miracles which were worked there1 and fearing this would become prejudicial to regular discipline1 approached respectfully to the coffin1 and forbade the saint from performing any more miracles1 in virtue of his obedience4 ,and1 in fact1 from that time1 there were no more performed at that shrine publicly1 although ,god performed others privately by his invocation4 ,the author adds1 that ,st4 ,benedict requires in his rule1 an obedience without reserve1 according to the example of ,jesus ,christ1 who was obedient unto death1 and that the soul of ,st4 ,bernard rendered itself obedient even after death to a mortal man4 ,clare1 and her daughters of the ,monastery of ,st4 ,damian1 now asked ,francis to give them a written rule1 and a form of life similar to that of the ,friars ,minor1 in order that1 in his absence and after his death1 they and those who should succeed them1 might live up to it4 ,these ,religious of ,st4 ,damian1 did not wish to receive the rule of ,st4 ,benedict1 nor the constitutions prepared by ,cardinal ,ugolino1 which the other monasteries1 established on the plan of ,st4 ,damian1 had willingly accepted1 and which were of great severity3 these nuns desired to have a rule which should be of even greater rigor4 ,the holy ,patriarch consulted the same cardinal on this subject1 he being the protector of both ,orders2 and they jointly composed a rule in twelve chapters1 which was similar in all respects to that of the ,friars ,minor1 with modifications and usages proper for females4 ,if anything made ,francis hesitate1 the cardinal gave his opinion either to modify certain parts1 or to take precautions on others4 ,he also used some articles from the constitutions which had before been drawn up4 ,while he was writing1 he could not help shedding tears1 in reflecting that young females were willing to practise austerities of such a nature4 ,st4 ,clare says in her will1 addressing herself to the sisters3 ,our blessed ,father1 ,st4 ,francis1 has written for us a form of life1 principally that we may ever persevere in the practice of holy poverty1 to which he has exhorted us1 not only by his word and example1 but by many writings which he has left us4 ,pope ,innocent ,,iv expressly declares in the bull which he issued at the earnest entreaty of ,st4 ,clare1 three days before her death1 that the rule which he confirms was given them by ,st4 ,francis4 ,all is his1 except some very trifling things1 in no way essential1 which seem to have been added to it by ,cardinal ,ugolino1 by ,st4 ,clare1 and by the ,pope4 ,it was in the year1 #abbd1 that the marvellous apparition recorded by ,wading was seen1 which is noted as follows in the legend of ,st4 ,bonaventure3 ,although ,francis could not attend the provincial chapters1 the order which he had laid down for these assemblies1 the fervent prayers which he put up for their success1 and the influence of the blessing which he gave them1 were as if he were present at them4 ,sometimes even1 ,god1 by ,his almighty power1 caused him to appear among them in a sensible manner1 as it happened at the chapter at ,arles4 ,while that excellent preacher ,anthony was discoursing to the brethren on the ,passion of the ,son of ,god1 and on the inscription on ,his cross1 ',,jesus ,,of ,,nazareth1 ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews1' one of the religious1 named ,monald1 a man of exemplary virtue1 moved by the ,spirit of ,god to look towards the door of the chapterhouse1 saw the blessed ,francis1 raised into the air with his arms extended as a cross1 giving his blessing to the assembly4 ,they then became filled with great spiritual consolation1 which was an interior testimonial assuring them of the presence of their ,father1 and confirming what ,monald had seen4 ,this became more certain1 afterwards1 by the avowal which ,francis made respecting it4 ,we should have no difficulty in believing this1 continues ,st4 ,bonaventure1 for ,god1 by ,his almighty power1 rendered the holy ,bishop ,st4 ,ambrose1 during a mysterious sleep1 present at the funeral obsequies of ,st4 ,martin2 in a similar manner it was ,his pleasure that the truths announced by ,his preacher ,anthony1 on the subject of the ,cross of ,jesus ,christ1 should receive greater weight by the presence of ,his ,servant ,francis1 who carried the cross with such exemplary courage1 and preached it with such zeal4 ,having given a rule to the sisters of ,st4 ,damian1 and transacted all that related to the three orders1 ,francis recommended strongly to ,brother ,elias1 to attend carefully1 and to see that everything was carried into effect1 and then thought it necessary to take some time to attend to his own interior4 ,for it was his custom to go from one good work to another1 in which he imitated1 ,st4 ,bonaventure says1 the angels whom ,jacob saw in his dream1 going up and down the mysterious ladder1 the feet of which rested on the earth1 but its summit reached the heavens4 ,this angelic man so employed the time which was given him1 in which to amass treasures of merit1 that he was constantly occupied either in descending to his neighbor by the laborious ministries of charity1 or in elevating himself to ,god in the quiet exercise of contemplation4 ,when circumstances had compelled him to give more time to the service of souls1 he afterwards retired to some lonely and noiseless place1 to remove from himself1 by giving his thoughts solely to ,god1 all the filth which might have attached itself to him in his intercourse with men4 ,our ,lord often gave ,his apostles examples of retreats1 and they cannot be too often recommended to those who labor for the salvation of their neighbors4 ,francis1 therefore1 went with some of his brethren to meditate in the convent of ,celles1 near ,cortona4 ,he met on the road a lady of good family1 who was very pious and in great affliction1 having a husband who used her cruelly1 and prevented her from serving ,god4 ,she told him that she was come to pray to ,god for the conversion of her husband1 and he made her this answer3 ,go in peace2 and rest assured that your husband will soon afford you consolation2 only tell him from ,god and from me1 that now is the time of mercy1 and that afterwards will be the time of justice4 ,the lady received the ,father's blessing1 and said what she had just learned to her husband4 ,the ,holy ,ghost descended at the same moment on this man1 and he became so changed1 that he said to his wife in a mild tone of voice1 ,madam1 let us serve ,god and work out our salvation4 ,he passed thus many years with her in continence1 with which she had inspired him1 and they died most holily on the same day4 ,we saw in the first two ,tertiaries1 a wife sanctified by her husband4 ,this is precisely what ,st4 ,paul says3 ,the one may contribute to the sanctification of the other4 ,in fact1 ,st4 ,chrysostom thinks that a virtuous woman who is mild and prudent1 is more likely to bring back a profligate husband to the service of ,god1 than any other person2 and that the solid piety of a husband1 with good manners and discreet firmness1 may soften the asperity of an ill-tempered woman1 or at least render her less fractious4 ,all that ,francis did at ,celles1 was to give himself up to contemplation2 and1 in order that the place itself should be favorable to meditation1 he resolved1 after having been there a short time1 to retire to the desert of ,mount ,alvernia2 it was the ,holy ,ghost who inspired him with the desire to go thither1 where he was to receive the glorious privilege of the stigmata4 ,as he passed through the country of ,arezzo1 his great infirmities compelled him to ask for an ass to continue his journey4 ,there was not one in the village1 but a person offered him a horse1 which he was under the necessity of accepting3 it was the only time that he had been on horseback since his conversion2 for1 whenever he had been forced to ride1 he took the most despicable animal1 in order to set an example to his brethren4 ,in the village to which the horse was sent back1 there was a woman who1 for several days1 was suffering cruelly from labor-pains1 without being able to be delivered1 so that no human hope remained of saving her life4 ,the people of the place1 seeing the horse brought back which had carried the ,saint1 took the bridle and placed it on the woman's bed1 in full confidence that he who had had the use of it1 would come to her aid2 and1 in fact1 she was immediately1 most fortunately1 delivered4 ,this fact is one of those related by ,st4 ,bonaventure4 ,on ,mount ,alvernia ,francis reaped extraordinary consolations in meditation2 he was filled with ardent desires of heaven1 and1 at the same time1 he felt that the celestial gifts were communicated to him in greater abundance4 ,these interior feelings which threw his soul into ecstasies1 raised his body into the air to greater or less height1 in proportion to their degree1 as if an extreme disgust for every thing that was connected with the earth1 gave him a stimulus to raise himself to his celestial home4 ,brother ,leo1 his secretary and his confessor1 attests to have seen him raised sometimes to the height of a man1 so that one could touch his feet1 sometimes1 above the tallest beech-trees1 and sometimes so high1 that he was elevated out of sight4 ,when he was not raised higher than the height of a man1 ,leo kissed his feet and watered them with his tears1 with tender devotion1 saying the following prayer3 ,my ,god1 be merciful to me1 a sinner such as ,i am1 by the merits of this holy man1 and deign to communicate to me some small portion of ,thy grace4 ,when he lost sight of him1 he prostrated himself and prayed1 on the spot on which he had seen him elevate himself4 ,st4 ,thomas and many others believed that ,st4 ,paul in his rapture may have been elevated in body and soul into the third heaven1 that is1 into the ,empyrean1 into ,paradise1 into the place where the angels and the blessed are2 and we must not call this in question1 since the apostle himself says1 that he does not know whether he was raised up in the body or out of the body4 ,st4 ,theresa1 whose works are published by authority1 says that she had sometimes raptures in which she was raised from the ground by a supernatural power1 whatever resistance she might make2 that others saw her in this state1 and she saw herself in it4 ,we may therefore believe that ,god raised the body of ,his ,servant ,francis1 while his soul was in raptures by interior operations2 more particularly1 as the fact is attested by so trustworthy a witness as ,leo1 who certifies having seen it with his own eyes4 ,god1 says ,st4 ,theresa1 grants extraordinary favors to a soul1 to detach it entirely from everything that is earthly1 by the body itself1 so that life becomes burthensome to it1 and that it suffers a sort of torment brought on by a violent desire of possessing ,god1 which is a martyrdom both agreeable1 and1 at the same time1 painful2 but we must be under the conviction1 that with ordinary grace1 which ,god increases in proportion to faithfulness1 we may attain to an entire disengagement from worldly affairs1 and to that longing for heaven which1 as ,christians1 we are obliged to feel4 ,one day1 when ,francis was restored from one of the ecstasies which had raised him from the ground1 ,jesus ,christ appeared seated at a low stone table1 where the ,saint was in the habit of taking his meals1 and speaking to him with the familiarity of a friend1 as to the protection which ,he proposed to give to the ,order1 after his death1 ,he made known to him the following points3 first1 that the ,order would last to the end of the world2 secondly1 that those who should persecute the ,order1 would not be long-lived1 unless they became converted2 the third and fourth points1 related to favors which our ,saviour promised not only to the ,friars ,minor1 but to those who were sincerely attached to them4 ,when our ,lord had disappeared from the table1 ,brother ,leo1 not knowing what had happened1 was about to prepare it1 as usual1 for their meal1 but ,francis stopped him1 saying3 ,it must be washed with water1 with wine1 with milk1 with oil1 and with balm1 for ,jesus ,christ has condescended to sit on it1 and to make known to me from thence what will be communicated to you hereafter4 ,as ,brother ,leo had not the articles he required1 he only took oil1 as ,jacob had done1 to consecrate this table to the ,lord1 and1 having poured oil on it1 he pronounced these words3 ,this is the altar of ,god4 ,he then told his companion the four favors which had been promised and added that there was a fifth which he should not repeat3 it was thought that it was out of humility2 for1 after his death1 it was revealed to ,brother ,leo1 that it consisted in that ,god1 in consequence of the merits of the ,saint1 had deferred punishing the country by famine1 to give sinners time to be converted2 and1 as they did not avail themselves of it1 after his death1 this scourge fell on the land1 and was followed by a great mortality4 ,towards the ,feast of the ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin1 he retired into the most secret part of the mountains1 where his companions built for him a small and unpretentious cell4 ,he remained there with ,leo1 having forbidden the others to return to him till the ,feast of ,st4 ,michael1 and on no account to permit any persons whomsoever to have access to him4 ,it was then the time of the fast which he prescribed for himself1 in honor of the archangel2 one of the nine periods of fasting he observed during the year1 which will be noticed elsewhere4 ,proposing to fast this year more rigorously than in the preceding years1 he directed ,brother ,leo to bring him nothing but bread and water once a day1 and that1 towards evening1 and place it at the threshold of his cell4 ,and when you come to me for ,matins1 he added1 don't come into the cell1 but only say in a loud voice1 ',domine1 labia mea aperies2' and if ,i answer1 ',et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam1' you will come in1 otherwise you will go back4 ,his pious companion1 who had nothing more at heart than to obey him1 and be useful to him1 complied minutely with all he said2 but he was often obliged to return in the night1 because the holy man was in ecstasy1 and did not hear him4 ,the reward of his solicitude was to be freed from a mental agitation1 which he had found very troublesome2 although it was not a temptation of the flesh1 he nevertheless was ashamed of it1 and did not dare make his ,father acquainted with it2 he only wished to have something written by him1 which he thought would enable him to overcome the temptation1 or at least enable him to bear it with less difficulty4 ,the ,father1 knowing by revelation the state of his mind and his wish1 desired him to bring him paper and ink1 and he put on the top of the paper1 in large characters1 the letter ,t1 after which he wrote some praises of ,god1 with his blessing3 ,may the ,lord bless you and take you into ,his keeping1 may ,he show you ,his countenance1 and take pity on you1 may ,he turn ,his eyes towards you1 and give you ,his peace4 ,may ,god bless ,brother ,leo4 ,take this paper1 he said1 and keep it carefully all your life4 ,leo had no sooner received it than his temptation left him2 he preserved it carefully till his death1 knowing the virtue that was attached to it4 ,this writing is still extant at ,assisi1 in the sanctuary of the ,church of ,st4 ,francis1 and ,god has permitted it to be frequently used for the cure of diseases4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that1 in his days1 it had been the means by which several miracles were effected4 ,francis experienced on ,mount ,alvernia1 what had occurred to ,st4 ,anthony in the ,desert of ,thebais3 after having been the means of freeing others from the attacks of the devil1 he was exposed to them himself4 ,the subtle spirit often suggested evil thoughts to him4 ,he placed horrid spectres before him1 and he even visibly struck him severe blows4 ,once in a very narrow path1 and on the edge of a deep precipice1 he appeared to him in a hideous figure1 and threw himself upon him to cast him down2 as there was nothing by which he could support himself1 ,francis placed his two hands on the rock1 which was very hard and slippery1 and they sank into it1 as if it had been soft wax1 and this preserved him from falling4 ,an angel appeared to him to put away his fright1 and to console him1 causing him to hear celestial music1 the sweetness of which in so far suspended the powers of his soul1 that it seemed to him that his soul would have been separated from his body1 had the music lasted much longer4 ,he resumed his prayer in which he returned thanks for having escaped the danger1 and for the consolation he had received2 then he set about considering what might be the will of ,god4 ,he was not1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 like to those inquisitive minds1 who rashly endeavor to scrutinize the ways of ,god1 and who are overwhelmed with ,his glory2 but as a faithful and prudent servant1 he endeavored to discover the intention of his ,master1 only from the anxiety he felt to conform himself to it in all things4 ,a divine impression induced him to think that1 if he opened the ,book of the ,gospel1 he would learn from ,jesus ,christ what in him and for him would be most agreeable to ,god4 ,having1 therefore1 again prayed with great fervor1 he told ,brother ,leo to take the ,new ,testament from the altar1 and open it2 ,leo opened it three times in honor of the most ,holy ,trinity1 and1 each time1 he opened it at the ,passion of our ,blessed ,lord4 ,francis1 who was filled with the ,spirit of ,god1 understood from this1 that1 as he had imitated ,jesus ,christ in the actions of ,his life1 he must now conform himself to ,his sufferings1 and in the pains of ,his ,passion4 ,although his body was greatly weakened by the austerities he practised1 by which he incessantly carried the cross of the ,son of ,god1 he was not alarmed at the idea of having new sufferings to endure2 on the contrary1 he put on fresh courage for martyrdom1 in which1 he thought1 conformity to the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ consists--hence the pious wish he had three times entertained of exposing himself to it4 ,for the love he had for the good ,jesus1 remarks ,st4 ,bonaventure1 was so lively1 that the following words of the ,canticles seemed to be applied to him3 ,his lamps are lamps of fire and flame4 ,the charity which inflamed his heart was so ardent and forcible1 that all the waters of tribulation1 and all the fury of persecution would have been unable to extinguish it4 ,it is in this sense that ,st4 ,paul said3 ,who shall separate us from the love of ,christ8 shall tribulation8 or distress8 or famine8 or nakedness8 or danger8 or persecution8 or the sword8 ,such is the exalted love which ,christians should have for ,god1 if they desire to love ,him eternally2 their hearts must be ready and willing to make every sacrifice1 and to suffer everything in order to preserve this divine love4 ,some days after the opening of the book of the ,gospel1 ,leo had come at midnight to say aloud1 at the door of ,francis' cell1 ,domine labia mea aperies1 according to the order he had received2 and receiving no reply1 he had the curiosity to advance a step further1 and to look through the chinks of the door1 to see what was going on4 ,he saw the cell entirely illuminated1 and a bright ray of light come from heaven1 and rest upon the head of the ,saint2 he heard voices which made questions and answers2 and he remarked that ,francis1 who was prostrate1 often repeated these words3 ,who art ,thou1 ,o my ,god1 and my dear ,lord8 and whom and ,i8 a worm1 and ,thy unworthy servant4 ,he also saw him put his hand out three times into his bosom1 and each time stretch it out to the flame4 ,the light disappeared1 the conversation ceased1 and ,leo wished to retire quickly2 but the ,father heard him1 and rebuked him severely for having watched him1 and thus seen what ought to have been secret4 ,leo asked pardon1 and having obtained it1 humbly entreated his master to explain to him1 for the greater glory of ,god1 the things he had seen1 which ,francis did in these terms3-- ,god manifested ,himself to me in the flame which you saw2 ,he explained many mysteries to me1 by ,his infinite goodness1 and ,he communicated to me an immense knowledge of ,himself1 and ,i was so overpowered with admiration1 that ,i exclaimed3 ',who art ,thou1 ,lord1 and who am ,i8' ,for nothing has tended more to my knowledge of what ,i am1 than the contemplation of the infinite and incomprehensible abyss of the perfections of ,god1 although from afar1 and under obscure veils4 ,the ,lord then having condescended to disclose to me1 as much as ,i am capable of knowing of ,his infinite greatness1 ,i could not avoid making this reflection2 that it is certain that every creature is a mere nonentity before ,god4 ,while ,i was thus meditating1 it was ,his pleasure to direct that1 for all the good ,he had done me1 ,i should make ,him some offering2 ,i replied that my poverty was so great1 that except the poor habit which ,i wore1 ,i had nothing in the world but my body and my soul1 which ,i had long since dedicated to ,him4 ,the ,lord then urged me to offer ,him what was in my bosom1 and ,i was surprised to find there a beautiful piece of gold1 which ,i immediately offered to ,him2 ,i found three pieces successively1 which ,i presented to ,him in the same manner2 it was when you saw me extend my hand in the flame4 ,i gave thanks to ,god for ,his many benefits1 and for the means ,he put in my power to make ,him some acknowledgment4 ,he gave me to understand that the three pieces of gold1 which were highly agreeable to ,him1 represented the three modes of life which it had been ,his will that ,i should institute1 and also the three vows of poverty1 obedience1 and chastity4 ,when he said that nothing had tended so much to the knowledge of what he was1 as the contemplation of the infinite perfections of ,god1 he well knew that the best mode to attain the knowledge of ,god is to know one's self1 as ,st4 ,augustine and ,st4 ,bernard teach us2 that is to say1 that in order to our obtaining peculiar lights which open to us the grandeur of ,god1 it is necessary to be thoroughly impressed with our own vileness1 be sensible of our misery1 and annihilate ourselves1 because the ,divine ,majesty only communicates itself to the humble4 ,but ,st4 ,francis proposed to himself to explain that1 when it pleases ,god to manifest ,himself in some manner to a soul which is duly sensible of its nothingness1 it is better impressed with its own nothingness1 by the disproportion it sees between the ,sovereign ,being and ,his creature1 which discovers to it a thousand imperfections which it was not previously aware of1 as a ray of the sun penetrating into a room1 discovers a multitude of atoms of which we were previously unaware4 ,we may also form to ourselves an idea of this by our knowledge of human ignorance2 an ignorant man is less sensible of his ignorance and sometimes he is not at all aware of it2 he thinks he knows everything2 but a very learned man knows that he is ignorant of an infinity of things1 and finds his mind very confined4 ,so also souls which are interiorly enlightened as to the greatness of the ,divinity1 are more perfectly aware of their own nothingness1 and are more humble than those who have not similar views4 ,the mode adopted by the former is to dive into his own nothingness by the light of faith1 to humble himself continually1 in order to attain to a more exalted idea of the greatness of ,god and to repeat frequently this prayer of ,st4 ,augustine3 ,o ,god1 who art always the same6 may ,i know myself1 may ,i know ,thee4 ,the self-knowledge which ,st4 ,francis possessed in such perfection1 prepared him sufficiently for the signal favor which ,god proposed to confer upon him1 according to the principle of ,st4 ,augustine1 that deep foundations are requisite for a building of great height4 ,about the ,festival of the ,exaltation of the ,cross1 which is on the fourteenth of ,september 7it is believed that it was on the eve71 an angel appeared to him and gave him notice as he afterwards communicated to some of his companions1 to prepare himself for all that ,god would do for him4 ,i am prepared for everything1 he replied1 and ,i shall not in any way oppose ,his holy will1 provided he condescends to assist me with ,his grace4 ,although ,i am a useless man1 and unworthy that ,god should cast a thought on me1 nevertheless1 as ,i am ,his servant1 ,i beg ,he may act by me1 according to ,his good pleasure4 ,this generous concurrence1 which had martyrdom in its view1 was the last disposition which the ,almighty required previous to giving to ,francis the peculiar and signal prerogative of the stigmata1 that is to say1 previous to imprinting on his body the five wounds of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,we are about to put on record this marvellous event as nearly as possible in the very words of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 which we have extracted from his two legends4 ,he does not name the precise day1 but ,wading assigns good reasons for thinking it occurred on the ,festival of the ,exaltation of the ,cross4 ,francis1 the servant and truly faithful minister of ,jesus ,christ1 being one morning in prayer on one side of the ,mountain of ,alvernia1 elevating himself to ,god by the seraphic fervor of his desires and by the motives of tender and affectionate compassion1 transforming himself into ,him who1 by the excess of ,his charity1 chose to be crucified for us2 he saw1 as it were1 a seraph1 having six brilliant wings1 and all on fire1 descending towards him from the height of heaven4 ,this seraph came with a most rapid flight to a spot in the air1 near to where the ,saint was1 and then was seen between his wings the figure of a crucified man1 who had his hands and feet extended and fastened to a cross4 ,his wings were so arranged that he had two of them on his head1 two were stretched out to fly with1 and he covered his whole body with the two others4 ,at the sight of such an object1 ,francis was extraordinarily surprised2 joy1 mingled with grief and sorrow1 spread over his soul2 the presence of ,jesus ,christ1 who manifested himself to him under the figure of a seraph in so marvellous a mariner1 and with such familiarity1 and by whom he found himself considered so favorably1 caused in him an excess of pleasure2 but the sorrowful spectacle of ,his crucifixion filled him with compassion1 and his soul felt as if it was pierced through with a sword4 ,above all1 he admired with deep concern that the infirmity of ,his sufferings should appear under the figure of a seraph1 well knowing that this does not agree with ,his state of immortality2 and he could not comprehend the intention of the vision1 when our ,lord1 who appeared outwardly1 communicated to him interiorly1 as to ,his friend1 that ,he had been placed before him in order to let him know that it was not by the martyrdom of the flesh1 but by the inflammation of the soul1 that he was to be wholly transformed into a perfect resemblance to ,jesus ,christ crucified4 ,the vision vanished1 after having had a secret and familiar conference with him1 leaving his soul filled with seraphic ardor1 and imprinting on his body a figure similar to that of the crucifix1 as if his flesh1 like softened wax1 had received the impression of the letters of a seal4 ,for the marks of the nails immediately began to show themselves on his hands and feet1 such as he had seen them on the figure of the crucified man4 ,his feet and hands were seen to be perforated by nails in their middle2 the heads of the nails1 round and black1 were on the inside of the hands1 and on the upper parts of the feet2 the points1 which were rather long1 and which came out on the opposite sides1 were turned and raised above the flesh1 from which they came out4 ,there was1 likewise1 on his right side a red wound1 as if it had been pierced with a lance1 and from this wound there often oozed a sacred blood1 which soaked his tunic1 and anything he wore round his body4 ,this is the new prodigy which ,jesus ,christ chose to exhibit in favor of ,francis1 in order to render him more like to himself4 ,he marked him and ornamented him with ,his own wounds1 by a singular and glorious prerogative which had never1 previously1 been conceded to any one1 and which justly excites the admiration of the ,christian world4 ,st4 ,bonaventure is of opinion that all human encomium falls short of what it deserves4 ,in fact1 in the midst of all the marvels which we find in the life of ,st4 ,francis1 we are compelled to admit that this is the one which1 without any exaggeration1 may be termed incomparable4 ,what can there be so beautiful as to be visibly clothed with ,jesus ,christ1 to bear on the body the lively resemblance of those wounds which are the price of our redemption1 the source of life1 and the pledge of salvation8 ,what interior conformity must the ,servant have had with his ,master1 to have deserved to have so marked a one exteriorly1 for1 no doubt1 the one was in proportion to the other6 ,this faithful ,servant having embraced the cross from the very commencement of his conversion1 he carried it in his heart1 in his mind1 in his body1 and in all his senses2 all his love1 all his desires1 were centred in the cross1 it was the standard of his militia4 ,therefore did ,jesus ,christ1 whose goodness appears with magnificence towards those who love ,him1 after having honored the zeal of ,francis by various apparitions in ,his crucified state1 choose1 as a crowning of all ,his favors1 that he should be himself crucified1 in order that1 as the love of the cross constituted his merit before ,god1 the glory of being so miraculously fastened to it1 should render him admirable in the sight of mankind4 ,such was the sort of torment which ,god reserved for him in order to satisfy the extreme desire he had to suffer martyrdom1 on which ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaims3 ,o truly fortunate man1 whose flesh not having been tortured by the racks of a tyrant1 has nevertheless1 borne the impress of the ,lamb that was slain6 ,o fortunate soul1 thou hast not lost the palm of martyrdom1 and yet thou art not separated from the body by the sword of the persecutor6 ,must we not also admit that the impression of the five wounds of our ,savior ,jesus ,christ on his body was a true martyrdom--a precious martyrdom2 rigorous in one sense1 and the more so1 as it was not the consequence of the cruelty of executioners1 but was owing to the darts of divine love1 and to the very influence of the ,son of ,god1 the operation of which is most powerful2 sweet and delicious in another sense1 and the more so1 as it was the effect of a most affectionate communication1 and brought about more intimate relations8 ,out ,savior1 thus1 in some degree1 represented in ,his creature the situation in which ,he had been on the cross1 enjoying sovereign beatitude1 while ,he suffered all the pains and violence of the execution4 ,it was in all probability after this favor of the stigmata1 that ,francis composed the two ,italian canticles which are found amongst his works4 ,in the first1 the burden of which is1 ,in foco l'amor mi mise1 in foco l'amor mi mise1 he describes very practically1 with figurative and very lively expressions1 the struggle he had with divine love1 and the attacks he had himself made on that love1 the wounds which he received1 the flames by which his heart was kindled1 and the state of languor and faintness to which he found himself reduced1 and1 finally1 the strength1 with a tranquillity of feeling exceedingly refreshing1 which ,jesus ,christ had imparted to him4 ,in the second1 which is much longer than the first1 he describes the strength1 elevation1 and tenderness1 the vehemence of the divine love in his heart2 he enters into conversation with ,jesus ,christ1 who answers him2 and this love constantly increasing1 he declares that he can resist no longer1 that he consents to everything1 and that he wishes no other relief than to die of love4 ,st4 ,theresa1 speaking of her situation at prayer1 in which she often found herself1 as it were1 intoxicated with the love of ,god1 and quite beside herself1 said3 ,i know a person who1 without being a poet1 sometimes made very good extempore verses in spiritual canticles1 which expressed beautifully her sufferings4 ,it was not from her mind that they originated2 but1 by order of the glory so delicious a suffering caused her2 she laid her complaint in this manner before ,god4 ,she would have wished to tear herself to pieces to show the pleasure she experienced in this delightful pain4 ,these spiritual and divine emotions are neither known nor relished by profane minds and hearts1 who only learn from their own corruption1 and from the pestiferous books which encourage it1 the extravagances and transports of criminal love2 but pure minds1 who know what it is to love ,god1 and to be loved by ,him1 are not astonished at the effects which this holy reciprocated love produced in a ,st4 ,francis1 in a ,st4 ,theresa1 and in many others4 ,neither is it surprising that the saints who are full of the thoughts of ,god1 should have had recourse to poetry to express the feelings of their hearts1 since the sacred writers1 inspired by the ,spirit of ,god1 have composed many of the sacred books in poetry2 this also is practised by the universal ,church in her ,divine ,office4 ,the precious wounds which ,francis had received1 were a subject of great embarrassment to him2 for1 in the first place1 he wished to conceal them wholly1 well knowing that it is proper to conceal the secrets of the king1 as the angel said to ,tobit2 and1 in the second place1 he saw that the wounds were too conspicuous to remain long hidden from those of his companions who had familiar intercourse with him4 ,his hesitation was1 whether he should tell them what had occurred1 in confidence1 or whether he should be silent on the subject1 for fear of making known the secrets of the ,lord4 ,he called some of them to him and laid before them his difficulty in general terms1 and solicited their advice4 ,brother ,illuminatus1 he from whom he had received such excellent advice in the camp before ,damietta1 opining1 from the look of astonishment which he remarked in him1 that he had seen something wonderful1 said3 ,brother1 you ought to know that it is not only for your own edification1 but for that of others also1 that ,god sometimes discovers his secrets to you1 for which reason you should be fearful of being reprimanded for having hidden the talent1 unless you make known what is to be of service to many4 ,francis was struck with this advice1 and although on other occasions he was in the habit of saying with ,isaiah1 ,my secret is to myself1 he communicated to them all what had passed in the apparition1 but always with great fear2 adding1 that ,he who had appeared to him1 had communicated things to him which1 while he lived1 he never would disclose to any one4 ,we must believe1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that the seraph whom he saw attached to the cross in so wonderful a manner1 or rather1 ,jesus ,christ ,himself in the appearance of a seraph1 had said to him1 as he had to ,st4 ,paul1 ,secret words1 which it is not granted to man to utter2 either because there are no words in which they can be expressed1 or1 as a respected author thinks1 because there are no souls sufficiently disengaged from sensible objects1 and sufficiently pure1 to understand them4 ,the confidence which ,francis had reposed in his companions1 did not prevent his taking every precaution possible to hide1 as much as it was in his power1 the sacred marks with which the ,king of kings had secretly favored him4 ,from that time forward1 he kept his hands covered1 so that the nails should not be seen1 and he wore slippers1 which covered those of his feet4 ,wading saw in the ,monastery of the ,poor ,clares at ,assisi1 the sort of slippers which ,st4 ,clare made for her spiritual ,father1 so neatly contrived that the upper part covered the heads of the nails1 and1 the underneath being somewhat raised1 the points did not prevent his walking2 for these miraculous nails did not take from him the use of his hands and feet1 although it was painful to him to use them4 ,but all the precautions which his humility had suggested1 became useless2 it is ,god's providence to reveal1 for ,his greater glory1 the wonderful things which ,he does4 ,the ,lord ,himself1 who had secretly marked on ,francis the impressions of ,his ,passion1 by their means worked miracles1 which manifestly disclosed their hidden and marvellous virtue4 ,moreover1 the ,saintly ,man could not prevent his wounds from being seen and touched by persons whose veracity cannot be called in question1 and who rendered public testimony thereto2 besides which1 after his death1 all the inhabitants of ,assisi saw1 touched1 and kissed them4 ,the ,sovereign ,pontiffs of those days were so convinced of this admirable event1 that they issued bulls to exalt it by their praise1 and to repress by their authority those who refused credence to the fact1 because they had not seen it with their own eyes4 ,pope ,alexander ,,iv certified it1 as having been an eye-witness to it1 in a sermon and in a bull2 and ,st4 ,bonaventure says that the proofs then collected made it so certain1 that they were sufficient to dispel every shade of doubt4 ,this degree of certainty is still further enhanced and rendered more respectable1 since ,popes ,benedict ,,xi1 ,sixtus ,,iv1 and ,sixtus ,v have consecrated and extolled the impression of the stigmata on the body of ,st4 ,francis1 by having instituted a particular festival in their honor1 which is found in the ,roman ,martyrology1 on the #agth of ,september1 and which is kept in the universal ,church4 ,the forty days which ,francis had resolved to pass in solitude and fasting having terminated on ,michaelmas ,day1 this new man1 whom perfect love had transformed by a lively resemblance into ,him whom he loved1 descended from the mountain1 carrying with him the image of ,jesus ,christ crucified1 not modelled by the hand of a workman on wood or stone1 but stamped on his very flesh by the finger of the living ,god ,himself1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure expresses it4 ,he became more partial than ever to ,mount ,alverno1 where he had received this sacred image1 and recommended to his brethren to cherish great respect for this holy place4 ,as he descended the mountain1 he met a number of the country people who had already heard of the marvellous occurrence2 it is probable that ,god had informed the people of it by some extraordinary manifestation4 ,at the time when it occurred1 they saw at break of day the mountain illuminated by a most brilliant light1 and what they heard1 informed them of the reason4 ,they wished to kiss his hands2 but they were tied round with bandages1 and he only offered them the tips of his fingers4 ,in a village near ,arezzo1 they brought him a child of about eight years of age1 who had been dropsical for four years1 whom he cured instantaneously by touching him4 ,he went afterwards to ,montaigne1 where ,count ,albert1 the lord of that place1 who was his good friend1 and at whose house he often took his bed1 received him with great pleasure4 ,but the count was distressed to hear him say that his infirmities would not allow him to return there any more1 and that the time of his death was hastening on4 ,to mitigate the grief of such melancholy tidings1 he entreated the ,saint to leave him some memorial of their friendship2 to which ,francis replied1 that he had nothing to give but the miserable habit he had on1 but that he would willingly leave it him1 provided he could get another4 ,the change was soon effected2 and it cannot be told how much ,albert prized the habit in which ,francis had received the impression of the precious pledges of our redemption4 ,after the death of ,st4 ,francis he enfolded this poor habit in rich stuffs of silk and gold1 and he placed it with great veneration on the altar of the church4 ,the ,lords of ,montaigne1 from father to son1 had it long in their possession2 and it1 at length1 came in the manner related by ,wading1 into the possession of the ,grand ,dukes of ,tuscany1 who preserve it as a precious relic4 ,the great infirmities which the man of ,god suffered1 obliged him to take an ass to carry him from ,montaigne to ,mount ,casal1 through the borough of ,saint ,sepulchre4 ,when he reached the latter place1 which is very populous1 the crowd surrounded him1 touched him1 and pressed upon him1 but he was insensible of it2 he was as a dead person1 in no way aware what was doing1 insomuch that1 having proceeded a good way from thence1 and coming to himself1 as one returned from the other world1 he inquired of some lepers at the door of the hospital1 whether they would soon get to ,saint ,sepulchre4 ,his mind1 contemplating1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 with deep attention the brilliant lights of heaven1 had not noticed the difference of time1 place1 or persons2 so penetrated was he with divine communications1 that he was not aware of what passed around him4 ,on reaching ,mount ,casal1 he learned that one of his religious was suffering under an extraordinary disorder1 which some considered to be epilepsy1 and others thought it a true case of possession by the devil1 for he had all the violent contortions of those possessed4 ,the ,father1 who was full of tender compassion for the suffering1 was greatly afflicted at seeing one of his children in this deplorable state1 and he sent him a mouthful of the bread he was eating1 the virtue of which was so great that1 as soon as the sick man had swallowed it1 he was cured1 and thenceforward had no relapse into the disorder4 ,from ,mount ,casal ,francis went to ,castello1 and at the house where he went to lodge1 he was required to lend his aid to a female whom the devil possessed1 and compelled to talk without ceasing4 ,the servant of ,god with great prudence first sent one of his companions to see and hear her1 to examine into the case1 to see whether it was really one of possession1 or whether the woman was not counterfeiting4 ,she gnashed her teeth1--she imitated the cry of an elephant with a dreadful countenance2 she affected to laugh when she saw the religious1 and ordered him to go away1 saying that she did not care about him1 but she was afraid of him who hid himself4 ,the ,saint1 who was in prayer1 having heard this1 came into the room1 where this woman was speaking without any reserve1 before many who were there4 ,as soon as she saw him1 she fell on the ground1 trembling4 ,he reproached the demon with his cruelty in thus torturing one of ,god's creatures1 and ordered him to leave her1 which he did instantly1 but with so much noise as manifested his wrath4 ,in the same town he cured a child who had an ulcer1 by making the sign of the cross on the dressing which covered it4 ,when the parents of the child took off the dressing1 they saw with surprise1 in lieu of the ulcer1 a fleshy excrescence1 like a red rose1 which remained during the whole of the child's life1 as a sensible proof and memorial of the miracle which had been performed4 ,after an abode of a month at ,castello1 the man of ,god set out on his return to ,saint ,mary of the ,angels4 ,brother ,leo1 who accompanied him1 assures us1 that during the whole way1 and until his arrival in the convent1 he saw a beautiful golden cross1 shining--with various colors1 preceding him1 which stopped where he stopped1 and advanced as he went on4 ,this pious companion understood from this1 that ,god had chosen to give to ,his ,servant the consolation of seeing with the eyes of his body that cross which he had always in his heart1 and which he likewise bore in his flesh by the wounds of ,jesus ,christ4 ,nothing is more affecting than what ,st4 ,bonaventure says of the feelings of ,st4 ,francis after having received the impression of these sacred wounds4 ,these are the words of the holy doctor3-- ,francis1 being crucified with ,jesus ,christ in mind and body1 not only burned with the ardent love of a seraph1 but he likewise participated in the thirst for the salvation of souls which the ,son of ,god felt on the ,cross4 ,as he could not go1 as he usually had done1 into the towns and villages1 on account of the large nails he had on his feet1 he had himself carried thither1 to animate every one1 although he was in a deplorable state of languor and half dead with his infirmities1 to carry the cross of our ,saviour4 ,he used to say to his brethren3 ',let us now begin to serve the ,lord our ,god1 for up to this time we have made but little progress4' ,he was also ardently desirous of returning to his first practices of humility1--to attend the lepers1 and to bring his body into subjection1 as he had done in the first days of his conversion4 ,although his limbs were enfeebled by his exertions and sufferings1 that did not prevent his hoping that1 as his mind was yet vigorous and active1 he should still combat and be victorious over his enemy4 ,under the guidance of ,jesus ,christ1 he proposed to perform some extraordinary things2 for when love is the spur1 which admits of no neglect nor slackness1 it urges to the undertaking of things of greater importance4 ,his body was in such unison with his mind1 so submissive1 so wholly obedient1 that1 far from resisting1 it was forward in some measure1 and went as it were of itself towards the attainment of the great elevation of sanctity to which he aspired4 ,it being ,god's will that he should acquire the summit of merit1 which is only attained by great patience1 ,he tried him by many sorts of maladies1 so grievous1 that there was scarcely any part of his body in which he did not suffer excruciating pains4 ,these reduced him to such a state1 that he was scarcely more than skin and bone1 almost all his flesh was wasted away2 but these sufferings he did not consider as such1 he denominated them his sisters1 to show how much he cherished them4 ,these words of ,saint ,francis to his brethren1 ,let us begin to serve the ,lord our ,god1 for until now we have made little progress1 contain one of the most important lessons of all spiritual life4 ,the ,wise ,man says of the knowledge of the works of ,god3 ,when a man hath done1 then he shall begin1 ,st4 ,augustine applies this sentence to the obscurity of the sacred writings1 when he says that1 the deeper they are searched1 the more hidden mysteries are found in them2 and it is equally applicable to ,christian and religious perfection4 ,it is an error condemned by the ,church to believe that a man is capable of attaining in this life such a degree of perfection1 as not to be able to increase it2 but it would be a deplorable illusion to make use of the language condemned by ,saint ,bernard2 ,i have done enough1 ,i will remain as ,i am3 neither become worse1 nor better4 ,the just man never says1 ,it is enough2 he has always hunger and thirst after justice2 as the apostles1 ,he forgets the things that are behind1 and stretches himself to those that are before1 to press towards the mark4 ,to believe that we have made progress is not to do so2 not to strive to advance is to go back1 and to lose one's self4 ,what instruction do we find here for the most perfect1 in the example of a saint who deems himself to have made little progress in the service of ,god1 and who wishes to begin all afresh1 at a time when he is found deserving to bear on his body the wounds of ,jesus ,christ6 ,his disorders were only afflicting to ,francis inasmuch as related to the vast projects he unceasingly formed for the good of souls4 ,he was most grieved at the state of his eyes1 which made his sight begin to fail4 ,notwithstanding his other infirmities1 whenever he could1 he mounted on an ass1 and went about1 preaching penance1 announcing the kingdom of ,god1 and addressing these words to all his hearers3 ,jesus ,christ1 my ,love1 was crucified4 ,he spoke with so much fervor1 and with such assiduity1 visiting sometimes five or six towns in the course of a single day1 that it might be paid that ,god gave him1 as to the prophet1 the agility of a deer4 ,however1 although in the person of ,st4 ,francis the interior man was renewed from day to day1 yet it necessarily followed that the exterior man1 borne down by so much1 austerity and fatigue1 began rapidly to decay4 ,the acute pains in his eyes1 and the tears he constantly shed1 brought on blindness1 besides it was impossible for him to preach any longer1 however desirous he was to do so4 ,moreover1 he would not have recourse to remedies1 although his brethren urged him to avail himself of them1 because1 being already in heaven in mind and heart1 he wished1 as the ,apostle had done1 to have his conversation in heaven4 ,brother ,elias1 vicar-general1 who felt the loss which the death of his holy founder would be to the ,order1 was most anxious to procure him relief4 ,his feelings also induced him to wish it2 for1 with all his faults1 he was tenderly attached to his father1 and was as a mother to him by the care he took of him3 of this all the first writers of the life of ,saint ,francis bear testimony4 ,he used entreaties and argument to induce him to have recourse to medicine for his disorders1 and quoted the following ,scriptural texts3 ,the ,most ,high hath created medicines out of the earth1 and a wise man will not abhor them4 ,he also on this occasion made use of the power he had received from the ,saint3 he commanded him1 on his obedience1 not to resist his cure4 ,cardinal ,ugolino1 ,protector of the ,order1 urged him also to the same effect1 and warned him to be careful1 lest there should be sin instead of merit in neglecting to take proper care of himself4 ,the sick man yielded to the advice of his friends4 ,he was removed to a small and poor cell1 very near the ,convent of ,saint ,damian1 that he might be nearer to ,clare and her sisterhood1 who loved him as their father1 and who prepared the medicines for him4 ,he remained there forty days with the ,brothers ,masse1 ,ruffin1 ,leo1 and ,angelo of ,rieti2 but the disorder of his eyes became so painful1 that he could get no rest night or day2 when he endeavored to procure a little sleep1 he was prevented by a number of rats1 which infested the hut1 and ran over his table and bed so daringly1 that it was thought to be a stratagem of the evil one4 ,seeing himself overwhelmed by an accumulation of disorders1 he made the following prayer humbly to ,god3 ,my ,lord and ,god1 cast ,thine eyes upon me1 and lend me ,thine aid2 grant me grace to bear with patience all these ills and infirmities4 ,a voice forthwith made him this answer3 ,francis1 what price should be set upon that which shall obtain a kingdom which is above all price8 ,know that the pains you suffer are of greater value than all the riches of the world1 and that you ought not to be rid of them for all that is in the world1 even though all the mountains should be changed into pure gold1 all its stones into jewels1 and all the waters of the sea into balsam4 ,yes1 ,lord1 exclaimed ,francis1 it is thus that ,i prize the sufferings ,thou sendest me2 for ,i know that it is ,thy will that they should be in this world the chastisements of my sins1 in order to show me mercy in eternity4 ,rejoice1 then1 added the voice1 it is through the way in which you are1 that heaven is reached4 ,at these words he rose up full of fervor2 and wishing that ,clare1 who was almost always ill1 should benefit by what he had just heard1 he sent to her1 and informed her of the tender goodness of ,god to man1 even in the dispositions of ,his ,providence1 which have the appearance of being the most severe4 ,men who are enlightened by the light of faith1--must they not be convinced of these ,christian truths3 that the most perfect have some sins to expiate2 that the saints can only attain to heaven by suffering2 that the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 which is invaluable1 cannot be purchased at too great a price2 and that ,god never manifests ,his paternal regard in our favor more evidently than when ,he afflicts us in this world in order to show us ,his mercy in the next8 ,what fruit might not be gathered from sicknesses and other sufferings2 what alleviations1 what consolations1 and even what joy1 might not be found1 if these holy truths were but reduced to practice1 which unfortunately are only viewed theoretically1 and with little or no application6 ,francis being one day at dinner1 and beginning to eat1 stopped suddenly1 and1 with his eyes raised to heaven1 exclaimed in a loud voice3 ,may ,god be blessed1 glorified1 and exalted above all6 ,then leaving the room in an unusual manner1 he threw himself on the ground1 where he remained motionless in ecstasy during a whole hour4 ,when he came to himself1 one of the brethren whose name was ,leonard1 who had witnessed what had passed1 and had heard what he had exclaimed1 spoke to him of it1 as if what he had done had been very unbecoming4 ,my dear brother1 said ,francis1 ,i had great cause for what ,i did1 which ,i will communicate to you confidentially1 upon condition that you will tell no one of it during my lifetime4 ,if a king promised to give a kingdom to one of his subjects1 would not that person have great reason to rejoice8 ,what1 then1 did ,i do that was unseemly1--,i whom the ,almighty assured of ,his kingdom8 ,i was so overpowered with joy1 that ,i could not control the emotions of my heart2 you must excuse the excess in the expressions of my satisfaction1 whatever it may have been1 and however it may have seemed to transgress the rules of decorum4 ,but what ,i did is not enough1 ,i will praise ,god still more2 ,i will unceasingly praise ,his holy name4 ,i will sing hymns to ,his glory during the remainder of my days4 ,after which he sat down1 and after having reflected a little1 he got one of his companions to write an ,italian canticle1 which begins thus3 ,altissimo1 ,omnipotente1 bon ,signore2 tue son le laude1 la gloria1 l'onore1 ed ogni benedizione1 etc4 ,o ,god1 most high1 most powerful1 most good6 to ,thee belong praise1 honor1 glory1 and every blessing3 these are solely to be referred to ,thee2 neither is any man worthy to pronounce ,thy holy name4 ,praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god6 by all thy creatures4 ,he speaks of the sun as the most brilliant of all1 of the moon1 the stars1 the air1 the wind1 the clouds1 the seasons1 the water1 the fire1 the earth and all that it contains2 giving praise to ,god for each of ,his creatures1 whose beauties and properties ,he recites4 ,this canticle resembles that which was sung at ,babylon1 in the fiery furnace1 by the three young men who were thrown into it1 for not having adored the statue of ,nebuchodonosor4 ,they called upon all creatures1 inanimate and irrational1 to praise ,god1 as ,david had done before2 and ,st4 ,francis calls upon all to praise ,him1 because of ,his creatures4 ,this has the same result2 for inanimate creatures1 as ,st4 ,jerome observes1 only praise ,god by making ,him known to men1 and by placing before them ,his magnificence4 ,when they are considered as ,his work1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 we find in them numberless reasons for singing hymns to ,his glory2 and if ,his greatness is manifested in ,his glorious works1 ,he is not less great in those which are less so4 ,whatsoever ,god has made1 praises ,god2 there is only sin1 of which ,he is not the author1 which does not praise ,him4 ,it was ,francis's desire that all his brethren should learn his canticle1 and recite it daily1 and that ,brother ,pacificus1 the famous poet1 of whom we have before spoken1 and who was then in ,france or in the ,low ,countries1 should put it into well-sounding verse4 ,he called it the ,canticle of the ,sun1 because of the preeminence of that beautiful planet1 in which1 ,david says1 ,god seemed to have taken up ,his abode1 in order to show ,himself to us4 ,as his malady did not show symptoms of amelioration1 ,elias had him removed from the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels to ,foligno1 in hopes that change of air might be of service to him4 ,and he was in fact somewhat relieved by it2 but ,god made known1 by an extraordinary revelation1 that he would continue to suffer until death4 ,elias found himself overpowered with sleep1 and in his slumber he saw a venerable old man1 clothed in white1 with pontifical ornaments1 who told him that ,francis must prepare himself to suffer patiently for two years more1 after which1 death would deliver him1 and would cause him to pass into perfect repose1 free from all pain4 ,he communicated this to ,francis1 who said that the same thing had been communicated to him2 and then1 filled with joy1 not only on account of the eternal felicity again promised him1 but because the time was fixed when his soul was to be released from the prison of his body1 he added this further couplet to his canticle3 ,be ,thou praised1 my ,lord1 for death our sister1 from which no living man can escape1 etc4 ,blessed are they who1 at the hour of death1 are found conformed to ,thy holy will1 for they will not be overtaken by the second death4 ,woe to those who die in mortal sin6 ,may all creatures praise and bless ,god1 obey ,him and serve ,him with great humility6 ,if we are surprised to find ,st4 ,francis call death our sister1 we must bear in mind that the holy man1 ,job1 said to rottenness3 ,thou art my father2 and to the worms1 you are my mother and sister4 ,the whole of the year #abbe1 ,francis passed in various illnesses and in great sufferings4 ,towards autumn1 ,cardinal ,ugolino and ,brother ,elias induced him to be removed to ,rieti1 where there were able physicians and surgeons who could attend to the state of his eyes4 ,as soon as it was known in the town1 all the inhabitants met1 and went to meet him2 but1 in order to avoid all the honors preparing for him1 he had himself taken to ,st4 ,fabian1 a village two miles from ,rieti1 where he lodged at the cure's4 ,the ,pope was at ,rieti1 with all his court1 at that time3 many of the principal persons of the court1 and even cardinals1 came to ,st4 ,fabian to visit the holy man4 ,while they were in conversation with him1 the persons of their suite went into the cure's vineyard to eat grapes1 and they gathered so many that the vineyard was nearly stripped4 ,the cure was much displeased at this1 and complained to ,st4 ,francis1 who asked him1 how much he thought he had lost8 ,i usually1 replied the cure1 have made fourteen measures of wine1 which were sufficient for the consumption of my house4 ,i am sorry1 said ,francis1 that they should have done you so much damage1 but we must hope that ,god will find a remedy for it1 and ,i firmly believe ,he will1 and that1 from the grapes which remain in your vineyard1 ,he will give you fourteen measures of wine and more4 ,the cure saw this prophecy fulfilled1 for he made twenty measures from the few grapes which had been left4 ,the magistrates of ,rieti caused1 at a subsequent period1 a convent to be built for the ,friars ,minors on this spot2 and the same ,pope1 ,gregory ,,ix1 out of respect for the ,saint1 chose to consecrate the church himself1 in which are still seen representations of the miracle4 ,after some days ,francis could no longer avoid going to ,rieti1 where the persons of the court received him with honors1 which he gladly would have dispensed with4--,he lodged there with a pious citizen1 named ,theobald1 a ,saracen1 who had settled in the town4 ,the dejection of spirits which his sufferings had brought upon him1 made him desirous of having instrumental music to cheer him2 but1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 decorum did not allow him to ask for it1 and it was ,god's pleasure that he should receive this agreeable consolation by means of an angel4 ,the mere sound1 which was marvellously harmonious1 raised his mind so entirely to ,god1 and filled his soul with so much delight1 that he thought himself in the enjoyment of the joys of the other world4 ,his intimate companions perceived it1 and they frequently observed that ,god gave him extraordinary consolations1 for the effects they produced on him were so manifest1 that it was impossible for him to disguise them1 and then he admitted to them from whence they arose4 ,this shows that1 if the saintly sufferer wished to hear some instrumental music1 it was in order to listen to it for the glory of ,god1 as ,st4 ,augustine observes was the case with ,david1 and not for any purely human gratification1 nor to take any ordinary pleasure therein1 nor even for the assuagement of his violent sufferings4 ,it is true that harmonious sound will procure this relief2 and without referring to what ancient writers say on this head1 without noticing ,saul1 we know that there are feelings of the body and mind1 in which we experience what the wise man supposes to be a common occurrence1 that music rejoices the heart4 ,man being born with a taste for proportion1 and finding himself full of concert and harmony1 it is no way surprising that the harmony and proportion of sounds should cause strong and vivid impressions on him4 ,st4 ,francis1 who may have been naturally more affected by music than others1 may also have reasonably wished for its solace1 more from a desire to prevent the depression of his spirits1 than from the violence of his sufferings1 or from being deprived of its solace by a principle of mortification4 ,for he was too spiritual a man not to have us convinced that his wish proceeded from a purer and more noble motive4 ,he desired to prevent his mind from being too greatly depressed1 in order to render himself more equal to interior operations1 and to unite himself more easily and more intimately to ,god--as the ,prophet ,eliseus1 who1 having been greatly excited against the ,king of ,israel1 caused a canticle of the temple to be sung to him1 with a harp accompaniment1 in order to calm his irritated mind1 and to prepare him for the lights of the ,lord1 as to the knowledge of future events4 ,st4 ,augustine also observes1 that1 after his baptism1 the chant of the hymns and psalms sung in the church excited in his heart tender sentiments of piety1 and drew from his eyes floods of tears4 ,we may say3 ,music is a science given to men by the liberality of the ,creator1 to represent to them the admirable harmony by which ,he governs the world1 in order to guide them by the channel of the senses1 and melody of sounds1 to the knowledge and love of immutable truth4 ,this is also the true use of music1 and it is only with this view that the ,church permits it in the ,divine ,service4 ,that which is soft and effeminate1 which is calculated to excite the passions1 by multitudes of ambiguous expressions1 7not the less dangerous for being so cloaked7 should be considered by ,christians as an abuse the more deplorable1 as it has even been censured and condemned by the pagans4 ,all the skill of the physicians and surgeons of ,rieti not having had any effect towards the cure of their patient1 he had himself taken to his ,convent of ,fonte ,colombo1 where they were to continue their remedies2 and it was their opinion that a hot iron should be applied above his ear1 from which it was expected he would obtain relief4 ,for this reason his brethren urged him to give his consent1 which he willingly did1 in hopes to recover his sight thereby1 and then to continue his exertions for the salvation of souls2 and also because1 the operation being very painful1 he would have an opportunity of voluntary suffering4 ,when they were about to apply the red-hot iron1 he could not avoid feeling a natural sense of fear2 in order to overcome it1 he addressed the fire as we should speak to a friend3 ,my brother1 said he1 the ,most ,high has given you great beauty1 and has made you most useful2 be favorable to me on this occasion4 ,i entreat the great ,god who created you1 to temper your heat1 so that ,i may be able to bear it4 ,he then made the sign of the cross on the instrument1 and without any fear presented himself to receive the impression4 ,his companions1 not having courage to witness the operation1 left the room4 ,the physician and surgeon remained alone with him1 and the hot iron was pressed from over his ear to his eyebrow1 into his flesh4 ,after the operation1 the brothers having returned1 he said to them3 ,praise the ,lord1 for ,i assure you ,i neither felt the heat of the fire1 nor any pain4 ,then he reproached them mildly in these words3 ,why did you fly1 you pusillanimous men1 and of little faith8 ,he who preserved the three young men in the furnace of ,babylon1 could ,he not temper in my favor the heat of my brother1 the fire8 ,we shall see further what an exalted principle it was which induced him to qualify all creatures by the names of his brothers and sisters4 ,he said to the physician3 ,if the flesh is not sufficiently burnt1 replace the hot iron4 ,the physician1 struck with so much fortitude in so feeble a body1 saw that it was miraculous1 and said to the religious3 ,i see truly to-day a most wonderful occurrence4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who relates this1 makes the following observation3 ,that ,francis having attained so high a degree of perfection1 his body was subject to his mind1 and his mind to ,god2 with admirable harmony it followed from thence1 by a peculiar disposition of ,divine ,providence1 that inanimate creatures which obey ,god1 obeyed ,his servant also1 and forebore from hurting him1 according to the words3 ,o ,lord6 the creature being subject to ,thee1 as to its ,creator1 renovates its strength to torment the wicked1 and softens it to contribute to the good of those who trust in ,thee4 ,it is1 moreover1 remarkable that ,st4 ,francis feared when he saw the red-hot iron1--he who had consented to have the remedy applied1 because it was severe1 and who had offered1 when in ,egypt1 to cast himself into the fire to prove the truth of the ,christian religion4 ,it is thus that ,god permits ,his saints to become sensible of their natural weakness in trifling things1 in order that they may be sensible that in greater things all their strength depends upon ,his grace4 ,the disorder in the eyes of ,st4 ,francis was caused by the tears he continually shed4 ,his physician told him he ought to restrain them1 unless he wished to lose his entire sight2 and this is the reply he gave him3 ,my dear ,brother ,doctor1 for the love of corporal sight1 which we enjoy in common with flies1 we must not set aside for a single instant the ,divine illustrations2 for the mind has not received the favor on account of the body1 it has been granted to the body on account of the mind4 ,he liked better1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 to lose corporal sight than to check for a single moment that tender and affectionate devotion which calls forth tears1 by which the interior sight is purified and rendered competent to see an infinitely pure ,god4 ,in order to show some gratitude to the physician for the trouble he took in his regard1 ,francis one day desired the brethren1 in his presence1 to take him to dine with them4 ,they represented to him that their poverty was such that they had nothing which was fit to place before a person of his consideration1 for this physician was in great estimation1 and very rich4 ,men of little faith1 replied the ,saint1 why have you these doubts8 ,why have you not considered more favorably the merit of obedience8 ,go and take to the refectory our honorable brother1 the doctor4 ,they took him1 seeing that he would consent to partake of their poor fare out of devotion1 but1 just as they were sitting down to table1 there was a ring at the bell2 it was a woman1 who brought1 in a basket1 several dishes exceedingly well dressed1 which a lady1 who lived at a country house1 six miles off1 sent to the servant of ,god4 ,he desired that these might be offered to the physician1 and that he might be told that the ,lord took care of ,his own4 ,the doctor admired the hand of ,providence1 and said to the religious3 ,my brethren1 we do not sufficiently understand the holiness of this man2 and even you who live with him1 have no conception of the secret virtue with which his mind is replenished4 ,this physician was not less charitable than learned2 he had great pleasure in prescribing for this sick man1 he frequently visited him1 and paid the expense of the medicines he required4 ,god1 who considered as done to ,himself what was done to ,his servant who could not repay him1 rewarded him in this world by a miracle worked in his favor4 ,he had laid out all his ready money in building a house which was only just finished1 when one of the principal walls was found to have a large crack in it from the top to the bottom1 which no human art could make good4 ,full of faith and confidence in the merits of ,francis1 he begged his companions to give him something which the holy man had touched4 ,after many entreaties they gave him some of his hair1 which he placed at night in the fissure in the wall4 ,he came back in the morning1 and found the whole so completely closed1 that it was not only impossible to get back the hair1 but it was no longer perceivable that there had been any rent in the wall4 ,the good offices which he had manifested to a worn-out body prevented1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 the ruin of the house he had just built4 ,some days after1 ,francis was taken to ,rieti1 where the bishop lodged him in his palace2 they brought to the foot of his bed1 upon a tressel1 one of the canons1 who was dangerously ill2 he had been a very worldly man1 who had lived a dissipated life1 but who1 struck with the fear of approaching death1 entreated the ,saint to make the sign of the cross upon him4 ,how1 said ,francis1 shall ,i make the sign of the cross on you1 who1 without any fear of the judgments of ,god1 have given yourself up to the lusts of the flesh8 ,i will do it1 however1 because of the pious persons who have interceded in your favor4 ,but1 bear in mind that you will suffer much greater ills1 if1 after your cure1 you should return to your vomit1 for the sin of ingratitude and relapse makes the last state of man worse than the first4 ,he then made the sign of the cross upon the sick man1 who immediately arose1 praised ,god1 and exclaimed1 ,i am healed4 ,all the bystanders heard his bones crack1 as when dry sticks are broken4 ,that unhappy man1 however1 did not remain long without plunging again into vice2 and one night1 as he was in bed at the house of a canon where he had supped1 the roof of the house fell in and crushed him1 without hurting any one else4 ,it was1 says the same holy doctor1 by a just judgment of ,god2 for the sin of ingratitude is a contempt of the graces of ,god1 for which we ought to be most thankful2 and the sins into which we again fall after repentance1 displease ,him more than any others4 ,will it never be understood that1 in the diseases of the soul1 as in those of the body1 there is nothing so dangerous as a relapse8 ,the pains felt by ,francis were in some degree assuaged1 his sight was restored1 and he made use of this interval to have himself taken into several parts of ,umbria1 of the ,kingdom of ,naples1 and of the adjacent provinces1 in order to work for the salvation of souls4 ,at ,penna1 a young religious who was naturally good1 and of great promise1 came to ask his pardon for having left the ,order1 which he had only done at the instigation of the evil spirit1 who persuaded him that by living privately1 he could better sanctify himself4 ,as soon as the ,saint saw him1 he fled to his cell1 and shut the door2 when he came out again1 his companions expressed their surprise at what he had done3 ,do not be astonished1 he said1 at my having fled2 ,i saw on this young man a frightful demon1 who was endeavoring to throw him down a precipice1 and ,i acknowledge to you that ,i could not bear his presence4 ,i have prayed as earnestly as ,i could for the deliverance of this poor brother from such a seducer1 and ,god has heard my prayer4 ,then1 having sent for him1 and telling him what he had seen1 he exhorted him to be on his guard against the snares of the devil1 and not to separate himself again from his brethren3 ,for1 if you do otherwise1 he added1 you will not fail to fall into the precipice from which the mercy of ,god has preserved you4 ,the docile and faithful religious passed the remainder of his days in great piety1 and in the exercises of a regular life4 ,at ,calano1 a town of the ,duchy of ,marsi1 in the farther ,abruzzo1 where ,francis was come to preach1 a common soldier pressed him so earnestly to come and dine with him1 that he could make no excuse4 ,he therefore went1 with one companion1 who was a priest1--a circumstance which was very serviceable4 ,the poor family of the soldier having received them with great joy1 the ,saint began to pray1 as was his custom1 and he had his eyes constantly raised to heaven4 ,he then said to the soldier1 privately1 ,my brother and my host1 you see ,i have acceded to your request in coming to dine with you4 ,now1 follow my advice1 and make haste2 for it is not here1 but elsewhere1 that you will dine4 ,confess your sins with as much exactness and sorrow as you can2 the ,lord will reward you for having received ,his poor ones with such good religious intentions4 ,the soldier1 placing confidence in what the servant of ,god said to him1 made his confession to ,francis' companion1 regulated his temporal affairs1 and prepared himself1 as well as he could1 for death4 ,when that was done1 he sat down with the others at table1 and a minute afterwards he expired suddenly4 ,then were the words of the ,gospel fulfilled1 that he who should receive a prophet as a prophet1 that is to say1 not seeing in him any other qualification1 receives also the reward of the prophet1 inasmuch as the prediction of ,francis enabled him to fortify himself by penance against death1 which he did not think to be so near at hand4 ,it was probably in this apostolic tour that the ,servant of ,god performed a miracle on the person of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who1 under the dispositions of ,divine ,providence2 was to become one of the most illustrious of his children4 ,he was born at ,bagnarea in ,tuscany1 a town belonging to the ,ecclesiastical ,states1 in the year #abba1 and he was baptized by the name of ,john4 ,his father1 ,john ,fidenza1 and ,ritella1 his mother1 joined to the nobility of their birth a large fund of piety4 ,in his infancy he was seized with a mortal illness1 of which he was cured by ,st4 ,francis1 which was one of the reasons why he determined to write his ,life4 ,i should fear1 he says in his preface to his ,legend1 that ,i should be accused of criminal ingratitude if ,i neglected to publish the praises of him1 to whom ,i acknowledge that ,i owe the life of my body and my soul4 ,it is reported1 with the circumstances which he himself may have told1 and the memory of which may have been preserved by tradition1 that his mother1 having no further hopes of saving him by means of medicaments1 came and presented him to ,st4 ,francis1 who was renowned in ,italy1 at that time1 for the splendor of his sanctity and his miracles2 she implored the aid of his prayers1 and made a vow that1 if the child was saved1 she would give him to his ,order4 ,the holy man consoled the afflicted mother1 and obtained from ,god the cure of her son1 to the astonishment of the physicians1 who had deemed his disorder incurable4 ,at the sight of this miraculous cure1 he said1 in the ,italian language3 ,o buona ventura6 ,how fortunate6 from whence came the name of ,bonaventure2 and finally1 he foretold that the child would become a great light in the ,church of ,god1 and that through him his ,order would receive great increase of sanctity4 ,in the year #abdc1 being then twenty-two years old1 he proposed to fulfil his mother's vow1 and take the habit of a ,friar ,minor4 ,this is not the place to narrate his illustrious actions1 but we must notice two remarkable circumstances which are connected with ,st4 ,francis4 ,the first is1 that1 as this blessed ,patriarch bears the name of ,seraphic1 because of the ,divine love with which he was inflamed1 when ,jesus ,christ1 under the figure of a seraph1 imprinted on him the sacred stigmata1 so ,st4 ,bonaventure has been called the ,seraphic ,doctor1 because his whole doctrine1 as well as his whole life1 breathes the fire of charity4 ,it is a torch which burns and illuminates2 it influences while instructing2 whatever truths he expounds1 he brings back all to ,god by love1 and1 to define him properly1 he should be styled the ,seraphic and ,cherubic ,doctor4 ,tis thus that ,gerson1 the ,chancellor of the ,university of ,paris1 expresses himself4 ,if ,i am asked1 he continues1 who amongst the doctors seems to me the best calculated to instruct1 ,i answer1 without detracting from any other1 it is ,bonaventure1 because he is sure1 solid1 exact1 and devout1 at one and the same time2 and separating from his theology all questions foreign from the purpose1 all superfluous dialectic1 and that obscurity of terms with which so many others load their works1 he turns into piety all the beautiful lights he gives to the mind4 ,in a word1 there is not a doctrine more mild1 more salutary1 more sublime1 than his2 and in devotion alone can neglect it4 ,as to me1 he adds1 having recommenced studying it since ,i am grown old1 the more ,i advance the more ,i am confounded1 and ,i say to myself3 ,what is the use of so much talking1 and so much writing8 ,here is a doctrine which is quite sufficient of itself1 and it is only necessary to transcribe and to spread it into facts4'--,such is the opinion of the celebrated ,gerson as to ,st4 ,bonaventure1 before he was canonized1 declared a ,doctor of the ,church1 and honored by the title of ,seraphic1 which he shares with his blessed ,father4 ,the ,abbot ,trithemius1 of the ,order of ,st4 ,benedict1 passes a similar eulogium on him1 to which the ,sovereign ,pontiffs1 ,sixtus ,,iv4 and ,sixtus ,v41 have added the crowning point in their bulls1 the one for his canonization1 the other for his doctorship4 ,the second particularity of his life1 which had relation to ,st4 ,francis1 is1 that he gloriously verified his prediction as to the fruits of sanctity which he was to bring to the ,order4 ,having been elected general when he was five and thirty years of age1 in consequence of his great talents and eminent virtues1 he governed his brethren for eighteen years with so much zeal1 light1 mildness1 and wisdom1 that he perfectly made amends for the evil which the relaxation of some and the perplexity of others had occasioned4 ,he prepared such judicious regulations for the form of government1 for the recital of the ,divine ,office1 for the regularity of discipline1 that they have served as a basis and foundation for all the statutes which have since been introduced into the ,order4 ,he decided on the difficulties which occurred as to the observation of the rules1 and this with so much precision1 that1 in order to follow them exactly and conscientiously1 without scruple1 it is only necessary to practise what he has clearly laid down4 ,he composed spiritual treatises1 so elevated1 so instructive1 and so affecting1 that they are alone sufficient to guide the ,friars ,minors1 or all other persons of piety1 to the sublimest perfection4 ,he answered1 with so much strength and judgment1 the philosophers of his day1 who attacked the ,mendicant ,orders1 despite of the ,sovereign ,pontiffs1 by whom they were approved1 that his works1 with those of the ,angelic ,doctor1 ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas1 will ever cover with confusion whosoever may attempt to renew the former disputes on this head4 ,the exertions which ,st4 ,francis made1 during a short interval from pain1 for the salvation of souls1 in an unfavorable season of the year1 increased all his maladies4 ,his legs became inflamed1 and he was obliged to lie by in a small hamlet near ,nocera4 ,when this was known at ,assisi1 the fear they had lest he should die on the way1 and lest his country should be deprived of his precious remains1 induced the authorities to send means to bring him into town4 ,this deputation1 returning with the patient1 arrived at the dinner hour in the ,village of ,sarthiano1 where they found nothing to be purchased for their meal1 although they offered a double price for every thing they wanted4 ,upon their complaining of this1 ,francis said3 ,you have not found anything1 because you have had greater confidence in your flies than in your ,lord 7he called their money flies72 but return to the houses where you have been1 and ask them humbly for alms1 offering to pray to ,god for them in payment4 ,don't think1 under false impressions1 that there is anything mean or shameful in this1 for1 since sin came into the world1 all the good which ,god so liberally bestows on man1 on the just1 and on sinners1 on the worthy and unworthy1 is done by means of alms1 and ,he is the chief almsgiver4 ,these men overcame their bashfulness1 and went cheerfully to beg for the love of ,god1 and got whatever they wanted1 although they had not been able to obtain it for money2 ,god having so touched the hearts of the inhabitants1 that1 in giving what they had1 they even offered spontaneously every service4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi had the man of ,god brought to his palace1 and kept him there till the spring of the year #abbf1 providing him with everything he required1 with great affection4 ,one day1 when his stomach loathed everything1 he expressed a wish for a particular sort of fish1 which the severity of the winter made it difficult to procure1 but1 at the very moment1 a messenger sent by ,brother ,gerald1 the guardian of the convent of ,rieti1 brought three large fishes of this species1 with certain sauces which were calculated to sharpen the appetite and strengthen the patient4 ,thus it is that it sometimes pleases the ,lord to give sensible relief to ,his friends who have neglected their health and crucified their flesh for ,his sake4 ,the children of the holy patriarch1 and particularly ,elias1 his vicar- general1 who saw that there was no amelioration in the state of his health1 but that1 on the contrary1 his disorders increased with the renewal of the year1 entreated him to allow himself to be removed to ,sienna1 where the mild climate and the excellence of the physicians might afford him some relief1 if there were no hopes of a cure4 ,and they urged this so energetically1 that1 as he was mild and obliging1 he consented to be taken thither at the beginning of ,april4 ,but all his ills continued1 and the disorder of his eyes was greatly increased4 ,a red-hot iron was again applied to both sides of his head1 from the ears to the eyebrows1 but this had no good effect1 though he suffered no pain from it1 ,god having renewed the miracle ,he had before performed in his favor4 ,so the mild air of ,sienna1 and the kind care of the physicians1 did not prevent the sufferings of ,francis from continuing and increasing4 ,during one night he vomited so much blood1 and he was to such a degree weakened from it1 that it was thought he was about to expire4 ,his children1 cast down and in tears1 came to him1 like the disciples of ,st4 ,martin1 when he was on the point of death1 and said to him1 sobbing3-- ,dear ,father and ,master1 we are greatly distressed to see you suffer so intensely1 but we are likewise afflicted for ourselves4 ,after all your labors you are about to go to the enjoyment of eternal repose1 but we shall remain without our ,father and ,pastor1 you have begotten us in ,jesus ,christ by the doctrine of the ,gospel1 and we are scarcely born before we lose you4 ,who will instruct us8 ,who will console us8 ,you have been everything to us1 your presence has been our happiness4 ,to whom do you consign us1 in the desolate state in which we are8 ,alas6 we foresee that after your departure ravenous wolves will invade your flock4 ,leave us1 at least1 something of yours to remind us of your instructions1 in order that we may follow them when you are no more2 and give us your blessing1 which may be our shield against our enemies4 ,the holy patriarch1 casting his eyes affectionately on his children1 called out to ,brother ,benedict of ,piratro1 who was his infirmarian1 and who1 during his illness1 said ,mass in his room3 ,priest of ,god1 said he1 commit to writing the blessing ,i give to all my brethren1 as well to those who are now in the ,order1 as to those who shall embrace it to the end of the world4 ,as my great sufferings and extreme weakness prevent me from speaking1 here are in a few words my intentions and last wishes3 ',may all the brethren love each other as ,i have loved them1 and as ,i now love them4 ,may they always cherish and adhere to poverty1 which is my lady and my mistress2 and never let them cease from being submissive and faithfully attached to the prelates and all the clergy4 ,may the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost bless and protect them6 ,amen4' ,his sufferings being in some degree modified1 and his weakness no longer so intense1 his zeal induced him to think of instructing and exhorting the absent1 for1 by the example of the ,son of ,god1 he loved his own even to the last4 ,as soon as ,brother ,elias1 the vicar-general1 learnt the extreme danger in which the ,father was1 he came in great haste to ,sienna1 and proposed to him to be removed to the convent of ,celles1 near ,cortona4 ,francis was very glad to see him1 and was quite willing to be removed to ,celles1 where he was attended with great care by the relations and friends of ,elias1 who were of that country4 ,but1 as he became swollen1 and the sufferings of his stomach and liver were greatly increased1 he requested to be taken to ,assisi2 which the vicar-general had done with all the care and precaution possible4 ,his return was a source of extraordinary gratification to the inhabitants1 who had been fearful of being deprived of so great a treasure had he died elsewhere4 ,they went in crowds to meet him1 with great expressions of pleasure1 and the bishop received him again into his palace4 ,before we put on record the last acts and precious death of ,st4 ,francis1 it will be proper to notice the state in which his ,order was at that time4 ,there were some of his brethren in all parts of the known world4 ,in ,europe1 they filled all ,italy4 ,greece furnished them a province4 ,the esteem of the great1 and the love of the people1 procured for them1 daily1 new houses in ,spain1 ,portugal1 ,france1 the ,low ,countries1 and ,england4 ,they had spread into ,scotland1 and began to be received in ,ireland4 ,brother ,albert1 of ,pisa1 had sent missioners into ,upper and ,lower ,germany1 with great success4 ,they had penetrated into ,poland1 and into the countries of the ,north4 ,in ,asia1 those whom the holy ,patriarch had left1 with others who followed1 multiplied the missions among the ,saracens4 ,in ,africa they continued to preach ,jesus ,christ to the ,mohammedans1 and we see by letters dated from ,rieti1 the #gth ,october1 #abbe1 which ,pope ,honorius addressed to the ,friars ,preachers and ,minors1 destined by the ,apostolic ,see for the mission into the kingdom of the ,miramolin1 that they renounced themselves1 and desired to sacrifice their lives for ,jesus ,christ1 in order to gain souls for ,him4 ,the ,second ,order instituted by ,francis1 and called that of the ,poor ,dames1 spread itself also throughout ,europe1 and the ,third ,order of ,penance made stupendous progress4 ,the children of this holy ,patriarch1 being thus spread in all parts1 preached the ,gospel to the infidels1 repressed heresies1 attacked vice1 inspired virtue1 and gave admirable examples of poverty1 humility1 penance1 and all perfection4 ,anthony1 of ,padua1 preached in ,italy and ,france with so much lustre1 that he has ever been considered as one of the most marvellous preachers whom ,italy ever saw4 ,the strength and the unction of his discourses1 the eminent sanctity of his life1 the evidence of his miracles1 changed the face of the towns in which he announced the word of ,god4 ,his auditors1 penetrated with conjunction1 and bursting into tears1 excited each other to works of penance2 the revengeful1 the lascivious1 the avaricious1 the usurers became converted1 and resorted so to the tribunals of penance that the number of priests were insufficient to hear the confessions4 ,in the year #abbe he came to ,toulouse1 and visited other towns of ,france1 where his principal object was to confront the heretics4 ,animated with the same spirit which inspired his ,father1 ,francis1 with so perfect an attachment to the ,roman ,church1 and the ,holy ,see1 he was the declared enemy of all errors1 and he labored with all his strength to root them out4 ,by quotations from the ,holy ,scriptures1 with which he was intimately conversant1 and the sense of which he perfectly understood1 and by the solidity of his reasoning1 he confounded the sectarians1 and created a great horror of the false doctrines they taught4 ,with admirable tact he discovered their artifices and frauds1 which he laid before the people1 to preserve them from their seduction2 and1 in fine1 he pursued them with so much vigor and perseverance1 that the faithful gave him the name of the indefatigable mallet of the heretics2 none of them ventured to enter the lists with him1 not even to say a word in his presence4 ,god favored him by converting a very great number of their supporters1 and1 what is very singular1 many of the heads of their party4 ,at ,bourges a man whose name was ,guiald1 and whom the historian calls an heresiarch1 was so convinced by the power of his words1 and by a marked miracle of the real presence of ,jesus ,christ in the ,eucharist1 that he persevered till death in the ,catholic faith1 and in submission to the ,church4 ,another named ,bonneville1 or ,banal1 who is also stated to have been an heresiarch1 who had been thirty years buried in the darkness of errors1 was converted in a similar manner at ,rimini by the sermons of ,st4 ,anthony1 and had a like perseverance4 ,the state in which1 as we have just shown1 ,st4 ,francis left his ,order when on the point of death1 must be looked upon as one of the principal marvels of his life4 ,god had predestined him for this great work2 he labored at it for eighteen years without ceasing1 with all possible assiduity1 and1 on the eve of quitting this world1 he might say1 in conforming himself to ,jesus ,christ1 after having profited by ,his grace3 ,i have glorified ,thee on earth2 ,i have finished the work ,thou gavest me to do1 ,i now go to ,thee4 ,happy the ,christian whose conscience bears him thus out on the bed of death1 who can say that he has endeavored to do what ,god required of him1 and fulfilled the duties of his profession4 ,,book ,v ,the cruel and continued pain under which the holy ,patriarch suffered1 did not prevent his giving instruction to his children1 his providing for their spiritual wants1 and his answering1 with admirable presence of mind1 to various questions which were put to him relative to the observance of the ,rule1 and the government of the ,order4 ,he spoke as freely1 and with as much composure1 as if he felt no inconvenience4 ,as his body became weaker1 his mind seemed to acquire fresh vigor4 ,one day1 when his sufferings were greatly aggravated1 he saw that the brothers took great pains in endeavoring to afford him relief1 and fearing that fatigue would cause some of those who were about him to become impatient1 or that they might complain that their attendance on him prevented them from observing their spiritual exercises1 he addressed them affectionately1 saying3 ,my dear children1 do not tire of the trouble you take for me1 for our ,lord will reward you1 both in this life and in the next1 for all you do for ,his little servant2 and if my illness takes up your time1 be assured that you will gain more from it1 than if you were to labor for yourselves1 because the aid you give me is given to the entire ,order and to the lives of the brethren4 ,i also assure you that ,god will be your debtor for all that you will do for me4 ,it is very true that those who assisted the ,saint in his illness labored for the entire ,order1 and for the spiritual life of his brethren1 because they aided in the preservation of him who was so necessary to his ,order2 and they put it in his power to give further instructions to his brethren who were now in it1 and to those who were to enter it in future4 ,on another occasion1 when his sufferings were apparently bringing him to extremity1 one of his infirmarians said to him3 ,brother1 pray that ,god may treat you with less severity1 for it seems that ,his hand presses too severely upon you4 ,at these words ,francis exclaimed in a loud voice3 ,if1 said he1 ,i was not aware of the simplicity and uprightness of your heart1 ,i should not dare to remain in the same house with you from this instant4 ,you have had the rashness to criticise the judgments of ,god in my regard2 and immediately1 notwithstanding the weak state in which he was1 he threw himself on the ground with such violence that his worn-out bones were all bruised2 he kissed the ground and exclaimed3 ,my ,god1 ,i return ,thee thanks for the pains ,i endure1 and ,i pray ,thee to add to them an hundred-fold1 if such should be ,thy good pleasure4 ,it will be pleasing to me to know that1 in afflicting me1 ,thou dost not spare me1 for the greatest consolation ,i can enjoy is1 that ,thy holy will shall be fulfilled4 ,he had in his sufferings similar feelings to those of holy ,job1 and he expressed himself in a similar manner4 ,ought not all ,christians to have such feelings in their illnesses and other afflictions8 ,are the saints not to be imitated in this8 ,may we not1 by the grace of ,god1 which assuredly will not be wanting1 practice those virtues by which they became saints8 ,clare and her daughters1 hearing that their father was so dangerously ill1 sent to express to him the grief which it caused them1 and they entreated him to mitigate their sorrow by sending them at least his blessing4 ,the holy ,patriarch1 full of tenderness for these pious virgins1 and sympathizing in their grief1 and in that which they would feel on his death1 sent them some verses he had composed in the praise of the ,lord1 and added to them a letter of exhortation1 in which doubtless he gave them his blessing most amply2 but this is not found in his works4 ,we find only the following fragment1 which may belong to the letter he had written to them at that time3-- ,i1 ,brother ,francis1 little man1 ,i choose to follow the example of the life and poverty of ,jesus ,christ1 our most high ,lord1 and that of ,his holy ,mother1 and to persevere in it to the end4 ,i beg you also1 all you whom ,i consider as my ,ladies1 and ,i recommend you to conform yourselves at all times to this life and to this poverty1 the sanctity of which is so great4 ,be careful not to swerve from it in the least1 nor to listen to any advice1 nor to anything which may be said to contravene it4 ,the oldest historians of the ,order say that1 in the letter he sent them shortly before his death1 he entreated them1 that1 as the ,lord had brought them together from many places1 in order that they might apply themselves to the practice of the sacred virtues of charity1 humility1 poverty1 and obedience1 they should use every effort to pass their lives accordingly1 and to die in holy perserverance4 ,he exhorts those of his sisters who were suffering from sickness1 to have patience under their ills4 ,and because he knew how austere they were1 he recommended them to use with discretion1 and with joy and thankfulness1 the alms which ,divine ,providence sent them4 ,he promised ,clare that she should see him1 and1 in fact1 after his death she and her daughters did see him1 as shall hereafter be related4 ,the same writers add1 that he had always entertained peculiar affection and regard for these holy religious females1 thinking that the holiness of their life1 which had been from the beginning one of great poverty and mortification1 reflected glory on the religious state1 and was a source of great edification to the whole ,church4 ,he wrote to them several other times1 to encourage them in virtue1 and particularly in the love of poverty1 as we find in the will of ,st4 ,clare1 but the letters are not extant4 ,even to this day we are sensible of the truth of what he said2 nothing is more glorious for the regular state1 and nothing more edifying for the whole ,church1 than to see the nuns of ,st4 ,clare1 who keep the rule of their ,order without the slightest mitigation1 who renounce the possession of any property whatsoever1 whether private or in common1 who live wholly on alms1 and in such a state of rigorous austerity1 that the stronger sex would find to be quite appalling4 ,as soon as it was known in ,assisi that the holy man was at the point of death1 the magistrates placed guards round the episcopal palace1 with orders to keep strict watch1 lest his body should be taken away the moment he should have expired1 and thus the city would be deprived of so precious a treasure4 ,the physician1 whose name was ,john ,lebon1 a native of ,arezzo1 communicated to him that death was approaching2 his brethren told him the same thing4 ,full of joy1 he began to praise ,god1 and having caused some of the choir-singers to be called in1 he sang with them in a loud voice the last verses which he had added to the ,canticle of the ,sun3 ,be praised1 ,o ,lord6 for death1 our sister--which no man living on earth can escape4 ,elias1 whose thoughts were always governed by human prudence1 was fearful lest his singing should be considered a weakness of mind arising from the fear of death1 and entreated him to stop4 ,brother1 replied ,francis1 with extraordinary fervor1 permit me to rejoice in the ,lord1 and to thank ,him for the great tranquillity of my conscience4 ,i am1 through ,his mercy and ,his grace1 so united to my ,god1 that ,i have just reason to manifest the joy that ,he gives me1 who is the high and most liberal ,giver of all good gifts2 and do not imagine that ,i am so wanting in courage as to tremble at the approach of death4 ,he had his children brought to him1 and he blessed each one of them as the ,patriarch ,jacob had done1 giving to each an appropriate blessing4 ,then1 after the example of ,moses1 who blessed all the faithful ,israelites1 he gave a general and ample blessing to the whole ,order4 ,as he had stretched his arms one over the other in the form of a cross1 as ,jacob had done in blessing the children of ,joseph1 his right hand came upon the head of ,elias1 who was kneeling on his left4 ,he asked who it was1 for his sight was quite gone1 and being answered that it was ,brother ,elias1 he said3 ',tis well1 my right hand is properly placed on him4 ,my son1 ,i bless you in all and above all4 ,inasmuch as under your hand the ,most ,high has increased the number of my brethren and children1 thus ,i bless them all in you4 ,may ,god1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all things1 bless you in ,heaven and on earth6 ,as for me1 ,i bless you as far as is in my power1 and even more than that--may ,god who can do all1 do in you what ,i cannot6 ,i pray that ,god may bear in mind your labors and your works1 and that ,he may give you a share in the rewards of the just1 that you may obtain the blessings you wish for2 and may what you solicit worthily be fulfilled6 ,the reader may perhaps be surprised that ,francis1 who knew ,brother ,elias1 and who had learnt by revelation that he was to die out of the ,order1 should have given him a share in his blessing2 but we must recollect that ,he who enlightens the saints1 inspires them with views similar to ,his own4 ,he loves and favors those who are in a state of grace1 although ,he foresees the great sins they will commit hereafter4 ,what affection had ,he not for ,david1 and what favors did ,he not heap upon him before he became guilty of the adultery and homicide which rendered him so criminal6 ,thus1 in a manner1 the holy ,patriarch1 in blessing ,elias1 only had in consideration the good dispositions in which he believed him to be at that time1 independent of the future1 which ,god had revealed to him1 and which was not to guide him in this instance4 ,moreover1 ,elias was his vicar-general1 and was so by an order from on high2 he had labored usefully in the works of the ,lord2 the talents he possessed put it in his power to do still more good service2 we cannot deny that he was sincerely and tenderly attached to his ,father1 and that he had an ardent zeal3--all these circumstances united might have induced the ,saint to give him an ample blessing1 nor was it without good effect1 since he died in sentiments of true repentance4 ,the man of ,god finding the day of his death1 which ,jesus ,christ had revealed to him1 draw near1 said to his brethren in the words of the ,prince of the ,apostles3 ,the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand2 and he begged them to have himself taken to the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 wishing1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 to render up the spirit which had given life to him1 in the place where he had received the ,spirit of grace4 ,he was1 therefore1 removed1 according to his desire2 and when he had come to the place between the town and the convent1 he asked if they had reached the hospital of the lepers1 and1 as those who were carrying him replied in the affirmative1 he said3 ,turn me now towards the town1 and set me down on the ground4 ,then raising himself upon the litter1 he prayed for ,assisi1 and for all its inhabitants4 ,he likewise shed tears1 in considering the ills which would come upon the city1 during the wars which he foresaw1 and he then gave it this blessing3 ,be blest by the ,lord1 ,o city1 faithful to ,god6 because many souls will be saved in thee and by thee4 ,a great number of the servants of the ,most ,high will dwell within thy walls1 and among the number of thy artisans not a few will be chosen for eternal life4 ,some time after his arrival at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 he called for paper and ink1 that he might acquaint ,dame ,jacqueline de ,septisal of the proximity of his death3 she was the illustrious ,roman widow who was so much attached to him4 ,it is right1 he said1 that1 dying1 ,i should give that consolation to a person who afforded me so many consolations during my life4 ,this is what he dictated for her3 ,to the lady ,jacqueline1 the servant of the ,most ,high1 ,brother ,francis1 the poor little servant of ,jesus ,christ1 sends greetings1 and communication with the ,holy ,ghost1 in ,jesus ,christ4 ,know1 my very dear lady1 that ,jesus ,christ1 blessed for ever1 has done me the favor to reveal to me the end of my life3 it is very near4 ,for which reason1 if you wish to see me alive1 set out as soon as you shall have received this letter1 and hasten to ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 for1 if you arrive later than ,saturday1 you will find me dead4 ,bring with you some stuff1 or rather1 a sackcloth1 to cover my body1 and some wax-lights for my funeral4 ,pray bring also some of those comfits which you gave me when ,i was sick at ,rome4 ,at these words he stopped1 having his eyes raised to ,heaven4 ,he said it was not necessary to go on with the letter1 nor to send a messenger1 because the lady had set out1 and was bringing with her all that was required2 and1 in fact1 she arrived shortly after with her two sons and a considerable suite1 bringing with her the stuff1 a quantity of wax-lights1 and certain electuaries which were comforting for the stomach4 ,the religious asked her how she could have come so opportunely1 without having had notice given her1 and how she came to bring all that was requisite for the time4 ,she told them that during the night she had received an order from ,heaven1 and that an angel had requested her not to leave out any of the things which had been desired4 ,on ,friday1 ,october the #dth1 ,francis again collected all his brethren together1 blessed them a second time1 and having blessed a loaf of bread with the sign of the cross1 he gave to each a piece as a symbol of union and fraternal charity4 ,they all partook of it with great devotion1 representing to themselves1 in this repast of love1 the last supper which ,jesus ,christ ate with ,his disciples4 ,brother ,elias1 who wept bitterly1 was the only one who did not eat his portion1 which was perhaps a mournful foreboding of the division he was to introduce into the ,order4 ,in truth1 he kept the piece he had received from their ,father respectfully in his hand2 but1 as if he had cast aside the charity which was offered him1 instead of1 at least1 keeping the morsel of bread1 he gave it to ,brother ,leo1 who asked him for it4 ,great care was taken for its preservation1 and ,god permitted that it should be subsequently used for the cure of many maladies4 ,all the brothers had melted into tears1 and the holy ,patriarch inquired where ,bernard1 his eldest son1 was4 ,and ,bernard having drawn near1 he said3 ,come1 my son1 that ,i may bless you before ,i die4 ,feeling that he was kneeling on his left1 while ,brother ,giles was on his right1 he put his hands again crosswise1 so that his right hand came on the head of ,bernard1 to whom he gave this blessing3-- ,may the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ bless you with all the spiritual blessings which ,he has shed from on high on ,his ,son4 ,as you were chosen the first to give good example of the ,evangelical law in this ,order1 and to imitate the poverty of ,jesus ,christ1 to whom you generously offered your goods and your person in the odor of sweetness1 so may you be blessed by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by ,his poor servant2 and may you be so blessed in your going out and coming in1 waking or sleeping1 living and dying4 ,may he who blesses you1 be filled with blessings2 and may he who curses you1 not remain unpunished4 ,be the lord of your brethren1 and let them be all subject to you4 ,let all those whom you shall approve1 be admitted into the ,order1 and all whom you shall reject1 be rejected4 ,let no one have authority over you1 so that you may be at liberty to go and dwell where you think proper4 ,bernard having retired1 with his eyes bathed in tears1 ,francis said to the others3 ,my intention is1 and ,i direct that whoever may be appointed minister general1 may so love and honor ,brother ,bernard as myself1 and that all the provincial ministers1 as well as all the brethren of this ,order1 may look upon him as they have done on me2 in fact1 ,i leave him to you as the half of my soul4 ,there are few who are able to appreciate his virtue3 it is so great1 that ,satan never ceases from tempting him1 molesting him1 and laying snares for him4 ,but1 by ,god's help1 he will get the better of all1 to the great profit of his soul1 and he will find himself in an extraordinary manner in perfect tranquillity4 ,those who were present1 and who afterwards lived with ,bernard1 witnessed the fulfilment of these predictions4 ,his eminent sanctity1 well known to ,francis1 and of which he foresaw the perseverance1 was the reason why he ordered the others to respect him as their master1 and why he rendered him independent1 in order that he might have full leisure to give himself up to contemplation1 which had such charms for him4 ,for a similar reason1 he gave him power to admit or reject novices1 as his prudence should dictate3 a privilege which was the more appropriate1 as ,bernard had been the first to enter into the ,order4 ,st4 ,bonaventure is silent as to the manner and fervor with which the ,servant of ,god received the last sacraments1 following in that the method of many old authors who1 in the lives of saints1 only notice those things which are peculiar and marvellous1 without speaking of the common and ordinary actions of all ,christians4 ,but we have only to bear in mind the great respect ,st4 ,francis had for all the practices of the ,church2 the spirit of penance by which he was animated2 the vivid and tender affections of his heart towards the ,passion of the ,son of ,god1 and the mystery of the ,holy ,eucharist2 the ardor of his zeal to cause ,jesus ,christ to be adored in the august sacrament1 and revered in all that related to it2 his eagerness in recommending the frequent approach to the ,holy ,communion1 and the constant recourse he himself had to this balm for the soul1 so that for fear of being deprived of it1 he chose to have ,mass said in his own room during his illnesses3--all these recollections1 being united1 are demonstrations of what must have been the dispositions of the ,saint when the last sacraments were administered to him4 ,he particularly desired all his brethren to have a peculiar veneration for the ,church of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 because it had been revealed that the ,blessed ,virgin had a singular affection for this church among all those which were dedicated to her name1 and upon this subject he spoke as follows1 with great animation3-- ,it is my desire that this place shall be always under the direction of the person who shall be minister-general and servitor of the ,order2 and that the minister shall be careful to select for its service only good and holy brethren2 and that the clerics who shall be appointed to it shall be taken from those of the ,order who are the best and the holiest1 and are the best instructed for the celebration of the ,divine ,offices1 so that their brethren and the seculars may be edified in seeing and hearing them4 ,let them also be particular in choosing the lay brethren to be placed there2 let them be discreet1 mild1 and humble men1 whose lives are holy1 who shall serve the others without entering into idle discourse1 not talk of the news1 or what is passing in the world1 nor of any thing which does not relate to the salvation of souls4 ,it is also my desire that none of the brethren shall come here except the minister-general and his companions1 and that no secular shall be admitted1 in order that those belonging to the place may the better preserve themselves in purity and holiness1 and that the place itself may remain pure and holy1 being solely devoted to singing the praises of the ,lord4 ,when ,god shall be pleased to call any one of them to ,himself1 ,i desire that the minister-general may send another whose life shall be equally holy4 ,my intention is1 that1 if the brethren shall swerve from the path of perfection1 this place shall be ever blest1 and shall remain as the example and model for the whole ,order2 as a beautiful torch before the throne of ,god1 and before the altar of the ,blessed ,virgin1 where lamps shall be ever burning1 to obtain from the goodness of ,god that ,he may grant ,his pardon to the brethren for all their faults1 and preserve and protect this ,order which ,he has planted with ,his own hand4 ,my children1 he continued1 be careful never to abandon this spot1 and if you are driven out on one side1 return by the opposite one2 for it is holy1 it is the dwelling-place of ,jesus ,christ1 and of the ,blessed ,virgin1 ,his ,mother4 ,it is here that the ,lord1 the ,most ,high1 has multiplied our numbers1 from being very few2 here1 by the light of ,his wisdom1 ,he enlightened the minds of ,his poor ones2 here1 by the ardor of ,his love1 he inflamed our hearts2 here1 whoever shall pray devoutly1 will obtain whatever he may ask2 and whoever shall sin here1 will be punished with greater rigor4 ,wherefore1 my children1 have a great veneration for this place1 which is truly the dwelling of the ,almighty1 peculiarly beloved by ,jesus ,christ and ,his blessed ,mother4 ,employ yourselves here joyfully1 and with your whole hearts1 in praising and blessing ,god and ,his ,son1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 in unity with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 ,the day at length arrived which had been fixed by ,divine ,providence for terminating and rewarding the labors of this faithful ,servant of ,god3 it was a ,saturday1 the fourth of ,october4 ,st4 ,bonaventure who considers him on his death-bed as a work well finished by the chisel of suffering1 as a precious jewel cut and polished1 to be placed in the sacred edifice of the celestial ,jerusalem1 remarks1 that1 finding himself near his end1 and animating himself with fresh fervor1 he stretched himself on the ground4 ,all the brethren were penetrated with grief and shed tears4 ,one of them1 whom the holy man called his guardian1 knowing by inspiration what he wished for1 went quickly to fetch a tunic1 a cord1 and the other parts of the dress of a ,friar ,minor1 and brought them to him1 saying3 ,here is what we lend you1 as to a poor man2 take them out of obedience4 ,he accepted this alms1 and was rejoiced that he was faithful to the last to poverty1 which he called his dame and his mistress2 then raising his hands to heaven1 he gave glory to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that1 being disengaged and free from everything1 he was about to go to ,him4 ,at the beginning of his conversion he stripped himself before the ,bishop of ,assisi1 in imitation of the poor life of our ,saviour2 and to resemble ,him more completely in ,his state of poverty1 of nudity1 and of suffering on the cross1 he stripped himself before his brethren at his death1 and chose to leave this world poor as he came into it1 or1 at least1 only in a habit which he had received as an alms3 such was his love of poverty4 ,oh6 exclaims ,st4 ,bonaventure1 with what truth may it be said that this was verily a ,christian man1 who has rendered himself perfectly conformable to ,jesus ,christ while living1 or dying1 or dead1 and who has merited the honor of such a conformity1 by the impression of the five wounds6 ,what is further remarkable is1 that they asked him where he desired to be buried1 to which he answered3 ,in the vilest of places1 on the ,infernal ,hill1 on that side where criminals are executed4 ,this place was out of the ,town of ,assisi1 near the walls1 vulgarly called the ,infernal ,hill1 perhaps on account of its being the place of execution4 ,the ,servant of ,god wished to be buried there1 in order to be in strict conformity with his ,divine ,master1 who chose1 says ,st4 ,jerome1 to be crucified in the usual place of execution1 as a criminal among criminals1 for the salvation of men1 and to be placed in a tomb which was close by4 ,his wish became a prophecy1 for1 two years after his death1 as will be explained hereafter1 a church was built in his honor on the ,infernal ,hill1 when the name was changed into that of the ,hill of ,paradise1 and the site of the church was so contrived that his body was placed precisely on the spot where the gallows had been formerly erected4 ,seeing his last hour drawing nigh1 he summoned all his brethren who were in the convent1 and after having addressed some words of consolation to them1 to mitigate the grief they felt for his death1 he exhorted them to love ,god as a tender ,father4 ,then he spoke to them for a long time on the care they should take to persevere in the faith of the ,church of ,rome1 in poverty and in patience1 under the tribulations which awaited them1 as well as in successes of their holy undertaking4 ,he made use of the most moving expressions in recommending to them to make progress towards eternal goods1 to be armed with vigilance against the dangers of the world1 and to walk exactly in the paths of ,jesus ,christ2 remarking to them that the observance of ,his ,gospel was the basis and essence of their ,institution1 and that all their practices had this in view4 ,after the holy man had made known his last wishes1 he sent for ,brother ,leo1 his confessor1 and for ,brother ,angelo1 whom he directed to sing in his presence the ,canticle of the ,sun1 because death was very near3 this is the canticle of which we have spoken1 in which he gives glory to ,god for all ,his creatures1 and also for death4 ,as he was assured by revelation that death would remove him to eternal life1 its proximity filled him with joy1 which he evidenced by causing the praises of ,god to be sung4 ,when the canticle was finished1 he placed his arms one over the other in the form of a cross1--a saving sign1 to which he had been always devoted1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks--and stretching them over his brethren who stood around him1 he gave his blessing for the last time1 as well to those who were present1 as to those who were absent1 in the name and by virtue of ,jesus crucified4 ,he then pronounced the following words with great mildness and suavity3 ,adieu1 my children1 ,i bid you all adieu2 ,i leave you in the fear of the ,lord1 abide ever in that4 ,the time of trial and tribulation approaches2 happy those who persevere in the good they have begun4 ,as to me1 ,i go to ,god with great eagerness1 and ,i recommend you all to ,his favor ,he then called for the book of the ,gospels1 and requested them to read to him the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john1 at that part where the history of the ,passion of our ,blessed ,saviour begins by these words3 ,ante diem festum ,pascha1 before the ,feast of the ,passover4 ,after this had been read1 he began himself to recite1 as well as he could1 the hundred and forty-first psalm1 ,voce mea ad ,dominum clamavi3 ,i have cried to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 with my voice2 and he continued it to the last verse1 ,me expectant justi1 donec retribuas mihi3 ,the just wait for me1 until ,thou reward me4 ,in fine1 all the mysteries of grace having been fulfilled in this man1 so beloved by ,god1 his very soul1 absorbed in ,divine love1 was released from the shackles of his body1 and went to repose in the ,lord4 ,such a death makes good what the ,holy ,fathers of the ,church say1 that the perfect ,christian dies with joy1 and with pleasure4 ,there is no one who would not wish for such a death4 ,the most worldly would desire with ,balaam1 that their life should end as that of the just2 but the perfection of the just must be imitated to afford any hope of the end being similar3 death is only mild and consoling in proportion to the fervor of a ,christian life4 ,st4 ,bonaventure places on record many proofs which they had of the glory of ,st4 ,francis at the moment of his death4 ,one of his disciples saw his blessed soul1 under the figure of a brilliant star1 rise upon a white cloud1 above all the others1 and go straight to heaven4 ,this marked1 says the holy doctor1 the splendor of his sublime sanctity1 with the plenitude of grace and wisdom1 which had rendered him worthy of entering into the regions of light and peace1 where1 with ,jesus ,christ1 he enjoys a repose which will be eternal4 ,brother ,austin1 of ,assisi1 ,provincial of the ,terra di ,lavoro1 a just and saintly man1 who was in the last stage of a severe illness1 and had ceased to speak1 suddenly exclaimed3 ,wait for me1 my ,father1 wait for me2 ,i will go with you ,the brethren1 quite astonished1 asked him who he was speaking to4 ,what1 said he1 don't you see our ,father1 ,francis1 going up to ,heaven8 ,at that very moment his soul separated itself from his body1 and followed that of his ,father4 ,thomas of ,celano1 and ,bernard of ,bessa1 companions of ,st4 ,bonaventure1 also mentioned that a holy man of their day had a revelation to the effect1 that the souls of several ,friars ,minors were delivered from the sufferings of purgatory1 and were joined with that of the holy ,patriarch1 to enter ,heaven with him4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi being then on a devotional tour to ,mount ,gargano1 to visit the ,church of the ,archangel ,michael1 ,francis appeared to him on the night of his death1 and said3 ,i leave the world1 and am going up to heaven4 ,the prelate1 in the morning1 mentioned to those who accompanied him what he had seen2 and on his return1 having made exact inquiry1 he found that the apparition had appeared to him at the very time of the ,saint's death4 ,the body of ,st4 ,francis1 after his death1 was an object worthy of admiration1 according to this description of it1 given by ,st4 ,bonaventure on the testimony of those who had seen it1 and reported verbally to him all the circumstances1 conformably to what had been taken down in writing3 ,on his hands and on his feet black nails were seen as of iron1 wonderfully formed of his flesh by ,divine power1 and so attached to his flesh1 that1 when they were pressed on one side1 they protruded farther on the other1 as hard excrescences1 and all of one piece4 ,nothing now prevented the wound on his side from being seen1 which he hid with so much care during his lifetime1--this wound1 which had not been made by the hand of man1 and which resembled the opening in the side of our ,blessed ,saviour1 from which the sacrament of our redemption issued1 and that of our regeneration4 ,its color was red1 and the edges1 rounded off1 gave it the appearance of a beautiful rose4 ,the flesh of the ,saint1 which was naturally of a brownish color1 and which his diseases had rendered tawny1 became extraordinarily white4 ,it called to mind the robes whitened in the blood of the ,lamb1 with which the saints are clothed4 ,his limbs were flexible and pliable as those of an infant2 evident signs of the innocence and candor of his soul4 ,the whiteness of his skin contrasted with the black nails of his hands and feet1 and with the wound in his side1 which resembled a fresh-blossomed rose1 exhibited a variety of tints which was beautiful and pleasing1 and was the admiration of those who saw it4 ,his body1 in fine1 was the representation of the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ by the wounds imprinted on it1 and of the glorious resurrection by the qualifications it had received after death4 ,this marvellous and novel sight mitigated the affliction of his children2 it strengthened their faith1 inflamed their love1 and quite enraptured them2 and1 although the death of so amiable a father caused them to shed torrents of tears1 they1 nevertheless1 had their hearts filled with joy when they kissed the impressions of the wounds of the great ,king imprinted on his flesh4 ,as soon as the news of his death was spread1 and the circumstances of the stigmata came to be spoken of1 the people came in crowds to see them3 each person wished to see them with his own eyes1 and assure himself of the truth of an event which was the cause of so much joy to the public4 ,a great number of the citizens of ,assisi were permitted to approach1 to see and to kiss the sacred stigmata4 ,one of them named ,jerome1 belonging to the army1 a learned and prudent man1 whose reputation was very extensive1 finding it difficult to give credit to so wonderful a circumstance1 examined the wounds more particularly and more minutely than the rest1 in presence of the brethren1 and of many persons of the town4 ,he felt the feet1 the hands1 and the wound in the side of the ,saint's body2 he moved the nails1 and convinced himself so perfectly of the truth of the fact1 that he was afterwards a most zealous advocate and witness to it1 and made oath to its truth on the holy ,evangelists4 ,it was1 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 a case similar to that of the ,apostle ,st4 ,thomas1 who1 from being incredulous1 became a faithful witness after having put his hands into the wounds of the ,saviour1 in order that his faith1 preceded by incredulity1 should strengthen our faith1 and prevent us from becoming incredulous4 ,the brethren1 who had been present at the death of the blessed ,patriarch1 passed the remainder of the night in singing the praises of ,god around the body1 with a number of other persons1 who had collected there for the purpose1 insomuch that it more resembled a feast of celestial spirits than the funeral service of a mortal4 ,the next morning1 which was ,sunday1 the holy corpse was carried to ,assisi on the shoulders of the principal persons of that city1 and those of the highest rank among the ,friars ,minors2 hymns and canticles being sung the whole way1 while the concourse followed1 carrying in their hands lighted torches1 or branches of laurel4 ,the procession passed on to the ,church of ,st4 ,damian1 where ,clare and her nuns awaited it1 and where it halted for a short time1 to afford them the consolation of seeing and kissing the stigmata4 ,in admiring this extraordinary prodigy1 and lamenting the death of such a father1 they called to mind the promise he had made them during his last illness1 that they should again see him before their death4 ,clare endeavored to draw the nail from one of his hands1 which1 as the head of it was raised above the palm of the hand1 she thought she would be able to effect1 but she found it impossible4 ,she1 therefore1 only dipped a piece of linen in the blood which exuded2 and she took the measure of the body1 by which she had a niche made of similar size1 on that side of the choir which the religious occupied1 in which the image of the saint was afterwards placed4 ,these pious virgins would have been glad to have detained the body longer1 but it was necessary to resume the route to ,assisi1 where he was buried in the ,church of ,st4 ,george1 with every possible veneration and respect4 ,it was there he had received the first rudiments of education1 it was there he had preached for the first time1 and there was his first place of repose4 ,brother ,elias1 in his quality of vicar-general1 wrote a circular letter on his death1 which he sent into all the provinces of the ,order4 ,the copy which the ,provincial of ,france received1 was thus directed3 ,to my well-beloved brother in ,jesus ,christ1 ,brother ,gregory1 minister of the brethren who are in ,france1 and to all his brethren1 and to ours1 ,brother ,elias sends greeting4 ,he first expresses his grief in very affecting terms1 and in alluding to the loss the ,order had sustained1 he passes a high eulogium on the sanctity of their common ,father1 with many citations from the ,sacred ,scriptures1 very aptly applied4 ,then1 he says1 that what must console the children of the blessed patriarch is1 that his death opened to him eternal life1 and that previously he had pardoned all the offences which he might have sustained from any of them4 ,this article only regarded ,brother ,elias and his adherents1 for they were the only ones who had caused him any displeasure1 and1 according to all probability1 ,elias only adverted to it to soften the feelings of many who were irritated with him in consequence of his relaxation4 ,after this preliminary he communicates to them a great cause for rejoicing in the miracle of the stigmata1 which he treats as follows3 ,we had seen our ,brother and our ,father1 ,francis1 some time before his death as one crucified1 having on his body five wounds similar to those of ,jesus ,christ1 nails of the color of nails of iron1 which perforated his hands and feet1 his side being laid open as by the wound of a lance1 from whence blood often percolated4 ,immediately after his death his face1 which was not handsome during his life1 became extraordinarily beautiful1 white and brilliant1 and pleasing to behold2 his limbs1 which the contraction of the muscles1 caused by his great sufferings1 had stiffened like to those of a corpse1 became pliant and flexible as those of a child3 they could be handled and placed in any position which might be wished4 ,he then exhorts them to give glory to ,god for so great a miracle1 and adds3 ,he who used to console us in our afflictions is no more1 he has been taken from us2 we are now orphans1 and have no longer a father4 ,but1 since it is written1 that 'to the ,lord is the poor man left3 ,he will be a helper to the orphan1 let us address our prayers to ,him1 my dear brethren1 and let us entreat ,him to give us another chief1 who1 as a true ,machabee1 shall guide us and lead us to battle4 ,at the close of the letter he ordered prayers for the deceased1 saying3 ,it is not useless to pray for the dead2 pray for him1 as he requested we should3 but at the same time pray that we may obtain from ,god a participation in ,his grace4 ,amen4 ,it was signed1 ,brother ,elias1 a sinner4 ,although ,elias doubted not that the holy man was in glory1 he1 nevertheless1 prescribed praying for him1 not only to comply with the wish of the deceased1 and not to forestall the decision of the ,holy ,see1 but1 also1 because he bore in mind what ,st4 ,augustine had said1 that the sacrifices and prayers offered for the dead whose life has been irreproachable1 are acts of thanksgiving4 ,,conclusion ,we have yet to mention what the ,holy ,see did to glorify ,st4 ,francis and to make his name memorable for all times4 ,pope ,honorius ,,iii died on the #ahth of ,march1 #abbg1 to the great grief of the entire ,church4 ,he dearly loved ,st4 ,francis and had approved the ,rule of the ,friars ,minor4 ,the morning after his death the cardinals assembled and elected ,cardinal ,ugolini as his successor1 who took unto himself the name of ,gregory ,,ix4 ,cardinal ,ugolini was the intimate friend of ,francis1 the ,protector of his ,order and the founder of several ,franciscan ,convents2 as was recorded above1 ,st4 ,francis predicted his ,pontificate4 ,a riot at ,rome shortly after caused the ,holy ,father to flee to ,rieti1 he then went to ,spoleto1 and from thence to ,assisi4 ,at ,assisi he was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm by the people4 ,his deep piety prompted him to visit the grave of our ,saint1 where he spent a long time in prayer4 ,at the general chapter held at ,rome1 ,june #g1 #abbg1 in which ,brother ,elias was re-elected1 ,his ,holiness was petitioned by all present to canonize ,francis whom ,god already made illustrious by many miracles4 ,now a favorable opportunity presented itself to pay special heed to this petition4 ,he caused a rigorous examination to be made of all the miracles attributed to the intercession of the ,saint after his death4 ,this was not a difficult matter for there were a great number of witnesses in the city and neighboring places4 ,in the meanwhile the ,holy ,father went to ,perugia to attend to some affairs of state4 ,when the validity of the proofs regarding the miracles and virtues of ,st4 ,francis could in no way be questioned1 ,gregory returned to ,assisi4 ,the canonization took place with the greatest solemnity on ,sunday ,july #afth1 in the ,church of ,st4 ,george1 where the body of the ,saint reposed4 ,amidst an immense assembly of cardinals1 bishops1 priests1 clerics1 members of the ,franciscan ,orders1 knights1 lords1 and dignitaries of the1 provinces and a vast multitude of people the ,sovereign ,pontiff pronounced from his throne1 the following solemn words3 ,to the glory of the ,most ,high ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 the glorious ,virgin ,mary1 the blessed ,apostles ,peter and ,paul1 and to the honor of the whole ,roman ,church1 we have resolved1 in concert with our brethren and other prelates1 to inscribe in the catalogue of the saints1 the blessed ,father ,francis1 whom ,god has glorified in ,heaven1 and whom we venerate on earth4 ,his feast shall be celebrated on the day of his death4 ,at once the cardinals intoned the ,te ,deum1 the people responded by their cries and shouts of joy4 ,thereupon prayers of thanksgiving were recited and then the august ,pontiff celebrated ,holy ,mass4 ,it was a day of grace1 of exultation and triumph for ,assisi1 for the ,franciscan ,family and for the whole ,church4 ,thus was ,st4 ,francis canonized but a few years after his death4 ,the humble ,saint had asked to be interred on the ,infernal ,hill1 the hill on which criminals were buried4 ,up to the present his desire could not be fulfilled4 ,the ,city of ,assisi waited to make that place of ignominy a worthy abode for the remains of its most saintly and illustrious citizen4 ,a magnificent double-church was erected on the spot4 ,the ,sovereign ,pontiff declared that henceforth the place shall be called ,hill of ,paradise and later on laid the corner-stone for the new edifice4 ,the lower church was completed in #abcj4 ,the elaborate portal is a plan of ,baccio ,pontelli4 ,the stained glass windows by ,bonino1 a native of ,assisi1 render a soft and mellow harmony of light no less charming than that of the mosaic interior of ,san ,marco1 ,venice4 ,famous frescoes which influenced all the great movements of art that followed1 cover the walls of the church4 ,those in the sanctuary by ,giotto are particularly fine4 ,they represent ,st4 ,francis espousing ,humility1 ,charity1 and ,poverty4 ,the gold and blue of the backgrounds upon which the numerous scenes are painted1 harmonize beautifully in the general color scheme of the sacred edifice4 ,in the fourteenth century nine chapels were added along the walls of the lower church1 mostly memorial chapels of cardinals and bishops4 ,two years after the construction of the lower church with its vaulted top1 the building of the upper church began4 ,the ,gothic form of architecture was chosen for the building1 so that the high and pointed arches be emblematic of the lofty spirit of ,st4 ,francis1 and of the towering strength of his followers1 whose object it is to raise the spirit of men to a higher standard of religion and devotion4 ,after its completion in the year #abec ,pope ,innocent ,,iv came in person to ,assisi and consecrated the upper and lower church4 ,at the same time the ,holy ,father1 who resided in the monastery at ,assisi with the ,franciscan ,fathers for five months1 solemnly canonized the ,bishop and ,martyr ,stanislaus of ,cracow4 ,the upper church again afforded the genius of artists ample opportunity to blossom forth4 ,zimabue enriched the sanctuary with brilliant frescoes from the life of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary whom ,st4 ,francis had chosen to be the ,patroness and ,protectress of his three orders for all future times4 ,the choir-picture1 the ,assumption of the ,virgin1 is the finest of the series4 ,in the apse are frescoes of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul to whose tomb 7at ,rome7 ,st4 ,francis made a pilgrimage to ask for grace and light at the beginning of his conversion4 ,other frescoes of ,zimabue1 also in the apse of the church1 represent various passages of the ,apocalypse1 relative to the rejuvenation of the ,church2 ,st4 ,francis was called and appointed by ,god to restore the church which was falling into ruins4 ,along the lower wall-spaces of the nave are twenty-eight large frescoes from the life of ,st4 ,francis by ,giotto1 ,taddio1 ,gaddi and ,giunto ,pisano2 the upper spaces have representations of the ,old and ,new ,testament by ,pietro ,cavallini and his school4 ,these upper paintings are now in ruins1 but even in their ruins they are precious pearls of mediaeval art4 ,the stained glass windows are of such exceptional beauty and artistic correctness that their equal cannot be found in all ,italy4 ,speaking of the ,church of ,st4 ,francis at ,assisi1 a traveller says in substance as follows3 ,in its tremendous proportions the gigantic ,church of ,st4 ,francis can only be compared to the pyramids of ,egypt2 and both are symbolic of their times4 ,the pyramids were erected by the iron will and the cruel might of the ,pharaohs1 the blood of nations stain every stone and they are bedewed with many tears4 ,the ,church of ,st4 ,francis was built by the self-sacrificing love and heartfelt gratitude of nations4 ,its stones are worn by the footsteps and the tears of millions and millions of people1 who came there1 perhaps sad and weary1 but returned with the love and the peace of the ,saint in their heart4 ,when the lower church was completed 7#abcj71 the venerable remains of ,st4 ,francis were translated to their new resting-place4 ,such numbers were present at this translation1 that many had to sleep out under tents during the night1 the walls of ,assisi not being able to contain so vast a multitude4 ,the people of ,assisi1 having observed a commotion in the crowd1 began to fear that an attempt was being made to deprive them of their sacred treasure3 accordingly they rushed to the bier1 took possession of the ,saint's body1 entered the church1 locked the doors1 and interred the body1 without allowing any of the clergy1 religious1 or people to enter4 ,in consequence of this event1 an impenetrable veil of secrecy long hung over the place where the body had been laid4 ,in #ahah1 ,pope ,pius ,,vii gave permission to the ,general of the ,conventual ,minors to make researches under the high altar4 ,many previous researches had been made2 they grew to such gigantic proportions that the foundations of the massive structure were partly undermined4 ,to prevent the ruin of the basilica at ,assisi1 the ,holy ,see finally forbade all further researches without the special consent of the ,sovereign ,pontiff4 ,when ,pope ,pius ,,vii gave the necessary permission1 the researches were again taken up1 but very carefully and in great secrecy4 ,the workmen were employed for fifty-two nights in hard labor4 ,at length1 after having broken through rocks and massive walls1 an iron grating was discovered1 beneath which was a skeleton in a stone coffin1 which when opened1 exhaled the most fragrant odor4 ,the ,holy ,father deputed the ,bishops of ,assisi1 ,nocera1 ,spoleto1 ,perugia1 and ,foligno1 to make a juridical examination1 to certify the authenticity of the body4 ,then1 in accordance with a decree of the ,council of ,trent1 he named a commission of cardinals and theologians1 and1 all being settled1 on the #eth of ,december1 #ahbj1 he declared in a ,brief that this body is verily the body of ,saint ,francis of ,assisi1 ,founder of the ,order of ,friars ,minor4 ,the sacred body of ,st4 ,francis now lies beneath the main altar of the lower church1 mentioned before1 in an exquisitely beautiful little chapel hewn out of the solid rock4 ,the remains repose in their original sarcophagus1 which is bound by broad girders of steel4 ,seven hundred years have elapsed since the death of this humble servant of ,god4 ,his memory has outlived all the storms that have agitated the world4 ,the good seed that he sowed is still bringing forth fruit a hundredfold4 ,like the ,apostles of old1 he labored in the vineyard of the ,lord1 and opened up to others1 ,heavenly treasures of untold value4 ,yet more1 in the person of ,st4 ,francis1 ,jesus of ,nazareth lived again for the instruction and edification of the whole world1 as ,he had never done in any individual1 since the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles4 ,at the word of ,st4 ,francis a revival of primitive ,christianity sprang into existence at a time when all civilization seemed unhinged on account of the almost universal decay in morals4 ,he taught men afresh that the commands of ,jesus ,christ could be literally obeyed and that the ,sermon on the ,mount was as applicable to the men of the middle and all succeeding ages as to the first age of ,christian history4 ,this ,new ,abraham begot through the ,gospel the largest family of ,christ's followers and of missionaries the ,catholic ,church has ever produced4 ,it is well known that the history of the ,church from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century was largely the history of the rise and growth of ,franciscanism in every part of ,europe4 ,to-day1 after seven centuries have elapsed1 we find no symptoms of decay in the great ,franciscan ,family4 ,the priests and laybrothers of the ,first ,order are to be found laboring assiduously in every country4 ,in efficiency and number their active missionaries are second to none4 ,they are storming the strongholds of ,satan from one end of the world to the other4 ,the ,second ,order stands before us as of old1 a beautiful lily in the ,sanctuary of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,virgins1 of the ,second ,order1 called ,poor ,clares1 seek voluntary oblivion and by their pure and pious life of the greatest austerity1 of seclusion1 silence1 penance and prayer1 daily open the floodgates of ,god's graces to mankind4 ,the wonderful and healthy growth of the ,third ,order1 especially since the great ,encyclical on ,st4 ,francis and on the ,third ,order by ,pope ,leo ,,xiii 7#ahhb71 need not be mentioned2 it is a fact known to all4 ,since the work of the ,seraphic ,saint is so prosperous at present1 we need not doubt about the future4 ,as we have previously seen ,god ,himself revealed to ,st4 ,francis that his institution shall remain till the end of times4 ,thus the ,most ,high glorified and rewarded the poor1 humble man of ,assisi1 the greatest of sinners1 as he loved to call himself4 ,st4 ,francis now reigns in ,heaven1 brilliant as the ,morning ,star1 and showers his blessings upon his many children4 ,let us praise ,god for the grace and glory ,he gave his humble ,servant and let us deeply impress upon our mind the words of the ,holy ,ghost3 ,god resists the proud1 but gives his graces to the humble4 ,he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ,,st4 ,,francis ,,sealed ,,with ,,the ,,character ,,of ,,jesus ,the eminent perfection of ,st4 ,francis was grounded on a tender and fervent devotion to ,jesus ,christ crucified4 ,this adorable object had a powerful attraction for his heart1 was the source of all the graces he received1 and the model of all the virtues he practised4 ,from the sufferings of our ,saviour he made for himself1 as ,st4 ,bernard had done1 a nosegay of myrrh1 which he always carried in his bosom2 he considered attentively the sufferings of his ,beloved1 he suffered them himself1 and they called forth his sighs and his tears2 it was his wish that the fire of this love might transform him entirely into ,him who had borne them4 ,the poverty of the ,son of ,god1 in ,his birth1 during ,his life1 and at ,his death1 made such impression on the heart of ,francis1 that he embraced this virtue with inexpressible ardor4 ,seeing that it was rejected by the world1 and looking upon it as the pearl of the ,gospel1 to acquire it1 he abandoned father1 mother1 and all that he had4 ,no person ever sought after riches with so much avidity1 and no one ever guarded his treasure with so much care4 ,he never wore1 until his death1 anything but a worthless tunic1 and he refused himself everything but what was absolutely necessary4 ,he would yield to no one in poverty1 although he considered himself the most abject of all4 ,if he saw any one worse dressed than he was1 he considered it as a reproach to himself4 ,one day1 meeting a poor man who was almost naked1 he said to his companion with a sigh3 ,there is a poor man who shames us4 ,we have chosen poverty for our greatest riches1 and in him you see it shine far more than in us4 ,for his nourishment1 he greatly preferred what he solicited for the love of ,god from door to door1 to what was offered to him4 ,he frequently considered within himself1 and it brought tears into his eyes1 how poor our ,saviour and ,his ,blessed ,mother had been in this world1 and the reflection induced him to live in greater poverty4 ,as to the cells1 he always chose the smallest4 ,one of his secular friends having had one built1 which was only made of wood1 though pretty neat1 in the hermitage of ,sarthiano1 he found it too fine1 and said he would not enter it a second time unless it was put into a state of poverty2 so that1 in order to induce him to return1 it was necessary to cover it roughly with branches of trees1 both without and within4 ,he left it afterwards because one of his companions had said to him1 ,father1 ,i am come to look for you in your cell4 ,i will not occupy it any longer1 he replied1 because you consider it mine in calling it my cell3 another may live in it1 to whom it will not be appropriated4 ,this is what his companions tell us on the subject3--,we have often heard him say1 we1 who have lived with him3 ',i will not have as mine either dwelling-place1 or any other thing1 for our ,master has said3 ,the foxes have lairs1 and the birds of the air1 nests2 but the ,son of ,man hath not where to lay ,his head4' ,he was also accustomed to say3 ,when our ,lord went to fast in the desert1 where ,he remained forty days and forty nights1 ,he had no cell prepared for ,him1 nor any other covering2 it was only in some crevice of the mountain that ,he took repose4 ,the same authors add1 that1 in order to imitate ,jesus ,christ perfectly1 ,francis desired to have neither convent nor cell which could be called his4 ,and1 moreover1 if sometimes1 on arriving1 he pointed out to his brethren the cell which he proposed to occupy1 he checked himself immediately1 as having shown too much solicitude1 and went into another1 which had not been prepared for him4 ,shall1 then1 the children of the ,patriarch of the poor be censured when they imitate this tenderness of conscience2 and when1 to show their aversion to the possession of property1 they call even the things which are most essential for them to have the use of1 by terms which show that they do not even hold them in common1 and that they have nothing which is their own8 ,although the servant of ,god possessed every virtue in a very high degree1 yet it was remarked that the virtue of poverty was the one which was above all the others2 and this it pleased the ,almighty to make known by an admirable vision4 ,when the saint was going to ,sienna1 three very poor women1 who resembled each other both in size and countenance1 and appeared to be of the same age1 presented themselves before him1 and greeted him in these words3 ,may the ,lady ,poverty be welcome6 ,this salutation filled him with joy1 because nothing was more grateful to him in greeting him than to speak of poverty1 which was so dear to him4 ,the vision immediately vanished1 and his companions1 who had seen it1 had no doubt that there was something mysterious in it2 that ,god meant thereby to discover to them something which related to their father4--,in fact1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 these three women1 who were so like to each other1 were not bad representations of chastity1 obedience1 and poverty1 which constitute the beauty of ,evangelical perfection1 and were the very eminent characteristics of the saintly man2 yet the expressions which these women made use of in greeting him1 showed that he had chosen poverty as his special prerogative1 and the principal object of his glory2 and1 indeed1 he was in the habit of calling it sometimes his lady1 sometimes his mother1 and sometimes his spouse or his queen4 ,it is not possible to record in this place all the praise which the holy ,founder gave to this ,evangelical virtue4 ,he called it the ,queen1 not only because it shone with splendor in ,,jesus ,,christ1 the ,king of kings1 and in ,his ,blessed ,mother1 but because it is elevated above all earthly things1 which it tramples under foot4 ,know1 he used to say to his brethren1 that poverty is the hidden treasure of the ,gospel1 the basis on which an order rests the special path to salvation1 the support of humility1 the mother of self-renunciation1 the principle of obedience1 the death of self-love1 the destruction of vanity and cupidity1 the rod of perfection1 the fruits of which are abundant1 though hidden4 ,it is a virtue descended from ,heaven which acts within us1 and enables us to despise everything which is despicable2 it subverts all the obstacles which prevent the soul from perfectly uniting itself to ,god by humility and charity2 it causes those by whom it is beloved to become active as pure spirits1 and enables them to take their flight towards ,heaven1 to converse with angels1 though still living on earth4 ,it is so excellent and so divine a virtue1 that vile and abject vases such as we are1 are not worthy of containing it4 ,in order to obtain the grace of poverty1 he often recited the following prayer to ,jesus ,christ3 ,o ,lord ,jesus6 point out to me the ways of poverty1 which are so dear to ,thee4 ,have pity on me1 for ,i love it with such intensity that ,i can find no repose without it1 and ,thou knowest that it is ,thou who gavest me this ardent love4 ,it is rejected1 despised1 and hated by the world1 although it is a dame and a queen1 and ,thou hast had the goodness to come down from ,heaven to make poverty ,thy spouse1 and to have from her1 by her1 and in her1 perfect children4 ,my ,jesus1 who chosest to be extremely poor6 the favor which ,i ask of ,thee is1 to give me the privilege of poverty2 ,i ardently desire to be enriched by this treasure2 ,i entreat of ,thee that it may be mine1 and of those who belong to me1 and that we may never possess anything of our own under heaven for the glory of ,thy name1 and that we may exist1 during this miserable life1 on those things only which are given to us1 and that we be very sparing in the use we shall make even of these4 ,amen4 ,this friend of poverty did not confine it to the repudiation of all external things3 he carried its perfection to the most elevated spiritual point4 ,he who aspires to its attainment1 he said1 must renounce not only all worldly prudence1 but in some degree all learning and science1 so that1 being stripped of all sorts of goods1 he may place himself under cover of the protection of the ,most ,high1 think only of ,his justice1 and cast himself into the arms of the ,crucified4 ,for it is not to renounce the world entirely1 if any attachment to its lights1 and to one's own feelings1 remains in the secret recesses of the heart4 ,he did not assert that1 in order to arrive at the perfection of poverty1 it was necessary to be without learning1 but he required that learning should not be considered by the possessor as an interior property1 from which self-love should be fed2 that there should not be that secret attachment to mental illumination1 which is the primary source of error1 and the basis of the obstinacy of heretics2 that all of knowledge should be referred to ,god1 and that we should in some sense strip ourselves of it to acquire the perception of ,god alone1 and of ,his holy law4 ,st4 ,hilary said1 speaking in the same sense1 that we must always bear in mind that we are men1 that we have nothing of our own1 not even the use of our senses and faculties2 that these come from ,god1 and that we must only use them as things which are in a continual dependence on ,his will4 ,this is an important instruction for the consideration of the learned4 ,the lively affection which ,st4 ,francis bore for the crucified ,jesus1 from the moment of his conversion1 rendered him very austere towards himself4 ,not only could he not suffer that the tunic which he wore should have anything soft in it1 but he chose that it should be rough and harsh2 when he found that it had become too soft1 he put knotted cords on the inside to counteract the softness4 ,it was usually on the bare ground that he laid his body down1--that body which was worn out by fatigue2 sometimes he slept1 sitting with his head resting on a stone or piece of wood4 ,as to food1 he scarcely took what was absolutely necessary for his nourishment4 ,when in health1 he seldom permitted anything to be put before him which was cooked1 and then he either strewed ashes upon it1 or added water to it1 to take away the taste4 ,pure water was his only beverage1 and then he drank so little that it was insufficient for quenching his thirst4 ,besides the ,lent kept by all ,christians1 he kept eight others in the course of the year4 ,the first1 of forty days1 from the day after the ,epiphany1 in memory of our ,lord's fast in the desert1 after ,he had been baptized by ,john1 which took place on the sixth day of ,january1 according to the old tradition of the ,church4 ,the second was from the ,wednesday in ,easter week1 to ,whit-,sunday1 to prepare himself for receiving the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the third1 from the day after the ,festival of ,pentecost to the ,feast of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul1 in honor of these blessed ,apostles4 ,the fourth1 from the day after their festival to the ,assumption1 in honor of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,the fifth in honor of ,st4 ,michael1 from the ,assumption to the feast of that angel4 ,the sixth1 from that feast is the first of ,november1 in honor of all the saints4 ,the seventh1 from ,all-,souls to ,christmas1 to prepare himself to celebrate the birth of ,christ4 ,the eighth1 from the ,feast of ,st4 ,stephen to the ,epiphany1 in honor of the three kings4 ,thus was his life a perpetual fast4 ,when he went abroad he ate whatsoever was put before him1 not only to observe the direction of the ,gospel1 but in order to gain worldlings to ,jesus ,christ1 by conforming to their ways2 but when in the convent1 he resumed his habits of abstinence1 and this mode of life was very edifying to laymen4 ,the more he advanced towards perfection1 the more he mortified himself4 ,we cannot form a more correct opinion of the ,evangelical hatred he bore his body1 than by noticing the terms he made use of to express it4 ,after having finished ,complin1 and spent a considerable time in prayer1 in a deserted church1 in which he passed the night1 he wished to take some rest4 ,as the evil spirits prevented him from so doing1 by suggestions which frightened him1 and made him tremble1 he mustered courage1 rose1 made the sign of the cross1 and said in a loud voice3 ,devils1 ,i declare to you from ,almighty ,god1 that you may use against me all the power given to you by my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and do all the harm you can to my body4 ,i am ready to suffer everything1 and assuredly you will oblige me greatly1 for this body is a great burden to me2 it is the greatest enemy ,i have1 the most wicked1 and the most crafty2 and you will revenge me by so doing4 ,he exhorted his religious to austerity in their food1 in their clothing1 and in everything else4 ,for he was convinced1 as was ,st4 ,augustine1 that it is difficult to satisfy the demands of the body1 without in some degree sacrificing to sensuality2 and he used to say1 ,our ,saviour praised ,st4 ,john the ,baptist for his having clothed himself coarsely4 ,according to the words ',behold they that are clothed in soft garments1 are in the houses of kings1' soft garments must not be found in the huts of the poor4 ,i know by experience that the devils fly from those who lead an austere life2 and ,st4 ,paul teaches us1 that they who are ,christ's have crucified their flesh with its vices and concupiscences4 ,we remember that he knew how to temper what seemed to be excessive in the mortifications of his brethren4 ,francis taught persons to flee from idleness4 ,i desire1 he said1 that my brethren may work and be occupied4 ,he who desires to live by the labor of others1 without doing anything1 deserves to be nicknamed ,brother ,fly2 because1 doing nothing that is worth anything1 and spoiling what is good1 he becomes odious and despicable to all the world4 ,if he came upon any one wandering about1 and without occupation1 he applied to him these words of the ,apocalypse3 ,because thou art lukewarm1 ,i will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth4 ,his example was an excellent lesson for not losing time1 and fostering the idleness of the flesh2 he employed himself always holily1 and he called his body brother ass1 which required to be well worked1 to be severely beaten1 and to be badly fed4 ,silence was not considered by him to be a small virtue2 he considered it as a guard to the purity of the heart1 according to the maxim of wisdom3 ,life and death are in the power of the tongue2 by which he understood the intemperance of speech1 as well as that of taste4 ,but he principally wished his brethren to become exact in keeping ,evangelical silence1 which consists in abstaining from all idle conversation1 of which an account must be rendered at the day of judgment1 and he severely reprimanded those who were in the habit of saying useless things4 ,in fine1 his instruction was1 that they should endeavor to destroy all vice1 and to mortify the passions2 and that1 in order to succeed in this endeavor1 every thing should be cut off which could serve as an attraction1 and1 therefore1 that the exterior senses by which death enters into the soul1 should be continually mortified4 ,as soon as he felt the smallest temptation1 or if he only foresaw it1 he took every precaution for resisting it4 ,at the beginning of his conversion he frequently threw himself in the depth of winter1 into freezing water1 in order to subdue his domestic enemy1 and to preserve his robe of innocence without stain1 asserting that it is far less painful to a spiritual man to suffer the rigor of the severest cold1 than to feel interiorly the slightest attack upon his purity4 ,we have seen1 in his life1 that he threw himself into the midst of thorns1 to drive away the tempter who wanted to induce him to moderate his watchings and his prayers4 ,one of his actions1 the circumstances of which are thus related by ,st4 ,bonaventure1 shows how great the purity of his heart was1 and with what force he resisted the impure spirit4 ,one night1 while he was at prayer in his cell1 at the hermitage of ,sarthiano1 he heard himself called three times by his name4 ,after he had answered1 a voice said to him3 ,there is no sinner in the world whom ,god does not pardon if he be converted2 but whoever kills himself by too rigorous a penance1 will never find mercy4 ,francis was made aware by a revelation that these deceitful words emanated from the old enemy1 who wished to induce him to relax in his austerities1 and he soon had sensible proof of it1 for1 he who by his breath sets fire to coals1 as holy ,job says1 tempted him strongly to sin against purity4 ,as soon as he became aware of it1 he inflicted a severe discipline on himself1 saying to his body3 ,o brother ass6 this is what suits you1 this is the way in which you should be chastised4 ,the tunic you wear is that of religion1 and is a mark of its holiness4 ,it is not permitted to one who is impure to wear it3 that would be a theft4 ,as the devil represented to him probably that he might marry and have children1 and have servants to wait upon him1 he responded to that by turning his own body into derision1 and treating it cruelly4 ,with admirable fervor he burst from his cell1 and threw himself upon a large mound of snow2 he made seven balls of it with his hands1 and then said to himself3 ,the largest of these snowballs is thy wife1 four others are thy two sons and two daughters1 and the two last are thy man and thy maid-servants4 ,i must think of clothing them1 for they are perishing with cold4 ,then he added3 ,if this solicitude is overpowering1 think hereafter of nothing else than of serving ,god fervently4 ,at this the tempter fled1 and the ,saint returned victoriously to his cell4 ,he never after had a similar temptation4 ,one of his brethren1 who was at prayer in the garden1 saw by the light of the moon what was going on1 and ,francis1 being aware of it1 could not avoid explaining to him the whole temptation3 ,but1 said he1 ,i forbid you strictly from saying a word on the subject during my lifetime4 ,it was only known after his death4 ,those who know how far the scrupulousness of chaste souls will carry them1 will not feel surprised that1 after the example of many other saints1 he had put in practice such severe mortification1 to shield himself from the slightest taint on his purity4 ,his lively and agreeable turn of mind are apparent in the way in which he taunted his body when suffering from extreme cold2 this also shows how much self-possession he had under the severest trials1 and by what sentiment he was actuated in his penances4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that1 as a skilful architect1 he laid down humility for the foundation-stone of his spiritual edifice1 and that it was from ,jesus ,christ that he had acquired this wisdom4 ,the foundation was so solid that humility became natural to him1 as well as poverty1 and thus it is justly that he is called the humble ,st4 ,francis4 ,he was in the eyes of all a mirror of holiness1 but in his own eyes he was but a sinner2 on all occasions he sought to vilify himself1 not only in his own mind1 but in that of others4 ,upon one occasion ,brother ,pacificus1 while praying with him in a church1 was raised in an ecstasy1 and saw several thrones in the heavens1 among which there was one more splendid than the rest1 ornamented with precious stones4 ,as he was pondering for whom this magnificent seat could be destined1 a voice said to him3 ,this was the seat of an angel1 and now it is reserved for the humble ,francis4 ,some short time after1 when conversing with the ,saint1 he led to the topic of the knowledge of one's self1 and he asked him what idea he had of himself1 upon which ,st4 ,francis answered quickly3 ,i consider myself the greatest of sinners4 ,pacificus maintained that he could not conscientiously either say so or think so4 ,i am convinced1 replied ,francis1 that1 if the most criminal of men had experienced the great mercies ,i have received from ,jesus ,christ1 he would be much more grateful for them than ,i am4 ,this beautiful effusion confirmed ,pacificus in the opinion he had entertained1 that the vision he had seen was a true vision2 and it is quite in accordance with the maxim of the ,gospel that1 whosoever shall exalt himself1 shall be humbled2 and that he that shall humble himself1 shall be exalted4 ,it is humility that raises men to those places from whence pride cast down the fallen angels4 ,we have seen the extraordinary things which ,francis did in order to humble himself2 from the same motive he felt no difficulty in making public the defects he thought he discovered in himself4 ,if he found himself attacked by any temptation to pride1 vain-glory1 or any other sin1 he never failed communicating it to those who were present1 whether they were religious or seculars4 ,one day when he was followed by a great concourse of people1 he gave his cloak to a poor woman who had asked him for an alms1 and some minutes after he turned round to the crowd and told them in a loud voice that he had sinned from vainglory in so doing4 ,we may imagine that his humility was at that moment very great1 which prevented him from distinguishing between voluntary consent and the feeling over which we have no control4 ,he took great care not to do anything in private which he should have had any hesitation in doing in public1 and which was not in conformity with the opinion people had of his sanctity4 ,his illness rendered it necessary that he should eat meat in the ,lent he kept before ,christmas1 but this relaxation consisted only in the use of lard2 yet he1 nevertheless1 accused himself of it in public1 as an act of gluttony4 ,his companions have recorded what he said3 ,i wish to live in hermitages and in other solitary places1 as if ,i was seen by all the world2 for1 if people have a great opinion of me1 and ,i were not to live as they think ,i do1 ,i should be guilty of scandalous hypocrisy4 ,the vicar of his convent suggested that he should permit his tunic to be lined with fox-skins1 to keep his chest warm1 which his disorder had greatly weakened4 ,i consent to this1 he replied1 provided you put a similar set of skins outside1 that the world may know the relief which is inside also4 ,this condition put a stop to the proposition4 ,praise mortified him1 and he liked that people should blame him1 and he rejoiced in being despised4 ,when he heard people express by acclamation the merits of his sanctity1 he made some of the brethren say to him1 ,you are a vulgar man1 ignorant and useless in the world1 a nobody2 and when he answered1 with pleasure depicted on his countenance1 ,may the ,lord bless you1 my dear child1 what you say is quite true1 and is exactly what the son of ,peter ,bernardo deserves to hear4 ,to those who called him a saint he used to say3 ,do not praise me2 ,i have no assurance that ,i shall not sin2 a person must never be praised whose end cannot be known4 ,and he addressed the following words to himself3 ,francis1 if the ,most ,high had bestowed so many favors on a thief as ,he has on you1 he would be much more grateful than you are4 ,one day when great honors were paid him1 his companion remarking that he received them without showing any reluctance1 said3 ,father1 do you not see what they are doing in your honor8 and far from refusing to receive the applause manifested in your regard1 as ,christian humility requires1 you seem to receive them with complacency4 ,is there anything which a servant of the ,lord should more sedulously avoid8 ,this is the reply which the holy man made him3 ,brother1 although it may appear to you that they are paying me great honors1 nevertheless1 know that ,i consider them as little or nothing in comparison to those which ought to be paid me4 ,his companion was not only surprised1 but almost scandalized1 on hearing him utter such sentiments2 but1 not to expose his follower1 ,francis added3 ,now be attentive to this1 and understand it properly4 ,i refer to ,god all the honor which is paid me1 ,i attribute nothing to myself2 on the contrary1 ,i look upon myself as dirt by my baseness4 ,i am as those figures of wood or stone for which respect is had4 ,all goes back to what they represent4 ,now1 when men know and honor ,god in ,his creatures1 as they do in me1 who am the vilest of all1 it is no small profit to their souls4 ,this is the magnanimous humility of which ,st4 ,thomas speaks1 by which a man honors in himself the great gifts of ,god1 permits them to be there honored1 and practises great virtues to render himself more worthy to receive new ones1 while he shrinks from the contemplation of his own merits4 ,such was the humble ,francis1 in permitting1 for the glory of ,god1 and the salvation of his neighbor1 that the supernatural gifts which had been imparted to him1 should be honored in his person1 while he himself only considered his own nothingness2 and afterwards he retired into solitary places1 where he passed whole nights in meditating upon this nothingness1 and on the infinite mercy of ,god1 which had loaded him with graces4 ,being one day with ,brother ,leo in one of these solitudes1 and being without the books necessary for saying the ,divine ,office1 he invented a sort of humiliating psalmody for glorifying ,god during the night4 ,my dear brother1 he said to ,leo1 we must not let this time1 which is consecrated to ,god1 pass without praising ,his holy name1 and confessing our own misery4 ,this is the verse which ,i will say3 ',o ,brother ,francis6 you have committed so many sins in this world1 that you have deserved to be plunged into hell4' ,and you1 ,brother ,leo1 your response will be1 ',it is true2 you deserve to be in the bottom of hell4' ,leo promised1 however repugnant he felt1 to answer as his father desired2 but1 instead of that1 he said3 ,brother ,francis1 ,god will do so much good through your means1 that you will be called into ,paradise4 ,the ,father said to him1 with warmth3 ,you don't answer as you ought4 ,here is another verse3 ',brother ,francis1 you have offended ,god by so many bad deeds1 that you deserve all his maledictions4' ,answer to that3 ',you deserve to be among the number of the cursed4' ,leo promised again2 but when the ,saint had said his verse1 striking his breast1 and shedding abundance of tears1 ,leo pronounced these words3 ,brother ,francis1 ,god will render you such1 that1 among those who are blessed1 you will receive a peculiar blessing4 ,why don't you answer as ,i desire you8 said ,francis1 surprised4 ,i command you1 under obedience1 to repeat the words which ,i am going to give you4 ,i shall say3 ',o ,brother ,francis1 miserable man1 after so many crimes committed against the ,father of mercies1 and the ,god of all consolation1 do you think he will have any pity on me8 ,in truth you are undeserving of pardon4' ,brother ,leo1 answer immediately3 ',you deserve no mercy4' ,leo1 however1 said3 ,god1 our ,father1 whose mercy infinitely surpasses our sins1 will pardon you all your sins1 and will load you with ,his favors4 ,then ,francis said somewhat angrily3 ,why have you dared to transgress the rule of obedience1 and to answer so often differently to what ,i desired8 ,leo excused himself most respectfully1 saying3 ,my very dear ,father1 ,god is my witness that ,i had each time intended to repeat the words which you had directed me1 but ,he put into my mouth the words ,i uttered1 and caused me to speak1 notwithstanding my resolution1 according to ,his good pleasure4 ,the humble ,servant of ,jesus ,christ admired this disposition of the ,lord2 but persisting1 nevertheless1 in his intention of humbling himself1 he entreated ,brother ,leo to repeat1 at least once1 the following words1 which he pronounced with many sighs3 ,oh ,brother ,francis1 miserable little man6 do you think that ,god will have mercy on you1 after so many crimes which you have committed8 ,yes1 my ,father1 replied ,leo1 ,god1 your ,saviour1 will have mercy on you1 and will grant you great favors4 ,he will exalt you1 and glorify you eternally1 because he who shall humble himself shall be exalted4 ,nevertheless1 pardon me for not having said what you desired4 ,it is not ,i who speak1 it is ,god who speaks in me4 ,finally ,francis bowed to what ,leo communicated to him1 who only disobeyed him by an impulse of the ,holy ,ghost2 and they conversed during the remainder of the night on the great mercy of ,god to sinners4 ,it has been already remarked1 with ,st4 ,bonaventure1 that ,st4 ,francis had given to his brethren the name of ,minors1 and to their superiors that of ,ministers1 in order that their very name should cause them to be humble4 ,these are the maxims by which he used to impress this upon them3--,the ,son of ,god debased ,himself in coming from the bosom of ,his ,father to us1 to teach us humility by ,his example and by ,his word1 as our ,lord and ,master4 ,what is exalted in the eyes of man is an abomination before ,god4 ,man is nothing but what he is before ,god1 and is nothing more4 ,it is folly to feel glorified by the applause of man2 it is better to be blamed than praised1 for blame induces the person to correct himself1 while praise leads to his fall4 ,no man should pride himself for doing those things which a sinner may do as well as he4 ,a sinner may fast1 pray1 weep1 macerate his body1 but what he cannot do1 as long as he is a sinner1 is to be faithful to his ,god4 ,now1 this is what we may glory in1 to render to ,god the glory which is due to ,him1 to serve ,him faithfully1 and to return with like fidelity all that ,he has given4 ,happy the servant who finds himself as humble amidst his brethren1 inferiors like himself1 as in presence of his superiors6 ,happy the servant who does not believe himself better when men load him with praises1 than when he appears in their eyes simple1 vile1 abject and despicable6 ,happy the servant who bears reprimanding with meekness1 who acknowledges his fault with humility1 and voluntarily punishes it2 who is sufficiently humble to receive a reprimand without offering an excuse4 ,happy the religious who has not been desirous of the elevation he has attained1 and who always wishes to be at the feet of the others6 ,woe to the religious who has been raised by the rest to an honorable position1 and who has not the inclination to descend from it4 ,the example of ,jesus ,christ1 who was obedient unto death1 even to the death of the cross1 inspired ,st4 ,francis with great love for obedience4 ,although he was appointed superior by order of ,god and of the ,pope1 he was always desirous of obeying rather than commanding4 ,in his travels1 he promised obedience to him who accompanied him1 and he rigidly kept that promise4 ,one day he communicated the following in confidence to his companions3 ,among all the graces which ,i have received from the bounty of ,god1 this is one1 that1 if they were to appoint a novice of an hour's standing to be my guardian1 ,i would obey him as implicitly as if he was the oldest and the most serious of our brethren4 ,he was not satisfied with having renounced being ,general of the ,order1 to obey the ,vicar-,general2 he asked ,brother ,elias1 who filled that position to give him a guardian1 on whose will he should depend in all things4 ,brother ,angelo of ,rieti was given to him1 and he obeyed him with entire submission4 ,the instructions he gave his brethren on the subject of obedience contained all the perfection which could be given them3 #ast4 ,to renounce their own will1 and to look upon it as the forbidden fruit1 which our first parents could not eat of without being guilty4 #b;d4 ,to abandon themselves wholly to their superior1 so that they should neither do nor say anything which they know he would not approve of2 and that they should do what he wishes the moment he has spoken1 without waiting for his speaking a second time4 #c;d4 ,not to examine whether what is ordered is difficult or impossible1 for1 said ,st4 ,francis3 ,when ,i order anything which is above your strength1 holy obedience will enable you to effect it4 #dth4 ,to submit their lights to those of the superior1 not with a view of obeying him in anything manifestly contrary to salvation1 but to act upon his views1 although they may think their own better and more useful4 #eth4 ,not to consider the man1 nor his qualifications1 in the obedience they bow to1 but the authority he has1 the place he fills1 and the greatness of ,him for whose love they are subject to man4 ,this last point is the greatest sacrifice of a religious life2 but a necessary sacrifice1 one which is just1 and worthy of ,god1 and the most certain proof that our obedience is grounded on our love for ,god4 ,it is not difficult to follow the dictates of a superior of acknowledged talent and merit2 the hardship is to submit with humility1 without remonstrance or murmur1 to one who has not these qualifications4 ,this also it is which enhances in the eyes of ,god the value of religious obedience2 it may then be considered as a sort of martyrdom of the mind1 as well as that of the body1 which will receive its crown in heaven4 ,nevertheless1 it is requisite to be cautious1 lest antipathy or some other motive1 and the natural revolt of the human heart against authority1 should cause a superior to appear contemptible1 who really is not so4 ,finally1 the religious are highly interested in practicing holy obedience1 whoever may be the superior2 it is1 as ,st4 ,francis remarks1 so abundant in fruits1 that such as bend to the yoke pass not a moment of their lives without some spiritual profit3 it increases virtue1 and procures peace to the soul4 ,he was asked one day1 who was to be considered to be truly obedient1 and he instanced a dead body4 ,take1 said he1 a dead body1 and place it where you please2 you will see that it shows no repugnance at its removal1 it utters no complaint at its situation1 nor of dissatisfaction at being left where it is4 ,if you put it in an honorable place1 its eyes will remain closed1 it will not raise them4 ,if you clothe it in purple1 it will only be paler than before4 ,that is true obedience2 it asks no reason as to why it is put in motion1 it is indifferent as to where it is placed1 and does not require to be removed4--,if a ,minor is raised to the dignity of superior1 he remains equally humble2 the more he is honored1 the more does he think himself unworthy of it4 ,i have often1 he said1 seen a blind man led by a little dog1 the man went wherever his guide took him1 in good roads and in bad4 ,this is another resemblance of one who is perfectly obedient2 he should shut his eyes1 and be blind to the commands of his superior1 think of nothing but submitting immediately to him1 without stopping to examine whether the thing be difficult or not1 only keeping in view the authority of him who gives the order1 and the merit of obedience4 ,disobedience is insupportable2 he considered it as the unfortunate offspring of pride1 which is the source of all evils1 and of which he had great horror4 ,one day while praying in his cell1 and meditating between ,god and his brethren1 he saw in spirit one of them who refused to perform the penance imposed on him in chapter by the vicar-general1 and excusing himself as to the fault of which he had been accused4 ,he called his companion1 and said3 ,i saw on the shoulders of this insubordinate brother the devil1 who was wringing his neck1 and leading him as by a bridle4 ,i prayed for him1 and the devil1 abashed1 loosed his hold immediately4 ,go to him1 and tell him to bend immediately to the yoke of obedience1 ,in fact1 the brother did submit as soon as he was told this1 and threw himself humbly at the feet of his superior4 ,another1 who had erred in some way against obedience1 was brought to ,francis1 that he might correct him2 but he appeared so penitent1 that the ,saint1 who liked the humility of repentance1 felt himself inclined to pardon the fault4 ,nevertheless1 lest the facility of pardon should be abused1 and to show what chastisement disobedience deserves1 he ordered his cowl to be taken from him1 and thrown into the fire4 ,some minutes after1 he desired it to be taken out of the fire1 and to be returned to him1 when it was found that the fire had not injured it in the least2 ,god having shown by his miracle1 ,st4 ,bonaventure observes1 the power ,he gave to ,his ,servant1 and how agreeable to ,him humble repentance is4 ,the conduct of the holy ,founder was more severe to one of his brethren1 who was obstinately disobedient4 ,he desired the others to put him into a pit1 and to fill it up with earth1 in order to bury him alive2 when they had filled it up to his chin he said3--,brother1 are you dead8 ,the religious1 absorbed in grief1 replied3 ,yes1 ,father1 and ,i ought to die in reality for my sin4 ,francis1 moved by compassion1 had him dug out1 saying3 ,come forth from thence1 if you are truly dead1 as a good religious ought to be1 to the world and its concupiscences4 ,obey the smallest sign of the will of your superiors1 and make no more resistance to their orders than a dead body could do4 ,i wish for followers1 not living1 but those who are dead4 ,he once called ,brother ,juniper to employ him a little while1 and this brother not having immediately obeyed1 because he was busy in planting a juniper tree1 he cursed the tree that it should never grow1 and it remained always in a dwarf state4 ,the ,fathers of the ,desert were similarly exact in their attention to obedience1 insomuch as to leave a letter unfinished when they had to attend to the orders of a superior4 ,the virtues of ,st4 ,francis1 which we have recorded1 and those which we have yet to narrate1 were cultivated by the exercise of prayer4 ,he had the gift as soon as he was called to the service of ,god2 and he followed it up so faithfully1 that he consecrated to it his heart1 his body1 all his actions1 and all his time4 ,in-doors1 or out of doors1 walking or seated1 working or resting1 his mind was always raised to heaven2 he seemed to live with the angels4 ,as he was always diffident of himself1 he had recourse to prayer1 and consulted the ,almighty1 with perfect confidence in ,his goodness1 in all that ,he had to do4 ,although he could pray in any place he might happen to be in1 nevertheless1 he found solitary spots best adapted for recollection2 he sought them out1 and often retired to them4 ,this shows us why he made so many houses of his ,order1 where there had previously been hermitages only4 ,careful in attending to the interior calls of the ,holy ,spirit1 if he perceived one coming on1 he let his companions go forward1 and stopped1 not to receive it in vain1 and to enjoy it to its full extent4 ,when he prayed in community1 he avoided all exterior signs1 which might discover the secret dispositions of his mind1 because he loved secrecy4 ,he did not find the precaution difficult1 because he was wholly absorbed in his interior1 and united himself so intimately to ,god1 that he was almost without exterior motion4 ,if it happened that he was surprised by a visit from heaven in the presence of his brethren1 he had always something ready to propose to them1 to take off their attention4 ,when he returned from prayer1 in which he had been marvellously transformed1 he strove to conform himself to his brethren1 lest what they might perceive might draw from them applause1 which would deprive him of his reward by inspiring him with vanity4 ,but in the solitudes he was under no restraint1 and gave his heart entire liberty4 ,the woods resounded with his sacred sighs and laments1 the earth was moistened with his tears1 and he struck his breast with violence4 ,sometimes he addressed himself to ,god as to his ,sovereign ,lord2 sometimes he spoke to ,him as to his ,judge2 sometimes he prayed to ,him as to his ,father2 and at other times1 he conversed with ,him as a friend converses with his ,friend4 ,he solicited the pardon of sinners with loud and energetic exclamations2 and he expressed his horror at the ,passion of ,jesus ,christ in loud laments1 as if he had been present at it4 ,all this was seen and heard by some one or other of his companions1 who had the pardonable curiosity to watch his proceedings4 ,the devils tormented him severely during his prayers1 and that in a very sensible manner1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure informs us2 but1 protected by celestial aid1 he continued his prayers with additional fervor1 in proportion to the efforts they made to distract him4 ,god favored him with the gift of contemplation in a sublime degree4 ,his companions bear witness that they have often seen him in a state of ecstasy1 in which he had lost all the use of his senses1 and in which all the powers of his soul were suspended4 ,once they saw him1 during the night1 raised from the ground1 and his arms extended in the shape of a cross1 surrounded by a luminous cloud1 as if to betoken the ,divine light which filled his mind4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that they had efficient proof that ,god at such times revealed to him some of the great secrets of ,his wisdom2 but ,his faithful ,servant only made such parts of them known as were for the glory of his ,master1 or the utility of his neighbor4 ,one of his brethren1 not finding him one evening in his cell1 went to look for him in the wood4 ,having penetrated a short distance into it1 he heard him praying1 with loud cries1 for the salvation of men1 and addressing the ,blessed ,virgin with moving sighs1 humbly imploring her to show him her ,son4 ,he then saw the ,blessed ,mother of ,god descend from ,heaven1 with great splendor1 and place her ,son into the arms of ,francis1 who received ,him as ,simeon had received ,him in the temple of ,jerusalem1 with the profoundest respect2 he caressed the ,infant most tenderly1 entreating ,him for the conversion of sinners1 and the salvation of the world4 ,at this sight the religious fell on the ground1 half dead1 and remained on the spot where he fell4 ,here the ,saint found him1 as he was returning to the convent for ,matins2 he brought him to himself from this fainting1 but strictly forbade him from telling any one what had occurred2 but he1 thinking it for the glory of ,god not to be obliged to obey in this instance1 communicated the marvel to all the others4 ,a novice whom the holy ,patriarch had received1 and whom he was taking to the convent of the novitiate1 wished to know what he did during the night4 ,in order to succeed1 he tied his cord to that of the ,father1 whom he saw asleep in the fields1 in which they had been obliged to remain1 and laid himself down near him1 in order that he might be roused as soon as he should stir4 ,a few hours afterwards1 ,francis wished to get up1 but finding himself fastened by the cord1 he untied the knot1 and went to pray under some neighboring trees4 ,the novice1 not finding him when he awoke1 went to seek him under the trees4 ,a celestial light caused him to draw near a spot1 where he stopped1 and from whence he saw ,jesus ,christ1 surrounded by angels1 ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and ,john the ,baptist1 who were in conversation with him4 ,his astonishment made him fall on the ground1 where he remained till ,francis1 to whom ,god had imparted the circumstances1 came and raised him up1 and restored him to his senses1 forbidding him to speak of the vision4 ,the young man1 who continued to live very holily1 kept the secret2 but1 after ,francis's death1 he published what he had seen4 ,god chose that his ,servant should be respected in the secret retirements to which he went to pray1 and that he should not be disturbed at those times4 ,the ,bishop of ,assisi knew this by his own experience4 ,one day1 when he had come to the ,convent of ,portiuncula1 as he frequently did1 he wished to go at once into the cell where the ,saint was at prayer2 but scarcely had he seen him in that attitude1 when he was pushed back by an invisible hand1 his body became stiff1 and he was unable to speak4 ,much astonished at this accident1 he made his way back1 as well as he could1 to the other brethren2 ,god restored his voice1 and he made use of it1 to acknowledge that he had committed a fault4 ,the ,celestial ,spouse1 in the ,canticles1 conjures the daughters of ,jerusalem1 not to awaken her whom he loves1 and not to disturb her repose until she awakes of her own accord4 ,st4 ,bernard1 on this1 says that such as are given to prayer should not be troubled about useless affairs1 and that those who disturb them when they are conversing with ,god1 become enemies of heaven4 ,in consequence of the knowledge which ,francis had of the sweets and fruits of mental prayer1 he constantly urged his brethren to practise it1 and they profited so fully by his instructions1 that most of them became spiritual and contemplative men4 ,a religious1 he said1 must principally desire to acquire the spirit of prayer4 ,i believe that1 without this1 peculiar favors cannot be obtained from ,god1 nor any great progress made in ,his service4 ,when one is sorrowful and uneasy1 he should have immediate recourse to prayer1 and remain before his ,heavenly ,father1 until such time as the joy of salvation is restored to him4 ,if one remains in this state of depression and disturbance1 this disposition1 which comes from ,babylon1 will increase1 and produce rust1 unless it be purified by tears4 ,he taught them to shun the tumult of the world1 and to seek for solitary places in which to pray1 because he knew that the ,holy ,ghost communicates ,himself more intimately to souls in such places2 but he recommended them to be perfectly secret as to the favors they might receive2 his maxim being1 that a slender human communication often causes the loss of that which is of inestimable value1 and has the effect of preventing the ,lord from again communicating what ,he had previously given2 that when one is visited by ,god1 he should say3 ,it is ,thou1 ,o ,lord6 who hast sent me this consolation from ,heaven1--to me who am a sinner1 wholly unworthy of thy bounty4 ,i commit it back to ,thy keeping2 for ,i feel myself capable of stealing ,thy treasure from ,thee2 and when he returns from prayer1 he should show as much humility and self-contempt as if he had received no peculiar favor4 ,all the masters of spiritual life have had similar opinions of the value of mental prayer as this contemplative ,saint1 and they have pointed out the necessity of it for advancing in the ways of virtue4 ,st4 ,teresa wrote so sublimely on this practice1 that the ,church prays to ,god that her ,heavenly doctrine may be our nourishment4 ,she declares that she was near being lost1 from having given it up1 but that our ,lord had done her the signal favor to urge her to resume it2 she exhorts all to apply themselves to it1 even should they make but small progress in it1 because it is always useful1 and1 if persevered in1 will be attended with great benefit4 ,this is what directors might represent to those who seriously wish to attend to their salvation1 and to say to them1 with the same saint1 that mental prayer is nothing else but holding friendly intercourse with ,god1 often remaining alone in conversation with ,him1 who1 we know1 loves us4 ,the practice of mental prayer no way diminished the zeal of ,st4 ,francis for vocal prayer1 which every ,christian ought to resort to as he did4 ,vocal prayer was practised and taught by ,jesus ,christ2 the ,church employs it in her public worship4 ,we require it1 says ,st4 ,austin1 to assist our memory and understanding1 and to animate our fervor2 finally1 ,god desires that we should offer to ,him a sacrifice of praise1 and that it shall be the fruits of our lips and hearts1 giving glory to ,his name1 because our body and soul belong to ,him4 ,piety had inspired the holy man to compose vocal prayers on various subjects1 which he often repeated1 and some of which he recited daily4 ,he said the ,lord's ,prayer1 with particular devotion1 weighing all the words1 and meditating on the sense they contain1 as is seen by the paraphrase of it he composed1 and which we think it useful to insert at length3 ',our ,father1' most happy and most holy1 our ,creator1 our ,redeemer1 and our ,consoler4 ',who art in ,heaven2' in the angels1 in the saints1 in the illuminated1 in order that they may know ,thee1 who inflamest them by ,thy love2 for1 ,o ,lord6 ,thou are the ,light and the ,love who dwellest in them1 and ,thou art their ,beatitude by satiating them3 ,thou art the ,sovereign and ,eternal ,good1 from whom all good proceeds1 and without ,thee there is no other good4 ',hallowed be ,thy name3' in order thus to make ,thyself known to us by vivid lights1 so that we may see the full extent of ,thy bounty1 the duration of ,thy promises1 the sublimity of ,thy majesty1 and the depth of ,thy judgment4 ',thy ,kingdom come3' in order that ,thou mayest reign in us by grace1 and that ,thou mayest bring us to ,thy ,kingdom1 where ,thou art clearly and perfectly loved1 where we become happy in ,thy society1 and where ,thou art eternally enjoyed4 ',thy will be done on earth as it is in ,heaven3' in order that we may love ,thee 'with our whole hearts1' thinking always of ,thee 'with our whole soul1' ever longing for ,thee1 'with all our mind1' referring to ,thee all our views1 seeking ,thy glory in all things2 'with all our strength1' employing in ,thy service1 for ,thy love1 all the strength1' of our bodies and souls1 without making any other use of them2 that we may love our neighbor as ourselves1 using all our efforts to draw them to ,thy love2 rejoicing in all the good that happens to them1 as if it was our own2 being grieved at any ills which may befall them1 and giving offence to none4 ',give us this day our daily bread3' it is ,thy beloved ,son1 ,jesus ,christ2 we ask ,thee for ,him1 in order to remind us of the love ,he has shown us1 and of what ,he has said1 done and endured for us2 we ask ,thee to make us fully comprehend these things1 and cause us to revere them4 ',forgive us our trespasses1' by ,thy infinite mercy1 by the passion of ,thy beloved ,son1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by the merits and intercession of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 and of all the elect4 ',as we forgive them that trespass against us3' what may be not altogether remitted on our part1 grant us the favor1 ,o ,lord6 to remit entirely1 in order that1 for love of ,thee1 we may sincerely love our enemies1 and may intercede for them fervently at ,thy throne2 that we may not render to any one evil for evil1 and that in ,thee we may endeavor to do good to all4 ',and lead us not into temptation1' hidden1 manifest1 sudden1 grievous4 ',but deliver us from evil3'1 past1 present1 and to come4 ,amen3 willingly and gratuitously ,these two words show that he ardently desired what he prayed for2 and that it was purely for the glory of ,god1 without any temporal interest4 ,he recited the ,divine ,offices with a devotion full of respect1 and with great fervor4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that1 although he suffered greatly from pains in his head1 from his stomach1 and from his liver1 he never leant while reciting it2 that he stood during the whole time1 with his head uncovered1 his eyes looking down4 ,in travelling1 he always stopped to say it2 however much it might rain1 he never omitted this pious practice1 and he gave this reason for it3 ,if the body rests1 in order to take its food1 which will1 as well as himself1 soon become the food of worms1 with how much tranquillity ought the soul to take its spiritual nourishment1 which is to cause it to live eternally6 ,the verse1 ,gloria ,patri1 etc41 made a lively impression on his heart2 once he repeated it in thankfulness to ,god for ,his bounty after each verse of the ,magnificat1 which ,brother ,leo was reciting1 and he exhorts all to say it frequently4 ,a lay brother1 who was strongly tempted to apply himself to study1 having come to ask his permission1 was told3 ,my dear ,brother1 learn the ,gloria ,patri1 and you will know the whole of the ,holy ,scriptures4--,the brother obeyed1 and had no further temptation on that head4 ,the distractions which his lively imagination caused him during the holy exercises1 appeared to him to be great faults1 and he never failed to confess them1 and to expiate them by penance1 asserting that we ought to be ashamed of being distracted by trifles when speaking to the great ,king4 ,once during ,tierce1 the thought of a little vase which he had made came into his head1 and called off his attention2 he immediately went and took it1 and threw it into the fire1 saying3 ,i will sacrifice it to the ,lord1 whose sacrifice it has hindered4 ,but he acquired the habit of reciting the ,office so attentively1 that this sort of distractions seldom importuned him4 ,his application was equally strong and respectful in reciting the psalms1 as if ,god had been present in a sensible manner2 and he found so much sweetness in the name of ,god1 that he seemed to have the taste of sweetness on his lips1 after having pronounced it4 ,thus the ,prophet said to the ,lord3 ,how sweet are thy words to my palate6 more than honey to my mouth4 ,francis had also an interior joy in pronouncing the holy name of ,jesus1 which communicated itself to his exterior1 and produced on his senses a similar effect as if he had tasted something agreeable to his palate1 or heard some harmonious sounds4 ,he desired that all the holy names should be peculiarly reverenced1 not only when people thought of them1 or pronounced them1 but whenever they saw them written4 ,this is the reason why1 in his last will1 he recommends his brethren to pick them up should they find them scattered about in unseemly places1 and put them in a better locality1 lest they should be disrespectfully trampled upon4 ,this must be considered not as a mere nicety of feeling1 but as a sentiment inspired by faith1 which teaches us to venerate the word of ,god4 ,if a great bishop has thought it proper to compare the abuse of the sacred word1 when it is announced1 to the profanation of the ,body itself of ,jesus ,christ1 may we not1 in the same spirit1 say that he who permits that word to be trampled upon when it is written1 becomes in some measure as guilty as if he had allowed the ,sacred ,body of our ,saviour to be treated with similar indignity8 ,it was the love of ,god which gave ,st4 ,francis so much zeal for mental prayer1 as well as for that which is vocal4 ,he sought his ,beloved1 from whom he was only separated by the wall of his flesh4 ,to be present to ,him in spirit1 and to contemplate ,him1 were his sole consolations1 and his anxiety to gain these was intense4 ,but then the frequent exercise of prayer increased his love1 and inflamed it to that degree1 that ,st4 ,bonaventure does not think it possible to find words to express it4 ,this ,divine charity penetrated his whole interior1 as fire penetrates a burning coal4 ,only by hearing the term of the love of ,god pronounced1 he was moved and inflamed1 and this movement made the affections of his soul thrill1 as the strings of a musical instrument sound on being touched4 ,to incite himself more and more to the love of ,god1 he made use of all creatures1 as of so many mirrors1 in which he viewed the ,supreme ,reason1 the ,sovereign ,beauty1 and the ,principle of being and of life4 ,they were for him as so many steps by which he raised and united himself to the object of his love1 as so many streamlets in which he tasted1 with inconceivable unction1 the ,infinite ,purity of the source from whence all that is good is derived2 so many delightful strains whose harmony resounded on his ears1 and which1 as ,david in his psalms1 he invited to praise and glorify ,him who had given them their being4 ,wholly inflamed with love1 he prayed to be enabled to love still more1 and he addressed the following prayer to ,god1 which is found among his works3 ,grant1 ,o ,lord6 that the mild vehemence of ,thy ardent love may separate me from everything which is under ,heaven1 and may consume me entirely1 in order that ,i may die for the love of ,thy love1 since it was for the love of my love that ,thou didst deign to die4 ,i solicit this through ,thyself1 ,o ,son of ,god6 who livest and reignest with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,and here is another1 which he used to say every day3 ,my ,god and my ,all1 who art ,thou1 ,o sweet ,lord6 and who am ,i1 ,thy servant1 a miserable worm8 ,i wish to love ,thee1 most holy ,lord1 ,i wish to love ,thee4 ,o ,god6 ,i have consecrated to ,thee my heart and my body4 ,if ,i had the means of doing more for ,thee1 ,i would do it1 and ,i ardently wish ,i had the means4 ,this poor ,evangelical could not give more to ,god than his body and soul4 ,he continually offered the sacrifice of his body1 by the rigor of his fasts1 and that of his soul1 by the vehemence of his desires2 by which1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 he conformed in a spiritual manner to the practice of the ,old ,law1 which was to offer holocausts out of the tabernacle1 and to burn incense within it4 ,the sacrifice of his desires went to a great extent4 ,for the love of ,god he had renounced all the things of this earth2 he had stripped himself of everything2 he had embraced the severest poverty1 and practised the most austere penitential life2 he had devoted himself to the ministry of preaching1 and to the establishment of his ,order2 his life was but a course of labors and fatigue1 but he reckoned all that as nothing2 he wished to do much more1 to mortify himself more rigorously1 to forward thereby the glory of ,god1 because1 according to the words of our ,saviour1 this is the greatest mark of love which a friend can give to his friend4 ,this was the motive of the ardent desire he had to endure martyrdom1 and of the three voyages he undertook in search of it2 seeing that he could not succeed1 he lowered his views to wishing for and soliciting grace to know what he could do1 to testify his love for ,god4 ,the ,lord granted his desire1 favoring him with the impression of ,his five wounds1 which rendered him a living and1 at the same time1 an expiring martyr2 but it inflamed his heart to such a degree1 that then he wished to die for love1 and to be absorbed in the love of ,him whom he loved4 ,inflamed with divine love1 he endeavored to spread the fire on all sides4 ,he often made it the subject of his discourses1 and it was usually the motive he employed to animate his brethren to the practice of virtue4 ,when he proposed anything that was difficult to them1 such as to go about soliciting alms1 ,go1 he would say1 and ask it for the love of ,god4 ,he found a noble prodigality in asking it for that motive1 and he thought those demented who preferred money to the love of ,god1 the price of which is incalculable1 and sufficient to purchase the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 and which the love of ,him who has so loved us must make infinitely dear to us4 ,they were surprised one day to find that he could bear the severity of winter in so miserable a habit as that which he wore1 and1 full of fervor1 he gave this reason1 which contains a very useful lesson2 ,if we were inwardly inflamed with a longing for our celestial country1 we should easily bear exterior cold4 ,it was his wish that a ,friar ,minor should love ,god with an effective1 liberal1 and generous love1 which should enable him to suffer calmly and joyfully pain and opprobrium for the object of his love4 ,this is what he said one day to ,brother ,leo1 on the subject1 in a conversation which ,leo himself has recorded at full length3 ,if a ,friar ,minor had a clear and distinct knowledge of the course of the stars1 and of all other things in the universe2 if he possessed all the sciences1 all the languages1 and a perfect knowledge of the ,holy ,scriptures2 and if he spoke with the tongues of angels1 cast out devils1 performed all sorts of miracles1 even that of raising one from the dead who had been four days in the tomb2 if he had the gift of prophecy1 and that of discerning the affections of the heart2 if he preached to the infidels with such success as to convert them all1 and if he should edify the world by his sanctity1 all that would not be to him the subject of perfect and true joy4 ,afterwards1 to show in what this true joy consisted1 he proposed a supposition1 similar to one he had made on another subject1 and very like to the hypothesis of ,st4 ,paul3 ,who shall separate us from the love of ,jesus ,christ8 ,shall tribulation1 or distress1 or famine1 or nakedness1 or persecution1 or the sword8 ,from which he concluded1 that all that there is in ,heaven or on earth could not separate him from the love of ,god1 which is grounded on ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord4 ,suppose1 said ,st4 ,francis1 that we were to arrive at the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels very wet1 covered with mud1 perishing with cold1 dying of hunger1 and that the porter1 instead of letting us in1 were to leave us at the gate in this pitiable state1 saying angrily1 ',you are a couple of idle vagabonds1 who stroll about the world1 and receive the alms which the real poor ought to get4' ,if we bear this treatment with patience1 without being discomposed1 and without murmuring2 if even we think humbly and charitably that the porter knows us well for what we are1 and that it is by ,god's leave that he behaves thus to us1 mark this down as perfect joy4 ,suppose1 moreover1 that we continue to knock at the door1 and that the porter1 considering us importunate1 should come out and give us some severe boxes on the ears1 and say1 ',get along1 scoundrels1 go to the hospital1 there is nothing for you to eat here4' ,if we bear all these things patiently1 and we pardon him from our hearts1 and with charity1 note1 this would be a subject for perfect joy4 ,let us1 in fine1 suppose1 that in this extremity the cold1 hunger1 and the night1 compel us to entreat1 with tears and cries to be allowed to enter the convent1 and that the porter1 in great irritation1 darts out with a stick full of knobs1 takes us by the cowl1 throws us down in the snow1 and beats us till we are quite covered with bruises3--if we bear all this ill usage with joy1 with the thought that we ought to participate in the sufferings of our ,blessed ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 note this1 and note it carefully1 that this is1 for a ,friar ,minor1 the subject of a true and perfect joy4 ,now hear the conclusion of all this4 ,amongst all the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 which ,jesus ,christ has granted and will grant to ,his servants1 the most considerable is1 that of conquering one's self1 and of suffering pain and opprobrium for the love of ,god1 in order to respond to the love ,he has for us4 ,in all the miraculous gifts which ,i have noticed1 there is not one from which we may derive so much glory2 we have no share in it1 it is all from ,god2 we only receive what ,he gives us1 and1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 ',if thou hast received1 why dost thou glory1 as if thou hadst not received it8' ,but we have our share in the tribulations which we suffer for the love of ,god1 and we may make it a subject of glory1 as the same ,apostle has said3 ',god forbid that ,i should glory save in the ,cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4' ,st4 ,francis was far from thinking that we may glory in our sufferings1 as of a favor which we have not received1 since he acknowledges that it is the greatest gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 conformably to what ,st4 ,paul said to the ,philippians3 ,to you is given not only to believe in ,jesus ,christ1 but also to suffer for ,his sake2 and to what is written of the ,apostles3 ,and they1 indeed1 went from the presence of the council1 rejoicing that they were accounted to suffer reproach for the name of ,jesus4 ,he only proposed to say that our sole cause of glory is1 that ,god permits us to be associated to the ,cross of ,jesus ,christ1 in which alone we are glorified4 ,thus it is to ,god that he refers all the glory of our sufferings1 which indeed is ,his1 since1 without the aid of ,his grace1 we should not suffer as we ought1 and without the ,cross of ,jesus ,christ we should have no merit4 ,but he correctly says1 and he speaks the true orthodox faith1 when he adds1 that we have a share in the merit of what we suffer1 and when he draws the distinction between that and miraculous gifts4 ,st4 ,chrysostom has spoken in the same manner1 and says that our virtues are in so far the gifts of ,god1 that they are also merits of our will1 for which ,god has been pleased to render ,himself indebted to us1 by the promise ,he has made to reward them4 ,the mystery of the ,incarnate ,word1 that great mystery of piety1 which has been manifested in the flesh1 produced in the heart of ,st4 ,francis sentiments so pious and so tender1 that they were observable exteriorly1 by actions of extraordinary fervor1 as we saw in the grand solemnity which he celebrated at ,grecio on ,christmas night4 ,consider1 he says1 in his letters1 that the most high ,father has sent from ,heaven ,his archangel1 ,st4 ,gabriel1 to announce that ,his most worthy1 holy1 and glorious ,word should descend into the womb of the most ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,and1 in truth1 ,he did so descend1 and took from her true human flesh1 passible and mortal1 such as ours is3 ',being rich1 ,he became of ,his own accord poor4' ,he chose1 by preference1 poverty in this world for ,himself and for ,his ,blessed ,mother4 ,he gave ,himself thus to us1 in conformity to the will of ,his ,father1 to wipe away our sins on the cross1 by the sacrifice of ,his ,blood1 and to leave an example for us to follow in ,his traces1 for it is ,his wish that we should all be saved through ,him2 but there are few who desire the salvation ,he proffers them1 although ,his yoke is sweet1 and ,his burden light4 ,when he spoke of the incarnation and birth of the ,son of ,god1 it was with affectionate devotion2 he could not hear the words1 the ,word made flesh1 without manifesting great joy4 ,the religious of a monastery where he was one day1 remarked this emotion1 and took occasion to ask him if it was right to eat meat on ,christmas-day1 when it fell on a ,friday1 or if it was not better to abstain from it4 ,not only do ,i think1 he replied1 that men may eat meat on this day1 on which the ,word was made flesh1 but ,i wish that princes and rich persons would throw meat and corn in the highways1 in order that the birds and beasts of the field should rejoice1 in their way1 in the joys of so great a festival2 ,i wish1 even1 that some was placed on the walls1 if they could derive sweetness from it4 ,we see plainly that these are hyperbolical expressions1 flowing from his heart1 by the emotions of his spiritual joy1 by which he was actuated2 but1 in saying that men might eat meat on ,christmas-day1 although it fall on a ,friday1 he speaks in conformity with the usage of the ,church1 which1 however1 is a permission1 and not a law4 ,pope ,honorius ,,iii4 pointed it out clearly to the ,bishop of ,prague1 in ,bohemia1 in the following rescript of the year #abbb3 ,we answer that1 when the ,feast of the ,nativity of our ,blessed ,lord falls on a ,friday1 those who are not under the obligation of abstinence by a vow1 or by a regular observance1 may eat meat on that day1 because of the excellence of the festival1 according to the custom of the universal ,church4 ,those1 however1 who abstain on that day1 from devotion1 are not to be censured4 ,st4 ,francis was1 moreover1 much affected by the goodness of our ,saviour1 who1 after ,his baptism1 went into the desert1 and there fasted forty days and forty nights1 without eating anything during that time1 for the expiation of our sensuality1 and to set us an example of fasting4 ,he honored this holy retreat by a fast of forty days1 which he commenced on the seventh day of ,january1 and which he passed in some solitary place1 confined to his cell1 keeping strict abstinence in fasting and drinking1 and employing himself solely in praising ,god and in prayer4 ,it was also during this ,lent that he received the most signal favors from ,jesus ,christ4 ,his soul was penetrated with ardor for the mystery of the ,sacred ,body and ,blood of our ,lord4 ,the work of so tender a love1 and of such condescending goodness1 threw him into an excess of admiration1 and put him quite beside himself4 ,he communicated frequently1 and with so much devotion1 that it inspired others with similar feelings2 they saw him almost always1 after having communicated1 as if in a spiritual intoxication1 and raised into ecstasy by the sweetness he tasted in partaking of the ,body and ,blood of the ,lamb without spot4 ,at ,mass1 when at the ,elevation1 he said this prayer3 ,celestial ,father1 my ,lord and my ,god1 cast ,thine eyes on the glorious countenance of ,thy ,christ1 and have pity on me and on other sinners1 for whom ,thy beloved ,son1 our ,lord1 has condescended to die1 and who has chosen to remain with us in the ,sacrament of the ,altar1 for our salvation and consolation3 who with ,thee1 eternal ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 sole ,god1 liveth and reigneth to everlasting ages4 ,amen4 ,the profound veneration which is due to the august mystery of the ,eucharist1 the solicitude which we ought to have to hear ,mass1 to approach to the sacred altar1 and to prepare ourselves1 in order worthily to communicate1 were points on which he used to dilate in his conversations1 in his instructions1 and in his letters4 ,the life of the holy man has furnished many examples of the ardent and respectful zeal which animated him in all that regarded churches or altars1 or all the things which were used for the ,sacrifice of the ,mass1 and for the divine service4 ,as he could not bear anything dirty or slovenly1 in the country churches1 he took the trouble of cleaning everything himself2 and lest they should want altar breads for ,masses1 he made them himself in iron forms1 which were made in a very workmanlike manner2 he took them into the poor parishes3 some of these moulds are carefully preserved in the convent of ,grecio4 ,the great love which he had for ,jesus ,christ1 and for the sacrament which contains ,his ,body1 ,his ,blood1 ,his ,soul1 and ,his ,divinity1 inspired him with a zeal and a tenderness of devotion to ,his ,blessed ,mother1 which cannot be expressed1 as ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks4 ,he placed himself and his ,order under the protection of this ,blessed ,mother of ,god1 whom he chose for his advocate2 and in her1 after ,jesus ,christ1 his chief confidence rested3 for1 said he1 it is she who made this ,god of ,majesty our brother2 through her we have obtained mercy4 ,he used1 as we have noticed1 to keep a ,lent of six weeks1 in honor of her glorious ,assumption2 and he observed it with great sentiments of piety4 ,these are the prayers and eulogiums he was in the habit of addressing to her3-- ,hail1 ,mary6 ,mother of ,god1 ever a ,virgin1 most holy ,lady and ,queen1 in whom is all the plenitude of grace and every sort of good4 ,amongst women there are none born like unto thee2 thou art the daughter and the handmaid of our celestial ,father1 the great ,king2 and he has chosen thee for the ,mother of ,his beloved ,son4 ,thou art the ,spouse of the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,comforter4 ,hail to thee1 who art the palace1 the temple1 and the ,mother of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,i honor all the virtues with which thou art filled4 ,thou who art as mild as thou art beautiful1 implore thy very dear ,son1 conjure ,him by ,his great clemency1 by the virtue of ,his most sacred incarnation and that of ,his most painful death1 to pardon our faults4 ,amen4 ,the indissoluble ties of spiritual love1 says the holy doctor whom we have quoted1 united ,francis to the hierarchy of the angels1 caused in him marvellous fire which absorbs man in ,god1 and influences the elect with noble aims4 ,the ardent zeal he had for the salvation of souls1 attached him intimately to the ,archangel ,st4 ,michael1 because his employment is to present man to the throne of the ,divine ,majesty4 ,it was to honor these blessed spirits1 that he kept every year a ,lent of forty days1 before the ,feast of ,st4 ,michael1 adding to it a continual exercise of prayer4 ,he had prescribed to himself another ,lent1 to prepare for the ,festival of ,all ,saints1 who seemed to him to be1 according to the expression of ,ezekiel1 precious stones1 glittering as fire1 the memory alone of which excited him to a more fervent love of ,god4 ,the great love which all the ,apostles had for ,jesus ,christ1 led him to revere them with peculiar devotion1 particularly ,saints ,peter and ,paul1 in honor of whom he fasted from ,whit-,sunday to their feast4 ,it is useful to remark here that this great ,saint1 who was raised to a sublime degree of prayer1 did not neglect1 nevertheless1 the usual practices of piety with the rest of the faithful4 ,this may serve as a preservative against an illusion which might lead to the belief that they are useless to the spiritual1 and that those who are mystical1 may dispense with them1 to devote themselves to contemplation4 ,his heart was so full and so penetrated with that true and sincere piety1 of which charity is the soul1 that it seemed to have entire possession of him4 ,it united him incessantly to ,god1 to the friends of ,god1 and to everything which was holy2 but1 as the ,apostle says1 prayer is profitable to all things2 it gave him a fund of all that was good1 a spirit of meekness1 of condescension1 and of zeal1 to communicate with his neighbor4 ,all men were dear to him1 because he saw in them the same nature1 the same grace1 the image of the ,creator1 and the ,blood of the ,redeemer4 ,if he had not taken care of the salvation of souls1 which ,jesus ,christ had redeemed1 he would not have considered himself among the number of ,his friends4 ,nothing1 he said1 is preferable to the salvation of souls2 and he gave several reasons for this1 and principally this one3 that1 for them1 the ,only ,son of ,god had condescended to be nailed to the cross4 ,it was also for them that he labored and lived2 for them1 in some measure1 he called in question the justice of ,god in prayer1 and powerfully solicited ,his mercy2 for them he frequently forewent the sweets of a contemplative life2 he undertook journeys1 he preached everywhere1 he exposed ,himself to martyrdom1 and their edification was one of his motives in the practice of virtue4 ,although his innocent flesh1 already perfectly under the control of the spirit1 did not require to be chastised for any faults1 he1 nevertheless1 mortified it in various ways for the edification of his neighbor4 ,when he was censured for his too great austerities1 he replied3--,i am sent to give this example2 if ,i had not the charity to give it1 ,i should be of little use to others1 and of none to myself1 although ,i spoke all the languages known to men and angels4 ,seeing that a multitude of persons1 stimulated by his example1 fervently embraced the ,cross of ,christ1 he became animated with fresh courage to put himself at the head of these pious troops1 as a valiant captain1 in order to gain with them a victory over the devil1 by the practice of perfect and invincible virtue4 ,the sanctity of his life gave him great freedom in his manner of preaching4 ,he spoke fearlessly1 without any apprehension of what critics might say1 because he had acted before teaching1 and he felt and had experienced all he said4 ,the zealous preacher knew not how to flatter4 ,far from sparing sinners by complacence1 he reproached their vices in forcible language1 and attacked their disorderly conduct with great vehemence4 ,the presence of the great of the world did not intimidate him2 he spoke to them as plainly and forcibly as he had done to the common people2 and1 as all souls were equally dear to him1 he preached as willingly1 and with as much zest1 to a few people1 as to a crowded auditory4 ,the tender love which ,st4 ,francis bore for souls redeemed by the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ1 rendered him very sensible to their misfortunes4 ,when he knew of any one stained by the filth of sin1 he lamented over it with deep grief4 ,his charity1 fertile in expedients1 inspired him sometimes to give to wicked persons temporal assistance1 with a view of getting them to return to the ways of salvation4 ,one day1 when he was at the ,convent of ,mount ,casal1 ,brother ,angelo1 who was the guardian of it1 told him that there were in the neighborhood three notorious robbers1 who injured considerably the farmers of the vicinity1 and daily came and extorted from them the bread which was destined for the convent1 without their being able to prevent it4 ,brother1 he replied1 if you will do what ,i will point out to you1 my confidence in ,god tells me that you will reform these men1 and gain their souls4 ,go and seek them out3 although they are robbers1 they are still our brothers4 ,take them the best bread you have1 and some wine1 spread a cloth on the ground1 and invite them to eat with you2 while they are eating1 speak to them of holy things1 in an insinuating manner1 both yourself and your companion2 humbly entreat them to injure no one any more4 ,if they promise you this1 return to them the next day1 and take them something to eat1 with bread and wine as before1 and tell them that you bring that1 as to brethren and friends1 who have granted you what you asked of them4 ,if you do this a third time1 do not doubt but ,god will enlighten them1 and touch their hearts1 and bring them into the right way4 ,brother ,angelo followed this advice1 and gained over the robbers so completely1 that they gave up their lives of plunderers1 and began to render service to the convent1 supplying them with fire-wood1 which they carried to them on their shoulders4 ,their conversion was complete3 one of them entered the ,order1 and the other two went elsewhere to embrace a penitential life4 ,the guardian used similar means for converting three other robbers1 who retired into the recesses of the mountain1 after having induced the ,saint to pray for them4 ,all three afterwards entered the ,order of ,friars ,minor and lived holy lives4 ,the affection which our ,saint had always shown for the poor from his infancy1 during the first years of his youth1 and at the beginning of his conversion1 became stronger and stronger1 and was manifested on all occasions4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that he spared nothing to come to their assistance4 ,cloaks1 tunics1 books1 the ornaments of the ,church1 all that he had he gave to them4 ,many times he has been seen taking the burdens from the poor he met on the road1 and bear them on his own weak shoulders4 ,when he returned from begging1 he shared what he had received with any that solicited alms at his hands2 and as long as anything remained1 he never refused any one4 ,at ,sienna1 a small cloak had been given to him1 which was very necessary for his infirmities2 but1 in leaving the town1 he met a poor person1 whose wretched state excited his pity1 and he said to his companion3 ,let us restore this cloak to him1 for it belongs to him2 we have only borrowed it1 until such time as we should see some one poorer than ourselves4 ,the companion1 knowing that ,francis really required it1 endeavored to prevent his parting with it1 but the father made him this answer3 ,if ,i did not give this cloak to a poor man1 who had more need of it than ,i have1 ,i should think ,i had committed a theft1 which ,i should be convicted of by our ,sovereign ,lord1 who is the universal almoner4 ,it was for this reason that1 when anything was given him1 he asked leave to give it away1 if he should meet with any one poorer than himself4 ,on the same principle1 notwithstanding his infirmities1 when he was at the convent at ,celles1 he gave another cloak1 which he had received in charity1 to a poor woman4 ,one of the brothers having taken it back1 promising to give the woman something else instead1 the ,saint said immediately3--,my brother1 kneel down and acknowledge your fault2 give the cloak back to the woman3 she is poorer than ,i am4 ,his companions got him another1 and he gave it again to a man of ,cortona1 who came to solicit alms for the love of ,god1 at the same convent at ,celles4 ,he told ,francis that his wife was dead1 that he had several little children1 and that he had no food for them3 ,i give you this cloak1 said the ,saint1 on this condition1 that1 if you are asked to give it back1 you do no such thing1 unless you receive its full value4 ,the brethren1 indeed1 did all they could to induce him to give it back3 they told him there was no one poorer than the person who had given it to him1 or who wanted it more on account of his bad health and the rigor of the season4 ,but the man1 referring to what his benefactor had said1 answered that the cloak was his1 and that he would not part with it1 unless he received its full value4 ,in order1 therefore1 to have it returned1 they were under the necessity of taking him to a friend who gave him in money what the cloak was considered to be worth4 ,a very old woman1 the mother of two of the ,friars ,minor1 having come to the ,convent of ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels to ask for charity1 ,francis told the guardian to give her something2 and he having said that there was not anything then in the convent which could be given1 unless it was a book of the ,gospel which the brethren read out of1 when they were in the choir the ,father said3--,give it that the poor woman may sell it to provide for her necessities4 ,i believe that this will be more agreeable to ,god1 than reading out of it4 ,what is it that a mother has not a right to require from us1 who has given two of her sons to the religious8 ,another time1 a poor man came to ask for an old habit4 ,francis desired them to look about well for one that was not used4 ,as such an one was not to be found1 he stole aside and began to unpick some breadths of his own1 in order to give them to the man2 the guardian1 being informed of this1 came down hastily and forbade his taking them out3 ,i will obey you1 because you are my superior1 but give this poor man something to cover himself with2 otherwise ,i shall have a scruple1 and shall be grieved to be obliged to wear an entire habit which is lined1 to keep me warm1 while this poor man is shivering with cold at the gate4 ,he went to the poor man to console him1 and did not leave him until the guardian had given him something wherewith to clothe himself2 and this alms was no less comforting to his charitable feelings1 than the clothing was to the misery of the poor man4 ,by a similar impulse of charity1 and in order to prevent curses against ,god1 he gave his cloak to a servant who complained of the great injury his master had done him1 cursing him and blaspheming ,providence for allowing the poor to be so ill used4 ,he gave him his cloak on the condition that he would leave off cursing and blaspheming4 ,the physician who saw the saint in his illness1 near ,rieti1 having one day mentioned the extreme poverty of an old woman who was begging1 he sent for the guardian and said3 ,here is a cloak which ,i have worn until such time as some one should be found who has a greater right to it than ,i have2 ,i beg you to send it1 with some of the bread which has been received on the quest1 by one of the brethren1 to our sister1 who is very poor1 and let him say that we only give her what belongs to her4 ,i conceive that what is given to us can only be ours until such time as some one shall come forward1 who is more in want of it than we are4 ,not to vex the holy man1 the commission was faithfully executed4 ,the blessed ,patriarch wished that such of his children who had not studied1 and had no talent for preaching1 should be employed in serving their brethren1 and should frequent the hospitals1 there to render the meanest offices to the lepers1 with humility and charity4 ,brother ,james the ,simple1 who came from ,perugia1 was greatly distinguished by his zeal in this charitable exercise1 insomuch that they gave him the name of the steward and physician of the lepers4 ,francis recommended one to him1 whose body was a mass of sores1 from his head to his feet4 ,james took such care of him1 that1 by degrees1 he regained his strength2 and1 thinking fresh air would contribute to his restoration1 he took him with him1 although still full of ulcers1 to the ,convent of ,saint ,mary of the ,angels4 ,this appeared to the ,saint1 who met him1 to have been very indiscreet1 and he said to ,brother ,james3 ,you should not lead about1 in this manner1 the ,christian ,brothers2 it is neither proper in you1 nor good for them4 ,i wish you to serve them in their hospital1 but ,i do not wish you to take them out of it1 for there are many persons who cannot bear the sight of them4 ,the leper was distressed at hearing his benefactor thus reprimanded1 and he blushed for shame4 ,francis1 perceiving him to have been mortified1 threw himself immediately at his feet1 and begged his pardon1 and1 in order to console him1 he ate at the door of the convent1 out of the same plate with the leper1 after which he embraced and kissed him1 and dismissed him satisfied4 ,there was in the hospital a leper who was so impatient and so violent1 that he abused and struck the ,friars ,minor who served him1 and even went so far as to blaspheme ,god4 ,they reported this to their ,father1 who offered himself to the sick man1 to wait upon him3 ,what can you do for me more than your companions have done8 replied the invalid4 ,ever since ,i have had this insupportable disorder1 ,god has forgotten me4 ,i am in despair1 ,i can live no longer2 no one can mitigate my sufferings2 neither you nor any one else4 ,francis1 seeing that he was agitated by the evil spirit1 left him for a while1 prayed for him1 and returned to exhort him by the most urgent motives1 to be patient4 ,as he saw that the man became calmer1 he asked him what might seem most agreeable to him2 what he should do for him4 ,he said that he should now wash his whole body1 that he could no longer endure the stench of the infection4 ,the saint quickly got some water warmed1 into which he put aromatic herbs1 and began to wash him himself1 while his companion poured out the water4 ,as he washed1 his cure advanced1 and1 at the same time1 the grace of ,god made such impression on the mind of the patient1 that1 as the water flowed from his body1 the tears flowed from his eyes4 ,the washing having terminated1 the leper being perfectly cleansed and converted1 publicly confessed his sins1 asked for mercy1 and went through a rigorous course of penance4 ,he died a few months afterwards1 and appeared to the ,saint1 thanking him that1 by his means1 after a light punishment in purgatory1 he was about to enjoy eternal glory4 ,god performed a different miracle on another occasion1 to justify the charity of ,his ,servant to the poor4 ,at ,alexandria de la ,paille1 a town of the ,milanese1 where he was received as a ,saint1 he was invited to dinner by a wealthy and pious man4 ,while he was at table1 a man of bad character1 who was1 however1 jealous of ,francis's reputation1 watched all his actions1 in order to decry and criticise them3 this man counterfeited a beggar at the door1 and solicited an alms for the love of ,god4 ,as soon as ,francis heard the appeal for the love of ,god1 he sent him the wing of a fowl1 to which he had been just helped4 ,the sham beggar1 to whom it was taken1 kept it4 ,the next day he produced it1 in a large concourse of people1 where the ,saint was preaching1 and1 interrupting the discourse1 he said in a loud voice3 ,this is the food on which the preacher feeds3 should such a man be honored as a saint8 ,his malice received a signal check2 the wing of the fowl which he exhibited1 appeared to the bystanders to be fish1 and he was thought to have lost his wits4 ,he himself perceiving that what he held up was nothing but fish1 was ashamed of what he had said1 was touched with remorse1 and published himself what had happened4 ,after which1 one miracle succeeded another2 it was found that what had appeared to be fish1 was in reality flesh4 ,thus did the ,lord vindicate the virtue of ,his ,servant1 punish envy1 and convert the envious4 ,the malignity of envy often finds its punishment in the artifices it employs to injure persons of virtue1 but it is very unusual for the envious to be so converted4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that ,st4 ,francis felt a most tender compassion for all who suffered from temporal ills2 that1 indeed1 he had naturally a feeling heart1 but that the goodness of the heart of ,jesus ,christ1 communicating itself to his1 rendered it still more compassionate4 ,he was the more sensible of the afflictions of others1 as in all the poor1 and in all those who suffered1 he represented to himself his ,divine ,master1 poor and suffering2 in which1 continues the holy doctor1 he who was himself poor1 showed that he was so as a perfect ,christian4 ,when he had it not in his power to alleviate the sufferings of those in indigence or sickness1 he endeavored1 at least by soothing words1 to assuage their feelings4 ,one day1 when he was about to preach1 he was entreated by a poor and infirm man to recommend him to the auditors4 ,his compassion was excited1 and1 with tears in his eyes1 he said to his companion that he felt the man's ills as if they were his own4 ,his companion answered the man rather drily1 who was importunate in asking for alms1 and in order to moderate the feelings of the ,saint1 he said3 ,if we judged by exteriors1 this man is apparently in great misery2 but1 if we could penetrate his interior1 we should1 perhaps1 find that in the whole province there is not an individual richer in wishes1 or more eaten up with pride3 such characters are frequently found among beggars4 ,francis censured him severely for having repulsed the poor man1 and for judging him with so much asperity1 and pointed out to him that in this he offended ,god4 ,the religious acknowledged his error1 and asked pardon on his knees4 ,i shall not pardon you1 said ,francis1 unless you take off your habit1 prostrate yourself before the poor man1 acknowledge your fault1 entreat him to pardon you1 and to pray for you4 ,the humble penitent did immediately all that he had been desired to do1 after which ,francis embraced him1 and said1 with great mildness3 ,my son1 it is not so much against the poor man that you have sinned1 as against ,jesus ,christ1 for ,he is in all the poor3 they are so many mirrors1 in which ,he represents to us ,his own poverty1 and that of ,his ,blessed ,mother4 ,therefore1 as often as you see the poor and the sick1 respect them1 and humble yourself in their presence2 consider1 with sentiments of piety1 that the ,son of ,god made ,himself poor for our sakes1 and condescended to take upon ,himself our infirmities4 ,if we cherish these ,christianlike views1 we should not judge so harshly of the poor1 of whom it is no less faulty to judge1 than of the rich2 and in their poverty we should find as powerful motives for loving ,jesus ,christ1 as for affording the succor they require4 ,the heart of ,st4 ,francis was naturally so kind and so tender1 that he felt an affection for creatures1 but it was from a profound sentiment of piety that he called them his brothers and his sisters4 ,going back to the origin of things1 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that he considered all that had being as having emanated from the bosom of the ,divinity1 and he acknowledged that they had the same principle as himself4 ,in fact1 the creation established amongst them a sort of fraternity3 ,god being the parent of all nature1 it is not to be denied that1 in this sense1 everything which composes it is brotherly4 ,and who can censure a man who is wholly religious1 for expressing himself in a manner which is grounded on the first principles of religion8 ,this trait shows both the elevation of his mind1 and the piety of his heart2 heretics alone can blame it4 ,among animals1 those he preferred were such as reminded him of the mildness of ,jesus ,christ1 or were the symbol of some particular virtue1 or which gave rise to some edifying reflections2 and ,god has sometimes shown by miracles1 how much the motive of these feelings was pleasing to ,him4 ,lambs were peculiarly agreeable to the holy man1 in memory of the meek ,lamb who permitted ,himself to be led to the slaughter1 for the redemption of sinners2 he frequently had them purchased1 to prevent their being killed4 ,while he was staying at the ,monastery of ,st4 ,vereconda1 which is in the ,diocese of ,gubbio1 he found that on the previous night a sow had killed with its teeth a lamb1 which had just been born4 ,the ,lamb without spot1 whom sinners put to death1 flashed immediately upon his recollection1 and the pity this excited in him1 caused him to lament sorely the death of the little animal1 which was a symbol of meekness2 to curse the cruel beast which had killed it1 and to wish that neither man nor beast might eat of its flesh4 ,the sow was at that moment struck with a disease1 of which it died in three days4 ,it was thrown into a ravine1 not far distant from the monastery1 and no animal ventured to touch it3 it became dry and hard as a piece of wood4 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 on this occasion1 that if ,god was pleased to punish with death the cruelty of a beast1 how infinitely more severe must not the punishment of cruel and pitiless men be in the other world4 ,a lad went to ,sienna to sell some turtle-doves1 which he had taken alive4 ,francis met him on his way1 and said3 ,these are innocent birds1 which are compared in ,scripture to chaste and faithful souls ,i beg you earnestly not to put them into the hands of persons who would kill them1 but to confide them to me4 ,they were given to him1 and he put them immediately into his bosom2 he spoke to them as if they were capable of reasoning1 not only by that natural impulse which induces us constantly to speak to animals1 when we caress them1 but also by an impression of the spirit of ,god4 ,he told them of a great miracle1 promising to prepare a nest for them1 where they might increase and multiply1 according to the intention of their ,creator4 ,having taken them to his ,convent of ,ravacciano1 near the walls of ,sienna1 he forced his stick into the ground before the gate1 and the stick became1 by the following day1 a large evergreen oak4 ,he let the turtle-doves fly into it1 desiring them to make their nests there1 which they did for many succeeding years2 and they were so familiar with the religious1 that they came to feed from their hands4 ,wading says that the tree was still there at his time and that many saw it4 ,nor did the young man go unrewarded4 ,francis told him that he would become a religious of his ,order1 and that he would acquire eternal glory3 he did1 in fact1 enter the ,order1 and lived so holily as to earn ,heaven4 ,the miracle was the cause of his vocation1 and at the same time sanctioned the affection the ,saint showed these birds3 he only loved ,god through the affection he showed to ,his creatures4 ,so also1 ,st4 ,gregory ,thaumaturgus1 according to the testimony of ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa1 having planted his stick in a spot where a river was breaking down the dyke and doing damage through the country1 the ,lord changed it suddenly into a large tree1 which checked the flood entirely1 and served to honor the faith of his ,servant1 and incite the infidels to believe in ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,divine love which inflamed the heart of ,st4 ,francis1 made everything appear amiable to him which could tend to the love and service of ,god4 ,for this reason he was fond of birds1 whose carol seemed to invite mankind to publish the glory of their ,creator1 for1 according to the words of ,jesus ,christ1 neither do they sow nor reap1 nor gather into barns3 yet their ,heavenly ,father feeds them4 ,it was gratifying to him to remark the gray and ash color of larks1 the color he had chosen for his ,order1 so that the minors might often think on death4 ,he also loved to admire the disposition of the plumage of such as were crested1 which seemed to him to have some relation to the simplicity of his habit4 ,on the lark rising into the air1 and singing as soon as it has taken some grains of corn for its nourishment1 he remarked with sensible pleasure that this example ought to teach us to give thanks to our common ,father1 who gives us wherewithal for our sustenance1 only to eat for ,his glory1 to despise the earth1 and to raise ourselves up to ,heaven1 where our conversation ought to be4 ,he was more fond of these small birds than of any others1 because they induced holy thoughts1 and he took as much care of them as he could4 ,as he had noble and spiritual motives for his simplest and most common actions1 ,god made use of this for the instruction of men by the example of a bird4 ,near the ,convent of ,mount ,ranier1 or ,mount ,colombo1 there was a nest of crested larks1 the mother of which came every day to feed out of the hand of the ,servant of ,god and took sufficient for herself and her brood3 when they began to be strong1 she brought the little ones to him4 ,he perceived that the strongest of the brood pecked the others1 and prevented them from taking up the grain4 ,this displeased him1 and addressing himself to the little bird as if it could understand him1 ,cruel and insatiable little animal1 he said1 you will die miserably1 and the greediest animals will not be willing to eat your flesh1 ,in fact1 some days afterwards1 it was drowned in a basin1 which was placed for them to drink out of4 ,it was given to the cats and dogs1 to see if they would eat it2 but neither would touch it4 ,it may be thought that so trifling an anecdote was not worth recording1 but there is nothing trifling in the moral it contains4 ,it is a natural representation of those greedy and insatiable men who devour the substance of their brethren1 and envy them all that they cannot despoil them of2 enemies of mankind1 unworthy of the name of men1 thieves1 ruffians1 ravaging wolves1 as they are designated in ,scripture1 whose voracity1 say the ,holy ,fathers1 surpasses that of wild beasts2 whose life is a public calamity2 hated and detested by all1 during their lives1 they die as they have lived1 and their memory is held in execration4 ,the tender-heartedness which ,francis evinced for animals has been ridiculed by heretics4 ,nevertheless1 the ,holy ,ghost tells us1 by the mouth of ,wisdom1 that the just man regardeth the lives of his beasts4 ,the ,patriarch ,jacob excused himself from following his brother ,esau1 because his ewes and cows were heavy1 and he was fearful he should kill them if he hurried them4 ,when ,st4 ,paul said1 ,doth ,god take care of oxen8 he only wished to insinuate that ,god is far more interested in what regards men4 ,in this view ,st4 ,chrysostom1 commenting on the words of ,wisdom1 which we have just quoted1 says that the saints are tender-hearted2 that they love all men1 strangers as well as their own countrymen and their own families1 and that their good feelings are extended to senseless animals4 ,sulpicius ,severus relates of ,st4 ,martin1 that1 seeing some hounds pursuing a hare1 which they were on the point of catching1 he ordered them to stop2 he had no sooner spoken1 than the hounds became immovable on the spot where they were1 and they did not stir till the hare was placed in safety4 ,an author of the life of ,st4 ,bernard1 who had been his secretary1 says that not only men1 but irrational animals1 even birds1 and other beasts1 felt the effects of his tenderness4 ,he adds that the ,saint1 in one of his journeys1 coming close to a hare1 which the dogs were about to catch1 and where a bird was nearly seized in the talons of a hawk1 delivered them both miraculously by the sign of the cross1 and then told the sportsmen that all their efforts would be useless for taking this prey4 ,if it had been thought proper not to omit in his life1 and in that of ,st4 ,martin also1 these anecdotes of the goodness of their hearts1 which were enhanced by supernatural evidence1 and of which ,god approved by ,his wisdom and ,his power1 what right can critics have to censure precisely similar circumstances in the life of ,st4 ,francis8 ,the glorious ,patriarch1 who praised ,god in the minutest things1 procured his glory in the greatest4 ,his principal care was to lead his brethren to perfection2 to render them worthy imitators of ,jesus crucified1 capable of exciting ,his love in all hearts4 ,it would be difficult to point out the founder of an order who had spoken more1 taught more1 or exhorted more1 than ,st4 ,francis2 and it may have been noticed that he instructed his disciples in the most solid and eminent virtues4 ,he recommended them to put the ,gospel in practice1 as they had promised to do in making profession of the rule2 to adore profoundly and with great devotion the ,body of ,jesus ,christ2 to hear ,mass most devoutly2 to celebrate the ,divine ,office with attention2 carefully to keep all the ordinances of the ,church2 to have the greatest veneration for all priests1 humbly to bow in their presence1 and to kiss their hands4 ,he even said that1 if it could be done1 they ought to kiss the feet of the horses on which they rode1 to honor the power which they have of consecrating and administering the ,divine mysteries4 ,when abroad1 it was his desire that his religious should appear with so much modesty1 reserve1 and circumspection1 that every one might be edified thereby1 and glorify ,god therein4 ,do not despise the men of the world1 he said1 and judge not ill of them4 ,you are not to judge other persons' servants1 who are not yours2 whether they stand or fall1 it is not your affair1 but that of their masters4 ,have peace in your own mind1 make it known to others1 inspire it to all2 labor for the conversion of sinners1 for that is your vocation4 ,attentive to the regulation of the interior1 he incessantly exhorted them to correct the smallest defects2 to exercise themselves in the practice of holy prayer1 to meditate on the ,passion of our ,blessed ,saviour1 and to use all their efforts to preserve union and fraternal love4 ,happy1 said he1 is the man who loves his brother when absent1 as well as when they are together1 and who would not say in his absence what charity would prevent his saying in his presence4 ,in the view of rendering his brethren more perfect1 he frequently counteracted the bent of their devotion4 ,brother ,masse was a very spiritual man1 who was much attached to prayer4 ,francis1 in order to try him1 said to him one day1 in presence of the others3 ,brother1 these have received from ,god a greater gift of contemplation than you have4 ,for which reason1 in order to give them more time to give themselves very freely to it1 it seems proper that you1 who seem more calculated for exterior duties1 should have the care of the door and of the kitchen1 and1 if there is any time over1 you will employ it in questing4 ,take great care that the strangers who may call1 do not interrupt your brethren in their meditations4 ,as soon as they may knock at the door1 be there ready to receive them1 satisfy them with fair words1 and do everything which the others would have done1 so that it shall not be necessary for any of them to make their appearance4 ,go in peace1 and fail not in doing all these things1 in order to have the merit of obedience4 ,masse1 bowing his head1 submitted to the order of his superior1 without hesitation or murmur1 and1 during several days1 he acquitted himself faithfully of what had been directed4 ,his companions1 who knew his virtue1 and the love he had for prayer1 had scruples at seeing him in these employments1 and begged their father to permit them to share these duties with him4 ,he assented1 and1 sending for ,masse1 said to him3 ,brother1 your companions wish to relieve and assist you1 and ,i also wish that they may have a share in the labors4 ,to which ,mass replied1 ,father1 ,i consider as coming from ,god whatever duties you direct1 whether it be my work or prayer4 ,st4 ,francis1 seeing the charity on the one part1 and the humility on the other1 gave them an exhortation on these two virtues1 and distributed the duties among them1 with his blessing4 ,what he had ardently desired for himself1 and what he was rejoiced to see some of his brethren look forward to most anxiously1 was the perfection which consists in suffering martyrdom3 in shedding one's blood for the faith4 ,as he could not obtain this favor1 and as it was only granted to a few of his brethren during his lifetime1 he endeavored to make up for it by another species of martyrdom1 which1 as ,st4 ,bernard says1 is indeed less cruel than the first1 but is rendered more bitter by its duration4 ,it is the martyrdom of mortification1 and principally that of voluntary poverty4 ,in fact1 this poverty1 as he compelled its observance1 not only placed him and his brethren in the most humiliating situation in the eyes of the world1 but deprived them1 moreover1 of all the comforts and conveniences of life2 exposed them to hunger1 thirst1 want of clothing1 and various other annoying discomforts4 ,all this1 however1 was not1 in his view1 the consummation of this description of martyrdom4 ,it was still further requisite to suffer patiently1 in time of pain and sickness1 the want of assistance1 which poverty cannot command1 to see the disease increase1 and death about to follow1 from want of necessary succor4 ,his charity had taken all possible precaution for procuring assistance to the sick of his ,order4 ,he had directed that1 if any of the brethren fell sick1 the others should attend upon them1 as they would wish to be themselves waited upon in like circumstances1 and with more affection than a mother has for a beloved son4 ,notwithstanding the great aversion he had to money1 he required that the superiors should make application to their spiritual friends1 to induce them to give coins1 in order to assist the brethren in their sickness4 ,but1 as he foresaw that this measure might not always be successful1 and that poverty in such a case would put it out of the power of the superiors to procure what was absolutely necessary for the sick1 he pointed out to the brethren what perfection called upon them to do3 ,if one of the brethren1 in health or in sickness1 finds himself unable1 through poverty1 to procure what his absolute necessities require1 provided he has humbly applied to his superior for them for the love of ,god1 let him bear with the privation1 for the love of ,jesus ,christ1 who sought for consolation1 but found none4 ,it is a suffering which1 will be in ,his sight a substitute for martyrdom2 if this should even increase his disease1 he must not fear being guilty of suicide1 for he has done all he ought to have done1 by applying humbly to his superiors4 ,the maxim is well grounded4 ,st4 ,chrysostom maintains1 that to suffer generously the loss of all goods1 as did holy ,job1 is a species of martyrdom4 ,st4 ,bernard says the same thing of voluntary poverty1 and remarks that1 in the ,beatitudes1 a similar reward is promised to the poor and to martyrs4 ,on those principles1 is not a ,friar ,minor to be looked upon as a martyr1 who1 having embraced the strictest poverty1 for the love of ,jesus ,christ1 would1 rather than contravene it1 endure with patience every evil1 and even death1 and would generously make to ,god the sacrifice of his health and of his life1 in order to practise this virtue to his last breath8 ,st4 ,augustine affirms that a ,christian suffers martyrdom in his bed1 when he declines procuring his cure by forbidden means3 thus1 a sick ,friar ,minor1 who has not the necessary assistance1 brought about by his having embraced poverty1 according to the ,evangelical counsel1 is a martyr to poverty4 ,even supposing that it was less owing to poverty1 than to the neglect or harshness of his superior1 that he was without assistance1 he would equally have gained the crown promised to this description of martyrdom1 since it would be as an ,evangelical pauper that he would suffer and die4 ,but woe to that superior who should procure him such a crown6 ,he would be like to those who have made so many martyrs in the persecution of the ,church4 ,when ,st4 ,francis learnt that his brethren1 by the sanctity of their lives1 and by the efficacy of their preaching1 brought back numbers of sinners into the paths of truth1 and enkindled in their breasts the love of ,god1 he said that such intelligence was to him as most pleasing odors and precious perfumes1 by which he was wholly embalmed2 and1 in his spiritual joy1 he loaded these holy and edifying religious with the most ample benedictions4 ,on the other hand1 he fulminated dreadful maledictions against such as dishonored religion by their conduct4 ,most holy ,lord1 he would say1 may those who overthrow and destroy by their bad example what ,thou incessantly raisest up by the saintly brethren of the ,order1 be accursed by ,thee and by the whole celestial choir1 and also by me1 ,thy little servant4 ,any scandal given to little ones gave him so much affliction and heartsore1 that he often might have died of it1 if ,god had not supported him by interior consolations4 ,one day1 when he was suffering extreme grief on a subject of this nature1 and was praying the ,father of ,mercies for his children1 ,st4 ,bonaventure informs us that he received the following answer3 ,poor little man1 why do you disquiet yourself8 ,because ,i have appointed you the pastor of this religion which ,i have established1 are you unmindful that ,i am its principal protector8 ,i gave you the direction of it1 to you who are a simple man1 in order that what ,i should do through you might be attributed1 not to human industry1 but to my favor4 ,it is ,i who called those who have entered it2 ,i will preserve them1 and provide for their wants2 ,i will substitute others for those who will die off2 ,i will cause some to be born1 in order to come into it2 and whatever may occur to shake this religion1 which is founded on strict poverty4 ,i will assist by ,my grace1 that it shall be always upheld4 ,up to this day1 the world has seen the verification of this prophecy4 ,the ,order of ,friars ,minor has been powerfully attacked1 and has still many enemies2 nevertheless1 it still subsists4 ,to animate his brethren to perfection1 he employed example1 rather than precept4 ,when he imposed punishments1 if they appeared to him to be very severe1 he took them also on himself4 ,having sent ,brother ,ruffinus to preach at ,assisi without his hood1 because he had sought to be excused from preaching1 he reflected on the severity of this order1 and went himself to the church where ,ruffinus was preaching4 ,the latter having left the pulpit to give it up to ,francis1 he began his discourse1 and instilled into his audience so much compunction1 that it was evident that ,god had blessed the obedience of the disciple and the example of the master4 ,this admirable preceptor taught no virtues which he did not himself practise in an eminent degree2 and as those which are exterior make the greatest impression1 he practised extreme austerity1 in order that the others should imitate him4 ,having noticed1 on a certain occasion1 that some of his brethren had relaxed from the extreme poverty of their nourishment1 he thus slyly reprimanded them3 ,my brethren may well believe that1 with so infirm a body as mine is1 ,i require better nourishment than what ,i get1 but ,i am obliged to be their model in everything2 for which reason ,i propose to give up every alleviation1 and to cast aside1 with disgust1 everything resembling delicacy2 to be satisfied with little in everything2 to make use of those things only which are the commonest1 vilest1 and most conformable to strict poverty4 ,being in a hermitage in some mountains1 in mid-winter1 when the weather was rigorously cold and severe1 his companions prepared a habit for him1 in which they lined the breast1 to make it somewhat warmer for him1 but he made them take this out1 saying3 ,i am placed here to give example to others2 my life must be their rule4 ,i know that there is no harm in wearing a warmer habit in the state ,i am in1 but ,i see many of our brethren who require it as much as ,i do1 and who could not get it4 ,i must therefore bear this poverty with them1 and not differ from them in anything1 lest it should be thought that ,i take greater care of myself than of the others4 ,they will more willingly bear the privation of these wants1 when they shall see that ,i voluntarily go without aid4 ,his three companions1 the writers of his life1 observed that he refused his body the most lawful indulgence1 in order that his children should be ashamed of taking those which were less so2 and that his maxim was1 always to give instruction more by example than by discourse4 ,he recommended his brethren1 also1 to preach by example1 and1 farther on1 we shall see some beautiful sentiments in his maxims1 relative to preaching4 ,rodriguez1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 an excellent master of spiritual life1 mentions1 on this subject1 a lesson which our saint gave to one of his religious1 which we give here1 in the very words of the talented academician1 who translated the ,practice of ,christian ,perfection1 of the pious author4 ,st4 ,francis1 taking one day one of his religious with him1 said3--,let us go and preach2 and thereupon he went out1 and after having made a tour round the town1 he returned to the convent4 ,but1 ,father1 said his companion1 are we not going to preach8 ,we have done so already1 replied the ,saint4 ,it was the religious reserve which they had used in walking through the streets1 which he considered to be an excellent sermon for the whole town4 ,and1 in fact1 a mortified and humble exterior leads the people to piety and contempt of the world1 it excites to compunction for sin1 and raises the heart and desires to heavenly objects4 ,it is a mute exhortation1 which has often more effect than the most eloquent and sublime sermons4 ,to example and precept1 the holy ,patriarch added frequent and fervent prayers for the spiritual advancement of his children2 well knowing that neither he who plants1 nor he who waters1 contributes to the fruit which the tree bears1 but that the interior virtue which fructifies1 comes from ,god4 ,in fine1 in order not to be wanting in anything which might be in his power1 when his infirmities absolutely prevented his watching over the conduct of his children1 he unceasingly exhorted the superiors to fulfil this duty with exactness1 and he enforced it by the following powerful motive3 that1 if one of the brethren should be lost by their fault1 they would be accountable for him to ,jesus ,christ on the day of judgment4 ,st4 ,francis1 being ill at ,assisi1 cured a spiritual wound of a more serious nature than that of a scruple4 ,one of his children1 named ,ricer1 of ,bologna1 ,provincial in the ,marches of ,ancona1 a man of a very saintly life1 had taken it into his head1 at the suggestion of the devil1 that the patriarch hated him1 because he knew that he was to be damned1 and he came to ,assisi1 in the hopes that this thought would be dissipated1 if the saint should receive him kindly4 ,the ,saint1 who had a revelation as to the state of his mind1 and of his arrival at ,assisi1 said to ,brothers ,masse and ,leo3 ,go and meet ,brother ,ricer1 embrace him1 and kiss him from me1 and tell him that1 among all my brethren in the world1 ,i love him the most tenderly4 ,they executed the commission given them1 and ,ricer found himself strengthened in his faith1 and filled with joy1 and thanked ,god for the happy success of his journey4 ,as soon as he appeared1 ,francis1 weak as he was1 ran to him1 and1 embracing him1 said1 with paternal affection3 ,ricer1 my dear son1 you are1 among all our brethren1 he whom ,i love from the bottom of my heart2 and1 after having made the sign of the cross upon his forehead1 he gave him several kisses1 and then added3 ,ricer1 my dear child1 this temptation was visited upon you for your greater good4 ,but if you do not choose to be a gainer at this price1 you will henceforward suffer no more from this temptation1 nor from any other2 and from that time1 he never had another4 ,the holy ,patriarch had so tender a love for his brethren1 that he could not bear that a shade of sorrowfulness should pass over their minds1 lest they should lose their spiritual joy4 ,my dear brethren1 he said to them1 entertain interiorly and exteriorly the holy joy which ,god gives4 ,when ,his servants seek to obtain and preserve ,his spiritual joy1 which has its source in purity of heart1 in the fervor of prayer1 and in other virtuous practices1 the devils can do them no injury2 and they say3 ',we can do no injury to these servants of ,god2 we have no entry to them2 they are always joyful1 whether in tribulation or prosperity4' ,but they are highly gratified when they can deprive them of this happy temper of mind1 or1 at least1 lessen its intensity2 because1 if they can succeed in instilling any of their own venom into them1 they will soon turn what has only the breadth of a hair into a beam1 by adding something by little and little1 unless we endeavor to destroy their work by the virtue of prayer1 of contrition1 of confession1 and satisfaction4 ,for this reason1 my brethren1 since spiritual joy comes from purity of conscience and the frequent exercise of fervent prayer1 labor principally to acquire these two blessings1 in order that you always possess it2 ,i am very anxious to see it in you1 and to feel it in myself4 ,it is for the devil and his satellites to be sorrowful2 but as to us1 we can always rejoice in the ,lord4 ,although the holy man had occasionally reason to be sorrowful1 in consequence of the temptations to which he was exposed1 or from the fear of the pains of hell1 arising from the remembrance of his sins1 yet he was ever gay4 ,he was one day asked the reason of this1 and he gave this answer3 ,my sins sometimes1 indeed1 make me very sorrowful1 and ,satan would wish to imprint this sadness on me1 in order to make me fall into slothfulness and weariness2 but when that occurs1 ,i look on my companion3 the spiritual joy ,i see in him1 renews mine1 and the temptation passes off4 ,my joy is a torment to the devils1 for they envy me the favors ,i receive from ,god4 ,i know and see that1 when they cannot injure me by making me sorrowful1 they endeavor to strip this spiritual joy from my companions1 and1 if they cannot succeed either with them or with me1 they retire in confusion4 ,we must notice1 in this answer of the holy ,father1 two sorts of sorrow3 the one arising from the anguish caused by sin1 of which ,st4 ,paul says1 that it is according to ,god1 and works penance unto salvation4 ,this does not do away with spiritual joy2 on the contrary1 it produces it3 nothing is sweeter1 or more consoling1 than the tears shed from the impulse of sincere contrition4 ,the other sorrow is a depression of spirits1 brought about by the devil1 who endeavors to render us tepid and sluggish1 to give us a disgust for pious exercises1 and to induce us to give them up4 ,a good conscience causes spiritual joy4 ,no one has truly cause to rejoice1 but he who is well with ,god1 faithful to ,his law1 and submissive to ,his will4 ,a tranquil mind1 free and disengaged from the tyranny of the passions1 is1 in the opinion of ,wisdom1 a continual feast4 ,it is true happiness3 ,for a happy life is nothing more1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 than the joy which is found in truth2 that is1 in ,god1 who is truth1 the sweet light of our souls1 our salvation and our repose4 ,therefore ,david excites the just of ,israel to manifest their joy1 and ,st4 ,paul said to the ,christians3 ,rejoice always in the ,lord2 ,i say again1 rejoice4 ,what constitutes the ,kingdom of ,god is the justice1 peace1 and joy1 which come from the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this disposition of the heart enables it to resist the evil spirit1 according to the words of ,esdras to the ,jewish people3 ,the joy of the ,lord is our strength4 ,what can the evil spirit do against a soul whose sole pleasure is to serve ,god1 who has no other solace than to love and praise ,him8 ,there is1 moreover1 nothing which makes so great an impression on the people of the world1 as witnessing the interior contentment of a truly good man1 which is seen in the serenity of his countenance4 ,this is1 according to ,st4 ,augustine1 what compels them to admit that they themselves have not true joy1 for that is reserved to ,god's servants4 ,it was not alone by the ardor of his zeal1 and the tenderness of his affection1 that the holy ,founder led on his brethren1 but by a wonderful discretion and prudence in the government of his ,order4 ,although he used every endeavor to induce his religious to live austerely1 he1 nevertheless1 recommended them to be guided by moderation2 he did not countenance indiscreet penances4 ,brother ,sylvester1 the first priest in his ,order1 having fallen into an illness of languor1 brought on by excess in his mortifications1 had a wish to eat some grapes3 ,francis1 having been informed of it1 hastened to procure him this relief4 ,he took him1 as well as he could1 into the vineyard of one of his friends1 which was near the convent1 and1 having made him sit down near a plant of vine1 he blessed it1 and ordered him to eat the grapes1 and ate some with him4 ,as soon as the sick man had eaten of them1 he found himself perfectly cured1 and he frequently afterwards related the circumstance to his brethren1 with tears in his eyes1 as a proof of the love the holy father bore to his children2 it was1 also1 an effect of his discretion1 for1 disapproving of ,sylvester's excessive austerities1 he chose that he should take this sort of remedy1 which nature seemed to call for1 and it pleased ,god to render this the subject of a miracle4 ,this prudent and charitable ,father came to know1 one night1 that one of his children who had fasted too rigidly1 could not take repose1 in consequence of the hunger which oppressed him4 ,not to leave him in so deplorable a state1 he sent for him1 offered him some bread1 and pressed him to eat of it1 eating some himself first1 to give him confidence4 ,the religious got over the shyness he at first felt1 and took the nourishment he so greatly required1 being well pleased to have been relieved from the peril his life was in1 by the prudence and kindness of the ,saint1 and to see so edifying an example4 ,in the morning1 ,francis assembled his brethren1 and having told them what had occurred in the night1 said3--,brethren1 take a precedent from this1 not as to what ,i ate1 but that ,i had recourse to1 what was charitable4 ,then he pointed out to them that virtue should always have discretion for its rule and for its guide2 not that discretion which the flesh inspires1 but that which has been taught by ,jesus ,christ1 whose most holy life is the finished model of all perfection4 ,let each man1 he continued1 have regard to his constitution4 ,if some of you are strong enough to support life well1 while eating very little1 ,i do not wish1 on that account1 that one who requires more nourishment1 shall imitate them in this respect3 such a one might give his body what is necessary for it2 for1 as in eating1 we are obliged to avoid whatever is superfluous1 which is hurtful to the body and soul1 so also we must guard against excessive abstinence1 and the more so because the ,lord requires mercy rather than sacrifice4 ,this is what ,god says by the ,prophet ,osee1 which means that ,he prefers the practice of works of mercy to our neighbor1 to the exterior exercise of religion2 and that this worship which must be rendered ,him1 is not pleading to ,him without mercy4 ,now1 as we are commanded to love our neighbor with a love of charity1 ,st4 ,thomas teaches us1 as does ,st4 ,augustine1 that the same love obliges us to have a similar regard for our own body2 from whence it follows that1 this charity not being found in immoderate abstinence1 ,god does not approve of the sacrifice4 ,to this we may add1 that it is sometimes the devil who instigates a person to undertake immoderate fasting1 in order to render that person incapable of spiritual exercises1 and for other evil intentions4 ,the holy ,founder cautioned his brethren to avoid excess in fasting1 even more than excess in eating1 because he knew that they were all animated by the spirit of mortification4 ,their fervor was so great that1 in fasting very rigorously1 they at the same time wore iron girdles1 coats of mail1 coarse hair-shirts1 and took severe disciplines1 which brought on frequent illnesses4 ,for this reason he often recommended discretion to them4 ,my brethren1 he said1 if a servant of ,god gives his body what is reasonable for its nourishment and for its repose1 and if the body is nevertheless sluggish1 lazy1 sleepy at prayer1 in watchings1 and other good works1 it must1 then1 be chastised1 and treated as a horse that refuses to work1 or an ass that won't go on1 although they are well fed4 ,but1 if the body is deprived of its real wants1 it is disabled from bearing the yoke of penance1 and performing the functions required by the soul2 it has1 then1 every right to complain4 ,we shall1 perhaps1 be surprised that ,st4 ,francis1 who preaches discretion so admirably to his brethren1 should have carried his own austerities to excess2 but we must bear in mind that he was a man1 guided in all things by the ,holy ,spirit1 in whom ,god was pleased to show the abundant riches of ,his grace1 and whose prodigious penitential exercises were to draw down an abundance of mercy on sinners4 ,thus1 what appeared excesses in his mortifications1 arose from his perfect fidelity to the extraordinary impulse he received from above2 and this is true prudence4 ,fervent persons are occasionally found who would wish to imitate the fastings and other austerities of the saints1 but this is presumption1 unless they are called thereto by ,god1 and unless the vocation has been well sounded and approved by legitimate authority4 ,the general and safe maxim1 in cases of austerities1 is not to undertake anything extraordinary1 without the consent of superiors and confessors4 ,before granting any permission of this nature1 the constitution and character of the person must be carefully examined1 and inquiry minutely made whether the applicant practises regularly the ordinary mortifications1 and if he is as zealous in controlling his passions and acquiring the virtues requisite in his station1 as for the maceration of his body2 for it is often found that those who solicit extraordinary penances1 neglect those which are ordinary and common1 and who1 in mortifying their bodies1 do not take sufficient pains to purify their hearts1 to become humble1 obedient1 mild1 and charitable4 ,it may not1 perhaps1 be believed that the holy ,patriarch carried his discretion and condescension even to the buildings and the habits1--he who advocated extreme poverty on these two articles4 ,he had carefully recommended to his brethren to build only small1 low houses1 surrounded only by hedges1 in remote and solitary situations2 but1 as his own companions tell us1 he admitted that in towns1 and near towns1 it was proper to act otherwise2 that1 in consequence of the number of religious who were there for the service of the faithful1 it was necessary to have the convent surrounded by walls4 ,his companions also say that he allowed those who required it1 to wear a softer and warmer tunic2 on this sole condition1 however1 that the outward garment should be very poor1 to keep up the spirit of humility by the contempt the world entertains for such as are poorly clothed4 ,finally1 the same authors testify that1 although he was very austere from the moment of his conversion1 to his death1 with a constitution very delicate and weak1 yet he prudently moderated the austerities of his brethren2 and that many things which he rigidly refused himself1 he allowed to the others1 from discretion and from charity4 ,this1 indeed1 is characteristic in the saints2 severe and inflexible to themselves1 they spared their neighbors1 and were indulgent in their regard2 while hypocrites1 such as the ,pharisees1 and certain heretics who resemble them1 put heavy burdens on the shoulders of others1 which they are unable to carry2 overwhelm with austerities those whom they direct1 often for the most trifling faults1 while they themselves live in comfort and at their ease4 ,the discretion of ,st4 ,francis was apparent in every part of his conduct4 ,bernard de ,besse1 one of the writers of his life1 and secretary to ,st4 ,bonaventure1 says that he never spoke to his brethren but in terms of moderation and mildness2 that he compassionated the weak1 and encouraged the young in the practice of virtue2 that he had great respect for old age2 that whatever faults a priest might commit1 he never reprimanded him but in private2 in fine1 that he had proper consideration for all those whose birth1 merit1 or dignity required it4 ,brother ,guy1 who was beatified by the ,holy ,see1 and of whom we have before spoken1 begged the saint to allow him to build a cell in the fissure of a rock which was opposite to the convent of ,celles1 near ,cortona1 in order that he might live there in great solitude1 and give himself up to contemplation4 ,francis1 who knew that ,guy1 although he was only in the novitiate1 had the virtue of the ancients1 and would raise himself up to an eminent degree of sanctity1 permitted him this peculiar retreat1 but upon this condition1 that it was not to prevent him from attending all the offices said by the community1 in order to preserve the uniformity of the observance1 and to obviate the illusion which might mix itself up with unusual practices4 ,this was also what the ,saint himself practised2 he quitted regularly his contemplation1 to join in singing the praise of ,god in community4 ,st4 ,bonaventure says that some of his religious asked him one day if he thought it proper that persons who were already learned1 when they were admitted into the ,order1 should continue to study the ,holy ,scriptures8 ,to which he replied3 ,this is very pleasing to me1 provided they follow the example of ,jesus ,christ1 whom we find to have prayed more than ,he seems to have read4 ,a novice1 to whom the vicar-general had allowed the particular use of a psalter1 came to solicit ,francis' confirmation of this permission1 and this is the reply he got3 ,charlemagne1 ,orlando1 and other great captains1 rendered themselves illustrious by their exploits2 the martyrs are celebrated in the ,church by their sufferings and death2 but there are others who aspire to glory by the sole reading of the feats of these persons4 ,the ,saint intended to give him to understand that no one is estimable unless by his actions and conduct1 and that there is nothing more vain than a reputation grounded on fruitless science4 ,doubtless the holy ,patriarch wished his brethren to have psalters and breviaries1 since they were obliged to say the ,divine ,office4 ,he knew1 also1 that books were necessary for them1 to enable them1 by study1 to be capable to instruct their neighbors1 according as their vocation required1 for he himself read the ,scriptures4 ,but he did not approve that any one should have a book for his own peculiar use4 ,all study which is entered upon more through vanity than piety1 and less to gain souls to ,god than to gain for oneself the praise of man1 was his abhorrence4--,he said of those whose desire for learning was out of curiosity3 ,in the day of tribulation1 they will find nothing in their hands4 ,it would be better that they should labor now to improve themselves in virtue1 in order to have the ,lord on their side at that time2 for the time will come1 when books will be thrown aside as useless4 ,i do not choose that my brethren shall be curious in learning and books2 what ,i wish is1 that they be well grounded in humility1 simplicity1 prayer1 and poverty1 our mistress4 ,it is the only sure way for their salvation1 and for the edification of their neighbor1 because they are called to imitate ,jesus ,christ1 who followed and pointed out this path4 ,many will forsake this path1 on pretence of edifying other men by their knowledge2 and it will turn out that understanding the ,scriptures1 by which alone they fancied themselves filled with light1 devotion1 and the love of ,god1 will be the cause of their remaining cold and empty4 ,thus1 in consequence of having1 in pursuit of vain and useless literature1 lost the time which ought to have been given to living according to the spirit of the state they had embraced1 they will not have it in their power to return to their primitive vocation4 ,st4 ,francis looked upon the ministry of preaching as the most agreeable sacrifice which could be offered to the ,father of ,mercies2 this is also the grand idea which ,st4 ,paul entertains of it1 when he says3 ,god has given me the grace that ,i should be the minister of ,jesus ,christ among the ,gentiles1 sanctifying the ,gospel of ,god1 that the oblation of the ,gentiles may be made acceptable1 and sanctified by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,st4 ,chrysostom concludes from this1 that preaching is a sacrifice2 that the preacher is the priest2 that an attentive and devout audience is the victim2 that the ,word of ,god is the sword which immolates1 spiritually1 and the grace of the ,holy ,ghost the fire which consumes4 ,what exalted sentiments must not a preacher entertain1 in exercising this sort of priesthood2 and with what spirit of devotion should not those attend who are thus holily immolated6 ,the ardor of his love for ,jesus ,christ1 and his great zeal for the salvation of souls1 made him esteem all preachers very venerable4 ,his intention was1 that some of his ,order should be brought up to that duty1 and that they should be respected by the others1 because it is they who instil life1 who combat the infernal enemy1 and who enlighten the world4 ,but he desired that they should exercise their ministry in a spirit of charity1 even more by example1 by prayers1 and tears1 than by eloquent discourses4 ,i desire1 he said1 that these ministers of the ,word of ,god should apply themselves solely to spiritual exercises1 and let nothing turn them from this2 for1 as they are chosen by the great ,king to declare ,his will to the people1 it is requisite that they should learn1 in the privacy of prayer1 what they are to make known in their sermons2 and that they should be interiorly warmed1 in order to make use of language which shall kindle fire in the hearts they address4 ,those who make use of their own lights1 and who savor the truths they preach1 are very praiseworthy2 but it is a bad division when all is given to preaching1 and little or nothing to devotion4 ,as to those who sell their labors for the oil of approbation1 such persons excite my pity4 ,they are true brethren1 whom ,i call ,knights of the ,round ,table1 who hide themselves in solitary places1 to have better opportunities of devoting themselves to prayer1 and whose sanctity1 well known to ,god1 is sometimes unknown to men1 or even to their brethren4 ,one day they will be presented by angels to the ,lord1 who will say to them3 ',my beloved children1 here are the souls that have been saved by your prayers1 by your tears1 by your good example4 ,receive now the fruit of the labors of those who only make use of their learning for this object4 ,because you have been faithful over a few things1 ,i will set you over many4' ,they will thus enter into the joy of the ,lord1 loaded with the fruit of their virtues2 while the others1 who have employed themselves in studying the way of salvation1 in order to teach it1 without following it themselves1 will appear naked and empty-handed at the tribunal of ,jesus ,christ1 having on them marks of grief and confusion4 ,all that ,st4 ,francis says against vain learning1--a learning which is ostentatious and void of devotion1--is founded on the beautiful words of our ,saviour3 ,many will say to me on that day1 ,lord1 ,lord1 have we not prophesied in ,thy name8 ,and then ,i will profess unto them1 ,i never knew you1 depart from me you that work iniquity2 and on these of ,st4 ,paul3 ,if ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not charity1 ,i am become as sounding brass1 or a tinkling cymbal4 ,i chastise my body1 and bring it into subjection1 lest1 perhaps1 when ,i have preached to others1 ,i myself should become a castaway4 ,but it may not be concluded from this that the holy patriarch had any wish to prevent his brethren from studying and becoming learned2 for1 #ast1 he was not unaware of what ,st4 ,augustine teaches on that head4 ,that learning is good in itself2 that it is a gift of ,god2 that it is most useful1 when charity employs it2 that it serves as a guide to piety2 and that1 when it has the ,holy ,scripture for its object1 it powerfully excites to the love of ,god4 ,how many learned men there are in whom humility1 simplicity1 and all the other virtues1 are combined with deep reading6 #b;d4 ,he positively declared1 as has been reported upon the evidence of ,st4 ,bonaventure that he was well pleased that his brethren should study2 it was his wish that schools should be opened in his ,order1 and he himself1 as has been already noticed1 instituted ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua lecturer in theology4 #c;d4 ,he wished to have his brethren ,apostolical men1 employed in the holy ministry for the salvation of souls1 and he had inserted in his ,rule a chapter which solely relates to the instruction of preachers4 ,he desired1 in consequence1 that the ,friars ,minor should acquire the learning requisite for fulfilling their functions1 which1 in the ordinary course of things1 is impossible without study4 ,it was1 certainly1 his intention1 adds ,st4 ,bonaventure1 that his brethren should apply themselves to the study of the ,holy ,scriptures1 for1 one day1 having but one copy of the ,new ,testament1 he divided it into leaves1 which he distributed among them1 that all might read and instruct themselves at the same time4 ,the holy doctor maintains1 in another place1 that there are no religious who1 by their position1 are more employed in preaching than the ,friars ,minor2 and he adds1 that1 as ,st4 ,francis required them to be correct and accurate in their discourses1 it is clear that he himself obliges them to study1 since1 without such application1 it is impossible to be accurate4 ,if the blessed founder has spoken more of humility and piety than of learning and study1 it is1 in the first place1 because he well knew that1 naturally1 persons are more prone to learn than to practise2 and1 secondly1 because the virtues which purify the heart1 are gifts more precious and necessary than learning1 which only enlightens the mind2 and1 in the third place1 because he knew what ,st4 ,paul says1 that knowledge puffeth up1 that a learned person easily becomes proud and presumptuous1 if charity does not keep him in humility1 and in mistrust of himself4 ,finally1 let not his words be misconstrued to give color1 under pretence of piety1 to laziness and ignorance4 ,he preferred1 to vain and sterile learning1 the humility and simplicity of the poor brethren1 who spent their time in prayer3 this was no more than right4 ,a rustical holiness1 ,st4 ,jerome remarks1 is more valuable than vicious learning and criminal eloquence4 ,but the blessed patriarch only spoke of the lay-brethren1 who were not intended for the sacred ministries1 or of those clerics whose talents were not equal to being employed in them1 and whose occupations were limited to prayer and labor4 ,in respect to the others1 who1 by study1 might render themselves capable of serving their neighbor spiritually1 he certainly would have censured them1 had they continued in ignorance1 even under the pretext of prayer and manual labor1--he1 who had adopted1 as we have seen1 the maxim1 that nothing is preferable to the salvation of souls4 ,he well knew that all the brethren did not resemble some among them whom ,god had supernaturally enlightened1 and who1 without any other aid than that of prayer1 had sufficient light to be able to announce the ,word of ,god4 ,st4 ,jerome says1 that as a man of talent must not persuade himself that holiness consists in the beauty of his composition1 and in the ornament of eloquence1 so also a simple and unpolished man must not imagine that his ignorance constitutes him a saint4 ,this is even still clearer1 when this man may not be ignorant4 ,now1 it is self-evident that a ,friar ,minor1 cleric1 or priest1 is obliged1 in conscience1 according to the talent he has received from ,heaven1 to study carefully1 in order to be competent to fulfil properly the ministries of preaching and of the confessional2 since the spirit of his vocation1 and of his ,order1 is to labor for the salvation of souls4 ,but he must always have before his eyes what his blessed ,father wrote to ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua3 ,i agree that you should teach the brethren sacred theology1 in such manner1 however1 that the spirit of holy prayer be not extinguished1 either in yourself or in others1 according to the rule of which we have made profession4 ,while the holy ,patriarch was ill at ,sienna1 a religious of the ,order of the ,friars ,preachers1 who was a doctor of theology1 and a truly learned man1 put several very difficult questions to him3 he answered them so learnedly1 and so clearly1 that the doctor was quite surprised1 and spoke of the circumstance with admiration4 ,truly1 said he1 the theology of this holy ,father is an eagle1 which soars to a great height2 it is raised up1 as if with wings1 by the purity of the heart1 and by contemplation1 while our knowledge is as that of animals which crawl on the ground4 ,thus1 according to ,st4 ,athanasius1 the great ,anthony1 who was illiterate1 showed admirable knowledge in his controversy with the heretical ,arians1 and in his replies to pagan philosophers who strove to puzzle him4 ,so also1 according to the testimony of ,sulpicius ,severus1 no one explained the ,holy ,scriptures more clearly than the celebrated ,bishop of ,tours1 ,st4 ,martin1 who had never studied4 ,another ,friar ,preacher asked ,st4 ,francis how he was to understand these words of the ,saviour to the ,prophet ,ezekiel3 ,if thou speakest not to the impious that he may be converted from his wicked way and live1 the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity2 but ,i will require his blood at thy hand4 ,the humble ,father having at first excused himself6 saying that he should apply to learned theologians to learn the sense of the ,holy ,scriptures2 but1 as the religious urged him1 nevertheless1 to give his opinion1 and expressed a great wish to have it preferably to that of others whom he had consulted1 he gave him this answer3 ,i believe these words1 if taken in the full extent1 to mean1 that the servant of ,god must be by holiness1 and the good odor of his life1 a torch which burns and enlightens1 in order that the splendor of his example may be as a voice which censures the impious2 for this is the way to warn and reprehend them all3 if he act otherwise1 and scandalize his neighbor1 he will not escape the punishment of heaven4 ,st4 ,francis was not ignorant that the literal and immediate sense of this passage is1 that pastors1 and all those who are in authority1 are obliged to instruct1 warn1 censure1 and correct those who are committed to their charge2 that they become guilty of the loss of souls1 if they are silent when they ought to speak4 ,he himself1 faithful in the mission he had received from ,god and the ,holy ,see1 never ceased from exhorting his brethren to sanctify themselves1 and from urging sinners to be converted2 but he found in the above passage a more extended sense1 and one of greater moral influence1 which was1 to preach by example2 and he adhered to this for many reasons3--#a4 ,because words produce small effect when they are not backed by example4 #b4 ,because there are a greater number of superiors who instruct and censure1 than of those who edify by example4 #c4 ,because the number of persons who have no right to instruct and reprove1 is the greater1 and it is good that they should know that ,god will call them to account for the good example which it was their duty to have given1 which might have contributed to the conversion of sinners4 ,all this shows how solid and proper the ,saint's reply was4 ,his style is plain1 because he formed it on the ,gospel1 from which he would not in any degree deviate--besides that1 his was not the age of elegant ,latinity2 but in all that he has written we do not find anything that is not clear and intelligible--there are even passages insinuating and persuasive3 we have also reason to admire some parts which are beautiful from their simplicity4 ,let the cleverest men read his description of the rich sinner on his death-bed1 and he will be obliged to admit that it would be impossible to draw a more natural or more striking portrait4 ,he had so completely the talent of persuasion1 that neither popes1 cardinals1 nobles1 nor any other persons could resist his appeals2 whatsoever he wished1 they complied with4 ,it is not easy1 for the sake of piety1 to persuade to that which is contrary to the interests of a family3 nevertheless1 ,st4 ,francis succeeded in this4 ,the following is an example1 which1 relating only to a very common subject1 we1 notwithstanding1 select1 because it contains wholesome instruction3-- ,the ,saint was one day sweeping in a country church1 according to his usual practice1 when a man1 whose name was ,john1 and who was ploughing in an adjoining field1 came and took the broom from his hands1 and after having swept the whole church1 he said to him3 ,brother1 what ,i have heard of you and of your brethren1 has inspired me with an idea of serving ,god as you do4 ,i did not know how to come to you1 but1 since it has pleased ,god that ,i should find you here as ,i had wished1 ,i offer myself to you3 do with me as you please4 ,francis1 knowing by an interior light1 that this man had been sent him by the ,lord1 resolved to receive him into his ,order1 and after having instructed him in the ,rule1 he said to him3 ,if you resolve upon joining this ,institute1 you must renounce all you have1 and give it to the poor4 ,john went immediately to his plough1 unyoked the oxen1 and brought one to ,francis1 saying3 ,i have been long in the service of my father1 and ,i maintain the family by my labor2 ,i think ,i may take this ox for my reward1 and do with it as you shall direct me4 ,he immediately went home to take leave of his parents1 and desired them to take care of the plough4 ,the parents1 alarmed when they learnt his intention1 ran in despair to the church1 where ,francis still was1 and conjured him not to take a man from them who was so useful in work1 who earned their means of living4 ,he replied with mildness1 and then said that he would come to dine with them1 and sleep at their house1 and would endeavor to console them4 ,he went1 and after dinner1 addressing himself to ,john's father1 he said3 ,my dear host1 your son wishes to serve ,god1 and it is ,god who has inspired him with this thought4 ,this ought not to give you any displeasure2 on the contrary1 it ought to be gratifying to you1 and you should give ,god thanks that ,he has been pleased to select one of your family for ,his service4 ,this will be no small gain to you2 for1 in place of this son whom you give up1 you will gain as many children and brethren as there are religious in the ,order he is about to join4 ,moreover1 your son is one of ,god's creatures2 and if ,god has destined him for ,himself1 who shall dare to resist ,his will8 ,who shall say to ,him1 ',why dost ,thou do thus8' ,he is all-powerful1 and ,he is also just4 ,he only asks for what belongs to ,him4 ,may ,his will therefore be done1 and may ,his mercy be extended to your son1 whom ,i cannot and ought not to refuse to receive into the house of ,god1 which he so anxiously wishes me to do4 ,all that ,i can1 and will do for you1 is1 to inform him to leave you the ox he had destined for the poor1 according to the ,gospel1 and that1 abandoning to the world what belongs to the world1 he come stripped of everything1 to throw himself into the arms of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this reasoning was so convincing to the parents1 that they assented willingly and cheerfully to their son's leaving them1 whom before they thought they could not part with4 ,human prudence will not fail to say that he ought to have remained with his parents1 to provide for their subsistence by his labor2 but will it say that ,james and ,john1 being called by ,jesus ,christ1 ought not to have left ,zebedee1 their father1 who was poor1 and whom they maintained by their fishing8 ,our ,lord1 in calling them1 desired that they should obey ,his voice1 and leave to ,providence to provide for the subsistence of their father4 ,st4 ,francis well knew that1 under any other circumstances1 this laborer would have been bound to work to provide for his parents2 but1 as he knew that his call was from ,god to a religious state of life1 he wisely judged that the ,lord would assist the family by some other means1 and that the vocation ought to be followed4 ,the supernatural and miraculous gifts which ,st4 ,francis had received from ,god1 gave great weight to his discourses4 ,a man1 who casts out devils1 who raises the dead to life1 who cures the sick1 whose prophecies are verified1 who discovers spirits1 who commands animals1 and makes them obey him1--a man who performs these prodigies1 and many others1 is listened to as if he were an angel1 when he speaks4 ,the polish of language which ,st4 ,francis neglected1 was wonderfully compensated by ,divine ,power4 ,st4 ,bonaventura says that the ,holy ,ghost1 from whom he had received his unction and his mission1 inspired him with abundance of words to preach ,his holy doctrine1 and continually assisted him2 and that ,jesus ,christ1 who is the strength of the ,father1 came invariably to his aid2 that1 indeed1 he had recourse to the ornaments of human eloquence1 in his discourses1 but that inspiration was very perceptible2 that his preaching was a great fire1 which penetrated quite to the bottom of hearts1 with so much efficacy1 that the most obdurate were softened1 and had recourse to penance4 ,men and women1 young and old1 nobles and plebeians1 flocked in crowds to see and hear this extraordinary man1 whom ,god had sent them4 ,he seemed to them1 in fact1 to be a man from the other world1 when they saw him1 with his eyes elevated to heaven1 with the view of drawing them thither2 and1 as soon as he spoke1 they felt their hearts moved to compunction4 ,all that he said against the public scandals1 was received with respect2 those whose crimes he censured1 whatever confusion they might feel from it1 did not dare complain--not even those in the highest station4 ,some of the learned were likewise noticed amongst his auditory1 and they1 more than any others1 admired the powerful influence of his discourses1 knowing him to be a man who had not gone through any course of study4 ,in short1 the public was so charmed by hearing him1 that1 after preaching one day at ,cortona1 and wishing to return to the convent of ,celles1 the guards at the gates of the town would not let him pass4 ,after having preached for three successive days there he only got leave to go1 after the strongest entreaties1 and after having promised to leave ,brother ,guy there1 whose sanctity he assured them would free ,cortona from many evils4 ,god punished1 in a most frightful manner1 an insolent young girl1 who was making a noise with a sort of drum during the ,saint's sermon2 he called upon her three times to be quiet1 but she laughed at him1 and he was then inspired to say1 in a loud voice1 ,devil1 take what is thy own4 ,at the same moment the girl was raised up into the air1 and she was seen no more4 ,by this dreadful example1 ,god proposed to teach them the respect they were bound to have for the instructions which ,his servants teach them1 as once ,he taught the faithful not to lie to the ,holy ,ghost1 by the deaths of ,ananias and ,sapphira1 which followed the reproach which ,st4 ,peter had made them4 ,st4 ,bonaventure assures us that the gift of prophecy appeared in our ,saint with great splendor2 that not only did he foretell things to come1 but also spoke of those things which were happening in his absence1 as if they were present before his eyes2 that he penetrated to the bottom of hearts1 and saw the most secret recesses of consciences1 so that it might have been said that he inspected the mirror of eternal light1 and that its admirable splendor uncovered to him what was most hidden4 ,god revealed to him1 in prayer1 the loss of one of the religious1 who had the reputation of being a saint1 but who was so peculiar in everything1 that1 in order the more rigidly to keep silence1 he usually confessed by signs4 ,the blessed ,father having come to the convent in which this religious was1 he saw him1 and spoke of him to the others1 who were loud in their praises of him4 ,brethren1 said he1 cease all these praises1 and give them not to inventions of the devil2 know that all this is but a temptation1 and an extraordinary illusion4 ,the brethren could not persuade themselves that so many marks of perfection were but covers to imposture2 but1 a few days after1 this pretended saint left the ,order1 which proved that ,st4 ,francis had probed to the bottom of his soul4 ,he knew1 in the same manner1 why another1 who seemed to be adorned with every virtue1 had thrown off the habit of the ,order2 and he replied to his brethren who expressed their surprise at it3 ,do not be astonished1 my brethren2 this wretch is lost1 because he was not grounded in humility1 and in the fear of ,god4 ,believe me that1 without this foundation1 it is fruitless to endeavor to become virtuous4 ,of two religious who were returning from the ,terra di ,lavoro1 he saw in spirit that the senior did not by any means edify his companion4 ,on their arrival1 he asked the younger what had occurred on the road1 who then replied1 that all had gone on well4 ,take care1 answered ,francis1 take care1 and don't say what is false1 on pretence of humility4 ,i know1 ,i know2 but wait a little1 and you will see4 ,in fact1 the giver of scandal abandoned his vocation shortly after4 ,the charitable father received1 with great kindness1 one of the brethren who had apostatized from the ,order1 and now returned1 he even gave him the kiss of peace4 ,but1 pointing out to him the gallows erected upon a height1 at some distance1 he said3 ,if the devil induce you to leave the ,order a second time1 he will lead you to be hanged on the gallows which you see from hence4 ,this weak penitent did not profit from this warning1 but left the ,order again1 and led a libertine life1 was taken up for a robbery1 and hanged on the spot pointed out4 ,st4 ,francis might have said of those1 as ,st4 ,john did of the apostates who left the ,church1 ,they went out from us1 but they were not of us2 for1 if they had been of us1 they would no doubt have remained with us3 that is to say1 that they were not firm in the ,christian religion4 ,the knowledge of the human heart belongs to ,god alone2 even the angels have it not unless imparted to them by ,his light1 and ,he was pleased to communicate that light to ,francis4 ,we have had several instances of this1 but we must add the following3 ,the blessed ,father1 being at the hermitage of ,grecio1 two of his brethren came1 from a great distance off1 urged by a strong desire to see him1 and to receive his blessing1 which they had long been desirous of4 ,unfortunately1 they reached the hermitage when he was retired to his cell1 from which he did not come out to receive visits1 and they could not see him4 ,as they were going away1 greatly disappointed1 he came out1 contrary to his usual custom1 called them1 and blessed them in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 and made the sign of the cross upon their foreheads1 as they had wished4 ,humanly speaking1 he could not have known that they were come1 but he knew it in spirit1 as well as if he had seen them4 ,having restored peace1 and performed some splendid miracles in a town1 he left the place early in the morning1 without having taken leave of the bishop1 who had given him a most honorable reception4 ,at a spot where three roads diverged1 he did not know which one he ought to take1 and desired ,brother ,masse1 who was his companion1 to turn round and round1 no doubt to put his obedience to the test4 ,when he began to be giddy1 he ordered him to stop1 and to follow the road which was before him4 ,masse went first1 and said to himself1 ,how uncivil6 how simple6 ,he not only has not taken leave of the bishop who received him with so much kindness1 but he makes me turn round and round as a child4 ,this interior murmuring did not last2 these reflections followed3 ,how could ,i have so much pride as to despise a man who is so evidently beloved by ,god8 ,fool that ,i am1 ,i deserve to go to hell for daring to censure the actions of ,francis1 through whom the ,lord works such wonders1 and whom ,i ought to look upon as an angel4 ,and1 after all1 what reason has he given me for censuring him8 ,he left the town without having taken leave of the bishop1 but it was to avoid fresh honors being shown him2 he made me turn round and round1 but he made me take the right road4 ,then ,francis exclaimed3 ,ah1 ,brother ,masse1 how different are these feelings from those first entertained6 ,from whence do these come1 and from whence did those others arise8 ,masse1 seeing that his thoughts were discovered1 threw himself at the ,saint's feet1 and solicited his pardon4 ,a particular gift which ,francis received from ,god1 was the control of animals4 ,he gave them his commands1 and they obeyed him1 they did whatever he pleased2 it was1 moreover1 noticed that they showed a sort of affection for him1 and applauded what he did in their way4 ,upon which two observations occur4 ,the first is taken from ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who says that the state of innocence was represented in the power which ,god gave to ,his ,servant over animals4 ,adam1 just and innocent1 had absolute control over them1 and he exercised it in giving to each of them its proper name1 when ,god made them pass before him1 as we read in ,genesis4 ,his sin caused him to lose his privilege1 with all the others which had been attached to this happy state2 and we experience1 as he did1 the revolt of the animals1 in punishment of his having disobeyed ,god4 ,but when an eminent sanctity has brought men more to original justice1 and has1 in some measure1 reestablished them in a state of innocence1 it has sometimes pleased the ,almighty to restore them to some of the privileges which man enjoyed in those times1 and1 in particular1 this control over animals4 ,this is what is seen in well-authenticated acts of many saints1 and1 in what ,st ,bonaventure relates of ,st4 ,francis1 on the testimony of ocular witnesses1 as well as on the evidence of facts which were of public notoriety4 ,the second thing which deserves notice is1 that1 when this holy man compelled animals to obey him1 and when they appeared to be attached to him1 it never occurred but when it was to give authority to the ,word of ,god1 to do some good to a neighbor1 to give a salutary lesson1 or to excite to the practice of some virtue1 as we shall now see4 ,it is another proof that these marvels had their source in ,god1 who proposes1 in all ,he does1 some end worthy of ,his wisdom4 ,francis left ,assisi one day1 to go to preach1 not having any longer a doubt but that he and his brethren were called for the service of souls1 after the mission they had received from ,god1 and from the ,supreme ,pontiff2 this was confirmed by supernatural lights1 as we have seen above4 ,being near to the ,town of ,bevagna1 he saw on a particular spot a number of birds collected1 of various species1 and he went up to them1 and said3 ,my sisters1 listen to the word of ,god2 you have great reason to praise your ,creator2 ,he has covered you with feathers2 ,he has given you wings wherewith to fly2 ,he has placed you in the air1 where the breathing is so pure2 and ,he provider you with everything which is necessary1 without giving you any trouble4 ,while he was thus speaking and saying other similar things1 the birds remained where they were1 turning towards him1 and those which were perched on the branches of trees1 bending their heads1 as if to listen to what he said4 ,it was a curious thing to observe the joy they appeared to feel and make known by their motions2 they stretched their necks1 they spread their wings1 opened their beaks1 and looked anxiously at the zealous preacher1 who walked about in the midst of them1 and sometimes touched them with his habit1 without any of them stirring4 ,they only took to flight after he had given them leave1 and made on them the sign of the cross1 to bless them4 ,it was ,god's intention to honor the ministry of the ,saint1 in the eyes of his companions1 by this miracle1 which they witnessed1 and the circumstances of which they communicated to ,st4 ,bonaventure4 ,it was also to show the attention which ought to be given to the truths of salvation2 and this is the reason why ,francis1 in turning to them1 said1 with admirable candor3 ,i am very neglectful in not having as yet preached to the birds4 ,he observed1 by this apparent simplicity1 which was full of good sense1 that men often fail to listen to the preachers1 as the birds had seemingly listened to him2 in the same sense in which ,st4 ,martin had said1 when complaining of the insensibility of the men of his times3 ,they do not attend to me1 though the serpents obey me4 ,this means that1 with the aid of reason and grace1 they will not do what unreasonable animals necessarily do1 by the impulse of divine power4 ,but why preach to birds8 will the sages of this age ask2 but why did ,david say what the ,church repeats daily in her ,divine ,office8 ,whales1 and all that move in the waters1 bless the ,lord4 ,all ye beasts and cattle1 fowls of the air1 bless the ,lord4 ,the three young men who were in the furnace at ,babylon1 said the same thing4 ,a heart full of love and gratitude would wish that all creatures should have hearts and tongues1 to glorify the ,author of their being2 he knows that even the beasts praise ,him by the marks they bear of ,his power1 wisdom1 and goodness2 in seeing them1 in speaking to them1 he commemorates ,his sovereign greatness4 ,on leaving ,bevagna1 ,francis went to preach in the ,borough of ,alviano1 and not being able to make himself heard1 in consequence of the noise the swallows made1 who had their nests there1 he spoke these words to them3 ,swallows1 my sisters1 you have made yourselves heard long enough2 it is now my turn to speak4 ,listen1 then1 to the ,word of ,god1 and keep silence while ,i preach4 ,immediately1 as if they had understood what he said1 they ceased their noise1 and remained where they were1 to the end of his sermon4 ,the fruit of this miracle was to revive the fervor and piety of the assembly1 who glorified ,god1 and listened to the preacher with wonderful deference4 ,the circumstance was soon spread1 and produced everywhere a similar effect4 ,st4 ,bonaventure1 who gives us this anecdote1 adds1 that1 some time afterwards1 a scholar at ,paris1 who was of good conduct1 having been interrupted in his studies by the chirping of a swallow1 said to his companions3 ,this is one of those who interrupted the blessed ,francis in his sermon1 and which he silenced2 having then addressed the swallow1 he said1 with great faith3 ,in the name of ,francis1 the servant of ,god1 ,i order you to be silent and to come to me4 ,it was instantly silent1 and came to him2 in his surprise he let it go1 and was not again troubled by it4 ,it was thus it pleased ,god to honor the name of ,his servant4 ,other examples are found in the ,saint's life1 of the power he exercised over animals1 when1 by their noise1 or by any other means1 they interrupted his sermons or prayers1 as on his return from ,syria1 near the lagunes of ,venice1 where he saw a great number of birds who were singing4 ,he went into the midst of them to say his office1 with his companions1 but the noise the birds made prevented their hearing each other2 ,francis1 upon that1 ordered them to cease singing1 till he had finished his office1 and1 in fact1 says the holy doctor1 the author of his life1 from that moment they ceased their chirping until the office1 being finished1 he gave them leave to resume their song1 which they did1 as before4 ,he took this opportunity to settle some of his religious there1 to celebrate the praises of the ,lord1 as has been before noticed1 ,st4 ,ambrose speaks of a circumstance as well known to all the world1 that some of the faithful1 having been assembled in a spot where the croaking of the frogs greatly disturbed them1 a priest commanded them to be quiet1 and to show respect for holy things1 and that they immediately ceased from making any noise1 and that these irrational animals respected what they were incapable of understanding4 ,we have already seen that when ,francis was at ,grecio1 he freed the country from the wolves which had ravaged it4 ,at ,gubio1 he tamed one in an extraordinary manner4 ,he took it into the public square where he preached1 and having pointed out to his auditors that ,god sends sometimes these carnivorous animals to warn sinners to return to their duties1 he addressed the wolf1 and made an agreement with it1 the clauses of which were1 that the inhabitants should feed it1 and that the wolf should do no injury to any of them4 ,this was faithfully attended to on both sides4 ,during two years the animal came to the town to feed1 and did no injury to any one4 ,the holy man had tamed1 in a similar manner1 at ,carinola1 a fox that stole all the poultry of a poor old woman1 and from which she received no injury afterwards4 ,similar traits are found in the lives of many saints1 whose acts are admitted to be authentic and certain1 by the most talented critics4 ,st4 ,athanasius remarks1 in the life of ,st4 ,anthony1 that wild animals causing great damage in a field which he cultivated1 he took one gently1 and said to all the others1 while speaking to the one he had caught3 ,why do you injure me1 who never did you any harm8 go1 and in the name of the ,lord1 never come here any more4 ,the holy doctor adds1 that from that time they were never again seen in that place1 as if they had been afraid of disobeying him4 ,sulpicius ,severus relates of ,st4 ,martin1 that he had an extraordinary control over all animals4 ,resting himself one day with his disciples1 on the bank of a river1 he saw a snake swimming over1 and he ordered it in the name of the ,lord to swim back again1 upon which it was seen to return with as much speed as it had come4 ,james1 who wrote the life of ,st4 ,columban1 given by the learned ,father ,mabillon1 after ,surius1 states that the crows and the bears obeyed him1 and that all the beasts of the field came at his call1 in the same manner as those which are domesticated4 ,it was in order to teach men to esteem and imitate a virtue which the ,lord caused to be respected1 even by dumb animals4 ,st4 ,francis1 when at ,rome1 in #abbb1 had always with him a little lamb1 to remind him of the ,lamb of ,god1 who chose to be sacrificed for us4 ,when he was about to leave the eternal city1 he confided the little animal to the care of the ,lady of ,septisal1 the illustrious widow of whom we have often had occasion to speak4 ,the little lamb1 as if it had been trained to spiritual exercises by the holy man1 followed this lady to church1 stayed there1 and returned with her1 never leaving her4 ,if she was behind her usual time of rising in a morning1 it would go to her bed1 where1 by bleating or striking the bed with its head1 or other motions1 it seemed to call upon her to rise1 and offer her grateful prayer to ,god4 ,the lady was much attached to this lamb1 and took care of it1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 as a disciple of ,francis1 which had become her instructor in devotion4 ,a present was made to the holy ,father1 at ,st4 ,mary of the ,angels1 of a sheep2 he received it thankfully1 because of the innocence and simplicity of which it was a symbol1 and he said to it1 as if it could understand him1 that it was necessary it should assist at the praises of the ,lord1 without incommoding the brethren2 the sheep obeyed with great punctuality4 ,when the religious went to the choir1 to sing the office1 the sheep went of itself to the church1 placed itself at the foot of the altar of the ,blessed ,virgin1 bent in its fore-legs1 and bleated in a low tone1 as if to pay its homage4 ,it did the same at ,mass1 when the ,host was elevated4 ,st4 ,bonaventure remarks1 that this animal1 by the respect it manifested during the celebration of the ,sacred ,mysteries1 taught the ,christians the deep reverence with which they ought to assist at ,mass1 and at the same time passed a deserved censure on those who are irreverent or indevout during its celebration4 ,the smallest things raised the heart of ,st4 ,francis to ,god1 and he made use of them to create similar feelings in the hearts of his disciples4 ,the chirping of a grasshopper1 which was on a fig tree1 near his cell1 inspired him with fresh fervor2 he called it1 and it came to him directly1 and he made it sing on his hand1 which it began anew1 whenever he required it4 ,at the end of eight days he said to his companions3 ,let it now go2 it has incited us long enough to praise ,god2 at the very moment the grasshopper flew away1 and was seen no more4 ,one day1 as he was about to take his collation with ,brother ,leo1 he felt himself interiorly consoled1 on hearing a nightingale sing4 ,he begged ,leo to sing the praises of ,god alternately with the bird2 the latter having excused himself1 alleging the badness of his voice1 he himself responded to the bird1 and continued to do so till night1 when he was obliged to give over1 acknowledging that the little bird had beaten him4 ,he made it come upon his hand1 and praised it for having sung so well1 fed it1 and it was only after he had desired it to leave him1 and given it his blessing1 that the nightingale flew away4 ,in the impression which the power of ,god affected upon animals1 in favor of ,st4 ,francis1 there was this further circumstance1 which was marvellous3 that they seemed to have an affection for him1 and appeared pleased when they saw him4 ,it is ,st4 ,bonaventure who gives several examples of this4 ,the ,servant of ,god1 going to ,sienna1 passed near a flock of sheep which were feeding in a meadow4 ,he greeted them1 as was his custom1 with an air of kindness1 and immediately the sheep1 the rams1 and the lambs1 left their pasture1 came to him1 lifted up their heads to greet him in their manner1 which was greatly wondered at by the shepherds and by his companions4 ,hares and rabbits were presented to him1 which had been caught alive2 they were put before him on the ground1 and they immediately sprang into his arms4 ,although he gave them their liberty1 they remained with him1 and he was obliged to have them removed far off into the country1 by some of his religious1 and put in a place of safety4 ,on the banks of the ,lake of ,rieti1 a fisherman gave him a live water- fowl4 ,after having kept it a little while1 he tried to make it fly away1 but in vain4 ,he then raised his eyes to ,heaven1 and remained for more than an hour in a state of ecstasy1 after which he mildly ordered the bird to go away and praise the ,lord1 and he gave it his blessing4 ,the bird showed signs of pleasure by its motions1 and flew away4 ,on the same lake1 a large fish which had been just caught1 was presented to him2 he held it for some time in his hand1 and then put it back in the water4 ,the fish remained in the same place1 playing in the water before him1 as if out of regard for him2 it could not leave him1 and did not disappear till it had received the ,saint's leave1 together with his blessing4 ,the first time that ,st4 ,francis went to ,mount ,alverno1 he was surrounded by a multitude of birds1 which lit upon his head1 on his shoulders1 on his breast1 and on his hands1 evincing by their beaks and wings the pleasure his arrival caused them1 which he noticed to his companions1 as a mark of the will of ,god that he should remain in this mountain4 ,when he came thither1 and received the stigmata there1 the birds greeted him in a similar manner2 and a hawk1 which could only have come thither by a supernatural impulse1 attached itself peculiarly to his person4 ,when the hour of the night drew near1 at which ,francis rose to pray1 the bird did not fail to come and make a noise at the door of his cell4 ,this punctuality was very pleasing to the ,saint1 because it caused him to be watchful2 but when his infirmities were more severe than usual1 the bird1 well taught by ,him who controlled its movements1 did not come to wake him till sunrise1 and even then did not make so much noise as usual4 ,the numerous miracles of ,st4 ,francis attached men to him in a scarcely less degree than his extraordinary sanctity2 and the gift he possessed of unbounded love--called for their admiration4 ,this is the portrait we find of him in the legend we have before alluded to3 ,our blessed ,father was agreeable to all4 ,joy1 serenity1 kindness1 and modesty1 were perceptible in his countenance4 ,he was naturally mild and affable1 compassionate1 liberal1 prudent1 discreet1 gave sound advice1 was faithful to his word1 and full of courage2 he was easy in his manners1 accommodating himself to all sorts of tempers2 he was all to all1 he was a saint among the saintly1 and among sinners1 as if he was one of them2 his conversation was graceful1 and his manner insinuating2 clear in his reasoning1 energetic and compliant in matters of business2 and1 finally1 simple in his actions and words4 ,these are qualifications well calculated to make their possessor beloved1 particularly when joined1 as in the case of ,st4 ,francis1 with the purest morals1 with the most ardent charity1 the most profound humility1 and a countenance which seemed angelical4 ,after the portrait of his mind1 we find in the same narrative the following description of his person3 ,he was of middle size1 neither short nor tall1 but well shaped4 ,his face was oval1 his forehead smooth1 his eyes black and modest1 his mouth pretty2 his hair was of chestnut color1 his beard black1 but scanty1 his body very thin1 his skin delicate1 his speech pleasing and animated1 his voice strong and piercing1 but altogether mild and sonorous4 ,we must receive in their true sense what was understood in saying that he was simple in his actions and words4 ,the term simplicity has two significations in ,english4--,firstly it is used to describe a person of little mind1 narrow-minded1 dull1 not well informed1 weak and credulous2 it is also used to express candor1 ingenuousness1 and uprightness2 to describe a person who is natural1 without artfulness4 ,it is in this sense that it is said that the greatest geniuses are the most simple2 enemies of subtlety and trick1 which are only appropriate to narrow minds4 ,the simplicity of the just1 in ,scriptural language1 is true virtue1 solid without drawback1 purity of heart1 uprightness of intention2 in opposition to every sort of duplicity or disguise--everything that ,st4 ,paul calls the prudence of the flesh2 the wisdom of this world4 ,st4 ,gregory so explains it4 ,this does not exclude prudence1 but only malice and double dealing4 ,our ,blessed ,lord warns us to be prudent as serpents1 and simple as doves4 ,st4 ,paul says3 ,i would have you to be wise in good1 and simple in evil4 ,every ,christian must be simple in faith1 submitting himself purely and simply to the decisions of the ,church1 without any endeavor to elude them by crafty evasions1 as some do in so scandalous a manner2 simple in the intercourse of society1 being frank and sincere1 doing injury to no one2 simple in devotion1 going straight to ,god2 following the way pointed out by the ,gospel2 not resembling those of whom the wise man says3 ,they go two ways1 and have two hearts1 the one for ,god1 and the other for the world4 ,such was the simplicity of ,st4 ,francis4 ,he was simple because he had no other intention in his mind1 no other movement in his heart1 than to be conformed to ,jesus ,christ4 ,in order to imitate ,his poverty1 ,his humility1 ,his sufferings1 all ,his virtues1 he did many things far above the ordinary rules of human wisdom2 and1 as to his language1 it was formed on that of the ,gospel4 ,st4 ,francis was simple1 but he had great qualities of mind and heart2 and his simplicity was a perfection in him--not a defect4 ,if it induced him to do things of which human prudence disapproves1 it was because he was guided by ,divine light2 it was because he sought to be despised by the world1 to render himself more conformable to ,jesus ,christ4 ,men of his age were not deceived by it2 they discovered the principle which made him act and speak with such simplicity4 ,his constant endeavor to humble himself1 and draw on himself contempt1 only gave them a greater esteem for his person1 and they loaded him with honors4 ,if our age deems itself wiser1 what reason has it for not doing similar justice8 ,may the tender holiness of ,st4 ,francis1 which we have endeavored to portray1 excite all those who read his life to love ,god1 and to manifest their love1 not only by their actions1 but by their patience in adversities6 ,may they love ,him so1 that the sweet violence of their ardent love separate them from all that is beneath the ,heavens1 and wholly absorb them1 may they be enabled to kneel in spirit at the side of ,st4 ,francis and pray with him from the bottom of their heart3 ,my ,god and ,my ,all6 ,,the ,,end