ROGER HUDLESTON WITH
AN INTRODUCTION BY
ARTHUR LIVINGSTON
THE HERITAGE PRESS
NEW YORK
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
PART I
II. Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the first companion of St Francis
III. How St Francis, having allowed an evil thought to arise in his mind against Brother Bernard, ordered him to place his foot three times upon his neck and his mouth.
IV. How the angel of God put a question to Brother Elias, guardian of Val di Spoleto, and how, when Brother Elias answered proudly, the angel departed from him, and took the road to San Giacomo, where he met Brother Bernard and told him what follows
V. How the holy Brother Bernard of Assisi was sent by St Francis to Bologna, and how he founded a convent there
VI. How St Francis, when about to die, blessed the holy Brother Bernard, naming him Vicar of the Order
VII. How St Francis passed the time of Lent in an island, on the lake of Perugia, where he fasted forty days and forty nights, eating no more than half of one loaf
VIII. How St Francis, walking one day with Brother Leo, explained to him what things are perfect joy
IX. How St Francis would teach Brother Leo what to answer, and how the latter could never say aught but the contrary to what St Francis wished.
X. How Brother Masseo told St Francis, as in jest, that the world was gone after him; and how St Francis answered that it was indeed so, to the confusion of the world and through the grace of God.
XI. How St Francis made Brother Masseo turn round and round like a child, and then to go to Siena.
XII. How St Francis gave to Brother Masseo the office of porter, of almoner and of cook; and how, at the request of the other brethren, he afterwards took these duties from him.
XIII. How St Francis and Brother Masseo placed the bread they had begged upon a stone near a fountain; and how St Francis praised the virtue of holy poverty, praying St Peter and St Paul to make him love holy poverty greatly. And how St Peter and St Paul appeared to him
XIV. How the Lord appeared to St Francis and to his brethren as he was speaking with them
XV. How St. Clare ate with St Francis and his companions at St Mary of the Angels
XVI. How St Francis, having been told by St Clare and the holy Brother Silvester that he should preach and convert many to the faith, founded the Third Order, preached to the birds, and reduced to silence the swallows
XVII. How a little child who had entered the Order saw St Francis in prayer one night, and saw also the Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and many other saints talk with him
XVIII.Of the wonderful chapter held by St Francis at St Mary of the Angels, at which more than five thousand friars were present
XIX. How the vine of the priest of Rieti, whose house St Francis entered to pray, was trampled under foot by the great numbers who came to see him, and how it yet produced a greater quantity of wine than usual, as St Francis had promised; and how the Lord revealed to the saints that heaven would be his portion when he left this world
XX. Of a beautiful vision which appeared to a young man who hated the habits of St Francis so greatly, that he was on the point of leaving the Order
XXI. Of the most holy miracle of St Francis in taming the fierce wolf of Gubbio
XXII. How St Francis tamed the wild doves
XXIII.How St Francis delivered the brother who, being in sin, had fallen into the power of the devil
XXIV. How St Francis converted to the faith the Sultan of Babylon
XXV. How St Francis healed miraculously a leper both in his body and in his soul, and what the soul said to him on going up to heaven
XXVI. How St Francis converted certain robbers and assassins, who became friars; and of a wonderful vision which appeared to one of them who was a most holy brother
XXVII. How at Bologna St Francis converted two scholars who became friars, and how he delivered one of them from a great temptation
XXVIII. Of an ecstasy which came to Brother Bernard, and how he remained from Matins until Noon in a state of rapture
XXIX. How the devil often appeared to Brother Ruffino in the form of a crucifix, telling him that all the good he did was of no avail, seeing he was not of the number of the elect of God; which being revealed to St Francis, he made known to Brother Ruffino the error into which he had fallen
XXX. Of the beautiful sermon which St Francis and Brother Ruffino preached at Assisi
XXXI. How St Francis was acquainted with the secrets of the consciences of all his brethren
XXXII. How Brother Masseo obtained from Christ the virtue of humility
XXXIII. How St Clare, by order of the Pope, blessed the bread which was on the table, and how on each loaf appeared the sign of the holy cross
XXXIV. How St Louis, King of France, went in person in a pilgrim's garb to visit the holy Brother Giles
XXXV. How St Clare, being ill, was miraculously carried, on Christmas night, to the church of St Francis, where she assisted at the Office
XXXVI. How St Francis explained to Brother Leo a beautiful vision that he had seen.
XXXVII. How Jesus Christ, the blessed one, at the prayer of St Francis, converted a rich nobleman who had made great offers to St Francis, and inspired him with a wish to become a religious
XXXVIII.How it was revealed to St Francis that Brother Elias was damned, and was to die out of the Order; and how at the desire of the said brother he prayed to Christ for him, and how his prayer was granted.
XXXIX. Of the wonderful discourse which St Anthony of Padua, a Friar Minor, made in the Consistory
XL. Of the miracle which God performed when St Anthony, being at Rimini, preached to the fishes of the sea
XLI. How the venerable Brother Simon delivered a brother from a great temptation, on account of which he was on the point of leaving the Order
The first English translation of the
Fioretti
di Santo Francesco d' Ascesi, that of Lady Georgina Fullerton, appeared
in the year 1864; and the first American translation, that by Abby Langdon
Alger, was published in the year 1887. This is a good four centuries after
the princeps edition of the Fioretti (Vicenza, 1476), and
a half century after the "standard" Italian edition by Antonio Cesari (Verona,
1822). The tardiness of Anglo-Saxon recognition of this, one of the raciest,
most spirited, and most beloved of the Italian classics is not to be grasped
out of hand. Religious considerations, obvious as they might seem could
not account for the indifference of the fathers of English printing. Once
published, moreover, the Fioretti made their way in their own right.
The present century has witnessed numerous other translations in England
and America and dozens of reprintings in America alone. I suspect, rather,
that it was a strange case of editorial oversight, a nugget of gold that
was there for anyone, yet was for centuries overlooked. The title may have
had something to do with it. The phrase "Little Flowers" has, in English,
a vague aroma of sentiment and propaganda, and by virtue of the diminutive
it has acquired a similar flavor even in Italian. Suppose this collection
of tales had been called the "Franciscan Anthology", a title at once more
exact and more majestic in its associations? Or suppose, somewhat facetiously,
but still within its spirit, it had been known as the "Selected Miracles
of Saint Francis and his Brethren"? The story as regards the English-speaking
would might, I believe, have been different.
I have called the Fioretti "tales";
and tales they are, fixed upon Saint Francis and his earliest disciples
in the way in which legend accumulates about any celebrated character in
history. But, in this case, and in contrast with the situation that usually
prevails in folklore, the "stories" have a certain authority as history.
One hundred years of Franciscan scholarship enable us even to evaluate
the authenticity of the
Little Flowers.
Saint Francis died in 1226. But his amanuensis,
secretary, and confessor, his beloved brother Leo (who is quoted extensively
in the Little Flowers), lived on till the year 1271. The Friar,
Giovanni dalla Penna, one of the early missionaries of the Order in Germany,
and another of the sources, did not die till 1274. In the year 1257 had
come the great crisis in the Franciscan Order, whereby the Church, frowning
darkly on an orgy of religious "revival" which enabled humble, ignorant
and sometimes stuttering peasants to talk with God in His Three Persons
sicut amicus cum amico, had given a more ecclesiastical temper to
the Franciscan "Rule", and aimed at representing mystical and miracle-working
activity among the friars. This debate was conducted bitterly and with
some show of force. John of Parma, leader of the "zealots" and Saint Bonaventura's
predecessor as General of the Order, stood, at one moment (1257), condemned
to imprisonment for life.
Already two conceptions of Saint Francis himself
were current in the Order; and his biography was being recounted in different
ways. Eventually Saint Bonaventura was to write the "official" biography,
and to make it more "official" still by burning, so far as he could lay
hands on them, all conflicting accounts of the Saint's life. Meantime,
one thing is clear: the party "of good sense" was having many harsh things
to say of those extremists who courted public ridicule for the benefit
of their souls by preaching naked in the church pulpits, changing capon's
drumsticks into nectarines, and doing other things disquieting to a theology
which liked miracles in the principle but was inhospitable toward them
in the fact. The harsh words hurt. They hurt directly men who had seen
God walking in person among the hills of Umbria and believed He had rebegotten
His Only Begotten in the guise of a lad of that humble countryside.
That was why, perhaps as early as the year
1250, and not much later than the year 1261, a monk of the March of Ancona,
friend to the missionary, Giovanni dalla Penna, and know, or rather unknown,,
as Ugolino of Montegiorgio, began writing his Floretum, or "garden
of flowers", the
flores being simply "notabilia", or "more
noteworthy things", things omitted from the formal biographies of the Saint,
and the omission of which distorted and misrepresented, as old-timers knew,
the spirit and the fact of those glorious days when the Saint was still
on earth.
The Floretum of Ugolino of Montegiorgio,
in the form in which that devoted monk composed it, has been lost to the
world, though a copy of it seems to have been extant as late as 1623, when
Wadding, the great Franciscan annalist, was writing his history of the
Order in the Convent of Saint Isidore in Rome. Just what it contained is
not known with certainty. Its text has to be reconstructed by inference
from the numerous re-workings of it made at later times. The direct re-workings
- they are substantial enlargements - are two in number: one, the Actus
beati Francisci et sociorum cius, of which the earliest surviving trace
is a mention in a catalogue of a convent in Assisi, dated 1381; and the
other, the
Fioretti themselves, of which the earliest known manuscripts
date from 1390 (Berlin) and 1396 (Florence) respectively. Though the Actus
and the
Fioretti, as we know them at present, stand in such close
relation that they could be word for word translations one of the other,
the Actus contain twenty-two chapters not appearing in the Fioretti,
and the
Fioretti six chapters not appearing in the Actus.
It seems necessary to suppose that they derive from some previous, and
undiscovered, source, more comprehensive than either of them. Of this unknown
anthology of Franciscan miracles something nevertheless may be said. While
the
Floretum of Ugolino did not extend beyond the year 1261, the
source of the Actus-Fioretti dealt with episodes occurring late
in 1322; and its compiler knew Ugolino personally and probably utilized
other writings of Ugolino, which the latter had not exploited in the Floretum.
As regards, therefore, the many texts of the Fioretti, some of very ancient authority, which circulate in the various editions, it may be necessary to remember that, whatever the relation of the original of the Actus-Fioretti to the Floretum, the Fioretti, proper, must have contained fifty-three chapters, plus the five "considerations" on the Stigmata of Saint Francis. This content, in fact, aside from internal evidence, is vouched for by twenty-six manuscripts of the fifteenth century and some of the early printed editions. Without entering into the question of the varied adjuncts that were supplied at one time or another from one source or another, we may note, simply, the derivations of those additions which were accepted, with unsurpassed discernment and for their intrinsic merits of spirit or beauty, by Father Cesari in his classic edition of the Fioretti (Verona, 1822). The "evidences" of the Stigmata presented in our chapters LIV-LVIII were derived early in the fifteenth century from the Tractatus de miraculous of Thomas of Celano, the earliest biographer and a contemporary of the Saint. The "life" of Brother Juniper comes from an early Latin manuscript (containing also a "life" of Brother Giles), independent of the Actus-Fioretti, but which had been accreted to the Fioretti also in the fifteenth century. The "instructions and notable sayings of Brother Giles" are by a known Florentine author, Feo Belcari, who died in 1484. Despite the several hands that must have tinkered with the substance of the Fioretti before they reached their more extensive forms, one would not go far amiss in recognizing in a work of such surpassing literary charm the imprint of two unusual personalities.
The one must be that unknown monk of Tuscany why translated these stories (or compiled them, as the case may be) in such a sparkling and vivacious Tuscan idiom, an idiom as simple, direct, and limpid as may be imagined, but with an unfailing instinct for the enduring elements in a still future Italian language, and an idiom, withal, that retains the full vigor and picturesqueness of a peasant intelligence, wise in its worldly wisdom but unspoiled by any involutions of culture.
The second must be that same Ugolino of Montegiorgio, who somehow managed to condense into the pages of the old Floretum such a distillation of the pure spirit of early Franciscanism as to strike a tone and establish a mood which no later re-workings of his text could vitiate. In the sphere of fact, we may say that through Ugolino, who borrowed from Jacopo dalla Massa, an "eye-witness", and from legends going back to Brother Leo, these stories arrive at the very days of Saint Francis, without, for that matter, attaining any very great amount of historical plausibility. But it is a case where the truth of art transcends the truth of fact, and creates a verity more real than science or scholarship could by themselves attain. To possess the Fioretti is to re-live the early period of Franciscanism much as it was lived by the friends and disciples of the Saint.
But, in this connection, one must raise a warning against reading the Little Flowers with that long face of piety which is so easily put on in the presence of any literature that has a sacred look. Such sentimentalism, which blinds so many devout Christians to the art of the Bible for instance, is a variance with the shrewd simplicity of this folk masterpiece of Central Italy. What we have here, let us insist on the point, is humor; and one who cannot - I will not say laugh - one who cannot smile, will have read the Little Flowers in vain. I am not so sure that this smile did not, on occasion, play about the lips of Brother Ugolino himself. The world of humility, self-denial and "love" is one thing; and the world of self-assertion and competition is another thing; and they are things so antithetical to each other, in their perfection, that the wisdom of the one is the lunacy of the other, and vice versa.
One need not and perhaps should not further analyse the motivation of the smile, which is the smile the sophisticated must always have for the naive. The naive is always humor because it tends to simplify the majestic and the complex, making it mechanical, but at the same time more approachable and more lovable. The smile cannot be a laugh. A tear lingers just behind it.
The artless art of Ugolino (if it be his) was pure art in the sense that it presents concepts as image, each image replete with conceptual suggestiveness. Saint Francis nibbling at his "second loaf", in order not to sin by presumption in equalling the Lord's fast of forty days; the Pope's curiosity to see Saint Clare make the Cross appear in the crust of her buns; the two dialogues of the friars with their translated brethren; the Saint's long wrestling with the Devil; Satan's revenge by causing a landslide with the swish of his tail; the astonishment of the "ladies and the cavaliers" at the holy spectacle of the first "Chapter"; Brother Bernard's founding of the Order at Bologna - the Fioretti are all scenes that could be painted (and were painted, as legend asserts, by Giotto). As the pictures multiply, the mood deepens in beauty and richness - and we must not forget to smile, meantime; for the perfection of humility and Christian love which the friars exemplify is attained by the most humble and direct of mechanical means. One can well understand the ancient quarrel in the Order. These untutored converts of Saint Francis were playing with a magic art, which evoked the Devil when it was black, and constrained the appearance of the Divinity when of brighter hue (XLIX).
There is little, if any, theology about these simple friars. Such questions belonged to those who were lettered and knew people off in the big towns, Rome, perhaps. They cared little about such things, having found in faith at all times, and now and again in "rapture", a direct access to the benign powers. One feels a sort of regional secretiveness in this technique of virtue, which also was practised in individual secretiveness, lest pride success give Satan his chance. The sweetness of this child-like literalism resides in part, I believe, in an absence of a note of spiritual "arrivism", or spiritual "climbing", which one so minded can find even offensive in a Dante or a Savonarola. These straightforward souls of the brotherhood of Saint Francis wanted to keep out of Hell because it was hot, and to get out of Purgatory because it was uncomfortable. Yet they, too, like Jesus, visioned a love so great that willingly the least of them would have accepted damnation so only the world might have been saved. If one seek the moral theme in this early Franciscanism, one finds at least a morality that is made always for oneself and not for other people. Here again on earth were men who judged not, who loved the lost even more than the virtuous, and the bandit as much as the cavalier.
It was, after all, a snug and cosy world, the world in which these early Franciscans lived, a world personally supervised by its Creator, who walked the earth as a man among men, and who loved His creatures with a parent's love, assisted in His care of them by His Son and His Son's Mother. Thus warmly had Jesus thought of the world in His time - a projection, perhaps, as Renan suggests, of a verdant Galilee blossoming in the Syrian desert. This "naturalism" of the early Franciscans, so beautifully expressed in the lauds and in the "Canticle" of the Saint himself, finds surely in the Little Flowers its most complete and beautiful expression. It has been through them that the birds who stretched their throats and bowed their heads in approval of the Saint's exhortation to praise have ever since made their chirping voices heard above the noisy history of Europe. To savor this naturalism in its full freshness one need only turn to some expression of the naturalisms of a later day, that of the Rousseauians or of our own Emerson or Thoreau. These two were efforts to being God back into the world (from which He had been exiled by Cartesian logic). But how vain the effort! How unsatisfactory a God that is only Nature, and how literary and metaphorial a Nature which we must think of as God! It is a more real and understandable thing, this Nature of the early Franciscans, the "useful", "humble", "comfortable" invention of a God who could be used, if one treated Him right, for the humble commonplace needs of common everyday people.
And we have said nothing about Frate Lupo! There are those who say he was a man, perhaps a bandit by that name. Anyone who can read the Little Flowers without understanding that Frate Lupo was a wolf, will, like those who cannot smile, have read them in vain!
Arthur Livingston
First let us consider how the life of the glorious St Francis was conformed in every act with that of our Blessed Lord. For as Christ, before he began to preach, made choice of twelve Apostles, teaching them to despise all the things of this world, to follow him in poverty and in the practice of all other virtues, so St Francis, on the first founding of his Order, chose twelve companions, all lovers of poverty. And even as one of the twelve Apostles, being reproved by Christ, hanged himself by the neck, so among the twelve companions of St Francis was one, called Brother John della Capella, who apostatised, and finally hanged himself by the neck. This should be for the elect a great example and cause of humility and fear, when they consider how no one is certain of persevering in the grace of God to the end. As the holy Apostles, being filled with the Spirit of God, shone forth mightily before the world in holiness and humility, so too did the companions of St Francis; for from the time of the Apostles till this present day the world had never seen men so wonderful and so holy.
On of them, Brother Giles, like St Paul, was raised to the third
heaven; another, Brother Philip the Tall, like the prophet Isaiah, was
touched upon the lips with a burning coal by an angel. Brother Silvester
held converse with God, like one friend with another, as did Moses of old.
Another, the most humble Brother Bernard, through the penetration of his
intellect, reached the light of divine science, like the eagle - the emblem
of St John the Evangelist - and explained all the deepest mysteries of
Holy Scripture. One there was who was sanctified and canonised in heaven,
whilst still living on earth; this was Brother Ruffino, a nobleman of Assisi.
And thus all bore singular marks of sanctity, as we shall see hereafter.
The first companion of St Francis was Brother Bernard of Assisi, who was converted in the following way: St Francis had not yet taken the religious habit, though he had renounced the world, and had so given himself to penance and mortification that many looked upon him as one out of his mind. He was scoffed at as a madman, was rejected and despised by his relations and by strangers, who threw stones and mud at him when he passed; yet he went on his way, accepting these insults as patiently as if he had been deaf and dumb. Then Bernard of Assisi, one of the richest and most learned nobles of the city, began to consider deeply the conduct of St Francis; how utterly he despised the world, how patiently he suffered injuries, and how his faith remained firm, though he had been for two years an object of contempt and rejected by all. He began to think and say within himself, "It is evident that this brother must have received great graces from God"; and so resolved to invite him to sup and to sleep in his house. St Francis having accepted the invitation, Bernard, who was resolved to contemplate the sanctity of his guest, ordered a bed to be prepared for him in his own room, where a lamp burned all night. Now St Francis, in order to conceal his sanctity, so soon as he entered the room, threw himself upon the bed, pretending to fall asleep. Bernard likewise soon after went to bed, and began to snore as if sleeping soundly. On this, St Francis, thinking that Bernard was really fast asleep, got up and began to pray. Raising his hands and eyes to heaven, he exclaimed with great devotion and fervour, "My God! my God!" at the same time weeping bitterly; and thus he remained on his knees all night, repeating with great love and fervour the words, "My God! my God!" and none others.
And this he did because, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, he contemplated and admired the divine majesty of God, who deigned to take pity on the perishing world, and to save not only the soul of Francis, his poor little one, but those of many others also through his means. For, being enlightened by the Holy Ghost, he foresaw the great things which God would deign to accomplish through him and through his Order; and considering his insufficiency and unworthiness, he prayed and called upon the Lord, through his power and wisdom, to supply, help and accomplish that which of himself he could not do.
Then Bernard, seeing by the light of the lamp the devout actions of St Francis and the expression of his countenance, and devoutly considering the words he uttered, was touched by the Holy Spirit, and resolved to change his life. Next morning, therefore, he called St Francis, and thus addressed him: "Brother Francis, I am disposed in heart wholly to leave the world, and to obey thee in all things as thou shalt command me." At these words, St Francis rejoiced in spirit and said, "Bernard, a resolution such as thou speakest of is so difficult and so great an act, that we must take counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to him that he may be pleased to show us what is his will, and may teach us to follow it. Let us then go together to the Bishop's palace, where we shall find a good priest who will say Mass for us. We will then remain in prayer till the third hour, imploring the Lord to point out to us the way he wishes us to select, and to this intent we will open the Missal three times." And when Bernard answered that he was well pleased with this proposal, they set out together, heard Mass, and after they had remained in prayer till the time fixed, the priest, at the request of St Francis, took up Missal, then, having made the sign of the holy cross, he opened it three times, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first place which he lit upon was at the answer of Christ to the young man who asked of him the way to perfection: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow me. The second time he opened at the words which the Saviour addressed to the Apostles when he sent them forth to preach the Word of Truth: Take nothing with you for your journey: neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; wishing to teach them thereby to commit the care of their lives to him, and give all their thoughts to the preaching of the Holy Gospel. When the Missal was opened a third time they came upon these words: If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Then St Francis, turning to Bernard, said: "This is the advice that the Lord has given us; go and do as thou hast heard; and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ who has pointed out to thee the way of his angelic life." Upon this, Bernard went and sold all that he had. Now he was very rich, and with great joy he distributed his wealth to widows, to orphans, to prisoners, to monasteries, to hospitals, and to pilgrims, in all which St Francis assisted him with prudence and fidelity.
Now it happened that a man of the name of Silvester, seeing how
St Francis gave so much money to the poor, being urged on by avarice, went
to him and said: "Thou didst not pay me enough for the stones I sold thee
to repair the church; now that thou hast money, pay me what thou owest."
St Francis, much surprised at such a demand, but, according to the precepts
of the Scriptures, not wishing to dispute with him, gave it to Silvester,
saying that, if he wanted more, he would give it to him. Silvester, being
satisfied, returned home; but in the evening of the same day he reflected
on his avarice, and on the holiness and the fervour of St Francis. That
night also he saw St Francis in a vision, and it seemed to him as if a
golden cross came out of his mouth, which reached up to heaven and extended
to the extreme east and west. After this vision he gave all he possessed
to the poor, for the love of God, and made himself a Brother Minor. He
became so holy, and was favoured with such special graces, that he spake
with the Lord as a friend speaks with a friend, of which St Francis was
often a witness, as we shall see further on. Bernard likewise received
from God many graces - he was ravished in contemplation, and St Francis
said he was worthy of all reverence, and that he had founded the Order,
because he was the first who had abandoned the world, giving all he possessed
to the poor of Christ, keeping back nothing for himself; and practising
evangelical poverty, placing himself naked in the arms of the Crucified,
whom may we all bless eternally. Amen.
St Francis, the devoted servant of the crucified Jesus, through constant
weeping and penance, had become nearly blind, so that he could scarcely
see. Wishing one day to speak with Brother Bernard on things divine, he
left the place where he was and went to join him. Being told, upon arrival,
that he was in the forest praying, St Francis proceeded thither, and, calling
out, said; "Come, O Brother Bernard, and speak with this blind man." But
Brother Bernard did not make answer; for, his soul being rapt in divine
contemplation, he did not hear him call; one of the special graces of Brother
Bernard being that of holding converse with God Almighty, of which St Francis
had often been a witness. The saint, therefore, since he wished specially
to speak with him at that hour, called him again a second time and a third.
Brother Bernard, not having heard him, neither answered nor went to him;
at which St Francis went away somewhat saddened, and wondering in himself
how it was that, having called him three times, Brother Bernard had not
come to him. With this thought on his mind, when he had proceeded a little
way, he bade his companion wait for him, and retiring to a solitary spot,
fell on his knees, praying that God would reveal to him why Brother Bernard
had not answered his call. As he prayed, a voice came from God, which said,
"O poor little man, why art thou troubled? Is it meet for man to leave
God for the creature? When thou didst call Brother Bernard he was with
me, and could neither hear thee, nor go to thee; be not then surprised
if he answered thee not, for he was rapt out of himself, nor did he hear
aught of all thou saidst." St Francis, having received this answer from
God, went back with great haste to Brother Bernard, to accuse himself humbly
of the thought he had allowed to enter his mind against him. Brother Bernard,
seeing St Francis coming towards him, went to meet him, and threw himself
at his feet. Then St Francis bade him rise, confessing most humbly what
his thoughts has been and the answer which God had made him; and with these
words he concluded: "I command thee, by virtue of holy obedience, to do
whatsoever I shall order thee." Brother Bernard, fearing St Francis would
oblige him to inflict upon him some great punishment, as was his custom,
would most willingly have avoided obeying him. "I am ready," he answered,
"to obey thee, father, if thou also wilt promise me to do whatsoever I
shall command thee." To this St Francis consented; and Brother Bernard
then asked him what he wished him to do. "I command thee," said St Francis,
"under holy obedience, in order to punish my presumption and the evil thought
of my heart, when I lie down on the ground to place one of thy feet on
my neck, and the other on my mouth. And this shalt thou do thee! Be humbled,
thou son of Peter Bernardoni, for thou art but a vile wretch; how camest
thou to be so proud, thou miserable servant of sin!" On hearing this Brother
Bernard was much grieved, but out of holy obedience he did what St Francis
had ordered him, striving withal to acquit himself thereof as lightly as
possible. Then St Francis, having promised obedience to Brother Bernard,
asked what he wished him to do, whereto the latter answered: "I command
thee, in virtue of holy obedience, that whenever we are together thou reprove
and correct with great severity all my defects." This order much surprised
St Francis, for Brother Bernard was so holy that he held him in great reverence,
and did not believe it possible to find in him any fault. From that time,
therefore, the saint avoided being much with Brother Bernard, fearing lest,
out of holy obedience, he might be obliged to reprove him; and when he
was obliged to see or to speak with him, he parted from him as soon as
possible. Most edifying it was to hear with what charity, what admiration
and humility, St Francis, who was his superior, spoke of Brother Bernard,
who was his first son in God - to the praise and glory of Jesus Christ
and his poor servant Francis. Amen.
In the first beginning of the Order, when there was as yet but few brothers
and no convents established, St Francis went, out of devotion, to San Giacomo
di Galicia, taking with him Brother Bernard and one or two other brothers.
As they travelled on together, they met by the way a poor sick man. St
Francis, moved with compassion at the sight of his sufferings, said to
Brother Bernard: "My son, I will that thou stay here, and take care of
this sick man." And Brother Bernard, meekly falling on his knees, received
the order of his revered father and remained behind, whilst St Francis
and the others proceeded to San Giacomo. On arriving there, they spent
the night in prayer in the Church of St James, and God revealed to St Francis
how he would found many convents all over the world, and how his Order
would increase and multiply into a great multitude of brethren. After this
revelation St Francis began to found convents in that country. Then returning
by the way he had come, and finding Brother Bernard with the sick man,
who had quite recovered, he allowed him to go the following year to San
Giacomo, whilst he himself returned to Val di Spoleto, and took up his
abode in a desert place with Brother Masseo, Brother Elias, and others.
All these were very careful never to interrupt St Francis in his devotions;
and this they did out of the great reverence they bore him, and because
they knew that God revealed to him great things in prayer. Now it chanced
one day, as St Francis was praying in the forest, that a handsome young
man, dressed for traveling, presented himself at the convent-gate, knocking
thereat so loudly, so quickly, and so long, that the brothers marvelled
greatly at a way of knocking so strange and unusual. Brother Masseo, who
went and opened the gate, thus addressed the young man: "Whence comest
thou, my son? for the strange manner in which thou knockest makes me to
think thou hast never been here before." At this the young man asked: "How
then ought I to knock?" Brother Masseo answered: "Thou shouldst give three
knocks, one after the other, and then wait time enough for a brother to
say an `Our Father,' and come and open to thee; should he not arrive by
that time, then thou mayest knock again." "I was in great haste," replied
the stranger; "for I have made a long journey, and am come to speak with
St Francis, who at this hour is praying in the forest, wherefore I would
not interrupt him. I pray thee; then, to call Brother Elias; for I wish
to put a question to him, having heard that he is full of wisdom." Then
Brother Masseo going, called Brother Elias; but he, being angry, refused
to go, so that Brother Masseo was at a loss what answer to make the stranger.
For if he told him Brother Elias could not wait on him, he would say an
untruth; while if he told how he spoke in anger, he feared to give scandal.
Whilst Brother Masseo was hesitating how he should act, whether or no he
should return with the message, the stranger knocked again as he had knocked
before. On this Brother Masseo hastened back to the convent-gate, and said
reproachfully: "Thou hast not observed what I said to thee as to how thou
shouldst knock." To this the young man made answer: "Since Brother Elias
will not come to me, go, tell Brother Francis that I came here to speak
with him; but, not wishing to interrupt his prayers, I beg him to order
Brother Elias to come to me." Then Brother Masseo went to St Francis, who
was praying in the forest with his eyes lifted up to heaven, and gave him
the message of the young man, with the answer of Brother Elias. Now the
young man was the angel of God, under the form of a traveller. St Francis,
without moving and still looking up to heaven, said to Brother Masseo:
"Go, tell Brother Elias, in virtue of holy obedience, to go and speak with
that young man." So Brother Elias, having received the order of St Francis,
went to the convent-gate in an angry mood, and opening it with violence,
asked of the young man what he wanted with Him. The latter answered: "Beware
of being angry, as thou appearest to be; for anger woundeth the soul,j
preventing it from discerning the truth." Brother Elias said again: "Tell
me what thou wantest with me." "I wish to know," answered the stranger,
"if it be permitted to such as follow the Holy Gospel to eat whatever is
served before them, according to the words of Christ to his disciples;
and I wish to ask thee, likewise, if it be lawful for any man to teach
a doctrine contrary to the liberty preached in the Gospel." On this Brother
Elias answered proudly: "I know what answer to make thee, but I am not
inclined to give thee one. Be gone about thy business." The young man replied:
"I know better than thou dost what answer to make to these questions."
Then was Brother Elias much troubled; and, being very angry, he slammed
to the door, and went his way. But afterwards, considering the questions
which had been put to him, he doubted within himself whether he could answer
them; for being Vicar of the Order, he had made a law which went beyond
that of the Gospel, and passed the Rule of St Francis: to wit, that none
of the brethren should eat flesh; so that the question was put expressly
against himself. Not knowing in what way to clear his doubts, and being
struck by the modest appearance of the young stranger, remembering also
how he had said that he could answer the questions better than himself,
he hurried back to the convent-gate in hopes of finding him. But he had
disappeared, for the pride of Brother Elias made him unworthy to converse
with an angel. In the meantime St Francis, to whom all had been revealed
by God, returning from the forest, addressed himself reproachfully to Brother
Elias, saying: "Thou doest wrong, proud Brother Elias; for thou hast sent
away the holy angel of God, who came to instruct us. I tell thee that I
greatly fear lest thy pride will make thee end thy days out of the Order."
And so it happened even as St Francis said, for he died out of the Order.
The same day and the same hour at which the angel had disappeared from
the convent-gate, he appeared to Brother Bernard, who was making his way
homewards from San Giacomo, along the bank of a great river. The angel,
clad in the same guise as a traveller, greeted him with the words, "God
give thee peace, good brother." Now Brother Bernard, considering the beauty
of the young man, who with so sweet a look pronounced the salutation of
peace, according to the custom of his own country, asked of him whence
he came. "I come," answered the angel, "from the convent where dwells St
Francis. I went thither to speak with him, but to do so I was not able,
for he was in the forest contemplating divine things, and I would not disturb
him. In the same convent were Brother Giles, and Brother Elias, with Brother
Masseo, who taught me how to knock at the convent-gate according to the
custom of the brethren. Brother Elias would not answer the questions I
put to him; but afterwards he repented, seeking to see and hear me; but
it was too late." After these words, the angel asked Brother Bernard why
he did not cross the river. "Because," answered Brother Bernard, "I fear
to perish in the waters, which are very deep." The angel said to him, "Let
us cross together; fear naught." And, taking him by the hand, in an instant
they were both on the other side of the river. Then Brother Bernard knew
him for the angel of God, and with great joy and great reverence he exclaimed:
"Blessed angel of God, tell me thy name." The angel answered: "Why dost
thou ask my name, which is Wonderful?" Having said these words, he disappeared,
leaving Brother Bernard greatly comforted; so that he ended his journey
with much joy, noting the day and the hour when the angel had appeared.
On arriving at the convent, where St Francis was with his favorite companions,
he related to them word for word his adventure; and they knew with a certainty
that it was the very angel who, on the same day and at the same hour, had
appeared to them also.
St Francis and his companions, being called by God to carry the cross
of Christ in their hearts, to practise it in their lives, and to preach
it by their words, were truly crucified men both in their actions and in
their works. They sought after shame and contempt, out of love for Christ,
rather than the honours of the world, the respect and praise of men. They
rejoiced to be despised, and were grieved when honoured. Thus they went
about the world as pilgrims and strangers, carrying nothing with them but
Christ crucified; and because they were of the true Vine, which is Christ,
they produced great and good fruits in many souls which they gained to
God. It happened that, in the beginning of the Order, St Francis sent Brother
Bernard to Bologna, there to accomplish many good works, according to the
grace which God had given him. So Brother Bernard, making the holy sign
of the cross, in the name of holy obedience, set out for Bologna; but when
he arrived in that city, the little children in the streets, seeing him
dressed so strangely and so poorly, laughed and scoffed at him, taking
him for a madman. All these trials Brother Bernard accepted for the love
of Christ, with great patience and with great joy, and seeking to be despised
yet more, he went to the market-place, where, having seated himself, a
great number of children and men gathered round him, and taking hold of
his hood pushed him here and there, some throwing stones at him and others
dust. To all this Brother Bernard submitted in silence, his countenance
bearing an expression of holy joy, and for several days he returned to
the same spot to receive the same insults. Now, patience being a work of
perfection and a proof of virtue, a learned doctor of the law, seeing such
virtue and constancy in Brother Bernard, who had endured for so many days
such contempt and such injuries without losing his temper, said within
himself: "Without doubt this man must be a great saint"; and going up to
him, he asked him who he was, and whence he came. Brother Bernard put his
hand into his bosom, and taking out the Rule of St Francis, gave it to
him to read. The doctor, having read the Rule, was struck with wonder and
admiration at the sublime perfection therein prescribed, and turning to
his friends, he said: "Truly this is the most perfect state of Religion
I have ever heard of, and this man and his companions are the holiest men
I have met with in all the world; guilty indeed are those who insult him;
we ought, on the contrary, to honour him as a true friend of God." And
addressing Brother Bernard, he said to him: "If it is thy wish to found
a convent in this town, in which thou mayest serve God according to thy
heart's desires, I will help thee most willingly, for the salvation of
my soul." Brother Bernard answered: "I believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ
has inspired thee with this good intention, and most willingly do I accept
thy offer, to the honour of Christ." Then the doctor, with much joy and
great charity, conducted Brother Bernard to his house, and soon after gave
to him a place as he had promised, which he arranged and furnished at his
own expense, and from that moment he became a father to Brother Bernard,
and the special defender of the Friars Minor. Brother Bernard, through
his holy conduct, began to be much honoured by the people, so much so that
those who could see and touch him accounted themselves as most blessed;
but he, like a true disciple of Christ and a son of the humble Francis,
fearing lest the honours of the world should disturb his peace and endanger
the salvation of his soul, set out one day and returned to St Francis,
whom he thus addressed: "Father, the convent is founded at Bologna, send
other brothers there to keep it up and reside there, as I can no longer
be of any use; indeed, I fear that the too great honours I receive might
make me lose more than I could gain." Now St Francis, having heard, one
after another, all the things which the Lord had wrought through Brother
Bernard, rendered thanks to God, who thus began to spread abroad the poor
disciples of the Cross; then sent he others of the brethren to Bologna,
and to Lombardy, and these founded many convents in divers countries.
The holiness of Brother Bernard shone forth so brightly, that St Francis
held him in great reverence, and often was heard to praise him. One day,
as St Francis was in prayer, it was revealed to him by God that Brother
Bernard, by divine permission, would sustain many painful combats with
the devil. Now St Francis felt great compassion for Brother Bernard, whom
he loved as a son; wherefore he wept for prayed for many days, imploring
the Lord Jesus Christ to give him the victory over the evil one. As he
was praying thus devoutly, the Lord answered his prayer, and said to him:
"Fear not, Francis, for all the temptations which will assail Brother Bernard
are permitted by God, to increase his virtue and win for him a crown of
merit; for at length he will gain the victory over all his enemies, because
he is one of the ministers of the kingdom of heaven." This answer to prayer
filled St Francis with joy; he thanked God; and from that moment, Brother
Bernard became even dearer to St Francis than before, and many proofs of
affection did he give him, not only during his life but more especially
at the hour of his death. For when St Francis was about to leave this world,
being surrounded like the holy prophet Jacob by his devoted sons, all grieving
at the departure of so beloved a Father, he thus addressed them: "Where
is my first-born son? let him come to me, that my soul may bless him before
I die." Then Brother Bernard said in a whisper to Brother Elias, who at
that time was vicar of the Order: "Go to the right hand of the saint, that
he may bless thee." On this Brother Elias placed himself on the right side
of St Francis - who had lost his sight through much weeping - and the saint,
putting his right hand on the head of Brother Elias, said: "This is not
the head of my first-born, Brother Bernard." Then Brother Bernard placed
himself on the left side of St Francis, who, crossing his arms in the form
of a cross, put his right hand on the head of Brother Bernard and his left
on that of Brother Elias. Then said he to Brother Bernard: "May God, the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, bless thee with every blessing, spiritual
and celestial; for thou art my first-born son in God, chosen in this Order
to set an example of every virtue, and to follow Christ in evangelical
poverty; for not only didst thou give all thy possessions and distribute
them freely and liberally to the poor, but thou didst likewise offer thyself
to God in this Order as a sacrifice of love; blessed be thou, then, by
our Saviour Jesus Christ and by me, his poor servant, with eternal blessings,
when thou goest out and when thou comest in, when thou wakest and when
thou sleepest, both living and dying; he that blesseth thee shall be blessed,
he that curseth thee shall not remain unpunished. Thou shalt be at the
head of all thy brethren, and all thy commands the brethren shall obey.
I give thee power to receive into this Order whomsoever thou willest; no
brother shall rule over thee. Thou art free to go where thou wilt, and
to remain where it pleaseth thee best." So, after the death of St Francis,
the brethren loved and revered Brother Bernard as their father, and when
it was his turn to die, many brethren came from all parts of the world
to take leave of him; amongst them the angelic Brother Giles, who when
he saw Brother Bernard exclaimed, with great joy, "Sursum corda!
Brother Bernard, Sursum corda!" and Brother Bernard ordered secretly
one of the brothers to prepare for Brother Giles a place meet for contemplation,
which was done even as he ordered. Now when the last hour of Brother Bernard
arrived, he begged to be raised in his bed, and thus addressed the brethren
who surrounded him: "Beloved brethren, I have not many words to say to
you; but I wish you to consider that, as the religious order which has
been my choice has been yours also, the hour which is now come for me will
also come for you; and this I find in my soul to tell you, that for a thousand
worlds I would not have served another Lord than our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Now I accuse myself before my Saviour and before you all of every offence
I have committed; and I pray you, my dear brethren, to love one another."
And having said these words, and given other good advice, he lay down on
his bed, his face radiant with joy and shining with celestial brightness,
of which all the brethren were witnesses; and in that ecstasy of joy his
holy soul, crowned with glory, passed from this present life to the blessed
life of the angels.
The true servant of Christ, St Francis, was in certain things like unto a second Christ given to the world for the salvation of souls. Wherefore God the Father willed that in many points he should be conformed to his Son, Jesus Christ, as we have already explained in the calling of his twelve companions, as also in the mystery of the holy stigmata, and in a fast of forty days which he made in the manner following:
St Francis, one day of the Carnival, was near the Lake of Perugia,
in the house of one of his devout children, with whom he had spent the
night, when he was inspired by God to go and pass the time of Lent in an
island on the lake. Wherefore St Francis begged his friend, for the love
of God, to convey him in his boat to an island uninhabited by man: the
which he should do during the night of Ash-Wednesday, so that none might
know where he was; and the friend, because of the great devotion he bore
to St Francis, agreed to his request, and conveyed him to the said island,
St Francis taking with him naught but two small loaves. When they had reached
the island, his friend left him and returned home; the saint earnestly
entreating him to reveal to no one where he was, and not to come and fetch
him before Holy Thursday; to which he consented. St Francis being left
alone, and there being no dwelling in the island in which he could take
shelter, entered into a thick part of the wood all overgrown with brambles
and other creeping plants, and forming as it were a kind of hut, there
he began to pray and enter into the contemplation of divine things. And
there he passed the whole of Lent without drinking or eating save half
of one of the small loaves he had taken with him, as we learned from his
friend who, going to fetch him on Holy Thursday, found one of the loaves
untouched and the other only half consumed. It is believed that St Francis
ate this half out of reverence for our Blessed Lord, who fasted forty days
and forty nights without taking any material food; for by eating this bit
of bread he put aside the temptation to vainglory, and yet fasted forty
days and forty nights in imitation of the Saviour. In later times God worked
many miracles, through the merits of the saint, on the spot where St Francis
had fasted so wonderfully, on which account people began to build houses
and dwell there, and little by little a town rose up, with a convent called
the Convent of the Isle; and to this day the inhabitants of that town hold
in great respect and great devotion the spot in which St Francis passed
the time of Lent.
One day in winter, as St Francis was going with Brother Leo from Perugia
to St Mary of the Angels, and was suffering greatly from the cold, he called
to Brother Leo, who was walking on before him, and said to him: "Brother
Leo, if it were to please God that the Friars Minor should give, in all
lands, a great example of holiness and edification, write down, and note
carefully, that this would not be perfect joy." A little further on, St
Francis called to him a second time: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor
were to make the lame to walk, if they should make straight the crooked,
chase away demons, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech
to the dumb, and, what is even a far greater work, if they should raise
the dead after four days, write that this would not be perfect joy." Shortly
after, he cried out again: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor knew all
languages; if they were versed in all science; if they could explain all
Scripture; if they had the gift of prophecy, and could reveal, not only
all future things, but likewise the secrets of all consciences and all
souls, write that this would not be perfect joy." After proceeding a few
steps farther, he cried out again with a loud voice: "O Brother Leo, thou
little lamb of God! if the Friars Minor could speak with the tongues of
angels; if they could explain the course of the stars; if they knew the
virtues of all plants; if all the treasures of the earth were revealed
to them; if they were acquainted with the various qualities of all birds,
of all fish, of all animals, of men, of trees, of stones, of roots, and
of waters - write that this would not be perfect joy." Shortly after, he
cried out again: "O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor had the gift of preaching
so as to convert all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that this would
not be perfect joy." Now when this manner of discourse had lasted for the
space of two miles, Brother Leo wondered much within himself; and, questioning
the saint, he said: "Father, I pray thee teach me wherein is perfect joy."
St Francis answered: "If, when we shall arrive at St Mary of the Angels,
all drenched with rain and trembling with cold, all covered with mud and
exhausted from hunger; if, when we knock at the convent-gate, the porter
should come angrily and ask us who we are; if, after we have told him,
`We are two of the brethren', he should answer angrily, `What ye say is
not the truth; ye are but two impostors going about to deceive the world,
and take away the alms of the poor; begone I say'; if then he refuse to
open to us, and leave us outside, exposed to the snow and rain, suffering
from cold and hunger till nightfall - then, if we accept such injustice,
such cruelty and such contempt with patience, without being ruffled and
without murmuring, believing with humility and charity that the porter
really knows us, and that it is God who maketh him to speak thus against
us, write down, O Brother Leo, that this is perfect joy. And if we knock
again, and the porter come out in anger to drive us away with oaths and
blows, as if we were vile impostors, saying, `Begone, miserable robbers!
to to the hospital, for here you shall neither eat nor sleep!' - and if
we accept all this with patience, with joy, and with charity, O Brother
Leo, write that this indeed is perfect joy. And if, urged by cold and hunger,
we knock again, calling to the porter and entreating him with many tears
to open to us and give us shelter, for the love of God, and if he come
out more angry than before, exclaiming, `These are but importunate rascals,
I will deal with them as they deserve'; and taking a knotted stick, he
seize us by the hood, throwing us on the ground, rolling us in the snow,
and shall beat and wound us with the knots in the stick - if we bear all
these injuries with patience and joy, thinking of the sufferings of our
Blessed Lord, which we would share out of love for him, write, O Brother
Leo, that here, finally, is perfect joy. And now, brother, listen to the
conclusion. Above all the graces and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit which
Christ grants to his friends, is the grace of overcoming oneself, and accepting
willingly, out of love for Christ, all suffering, injury, discomfort and
contempt; for in all other gifts of God we cannot glory, seeing they proceed
not from ourselves but from God, according to the words of the Apostle,
`What hast thou that thou hast not received from God? and if thou hast
received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?' But
in the cross of tribulation and affliction we may glory, because, as the
Apostle says again, `I will not glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ.' Amen."
Once, as the beginning of the Order, St Francis was with Brother Leo
in a convent where they had no books wherewith to say divine office. So,
when the hour of Matins arrived, St Francis said to Brother Leo: "My beloved
brother, we have no Breviary wherewith to say Matins, but in order to employ
the time in praising God, I will speak, and thou shalt answer me as I shall
teach thee; and beware thou change not the words I shall bid thee say.
Thus will I begin: `O Brother Francis, thou hast done so much evil, and
hast committed so many sins in the world, that thou art only worthy of
hell'; and thou, Brother Leo, shalt answer: `It is very true thou art worthy
of the nethermost hell.'" And Brother Leo said, with the simplicity of
a dove, "Right willingly, Father; begin, then, in the name of God." St
Francis therefore began thus: O Brother Francis, thou hast done so much
evil, and hast committed so many sins in the world, that thou art worthy
of hell." And Brother Leo made answer: "God will work so much good through
thee, that thou wilt certainly go to heaven". Do not speak thus, "Brother
Leo," said St Francis; "but when I say, `Brother Francis, thou hast committed
so many iniquities against God, that thou art worthy to be cursed by him,'
thou shalt make answer: `Yes, indeed, thou art worthy to be numbered among
the cursed.'" And Brother Leo answered: "Most willingly, O my Father."
Then St Francis, with many tears and sighs, striking his breast, cried
with a loud voice: "O Lord of heaven and earth, I have committed against
thee so many sins and so great iniquities, that I deserve to be cursed
by thee." And Brother Leo answered: "O Brother Francis, among all the blessed
the Lord will cause thee to be singularly blessed." And St Francis, much
surprised that Brother Leo answered quite the contrary to what he had ordered
him, reproved him for it, saying: "Why answereth thou not as I taught thee?
I command thee, under holy obedience, so to do. When I say, `O wicked Brother
Francis, dost thou think God will have mercy on thee, when thou hast so
sinned against the Father of mercies that thou art not worthy of finding
mercy,' then thou, Brother Leo, my little lamb, shalt answer: `Thou art
not worthy of finding mercy.'" But when St Francis began to repeat, "O
wicked Brother Francis," and so on, Brother Leo answered: "God the Father,
whose mercy in infinitely greater than thy sin, will show great mercy upon
thee, and will grant thee likewise many graces." At this answer St Francis,
being meekly angry, and patiently impatient, said to Brother Leo: "How
canst thou presume to act against obedience? Why hast thou so often answered
the contrary to what I ordered thee?" With great humility and respect Brother
Leo answered: "God knows, my Father, that I had resolved in my heart each
time to answer as thou didst command me, but the Lord made me to speak
as it pleased him, and not as it pleased me." Then St Francis, being greatly
astonished, said to Brother Leo: "I entreat thee, beloved, this time to
answer as I command thee." And Brother Leo said: "Speak, in the name of
God; for this time most certainly I will answer thee as thou desirest."
And St Francis, weeping, said: "O wicked Brother Francis, dost thou think
that God will have mercy on thee?" And Brother Leo answered: "Not only
will he have mercy on thee, but thou shalt receive from him especial graces:
he will exalt thee and glorify thee to all eternity, for he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted; and I cannot speak otherwise, because it is God
that speaketh by my lips." After this in humble contest, they watched till
morning in many tears and much spiritual consolation.
St Francis once was living at the Convent of the Portiuncula, with Brother
Masseo of Marignano, a man of great sanctity and great discernment, who
held frequent converse with God; for which reason St Francis loved him
much. One day, as St Francis was returning from the forest, where he had
been in prayer, the said Brother Masseo, wishing to test the humility of
the saint, went forth to meet him exclaiming: "Why after thee? Why after
thee?" To which St Francis made answer: "What is this? What meanest thou?"
Brother Masseo answered: "I mean, why is it that all the world goeth after
thee; why do all men wish to see thee, to hear thee, and to obey thy word?
For thou art neither comely nor learned, nor art thou of noble birth. How
is it, then, that all the world goeth after thee?" St Francis, hearing
these words, rejoiced greatly in spirit, and lifting up his eyes to heaven,
remained for a long space with his mind rapt in God; then, coming to himself,
he knelt down, returning thanks to God with great fervour of spirit, and
addressing Brother Messeo, said to him: "Wouldst thou know why all men
come after me? Know that it is because the Lord, who is in heaven, who
sees the evil and the good in all places - because, I say, his holy eyes
have found among men no one more wicked, more imperfect, or a greater sinner
than I am; and to accomplish the wonderful work which he intends to do,
he has found no creature more vile than I am on earth; for which reason
he has chosen me, to confound all strength, beauty, greatness, noble birth,
and all the science of the world, that men may learn that every virtue
and every good gift cometh from him, and not from any creature, that none
may glory before him; but if any one glory, let him glory in the Lord,
to whom belongeth all glory in eternity." Then Brother Masseo, at such
a humble answer, given with so much fervour, was greatly impressed, and
learned of a certainty that St Francis was well grounded in humility.
One day, as St Francis was travelling with Brother Masseo, who was walking
in front, they arrived at a spot where three roads met, one leading to
Florence, one to Siena, and one to Arezzo, and Brother Masseo asked of
St Francis which road they should take. "The one which God wills," answered
St Francis. Said brother Masseo: "And how are we to know the will of God?"
"By the sign I shall show thee," answered St Francis; "I order thee, by
the merit of holy obedience, on the spot where now thou art, to turn round
and round, as children do in play, and not to stop or rest until I bid
thee." On this Brother Masseo began to turn round and round, until his
head became dizzy, as is wont to happen from such turning, and he fell
down several times. But, as St Francis did not bid him to stop, he went
on, out of obedience, till at last St Francis said: "Stand still, and move
not; but tell me towards which of the three roads thou art turned?" "Towards
that which leadeth to Siena," answered Brother Masseo. "That is the road,"
said St Francis, "which it pleaseth God we should take." As he went on
his way, Brother Masseo wondered to himself why St Francis had made him
turn round like a child, in the presence of all those who passed that way,
but out of reverence to the saint he did not dare ask him. As they reached
Siena, the people of that city, having heard that the saint was approaching,
went, out of devotion, to meet him, and taking him and Brother Masseo on
their shoulders, carried them to the Bishop's palace, so that their feet
touched not the ground. In that same hour some of the inhabitants of Siena
were fighting among themselves, and two of them had been killed. Then St
Francis, hurrying to the spot, spoke to them so devoutly and in such holy
words, that he constrained them all to make peace and give over quarrelling.
The Bishop, having heard tell of the holy action of St Francis, invited
him to his house, and received him with great honour, retaining him with
him all that day and the following night. The next morning, St Francis,
who in all his acts sought only the glory of God, rose very early with
his companion, and went his way, without even taking leave of the Bishop;
at which Brother Masseo murmured within himself, saying, as he went, "What
is this that this good man has done? He has made me turn round and round
like a child, and he leaves the Bishop, who has received him with such
honour, without saying a word, or even thanking him"; for it seemed to
Brother Masseo that St Francis had acted indiscreetly; but, inwardly checked
by a divine inspiration, he thus reproached himself for indulging in such
thoughts: "Thou art too proud who darest to judge the operation of divine
grace; thine indiscreet pride makes thee worthy of hell; for Brother Francis
yesterday performed such holy actions, that they could not be more wonderful
had they been accomplished by an angel of God: so that even were he to
order thee to throw stones, thou shouldst do so out of obedience; for that
which he has done at Siena is the work of God, as the result proveth, for
had he not pacified the men who were fighting together, not only would
many have fallen victims, but the devil would have drawn many souls to
hell. It is thy folly and thy pride which make thee to murmur at that which
preceeds so manifestly from the will of God." Now all these things which
Brother Masseo said in his heart were revealed to St Francis, who, coming
up to him, said: "Hold fast the things which thou art thinking of at this
moment, for they are good and useful, and inspired by God; but thy murmurings,
which preceded them, were blind and vain and full of pride, being sent
into thy soul by the devil." Then Brother Masseo clearly saw that St Francis
knew the secrets of his heart, and understood of a certainty how the spirit
of divine wisdom directed all the actions of his holy father.
St Francis, wishing to mortify Brother Masseo, that pride should not
enter his soul, because of the many graces and gifts he had received from
God, and also that, through the grace of humility, he should advance from
virtue to virtue, once when he was residing in a solitary convent with
his first companions, who were all examples of holiness, of which number
Brother Masseo was one, he said unto the latter, before all the brethren:
"O Brother Messeo, all these thy companions have the grace of contemplation
and of prayer; but thou hast the grace of preaching the word of God and
of pleasing the people. I will therefore, in order that they may give themselves
to contemplation, that thou fill the office of porter, of almoner and of
cook, and that, when the other monks shall be at their meals, thou alone
shalt eat outside the convent-gate, so as to be ready to say a few godly
words to such as come to the convent, before they knock at the gate, and
so that none other shall be obliged to go out but thee; this thou shalt
accomplish, through the virtue of holy obedience." Then Brother Masseo
put down his hood, bowed his head, and meekly received and executed this
order; filling for some days the offices of porter, of almoner and of cook.
At this his companions, who were all men enlightened by the Spirit of God,
seeing him thus employed, began to feel in their hearts great remorse,
considering how Brother Masseo had reached a greater state of perfection
than any of them, and how all the work of the convent fell to his share,
and none to theirs. Then went they all to St Francis, begging him to divide
among them those charges, since they could not in conscience allow Brother
Masseo to bear all the burden of the convent. At this St Francis, heeding
their request, granted what they asked, and calling Brother Masseo, said
unto him: "Brother Masseo, thy brethren wish to share the charges I have
given thee, wherefore I will that the charges be divided among you all."
Said Brother Masseo, with great humility and patience: "Father, whatever
charge thou puttest upon me, be it small or be it great, I accept it as
ordained by the Lord." Then St Francis, seeing the charity of the brethren
and the humility of Brother Masseo, made them a most wonderful sermon on
holy humility, teaching them that, the greater the gifts and graces we
receive from God, so much greater must be our humility; for without humility
no virtue can be acceptable to him. Then, having finished his sermon, he
distributed the charges among them with great charity.
The wonderful servant and follower of Christ, St Francis, wishing to
be in all things conformed to his Master - who, as the Gospel tells, sent
his disciples two by two into all the cities and lands whither he intended
to go to prepare the way for him - after he had assembled his twelve companions,
sent them forth two by two into the world to preach. In order to set them
an example of holy obedience, he first began to act himself like the Saviour
Jesus Christ. Wherefore, having sent his companions to divers parts of
the world, he took with him Brother Masseo, and set out towards the province
of France. On arriving in a certain town, being very hungry, they went,
according to the Rule, begging their bread for the love of God. St Francis
took one street, and Brother Masseo the other. St Francis, being a little
man, with a mean exterior, did not attract much attention, and gathered
only a few bits of dry bread, whereas Brother Masseo, being tall and good-looking,
received many large pieces of bread, with several whole loaves. When they
had ended their task of begging, they met on a spot outside the city where
there was a beautiful fountain and a large stone, on which each placed
what he had collected. St Francis, seeing that the pieces of bread which
Brother Messeo had collected were much larger and better than those he
had received, rejoiced greatly, and said: "O Brother Masseo, we are not
worthy of this great treasure"; and he repeated these words several times.
At this Brother Masseo answered: "Father, how canst thou talk of a treasure
where there is so much poverty, and indeed a lack of all things? for we
have neither cloth, nor knife, nor dish, nor table, nor house to eat in,
nor servant or maid to wait upon us." St Francis answered: "This is indeed
the reason why I account it a great treasure, because man has had on hand
in it, but all has been given to us by divine Providence, as we clearly
see in this bread of charity, this beautiful table of stone, and this so
clear fountain. Wherefore let us beg of God to make us love with all our
hearts the treasure of holy poverty." Having spoken thus, they returned
thanks; and when they had refreshed themselves with the bread and water,
they rose and went on their way to France. And meeting with a church on
the road, St Francis said to his companion, "Let us enter this church and
pray." And entering in, St Francis cast himself down in prayer before the
altar, and during his prayer the Lord visited him with a great increase
of fervour, which so inflamed his soul with affection for holy poverty,
that it seemed as if flames played around his head, and preceeded from
his mouth; and going thus, all shining and burning with divine love, to
his companion, he said to him, "Ah! ah! ah! Brother Masseo, give thyself
to me"; and these words he repeated three times. At the third time he breathed
on Brother Masseo, who, to his great surprise, was raised above the earth,
and fell at some distance before the saint. He told his companion afterwards
that, while thus raised in the air, he had felt such a sweet sensation
in his soul, and had received such consolations from the Holy Spirit, as
he had never before experienced. After this St Francis said to his companion:
"Let us go to St Peter and St Paul, and let us pray them together that
they may teach us and help us to possess the unbounded treasure of holy
poverty, for it is a treasure so great and so divine, that we are not worthy
to possess it in these vile bodies of ours. It is this celestial virtue
which teaches us to despise all earthly and transitory things, and through
it every hindrance is removed from the soul, so that it can freely commune
with God. Through this virtue it is that the soul, while still on earth,
is able to converse with the angels in heaven. This virtue it is which
remained with Christ upon the Cross, was buried with Christ, rose again
with Christ, and with Christ went up into heaven. This virtue it is which
even in this world enables the souls who are inflamed with love of him
to fly up to heaven; it is also the guardian of true charity and humility.
Let us then pray the holy Apostles of Christ, who were perfect lovers of
this evangelical pearl, to obtain for us from the Saviour Jesus the grace,
through his great mercy, to become true lovers, strict observers, and humble
disciples of this most precious, most beloved, and most evangelical grace
of poverty." And thus conversing they arrived at Rome, and entered the
church of St Peter, where St Francis knelt in prayer in one corner and
Brother Masseo in another. After praying for some time with great devotion
and many tears, the most holy Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to St Francis
in much splendour, and thus addressed him: "As thy prayer and thy wish
is to observe that which Christ and his holy Apostles observed, the Lord
Jesus sends us to thee, to tell thee that thy prayer has been heard, and
that it is granted to thee and to all thy followers to possess the treasure
of holy poverty. We tell thee also from him, that whosoever, after thy
example, shall embrace this holy virtue, shall most certainly enjoy perfect
happiness in heaven; for thou and all thy followers shall be blessed by
God." Having said these words they disappeared, leaving St Francis full
of consolation. Then rising from prayer, and returning to Brother Masseo,
he asked him if God had revealed anything to him in prayer. He answered,
"No." Then St Francis told him how the holy Apostles had appeared to him,
and what they had said. And both being filled with joy, they resolved to
return to the Valley of Spoleto, giving up the journey into France.
In the beginning of the Order, St Francis, having assembled his companions
to speak to them of Christ, in a moment of great fervour of spirit commanded
one of them, in the name of God, to open his mouth and speak as the Holy
Spirit should inspire him. The brother, doing as he was ordered, spoke
most wonderfully of God. Then St Francis bade him to be silent, and ordered
another brother to speak in the same way, which having done with much penetration,
St Francis ordered him likewise to be silent, and commanded a third brother
to do the same. This one began to speak so deeply of the things of God,
that St Francis was convinced that both he and his companion had spoken
through the Holy Spirit. Of which also he received a manifest proof; for
whilst they were thus speaking together, our Blessed Lord appeared in the
midst of them, under the form of a beautiful young man, and blessed them
all. And they, being ravished out of themselves, fell to the ground as
if they had been dead, and were all unconscious of things external. And
when they recovered from their trance, St Francis said to them: "My beloved
brothers, let us thank God, who has deigned to reveal to the world, through
his humble servants, the treasures of divine wisdom. For the Lord it is
who openeth the mouth of the dumb, and maketh the tongues of the simple
to speak wisdom."
St Francis, when residing at Assisi, often visited St Clare, to give
her holy counsel. And she, having a great desire to eat once with him,
often begged him to grant her this request; but the saint would never allow
her this consolation. His companions, therefore, being aware of the refusal
of St Francis, and knowing how great was the wish of Sister Clare to eat
with him, went to seek him, and thus addressed him: "Father, it seems to
us that this severity on thy part in not granting so small a thing to Sister
Clare, a virgin so holy and so dear to God, who merely asks for once to
eat with thee, is not according to holy charity, especially if we consider
how it was at thy preaching that she abandoned the riches and pomps of
this words. Of a truth, if she were to ask of thee even a greater grace
than this, thou shouldst grant it to thy spiritual daughter." St Francis
answered: "It seems to you, then, that I ought to grant her this request?"
His companions made answer: "Yea, father, it is meet that thou grant her
this favour and this consolation." St Francis answered: "As you think so,
let it be so, then; but, in order that she may be the more consoled, I
will that the meal do take place in front of St Mary of the Angels, because,
having been for so long time shut up in San Damiano, it will do her good
to see the church of St Mary, wherein she took the veil, and was made a
spouse of Christ. There, then, we will eat together in the name of God."
When the appointed day arrived, St Clare left her convent with great joy,
taking with her one of her sisters, and followed by the companions of St
Francis. She arrived at St Mary of the Angels, and having devoutly saluted
the Virgin Mary, before whose altar her hair had been cut off, and she
had received the veil, they conducted her to the convent, and showed her
all over it. In the meantime St Francis prepared the meal on the bare ground,
as was his custom. The hour of dinner being arrived, St Francis and St
Clare, with one of the brethren of St Francis and the sister who had accompanied
the saint, sat down together, all the other companions of St Francis seated
humbly round them. When the first dish was served, St Francis began to
speak of God so sweetly, so sublimely, and in a manner so wonderful, that
the grace of God visited them abundantly, and all were rapt in Christ.
Whilst they were thus rapt, with eyes and hearts raised to heaven, the
people of Assisi and of Bettona, and all the country round about, saw St
Mary of the Angels as it were on fire, with the convent and the woods adjoining.
It seemed to them as if the church, the convent, and the woods were all
enveloped in flames; and the inhabitants of Assisi hastened with great
speed to put out the fire. On arriving at the convent, they found no fire;
and entering within the gates they saw St Francis, St Clare, with all their
companions, sitting round their humble meal, absorbed in contemplation;
then knew they of a certainty, that what they had seen was a celestial
fire, not a material one, which God miraculously had sent to bear witness
to the divine flame of love which consumed the souls of those holy brethren
and nuns; and they returned home with great consolation in their hearts,
and much holy edification. After a long lapse of time, St Francis, St Clare,
and their companions came back to themselves; and, being fully restored
by the spiritual food, cared not to eat that which had been prepared for
them; so that, the holy meal being finished, St Clare, well accompanied,
returned to San Damiano, where the sisters received her with great joy,
as they had feared that St Francis might have sent her to rule some other
convent, as he had already sent St Agnes, the sister of the saint, to be
Abbess of the Convent of Monticelli, at Florence. For St Francis had often
said to St Clare, "Be ready, in case I send thee to some other convent";
and she, like a daughter of holy obedience, had answered, "Father, I am
always ready to go whithersoever thou shalt send me." For which reason
the sisters greatly rejoiced when she returned to them, and St Clare was
from that time much consoled.
The humble servant of Christ, St Francis, a short time after his conversion,
having already assembled and received many brothers into the Order, was
much troubled and perplexed in mind as to what he ought to do; whether
to give himself entirely to prayer, or now and then to preach the Word.
Through his great humility, he had no opinion of himself or of the virtue
of his prayers; and, wishing to know the will of God, he sought to learn
it through the prayers of others. Wherefore he called to him Brother Masseo,
and thus addressed him: "Go to Sister Clare, and bid her from me to set
herself with some of the holiest of her sisters to pray the Lord that he
may show me clearly whether he wills that I should preach or only keep
to prayer. Then go to Brother Silvester, and ask of him the same favour."
Now Brother Silvester had been in the world, and was the same who had seen
in vision a golden cross come out of St Francis's mouth, whose height reached
up to heaven and its breadth to the farthest extremities of the world.
Brother Silvester was so holy, that whatever he asked of God was granted
to his prayer, and very often he held converse with the Lord; so that St
Francis revered him greatly. Then Brother Masseo did as St Francis had
commanded him; carrying the message first to St Clare, and then to Brother
Silvester, who set about praying immediately; and, having received the
answer from the Lord, returned to Brother Masseo, and said to him: "The
Lord says, go and tell Brother Francis that he has called him to this state
to save merely his own soul but that he may produce fruits in those of
others, and that through him many souls be saved." Having received this
answer, Brother Messeo returned to Sister Clare, to ask what she had learnt
from God; and she told him that she and all her companions had received
from God the same answer as the Lord had given to Brother Silvester. Then
Brother Masseo hastened to St Francis to bring him these answers; and St
Francis received him with great charity, washing his feet, and serving
him at dinner. When the repast was over, he called Brother Masseo into
the forest, and, kneeling down before him, put back his hood; and crossing
his arms on his breast, he said to him: "What answer dost thou bring me?
what does my Lord Jesus Christ order me to do?" Brother Masseo answered:
"The Lord Jesus Christ has revealed both to Brother Silvester and to Sister
Clare, that it is his will thou shouldest go about the world to preach;
for thou hast not been called for thyself alone, but the the salvation
of others." Then St Francis, having received the answer, and knowing it
to be the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, arose with fervour, saying, "Let
us go in the name of God"; and taking with him Brother Masseo and Brother
Agnolo, both holy men, he let himself be guided by the Spirit of God, without
considering the road he took. They soon arrived at a town called Savurniano,
where St Francis began to preach, first ordering the swallows, who were
calling, to keep silence until he had finished; and the swallows obeyed
his voice. He preached with such fervour, that the inhabitants of the town
wished to follow him out of devotion; but St Francis would not allow them,
saying: "Be not in such haste, and leave not your homes. I will tell you
what you must do to save your souls." Thereupon he founded the Third Order
for the salvation of all; and leaving them much consoled and well disposed
to do penance, he departed thence, and reached a spot between Cannaio and
Bevagno. And as he went on his way, with great fervour, St Francis lifted
up his eyes, and saw on some trees by the wayside a great multitude of
birds; and being much surprised, he said to his companions, "Wait for me
here by the way, whilst I go and preach to my little sisters the birds";
and entering into the field, he began to preach to the birds which were
on the ground, and suddenly all those also on the trees came round him,
and all listened while St Francis preached to them, and did not fly away
until he had given them his blessing. And Brother Masseo related afterwards
to Brother James of Massa how St Francis went among them and even touched
them with his garments, and how none of them moved. Now the substance of
the sermon was this: "My little sisters the birds, ye owe much to God,
your Creator, and ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places,
because he has given you liberty to fly about into all places; and though
ye neither spin nor sew, he has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing
for yourselves and for your offspring. Two of all your species he sent
into the Ark with Noe that you might not be lost to the world; besides
which, he feeds you, though ye neither sow nor reap. He has given you fountains
and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys in which to take
refuge, and trees in which to build your nests; so that your Creator loves
you much, having thus favoured you with such bounties. Beware, my little
sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praise to
God." As he said these words, all the birds began to open their beaks,
to stretch their necks, to spread their wings and reverently to bow their
heads to the ground, endeavouring by their motions and by their songs to
manifest their joy to St Francis. And the saint rejoiced with them. He
wondered to see such a multitude of birds, and was charmed with their beautiful
variety, with their attention and familiarity, for all which he devoutly
gave thanks to the Creator. Having finished his sermon, St Francis made
the sign of the cross, and gave them leave to fly away. Then all those
birds rose up into the air, singing most sweetly; and, following the sign
of the cross, which St Francis had made, they divided themselves into four
companies. One company flew towards the east, another towards the west,
one towards the south, and one towards the north; each company as it went
singing most wonderfully; signifying thereby, that as St Francis, the bearer
of the Cross of Christ, had preached to them and made upon them the sign
of the cross, after which they had divided among themselves the four parts
of the world, so the preaching of the Cross of Christ, renewed by St Francis,
would be carried by him and by his brethren over all the world, and that
the humble friars, like little birds, should posses nothing in this world,
but should cast all the care of their lives on the providence of God.
A certain pure and innocent child was received into the Order during
the lifetime of St Francis, and the convent in which he lived was so small
that the monks were obliged to sleep on mats. It chanced that St Francis
came one day to that convent, and in the evening, after Compline, he went
to rest, so as to rise up early to pray, as was his custom, when all the
other friars were still asleep. The said little child had made up his mind
carefully to watch St Francis, to learn something of his sanctity, and
find out more especially what he did in the night when he got up; and in
order that he might not be overtaken by sleep, he laid him down by St Francis,
tying the end of the cord he wore round his waist to the one which the
saint wore, so that he was sure of being awakened when the latter got up
in the night; and this he did so gently, that St Francis was not aware
of his contrivance. When all the other friars were fast asleep, St Francis
rose from sleep, and finding the child's cord tied to his own, he carefully
untied it so as not to awake him and went alone into the wood which was
near the convent. Entering into a little cell which was there, he began
to pray. Shortly after, the child awoke, and finding St Francis gone, and
the cord untied, he rose up quickly and went to seek him. Perceiving the
door open which led to the wood, he thought St Francis had gone that way;
and entering into the wood, and hurrying on to the little cell, he heard
the sound of many voices. Approaching near to hear and see whence they
came, he saw a great and wonderful light all round the saint, and in the
light was Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist, St John
the Evangelist, and a great multitude of angels, all talking with St Francis.
On seeing this the child fell to the ground as if he had been dead. The
miracle of this holy vision being ended, St Francis rose to return to the
convent, and stumbling in the way against the child, who appeared to be
dead, with great compassion he took him up in his arms and carried him
in his bosom, as the good shepherd is wont to carry his lambs. Having learned
from him how he had seen the vision, he forbade him to tell any man thereof
so long as he, St Francis, lived. The little child grew up in the grace
of God, and had a great devotion to St Francis. He became one of the most
distinguished men of the Order. After the death of St Francis, he related
the vision to the brethren.
The faithful servant of Christ, St Francis, once held a general chapter at St Mary of the Angels, at which chapter more than five thousand friars were present. Amongst them also was St Dominic, the head and founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, who chanced to be on his way from Bologna to Rome: for having heard of the chapter which St Francis had called together in the plain of St Mary of the Angels, he went there with seven friars of his Order. A certain Cardinal also, much devoted to St Francis, to whom the saint had foretold that he would one day be Pope, came expressly from Perugia to Assisi, and everyday he went to visit St Francis and his brethren. Sometimes he sang Mass and preached to them; and each time the said Cardinal visited the holy company he experienced much pleasure and devotion. Seeing the friars all seated in the plain round St Mary of the Angels, in groups - here forty, there a hundred, and elsewhere eighty, all occupied in conversing about God, or in prayer, or in works of charity - seeing them all so silent and so grave, and wondering how such a multitude could be so orderly, he was moved to tears, and exclaimed, with great devotion, "Truly this is the field of God; this is the army, and these are the knights of the Lord." No vain or useless word was to be heard in all that multitude; each group of friars was engaged either in prayer, or saying their office, in weeping over their sins and those of their benefactors, or in reasoning on the salvation of souls. Many tents made of mats had been pitched in that field, divided in groups, according to the different provinces from whence the friars came; so that this Chapter was called the "Chapter of mats".
The friars had no other beds but the bare ground, with here and
there a little straw; for pillows they had stones or pieces of wood. For
which reasons they were held in much devotion; and so great was the fame
of their sanctity, that many came to see and hear them from the court of
the Pope which was at Perugia, and from other parts of the Valley of Spoleto.
Many counts and barons, many knights and other gentlemen, many Cardinals,
Bishops and Abbots, many priests and much people, came to see this great
and holy and humble congregation; for the world had never yet witnessed
so many holy men assembled together; and most especially they went thither
to see the saintly founder; and father of the Order, who had taken from
the world so many gifted men, and had formed so beautiful and devout a
flock to follow the steps of the true Pastor, Jesus Christ. The chapter
being assembled, St Francis, the father of all those holy men, expounded
with great fervour of spirit the Word of God, speaking to them in a loud
voice that which the Holy Spirit dictated. Now the subject he took for
his sermon was this: "My children, we have promised great things to God,
and God has promised even greater things to us. If we observe what we have
promised him, we shall certainly receive what he has promised to us. The
pleasures of this world pass quickly away, but the punishment which follows
them is eternal. The sufferings of this world are trifling, but the glory
of the life to come is without bounds." And, preaching on these words most
devoutly, he comforted the brethren, encouraging them to holy obedience,
to reverence for holy Mother Church, to charity among themselves, to pray
God for all people, to bear with patience the adversities of life, to be
temperate in prosperity, to keep angelic purity and chastity, to be at
peace with God, with men and with their own conscience, to love, to observe,
and to practise holy poverty. He then added: "I command you all here present,
through holy obedience, to take no thought what you shall eat or what you
shall drink, or of aught else that is necessary to the body, but only to
meditate, to pray, and to praise God, casting on him the thought of all
the rest, for he has you all in his especial care; and let each of you
receive this command with a happy heart and a joyful countenance." St Francis
having finished his sermon, all the friars began to pray. Yet St Dominic,
who was present, wondered much at this order of St Francis, considering
it as indiscreet, for he could not understand how such a great multitude
could exist without taking thought for the body. But the heavenly Pastor,
our Blessed Saviour, wishing to show the care he takes of his lambs, and
with what singular love he loves his poor servants, put into the hearts
of all the people of Perugia, of Spoleto, of Foligno, of Spello, of Assisi,
and of all the neighbouring country, to take meat and drink to that holy
congregation; and presently men came from all these places with horses,
and asses, and carts laden with bread and wine, with beans and cheese,
and other good things of which the poor of Christ had need. Besides all
this, they brought napkins and knives, jugs and glasses, and all that was
needed for such a multitude; and those who could carry most and serve the
best rejoiced greatly, and the knights, barons, and other noblemen, who
were present, waited on the brethren with great devotion and humility.
St Dominic, seeing this, and knowing of a certainty that it was the divine
providence of God which had provided for them thus, acknowledged most humbly
that he had unjustly accused St Francis of giving indiscreet orders; and
going to him, he knelt humbly before him and confessed his fault, adding:
"The Lord truly hath especial care of all these holy servants of poverty.
I knew it not till now, and henceforth I promise to observe holy evangelical
poverty; and, in the name of God, I condemn all friars of my Order who
shall seek to have possessions of their own." And St Dominic was greatly
edified by the faith of the most holy Francis, by the obedience and poverty
of so large and well-ordered a chapter, and he blessed the providence of
God, who had given them every grace in such abundance. In that same chapter
also it was revealed to St Francis that many brethren wore on their flesh
small hearts and bands of iron, for which reason many were ill and hindered
in their prayers; and St Francis, like a discreet father, gave order, under
holy obedience, that all who wore such things should take them off and
place them before him - and more than five hundred little hearts and bands
of iron were placed before him - some destined to be worn round the arms,
and others round the waist - and all together formed a large heap, which
St Francis ordered to be left in that field. The chapter being ended, he
encouraged them all in well-doing, warning them to avoid sin in this wicked
world, and sent them to their divers provinces, with his blessing and that
of God, filled with spiritual joy and consolation.
St Francis at one time being grievously tormented with a disease in
his eyes, the Cardinal Ugolino, protector of his Order, who loved him dearly,
wrote to him to come to Rieti, where there were excellent oculists. St
Francis, having received the Cardinal's letter, set off first to San Damiano,
where was Sister Clare, the devout spouse of Christ, to give her some spiritual
consolation, intending afterwards to go on to the Cardinal. On arriving
at San Damiano, the following night his eyes grew so much worse that he
could not see the light, and was obliged to give up going any further.
Then Sister Clare made him a little cell of reeds, in order that he might
repose the better; but St Francis, owing partly to the pain he suffered,
and partly to the multitude of rats, which much annoyed him, could rest
neither day or night. After suffering for several days this pain and tribulation,
he began to think that it was sent to him by God as a punishment for his
sins, and he thanked the Lord in his heart and with his lips, crying out
with a loud voice: "My God, I am worthy of this, and even worse. My Lord
Jesus Christ, thou Good Shepherd, who hast shown thy mercy to us poor sinners
in the various bodily pains and sufferings it pleaseth thee to send us;
grant to me, thy little lamb, that no pain, however great, no infirmity
nor anguish, shall ever separate me from thee." Having made this prayer,
a voice came from heaven, which said: "Francis, if all the earth were of
gold, if all the seas and all the fountains and all the rivers were of
balm, if all mountains, all hills, and all rocks were made of precious
stones, and if thou couldst find a treasure as much more precious again
as gold is more precious than earth, and balm than water, and gems than
mountains and rocks, if that precious treasure were offered to thee in
the place of thy infirmity, wouldst thou not rejoice and be content?" St
Francis answered: "Lord, I am unworthy of such a treasure." And the voice
of God said again: "Rejoice with all thy heart, Francis, for such a treasure
is life eternal, which I have in keeping for thee, and even now promise
to thee; and this thine infirmity and affliction is a pledge of that blessed
treasure." Then was St Francis filled with joy at so glorious a promise;
and calling his companion, he said to him: "Let us go to the Cardinal."
He humbly took leave of Sister Clare, after having comforted her with holy
words, and took the road to Rieti. When he approached the town, such a
multitude came out to meet him, that he would not go into the city, but
went to a church which was about two miles of. But the people, hearing
where he was gone, went thither to see him; so that the vine which surrounded
the church was greatly injured, and all the grapes were gathered; at which
the priest, to whom it belonged, was very grieved in his heart, and repented
of having received St Francis in his church. The thought of the priest
being revealed to the saint, he called him to him and said: "Dearest father,
tell me, how many measures of wine does this vine produce when the year
is a fertile one?" He answered: "Twelve measures." Then said St Francis:
"I pray thee, father, have patience and endure my presence here a few days
longer, as I find great rest in this church; and, for the love of God and
of me his poor servant, let the people gather the grapes off thy vine;
for I promise thee, in the name of my Saviour Jesus Christ, that it shall
produce every year twenty measures of wine." And St Francis remained there
for the benefit of the souls of all who went to see him, for many went
away filled with divine love, and gave up the world. The priest, having
faith in the promise of St Francis, left the vineyard open to all those
who came to see him. And, wonder of wonders! although the vine was entirely
ruined, so that there scarcely remained, here and there, a few small bunches
of grapes, when the time of vintage arrived, the priest gathered the few
bunches which were left, and put them into the winepress; and according
to the promise of St Francis, these few little bunches did not fail to
produce twenty measures of excellent wine. This miracle teaches us that
as, in consequence of the merits of St Francis, the vine, though despoiled
of its grapes, produced an abundance of wine, so in the same way many Christians,
whose sins had made them barren of virtue, through the saint's preaching
and merits, have often come to abound in the good fruit of repentance.
A young man, of noble birth, and of delicate habits, who had entered
the Order of St Francis, was seized after a few days, through the devil,s
suggestions, with a violent dislike of the habit that he wore: he hated
the shape of the sleeves; he felt a horror for the hood, for the length
of the dress, and the coarseness of the material; so that it seemed to
him as if he carried about him an insupportable weight; and, disliking
the Order more and more, he determined to leave it and return to the world.
It was the custom of this young man, at whatever hour he passed before
the altar in the convent at which the Blessed Sacrament was reserved, to
kneel down with great respect and, covering his head with his hood and
crossing his arms on his breast, to prostrate himself, as he had been taught
to do by the master of novices. It so happened, that the night when he
had made up his mind to leave the convent, he passed before the altar,
and, kneeling down as he was wont to do, he prostrated himself to the ground,
and, being ravished in spirit, the Lord sent him a most wonderful vision.
He saw before him a great multitude of saints ranged in procession, two
by two, clothed in vestments made of precious material: their faces and
their hands shone like the sun; they sang, as they walked, to the sound
of celestial music. Two of them were more nobly and more richly dressed
than the rest, and surrounded by such a blaze of light that none could
look on them without being dazzled. At the end of the procession was one
so gloriously adorned, that he seemed, like a new knight, to be more favoured
than the others. Now the young man, seeing such a beautiful procession,
was struck with wonder; but although he could not guess the meaning of
the vision, he dared not ask, and seemed struck dumb with amazement. When
the procession had almost passed away, he took courage, and addressing
himself to those who were in the rear, he said: "O beloved, I pray you
tell me who are those wonderful beings who form this venerable procession."
They answered: "Know, my son, that we are all Friars Minor, who are come
from the glories of Paradise; and those two who shine forth brighter than
the rest, are St Francis and St Anthony; and the last one you saw so especially
honoured is a holy friar, lately dead, who having fought with courage against
temptation and having preserved to the end, we lead in triumph to the glories
of Paradise; and these splendid vestments which adorn us have been given
to us by God, in exchange for the coarse tunic we wore with so much patience
in religion; and the glorious light which shines upon us has been given
in reward for the humility, the holy poverty, the obedience, and chastity
that we observed to the end of our lives. Now, my son, do not find the
robe of religion too rough to wear; for if, clothed in the sackcloth of
St Francis, and out of love to Christ, thou dost despise the world, mortifying
thy flesh, and fighting valiantly against the devil, thou too shalt receive
these splendid vestments, and shine with this glorious light." On hearing
these words the young man came to his senses, and feeling himself much
strengthened, he put far from him all temptation to leave the Order, confessed
his sin to the guardian and to the brethren, and from that moment dearly
loved the course vestment of St Francis and the severity of penance, and
at length ended his life in the Order in a state of great sanctity.
At the time when St Francis was living in the city of Gubbio, a large
wolf appeared in the neighbourhood, so terrible and so fierce, that he
not only devoured other animals, but made a prey of men also; and since
he often approached the town, all the people were in great alarm, and used
to go about armed, as if going to battle. Notwithstanding these precautions,
if any of the inhabitants ever met him alone, he was sure to be devoured,
as all defence was useless: and, through fear of the wolf, they dared not
go beyond the city walls. St Francis, feeling great compassion for the
people of Gubbio, resolved to go and meet the wolf, though all advised
him not to do so. Making the sign of the holy cross, and putting all his
confidence in God, he went forth from the city, taking his brethren with
him; but these fearing to go any further, St Francis bent his steps alone
toward the spot where the wolf was known to be, while many people followed
at a distance, and witnessed the miracle. The wolf, seeing all this multitude,
ran towards St Francis with his jaws wide open. As he approached, the saint,
making the sign of the cross, cried out: "Come hither, brother wolf; I
command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else."
Marvellous to tell, no sooner had St Francis made the sign of the cross,
than the terrible wolf, closing his jaws, stopped running, and coming up
to St Francis, lay down at his feet as meekly as a lamb. And the saint
thus addressed him: "Brother wolf, thou hast done much evil in this land,
destroying and killing the creatures of God without his permission; yea,
not animals only hast thou destroyed, but thou hast even dared to devour
men, made after the image of God; for which thing thou art worthy of being
hanged like a robber and a murderer. All men cry out against thee, the
dogs pursue thee, and all the inhabitants of this city are thy enemies;
but I will make peace between them and thee, O brother wolf, is so be thou
no more offend them, and they shall forgive thee all thy past offences,
and neither men nor dogs shall pursue thee any more." Having listened to
these words, the wolf bowed his head, and, by the movements of his body,
his tail, and his eyes, made signs that he agreed to what St Francis said.
On this St Francis added: "As thou art willing to make this peace, I promise
thee that thou shalt be fed every day by the inhabitants of this land so
long as thou shalt live among them; thou shalt no longer suffer hunger,
as it is hunger which has made thee do so much evil; but if I obtain all
this for thee, thou must promise, on thy side, never again to attack any
animal or any human being; dost thou make this promise?" Then the wolf,
bowing his head, made a sign that he consented. Said St Francis again:
"Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith that I may trust to this thy
promise?" and putting out his hand he received the pledge of the wolf;
for the latter lifted up his paw and placed it familiarly in the hand of
St Francis, giving him thereby the only pledge which was in his power.
Then said St Francis, addressing him again: "Brother wolf, I command thee,
in the name of Christ, to follow me immediately, without hesitation or
doubting, that we may go together to ratify this peace which we have concluded
in the name of God"; and the wolf, obeying him, walked by his side as meekly
as a lamb, to the great astonishment of all the people. Now, the news of
this most wonderful miracle spreading quickly through the town, all the
inhabitants, both men and women, small and great, young and old, flocked
to the market-place to see St Francis and the wolf. All the people being
assembled, the saint got up to preach, saying, amongst other things, how
for our sins God permits such calamities, and how much greater and more
dangerous are the flames of hell, which last for ever, than the rage of
a wolf, which can kill the body only; and how much we ought to dread the
jaws of hell, if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole
city tremble through fear. The sermon being ended, St Francis added these
words: "Listen my brethren: the wolf who is here before you has promised
and pledged his faith that he consents to make peace with you all, and
no more to offend you in aught, and you must promise to give him each day
his necessary food; to which, if you consent, I promise in his name that
he will most faithfully observe the compact." Then all the people promised
with one voice to feed the wolf to the end of his days; and St Francis,
addressing the latter, said again: "And thou, brother wolf, dost thou promise
to keep the compact, and never again to offend either man or beast, or
any other creature?" And the wolf knelt down, bowing his head, and, by
the motions of his tail and of his ears, endeavoured to show that he was
willing, so far s was in his power, to hold to the compact. Then St Francis
continued: "Brother wolf, as thou gavest me a pledge of this thy promise
when we were outside the town, so now I will that thou renew it in the
sight of all this people, and assure me that I have done well to promise
in thy name"; and the wolf lifting up his paw placed it in the hand of
St Francis. Now this event caused great joy in all the people, and a great
devotion towards St Francis, both because of the novelty of the miracle,
and because of the peace which had been concluded with the wolf; and they
lifted up their voices to heaven, praising and blessing God, who had sent
them St Francis, through whose merits they had been delivered from such
a savage beast. The wolf lived two years at Gubbio; he went familiarly
from door to door without harming anyone, and all the people received him
courteously, feeding him with great pleasure, and no dog barked at him
as he went about. At last, after two years, he died of old age, and the
people of Gubbio mourned his loss greatly; for when they saw him going
about so gently amongst them all, he reminded them of the virtue and sanctity
of St Francis.
A certain young man having caught one day a great number of doves, as
he was to sell them he met St Francis, who always felt a great compassion
for such gentle animals; and, looking at the doves with eyes of pity, he
said to the young man: "O good man, I entreat thee to give me those harmless
birds, emblems in Scripture of humble, pure, and faithful souls, so that
they may not fall into cruel hands, which would put them to death." And
the young man, inspired by God, immediately gave them to St Francis, who,
placing them in his bosom, addressed them thus sweetly: "O my little sisters
the doves, so simple, so innocent, and so chaste, why did you allow yourselves
to be caught? I will save you from death, and make your nests, that you
may increase and multiply, according to the command of God." Then St Francis
made nests for them all, and they began to lay their eggs and hatch them
in presence of the brethren, and were as familiar and as tame with St Francis
and the friars as if they had been hens brought up amongst them, nor did
they ever go away until St Francis had given them his blessing. Then said
St Francis to the young man who had given them to him: "My son, thou shalt
become a friar in this Order; and shalt serve most fervently the Lord Jesus
Christ"; and so it came to pass, for the young man became a friar, and
lived in the Order in great holiness.
St Francis, being one day in prayer in the Convent of the Portiuncula,
saw, by the revelation of God, that all the convent was surrounded and
besieged by devils, as by a great army; but none could penetrate into the
convent, because the brothers were so holy that the demons could not enter
into any of them. They remained, however, on the watch, until one day a
certain brother being offended by another, thought in his heart how he
could accuse and do him harm. Having yielded to this evil thought, the
devil, seeing a way open to him, entered the convent and took possession
of the brother. On this St Francis, like a vigilant pastor, ever watching
over his flock, seeing the brother, and commanded him to confess immediately
the hatred he had nourished in his heart towards his neighbour, which had
caused him to fall into the power of the enemy. The brother, much alarmed,
and seeing that his saintly father had penetrated into his deepest thoughts,
confessed the evil feeling which had entered into his heart, and humbly
asked pardon and penance. When he had done this, and being absolved of
his sin had accepted his penance, St Francis beheld the devil to flee away;
and the brother, being freed from such a cruel monster through the charity
of his good shepherd, thanked God, and returned to the little flock of
the saintly pastor corrected and strengthened, and lived afterwards in
great sanctity.
St Francis, urged by zeal for the faith of Christ and by a wish to suffer martyrdom, took with him one day twelve of his most holy brethren, and went beyond the sea with the intention of going straight to the Sultan of Babylon. They arrived in a province belonging to the Saracens, where all the passes were guarded by men so cruel, that no Christian who passed that way could escape being put to death. Now it pleased God that St Francis and his companions should not meet with the same fate; but they were taken prisoners, and after being bound and ill-treated, were led before the Sultan. Then St Francis standing before him, inspired by the Holy Spirit, preached most divinely the faith of Christ; and to prove the truth of what he said, professed himself ready to enter into the fire. Now the Sultan began to feel a great devotion towards him, both because of the constancy of his faith, and because he despised the things of this world (for he had refused to accept any of the presents which he had offered to him), and also because of his ardent wish to suffer martyrdom. From that moment he listened to him willingly, and begged him to come back often, giving both him and his companions leave to preach wheresoever they pleased; he likewise gave them a token of his protection, which would preserve them from all molestation.
At length St Francis, seeing he could do no more good in those
parts, was warned by God to return with his brethren to the land of the
faithful. Having assembled his companions, they went together to the Sultan
to take leave of him. The Sultan said to him: "Brother Francis, most willingly
would I be
converted to the faith of Christ; but I fear to do so now, for
if the people knew it, they would kill both me and thee and all thy companions.
As thou mayest still do much good, and I have certain affairs of great
importance to conclude, I will not at present be the cause of thy death
and of mine. But teach me how I can be saved, and I am ready to do as thou
shalt order." On this St Francis made answer: "My lord, I will take leave
of thee for the present; but after I have returned to my own country, when
I shall be dead and gone to heaven, by the grace of God, I will send thee
two of my friars, who will administer to thee the holy baptism of Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, as the Lord Jesus has revealed to me; and thou
in the meantime shalt free thyself from every hindrance, so that, when
the grace of God arrives, thou mayest be found well disposed to faith and
devotion." The Sultan promised so to do; and did as he had promised. Then
St Francis returned with his company of venerable and saintly brethren,
and after a few years ending his mortal life, he gave up his soul to God.
The Sultan, having fallen ill, awaited the fulfillment of the promise of
St Francis, and placed guards in all the passes, ordering them if they
met two brothers in the habit of St Francis to conduct them immediately
to him. At the same time St Francis appeared to two of his friars, and
ordered them without delay to go to the Sultan and save his soul, according
to the promise he had made him. The two set out, and having crossed the
sea, were conducted to the Sultan by the guards he had sent out to meet
them. The Sultan, when he saw them arrive, rejoiced greatly, and exclaimed:
"Now I know of a truth that God has sent his servants to save my soul,
according to the promise which St Francis made me through divine revelation."
Having received the faith of Christ and holy baptism from the said friars,
he was regenerated in the Lord Jesus Christ; and having died of his disease,
his soul was saved, through the merits and prayers of St Francis.
The true disciple of Christ, St Francis, as long as he lived in this
miserable life, endeavoured with all his might to follow the example of
Christ the perfect Master; whence it happened often, through the operation
of grace, that he healed the soul at the same time as the body, as we read
of Jesus Christ himself; and not only did he willingly serve the lepers
himself, but he willed that all the brethren of his Order, both when they
were travelling about the world and when they were halting on their way,
should serve the lepers for the love of Christ, who for our sake was willing
to be treated as a leper. It happened once, that in a convent near the
one in which St Francis then resided there was a hospital for leprosy and
other infirmities, served by the brethren; and one of the patients was
a leper so impatient, so insupportable, and so insolent, that many believed
of a certainty that he was possessed of the devil (as indeed he was) for
he ill-treated with blows and words all those who served him; and, what
was worse, he blasphemed so dreadfully our Blessed Lord and his most holy
Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, that none was found who could or would
serve him. The brethren, indeed, to gain merit, endeavoured to accept with
patience the injuries and violences committed against themselves, but their
consciences would not allow them to submit to those addressed to Christ
and to his Mother, wherefore they determined to abandon this leper, but
this they would not do until they had signified their intention to St Francis,
according to the Rule. On learning this, St Francis, who was not far distant,
himself visited this perverse leper, and said to him: "May God give thee
peace, my beloved brother!" To this the leper answered: "What peace can
I look for from God, who has taken from me peace and every other blessing,
and made me a putrid and disgusting object?" St Francis answered: "My son,
be patient; for the infirmities of the body are given by God in this world
for the salvation of the soul in the next; there is great merit in them
when they are patiently endured." The sick man answered: "How can I bear
patiently the pain which afflicts me night and day? For not only am I greatly
afflicted by my infirmity, but the friars thou hast sent to serve me make
it even worse, for they do not serve me as they ought." Then St Francis,
knowing through divine revelation that the leper was possessed by the malignant
spirit, began to pray, interceding most earnestly for him. Having finished
his prayer, he returned to the leper and said to him: "My son, I myself
will serve thee, seeing thou art not satisfied with the others." "Willingly,"
answered the leper; "but what canst thou do more than they have done?"
"Whatsoever thou wishest I will do for thee," answered St Francis. "I will
then," said he, "that thou wash me all over; for I am so disgusting that
I cannot bear myself." Then St Francis heated some water, putting therein
many odoriferous herbs; he then undressed him, and began to wash him with
his own hands, whilst another brother threw the water upon him, and, by
a divine miracle, wherever St Francis touched him with his holy hands the
leprosy disappeared, and his flesh was perfectly healed also. On this the
leper, seeing his leprosy beginning to vanish, felt great sorrow and repentance
for his sins, and began to weep bitterly. While his body was being purified
externally of the leprosy through the cleansing of the water, so his soul
internally was purified from sin by the washing of tears and repentance;
and feeling himself completely healed both in his body and his soul, he
humbly confessed his sins, crying out in a loud voice, with many tears:
"Unhappy me! I am worthy of hell for the wickedness of my conduct to the
brethren, and the impatience and blasphemy I have uttered against the Lord";
and for fifteen days he ceased not to weep bitterly for his sins, imploring
the Lord to have mercy on him, and them made a general confession to a
priest. St Francis, perceiving this evident miracle which the Lord had
enabled him to work, returned thanks to God, and set out for a distant
country; for out of humility he wished to avoid all glory, and in all his
actions he sought only the glory of God, and not his own. It pleased God
that the leper, who had been healed both in his body and in his soul, after
having done penance for fifteen days, should fall ill of another infirmity;
and having received the sacraments of the Church, he died a most holy death.
His soul on its way to heaven appeared in the air to St Francis, who was
praying in a forest, and said to him: "Dost thou know me?" "Who art thou?"
asked the saint. Said he: "I am that leper whom our Blessed Lord healed
through thy merits, and to-day I am going to life eternal, for which I
return thanks to God and to thee. Blessed by thy soul and thy body, blessed
by thy holy words and works, for through thee many souls are saved in the
world; and know that there is not a single day in which the angels and
other saints do not return thanks to God for the holy fruits of thy preaching
and that of thy Order in various parts of the world. Be comforted, then,
and thank the Lord, and may his blessing rest on thee." Having said these
words, he went up to heaven, leaving St Francis much consoled.
As St Francis went one day through the desert of Borgo di San Sepolcro,
and was passing by a castle called Monte Casale, he saw a young man of
noble mien, and elegant in appearance, coming towards him, who thus addressed
him: "Father, I would willingly be one of thy monks." St Francis answered:
"My son, thou art young, noble, and delicate; perhaps thou wouldst not
be able to endure poverty and hardships." The young man said again: "Father,
are you not men, like me? If you, then, can support these things, through
the grace of God I shall be able to do so likewise." This answer greatly
pleased St Francis, and giving the young man his blessing, he received
him immediately into the Order, and gave him the name of Brother Angelo.
And this young man was so remarkable and so distinguished, that shortly
after he was named Guardian of the Convent of Monte Casale. At that time
there were three famous robbers in that part of the country, who did much
evil in all the neighbourhood. Coming one day to the said convent, they
asked Brother Angelo, the guardian, to give them something to eat. The
guardian, reproving them harshly, answered thus: "Cruel robbers and murderers,
you are not ashamed to deprive others of the fruits of their labours, and
you have the audacity to come here and devour that which is given in charity
to the servants of God - you who are not worthy of the earth which bears
you, for you neither respect man nor the Lord who made you. Go about your
business, and do not appear here again." Then the robbers went away in
anger, much troubled by these words. Shortly after, St Francis arrived
at the convent with a sack of bread and a little vessel of wine, which
he and his companion had begged; and the guardian related to him how he
had sent away the robbers. On this St Francis reproved him sharply, saying
that he had behaved most cruelly, for sinners are brought back to God more
easily by kindness than by harsh words. "Wherefore," said he, "our Master
Jesus Christ, whose Word we have promised to observe, says that the whole
need not a physician, but they that are sick, and that he came not to call
the just, but sinners, to repentance; for which reason he often sat down
to meat with them. As, then, thou hast acted against charity, and against
the Gospel of Christ, I command thee, in the name of holy obedience, to
take with thee this sack of bread, which I have begged, and this little
vessel of wine, and go after the robbers, over the hills and across the
valleys, until thou meet with them. And when thou hast found them, give
them from me this bread and wine; and then, kneeling down before them,
thou shalt humbly confess thy fault, begging them, in my name, not to do
evil any more, but to fear God and never again offend him. If they consent
to this, I promise to provide for all their wants, and to give them continually
both meat and drink; and when thou hast told them this, thou shalt humbly
come back here." Whilst the guardian went on the errand of St Francis,
the latter began to pray, asking God to touch the hearts of the robbers
and bring them to repentance. The obedient guardian, having found out their
retreat, presented to them the bread and wine, and said and did what St
Francis had commanded; and it pleased God that as the robbers ate the bread
of charity which St Francis had sent them, they reasoned thus among themselves;
"Alas for us, miserable men that we are! What pains await us in hell; for
not only have we robbed, beaten and wounded our neighbours, but we have
likewise taken away their lives, and yet for all these cruel deeds we feel
no remorse of conscience, and no fear of God! and behold this holy friar
who is come to us, for a few unkind words, which we merited most justly,
has humbly confessed that he was wrong, and has brought us likewise bread
and wine, with a most gracious promise from the holy St Francis. These
men indeed are holy religious of God who merit his Paradise, and we are
sons of perdition, worthy of the pains of hell; and each day we add to
our perdition, and we know not whether yet, because of our sins we have
committed hitherto, we can find mercy in the sight of God." One of them
having spoken thus, the other two answered, saying: "Most certainly thou
speakest truly; but what are we to do?" "Let us go," said one of the others,
"to St Francis; and if he gives us a hope that our sins may find mercy
in the sight of God, we will do what he shall command us to save our souls
from the punishment of hell." This counsel pleasing the others, they agreed
to go immediately to St Francis; and having found him, they thus addressed
him: "Father, because of the multitude of our sins we dare not look for
mercy from God; but if thou hast a hope that he may have pity on us, we
are ready to do what thou shalt order, and do penance for our sins with
thee." Then St Francis bade them stay, and with much kindness and charity
comforted them, giving them many proofs of the mercy of God, and promising
them to ask the Lord to have pity on their sins. He told them that his
mercy knows no bounds, and that were their sins without number the mercy
of God is even greater, according to the word of the Gospel and of the
Apostle St Paul, who says our Blessed Lord came into the world to save
sinners. The three robbers on hearing these words resolved to renounce
the devil and his works; and St Francis received them into the Order, in
which they did great penance. Two of them died shortly after their conversion,
and went to heaven; but the third survived, and, reflecting on his sins,
he did penance during fifteen years. Besides the ordinary fasts which he
observed with the brethren, he fasted at other times three days in the
week on bread and water, went barefooted, wore no other vestment but his
tunic, and never slept after Matins. During this time St Francis passed
from this miserable life. The converted robber having continued to do penance
for many years, it so happened that one night, after Matins, he was visited
by such a strong temptation to sleep, that he could neither pray nor watch
according to his custom. At last, finding it impossible to resist any longer,
he threw himself on his bed to sleep. No sooner had he laid down his head
than he was rapt in spirit and led up into a very high mountain, on the
side of which was a deep precipice bordered with sharp stones and large
rocks all broken to pieces, so that the precipice was frightful to look
at; and the angel who conducted the brother pushed him with such violence,
that he fell into the abyss, and rolling down from stone to stone and from
rock to rock, he reached the bottom shattered all to pieces, as it seemed
to him. As he lay on the ground in this pitiable condition, the angel said
to him: "Arise, for thou hast a much longer journey to take." And the brother
answered: "Thou art both cruel and unreasonable. Thou seest that I am about
to die from my fall, which has shattered me all to pieces, and thou tellest
me to arise." On this the angel, coming near him, touched him, healing
all his wounds. He then showed him an immense plain, full of sharp and
pointed stones, covered with thorns and brambles, and told him that he
was to run all over the plain, and cross it barefooted till he reached
the other end, where was a burning furnace, which he was to enter. And
the brother having crossed the plain with great pain and suffering, the
angel ordered him to enter the furnace, as it was meet for him to do. The
brother exclaimed: "Alas, what a cruel guide thou art! Thou seest that
I am nearly dead, having crossed this horrible plain; and to rest me thou
commandest me to enter this burning furnace"; and looking up, he saw all
around many demons with iron pitchforks in their hands; and as he hesitated
to obey the angel, they pushed him into the furnace. When he was in the
furnace, he looked around and saw one who had formerly been his companion
burning all over from head to foot; and he said to him: "O my unhappy companion,
how camest thou here?" And he answered: "Go a little farther, and thou
shalt find my wife; she will tell thee why we are damned." Then the brother,
going a little farther, saw the said woman surrounded with flames; and
he said to her: "O unfortunate and miserable woman, why are thou condemned
to suffer such a cruel torment?" "Because," she answered, "at the time
of the great famine which St Francis had foretold, my husband and I cheated
the people, and sold them wheat and oats in a false measure. It is for
this that I am condemned to burn in this dreadful place." Having heard
these words, the angel who conducted the brother drew him out of the furnace,
and said to him: "Prepare thyself now for a very horrible journey." Then
the brother answered him sorrowfully: "O cruel guide, thou hast no compassion
on me. Thou seest how I am almost burnt to death in this furnace, and thou
preparest for me another horrible and dangerous journey." Then the angel
touching him, he became whole and strong; after which he led him to a bridge,
which it was impossible to pass without great danger, for it was slightly
built, very narrow, and very slippery, without any parapets, while underneath
there flowed a terrible river full of serpents, scorpions and dragons,
which produced a great stench. Then said the angel to him: "Go over the
bridge, as by all means thou must cross it." And the brother answered:
"How can I cross it without falling into that dangerous river?" The angel
said to him: "Follow me, and place thy foot where thou shalt see me place
mine, and thou shalt cross it safely." Then the brother walked behind the
angel as he had ordered him, and reached the middle of the bridge, when
suddenly the angel flew away, and leaving the brother, went on to a very
high mountain at a great distance from the bridge. When the brother saw
whither the angel had flown, being without his guide and looking down,
he saw all those terrible animals with their heads out of the water, and
their mouths open ready to devour him, if he were to fall into the river;
and he trembled much with fear, not knowing what to do or what to say,
as he could neither go back nor go forward. Seeing himself in such tribulation,
and having no refuge but in God, he bent down, and clinging to the bridge,
with all his heart and with many tears he recommended himself to the Lord,
praying him to have mercy on him. Having finished his prayer, it seemed
to him as if wings were growing out of his back, and he waited with great
joy till they should be large enough to enable him to fly away from the
bridge, and go to the spot whither the angel had flown. After waiting a
little time, his impatience to leave the bridge became so great that he
tried to fly; but his wings not having reached their growth, he fell on
the bridge, and the feathers came off; upon which he clung again to the
bridge, as he had done before, and recommended himself to God. Having finished
his prayer, it seemed to him as if the wings were growing again; but losing
patience a second time, he tried to fly before the wings were fully grown,
and falling down on the bridge as before, the feathers came off. And seeing
that it was his impatience to fly away which made him fall down thus, he
said within himself: "If my wings begin to grow a third time, I will most
certainly wait until they are large enough to enable me to fly away without
falling." And having come to this decision, he saw the wings begin to grow
for the third time, and waited so long that they might attain their growth,
that it seemed to him as if more than a hundred and fifty years had elapsed
between the first growth of his wings and the third. At last he arose for
the third time, and exerting all his strength, he flew up to the spot whither
the angel had flown before him; and knocking at the gate of the place into
which he had entered, the porter asked of him who he was and whence he
came. To this he answered: "I am one of the Friars Minor." The porter said
to him: "Wait a little whilst I go and fetch St Francis, to see if he knows
thee." While the porter was gone to fetch St Francis, the brother began
to examine the wonderful walls of the palace which appeared so luminous
and so transparent, that he could see through them the choirs of saints,
and what they were doing. As he was struck with wonder at this sight, St
Francis came towards him, with Brother Bernard and Brother Giles, followed
by a great multitude of saints, both men and women, who had followed him
in life, and they appeared to be innumerable. Then St Francis said to the
porter: "Let him come in, for he is one of my friars." As soon as he had
entered, he felt such consolation and such sweetness, that he forgot all
the tribulations he had gone through, as if they had never been. And St
Francis, taking him inside, showed him that thou return to the world; thou
shalt remain there seven days, during which thou shalt prepare thyself
with great devotion and great care; for after the seven days I will come
and fetch thee, and then thou shalt be with me in this abode of the blessed."
St Francis wore a most wonderful cloak adorned with beautiful stars, and
his five stigmata were like five stars, so bright that all the palace illumined
by their rays. And Brother Giles was adorned with a blazing light, and
he saw there many other holy brothers whom he had not known in the world.
Having taken leave of St Francis, he returned, much against his will, to
the world. When he awoke and came back to himself, the brothers were singing
prime; so that the vision had lasted only from matins to prime, though
it seemed to him as if many years had elapsed. He related to the guardian
all the vision from beginning to end. After seven days he fell ill of a
fever, and on the eighth day St Francis came to him, as he had promised
with a great multitude of glorious saints, and conducted his soul to life
eternal in the kingdom of the blessed.
St Francis coming one day to the city of Bologna, all the inhabitants
went out to meet him, and the crowd was so great that it was with much
difficulty he made his way to the market-place, which was filled with men,
women, and scholars. And St Francis, on arriving there, stood upon an elevated
spot, and began to preach that which the Holy Spirit put into his mind
to say; and he preached so wonderfully that he appeared to be an angel,
not a man; and his words were like sharp arrows, which pierced through
the hearts of those who listened to them. And many men and women were brought
to repentance through that sermon; of this number were two noble students
of the March of Ancona - one named Pellegrino and the other Rinieri. These
two being touched in their hearts by divine inspiration, through the said
sermon, went to St Francis, saying that they wished to leave the world
and become friars in his Order. And it having been revealed to St Francis
that they had been sent by God to be examples of virtue in the Order, he
received them joyfully, on account of the great fervour they showed, saying
to them: "Thou, Pellegrino, shalt follow in the Order the ways of humility;
and thou, Rinieri, shalt serve the brethren" - and so it fell out; for
Brother Pellegrino would never be treated as a cleric but as a layman,
though he was a learned man and deeply versed in the Sacred Canons; and
through his humility he reached a high degree of perfection in virtue;
so that Brother Bernard, the first son of St Francis, said of him that
he was one of the most perfect friars in the world; and finally Brother
Pellegrino passed from this world full of virtue, having wrought many miracles
both before his death and after. And Brother Rinieri served the brothers
most devoutly and most faithfully, living in great sanctity and great humility,
and becoming very intimate with St Francis. And having been named Minister
of the province of the March of Ancona, he governed it for a long time
with much discretion and most peaceably; and St Francis revealed to him
many secrets. Now after some time the Lord allowed a great temptation to
take possession of his soul, which greatly grieved and troubled him; he
observed severe penance, subjected himself to much rigorous discipline,
and endeavoured day and night, with prayers and tears, to drive away the
temptation, but not succeeding he believed that God had abandoned him.
Being in a state of great despair he determined as a last remedy to go
to St Francis, thinking thus within himself: "If the saint receives me
kindly and is familiar with me, as he is wont, I may hope that God will
have pity on me; but if not, this will be the sign that I am abandoned
by the Lord." And setting out, he went to St Francis, who at that time
was lying grievously ill, in the palace of the Bishop of Assisi; and God
revealed to him the whole temptation which had assailed Brother Rinieri,
and his intention of coming to him. Then St Francis, calling immediately
Brother Leo and Brother Masseo, said to them: "Go forth to meet my beloved
Brother Rinieri, and having embraced him salute him from me, and tell him
that of all the brothers scattered abroad in the world I love him most
particularly." And they set out, and meeting Brother Rinieri in the way,
they embraced him, telling him what St Francis had ordered them to say.
The message brought such sweetness and such consolation to him, that he
was quite beside himself with joy; and thanking God with all his heart,
he reached the place where St Francis was lying ill. Now though St Francis
was grievously ill, yet when he heard that Brother Rinieri was approaching,
he arose and went to meet him; and embracing him with much affection he
said to him: "My very dear Brother Rinieri, of all the brothers in the
world I love thee most especially"; and making the sign of the holy cross
on his forehead, he kissed him, adding: "My beloved son, the Lord hath
permitted this temptation that thou mayest gain a great increase of merit;
but if thou dost not wish this gain, the temptation shall be removed";
and, O miracle! no sooner had St Francis pronounced these words than immediately
the temptation left him, and it seemed to him as if in all his life he
had never been tempted, and he was greatly comforted.
Brother Bernard of Quintavalle was an example of the manifestation of
the grace of God in the poor followers of the Gospel, who gave up the world
to follow Christ. For since he had taken the habit of St Francis, he was
often rapt in God through the contemplation of celestial things. It happened
one day, as he was in a church hearing Mass, his mind was so raised to
God that he was transfixed and enraptured, so as not to be aware of the
moment of the elevation of the Body of Christ; for he neither knelt down
nor removed his hood, as did the others, but remained motionless, with
his eyes intently gazing upwards, and remained so even from Matins till
the hour of None. On coming back to himself, he went about the convent
crying out with a loud voice: "O brothers! O brothers! O brothers! there
is not a man in all this land, however great and however noble he may be,
who, if a palace full of gold were offered him, would not willingly carry
on his back a sack of copper to acquire so rich a treasure." Now this celestial
treasure, promised to the lovers of Christ, had been revealed to Brother
Bernard; and his mind was so fixed upon it, that for fifteen years his
heart and countenance was raised away to heaven. In all that time he never
satisfied his hunger, though he ate a little of whatever was set before
him; wherefore he used to say that if a man does not taste what he eats
his abstinence has no merit, for true abstinence is to moderate oneself
in those things which are agreeable to the palate. His intelligence also
became so enlightened that many great divines had recourse to him to solve
difficult questions and explain obscure passages of Scripture, which he
did with great facility. So completely was his mind detached and withdrawn
from all things earthly, that he soared like the swallows above the earth,
and remained sometimes twenty, sometimes thirty days at the top of a high
mountain contemplating things divine. For which reason Brother Giles said
that he had received a gift from God which had been given to no other human
being - namely, that in his divine flight he was fed like the swallows.
And, because of this wonderful grace of contemplation which he had received
from God, St Francis willingly and frequently held converse with him day
and night; and often they were found to be in a state of ecstasy all night
long, in the wood where they used to meet together to talk on things divine.
BROTHER RUFFINO, one of the most noble men of the city of Assisi, a
companion of St Francis and a man of great sanctity, was one day violently
tempted in mind on the subject of predestination, so that he grew quite
melancholy and sorrowful; for the devil put it into his heart that he was
damned, and not of the number of those predestined to life eternal, making
him believe that all he did in the Order was of no avail. And this temptation
increasing more and more, he had not the courage to reveal it to St Francis,
though he never ceased to pray and to fast: for the enemy of his soul added
sorrow to sorrow, not only fighting inwardly but likewise outwardly, taking
various forms in order better to deceive him. One day he appeared to him
under that of a crucifix, and said to him: "O Brother Ruffino, why dost
thou inflict on thyself penance and prayer, as thou art not of the number
of the predestinate to life eternal? Believe me - for I know whom I have
chosen and predestined - and believe not the son of Peter Bernardoni if
he tell thee the contrary; and do not take his advice in this matter, since
neither he nor any man knows the truth but I, who am the Son of God. Know
of a certainty that thou art of the number of the damned; and the son of
Peter Bernardoni, thy father, and his father likewise, are damned, and
whosoever followeth them is damned also." On hearing these words, Brother
Ruffino was so blinded by the spirit of darkness, that he lost all the
faith and love he had felt for St Francis hitherto, and would not even
communicate to him what was passing within him. But that which Brother
Ruffino did not reveal to his saintly father was revealed to him by the
Holy Spirit. When, therefore, the saint learned to what dangers his son
was exposed, he sent to him Brother Masseo; but Brother Ruffino refused
to listen to him, saying: "What have I to do with Brother Francis?" And
Brother Masseo, enlightened by the Spirit of God and knowing the deceits
of the devil, answered: "O Brother Ruffino, thou knowest that St Francis
may be compared to an angel of God, who has made known the truth to many
souls in the world, and through whom we have received the grace of God;
wherefore I will at all events that thou come with us to him, for I clearly
see that thou art deceived by the devil." On hearing these words, Brother
Ruffino arose and went to St Francis; and the saint, perceiving him at
a distance, cried out: "O Brother Ruffino, thou foolish one, whom hast
thou believed?" Then coming up to him, he related to him one by one all
the temptations, both internal and external, to which he had been exposed,
showing him clearly that he who had appeared to him was the devil and not
Christ, and that he was by no means to listen to his suggestions; but if
he appeared to him again and said unto him "Thou art damned", he was to
say to him these words: "Open thy mouth!" and by this sign he would clearly
know that he was the devil and not Christ; for no sooner should the words
be uttered than he would immediately disappear. "Thou shouldst have known,"
added the saint, "with whom thou wast dealing, when he hardened thy heart
against all that was good, for such is his especial office; but Christ,
the blessed one, never hardens the heart of the faithful; for on the contrary
his office is to soften the heart of man, according to the words of the
prophet: I will take away from thee the heart of stone, and will give
thee a heart of flesh." Then Brother Ruffino, seeing that St Francis
was acquainted with all his temptations in the order they had come to him,
was deeply touched by his exhortations, and beginning to weep bitterly,
he humbly confessed his guilt in concealing from him his trouble. He was
greatly consoled and comforted by the admonitions of his saintly father,
which St Francis ended by saying: "My son, go to confession, and give not
up the practice of thine accustomed prayers; know of a certainty that this
temptation will be to thee a source of great consolation and humility,
as thou shalt shortly see." Then Brother Ruffino returned to his cell in
the wood; and as he was praying and weeping bitterly the enemy approached,
bearing in his exterior the semblance of Christ himself. He thus addressed
him: "O Brother Ruffino, did I not tell thee not to listen to the son of
Peter Bernardoni, nor to weary thyself with prayer and fasting, inasmuch
as thou art damned? What is the use of inflicting on thyself privations
in this world, seeing thou hast no hope of salvation after death?" And
immediately Brother Ruffino said, "Open thy mouth!" upon which the devil
left him in so great rage and fury, that all Monte Subasio, which was close
by, was shaken to the very foundation, and large stones rolled down the
sides, knocking against each other as they fell, and producing a great
fire in all the valley; and the noise they made was so terrible that St
Francis and all his companions went out to see what had taken place: and
even to this day those large stones are to be seen lying in great confusion.
Then Brother Ruffino saw plainly that it was the devil who had deceived
him, and returning to St Francis he threw himself at his feet, acknowledging
his fault. St Francis comforted him with kind words, and sent him back
to his cell full of consolation. As he was praying there most devoutly,
Christ, the blessed one, appeared to him, and filling his soul with the
fire of divine love, he thus addressed him: "Thou didst well, my son, to
believe in St Francis; for he who made thee so unhappy was the devil. But
I am Christ, thy Master; and in order to prove to thee that I am he, I
promise thee that thou shalt never again be troubled in this way." Having
said these words. he departed, leaving the brother so happy, and enjoying
such peace and sweetness of spirit, with his mind so raised above the things
of this world, that for a whole day and night he was rapt in God, and from
that moment he had no doubts as to his salvation, and became quite a new
man. Most willingly would he have remained day and night in prayer and
in the contemplation of divine things, had he been permitted to do so.
Wherefore St Francis said of him that he had been canonised during his
lifetime by Christ, and that, save in his presence, he would not hesitate
to call him St Ruffino, even though he were still on earth.
The said Brother Ruffino, through constant contemplation, was so absorbed
in God that he became almost insensible to things external, and very seldom
spoke; added to which he never had possessed the gift of speech, neither
was he eloquent nor self-possessed. Notwithstanding this, St Francis ordered
him one day to go to Assisi and preach to the people that which God should
dictate to him. On this Brother Ruffino expostulated, saying: "Reverend
Father, I pray thee excuse me, and send some other brother in my stead;
for thou knowest that I have not the grace of preaching: I am simple and
ignorant." At this St Francis answered: "Inasmuch as thou hast not obeyed
immediately, I command thee to take off thy clock and thy hood and go to
Assisi, where thou shalt enter a church and preach to the people; and this
shalt thou do out of holy obedience." Having received this order, Brother
Ruffino, taking off his mantle and his hood, proceeded to Assisi, and entering
the church, after having bowed before the altar, he mounted into the pulpit
and began to preach to the people, who, seeing him in so strange a dress,
laughed at him, saying: "These men do such penance that they are quite
out of their mind." In the meantime St Francis, reflecting how promptly
Brother Ruffino, who was one of the most noble men of Assisi, had obeyed
the harsh command he had given, reproached himself saying: "How couldst
thou, who art but the humble son of Peter Bernardoni, send one of the most
distinguished men of Assisi to preach to the people as if he were a madman?
May God forgive thee! But thou shalt do the same thing which thou hast
ordered him to do." And immediately taking off his clock and his hood with
great fervour of spirit, he went to Assisi, taking with him Brother Leo,
who carried his mantle and that of Brother Ruffino. The inhabitants of
Assisi, seeing him thus accoutred, reviled him, believing that both he
and Brother Ruffino were out of their minds through much penance. St Francis
entered the church as Brother Ruffino was saying these words: "O beloved,
flee from the world, and leave sin; render to all men that which is their
due, if thou wilt avoid hell; keep the commandments of God and love the
Lord and thy neighbour, if thou wilt possess the kingdom of heaven." Then
St Francis ascended the pulpit, and began to preach in so wonderful a way
on holy penance, on the world, on voluntary poverty, on the hope of life
eternal, on the nakedness of Christ and on the shame of the Passion of
our Blessed Saviour, that all they who heard him, both men and women, began
to weep bitterly, being moved to devotion and compunction; and in all Assisi
the Passion of Christ was commemorated as it never had been before; so
that the people were greatly edified by this action of St Francis and of
Brother Ruffino. Then St Francis put on the clock of Brother Ruffino and
his own, and returned to the convent of the Portiuncula, praising and glorifying
God, who had given them grace to conquer and despise themselves, to the
edification of the flock of Christ, and enabled them, by their example,
to show how the world ought to be despised. And from that day the people
greatly revered them, so that those who could touch but the hem of their
garments esteemed themselves blessed.
As our Lord Jesus Christ says in his Gospel, I know my sheep and
mine know me, so the holy St Francis, like a good shepherd, knew, through
divine revelation, all the merits and virtues of his companions, and also
their defects and faults, and was enabled to deal with them according to
their needs - humbling the proud and exalting the humble, rebuking vice
and praising virtue - as we read in the wonderful revelations which were
made to him by God with regard to his first children. Amongst others, we
are told that once St Francis was with his companions in a convent talking
of God, when Brother Ruffino was absent, being in contemplation in the
forest; and, as the saint was conversing with them, Brother Ruffino passed
by at some distance, whereon St Francis asked them whom they believed to
be the holiest soul in the world. They answered immediately, that they
believed it to be St Francis. The saint reproved them, saying: "Beloved
brothers, I am the most unworthy and the vilest of all men in the world;
but see there Brother Ruffino, who is now coming out of the forest; the
Lord has revealed to me that his soul is one of the three most holy on
earth; and I tell you candidly, I should not hesitate to call him St Ruffino
even during his lifetime, his soul being full of grace, and sanctified
and canonised in heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ." This opinion St Francis
never expressed in the presence of Brother Ruffino. That he was equally
acquainted with the defects of his brethren, we learn in the case of Brother
Elias, whom he often reproved for his pride; and of Brother John della
Cappella, to whom he foretold that he would hang himself; and of that brother
who was seized by the devil as a punishment for his disobedience; and of
many others whose defects and virtues were clearly revealed to him by Christ.
The first companions of St Francis set themselves with all their might
to follow holy poverty with regard to earthly things, and to acquire every
other virtue, as the sure means of obtaining celestial and eternal riches.
It happened, therefore, that one day, as they were assembled together to
speak of things divine, one of them related the following example: "There
was a man, a great friend of God, to whom had been given the grace of a
life contemplative as well as active. He was at the same time so humble,
that he looked upon himself as a very great sinner; and his humility was
to him a means of sanctification, and confirmed him in the grace of God;
for it caused him to increase in virtue, and saved him from falling into
sin." And Brother Masseo, hearing such wonderful things of humility, and
knowing it to be one of the greatest treasures of life eternal, was so
inflamed with a love and desire of this virtue of humility, that he lifted
his eyes to heaven with much fervour, and made a vow and firm resolution
never again to rejoice until he should feel the said virtue to be firmly
established in his soul. From that moment he was constantly shut up in
his cell, maserating his body with fasts and vigils and prayers, weeping
before the Lord, and earnestly imploring him to grant him this virtue,
without which he felt that he was only worthy of hell, and with which the
friend of God of whom he had heard was so richly endowed. Brother Masseo
having passed several days in this state of mind, as he was entering the
forest and asking the Lord, who willingly listens to the prayers of the
humble, with cries and tears to grant him this divine virtue, he heard
a voice from heaven, which called him twice: "Brother Masseo! Brother Masseo!"
And he, knowing in his spirit that it was the voice of Christ, answered:
"My Lord." Then Christ answered: "What wilt thou give in exchange for this
virtue which thou askest for?" And Brother Masseo answered: "Lord, I will
willingly give the eyes out of my head." Christ answered: "I grant thee
the virtue, and command at the same time that thou keep thine eyes." And
having said these words, the voice was silent; and Brother Masseo was so
filled with the grace of humility, that from thenceforward he was constantly
rejoicing. And often when he was in prayer he was heard to utter a joyful
sound, like the song of a bird, resembling "U-u-u", and his face bore a
most holy and happy expression. With this he grew so humble that he esteemed
himself less than all other men in the world. And Brother James of Fallerone
having asked him why in his joy he used always the same sound, he replied
gaily, that when in one way he found all good he saw no reason to change
it.
St Clare, a most devout servant of the Cross of Christ, and one of the
sweetest flowers of St Francis, was so holy, that not only the Bishops
and Cardinals but the Pope himself wished to see and hear her, and went
often to visit her in person. One day, amongst others, the holy Father
went to her convent to hear her speak of things celestial; and having long
reasoned together, St Clare ordered the table to be laid and bread to be
placed upon it, in order that the holy Father might bless it. Their spiritual
conclave being at an end, St Clare, kneeling down with great reverence,
begged him to bless the bread which had been placed on the table. To whom
the holy Father answered: "Most faithful sister, I will that thou bless
this bread by the sign of the cross to which thou hast devoted thyself."
St Clare said: "Most holy Father, excuse me. I should indeed by worthy
of reproof if I, a miserable woman, should presume to give such a blessing
in the presence of the Vicar of Christ." Then the Pope answered: "In order
that such an act be not looked upon as presumptuous, but that it may bear
on it the marks of obedience, I command thee, in the name of holy obedience,
to make on this bread the sign of the cross, and to bless it in the name
of God." At this St Clare, like a true daughter of obedience, blessed the
loaves most devoutly, making over them the sign of the holy cross; and,
wonderful to relate, on all those loaves appeared a cross, most clearly
marked; and some of them were eaten, but the rest were put aside, in order
to testify of the miracle. And the holy Father, having seen the miracle,
thanked God; and taking some of the bread, went away, leaving his blessing
with Sister Clare. At that time Sister Ortolana, mother of St Clare, and
Sister Agnes, her sister, were living together in the convent with St Clare,
both most virtuous women, full of the Holy Spirit, likewise many other
nuns; to whom St Francis sent a great number of sick persons, who were
all healed by their prayers and by the sign of the most holy cross.
St Louis, King of France, went on a pilgrimage to visit the sanctuaries
in the world. And having heard of the fame of the sanctity of Brother Giles,
who was one of the first companions of St Francis, he determined in his
heart to go and visit him in person; for which object he set out for Perugia,
where the said brother then lived. He arrived at the convent-gate as if
he had been a poor unknown pilgrim, and asked with great importunity for
Brother Giles, without telling the porter who it was who wished to see
him; and the porter went to Brother Giles, and told him there was a pilgrim
at the gate who asked for him. But the Lord having revealed to Brother
Giles that the pilgrim was the King of France, he left his cell in haste,
and ran to the gate without asking any questions. They both knelt down
and embraced each other with great reverence and many outward signs of
love and charity, as if a long friendship had existed between them, though
they had never met before in their lives. Neither of them spoke a word;
and after remaining clasped in each other's arms for some time, they separated
in silence, St Louis to continue his journey, and Brother Giles to return
to his cell. As the king departed, a certain friar inquired of one of those
who accompanied him who it was that had embraced Brother Giles, and he
answered that it was Louis, King of France; and when the other brothers
heard this, they were all sorrowful because Brother Giles had not spoken
to him; and giving vent to their grief, they said: "O Brother Giles, why
hast thou been so uncivil as not to say a word to so holy a king, who has
come from France to see thee, and hear from thee some good words?" Brother
Giles answered: "Beloved brothers, be not surprised at this, that neither
could I say a word to him nor he to me; for no sooner had we embraced each
other than the light of divine wisdom revealed his heart to me, and mine
to him; and by a divine operation we saw into each other's hearts, and
knew far better what we had to say than if we had explained in words that
which we felt in our hearts. For so imperfectly the tongue of man reveals
the secret mysteries of God, that words would have been to us rather a
hindrance than a consolation. Know, then, that the king went away from
me well satisfied, and greatly comforted in mind."
St Clare was at one time so dangerously ill that she could not go to
church with the other nuns to say the Office on the night of the Nativity
of Christ. All the other sisters went to Matins; but she remained in bed,
very sorrowful because she could not go with her sisters to receive spiritual
consolation. But Jesus Christ, her Spouse, unwilling to leave her comfortless,
carried her miraculously to the church of St Francis, so that she was present
at Matins, assisted at the Midnight Mass, and received the Holy Communion,
after which she was carried back to her bed. When the nuns returned to
their convent, the ceremonies being ended at St Damiano, they went to St
Clare and said to her: "O Sister Clare, our Mother, what great consolations
we have experienced at this feast of the Holy Nativity! Oh, if it had but
pleased God that you should have been with us!" To this St Clare answered:
"Praise and glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed one, my beloved
sisters and daughters; for I have not only assisted at all the solemnities
of this most holy night, but I have experienced in my soul even greater
consolations than those which have been your share; for by the intercession
of my father, St Francis, and through the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ
I have been personally present in the church of my venerable father, St
Francis, and with the ears of my body and those of my spirit have heard
all the Office, and the sounds of the organ, and the singing, and have
likewise received there the most Holy Communion. Rejoice, then, because
of these graces which I have received, and return to thanks to our Lord
Jesus Christ."
St Francis being once grievously ill, Brother Leo, as he was in prayer
by his bedside, was rapt in ecstasy, and carried in spirit to a great,
wide and rapid river; and watching those who crossed it, he saw some brothers
enter the river heavily laden, who were carried away by the current and
were drowned; some contrived to reach one third of the way; others arrived
as far as the middle of the stream; yet none could resist the rapidity
of the waters, but fell down and were drowned. Presently he saw other brothers
arrive; these carried nothing on their backs, but all bore upon the marks
of holy poverty. They entered the river, and passed over to the other side
without any danger to themselves. Having seen this, Brother Leo came to
himself; and St Francis knowing in spirit that he had had a vision, called
him to him, and asked what he had seen. When Brother Leo had related to
him the vision, St Francis said: "What thou hast seen is indeed true. The
great river is the world; the brothers who were drowned are those who do
not follow their evangelical profession, or practice the great virtue of
poverty; but they who passed the river are those who neither seek nor possess
in this world any earthly riches, who having food and raiment are therewith
content, and follow Christ naked on the cross, bearing joyfully and willingly
his sweet and easy yoke and loving holy obedience: these pass easily from
this earthly life to life eternal."
St Francis, the servant of Christ, arriving late one evening with one
of his brothers at the house of a rich and powerful nobleman, the two were
received by him as if they had been angels of God, with so much courtesy
and respect that the saint felt himself drawn to love him greatly; for
he considered how on entering his house he had embraced him with much affection;
how he had washed his feet, and humbly wiped and kissed them; how he had
lighted a great fire, and prepared a supper composed of the choicest meats,
serving him himself with a joyful countenance. When the supper was ended,
the nobleman thus addressed St Francis: "Behold, my father, I offer thee
myself and all I possess. If ever thou art in want of a tunic, or a mantle,
or any other thing, purchase them, and I will pay thee. And see, I am ready
to provide for all thy wants, as, though the grace of God, it is in my
power to do so; for I abound in all temporal riches, and out of love to
God, who gave them to me, most willingly do I bestow my goods on his poor."
St Francis, seeing so much courtesy and generosity, felt great affection
towards him; and having taken leave of him, he said to his companion: "Truly
this nobleman would be a great gain to our Order, seeing he is so grateful
to God, and so king and courteous to his neighbour and to the poor. For
know, dear brother, that courtesy is one of the attributes of God, who
sendeth his rain on the just and on the unjust; for courtesy is the sister
of charity, it extinguisheth hatred and kindleth love. I have discovered
in this good man such divine virtues, that I would most willingly have
him as a companion. On some future day we will pay him another visit, for
possibly the Lord may touch his heart, and induce him to follow us in his
service; in the meantime we will pray God to put this desire into his heart,
and give him grace to execute it." Now a few days after St Francis had
made this prayer, the Lord touched the heart of the nobleman; and the saint
said to his companion; "Let us go, my brother, to the dwelling of that
courteous nobleman, as I hope in God that, amongst his temporal gifts,
he will offer himself and join our Order"; and they set out accordingly.
As they arrived near the house, St Francis said to his companion: "Wait
for me a little, that I may first ask the Lord to prosper our journey,
and pray that it may please our Saviour Jesus Christ, through his holy
Passion, to take from the world this virtuous nobleman, and confide him
to us, his poor weak servants." Having said this, he knelt down in a spot
where he could be seen by the nobleman, who was walking to and fro in his
rooms; and it pleased God that he should perceive St Francis as he prayed
in the presence of Christ, who appeared in great glory and stood before
him; he saw, too, that for a long space of time the saint was raised above
the earth. On seeing this he felt in his heart so great a desire to leave
the world, that he hastened our of his palace, and with great fervour of
spirit ran to St Francis, and kneeling at his feet implored him earnestly
and devoutly to receive him into his Order, and allow him to do penance
with him. Then the saint, seeing that his prayer was granted, and that
the nobleman asked of him the accomplishment of his wish, arose and embraced
him joyfully, devoutly returning thanks to God, who had made such a present
to his Order. And the nobleman said to St Francis: "What wilt thou have
me to do, my father? I am ready to obey thee, and give all I possess to
the poor, in order to follow Christ with thee, without any hindrance from
things temporal." And following the advice of the saint, he distributed
all he possessed to the poor, and entered the Order, living a life of holiness
and penance, and speaking always of divine things.
As St Francis and Brother Elias were living together in a convent, it
was revealed by God to St Francis that Brother Elias was damned, seeing
he was about to apostatise, and that he would die out of the Order. In
consequence of this revelation, the saint took such a dislike to him that
he neither spoke to him nor conversed with him; and when Brother Elias
went towards him, he turned away and took another direction, in order not
to meet him. Now Brother Elias perceiving, and seeing that St Francis disliked
him, was anxious to know the reason. He therefore accosted him one day
in order to speak with him, the saint endeavouring, as usual, to avoid
him; but Brother Elias retained him courteously, and begged him to say
why he avoided his company, and refused to speak to him. St Francis answered:
"This is the reason: it has been revealed to me by God that thou wilt apostatise,
and die out of the Order; also that, because of thy sins, thou art damned."
On hearing this Brother Elias said: "My reverend father, I implore thee,
by the love of Christ Jesus, not to despise me for this reason, nor send
me from thee; but like a good shepherd, following the example of thy Master,
to seek and save the lamb which will perish without thy help. Pray to God
for me, that, if possible, he may revoke the sentence of my damnation;
for it is written, that the Lord will forgive the sinner if he repent of
his sin; and I have such faith in thy prayers that were I even in hell
and thou wert to pray for me, I should find refreshment, I implore thee,
then, that thou recommend me, a sinner, to God, who came into the world
to save sinners, that he may have mercy on me." This request Brother Elias
made with so much fervour and so many tears, that St Francis had compassion
on him, and promised to pray for him, which he did; and as he prayed most
devoutly, the Lord revealed to him that his prayer was granted; that the
sentence of damnation pronounced on Brother Elias had been revoked; that
his soul would be finally saved; but that he would leave the Order and
die out of it; and so it happened. For Frederick, King of Sicily, having
rebelled against the Church, was excommunicated by the Pope, with all those
who gave him aid or counsel. Brother Elias being looked upon as one of
the most learned men in the world, King Frederick sent for him, wishing
to see him. He obeyed the summons, and thus rebelled against the Church;
for which reason he was excommunicated by the Pope, and deprived of the
habit of St Francis. Soon after the excommunication he fell dangerously
ill; and a lay brother who belonged to the Order, a man of holy life, having
heard of his illness, went to visit him, and amongst other things said
to him: "My dear Brother, I grieve to see thee thus excommunicated and
out of the Order, and that probably thou wilt die in this state. If there
is any way by which I can deliver thee from this danger, most willingly
would I undergo any trouble and fatigue to help thee." Brother Elias answered:
"My Brother, I see no other way but that thou go to the Pope and entreat
him, for the love of God and of St Francis his servant, upon whose teaching
I gave up the world, to absolve me from this excommunication, and restore
to me my religious habit." And the lay brother said he would most willingly
undertake the journey for his salvation; and taking leave of him, he went
to the Pope, and humbly kneeling before him implored him to take pity on
Brother Elias, for the love of Christ and of St Francis his servant. And
it pleased God that the holy Father granted his request, telling him to
return to him, and if he found him alive to tell him in his name that he
was absolved from the excommunication, and that the habit of his Order
was restored to him. He hastened back to Brother Elias with this joyful
news, and, finding him on the point of death, gave him the message of the
Pope, telling him that he was absolved from the excommunication, and that
his habit was restored to him. On this Brother Elias departed from this
world, his soul being saved by the merits and prayers of St Francis, in
which he had placed such great faith.
That wonderful vessel of the Holy Spirit, St Anthony of Padua, one of
the chosen disciples and companions of St Francis, whom the latter called
his Vicar, was preaching one day before the Pope and the Cardinals in Consistory;
there being present men of divers nations - Greeks, Latins, French, Germans,
Slavs, English, and others; and he was so inflamed by the Holy Spirit,
and explained the word of God so devoutly, so sweetly, so clearly, and
in a manner so efficacious and so learned, that all those who were in the
Consistory, though they spoke different languages, understood what he said
as perfectly as if he had spoken the language of each. And they were all
full of wonder, for it seemed to them as if the miracle of the Apostles
at the time of Pentecost had been renewed, when the Holy Spirit taught
them to speak all languages; and they said among themselves: "Does not
he that preacheth come from Spain? How is it, then, that in his words we
each hear our own tongue spoken?" And the Pope, as much surprised as the
others, considering the deep meaning of his words, exclaimed: "In truth
this man is the Ark of the Testament, and the treasure of the Holy Scriptures."
Christ, the blessed one, was pleased to show forth the great sanctity
of his most faithful servant St Anthony, and how men ought devoutly to
listen to his preaching, be means of creatures without reason. On one occasion,
amongst others, he made use of fish to reprove the folly of faithless heretics:
even as we read in the Old Testament that in ancient times he reproved
the ignorance of Balaam by the mouth of an ass. St Anthony being at one
time at Rimini, where there were a great number of heretics, and wishing
to lead them by the light of faith into the way of truth, preached to them
for several days, and reasoned with them on the faith of Christ and on
the Holy Scriptures. They not only resisted his words, but were hardened
and obstinate, refusing to listen to him. At last St Anthony, inspired
by God, went down to the sea-shore, where the river runs into the sea,
and having placed himself on a bank between the river and the sea, he began
to speak to the fishes as if the Lord had sent him to preach to them, and
said: "Listen to the word of God, O ye fishes of the sea and of the river,
seeing that the faithless heretics refuse to do so." No sooner had he spoken
these words than suddenly so great a multitude of fishes, both small and
great, approached the bank on which he stood, that never before had so
many been seen in the sea or the river. All kept their heads out of the
water, and seemed to be looking attentively on St Anthony's face; all were
ranged in perfect order and most peacefully, the smaller ones in front
near the bank, after them came those a little bigger, and last of all,
were the water was deeper, the largest. When they had placed themselves
in this order, St Anthony began to preach to them most solemnly, saying:
"My brothers the fishes, you are bound, as much as is in your power, to
return thanks to your Creator, who has given you so noble an element for
your dwelling; for you have at your choice both sweet water and salt; you
have many places of refuge from the tempest; you have likewise a pure and
transparent element for your nourishment. God, your bountiful and kind
Creator, when he made you, ordered you to increase and multiply, and gave
you his blessing. In the universal deluge, all other creatures perished;
you alone did God preserve from all harm. He has given you fins to enable
you to go where you will. To you was it granted, according to the commandment
of God, to keep the prophet Jonas, and after three days to throw him safe
and sound on dry land. You it was who gave the tribute-money to our Saviour
Jesus Christ, when, through his poverty, he had not wherewith to pay. By
a singular mystery you were the nourishment of the eternal King, Jesus
Christ, before and after his resurrection. Because of all these things
you are bound to praise and bless the Lord, who has given you blessings
so many and so much greater than to other creatures." At these words the
fish began to open their mouths, and bow their heads, endeavouring as much
as was in their power to express their reverence and show forth their praise.
St Anthony, seeing the reverence of the fish towards their Creator, rejoiced
greatly in spirit, and said with a loud voice: "Blessed be the eternal
God; for the fishes of the sea honour him more than men without faith,
and animals without reason listen to his word with greater attention than
sinful heretics." And whilst St Anthony was preaching, the number of fishes
increased, and none of them left the place that he had chosen. And the
people of the city hearing of the miracle, made haste to go and witness
it. With them also came the heretics of whom we have spoken above, who,
seeing so wonderful and manifest a miracle, were touched in their hearts;
and threw themselves at the feet of St Anthony to hear his words. The saint
then began to expound to them the Catholic faith. He preached so eloquently,
that all those heretics were converted, and returned to the true faith
of Christ; the faithful also were filled with joy, and greatly comforted,
being strengthened in the faith. After this St Anthony sent away the fishes,
with the blessing of God; and they all departed, rejoicing as they went,
and the people returned to the city. But St Anthony remained at Rimini
for several days, preaching and reaping much spiritual fruit in the souls
of his hearers.
About the beginning of the Order, and during the lifetime of St Francis,
a young man from Assisi took the habit, whose name was Simon; and the Lord
adorned him with such graces and such elevation of mind, that all his life
long he was a mirror of sanctity, as I have heard from those who lived
with him for a long time. He very seldom left his cell, and whenever he
was in company with the brothers he spoke always of God. He had never learned
grammar, yet he talked of divine things and of the love of Christ in so
elevated a way and with such profound wisdom, that his words seemed to
be supernatural. One evening he went into the wood with Brother James of
Massa to speak of God, and they spent the whole night conversing sweetly
on divine love. When morning dawned they seemed to have been together but
a few minutes, as the said Brother James told me himself. Brother Simon
was so completely absorbed by the joy of these divine communications with
God, and his spirit was so overflowing with love, that he was often obliged
to lie down, as the tranquil sweetness which came over him with the Holy
Spirit required not only the repose of the soul, but likewise that of the
body; and during these divine visitations he was often rapt in God, and
quite insensible to all bodily things. On one occasion, as he was thus
rapt in God, and insensible to the world, his heart was so burning with
divine love that his bodily senses were dead to all things external. A
brother wishing to convince himself if this really was the case, as it
appeared to be, took a piece of burning coal out of the fire, and put it
on his foot; and Brother Simon, neither felt it, nor did it leave any mark,
though it was left there some time, until it went out of itself. The said
Brother Simon, when he sat down to his meals, before nourishing his body
took and gave to those around him the nourishment of the soul, by speaking
of God. A young man of San Severino, who had been excessively vain and
worldly, and who was of noble blood and of delicate habits, was converted
by means of the holy conversation of Brother Simon, and entered the Order.
When he received him into the convent he took from him his secular dress,
and the young man remained with Brother Simon, to be instructed in the
Rule. The devil, who is ever on the watch to do evil, tempted him so strongly
in the flesh, that he felt it impossible to resist; and going to Brother
Simon, he said to him: "Give me back my clothes which I wore in the world,
as I cannot resist this temptation of the flesh." Brother Simon, feeling
for him great compassion, said to him: "Sit down here awhile with me, my
son"; and he spoke to him of God so earnestly, that the temptation left
him. Shortly after, however, it returned, and he went again and asked for
his clothes, and Brother Simon delivered him from it by speaking to him
of God, and he did the same thing several times. At last, one night the
temptation assailed him again with such force, that he felt it was quite
impossible to resist; and he went to Brother Simon, and implored him to
give him back his scholar's dress, as he could no longer remain in the
convent. Then Brother Simon, as usual, made him sit down by his side, and
talked to him of God; the young man listened, and bowing his head sorrowfully,
laid it on Brother Simon's breast. The latter, filled with compassion,
raised his eyes to heaven, and prayed that the Lord would have pity on
him. As he prayed he was rapt in ecstasy, and his prayer was granted. When
he came back to himself, he found the young man quite freed from the temptation,
and as calm as if he had never been assaulted; the evil spirit which had
raged in his heart was, as it were, converted into the Spirit of God, for
he had approached the burning coal of divine love - that is to say, Brother
Simon - and his heart henceforth was inflamed with the love of God and
of his neighbours. Finding himself on one occasion with a malefactor who
had been condemned to have both eyes torn out, this young man felt such
compassion for him that he went bodily to the governor, and in full council
implored him with tears and prayers to allow him to give one of his eyes,
so that the malefactor might not lose both. The governor and all those
who composed his council were so touched by the charity of the monk, that
they pardoned the culprit. Brother Simon being one day in prayer in the
forest, and being greatly annoyed by a flock of crows who disturbed him
in his meditations by their cries, he ordered them in the name of Christ,
to go away, and never to return again; and the birds flew away at his command,
and were never again seen or heard in all the country round about. And
all the custody of Fermo, where the convent was situated, bore testimony
to this miracle.