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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6367.txt b/6367.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8988607 --- /dev/null +++ b/6367.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15295 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of +Assisi, by Father Candide Chalippe + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi + +Author: Father Candide Chalippe + +Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6367] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 2, 2002] +[Date last updated: January 18, 2004] + + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANCIS OF ASSISI *** + + + + +Produced by Scott Pfenninger, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +THE LIFE AND LEGENDS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF FATHER CANDIDE CHALIPPE, O.F.M. + +REVISED AND RE-EDITED BY FATHER HILARION DUERK, O.F.M. + +Imprimatur FATHER SAMUEL MACKE O.F.M. _Min. Prov._ St. Louis +September 1, 1917 + +Nihil obstat ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S.T.D. _Censur Librarum_ + +Imprimatur JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY _New York_ + +This Jubilee Edition of the Life and Legends of St. Francis of Assisi +is Respectfully Dedicated to all Members of the Third Order in the +City of Cleveland and Vicinity, above all, to the Nobel Patrons and +Zealous Workers of Our Tertiary Branches. + + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +The Life and Legends of St. Francis of Assisi by Father Candide +Chalippe, O.F.M., need no apology. The work was first published at +Paris in 1727. It is not only well written and reliable withal, but +also instructive, elevating and inspiring. The facts and legends +mentioned are drawn from the oldest and most reliable sources. The +abundance of incidents and anecdotes not to be found elsewhere make +the volume eminently interesting, while the reflexions and applications +which the author now and then interweaves with the narrative are so +replete with practical hints on spiritual life, that they will +undoubtedly produce the best spiritual results in the reader. The style +though simple, at times graphic, is very pleasing; the narrative flows +on with equal ease and freedom. + +In 1852 a priest from the Oratory of St. Philip Neri made a translation +into English from what was then the latest French edition. This French +edition came from the press in 1850. With the English translation the +original work appeared in an abridged form. The original work is divided +into six books, the English translation contains but half of these, +so rearranged for the sake of clearness that they form five books. +Most elucidations of the original work regarding characteristics of +St. Francis, events and dates that are doubtful, are omitted, likewise +most of the writings of St. Francis. The former were and still are +undergoing changes, owing to new historical researches and discoveries +made by students of Franciscan sources, while the latter were but +lately again newly translated into English and edited as completely +as possible with many critical notes and references of great value by +the scholarly Father Paschal Robinson, O.F.M.--The Writings of St. +Francis of Assisi by Father Paschal Robinson, O.F.M. The Dolphin Press, +1906. + +The marvellous progress the Third Order of St. Francis is making in +this country causes the story of the life of St. Francis that is +herewith presented to the public in a newly revised edition to be +especially welcome. For all Tertiaries know that mere devotion to St. +Francis is of itself not sufficient to acquire the spirit of their +Seraphic Father; all are aware that membership in the Third Order does +not necessarily argue the possession of this spirit--and yet, every +real Tertiary desires nothing more than to acquire the poor, humble, +loving spirit of St. Francis. This spirit can scarcely be acquired, +unless the life of St. Francis be well known, meditated upon and +imitated as far as practicable. The Life and Legends of St. Francis +of Assisi by Father Candide Chalippe, O.F.M., is peculiarly adapted +to help Tertiaries to perform this task; the spirit of St. Francis +breathes in every page. Not once, but several times may Tertiaries +read this book to great advantage. With every reading new items of +interest will be discovered, new lessons will present themselves to +be learnt, new inspirations will be imparted to the soul from above. +The more this book is read, the more it will be loved; the more it is +studied, the more it will be admired. For Tertiaries a book of this +kind is a necessity; it is as necessary for them as a text-book is +for a scholar. + +May this wonderful work spread in the future even more rapidly than +before, may it receive the hearty welcome it deserves among the +innumerable Tertiaries and clients of St. Francis of Assisi and be to +them a sure guide to God's abundant graces in this world and to life +everlasting in the next. + + + + +PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR + +WHEREIN THE PREJUDICES OF CERTAIN PERSONS AGAINST MIRACLES WHICH ARE +RECORDED IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS ARE SHOWN TO BE BOTH UNREASONABLE +AND DANGEROUS, AND THAT THE MIRACLES ATTRIBUTED TO SAINT FRANCIS ARE +VERY WELL AUTHENTICATED. + + +A very common failing amongst men is to adopt one extreme in the +endeavor to avoid another, and sometimes not to perceive that the +extreme into which they fall is greater than that which they had sought +to flee from. To insure themselves against weak incredulity, some have +imbibed such prejudice against the miracles in the Lives of the Saints, +that they cannot endure to hear of them; the very ideas of miracles, +revelations, ecstasies, visions, apparitions, are hateful and disgusting +to them; all that is said on these subjects they look upon as fabulous +and incredible; they call in question the most undeniable evidence, +or attribute these wonders to natural and unknown causes. The wonders +which are recorded in the Life of St, Francis, afford an opportunity +of grappling with these prejudices. + +In the first place, no man using his right reason will reject the +wonders recorded in the Lives of the Saints, because of their +impossibility. Miracles are extraordinary events, which break through +the laws of nature, and exceed the force of all natural causes; it is +only necessary to make use of our reason to be aware that God, whose +power is infinite, having freely established these laws, may, whenever +He thinks fit, break through them Himself by the ministry of His +creatures, whom He makes use of as He pleases; that these suspensions +may enter into the external designs of His wisdom and providence, and +that they occur by successive acts, without there having been any +change in Him, because it is an act of His will which causes them, as +it does every other thing. Now this proves that miracles are possible, +and that there is no impossibility in the wonders recorded in the Lives +of the Saints. + +In the second place, these wonders ought not to cause an incredulous +surprise in any sensible person who pays due attention to the wonders +of nature. "Man," says St. Augustine, "sees extraordinary things happen, +and he admires them, while he himself, the admirer, is a great wonder, +and a much greater miracle than any things which are done by the +intervention of man. There is nothing more marvellous done in the +world, which is not less wonderful than the world itself. All nature +is full of what is miraculous; we seem unconscious of it, because we +see those things daily, and because this daily repetition lowers them +in our eyes. And this is one reason why God has reserved to Himself +other things out of the common course of nature, on which He shows His +power from time to time, in order that their novelty may strike us; +but when we consider attentively, and with reflection, the miracles +we constantly see, we find that they are far greater than others, +however surprising and uncommon these may be." + +The holy doctor admits that the prodigies which are out of the common +course of nature, and which are properly called miracles, are to be +viewed with astonishment, since they are works of God, worthy of +admiration; he only requires that the surprise they cause shall be +qualified by a consideration of the wonders of nature, to which he +likewise gives the name of miracles, in a more extended sense: on the +same principle, and _a fortiori_, what there is surprising in them +should not make them appear to us incredible. An enlightened mind +does not believe in miracles which are communicated to him, unless due +proof of them is adduced; but it is not because what is wonderful in +them renders him incredulous, because he sees more marvellous things +in the universe and in himself. If men who apply themselves to the +study of nature, are pertinacious in refusing to believe in the miracles +of the saints, it is because they do not make use of the light they +have received, and do not reason deductively; they have only sought +to gratify their curiosity, or to gain credit for their discoveries; +and do not some of them lose themselves in their speculations, and +become impious, even so as to recognize no other God than nature itself? + +In the third place, faith in the great mysteries of religion must +incline us to believe in the wonders we read in the Lives of the Saints. +Are we, then, not called upon to say to those whose prejudices we +oppose: "As you belong to the society of the faithful, you not only +believe that three Persons make only one God; that the Son of God was +made man; that the dead shall rise again; but also, that Jesus Christ +becomes every day present on our altars, under the species of bread +and wine, at the words of consecration; and you believe all the other +astonishing wonders that are proposed to you in our holy religion: +why, then, do you find such repugnance in believing those of the Lives +of the Saints, which are far inferior to the former"? + +It is useless to say in answer, that these last are only based on human +testimony, which we are not obliged to receive; that the mysteries are +propounded to us by Divine authority, to which we are bound to submit; +for this is not the question before us. We only compare one wonder +with another, and we maintain that the belief in the one should +facilitate the belief in the other. In fact, if we believe with a firm +and unshaken faith what God, in His goodness, has been pleased to +effect for the salvation of all men, and what He continues daily to +effect in the Eucharist; may we not easily convince ourselves that He +may have given extraordinary marks of His affection for his most +faithful servants? + +In the fourth place, similar wonders to those which are found in the +Lives of the Saints are also found in the Holy Scriptures. Raptures, +ecstasies, frequent visions and apparitions, continual revelations, +an infinity of miracles, miraculous fasts of forty days, are things +recorded in the Old and New Testaments. We believe all these wonderful +circumstances, and we are obliged to believe them, although they far +surpass our understanding; on what, then, shall we rely for maintaining +that the wonders recorded in the Lives of the Saints are improbable, +and that we may reasonably call them in question? Reason, on the +contrary, marks them as so much the more probable and worthy of credit, +as we know and believe similar ones which we may not doubt of. +Christians should be accustomed to what is marvellous, and require +nothing but proofs for the most unusual prodigies. + +In the fifth place, the promise which Jesus made that the power of +working miracles should be given to true believers, gives authority +to the belief in miracles in the Lives of the Saints. "Amen, amen, I +say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do he shall do +also, and greater than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. +And whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, that will I do." "And +these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast +out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up +serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt +them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover." + +Our Saviour, according to the doctrine of the Holy Fathers, has promised +the gift of miracles, not to each one of the faithful in particular, +but to the Church in general; and His promise is for all times, when +the good of religion requires its accomplishment. Heretics pretend +that it only related to the days of the apostles, and that miracles +were only required for the establishment of the faith. What right have +they to limit the words of the Son of God? Do they imagine that they +understand the Scriptures better than the holy doctors? How will they +prove that since the time of the apostles there have been no +combinations of circumstances in which the good of religion shall have +required that miracles should be performed? They were required for the +infidels, to whom the Gospel has been preached in different centuries, +as well as for the Greek and Roman idolaters, to whom it was first +announced. The Church has required them to silence the heretics who +have successively endeavored to impugn her dogmas, and to strengthen +the faith of her own children. They have been always useful for +manifesting the eminence of virtue, for the glory of God, for the +conversion of sinners, for reanimating piety, for nourishing and +strengthening the hopes of the good things of another life. We are, +therefore, justified in saying that the promise of Jesus Christ is for +all times, in certain occasions, and that the belief in the miracles +in the Lives of the Saints is authorized thereby. + +In the sixth place, that there have been miracles in the Lives of the +Saints are facts, the proofs of which are unquestionable. The Acts of +the Martyrs, which have always been read in the Church, and the +genuineness of which has been admitted by the most talented critics, +contain recitals of the most wonderful events: the confessors of the +faith instantaneously cured, after having undergone the most cruel +tortures; wild beasts tamed and crouching at their feet; lights and +celestial voices, apparitions of Jesus Christ and His angels, and many +other wonderful circumstances. + +In the first six centuries there are scarcely any ecclesiastical writers +and Holy Fathers who do not record miracles worked by the servants of +God, and by their relics; and they speak of them as of things which +they have either seen with their own eyes, or were of public notoriety. + +Saint Justin Martyr, in the second century, speaking of the power of +Jesus Christ over the demons, in his Apology, addressed to the Emperors +Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, and to the Roman Senate, says: "You +have proofs of what passes before your eyes, and in your city, and in +all the rest of the world; for you know that many of those possessed, +not having been able to be delivered by your exorcists, enchanters, +and magicians, have been so by the Christians who have exorcised them +in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate." + +Saint Ireneus assures us that in the same century some true disciples +of Jesus Christ had received supernatural gifts, which they made use +of advantageously for other men: "Some," says he, "drive away devils; +and this is certain, that often those who have been delivered embrace +the faith, and join the Church. To others it is given to know the +future, and to have prophetic visions. Others cure the sick by the +imposition of hands, and restore them to perfect health. Very often, +even in every place, and for some requisite cause, the brethren solicit, +by fasting and fervent prayers, the resurrection of a dead person, and +obtain it; these dead, thus revived, have lived with us for several +years afterwards. What shall I say further? It is not possible to +enumerate the extraordinary gifts which the Church receives from God, +and what she operates in every part of the world, in favor of the +nations, in the name of Jesus Christ crucified." + +"We can," says Origen, writing against Celsus, "show an immense +multitude of Greeks and barbarians who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ; +there are some who prove their faith by the power of working miracles. +They cure the sick by invoking their God, the Creator and the Sovereign +Lord of all things; and the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, of whose +Gospel they recite a part. We ourselves have seen several sick persons +delivered from the most formidable maladies, and the cured are too +numerous to be counted." + +Tertullian, in his Apology, and in another work, records plainly the +miraculous fall of rain which was obtained from heaven by the prayers +of the Christian soldiers, which saved the army of the Emperor Marcus +Aurelius, which was reduced to the last extremity. He proves the truth +of this fact by the very letter of the emperor. We have also authentic +proofs of this event in the authors and records of paganism itself. +Tertullian, likewise, tells us that the pagans received extraordinary +graces by means of the Christians, some of which he quotes, and he +adds: "How many persons of distinction, without mentioning other people, +have been thus delivered from the devil, and cured of their evils!" + +St. Cyprian upbraided an idolater in the following terms, while refuting +him: "The gods whom you adore we exorcise in the name of the true God, +and they are compelled to leave the bodies which they possessed. Oh, +if you chose to see and hear them, when suffering under the power of +our words, as if they were spiritual scourges, and feeling the secret +operation of the Divine Mastery! They howl terrifically, entreat of +us to spare them, declare, in presence of their adorers, whence they +came, and confess a future judgment. Come and be convinced of the truth +of what we say; to be at least moved. Those whom you adore, fear us; +those to whom you pray, entreat of us to spare them; those whom you +revere as sovereigns, are as prisoners in our hands, and tremble as +so many slaves. We interrogate them, and in your presence they declare +what they are; they cannot dissemble the impostures which they make +use of to deceive you." + +Such are the miracles which many of God's servants operated in the +second and third centuries, and which cannot be called in question. +How many different kinds are recorded in subsequent times by St. Basil, +and by St. Gregory of Nyssa, in the life of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus; +by St. Athanasius in the life of St. Anthony; by Sulpicius Severus, +in the life of St. Martin; by St. Chrysostom, St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, +St. Augustine, St. Paulinus, in many parts of their works; by Theodoret, +in his religious history; by Pope St. Gregory, in his dialogues; by +St. Hilary of Arles, St. Ouen, and very many others worthy of credit! + +These saintly and learned Bishops, Avitus, Metropolitan of Vienne, +Stephen of Lyons, Eon of Arles, conferring with the Arians, in presence +of Gondebauld, King of the Burgundians, after having proved the +consubstantiality of the Word, by the testimony of the Scripture, and +by powerful arguments, offered to give additional proof thereof by +miracles, if the heretics would promise to acquiesce in consequence; +and quoted the example of St. Remigius, Apostle of the French, who was +then living, and setting up the faith on the ruins of idolatry by a +multitude of prodigies. + +The miracles operated by means of relics are neither less well +authenticated, nor less celebrated; they were known to the whole world. +St. Augustine was an eyewitness of them; being at Milan when St. Ambrose +discovered, by means of a revelation, the spot where the bodies of SS. +Gervasius and Protasius reposed. He saw a great many miracles performed +in Africa by the relics of St. Stephen, of which he makes mention in +his book of the City of God, written for the confutation of the most +learned of the pagans, wherein he says that, to quote only those +operated in the Dioceses of Calame and Hippo, several books would not +suffice. Nicetius, Bishop of Treves, writing to Clodosvinda, or +Glotinda, Queen of the Lombards, to exhort her to solicit the conversion +of King Alboin, her husband, advised her to make use of the visible +miracles which were operated at the tomb of St Martin, and by the +invocation of St. Germanus, St. Hilary, St. Lupus, St. Remigius, and +St. Medardus. They were so evident, that the heretics dared not call +them in question, and could not deprive them of their splendor. God +made use of these for the conversion of kings, and of the entire +nations. + +In all ages after the six first centuries, the prodigies of the Lives +of the Saints are noticed by numerous authors of all countries, whose +talents, learning, probity, holiness, and dignity, render them +respectable to the most searching critics. They are supported by +incontrovertible evidence, by juridical depositions, by authentic acts, +and by splendid monuments which have been erected to their memory by +bishops, princes, magistrates, cities and kingdoms to perpetuate the +recollections of these splendid achievements. We find that the saints +have made numerous predictions, which have been justified by the event; +and that, either moved by the Spirit of God, or compelled by obedience, +they have admitted the supernatural operations which they felt in their +souls. Finally, the prodigies which are found in the Lives of the +Saints have always been considered as indubitable facts amongst the +faithful; the Church recognizes them, and they form one of the objects +of their piety and devotion; no one is placed in the catalogue of +saints whose sanctity has not been attested from heaven, by means of +miracles; and she takes such rigorous precautions, and carries their +strictness so far, that, according to all human prudence, it is +impossible she should be deceived. + +We now ask whether it can be permitted to think and to say that such +facts are absolutely false, and should only be looked upon as fables +unworthy of credence? In such case it would be necessary to abrogate +the rule judiciously and universally received in the world, that facts +which have nothing incredible in themselves are not to be controverted +when duly proved; it would be also necessary to refuse credence to all +that is related in sacred and profane history; to lay down as a maxim +to believe nothing but what we see, and to refuse to receive the +testimony of the honorable people with whom we live. Now, this is what +is requisite to prove and convince every man of good sense that the +prejudice against the miracles of the Lives of the Saints is quite +unreasonable; but this does not point out its quality sufficiently; +it is senseless and ridiculous, it is rash, and, what is more, it is +dangerous. + +Whoever denies what the Fathers of the Church attest as having seen, +or having been authentically informed of, must conclude that they were +either very credulous, or deceived the people. To refuse to believe +the marvels which have reached us by an uniform and universal tradition, +is to call in question all tradition; to render all its channels +suspicious, and to cause it to be looked upon as a questionable +proposition. What can be thought of the saints, if the miraculous +graces, which they certify that they have received from God, are to +be treated as chimeras; if the accomplishment of what they have +foretold, is to be attributed to chance? What even can be thought of +their most heroic victims? What opinion will be formed of their acts? +Will they be deemed more trustworthy in other matters? When it is +asserted that there have been no miracles since the days of the +apostles, it must be said, by a necessary consequence, that the Church, +which grounds canonization on miracles, makes use of falsehood in that +most solemn and religious act, and that the public worship which the +Church directs is uncertain. Now this very much resembles heresy; for +the great principles of religion teach us that on these occasions the +Church receives peculiar enlightenment from the Holy Ghost, by which +she can neither be deceived herself, nor can she deceive others. + +These miracles, it is said, are not articles of faith, and the Church +does not oblige us to believe them. As if nothing was believed in the +world but such things as are of faith; as if it was not dangerous +obstinately to reject those things which are sanctioned by the authority +of the Holy Fathers, by reason and by piety, by tradition and by the +Church, and which cannot be rejected without fatal consequences! + +This incredulity attacks, moreover, one of the proofs of the divinity +of Jesus Christ, which the fathers adduced against the pagans. St. +Chrysostom having asserted, on the subject of the miracles of the +martyr, St. Babylas, that our Saviour, on the night of His Passion, +had promised to those who should believe in Him, the power of working +these miracles, adds: "It had been antecedently seen that many had +taken upon themselves the character of masters, who had disciples, and +who boast of performing wonders; nevertheless, we do not hear of any +who had ventured to promise their disciples the same power. The +insolence of their impostures did not go so far, because they knew +that no one would believe them; all the world being convinced that it +is only given to God to make a similar promise, and to fulfil it." On +this principle the holy doctor proves that Jesus Christ is God, since +He has given to those who believe in Him the power of working miracles, +which His disciples actually did, and which His servants now do. St. +Augustine makes use of the same proofs, in his book of the City of +God. Thus the miracles of the saints have in all ages been adduced as +proofs of the Divinity of our Saviour; and this is what those endeavor +to do away with, who, without reflection, consider them as fables. + +Another danger is, that they speak of these marvels according to their +own prejudices. They openly say that they do not believe them, and +that persons ought not to have the weakness to believe them; they speak +contemptuously of the books in which they are recorded; they cannot +endure that they should form part of panegyrics of the saints. They +make use of impious derisions, and turn into ridicule the faithful who +credit them, and they censure the conduct of the Church which +consecrates them. Such discourse sanctions heresy and licentiousness; +worldlings and the indevout applaud it, the tepid seem to consent to +it, and the falsely devout approve it; it is a scandal to the weak, +and a dishonor to religion. + +It is also to be feared that prejudices against what is wonderful in +the Lives of the Saints may spread to other subjects, if we only judge +from the principles which are the cause of them. For, in what do these +principles consist? They are not grounded on reason or religion; they +must, therefore, have a basis of incredulity for everything which they +do not understand: the foolish vanity of being thought singular; +ignorance, which boldly repudiates what it knows nothing of; keeping +company with libertines; a conformity of feeling with heretics, and +the spirit of the world, which is the enemy of all piety. Such +calamitous causes give room to fear the most fatal effects. + +In general, the liberty only to believe those things which we choose, +on points in which religion is concerned, is very dangerous; it often +makes a destructive progress, for its first attempts embolden it. +Persons are easily persuaded that all miraculous narratives are false, +though the Church guarantees the truth of many; and when this same +Church pronounces on dogmatical facts, declaring: such and such +propositions to be heretical which are in such and such a book, and +exacts an interior submission of heart and mind, do these doubters +show more docility? Do they not cloak their disobedience by a respectful +silence, always ill kept and finally broken through by open rebellion? +Do we not see persons in the world speaking irreverently of relics, +purgatory, indulgences, and even of the holy mysteries, after having +treated contemptuously the marvels of the Lives of the Saints? + +Certain critics admit these marvels, but have imbibed the idea that +falsehood is so mixed up with the truth, that they cannot be separated +but by using certain rules, which they take upon themselves to lay +down. This prejudice is not less dangerous, nor less unreasonable than +the other. + +Because some inconsiderate writers, who cannot be too severely censured, +have given scope to their imagination in certain legends, and have +employed fiction for the embellishment of their narratives, the doubters +pretend that the whole history of the saints is full of impostures; +nevertheless, pure sources have been the basis of their authentic acts, +in the works of the Fathers, and in an infinity of authors well worthy +of credit, and in the Bulls of Canonization. An Asiatic priest, as +related by St. Jerome, who quotes Tertullian, composed false acts of +St. Thecla through an ill-understood sentiment of devotion:--does it +follow from that that the truth of many other acts which were there +read, and which we still possess, is to be set aside? Moreover, the +Church has remedied the evil; she has rejected the false prodigies; +she has expunged from the legends the indiscreet additions; a new +edition has been long since placed in the hands of the faithful, which +only contains the well-authenticated and certain miracles. + +A learned man has demonstrated that the rules of these critics for the +elucidation of these miracles are not judicious; that they are +extravagant, and that it would be risking too much to follow them; +that they are contradictory, and not in unison with each other; that +it often happens that they reject or admit miracles against their own +principles. If they find splendid ones, and many of them in the same +legend, they hold them to be suppositions or altered, although, the +oldest and most authentic documents contain similar ones; they reject +them as false, without assigning any reason in proof of their having +been falsified; they pretend that the authors who have recorded them +were too credulous, though they received other articles on the testimony +of these same authors. In order to believe them, they require perfect +certainty, although they give credit to many circumstances in +ecclesiastical and profane history on mere probabilities. One of them +professes not to omit a single miracle which is vouched for by good +authority, nevertheless, he suppresses many of the most considerable; +and many of those which he feels compelled to bring forward, he does +so in terms which mark doubtfulness, to say nothing more. + +Thus, the ultra-critics while admitting the wonders of the Lives of +the Saints, reduce them to nothing by rules, which they invent for +separating truth from falsehood, as those who profess to believe an +infallible authority in the Church make that infallibility to depend +on so many conditions, that they may always maintain that the Church, +dispersed or assembled, has never come to any decision in opposition +to their errors. + +It is, they say, the love of truth which induces them to examine most +scrupulously the miracles of the saints; nothing should be believed, +or be proposed to belief, but what is true. But Bossuet said of bad +critics: "They are content, provided they can pass for more subtle +observers than others, and they find themselves sharper, in not giving +credit to so many wonders." The love of truth does not consist in +denying its existence, where so many persons of first-rate genius have +found it; it does not depend on rendering obscure the light it sheds, +nor in giving to the public Lives of Saints accompanied by a dry, +bitter, and licentious criticism, calculated to throw doubt on all +that is extraordinary in them, and thereby to give scandal. The learned +Jesuits, the continuators of Bollandus, show, by the precision of their +researches, that they are sincere lovers of truth, but we do not see +that they endeavor to diminish the number of miracles: "They have no +idea of taking them for fictions; nothing astonishes them in the lives +of the friends of God, provided it be well attested." Father Thomassen, +of the Oratory, in his treatise on the Celebration of Festivals, speaks +of a miraculous event which occurred in the sixth century, and which +is reported by Bollandus, and he adds: "These sorts of miracles are +by no means articles of faith, but nevertheless, they are not to be +rejected by sage and considerate persons. Upon reading the works of +St. Cyprian, St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, and St. Jerome, and those of +St. Gregory of Nyssa, of St. Basil, and St. Athanasius, we can have +no doubt that these fathers had no difficulty in believing similar +occurrences, similarly attested. St. Augustine, indeed, has related +several much more incredible; and it is greatly to be feared that to +set one's self above the Augustines, the Jeromes, the Gregories, and +the most learned Fathers of the Church, must be the effect of a most +dangerous pride." + +It is objected that the multitude is credulous; that it likes the +marvellous, and should not be exposed to believe untruths. But credulity +is far less dangerous than incredulity; the one admits of cure much +easier than the other; the former, in proper limits, may be very useful, +the latter engenders nothing but evil. Some one has said, that the +love of the marvellous is the ancient malady of mankind; it would, +perhaps, be more accurate to say, that it is a remainder of their +original greatness; and that, being created to witness the marvels of +the Divinity, they are impelled, by an interior impulse, to believe +whatsoever seems to them to approach to them, until such, time as their +visions shall be fully gratified. This impulse only becomes a malady +when it receives wonderful things which are absurd, or without any +foundation. Aversion from the marvellous, which has its origin in the +weakness of a mind oppressed by sin, is a much greater malady, and may +have most dangerous consequences, in a wholly marvellous religion which +we must love. These marvels are displeasing in pious narratives, where +they are fully proved, and they are sought for in theatrical +compositions, where they are mere fictions: the distinction is +dishonorable to Christians. Finally, as to the falsehood: What risk +does the pious multitude run, in believing the miracles of the Lives +of the Saints? They find nothing in them which is not proved, or worthy +of belief; nothing but what may very prudently be believed; nothing +but what is edifying; and this, according to St. Augustine, is a +sufficient guarantee from falling into any dangerous credulity. + +We should be very dangerously credulous, if we put our faith in false +and deceitful miracles, which only tend to seduce the mind, and corrupt +our belief. We are warned in the Gospel, that "there shall arise false +christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, +insomuch as to deceive (if it be possible) even the elect;" and St. +Paul teaches us that Antichrist, "that man of perdition, will come +according to the working of Satan in all power, and signs, and lying +wonders." The father of lies has often inspired the heretics to produce +miracles, which they have asserted to have been performed by persons +of their party, living or dead, from whence they inferred that God +authorized the doctrines they taught. Ecclesiastical history furnishes +many examples of this, and there are some very recent ones. + +But Jesus Christ has furnished us with a sure and infallible rule to +avoid the contagion: it is to hear the Church; it is to consider those +only as true miracles of which she approves, and of which she sanctions +the publication; it is to believe firmly that no one who is in revolt +against the Church will ever perform a miracle favorable to his sect, +whatever appearance of austerity, piety, charity, or sanctity, he may +put on; which St. Thomas bases mainly on this principle: that it is +impossible that God, who alone can give the power of working a true +miracle, shall ever communicate that power to confirm a false doctrine; +from whence it follows, that all the miracles produced by sectarians, +notwithstanding all their evidence, and all their pretended +attestations, must neither be examined nor listened to, and must only +be looked upon as purely natural effects, or as impostures, or as +delusions and diabolical operations. This is the way in which St. +Augustine expresses himself on the subject of the miracles which the +Donatists claimed to have performed, and claimed as evidence in favor +of their schism. Let Catholics, therefore, reject with horror the false +prodigies of sectarians, but let them piously give credit to the +miracles of the saints, without paying attention to the ultra-criticism +which strives to throw doubts upon them; and let them be intimately +persuaded that the Church, which approves of them, has founded that +approval on evidence irreproachable. + +The marvels which are found in the Life of St. Francis are perfectly +well attested. That Life was first written by Thomas de Celano, one +of his companions, who was directed by Pope Gregory IX. to compile it, +and who afterwards added a second part on additional memoirs. John or +Thomas de Ceperano, Apostolic Notary, who was a staunch friend of the +Saint, published at the same time what he knew of his actions. +Crescentius de Jesi, General of the Order of the Friars Minors, gave +directions, by circular letters, to collect and transmit to him whatever +had been seen or learnt, relative to the sanctity and miracles of the +blessed Father. He addressed himself particularly to three of his +twelve first companions: Leo, his secretary and his confessor; Angelus +and Rufinus: all three joined in compiling what is called "The Legend +of the Three Companions." The others noted separately what they had +themselves seen, and the things which they had learnt from others. +Saint Bonaventure, being at the head of the Order, was urgently +entreated, by the general chapter, to write the life of their holy +Patriarch. With the intention of learning, with certainty, the truth +of the facts, he went expressly to Assisi, "There," he says, in the +preface to his work, "I had frequent and serious conferences with those +who had been in the confidence of the great man, and who were still +living; and principally with those who were most intimately consociated +with him, and who have become the most faithful imitators of his holy +life, to whose testimony we must undoubtedly give credit, because their +acknowledged sanctity assures us that they have spoken truth." Now, +what can the most exact and severe criticism wish more, in order to +give warranty to the marvels in the Life of St. Francis, than +contemporaries, ocular witnesses, holy persons, his own companions, +who lived with him and enjoyed his confidence? + +The legend of Saint Bonaventure was spread everywhere, as soon as it +appeared, and was everywhere highly approved: there are many manuscripts +of it. Lipoman, Bishop of Verona, caused it to be printed in 1556. No +one ever attempted to call its accuracy in question. Octavian quoted +it, in his petition to Pope Sixtus IV. for the canonization of the +holy doctor, in 1482. + +The first legends have been preserved in manuscript; the celebrated +annalist of the Order of Friars Minors, Luke Wading, saw them and made +use of them. He was one of the most learned men of his time, and all +other learned men have been loud in his praise, not only on account +of his profound erudition, but because he was so ardent a lover of +truth, which he sought for with great care, and having developed it, +nothing could hinder him from publishing it and committing it to +writing. + +The uprightness of his heart was conspicuous on a certain occasion, +which is too honorable to him for us to pass it over in silence. He +had been one of the examiners nominated by Pope Innocent X. to inquire +into the writings of Jansenius, Bishop of Ypres, and he had convinced +himself that the five propositions which appeared to be censurable in +those writings might be tolerably explained in a certain theological +sense. Those who are themselves upright are not easily brought to think +ill of others, particularly in difficult affairs, and they sometimes +endeavor to justify them, through charitable feelings, which are +praiseworthy in principle, but which may have evil consequences, when +a doctrine is in question which has been widely spread, and which is +supported by a cabal. Wading, seeing that the five propositions were +censured by various constitutions of the Pope, made a report on the +whole affair, with the following beautiful declaration, worthy of a +truly Catholic Doctor: "If, before this decision, any one shall have +been of a different opinion (as to the five propositions) on whatever +reasonings, or whatsoever authority of doctrine, he is now obliged to +bend his mind to the yoke of faith, according to the advice of the +apostle. I declare it to be what I do with all my heart, condemning +and anathematizing all the aforesaid propositions, in all and every +sense in which His Holiness has proposed to condemn them, although, +before this decision, I thought they might have been maintained in a +certain sense, in the manner I have explained in the suffrage which +has been just seen." + +We may feel assured that a man of this upright character, such a lover +of truth, and, moreover, one of such eminent talents, would not have +made use of the two Legends of Thomas de Celano and that of the Three +Companions, without having ascertained their correctness. Moreover, +the critics of his time, who were particular, and in great numbers, +had it in their power to examine them as those of our times have, also, +since they are still extant in the convent of St. Isidore at Rome. + +The first, which was composed under the Pontificate of Gregory IX., +was quoted by Luke, Bishop of Tuy, when he wrote against the Albigenses, +in 1231. It is to be found in the Abbey of Longpont, of the Order of +Citeaux, in the diocese of Soissons, and in the Abbey of Jouy, of the +same order, in the Diocese of Sens. The Legend of the Three Companions +is in the king's library, at the Recollets of Louvain, and in their +convent at Malines. + +These are the principal sources which were consulted by Wading for +writing the Life of St. Francis, which forms part of the first tome +of his Annals. He also consulted the acts and public monuments, the +constant tradition, and some manuscripts of the thirteenth century, +which contain other testimonials from the companions of St. Francis, +and were published by contemporaries who lived with them, who collected +their very words, and who are worthy of credence. But the most +marvellous thing which he relates, relative to the actions of the +Saint, he has taken from the legends, as well as a great number of the +splendid miracles which were operated by his intercession after his +death, and of which Pope Gregory IX. was fully informed, as he declares +in the Bull of Canonization. + +All modern authors who have given the Life of St. Francis in various +languages, have adhered mostly to Wading; in this work, also, we have +made a point of following him; and the learned, who have so much esteem +for that great man, will agree that we could not have taken a better +guide. Baillet admits that, among the writers of the Life of St. +Francis, Luke Wading is one of the most careful and most accurate; and +yet he taxes him with not having written methodically, when he adds: +"After all the labors of so many persons, who have been zealous for +his glory, we are still compelled to wish for a methodical history of +his life." Whoever may read the Annals of Wading, and his notes on the +works of St. Francis, will find in them as much method as research and +accuracy; but according to some ultra-critics, it is not considered +writing methodically, when marvels which they dislike are permitted +to find their way into history. + +Baillet might have said that it has been long a subject of complaint +that we have not in our language a complete and methodical Life of St. +Francis. This complaint is the more just, as the saint had a particular +liking for France; he had learned the language with so much facility, +and spoke it so readily, that they gave him the name of Francis, +although he was baptized John. Paris was one of the first objects of +his zeal; he would even have gone thither, if a cardinal had not +detained him in Italy for reasons which related to his Order. Not +having it in his power to undertake this mission, which he had much +at heart, he destined for it some of his principal followers. + +There are some who affect to think that, in the Lives of the Saints, +their example should alone be proposed to the public, imagining that +the miracles they have performed can nowise contribute to the +edification of souls; and two authors of this century have ventured +to suppress all miracles in the Lives of Saints which they have +published. The Church, nevertheless, causes them to be recited in the +Divine Office, and they are carefully related by the holy fathers; +neither does any author of repute, of the centuries preceding, fail +to bring them forward. In fact, no one can deny that they add great +resplendency to the merits of the saints, and, consequently, give great +weight to the example they afford us. They uphold and increase the +idea we have of the power of God, of His providence, His justice, His +bounty, and His mercy, by which they excite us to glorify, love, and +serve Him; and, in showing His special good-will to His servants, they +induce us to invoke their mediation with confidence. Moreover, miracles +strengthen the faithful in their faith, because, being performed in +the bosom of the Catholic Church, they confirm the truth she teaches. +Now, it is not of less consequence to strengthen faith, than to propose +that which tends to the correction of morals, particularly when +incredulity makes as much progress as licentiousness. Moreover, the +miraculous actions of the saints frequently contain most salutary +instructions, and are always accompanied by virtues which may be +imitated, which will be very apparent in the Life of St. Francis. + +Some may, perhaps, think that his virtues are too transcendent for +imitation, and content themselves with admiring them, without gathering +any fruit from them. A celebrated heresiarch admired them in this +manner, in the last century. Bossuet remarks, in his excellent "History +of the Variations," that "Luther reckoned among the saints not only +St. Bernard, but also St. Francis, St. Bonaventure, and others of the +thirteenth century; and that St. Francis, amongst all the rest, appeared +to him to be an admirable character, animated with wonderful fervor +of mind." But the faithful in admiring his virtues, must not think +them not to be imitated, for they consisted in following the Gospel; +and they are all obliged to live according to the precepts of the +Gospel. + +REV. CANDIDE CHALIPPE, O.F.M. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +BOOK I + +His birth--Prediction of his future greatness--His studies--He applies +himself to commerce--His purity, and affection for the poor--He is +taken prisoner--He falls sick--His charity increases towards the +poor--He has a mysterious dream--He wishes to go to the war--Jesus +Christ dissuades him--He is rapt in spirit--His conversion--He kisses +a leper--Jesus Christ crucified appears to him--Salutary effects of +this apparition--He goes to Rome--Mingles with the poor--Is tempted +by the devil--A voice from heaven commands him to restore the Church +of S. Peter Damian--His devotion to the passion of Jesus Christ--He +takes some pieces of cloth from his father's house, and sells them, +to restore the Church of S. Damian--He escapes from the anger of his +father, and retires to a cave--He appears in Assisi, where he is +ill-treated--His father confines him--His mother delivers him, and he +returns to S. Damian--He manifests his intention to his father, who +appeals to justice, and cites him before the Bishop of Assisi--He +renounces his inheritance, and gives back his clothes to his father--The +poverty of his clothing--He is beaten by robbers--Retires to a +monastery--They give him a hermit's habit--He devotes himself to the +leprous--Receives the gift of healing, and returns to Assisi, where +he searches for stone to restore the Church of Assisi--He toils at +building as a laborer--He lives on alms--His father and brother exercise +his patience--The victories he gains over himself--People begin to +esteem and honor him--He predicts something which is fulfilled--He +restores the Church of S. Peter and that of S. Mary of the Angels, or +the Portiuncula--Dwells at S. Mary of the Angels, and is favored there +with heavenly apparitions--He is called to the apostolical +life--Renounces money and goes discalced--His poor and humble habit--God +inspires him to preach--He weeps bitterly over the sufferings of Jesus +Christ--Receives three disciples, and retires with them to a deserted +cottage--He goes on a mission, and his disciples accompany him--the +way they are treated--He receives three other disciples--He makes them +beg for alms--What he said to the Bishop of Assisi, on renouncing all +his possessions--He predicts to the Emperor Otho the short duration +of his glory--It is revealed to him that his sins are remitted--He is +rapt in ecstasy, and predicts the extension of his Order--He makes +several other predictions, and receives a seventh disciple--He proposes +a new mission to them--The address he makes them on their preparation +for, and conduct during, the mission--He returns near to Assisi, where +he receives four more disciples--He assembles all his +disciples--Composes a Rule, and goes to obtain the Pope's approval--He +makes a marvellous conversion--He knows miraculously what will happen +to him at Rome--He is at first repulsed by Pope Innocent III., but is +afterwards received favorably--Difficulties on the approbation of his +Rule--He overcomes them by an address he makes the Pope--The Pope +approves his Rule, and accumulates favors on it--He leaves Rome with +his friars for the valley of Spoleto--God provides for his +necessities--He stops at a deserted church--Consults God on his mission, +and returns to the cottage of Rivo-torto--His sufferings there--The +instructions he gives--God shows him to his brethren under a most +marvellous aspect--The church of S. Mary of the Angels is given to +him--He establishes himself there with his Friars + + + +BOOK II + + +He receives many novices--Instructs and models them--Sends them to +different provinces of Italy--What he says on this occasion--He departs +for Tuscany, and passes by Perugia, where he makes a prediction which +is accomplished--Many young men enter his Order--They build a house +for him near Cortona--His miraculous fast during Lent--He commands the +devils, and they obey him--He cures many miraculously--He preaches at +Florence--Makes a prediction--Preaches in various places in +Tuscany--What his friars are doing in other places--He preaches the +Lent at Assisi, with great fruit--He consecrates, to Jesus Christ, +Clare, and, Agnes, her sister--Establishes Clare and Agnes in the +Church of S. Damian--He erects a monastery there, the first one of his +second Order, which he then instituted--He is troubled by a serious +doubt, on which he consults his brethren--His doubt is cleared up by +an oracle from heaven--He goes out to preach--Restores a blind girl +to sight, and converts many worldly people--He sighs for martyrdom--Asks +permission of the Pope to preach to the infidels--Makes conversions +at Rome, and establishes his Order there--Returns to Assisi and leaves +for the Levant--Embarks, but is obliged to put into a harbor in +Sclavonia--Goes by sea to Ancona--A miracle which God performs in his +favor--He converts a celebrated poet--Returns to Tuscany, and to S. +Mary of the Angels--He falls sick--Wonderfully humbles himself--Tries +a vocation--Falls sick again and writes to all Christians--Departs for +Spain and Africa, in search of martyrdom--His miracles and other +particulars of his journey--His profound humility--He raises the +dead--Count Orlando gives him Mount Alverna--God miraculously protects +him--He preaches in Piedmont and passes into Spain--Works a miraculous +cure there--The king, Alphonso IX, permits him to establish his Order +there--He receives houses there--A violent sickness prevents him going +to Morocco--His actions whilst he is delayed in Spain--He returns to +Italy--His route thither--He arrives at S. Mary of the Angels, and +disapproves a building there--He goes to Mount Alverna--Is beaten by +devils--Mortifies his sense, and taste--Makes water spring from a +rock--Visits the mountain--Converts there a celebrated brigand--Leaves +for Rome--Discovers some relics by revelation--Makes predictions, and +performs miracles and conversions--Arrives at Rome whilst the Council +of Lateran is sitting--The Pope declares to the Council that he has +approved the Rule--He appoints a general chapter at S. Mary of the +Angels, whither he returns--He holds the chapter and sends his friars +to various countries--He thinks of going to Paris--Reunites an +illustrious family that had been divided--Rejoices in his poverty and +asks of God a greater love of holy poverty--SS. Peter and Paul appear +to him at Rome--His alliance with S. Dominic--He goes to Florence, +where Cardinal Hugolin dissuades him from going to Paris--He returns +to the Valley of Spoleto, and sends three of his disciples to France--A +celestial vision induces him to ask of the Pope a cardinal protector +for his Order--What he says on this subject--He preaches before the +Pope--What happened to him in the pulpit--The Pope gives him Cardinal +Hugolin, as protector of the Order--He preaches in the Valley of +Rieti--Delivers the country from two plagues, and makes some conversions +there--The houses he builds there--He appoints a general chapter at +S. Mary of the Angels, for the year 1219--What he did during the year +1218--Efficacy of his prayers--He wishes to pull down a new house which +he found at S. Mary of the Angels + + + +BOOK III + + +He goes to Perugia, to consult the cardinal protector--His opinion on +the promotion of his friars to ecclesiastical dignities--He returns +to S. Mary of the Angels--His thoughts on these dignities--More than +five thousand Friars Minors are present at the chapter he had +appointed--He addresses the assembly, and forbids them troubling +themselves about their food--Assistance comes to him from all sides--He +receives more than five hundred novices during this chapter--He forbids +indiscreet mortifications--The devils are incensed against him and his +Order--He cautions his friars, and upon that gives them some +instruction--He humbles them to preserve them from vainglory--He +confounds those who wish the Rule mitigated--He wishes not for +privileges which can engender disputes--He gives his friars instructions +about their conduct to ecclesiastics--He obtains from the Pope letters +apostolical confirming the approval of the Order--What he decrees in +the chapter--He sends his friars through the whole world--The travels +of his Friars in various parts of the world--In Greece--In Africa--In +Spain and Portugal--In France--In the Low Countries--He himself prepares +to go to the Levant--On the government of the monastery of S. Damian, +and other houses of the same order--He sends six of his friars to +Morocco--What he says to them--He starts on his voyage to Syria, with +twelve companions--He rejects a postulant too much attached to his +parents--A house at Ancona is given to him--He appoints, by means of +a child inspired by God, those who are to accompany him to Syria--He +embarks at Ancona and anchors at the isle of Cyprus--Arrives at +Acre--Distributes his companions in different parts of Syria, and comes +to the army before Damietta--He arrives at the camp before Damietta, +and predicts the ill-success of the battle the Crusaders are about to +give--His prediction is accomplished--He finds out the sultan of +Egypt--Announces to him the truths of the faith, and offers to throw +himself into the fire to prove them--He refuses the sultan's +presents--Is esteemed and respected--The good dispositions with which +he inspires the sultan--He obtains permission to preach in his +States--He receives some disciples from the army of the +Crusaders--Visits the holy places--Some whole monasteries of religious +embrace his Institute--He returns to Italy--Establishes his Order in +various places--Preaches at Bologna with great success--What he says +and does on seeing a house of his Order too much ornamented--He makes +a retreat at Camaldoli--Returns to S. Mary of the Angels--Reads the +thoughts of his companion--Confounds the vanity of Brother +Elias--Abolishes the novelties introduced into the Order by Brother +Elias--In a vision the fortunes of his Order are made known to him--He +holds the chapter in which he deposes Brother Elias, and in his place +substitutes Peter of Catania--He renounces the generalship--Will not +receive anything from novices entering his Order--He learns the news +of the martyrdom of the friars he had sent to Morocco--What he says +on the subject of their martyrdom--The martyrdom of these friars is +the cause of the vocation of S. Antony of Padua--His friars pass into +England--He visits some convents--Receives the Vicar General's +resignation, and re-appoints, by the command of God, Brother Elias to +his place--He holds a chapter, and sends missionaries to Germany + + + +BOOK IV + + +S. Francis begins his Third Order of Penance--Draws up the rule for +it--What his idea was in founding this Order--He returns to S. Mary +of the Angels--Sends Agnes, the sister of Clare, to Florence, to be +Abbess there--He obtains from Jesus Christ the Indulgence of S. Mary +of the Angels or of the Portiuncula--Pope Honorius III. grants him the +same indulgence--Clare and others, hearing him talk of God, are ravished +in ecstasy--He cannot bear the distinction of persons which Brother +Elias made--Makes a terrible prediction--He gives his blessings to +seven of his brethren, to go and preach the faith to the Moors, and +they are martyred--He makes a journey, which is attended with +remarkable circumstances--Cures a cripple--Mixes with the poor, and +eats with them--Foretells of an infant, that he would one day be +Pope--He changes the bed of thorns into which S. Benedict had thrown +himself, into a rose-bush, and performs other great miracles--Goes to +honor the relics of S. Andrew, and those of S. Nicholas--Discovers a +trick of the devil--He visits Mount Garganus--His presence silences +a demoniac--He learns at S. Mary of the Angels the success of the +German mission--Bids Antony preach--Gives Antony permission to teach +theology to the brethren--Alexander Hales enters the Order--Jesus +Christ appoints the day for the Indulgence of the Portiuncula--He +obtains from the Pope a confirmation of the same day--Promulgates it, +with seven bishops--He has a revelation about his Rule--God makes +known to him that he must abridge it--The Holy Spirit dictates it to +him--Some entreat him to moderate it--Jesus Christ tells him it must +be kept to the very letter--His brethren receive it--He declares it +comes from Jesus Christ, and speaks in praise of it--He obtains a bull +from the Pope, in confirmation of the Rule--Is attacked by devils-- +Celebrates the feast of Christmas with much fervor--Our Lord appears +to him as an infant--His sentiments on the celebration of +feasts--Discovers a stratagem of the devil--He commands one of his +dead brethren to cease working miracles--Draws up a rule for Clare and +her daughters--Appears with his arms stretched out in the form of a +cross while S. Antony was preaching--Foretells a conversion which +immediately came about--He goes into retreat on Mount Alvernus--His +contemplation and raptures--Jesus Christ promises him special favors--He +fasts rigorously--A piece of his writing delivers his companion from +a temptation--What he had to suffer from the devil--He prepares for +martyrdom--He receives extraordinary favors in prayer--His perfect +conformity to the will of God--Jesus Christ crucified appears to him +under the figure of a Seraphim--Receives the impression of the wounds +of Jesus Christ--He composes canticles full of the love of God--Tells +his brethren of the Stigmata--They are seen and touched--He leaves +Mount Alvernus, to return to S. Mary of the Angels--Cures a child of +dropsy--Other miracles which he performed on the way--He strengthens +himself with new fervor in the service of God--His patience in great +sufferings--His desires for the salvation of souls--His prayer in +suffering--God assures him of his salvation--He thanks Him in a +canticle--He learns the time of his death, and rejoices at it--He has +various illnesses, and suffers extreme pain--He multiplies the grapes +in a vineyard--God gives him sensible consolation--A heated iron is +applied to the temple, and he feels no pain from it--He weeps +incessantly, and says he does so to expiate for his sins--He prefers +the danger of losing his sight to restraining his tears--His gratitude +towards his physician--A miracle is worked by some of his hair, in +favor of this physician--He miraculously heals a canon--His sufferings +diminish--Goes to preach--Drives away a devil--Foretells a sudden +death, and it comes about--Cures St. Bonaventura in his infancy--All +his sufferings increase--Causes to be found for the love of God what +could not be found for money--They take him back to Assisi--They take +him to Sienna--He answers difficult questions, and foretells several +things--He causes the blessing which he gave to his brethren to be +written--They take him to Celles, and thence to Assisi--The bishop has +him taken to his palace--The state of his Order at the time of his +last illness + + + +BOOK V + + +The violence of his illness does not prevent him from exhorting his +brethren--He is touched at the fatigue which his illness caused them-- +Thanks God for the pains he suffered--Dictates a letter to Clare and +her daughters--Rejoices and thanks God for his approaching +death--Blesses his children--Has himself carried to S. Mary of the +Angels--Blesses the town of Assisi--Informs a pious widow of his +approaching death--Blesses his brethren a second time, and makes them +eat a bit of bread, blessed by his hand--Gives a special blessing to +Bernard, the eldest of his children--What we may presume were his +dispositions in receiving the last sacraments--He stretches himself +naked on the bare ground--Desires to be buried in the place of +execution--Exhorts his brethren--He has the praises of God sung when +at the point of death--He speaks to his children, and blesses them for +the last time--Has the passion of Jesus Christ read to him--He recites +the 141st psalm, and dies after the last verse--Miraculous proofs of +his beatitude--State of his body after death--The Stigmata are seen +and touched publicly--His obsequies--Clare and her daughters see and +kiss the Stigmata--He is buried at Assisi, in the church of S. +George--The circular written after his death--His canonization--The +Church of S. Francis at Assisi--He is buried there--Researches are +made to find the sacred body--The mission of St. Francis--The fruits +of his labor. + +Devotion of S. Francis towards Jesus Christ crucified--To what a degree +he loved poverty--How great was the austerity of his life--His +humility--His obedience--His gift of prayer and contemplation--His +love of God--His sentiments of filial love on the mystery of the +Incarnation--On the fast of Jesus Christ in the desert--On the mystery +of the Eucharist--S. Francis, in his humility, would not be made +priest--His devotion towards the Mother of God--Towards the angels and +saints--His charity towards his neighbor--His zeal for the salvation +of souls--His affection for the poor--The affection of his heart for +all creatures--The pains he took to lead his brethren to perfection--His +tender charity towards his brethren--His discretion and wisdom in the +government of the Order--His supernatural and acquired knowledge--The +efficacy of his words--His supernatural and miraculous gifts--He drives +away devils--Brings the dead to life--Heals the sick--Has the gift of +prophecy and discernment of spirits--He commands animals, and is +obeyed--He performs many other miraculous actions--The great honors +which were paid to him--His character and appearance--In what sense +he was simple + + + + + +THE LIFE AND LEGENDS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI + +BOOK I + + +We here offer, to the pious reflections of the faithful, the life of +a man who proposed to himself to practise literally the precepts of +the Gospel, to conform himself entirely to Jesus Christ crucified, and +to inspire the whole world with God's love. + +Such a purpose must seem great to all those who can appreciate true +grandeur by the light of religion. In its contempt of the goods of the +world, it manifests an elevation of mind far above the ostentation of +the ancient philosophers; in its deep humiliations, an heroical courage; +in its extreme simplicity, the most exalted sentiments; in its weakness, +and in the apparent foolishness of the cross, the strength and wisdom +of God. The infidels themselves admired all this, and it will be not +less meet to revive the fervor of Christians, and to increase the +veneration they have always entertained for St. Francis. + +He was born at Assisi, a town of Umbria, in Italy, in the year 1182, +under the Pontificate of Lucius III. Peter Bernardo, his father, was +a rich merchant, whose principal commercial transactions were with +France. His mother, whose name was Pica, had only two sons, Francis +and Angelo. The latter married at Assisi, and some of his descendants +were still at Assisi in 1534. + +God, who has often condescended to usher in His saints by portents, +was pleased, at the birth of Francis, to give signs of what he would +be during his life. For some days Pica had suffered great pains, without +being able to give birth to her child, when a man, dressed as a pilgrim, +came to tell her that she would only be delivered of her infant in a +stable; he would be born on straw. Although this communication appeared +most strange, relatives, nevertheless, acted upon it. The patient was +removed to the nearest stable, where she was successfully delivered; +an event which may well be looked upon, as in the intention of +Providence, thereby to mark the conformity of the holy man to Jesus +Christ, poor and humble; as much, at least, as the creature can be in +conformity with the Creator, and the servant with the Master of the +universe. + +This stable has been turned into a chapel, called in Italian, "_San +Francesco il piccolo_"--"St. Francis the Little." Over the door the +following words, in very old writing, are inscribed: + + "This chapel was the stable of the Ox and the Ass, + Where Francis was born, the mirror of the world." + +His mother had the name of John given to him at his baptism, his father +being then absent in France. A stranger presented himself as his +godfather, and he was accepted as such; whether it was that something +extraordinary was perceived in this person, or that they had been +struck with astonishment at the first event. The uniform tradition at +Assisi is, that this stranger disappeared after the ceremony, and that +he left the impression of his knees on a marble step of the altar, +which is shown in the cathedral church, with the baptismal font, on +which these words in Italian are engraved:--"This is the fountain in +which the Seraphic Father, St. Francis, was baptized." + +At the return from the baptismal ceremony, a man, who seemed to have +been sent by God, as well as the other two, or rather an angel in human +form, came to beg that he might be allowed to see the child and hold +it. He took it in his arms, caressed it a good deal, and impressed +upon its right shoulder a well-formed cross, as a mark of his +consecration, recommending the nurse to take particular care of the +child, not to expose him to the snares of the devils, who had a +foresight that he would one day wage a severe war against them. One +of these evil spirits was obliged to confess by the mouth of one +possessed, whom they were exorcising, that the princes of darkness, +alarmed at the birth of Francis, had tried various ways to take away +his life; and it was the Saint himself who expelled this devil +afterwards. These portents, marvellous as they are, are less surprising, +when we consider the singular and marked favors which heaven destined +for him. + +His parents brought him up with great care, and he was put to study +with the clergy of the Parish of St. George. After he had acquired +some knowledge of letters, he was initiated in commercial affairs, the +correspondence of which necessitated his learning the French language; +he acquired it with so much ease, that his father gave him the name +of Francis, a name which he bore ever after. + +Bernardo and Francis pursued their avocation in a very different manner. +The first, with no other object than his worldly interest, thought of +nothing but his profits, and had no other care than that of +accumulating. Francis, who had not a particle of avarice, and had less +thought of his profit than of dealing with honor, traded with nobler +and more elevated feelings. But he loved the world, he frequented +society, and spent a good deal in dress, festivities, and parties of +pleasure. His father frequently reprimanded him on the subject of his +expenses, but his remonstrances had little effect, because he had no +consideration of the value of money, and he wished to be distinguished +amongst his young companions, who always considered him as their leader. +His mother, who was tender and generous, had more patience with him; +and she said to those who spoke to her of his profusion, that from +what she remarked in his conversation, in his actions, and even in his +amusements, she had reasons to hope something great when he should +come to maturer years. + +Indeed, in all his demeanor, excellent prognostics for the future were +observable: his temper was exquisite, mild, and condescending, his +manners were agreeable and very polite; he was lively, and had great +good sense: he was brave, and had a strong inclination to be generous, +even to give beyond his means. Although he plunged into the vain +amusements of the world, there was nothing blamable in his moral +conduct. By the special protection of heaven, he avoided the rocks on +which youth is too often wrecked; he preserved the inestimable treasure +of purity; it was also remarked that he was distressed at any licentious +expressions, and never made any reply to them. + +God had imprinted in his heart great feelings of compassion for the +poor, which increased from his infancy, and which induced him to afford +them liberal aid, so that, following the Gospel precept, "Give to every +one that asketh thee," he made a resolution to give to all who should +ask alms of him, and principally if they should solicit it for the +love of God. This feeling for the love of God had its effect upon him, +even then, notwithstanding his dissipation; he could seldom hear the +expression made use of, as he has since admitted, without being sensibly +affected. It having once happened to him, in the hurry of business, +to turn away a poor person who had asked a charity for the love of +God, his conscience smote him immediately, and he ran after the poor +man, relieved him amply, and made a promise to God that he would never +refuse a single individual as long as it was in his power, when an +alms should be asked for His love,--a promise which he faithfully kept +to his death, and which, as St. Bonaventure remarks, was of essential +service in increasing the grace and love of God in his heart. What is +there more likely to bring down the grace of conversion and +sanctification, and increase the love of God, than the practice of +works of mercy? + +The amiable qualities of Francis rendered him a favorite throughout +the town, where he was looked up to as the flower of the youth, and +great hopes were entertained for the future in his regard. A man of +simple manners, but enlightened from above, caused a still greater +esteem to be entertained for him. When he met him in the streets, he +spread his cloak on the ground before him, and as a reason for showing +him so unusual a mark of respect, exclaimed:--"This young man will +soon do great things: he will deserve all sorts of honors, and will +be revered by the faithful." Francis, who was unconscious of the designs +of God, did not understand the meaning of this prediction. He knew not +that these honors were to be rendered him only after severe +humiliations, according to the words of the Gospel. Engrossed by the +affairs of the world, and attached to its vanities, he thought little +of this Divine truth, and he had less taste for it; nevertheless he +hoped that he should some day receive the honors which others foretold, +and which God permitted him likewise to predict of himself in an +affliction which came upon him. + +The towns of Assisi and Perugia were at war with each other; he was +taken prisoner with some of his fellow-citizens: whether it was that +he had taken up arms in the service of his country, or that he was +beyond the limits of the town of his commercial affairs. His captivity, +however, did not affect his spirits, he preserved his cheerfulness and +good humor. His companions, who were dejected and cast down, were +offended at this, and upbraided him with it, saying that he might, at +least out of feeling for them, disguise them, disguise his satisfaction. +"I am very sorry for you" he replied, "but as to myself, my mind is +at ease and I am thankful that it is so. You see me now a prisoner, +but at a future period, you will see me honored by the whole world." +There was one among the prisoners whose quarrelsome temper and extreme +ill humor caused him to be shunned by the others. Francis entreated +them to draw a distinction between his person and his defects, and to +bear with him: not being able to induce them to do so, he had the +charity to keep him company himself, and by his good advice, he rendered +him more gentle. All were so delighted with his goodness of heart, +that they sought his friendship. + +Liberated from captivity, he returned to Assisi, where God visited him +with a long and severe illness, which reduced him to a state of great +weakness. This was to prepare his soul for the influence of grace. As +soon as he could walk, he wished to enjoy the beauty and air of the +country; but he failed to be pleased therewith, and was even disgusted +with what he had previously liked the most; he felt contempt for what +he had before esteemed, and his own conduct appeared to him to be +senseless. This change surprised him much, but it did not as yet make +any alteration in his heart. The return of health renewed his attachment +to the world, his ambition and vanity revived; he entertained fresh +hopes of greatness, and paid once more great attention to his dress. +Thus it frequently happens that when God sends illness to worldly +persons with a view to their conversion, these have no other effect +than momentary reflections and promises, which are soon forgotten on +the return of strength. + +However, Francis became more and more charitable, and gave to all the +poor either money or his clothes. Having met a poor and ill-clad officer +who was of a noble family, he saw in him the poverty of Jesus Christ, +the King of kings, and being moved to pity, he gave him the new suit +of clothes he had on. + +The following night God showed him in his sleep a great and magnificent +palace, full of warlike arms, all marked with the sign of the cross, +to give him an idea of the reward his charity was to receive. He asked +whom all that belonged to; and he was answered, that the arms were for +his soldiers. + +Not as yet understanding the meaning of mysterious dreams, he took +this as a token of the success he was to have in warlike achievements, +without suspecting that the crosses he had seen had a totally different +signification. At that time Walter, Count of Brienne, in Champagne, +was waging active war against the emperor, in the kingdom of Naples, +on the subject of the claims of his wife Alberia, the eldest daughter +of Tancred, King of Cicily, who had been some years dead. Francis +resolved to offer him his services, in the hope of gaining military +honors. He attached himself to an officer of distinction, who belonged +to the count's army, and he set out with a good retinue, after having +assured his friends that he was sure of acquiring great renown. + +He first went to Spoleto, and there Jesus Christ addressed these +benevolent words to him during the night: "Francis, which of the two, +think you, can be of the greatest service to you: the master or the +servant, the rich or the poor?" "It is the master and the rich," he +answered without any hesitation. "Why then," continued our Lord, "do +you leave God who is the master and rich, to seek man, who is the +servant and poor?" "O Lord!" exclaimed Francis, "what is it your +pleasure I should do?" Jesus Christ then said to him: "Return to your +town; what you have seen signifies nothing but what is spiritual. It +is from God, and not from man, that you will receive their +accomplishment." The very next morning he retraced his steps towards +Assisi, to await the orders of the Lord, without troubling himself as +to what the world should say as to this precipitate return. + +His friends came as usual to propose a party of pleasure. He received +them, as was his custom, with great politeness, and feasted them +magnificently to bid them, thus honorably, an eternal adieu. On parting +from them, he found himself suddenly struck with the vanity of all +terrestrial things, and with the grandeur of all that is heavenly, by +a communication from the Spirit of God, full of mildness, but so +internal, and so forcible, that his senses were brought into a state +of inaction, and he himself remained motionless. He afterwards told +his confessor, that, if he had been torn to pieces in this state of +rapture, he would not have felt it; that, in that moment, he could +only feel at the bottom of his soul. The company, quite alarmed, drew +near him; and when he had recovered his usual serenity, they enquired +of him, laughing, what had occasioned his extraordinary reserve; if, +perhaps, he was not thinking of taking a wife? "It is so," he replied: +"I shall take one, but one so noble and so beautiful, that such another +will not be found in the whole world." Evangelical poverty, which he +afterwards embraced, was the spouse to which the Holy Ghost inspired +him to allude. + +After this divine favor he disembarrassed himself as much as possible +of his commercial affairs, to beg of God to know what He would have +him do; and he usually went to pray in a grotto with a confidential +friend, who left him there in entire liberty. The frequent recourse +to prayer excited in his heart so ardent a desire for the celestial +country, that he already looked upon everything that was earthly as +nothing. He felt that this happy disposition contained a treasure, but +he did not as yet know how to possess himself of the hidden prize. The +Spirit of God merely insinuated to him that the spiritual life, under +the idea of traffic, must begin by a contempt of the world,--and under +the idea of warfare, by a victory over self.--All spirituality not +based upon these two Divine lessons, will never have anything solid +in it. + +Francis had soon occasion to put these lessons in practice. As he was +riding across the plains of Assisi, he perceived a leper coming straight +to him. At first he felt horror-stricken, but calling to mind that he +had formed a resolution to labor to attain perfection, and that, in +order to be a soldier of Jesus Christ, it was necessary to begin by +obtaining a victory over self, he dismounted, kissed the leper, and +gave him an alms. When he again mounted his horse, he no longer saw +any one, though he looked all round the plain. Filled with astonishment, +and transported with joy, he fell on his knees to thank God, and formed +a firm resolution to aim at still greater perfection. This is the +effect of generous and courageous efforts, they draw down fresh graces, +and reanimate our courage. He acquired also more inclination for +retirement, he had no longer any liking but for solitude, for those +places which were adapted to the holy sorrow of penance, where he +unceasingly addressed himself to God in fervent prayer, accompanied +by lamentations, which cannot be described: God at length favorably +heard him. + +His fervor daily increasing, insomuch that he was wholly absorbed in +God, Jesus Christ appeared to him as if attached to the cross. His +soul, at this stupendous scene, was wholly penetrated, and, as it were, +dissolved, and the image of his crucified Saviour became from that +time so strongly and intimately imprinted on his heart, that every +time it recurred to his mind, he had a difficulty in restraining his +sobs and tears. + +In this marvellous apparition he was made aware that these words of +the Gospel were personally addressed to him: "If any man will come +after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." +He received from them that foretaste of poverty and humility which +became his characteristics, and so ardent a charity inflamed his heart, +that he had the courage to devote himself to the service of the lepers. +Before this day they were so much his horror, that, far from allowing +them to be in his presence, as soon as he saw them, at whatever +distance, he turned away from them, and if they were near he passed +on quickly, holding his nose. But for the love of Jesus crucified, who +was pleased to represent Himself to the Prophet Isaias under the +despised figure of a leper, he lowered himself to attending upon them +in their hospitals, where, having abundantly supplied them with alms, +he made their beds, dressed their sores, and performed for them the +most abject services; he often even kissed their hands and their faces +with great feelings of commiseration. The words which our Saviour one +day addressed to him while at prayer, stimulated him to continue this +charitable exercise, notwithstanding his natural repugnance: "Francis, +if thou desirest to know My will, thou must despise and hate all that +thou hast loved and wished for till now. Let not this new path alarm +thee, for, if the things which now please thee must become bitter and +distasteful, those which now displease thee, will become sweet and +agreeable." Shortly before his death he declared that what had seemed +to him most bitter in serving the lepers, had been changed into what +was pleasing both for soul and body; and all those who strive to +overcome themselves for the love of God feel, as he did, that the +severest practices are soon softened down by the unction of grace. + +The sight of Jesus Christ fastened to the cross made him feel the +misery of the poor so intensely, that he would have wished to employ +all he had, and his own person, in their relief. Sometimes he did strip +himself to clothe them; and when he had not enough to satisfy them +all, he unsewed or tore his clothes to divide among them. In the absence +of his father he caused much more bread to be brought to table at their +meals than was necessary; and when his mother asked the reason, he +said, "that it was in order to give more quickly to those who came to +ask for food." This pious mother saw with pleasure the charity of her +son; and far from endeavoring to check it, she was not displeased at +his leaving her alone at table, while he took to the neighboring sick +the viands of which he stinted himself. An equally lively and respectful +zeal induced him to come to the aid of such priests as were in want; +he took particular care to provide for the decoration of the altars, +in order the better to assist at the divine service. He bought the +finest linen, and distributed it to the poor country churches to be +employed at the sacrifice of the mass; and when this august sacrifice +was about to be celebrated, if anything was wanting, or if the altar +was not properly found in everything requisite, he would offer himself +to the officers of the church, in order to supply what was required +either from his purse or by his personal assistance. + +But all these good works did not come up to what he had figured to +himself as requisite for perfection. He could have wished to withdraw +into some distant country, there to practise voluntary poverty, which +had already inflamed his heart. At first he resolved to go to Rome, +to visit the tomb of St. Peter, moved by that grand devotion which God +has often inspired in His saints, and which has been so frequent since +the fourth century. He also proposed to himself to solicit from the +Almighty, by the intercession of the Prince of the Apostles, the grace +to carry out the resolution he had come to of leading an Apostolic +life. After having recited his prayer in this holy place, he noticed +that in the crowd of people some made but a slender offering, while +others made no donation whatever. "What then," said he, "is devotion +grown so cold? How is it that men do not offer all they have, and do +not even offer themselves on a spot where the ashes of the Prince of +the Apostles repose? How does it happen that they do not decorate with +all possible magnificence this Peter, on whom Jesus Christ has founded +His Church?" He contributed to the best of his power, leaving a +considerable sum for that purpose; and what he had wished was +subsequently executed. The Sovereign Pontiffs, and in particular Sixtus +V, who was a religious of his Order, have rendered the Basilica of St. +Peter so sumptuous and magnificent, that it is now the admiration of +the universe. + +On going out of the church, he saw a multitude of poor, whom he +immediately joined, as much for the affection he had for them, as for +the love of poverty. He gave his clothes to him who appeared to be the +most necessitous. The following day, having dressed himself with +propriety, he set out on his return to Assisi, praying God to guide +him in the ways of holy poverty. + +The devil, who was sensible that the young man would become confirmed +in his intention if he persevered in prayer, appeared to him under a +most terrific form, and threatened him, if he persisted, to render him +a dreadful deformity like unto an old woman of the town, who was so +hideous that he could not even look at her. But the newly-enlisted +soldier of Jesus Christ, who began to be inured to warfare, laughed +at the threats of the tempter, and was more urgent in his prayers, for +which purpose he chose underground places, where he could better defend +himself against the snares of his enemy. The fruit of these holy +exercises was a lively sorrow for the use he had made of the first +years of his youth, and a great perseverance in the mortification of +his senses, in order to bear the cross of Jesus Christ in his body, +as he bore it in his heart. + +It was thus that Francis acted before having changed his habit, or +quitted the world. St. Bonaventure says that he had then no other +master from whom he received instructions than Jesus Christ; +nevertheless, an author quoted by Wading, assures us that he sometimes +consulted the Bishop of Assisi. We may here say, in order that there +may be no seeming contradiction between the two, that he received +instructions from Jesus Christ only because he was inspired by Him, +but that he communicated with the bishop on the points on which he had +been inspired; and we may be the more assured of this, as we shall see +hereafter that this prelate had his confidence, and that there is +reason to think that he was his spiritual Father. + +The servant of God, walking and meditating one day out of Assisi, near +the church of St. Damian, which was very old and falling into ruin, +was moved by the Holy Spirit to enter it to pray. There, prostrated +before the crucifix, he repeated three times the following beautiful +words, which gave him great interior consolation, and which he +subsequently made frequent use of: "Great God, full of glory, and Thou, +my Lord Jesus Christ! I entreat you to enlighten me and to dispel the +darkness of my mind, to give me a pure faith, a firm hope, and an +ardent charity. Let me have a perfect knowledge of Thee, O God! so +that I may in all things by guided by Thy light, and act in conformity +to Thy will." He cast his eyes, filled with tears, upon the crucifix, +when a voice came forth from it, and he heard distinctly these words +repeated three times, not interiorly, but loudly pronounced: "Francis, +go and repair my house, which thou seest is falling into ruin." So +wonderful a voice, in a place where he was alone, alarmed him greatly, +but he felt immediately the salutary effects of it, and he was +transported with joy. + +The sense of these words chiefly related to the state of the Church +which Jesus Christ had purchased at the price of His blood, which the +holy man was to repair in all its defects by his ministry and the +labors of his disciples, according to the explanation which the Holy +Spirit gave to him of them subsequently, which he communicated to his +brethren, as St. Bonaventure tells us. + +Nevertheless, the powerful protection which he received from heaven +for the repair of the church of St. Damian, was an indication that the +same words were to be understood to relate to that building also: as +the sacred oracles had a twofold literal sense in the mouths of the +Prophets, one of which related to events which were at hand, and the +other to a distant time, and to mysteries wholly spiritual. + +Francis came to himself; he left the church fully resolved to undertake +its repair, and left money in the hands of a priest named Peter, who +did the parochial duties of it, to keep a lamp burning before the +crucifix, promising to give more, and to employ all he had for the use +of this holy place. + +The voice which had issued from the crucifix renewed in his mind and +heart the impression of the mystery of the Passion. He felt himself +interiorly wounded through the wounds of Jesus Christ, and he shed +such burning tears, that his eyes were quite inflamed, and, as it were, +full of blood, when he returned from prayer. To make his body +participate in the sufferings which penetrated his very soul, and to +punish himself for the levities of his youth, he imposed on himself +a very rigorous abstinence, with various other kinds of mortification. + +The eagerness he felt to commence the repair of St. Damian's church, +suggested to him means by which the work might be begun. After having +fortified himself by the sign of the cross, he took from his father's +stores several pieces of cloth, which he sold at Foligno, together +with his horse. He came back on foot, and offered the money respectfully +to the priest of St. Damian for the repair of the church, and in aid +of the poor; humbly entreating him to allow him to remain some time +with him. The priest consented to receive Francis, but refused the +money, fearing the displeasure of his father; and Francis, who had +utter contempt for money, not valuing it more than so much dust, when +it was of no use for good works, threw it upon one of the windows of +the church. + +The heretics of the last century, who calumniated the Saint for many +things, have deemed it criminal in him to have taken these pieces of +cloth from his father's stores. St. Bonaventure is of a different way +of thinking; he has not thought that this action required justification; +on the contrary, he calls the sale of the cloth and of the horse a +fortunate bargain. And, indeed, without going into the right which the +son may have had in the commercial affairs of his father, in consequence +of their partnership, and of his age of twenty-five, had he not reason +to think that, having received orders from heaven to repair a church, +God, who is the Master and Dispenser of all goods, permitted him to +employ a portion of the goods which were under his paternal roof, since +he had no other means of obeying the injunction? But it is an +extraordinary case, which must not be drawn into precedent. The general +rule of Christian morality is, that children may not dispose of anything +without the permission of their parents even under the pretext of +piety. + +Bernardo on his return from a journey, having heard what his son had +done, came in great wrath to St. Damian's with several members of his +family; and Francis, who had not yet sufficient strength of mind to +encounter the storm, and wished to avoid the first ebullition, went +and hid himself in the priest's room. Three contemporary authors assure +us that, having placed himself behind the door, and pressing himself +against the wall, when the door was opened he was miraculously let +into the wall, so that he was not seen by those who were looking for +him. + +When his father was gone, he retired secretly into a cavern, which was +known only to one servant, from whom he received what was necessary +for his immediate sustenance, and where he occupied himself in continual +prayer, shedding abundance of tears, in order that he might be delivered +from those who pursued him, and be able to accomplish the work which +God had inspired him to undertake. + +After having passed a month in this place, he considered that it was +in God alone that he ought to hope, without putting any confidence in +his own exertions, and this thought filled him with interior joy, and +raised his depressed spirits. Reproaching himself, therefore, with his +pusillanimity, he left his cavern and went straight to the town, as +a soldier, who, feeling ashamed of having fled, returns intrepidly to +the charge. Of what is not he capable, who is fully persuaded that he +can do nothing of himself towards his salvation, but that he can do +all through God who imparts strength to him? On these two principles +the saints have undertaken, and carried into execution, the greatest +things. + +The inhabitants of Assisi, who saw his face all pale and wan, and who +remarked how changed were his conversation and opinions, thought that +his mind was disturbed. He was called a madman, they threw mud and +stones at him, and followed him, hooting and calling after him. But, +without paying attention to these insults, and being on the contrary +well pleased to bear these marks of the holy folly of the cross, the +servant of God continued his way as if he had been deaf and insensible. + +Bernardo being told that his son had returned, and was made the object +of public derision, went immediately in pursuit of him, reproached him +bitterly with his conduct, seized him and dragged him to his house, +where he beat him severely, and confined him in a hole under the +staircase. This severity had no effect in shaking the resolution of +the holy prisoner; he even acquired more firmness, and encouraged +himself to suffer by the words of the Gospel: "Blessed are they that +suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of +heaven." + +A short time after, when his father was on a journey, his mother, who +did not approve of the severity with which he was treated, and who +moreover had no hope of overcoming his constancy, set him at liberty. +He gave thanks to God for it, and made use of it, to return to the +church of St. Damian. Bernardo, not finding him in his confinement at +his return, was not content with upbraiding his wife in the severest +terms, but went off to St. Damian's to drive him out of the country +if he should not succeed in bringing him back. Francis, to whom God +had given strength, presented himself boldly to his father, and told +him decidedly that he cared not for his blows, nor for his +shackles--that he was prepared willingly to suffer all sorts of evils +for the name of Jesus Christ. His father, seeing that there was nothing +more to hope in his case, thought of nothing further than to get back +the money for the cloth and the horse. He found it in the window where +Francis had thrown it, when the priest refused its acceptance, and +then his wrath was somewhat appeased. + +Avarice, which is never satisfied, induced Bernardo to believe that +his son had other money, and he had him summoned before the city +magistrates, to account for it. Francis appeared before their tribunal +and told them that he had changed his state of life, that God had +delivered him from the slavery of the world, and that he had nothing +more to do with its affairs. The magistrates, who knew his conversion +and his perseverance, saw something grand in his demeanor, and told +his father, who urged them to put interrogatories to his son, that +this affair ought to be carried into the bishop's court. Bernard +addressed himself to that authority, not only to compel his son to +give up what money he had, but to force him to renounce his claims to +any paternal inheritance. Francis, who was a sincere lover of poverty, +cheerfully consented to all that was required of him, and said that +he would willingly appear before the bishop, who was the pastor and +father of his soul. As soon as he was there, without waiting for his +father to make his demand, and without saying anything himself, he +gave up what money he still had, and then stripped off his clothes, +even to his shirt, under which it was seen that he wore a hair-shirt, +and gave them up to his father, addressing him in the following +beautiful words: "Until this time I have called thee father on earth; +but from henceforward I may boldly say, Our Father who art in Heaven, +in whom I have placed all my treasure, and all my confidence." + +The prelate, who was a man of great worth, admiring this excess of +fervor, and moved even to tears, rose up, and embracing the servant +of God, covered him with his cloak, and ordered his servants to bring +such clothing as was necessary for him. It was no doubt by a +dispensation of Divine Providence that a bishop pressed to his bosom +him who was to combat so strenuously for the service of the Church. +They brought an old cloak belonging to a laborer, who was in the employ +of the bishop, which Francis received with great satisfaction, and +with which he clothed himself, making on it a cross with some mortar +which he met with accidentally; thus manifesting what he wished to he, +a half-naked poor one, and a crucified man. This occurred in the year +1206, when he was in his twenty-fifth year. St. Bonaventure, who gives +the name of spiritual intoxication to the admirable fervor with which +he stripped himself in order to be able to follow Jesus Christ nailed +on the cross, says that, moreover, in order to avoid the shipwrecks +of the world, he fortified himself with the representation of the wood +which was the instrument of our salvation. + +Emancipated from the ties of worldly desires, as he had wished to be, +he now sought for some sequestered spot, where alone and in silence +he might listen to the voice of God. In a wood, through which he was +passing, singing the praises of God in the French language, some thieves +surrounded him and asked him who he was. "I am the herald of the great +King," he replied, in a prophetical sense, with perfect confidence in +God. On receiving this answer, they beat him cruelly, threw him into +a hole that was full of snow, and ridiculed the title he gave himself. +When they had left him, he again began to sing the praises of God in +a louder voice than before, delighted to have had an opportunity of +suffering. At a neighboring monastery, where he implored alms, which +he received as a contemptible beggar, they employed him for some days +in the vilest affairs of the scullery. But seeing that this interfered +too much with his spiritual exercises, he came to Gubbio, where one +of his friends, having recognized him, gave him, in order that he might +be more decently clad, a hermit's dress, a short tunic, a leathern +girdle, shoes, and a staff. + +In this penitential habit, he subjected his body to additional +austerities; and in order to fulfil all the functions of humility, to +which he was much attached, he devoted himself to the service of the +lepers. He was constantly seen in their hospitals, moving about in all +directions to aid them, preventing all their wants, showing the greatest +compassion for them, washing their feet, cleansing their sores, removing +the matter, and, by a wonderful effort of charity, kissing their +disgusting ulcers. He received from God in reward the gift of healing; +and this was a figure of the Evangelical cures, which he was soon to +apply to the diseases of the soul. + +Among many proofs which St. Bonaventure adduces of his having the gift +of healing miraculously, he mentions that of a man of the Duchy of +Spoleto, whose mouth and cheeks were eaten away by a dreadful cancer, +and for whom all sorts of remedies had been fruitlessly employed. This +man met Francis returning from Rome (whither he had been to implore +the assistance of the blessed Apostles), who, out of great respect, +wished to kiss his feet; this the humble Francis prevented, but kissed +the cancerous face, which was instantaneously cured. The same saint +remarks: "I know not which is most to be admired, such a kiss, or such +a cure!" + +The servant of God, who now acknowledged no other country than heaven, +and who was fearful of being the cause of some of his father's +violences, proposed to himself to take up his abode in Gubbio and +devote himself to the exercises of charity, without returning to Assisi; +but calling to mind the order which had been given him by the voice +which came from the crucifix, to repair the Church of St. Damian, he +thought himself bound to obey it, at least by "questing" for what was +requisite for working at it. The profound humility which he had acquired +by the degradations he had subjected himself to, gave him the courage +he required for begging in his native town, where he had been known +to have possessed everything in plenty. Having cast aside all +bashfulness for the love of Jesus Christ poor and crucified, he went +through the centre of Assisi as one inspired, publishing the glories +of God, and soliciting stones for the repair of the church; addressing +his fellow-citizens with simplicity, thus: "Whosoever will give me a +stone, shall have a reward; whoever will give two shall have a double +reward; and he who gives three shall be rewarded threefold." + +Many treated him with contempt, and turned him into ridicule. Others +could not understand how a young man of a good and opulent family, +with excellent prospects, hitherto considered as the model of the young +men of the place, could demean himself to such a degree as to beg in +his native town. Some thought that such a change could only come from +God, and were greatly moved by it. But the new-made pauper, having no +respect for the opinions of men, and receiving cheerfully the insults +put upon him, after the example of Jesus Christ, thought of nothing +but the church of St. Damian, for which he quested so successfully, +that many persons, moved by his exhortations, furnished sufficient for +its repair. He himself worked at it daily, and carried the materials +on his shoulders as a common laborer, without any regard for his body, +which was emaciated by the rigors of penance and fasting. + +The priest of St. Damian took compassion on the pious workman, and +took care to provide him with a substantial meal when he came in from +work. Francis having received this charitable succor for some days +running, reflected on his situation, and said to himself as he +afterwards told his disciples: "Will you find everywhere a priest who +has so much consideration for you? This is not the sort of life you +have chosen: go, then, henceforward from door to door, as a poor man, +and solicit food for the love of God, with an empty plate, on which +you will put whatever may be given you. For it is thus you must live +for the love of Him who was born poor, who lived poorly, whom they +affixed naked to the cross, and who was put after His death into another +man's tomb." One must be very dead to self, have great contempt of the +world, and a sincere love of God, to entertain such feelings and carry +them out. + +The following day he took a plate, and went begging from door to door, +and sat down in the street to eat. At the first mouthful he took of +this disgusting mess, he felt a nausea in his stomach, which made him +recoil. Animated at the same instant by the love of poverty, he became +ashamed of his weakness, and reproached himself for the feeling; after +which, he ate the remainder without reluctance, and with so much relish, +that he thought he had never eaten a better meal. He also felt an +interior joy and strength in his body, which enabled him to bear with +pleasure, for God's sake, whatever might be most severe or bitter. +After having returned fervent thanks to the Father of the poor, who +had given him so wonderful a taste, he went to the priest and entreated +him to take no further trouble with respect to his nourishment, +"because," he said, "I have found an excellent purveyor, and a very +able cook, who can season his dishes in a superior way." He often used +such jocose expressions, which were as much the effect of the spiritual +joy he felt, as of his natural lively and joyous turn of mind. + +Bernardo, vexed in the greatest degree at seeing his son begging and +exposed to the jeers of the public, was inflamed with anger, and either +turned from him when he met him, or cursed him. Francis admitted that +these curses affected him more than any other suffering he endured, +and he hit upon a method of protecting himself. It was to take another +poor and miserable man with him, who should be as a father to him. He +was engaged to bless Francis, making the sign of the cross on him +whenever his father cursed him. Francis then said to Bernardo: "Believe +me, my father, that God can give me, and indeed has given me, another +father, from whom I receive blessings for your curses." + +His brother Angelo, a young man full of the love of the world, also +mocked him, and turned him into ridicule. Seeing him one day in church +shivering with cold in his poor hermit's dress, and praying devoutly, +he said to one of his friends: "Go and ask him to sell you a little +of his sweat!" Francis replied, "I do not choose to sell my sweat to +men; I can sell it at a better price to God." If all Christians thought +thus, they would not suffer much pain for the world, which pays so +ill, and they would do much for God, who rewards so magnificently. + +The pauper of Jesus Christ gained many other victories over himself +in the quest he had taken upon himself for the building of St. Damian. +He suffered with admirable patience the persecution of some worldly +persons, who treated him as a fool, and insulted him in a thousand +ways. Every time that it happened to him to blush when he met any of +his acquaintances or friends, he reprimanded himself as if he had +committed some great fault; he humbled himself the more, and begged +for alms more submissively, to take down all influence of pride. One +day when he was begging for oil for two lamps which he wished to keep +constantly burning before the crucifix, from which the miraculous voice +had been heard, he went into a house where some persons of his +acquaintance were collected together for gaming. Their sight struck +him, and gave him a feeling of shame which induced him to retire. He +had scarcely left the door, when, thinking on what he had done, he +considered himself guilty of a great want of firmness, and he +immediately returned to the place where they were at play, he +acknowledged his fault before all present, and begged boldly for the +lamps of the church in the French language, which set the company into +an immoderate fit of laughter. Such efforts show the truth of the +remark of St. Ambrose: that the saints were no less liable than +ourselves to fall into faults; but that they had greater care to +practise virtue, and to correct the faults into which they fell. + +Pious and well-thinking persons remarked that the conduct of Francis +was maintained with an equality of fervor, and they found a high degree +of wisdom in what appeared to the generality of the world to be +littleness of mind and folly. These opinions gradually spread and +brought over many to esteem and venerate him; even those who had +despised and insulted him, came forward to solicit his forgiveness. +The prior of the monastery where he had served in the kitchen, who was +then at Assisi, and who there became acquainted with his rare virtues, +showed him great respect, begged him to pardon the treatment he had +received, and excused himself, by saying, that he could not then be +known under the miserable disguise under which he had hid himself. The +man who had foretold that he would do great things, added to this +prediction, while applauding himself: "You know what I before said to +you of this young man; you only see the beginning of his holiness, but +you will see the continuation: Jesus Christ will do wonders through +him, which all the world will admire." + +The dispositions which were now entertained in his regard, procured +for him the means of completing the repairs of St. Damian towards the +close of the year 1206. In the course of this work, it was remarked +that he said to those who passed by, "Assist me in finishing this +building; there will be a monastery here some day of poor females of +holy life, whose reputation will tend to glorify our Heavenly Father +throughout His Holy Church." This was a real prophecy, the +accomplishment of which was witnessed five years afterwards, when he +placed there the holy virgin Clare and her companions, whom he had +consecrated to Jesus Christ. This prophecy was so well known, that +Saint Clare inserted its very words in the will she made in the year +1253. + +At the beginning of the year 1207, Francis, not to remain idle, +undertook a new work. He proposed to restore the church of St. Peter, +which was at a little distance from the town, in consequence of the +devotion with which the purity of his faith inspired him towards the +Prince of the Apostles; and this intention was soon put in force, +because, it having been seen how carefully he had made use of the +donations he had received for his first work, he was now furnished +with what he required, more readily and more abundantly. He now was +desirous of effecting some essential repairs to a third church or +chapel, about a mile from Assisi, which was very ancient, but so +deserted and in such a state of ruin, that it only served as a refuge +for herdsmen in bad weather: its name was St. Mary of the Angels, and +Ottavio, Bishop of Assisi, thus describes its foundation: + +"In the year of 352, a year after the appearance in the heavens of a +luminous cross on the 7th of May, in broad daylight, over the City of +Jerusalem, which extended from Mount Calvary to the Mountain of Olives, +a cross which was more brilliant than the sun, as St. Cyril, then +bishop of that city, and one of the eye-witnesses of the phenomenon, +relates in his letter to the Emperor Constantius,--four holy hermits +came from Palestine into Italy, and obtained from Pope Liberius leave +to remain in the Valley of Spoleto, and settled themselves in the +vicinity of Assisi, with the permission of the authorities of the town. +There they built a chapel which was called St. Mary of Josaphat, because +they placed in it a relic of the sepulchre of the Blessed Virgin, and +because the altar was consecrated by the title of her glorious +Assumption. In the sixth century it was given to the Religious of the +Order of St. Benedict, who enlarged and strengthened it; and it was +afterwards called St. Mary of the Angels." We shall soon explain the +reason of this. It was also called Portiuncula, because of some portions +of ground which the Benedictines of Mount Saubazo possessed in the +vicinity. + +We can easily understand that a man without any property, who was poor +and a beggar, could not have accomplished these works without assistance +from above; but St. Bonaventure finds in it a still further mystery. +He says that Divine Providence, who guided Francis in all his actions, +preordained things in such manner, that he repaired three churches +previous to instituting there his orders, in order that the material +temples should be the types of the three spiritual edifices which he +was to raise up; and that passing from what is perceptible to the +senses, to what is only apparent to the mind, and rising gradually to +what is still more elevated, he was enabled to give to the Church of +Jesus Christ three descriptions of soldiery able to combat for the +reformation of morals, and worthy to triumph gloriously in heaven. We +may add, that the austerities, labors, and humiliations of the servant +of God had been for the two previous years as so many strokes of the +hammer, which rendered him a chosen and living foundation-stone on +which these sacred edifices might be based. Such is the method which +is adopted by our Lord. He prepares all things, and brings them +successively to perfection; instead of which, men are always hurried, +and often endeavor in the way to perfection to advance faster than the +grace which directs them. + +Of the three churches which Francis had repaired, he chose that of St. +Mary of the Angels for his residence, in order to honor the Mother of +God and the Celestial Intelligences. St. Bonaventure says that he was +often favored by visits from Angels, on account of the frequent +apparitions of these blessed spirits there. The man of God passed days +and nights there in fervent prayer, when he entreated the Blessed +Virgin, that as she had conceived and brought forth the Word of the +Father, full of grace and truth, she would have the goodness to obtain +for him a participation therein; it was there also, that, by the merits +of this powerful advocate, he had the happiness to conceive and bring +forth, if it may be so expressed, his evangelical life; the precious +fruit of grace and truth, which the Son of God had come to bring upon +earth. + +One day when he was assisting in this church at a mass of the Apostles, +which he had requested the priest of St. Damian to say, he listened +attentively to the Gospel where this form of life is prescribed by our +Saviour for the mission of His Apostles: "Do not possess gold, nor +silver, nor money in your purses; nor scrip for your journey, nor two +coats, nor shoes, nor a staff." After mass, he asked the priest to +explain these words to him; he understood the sense of them well, and +impressed them well on his heart, finding in them the image of that +poverty which he loved: "This is what I seek for," he exclaimed, quite +overjoyed, "this is what I desire with my whole heart." At the same +instant he threw away his purse with a feeling of horror for money, +he took off his shoes, he replaced his leather girdle by a cord, and +devoted his thoughts to putting in practice what he had just heard, +and to conforming himself in all things to the Evangelical rule. It +is a vocation similar to that of St. Anthony, of whom St. Athanasius +relates, that having heard in the church these words of Jesus Christ, +"If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give it to the +poor," he went immediately to put this counsel in practice, in order +to attain perfection. + +The hermit's tunic, which Francis still retained, appeared to him too +delicate; he therefore got one coarse and rough, of an ash gray, which +came down to the feet, and the sleeves of which reached to the fingers; +to this he added a hood, which covered sufficiently the head and face. +This description of dress he continued to wear during the remainder +of his life, except that the tunic and hood had sometimes more or less +length or breadth, as is seen in his habits which are preserved with +great veneration at Assisi, at Mount Alvernia, and at Florence. Seeking +nothing but poverty and humility, he chose the dress that was the +plainest, the most despicable, and the most likely to make himself +despised by the world, whose vanities he held in utter contempt; it +was also the dress most like to that of the shepherds, and other country +peasants, who chose it to protect them from the weather; or rather he +imitated the prophets, who only covered themselves with a sack, to +which he afterwards added a short cloak. + +All the events just narrated happened in the year 1208, which is +reckoned the first year of the Order of St. Francis, because it is the +one in which he took the habit, which he gave in the following year +to such as chose to imitate him, and in which the first stone was laid +which served as a foundation for this spiritual edifice. + +Then God inspired him to preach, to exhort sinners to repentance, and +to cause evangelical perfection to be loved in the world. Although he +expressed himself in a very plain manner, his discourses had nothing +in them that was low; they were solid and animated with the Spirit of +God, and so effectually penetrated the hearts of his hearers, that +every one was surprised at it. He always began them by the following +salutation, which he afterwards declared had been revealed to him by +God; "May the Lord grant you His peace." It was noticed that a very +pious man, who was in the habit of addressing the two following words +to all whom he met, "Peace and weal,--Peace and weal!" was not seen +in Assisi after Francis began to preach; as if he wished it to be +understood that his mission had ended by the presence of him whose +precursor he was. In fact, this new preacher was in truth an angel of +peace sent from heaven to reconcile a great number of sinners with +Jesus Christ, and to draw down on them all sorts of benefits. + +He joined to the ministry of the word the exercise of every sort of +virtue, and applied himself particularly to prayer, where the sufferings +of our Blessed Saviour made such impression on his soul that he groaned +and sobbed aloud, when he found himself at liberty. One of his friends, +passing by the church of St. Mary of the Angels, having heard him, +went in, and seeing him bathed in tears, reproached him with it as of +a weakness unbecoming in a man. "I weep for the Passion of my Lord +Jesus Christ," answered Francis, "and I ought not to be ashamed of +weeping openly before the whole world." This enviable emotion was in +the heart of St. Augustin, when he said to his people: "The Passion +of Jesus Christ, which the Church puts every year before us, moves and +affects us as if we saw Him personally stretched on the cross; there +are none but the impious who can be insensible to it.--As for me, I +wish to lament with you in considering this affecting spectacle. This +is the time in which to weep, to acknowledge ourselves criminals, and +to pray for mercy. Which of us would have it in his power to shed a +sufficiency of tears to equal the merit of so great and so worthy a +subject of grief?" Every Christian ought to blush, if he is wanting +in these sentiments of gratitude and love. + +The words and actions of Francis soon became noised abroad. Some became +converted, and embraced the penitential course he preached. Others +formed the resolution of leaving all and joining him. The first was +Bernard de Quintavalle, a rich and discreet man, of one of the best +families of Assisi, who had great influence in the town, and guided +it by his advice. This respectable man, as St. Bonaventure called him, +considering the contempt with which Francis viewed all the things of +this world, was desirous of ascertaining whether it was in truth an +effect of sanctity, or of littleness of mind. He invited him, therefore, +to supper and to sleep at his house, and had a bed prepared for him +in his room. While he feigned to sleep soundly, he saw by the light +of a lamp Francis get up, fall on his knees, melt into tears, his eyes +raised to heaven, his arms crossed, pronounce slowly these words: +_"Deus meus et omnia,"_--"My God, and my all," which he repeated +during the whole night. So ardent and so tender an expression is quite +convincing that he was then in an exalted state of contemplation, where +interior communications made him sensible that the Lord was especially +his God, and filled the whole soul. Happy he who can with truth say, +_Deus meus et omnia_. For this it is requisite that he should belong +wholly to God, and that the world should be nothing to him. + +Bernard did not interrupt Francis in his holy exercise, but, filled +with devotional feelings, he said to himself, "Truly this is a man of +God." After having put him to other proofs, he resolved to give all +his goods to the poor and follow him, and he put this question to him: +"If a man had received from his master a certain portion for several +years, and then wished no longer to make use of it, what do you think +it would be best for him to do?" Francis said in answer, that he ought +to return it to the master from whom he had received it. "It is I," +replied Bernard, "who have received a great deal from God, and much +more than I have deserved; I return it willingly into His hands, and +place it at your disposal; for I mean to attach myself to you." At +these words, Francis, delighted to find that God began the +accomplishment of his works by so worthy a personage: "Your intention," +he said, "is one of great importance; you must consult God upon it, +to learn from Him how you are to put it in execution. Early to-morrow +morning we will ask the Curate of St. Nicholas, who is known to be a +most worthy man, to say a mass for us, and after having heard it, we +will continue in prayer till the hour of Tierce." We see in this the +mode of acting of one who has the spirit of God; he hurries nothing, +he has recourse to prayer, and he makes use of the ordinary practices +of the Church. + +The following day they did what they had proposed; after which, Francis, +who had great devotion to the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, +opened three times in their honor the book of the Gospels, entreating +the Almighty to confirm, by the testimony of their texts, Bernard's +holy resolution. At the first opening they found the following: "If +thou wilt be perfect, go sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor." +At the second: "Take nothing for the journey." At the third: "If any +man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, +and follow Me." Then Francis, addressing himself to Bernard, said: +"There is the life we must lead, the rule we must follow, you and I, +and all those who shall desire to join us. Go thou and put in execution +what thou hast just heard." + +The new disciple, intimately convinced that his design came from God, +sold, as fast as he could, all his effects, from which he got a +considerable sum, which he had carried to the Square of St. George, +and distributed it entirely among the poor whom he could collect. +Francis then gave him a habit similar to his own; he called him his +eldest son, and was always tenderly attached to him: he was indeed a +most holy man. + +Peter of Catania, Canon of the Church of St. Ruffinus, the Cathedral +of Assisi, edified by the self-denial and charity of Bernard, was +disposed to become a disciple of the same master, and received the +penitential habit on the same day, which was the 16th of April. All +three retired to a hut which had been deserted, near to a rivulet +called _Rivo Torto_, on account of its winding so very much. + +Seven days after that, a very pious man called Giles, who was greatly +looked up to in Assisi, on his return from the country learnt what his +two fellow-citizens had done, which had excited the admiration of the +whole town, and felt an ardent wish to imitate them, and thus carry +out an intention he had entertained of devoting himself to the service +of God. He passed the following night in prayer, when he was inspired +to offer himself to Francis, for whom he had already great esteem, on +account of the extreme contempt of the world and of himself, which was +remarked in the whole of his conduct. In the morning he went to the +Church of St. George, whose festival it was, there to implore the +saint's intercession, that he might find him whom he was seeking, of +whose abode he was ignorant. Seeing out of the town three roads, without +knowing which to take, he addressed the following prayer to God: "O +Lord, most holy Father, I entreat Thee by Thy mercy, if I am to +persevere in this holy vocation, so to guide my steps that I may arrive +at the place where Thy servant lives whom I am seeking." He took one +of the three roads as God inspired him; and as he walked full of his +holy project, Francis, who was at prayer in a neighboring wood, came +out to meet him. + +As soon as Giles saw him, he went to him, and threw himself at his +feet, and begged the favor of being received into his society. The +holy man, who was at once satisfied of the faith and piety of the +postulant, replied: "My brother, your request is that God would receive +you as His servant and soldier. This is no small favor. It is as if +the emperor were to come to Assisi, and wish to make choice of a +favorite; each one would say, 'I wish to God it may be myself.' It is +thus God has made choice of you." He assured him that his vocation +came from heaven and exhorted him to persevere. Then presenting him +to Bertrand and Peter, he said: "Here is a good brother, whom God has +sent us." And when he was alone with them, he told them that Giles +would one day excel in sublime virtue. + +After a slender meal, and a spiritual conference, Francis set out with +his new postulant for Assisi, to procure what was requisite for +clothing. On the way, a woman having asked charity of them, the Saint +turned to Giles, and with an angelic countenance, said: "My dear +brother, let us give this poor woman the cloak you have on for the +love of God." Giles gave it immediately, and it seemed to him that +this alms ascended to heaven, which filled him with great joy. They +begged at Assisi for some very coarse cloth, with which Francis clothed +his third disciple, in the small hut where he instructed him in the +religious exercises of a religious life. + +Francis did not permit his disciples long to enjoy the sweetness of +a life of retirement. Having informed them that they were bound to go +forth to instruct their neighbors by unstudied words and an edifying +life, he sent Bernard and Peter into Emilia, and set out himself with +Giles for the March of Ancona. + +These apostolic men preached everywhere the grandeur and goodness of +God, the obligation of each one to love Him, to obey His love, and to +do penance. When they wanted the necessaries of life, they rejoiced, +as if it were a treasure that they had purchased at the price of all +they had possessed. Some persons received them obligingly, and did +them good offices; but the singularity of their dress, and the rigor +of their mode of life, shocked most of those who saw them. They were +even frequently insulted, covered with mud, dragged by their hood, and +severely beaten: this they joyfully bore, judging from the interior +profit which they derived from it, that it was greatly to their +advantage. + +Their virtue, nevertheless, caused them to be treated at times with +respect, and honors were even rendered to them. This mortified them, +Giles in particular, who only gloried in the mortifications which he +suffered for Jesus Christ's sake, and could not bear to be so honored. +He said to his father: "When men honor us, we lose our glory." He also +expressed to him his dissatisfaction that the mode of greeting which +he had taught them, "May the Lord grant you His peace," was ill received +by the men of the world. "Pardon them," replied Francis, "for they +know not what they do. I verily assure you that hereafter there will +be many nobles and princes who will respect you and your brethren, +when you shall address those words to them." He foretold to him likewise +that his Institute would spread, and that it might aptly be compared +to a net which a fisherman casts into the river, with which he catches +a multitude of fish. + +The pious missionaries having gone through several towns, and given +great satisfaction, returned to the hut at Rivo Torto, when a fourth +disciple offered himself: his name was Sabbatin. + +Morique, a religious of the Order of Crosiers, or cross-bearers, was +the fifth. Being sick, and in extremity, given over and abandoned by +the medical men of the hospital of St. Saviour of Assisi, where all +strangers were received, he got himself recommended to the prayers of +Francis, who willingly prayed for him, and mixed a little crumb of +bread with the oil of the lamp which burnt before the altar of St. +Mary of the Angels. This he sent him by two of his brethren, saying +to them: "Take this to our dear Brother Morique. The power of Jesus +Christ will not only restore him to perfect health, but will cause him +to become a generous soldier, who will enter into our militia, and +will persevere in it." The sick man had hardly swallowed the remedy +when he was quite cured, and he soon after entered the Institute of +his charitable physician, in which he lived in prodigious austerity +during a long life, and enjoyed perfect health. + +A sixth disciple, called John, and surnamed De Capella, began well, +but finished ill. He was employed to distribute to his brethren what +was given to them in alms, and he took willingly the trouble of +procuring for them what was wanted. But by little and little he got +attached to temporal things, went too much abroad, and was very much +relaxed from the regular discipline. The holy founder having frequently +reprimanded him severely, and without effect, he threatened him for +his contumacy with a severe illness and a miserable death. In fact, +this unworthy religious was stricken with a horrible leprosy, which +he had not patience to endure. He forsook the poor of Jesus Christ, +his companions, and, letting himself fall into despair, he hanged +himself, as Judas had done. + +St. Antonius remarks that the life of St. Francis was in conformity +with that of Jesus Christ, even in the circumstance of having had an +unworthy disciple. He only became such by his depraved will; but God +in His wisdom made him serve as an example to show that we may be lost +even in the most holy states of life if we cease to labor with fear +and trembling for our salvation. Peter Rodulphus, Bishop of Sinigaglia, +in the Duchy of Urbino, adds, that the loss of one of the first children +of St. Francis, and still more that of Judas in the Apostolic College, +should induce those who are inclined to think ill and contemptibly of +a whole order, on account of the ill-behavior of some individual, to +reform their method of forming their opinions. + +Among the instructions which Francis gave to his disciples, he laid +great stress on poverty, the practice of which might appear to them +to be very severe. In order to render them wise herein by experience, +and to make them feel that their subsistence depended on the charity +of the faithful, he took them all into Assisi, and made them beg from +door to door. This voluntary mendicity, which seemed new, and which +had hardly been seen till then, drew down upon them derision, contempt, +rebuffs, and angry words. In one place they were treated as sluggards +and idlers, and turned away with curses; in another they were told +they were fools to have given up their own property to go begging from +other people. The parents and relatives of those who were thus begging, +asserted that their families were dishonored by these practices, and +made loud complaints. There were, however, some who respected their +poverty, and aided them with good will. Such was the feeling of the +public of those times in regard to evangelical poverty, which differs +but little from what it is in our own days. + +After this quest, Francis went to report to the Bishop of Assisi the +proceedings of his new soldiers. This worthy prelate, who greatly +valued him, and gave him his support on all occasions, could not help +telling him then, that he thought the sort of life he had chosen, in +which they gave up all possessions whatsoever, hard and grievous. "As +to me," replied the holy man, "I find it still harder and more grievous +to possess anything; for one cannot take care of what one possesses +without much solicitude and embarrassment. It gives rise to lawsuits, +which must be undertaken; sometimes people are obliged to take up arms +to protect it; and all this extinguishes the love of God and of our +neighbor." The bishop approved of his remarks, and once more promised +him his protection. It is true that the state of voluntary poverty in +which a person possesses nothing whatever, has its inconveniences; and +where does human corruption fail to find such? But it cannot be denied +that the state in question is very favorable to salvation, since it +is based upon the counsel of Jesus Christ; and that, on the contrary, +the possession of property is dangerous for salvation, since He Himself +has said emphatically: "How hardly shall they that have riches enter +into the kingdom of God." + +While the Evangelical poor continued at Rivo Torto, the Emperor Otho +IV, who was on his way to Rome with a great train, in order to be +consecrated and crowned by Innocent III, passed by their hut. They +were too mortified to pay any attention to the pomp of his retinue; +but Francis ordered one of them to go to the emperor and tell him that +all the glory which surrounded him would be but of short duration. The +religious obeyed, and boldly told the emperor what had been commanded. +The prediction displeased the prince, who, nevertheless, admitted from +the event that it was well founded. For, having violated his coronation +oath, and committed various injustices towards the Church, he was +excommunicated the following year by the same Pope; and afterwards +deprived of his empire, and abandoned by the whole world. It is thus +that the greatness of the world, so fickle in itself, and always put +an end to by death, falls sometimes even before that, by misconduct, +and by the just judgments of God. + +Zeal for the salvation of souls induced Francis to move his small troop +into the Valley of Rieti. He halted at an abandoned hermitage on a +large rock, which he thought to be a convenient place for entering +into conversation with God. + +Being at prayer one day on this rock, and ruminating in the bitterness +of his soul on his past years, he was assured, by a fresh inspiration +of the Holy Ghost, that his sins were forgiven him, which filled him +with joy. We cannot doubt but that his sins had been remitted him at +the period of his conversion, by sincere contrition and the sacrament +of penance. But in this happy moment he received the assurance thereof +by revelation, and he learnt at the same time that the remission was +entire, that is to say, that all the temporal punishment due to his +sins had been remitted. + +St. Bridget, whose revelations are sanctioned and respected by the +Church, relates that she learnt from our Saviour that, when Francis +retired from the world to enter on the way of perfection, he obtained +from God a lively sorrow for his sins, which enabled him to say: "There +is nothing on earth which I am not heartily willing to give up; nothing +so laborious and so toilsome that I would not joyfully endure, nothing +that I would not undertake, according to the strength of my body and +soul, for the glory of my Lord Jesus Christ; and I will, as far as is +possible, excite and induce all others to love God with their whole +hearts, and above all other things." Such beautiful sentiments, well +lived up to and exemplified by actions and conduct, would give us, not +an entire assurance as to the remission of our sins, but a firm and +well-founded confidence thereof. + +The holy penitent received with this plenary indulgence the grace of +an ecstasy, wherein, by a bright illumination from on high, God +communicated to him what was to occur to his order. When he returned +to join his disciples he said:--"Take courage, my dear children, rejoice +in the Lord. Be not cast down at the smallness of your numbers. Let +not my simplicity nor yours alarm you, for God has shown me clearly +that, by His blessing, He will spread this family of which He is the +Father, into all parts of the world. I should wish to be silent on all +that I have seen, but charity compels me to communicate it to you. I +saw a great multitude coming to us to take a similar habit, and to +lead the same life. I saw all the roads filled with men who walked +hither, and hastened themselves very much. They came in great numbers, +French, Spaniards, Germans, English, and from almost all nations. The +noise of such as come and go, to execute the orders of holy obedience, +still sounds in my ears." + +So magnificent a prediction reminds us of the prophet Isaias on the +establishment of the Church: "Jerusalem, thou who sayest, I am barren! +lift up thine eyes and look all around thee. All this vast multitude +surrenders itself up to thee. I see them coming from afar--some from +the North, others from the West, others from the land of the South; +a thousand will come forth from the smallest among them, and from the +very least a great people." + +The event has verified, in the eyes of the universe, the prophecy of +the holy Patriarch. There was in a very short time a great number of +religious; his order extended itself to all parts with astonishing +rapidity, and it has multiplied itself so wonderfully for seven +centuries, that it may be looked upon as a representation of the birth +and progress of the Church. + +The disciples, greatly comforted by what they had just heard and +persuaded that their master had the spirit of prophecy, entreated him +to inform them what would in future be the situation of his Order. He +explained to them in parables the good which would be effected by it, +and at the same time the relaxations which would be introduced into +its discipline, in order that the graces of God, which were to be +bestowed on it, might excite their utmost gratitude, and that the fear +of their weakness and want of fervor might render them vigilant and +humble. + +The odor of sanctity which issued through the environs of the hermitage, +and the holiness of their lives, brought many persons to them for +instruction, and to profit from the edification they would receive. +A very worthy person, whose name was Philip the Long, was desirous of +entering the state of Evangelical poverty. Francis made him his seventh +disciple, and he brought them all back to the hut at Rivo Torto. In +this holy retreat he spoke to them frequently of the Kingdom of God, +of the contempt of the world, of renouncing of their own will, of the +mortification of the senses, and other maxims of a spiritual life. He +opened to them also his intention of sending them into the four parts +of the world; for, with the seven children which evangelical poverty +and simplicity had given him, it was his wish to bring all the faithful +to penance, and to generate them in some measure anew by the word of +truth, to give them, or rather to restore them, to Jesus Christ. In +fine, he told all his disciples openly, but with great humility, that +the Divine Majesty had, in His wisdom, decided to employ them, and the +companions they should aggregate to their community, to renew the face +of the earth, by their preaching and their example, in order that the +losses the Church had sustained by the corruption of morals, might be +made good; and that it was for this purpose that grace had put it in +their power so promptly to exercise the holy ministry. In order to +prepare them for this mission, he made them the following discourse, +which is worthy of being recorded at full length, in the words in which +it has been preserved by his companions, to whom it was addressed:-- + +"Let us consider, my dear brethren, what our vocation is. It is not +only for our own salvation that God has called us by His mercy, but +it is for the salvation of many others. It is in order that we should +exhort all the world, more by example than by words, to do penance and +to keep the Divine precepts. We are looked upon as senseless and +contemptible, but let not this depress you; take courage, and be +confident that our Lord, who conquered the world, will speak +efficaciously through you. Let us be cautious, after having given up +all, not to lose the kingdom of heaven for a trifling gain. If we find +money anywhere, let us consider it as valueless as the dust which we +tread under our feet. Let us not judge and despise the rich who live +in luxury and wear the ornaments of vanity. God is their Lord, as He +is ours; He may call them and justify them; we must honor them as our +brethren, and as our masters. They are our brethren, because we have +all the same Maker; and they are our masters, because they befriend +the good by the assistance they afford them. Go then, and exhort men +to do penance for the remission of their sins, and for peace. You will +find some among the faithful mild and good, who will receive you with +pleasure and willingly listen to you. Others, on the contrary, people +without religion, proud and violent, will censure you, and be very +hostile to you. But make up your minds to bear all this with humble +patience, and let nothing alarm you. In a very short time many learned +and noble persons will join themselves to you, to preach to kings, to +princes, and to nations. Be therefore patient in tribulations, fervent +in prayer, and fearless in labor. Be unassuming in speech, be grave +in your manner, and grateful for the favors and benefits you may +receive. The kingdom of God, which is eternal, will be your reward. +I entreat the one and only God, who lives and reigns in three Persons, +to grant it to us, as He doubtless will grant it to us, if we are +faithful to fulfil all that we have voluntarily promised." + +This discourse filled them with fresh ardor. They threw themselves at +the feet of the holy man, and joyfully received the orders he gave +them, in addressing to each one of them these words of the psalmist, +which he was accustomed to repeat when he gave those instructions which +required obedience: "Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain +thee." Having divided the routes they were to take, by forming a cross +which pointed to the four quarters of the globe, and knowing that he +was to be the model for his brethren, he took one side for himself +with a companion, and sent the other six, two and two, to the other +sides. Wherever they found a church, they prostrated and made use of +this formula, which they had learnt from their Father: "We adore Thee, +O most holy Lord Jesus Christ! here and in all Thy churches which are +in the whole world, and we bless Thee for having redeemed the world +by Thy holy cross." They had a great veneration for all chapels, for +all crosses, and for all that had any relation to the worship of God. +As soon as any one addressed them, they wished him peace, and instructed +him in the way to gain it. If any one appeared to them to have strayed +from the way of salvation, they endeavored to bring him back in a mild +and humble manner. In their sermons they spoke ingenuously whatever +was inspired them by the Holy Ghost, pointed out the true way to heaven, +showed what were the duties of charity, and endeavored to bring all +to love and fear the Creator and keep His holy commandments. + +When they were asked from what country they came, and to what profession +they belonged, they replied: "We are penitents come from Assisi;" for +they would not as yet give the name of religion to their society. There +were worthy people who received them with pleasure; but there were +many others who disapproved of their habit, their institute, their +discourses, imagining also that it was dangerous to give them +house-room, and that alms ought not even to be given to them; so that +these poor of Jesus Christ, cast off on all sides, had often to pass +the nights under porticos. + +Bernard and Giles went as far as Florence. A pious individual named +Guy offered them some money, which they refused, and when it was wished +to know from them, why, being so poor, they would not take it, they +made this answer: "We have left all that we possessed, according to +the Evangelical counsel. We have voluntarily embraced poverty, and we +have renounced the use of money." So perfect a detachment, joined to +an ardent zeal for the salvation of souls, and to sublime virtues, and +particularly a patience full of meekness and charity in the midst of +insults and injurious treatment, caused them to be looked upon in the +town as holy personages; they were consulted in cases of conscience, +and dwellings were offered them. + +While these Apostolic men continued their mission, Francis, guided by +the Spirit of God, returned to the hut at Rivo Torto, where he received +four additional disciples: Constantius, or John of St. Constantius; +Barbarus; Bernard of Viridant, or Vigilantius; and Sylvester, who was +a priest He was the first in the order, and his vocation was marvellous, +of which the following are the circumstances. + +He had sold some stones to St. Francis for the Church of St. Damian, +and had received the payment of their value. When he saw him preside +over the distribution of the property of Bernard de Quintavalle, he +complained of having been injured in the sale of the stones, and +demanded a compensation. The servant of God, who did not choose to +have any dispute with him on the subject, taking a bag full of money, +gave him handfuls, saying: "Take this for the payment you demand from +me, but which I do not owe you." He offered him some a second time, +but Sylvester would not take it, but left him well satisfied with what +he had got. At night the injustice of what he had done occurred to +him; he conceived a sincere sorrow for it, asked pardon of God, and +promised to restore what he had extorted to the prejudice of the poor. + +Nevertheless, he formed his opinion of Francis according to the ideas +of the world, and he looked with disgust on his mode of life. God was +pleased to will that he should be cured of this prejudice, which was +dangerous for his salvation, and that he should surrender himself to +the saint as one of his disciples, which was effected by means of a +mysterious dream. During the night he saw a horrible dragon, which +surrounded the town of Assisi, as if about to destroy it, together +with the entire country. Francis immediately came forth, and from his +mouth there came forth a golden cross, which reached up to heaven, and +the arms of it extended to the extremities of the earth, and its +splendor put the dragon to flight. Having had this dream three +successive nights, he perceived in it something divine, and he went +and related it to Francis, with the minutest exactness. This humble +servant of Jesus Christ, far from having the least complacency at it, +only made use of it to admire the goodness of God who grants such +favors, and to animate himself to combat the infernal dragon with +renovated energy, and publish the glory of the cross of our Saviour. +But Sylvester, profiting by the grace attached to the vision, was not +satisfied with restoring what he had unjustly extorted; he resolved, +moreover, to leave all that he possessed, to embrace poverty under the +guidance of Francis, which his affairs did not permit him to carry +into execution till the end of the year 1209. St. Bonaventure says, +that on authentic proof of the truth of the vision was the holiness +of the life he led when in the order. In fact, he undertook so sincerely +to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and made such vast progress +in prayer, that, according to the account of this blessed Father, he +conversed with God in a manner nearly similar to what is written of +Moses: "That the Lord spoke to him as a man is accustomed to speak to +his friend." + +Francis, full of the tenderest feelings for his children, was desirous +of having them all assembled together. He entreated the Lord, who had +in former times congregated the people of Israel dispersed among the +nations, to do him a similar favor in regard to his small family, and +his prayer was heard. The six who were out on missions returned to +Assisi from various places, as if they had acted in concert, without +having any notice given them. The pleasure which their return gave him +was greatly increased by the sincere and modest recital which they +made him of all that had passed in their travels for the glory of God +and the benefit of their neighbor. They gave an account, with evident +joy, of the outrages and blows they had endured and suffered, pleased +to have been found worthy to undergo those trials in the service of +Jesus Christ. The last comers envied them, and were only consoled by +the thought and hope that a time would come when they would be employed +in this holy warfare, and, should an opportunity be given them, of +displaying equal courage; the seniors embraced the latter, and +congratulated them on having chosen this holy estate of life: they all +exhorted each other to perseverance. + +Their common Father brought them up in the practice of the most rigorous +penances, but with the utmost mildness and kindness. He did not impose +upon them any considerable number of prayers because he was not desirous +of compelling devotion, and rather wished that these exercises of piety +should be spontaneous. He only then prescribed to them to say daily, +for each part of the Divine Office, the Lord's Prayer three times, and +to hear Mass, at which he desired they should employ themselves in +meditating on the mystery. It is, in fact, the very best way of +assisting at the Holy Sacrifice, and the faithful should be advised +to practise it. But those are not to be censured who make use of vocal +prayer during Mass, provided they do so with attention and piety in +the very spirit of the mystery;--since there is nothing in prayer but +what is good, and because, moreover, every one has not the talent of +meditation. + +The servant of God, considering that the number of his brethren +increased, thought seriously of forming a Rule for them, and having +assembled the eleven, the number they then were, he said to them: "I +see, my dear brethren, that God, in His infinite goodness, proposes +to extend our society; it is therefore necessary that we should +prescribe for ourselves a rule of life, and go and give an account +thereof to the most holy Roman Pontiff; for I am persuaded that in +matters of faith, and in such as concern religious orders, nothing can +be done which is pure and stable without his consent and approbation. +Let us then go and find our Mother, the Holy Roman Church. Let us make +known to our Holy Father the Pope, what God has deigned to begin through +our ministry, in order that we may pursue our course according to his +will, and under his orders." + +A celebrated Bishop of France said, in an assembly of his clergy: +"Paul, having returned from the third heaven, came to see Peter, in +order to give a form to all future ages, and that it be established +forever, that, however learned or holy we may be, were any of us another +St. Paul, we must see Peter." These sentiments are in entire accordance +with those of St. Francis, and contain an important principle, from +which it is easy to deduce the consequence. + +All the disciples applauded the proposal of their master, declaring +that they were ready to receive the rule that he would give them, and +to go to Rome to solicit its confirmation. Francis betook himself to +prayer, and composed, in a plain, unadorned style, in twenty-three +chapters, a rule of life, the immovable basis of which was the +observance of the Gospel; to which he added some exercises, which he +considered necessary for the sake of uniformity. Besides the three +vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, they renounced all possessions +whatsoever, and they bound themselves to live on charity without ever +receiving money. Clerics and laymen were alike admitted to embrace +this Institute, under the name of Friars Minor. There were also some +regulations relative to the Divine Office, prayer, the practice of +virtue, fasts, the bareness of the feet, preaching, and the missions, +which will be noticed when we come to speak of the second rule which +the Patriarch gave in the year 1223, which they keep in his Order, and +which is nothing more than an abridgment of the first. This first +having been read and accepted, Francis with his brethren set out for +Rome, to which, through humility, he chose that Bernard de Quintavalle +should lead them. + +They pursued their journey with great simplicity, only speaking of God +and of things calculated for edification; they often retired to some +by-place for the purpose of praying, without troubling themselves +where they should pass the night; and God raised up persons who received +them hospitably. By an effect of His Providence, they went out of their +way to go to Rieti, where they remained two days. Francis met in one +of the streets an officer of the army, whose name was Angelo Tancred. +He was quite unknown to him, but, nevertheless, he accosted him by his +name, and said: "Angelo, you have worn long enough your spurs, your +sword, and your belt; it is time that you should have a thick cord +instead of a belt; the Cross of Jesus Christ instead of a sword; and +mud and dust instead of spurs. Follow me, therefore, and I will make +you a soldier of Jesus Christ." At the very moment the officer quitted +all things, followed Francis, took his poor habit, and became his +twelfth disciple, who now by their number resembled the twelve Apostles, +whose lives they revered. This wonderful conversion shows that God +sometimes moves sinners by his active and powerful grace; as when He +said to Matthew, "Follow me," and Matthew followed Him. But it must +also make us reflect that, in the ordinary course of things, He invites +to repentance by graces, the impressions of which upon the mind are +not so active. + +The holy Patriarch continued his route, placing his entire confidence +in God; but the others became alarmed at their own simplicity, they +were fearful that it would impede their design; but God removed their +fears by a vision which their holy Father had. It seemed to him that +he was walking along a way where there was a very high tree. Coming +near it, he went under it to admire it, when all on a sudden he felt +himself raised up in the air by divine power, so that he had reached +the top of the tree, and that from thence he easily made the tallest +branches bend quite to the ground. The Holy Spirit pointed out to him +that this was a presage of the favorable issue of his application to +the Apostolic throne. This filled him with joy, and his recital of it +to his brethren renovated their courage. + +The Bishop of Assisi, whom they found at Rome, received them with great +kindness. The sight of them at first gave him some uneasiness, being +apprehensive that it was their intention to leave his diocese, and +that his people would be deprived of the examples of these holy men. +But having learnt from them the motive of their journey, he promised +them to use his influence in their favor, and gave them hopes of +succeeding through the intervention of Cardinal John of St. Paul, +Bishop of Sabina, who was his intimate friend. + +This prelate was of the Colonna family; he was the friend of the poor, +and of all worthy persons; he was respected for his many eminent +qualities, and had great authority at the Roman court. What the Bishop +of Assisi had already told him of Francis and his companions, of their +holy life, and of the singularity of their Institute, had excited in +him a great wish to see them. As soon as he had heard of their arrival, +he had them brought to his palace, received them with great honor, and +was so pleased with their conversation, that, after having assured +them of his favor, he begged them to consider him from thenceforward +as one of themselves. He also declared himself their protector, and +by his interference he soon procured for them the friendship of the +principal persons in the Sacred College, particularly that of Cardinal +Ugolini, nephew to the Pope, and subsequently Pope by the name of +Gregory IX. + +Francis, who was anxious to get his affairs expeditiously brought to +a termination, got himself introduced to the Pope by an officer of his +acquaintance. The Pope, who was walking at that moment in a place +called the Mirror, and being deeply engaged respecting some difficult +affairs of the Church, would not so much as listen to him, but repulsed +him rudely as a stranger of no very respectable appearance. The servant +of God humbly withdrew; and it is recorded that he then restored to +sight a blind man who had had his eyes torn out. The Holy Father saw +in his sleep a palm-tree grow slowly at his feet and become a fine +large tree. Pleased with what he saw, but not understanding its meaning, +he learnt by a Divine inspiration that the palm-tree represented the +poor man whom he had ungraciously repulsed the day before. As soon as +it was day, he gave directions that the poor man should be sought for. +He was found in the hospital of St. Anthony, and came to the feet of +the Pope, and laid before him the rule of life he followed, with +energetic though humble solicitations for His Holiness's approval +thereof. + +Innocent III, a Pontiff of great wisdom, acknowledged the candor and +the admirable courage and zeal of the servant of God. He received him +into his favor as one truly poor in Jesus Christ, and he was inclined +to comply with his request; however, he postponed doing so, because +his mode of life appeared novel to some of the cardinals, and so much, +beyond what human strength could endure; the evil times, and the +coldness of charity, making them think it very difficult and almost +impossible for an order to subsist without possessing any effects +whatever. + +Cardinal John of St. Paul was indignant at these obstacles, and he +expressed himself with great warmth to the other cardinals in presence +of the Pope. "If you reject the prayers of this poor man, on the +pretence that his rule is novel, and too austere, let us take care +that we do not reject the Gospel itself; since the rule of which he +solicits the approval, is in conformity with what the Gospel teaches; +for, to say that Evangelical perfection, or the vow to practise it, +contains anything unreasonable and impossible, is to blaspheme against +Jesus Christ, the author of the Gospel." The Pope, struck with this +reasoning, said to Francis: "My son, pray to Jesus Christ that He may +make known His will to us, that so we may favor your wishes." The +servant of God retired to pray, and soon after returned and set forth +this parable. + +"Most Holy Father, there was a beautiful young girl, who was very poor, +and who lived in a wilderness. The king of the country, who saw her, +was so charmed with her beauty that he took her for his wife. He lived +some years with her, and had children, who all resembled their father, +and had, nevertheless, the beauty of their mother; he then came back +to his court. The mother brought up her children with great care, and +after some time said to them: 'My children, you are born of a great +king, go and find him, tell him who you are, and he will give you all +that is befitting your birth. As to myself, I will not leave this +desert, and I even cannot.' The children went to the king's court, +who, seeing their resemblance to himself, and that they had the beauty +of their mother, received them with pleasure, and said to them: 'Yes, +you are my true children, and I will support you as the children of +a king; for, if I have strangers in my pay, if I maintain my officers +with what is served at my table, how much more care should I not have +for my own children, the offspring of so beautiful a mother! As I love +the mother extremely, I will keep the children she has had by me at +my court, and I will feed them at my table.' + +"This king, most Holy Father," continued Francis, "is our Lord Jesus +Christ. This beautiful girl is poverty, which, being everywhere despised +and cast off, was found in this world as in a desert. The King of kings +coming down from Heaven, and coming upon earth, was so enamored of +her, that He married her in the manger. He has had several children +by her in the desert of this world, Apostles, Anchorites, Cenobites, +and many others, who have voluntarily embraced poverty. This good +mother sent them to their Father with the marks of royal poverty, as +well as of her humility and obedience. This great King received them +kindly, promising to maintain them, and said to them: 'I who cause my +sun to shine on the just and on sinners, who give my table and my +treasures to pagans and to heretics, food, clothing, and many other +things, how much more willingly shall I give to you what is necessary +for you,--for you and all those who are born in the poverty of my +much-cherished Spouse.'" + +"It is to this celestial King, most Holy Father, that this Lady, His +spouse, sends her children whom you see here, who are not of a lower +condition than those who came long before them. They do not degenerate; +they have the comeliness both of their Father and their mother, since +they make profession of the most perfect poverty. There is, therefore, +no fear of their dying of poverty, being the children and heirs of the +Immortal King, born of a poor mother, of the image of Jesus Christ, +by the virtue of the Holy Ghost; and being to be brought up in the +spirit of poverty in a very poor order. If the King of heaven promises +that such as imitate Him shall reign with Him eternally, with how much +more confidence ought we believe that He will give them what He usually +gives, with so much liberality, to the good and to the bad." + +The Pope listened very attentively to the parable and to its +application. He was greatly pleased with it, and had no doubt but that +Jesus Christ spoke by the mouth of Francis. He was also convinced by +an interior light of the Holy Spirit, that in him a celestial vision +which he had but some days before would be accomplished, and which, +as St. Bonaventure informs us, he himself related. While he slept, he +saw that the Lateran Church was on the point of falling, when a poor +and miserable man supported it on his shoulders. On which he exclaimed: +"Yes truly, it is that man who will support the Church of Jesus Christ +by his works and by his doctrine." He thus foretold the great service +Francis and his children would render to the universal Church, which +indeed they have rendered, and, for the last six centuries, have not +ceased to render: this was what was prefigured by the vision; although +it has been remarked as something very singular, that the Lateran +Church has been repaired, improved and ornamented by three Popes, the +children of the blessed Patriarch, to wit, Nicholas IV, Sixtus IV, and +Sixtus V. + +Innocent III, moved and greatly affected by these celestial portents, +conceived for Francis a most tender friendship, which he preserved +ever after. He approved his rule verbally, granted him several other +favors, and promised many more. After having received in his own hands +the profession of the founder, and of those who accompanied him, he +directed him to preach penance in all parts, and to labor for the +extension of the Catholic faith. In order to enable them to employ +themselves more freely in preaching, and to assist the priest with +greater dignity in the performance of the holy mysteries, he directed +that the lay brethren who were then with them, should receive the +Tonsure, and wear small crowns; he even conferred minor orders on them, +and deacon's orders on Francis, whom he constituted Superior General +of all the Religious of the Order of Friars Minor, present and to come. +Those who were present promised obedience to Francis, and Francis +promised to obey the Pope. The pious Pontiff gave this new Patriarch, +with paternal kindness, instructions in various matters which related +to the well-being and strengthening of the Institution, and he assured +him of his peculiar favor; and finally, having embraced each one of +them, he gave them his blessing, and dismissed them filled with joy +and consolation. + +We have witnessed these favors renewed in 1723 by Innocent XIII, of +happy memory, the fifth Pope of the ancient and illustrious house of +the Counts of Segni, to which Innocent III belonged. The Holy Father, +assisted by four cardinals, had the goodness to preside at the general +chapter of the Order of St. Francis, held at Rome in the convent of +Ara Coeli, making known to all Christendom on that splendid occasion, +that he looked upon the Friars Minor as his children, as much from +family affection, as from his dignity of Supreme Pontiff. + +The illustrious author of the "Variations," who quotes the Abbot of +Ursperg, says that it was to give the Church true poor, more denuded +and more humble than the false poor of Lyons, that Pope Innocent III +approved the institution of the Friars Minor assembled under Francis, +who was a model of humility, and the wonder of the age. The false poor, +who are also known by the name of Vaudois, and are placed in the number +of heretics by Pope Lucius III, assumed the exterior of poverty and +humility, although they had none of the spirit of poverty and humility. +They were filled with hatred of the Church and its ministers, whom +they reviled in their secret assemblies. In 1212 they feigned +submission, and had the daring to go to Rome, to solicit the approbation +of the Holy See for their sect, but they were rejected by the Pope, +and from that time were obstinate and incorrigible heretics. + +Conrad, Abbot of Ursperg, who was at Rome when they came there in 1212 +with Bernard their master, remarks that the Friars Minor were very +different from the false poor, practised poverty with sincerity, and +were free from all errors; that they went barefooted in winter, as +well as in summer; that they received no money, and lived wholly on +alms, and were in everything obedient to the Holy Apostolic See; an +obedience which will ever be a mark by which true virtue may be +distinguished from false. + +Francis, finding himself protected by the Almighty, and authorized by +the Pope, acquired great confidence. He placed his most apostolical +Order under the immediate protection of the holy Apostle, whose tomb +he visited. He took leave of the Cardinals, John of St. Paul, and +Ugolini, whom he made acquainted with his intentions, and to whom he +expressed his great gratitude; then he took his departure from Rome +with his twelve companions, and bent his steps to the Valley of Spoleto, +there to practise and preach the Gospel. + +On the way he conversed with them on the means of adhering faithfully +to the rule, and relative to the manner in which they should strive +to attain perfection, so that they might be examples to others. One +day the conference lasted so long, that the hour for their meal passed +by without their having stopped; finding himself tired, they went a +little out of the way to rest. They were very hungry, but they had no +means of satisfying their craving. There then came to them a man who +brought them a loaf, and immediately disappeared, without their having +had it in their power to notice from what side he had come, or which +way he had gone from them. Then, says St. Bonaventure, Divine Providence +came to the aid of the poor of Jesus Christ, when all human assistance +failed them. They were well aware that the company of their holy founder +procured them this favor from Heaven; and the miraculous nourishment +they had just received, which renovated the strength of their minds +as well as that of their bodies, by the interior consolation they +received from it, inspired them with a firm resolution never to swerve +from the poverty to which they had devoted themselves. + +Pursuing their route towards Orta, they came in the plain near that +town to a church which had been deserted, and where, having offered +up their prayers, they agreed to stop, until such time as they should +learn where it was God's intention they should settle themselves. From +thence they went, daily, to the town to preach penance in the public +places; and it was with much fruit for the salvation of souls. The +people began to feel attached to them; and as they saw that on their +quest they refused everything but what was strictly necessary, they +took very many things to the church in which they had retired, and +those considered themselves fortunate who could make themselves useful +to them. They even came in crowds to see them, and to listen to the +discourses of these new men, whose actions and whose speech made them +appear as persons descended from heaven. + +But Francis, who found that this concourse of people interrupted and +disturbed their spiritual exercises, determined to leave this place. +The very beauty of it decided him to do so. It was a most agreeable +spot; on one side there were meadows covered with beautiful flowers; +on the other, a thick wood, where birds carolled the livelong day; +near the church there was a fine spring, and a rivulet, whose waters +murmured pleasantly around them; the view of the whole plain, with +that of the town beyond it on the heights, was all that could be wished. +The holy man was fearful lest so delicious an abode should enervate +the minds of his disciples, that the vigor of their intellect, so +requisite for penitential reflections, should become relaxed when +surrounded by objects so pleasant to the senses; and lest that which +inspired gladsomeness should make them lose the seriousness necessary +in prayer, and deprive them of the spiritual delight which is felt +therein. Thus, as a skilful general who was the leader of the soldiers +of Jesus Christ, and only followed His intentions, he made his little +band raise their camp at the end of a fortnight, and resume their march +towards the Valley of Spoleto. + +In the way they counselled together whether they should communicate +with the world, or whether they should retire into some solitary +retreat. Francis, not choosing to trust either to his own lights or +to those of his companions, had recourse with them to prayer, to +ascertain what the will of God was on this head; and he learnt by a +revelation, St. Bonaventure says, that God had sent him expressly to +gain souls which the devil was endeavoring to draw away from Jesus +Christ. He therefore resolved to dedicate himself to this holy +employment, and to live a life which should be useful to his neighbor +rather than to himself; being likewise animated thereto by the example +of Him of whom St. Paul said: "One died for all." With this view he +continued his route to the Valley of Spoleto, and brought his brethren +to the hut at Rivo Torto, near Assisi, where he had been before. + +One must feel surprised that St. Francis, with all the assurances he +had of his vocation, could have doubted for a single instant that he +had been sent by God for the spiritual service of his neighbors. But +his doubts only had their rise in the powerful attractions he had for +contemplation, which the tenderness of his conscience made him fearful +of resisting, by employing himself in the exercises of an active life; +and it was this that lessened his inclination for the functions of +Apostolicity; for, according to the doctrine of the Fathers, and of +Saint Bernard in particular, there are no more worthy ministers of the +Gospel than such as devote themselves to conversation with God in +retreat, and who leave that retreat to preach the doctrines of salvation +only when they have reason to think that God calls upon them to do so. +Our Lord, who thus in his wisdom permitted that His servant should +labor under this uncertainty, revealed to him already that he was +destined to labor for the salvation of souls, and we shall see, further +on, that He assured him again by other revelations. + +The hut in which these men devoted to evangelical poverty had retired, +was so small and so confined, that, far from being able to lie at full +length in it, there was barely room for them to sit, insomuch that +their Father was obliged to assign to each his place by writing his +name on the joists, in order that they might pray and take their rest +without being incommoded. They remained some time in this miserable +habitation, which might be looked upon more as a tomb for the living, +or rather for such as were dead to the world; and they bore it for the +love of God, with more fraternal charity and gaiety than can be +described. The life they led there was so laborious, and so poor, that +frequently, not having a morsel of bread, necessity compelled them to +search the country for herbs and roots, which they ate with +satisfaction; preferring to be nourished with tears rather than with +any other food. + +Their most frequent exercise was prayer, and that more mental than +vocal, because they had not as yet books for saying the Divine Office. +A wooden cross, of moderate size, which Francis had fixed in the middle +of the hut, round which they prayed, served them instead of a book. +They meditated on it unceasingly, and read in it with the eyes of +faith, instructed by the example of their saintly chief, who often +discoursed to them on the Passion and Cross of Jesus Christ. + +However, they wished to learn from him what vocal prayers they ought +to recite; and he told them, as our blessed Saviour had told the +Apostles: This is the prayer that you will say: "Our Father, who are +in heaven, hallowed be Thy name," etc. To which he added the Act of +Adoration which he had before taught them: "Lord Jesus Christ, we adore +Thee in all the churches in the whole world, and we bless Thee for +having redeemed the world by Thy holy Cross." He likewise taught them +to praise God in all things, to make use of all creatures, to raise +up their minds to Him, to have great respect for priests, to be +inviolably attached to the true faith, which is believed and taught +by the Holy Roman Church, and to confess it plainly. His faithful +disciples put in practice all that he taught them, and conformed to +all his maxims, which they did in still greater perfection after the +marvel which we are about to relate. + +Francis being one Saturday in Assisi, in order to preach on the Sunday +morning in the cathedral, as it was his custom to do, retired to a +small shed in a garden belonging to the canons of the church, to pass +the night in contemplation, which he usually did. About midnight, a +fiery car of great brilliancy, on which there was a globe as bright +as the sun, and which gave a light equal to that of noon, entered into +the hut in which the brethren were collected, and moved round it three +times. Some of them were watching and praying; the others, who were +taking a little rest, awoke. It is not to be said how great their +astonishment was when they found themselves enlightened, as well +interiorly as exteriorly, by this penetrating light, which manifested +to them the state of their consciences. + +St. Bonaventure remarks on the subject of this marvellous light, on +the testimony of those who had been witnesses of it, that they +understood well, by this luminous and burning figure, God represented +to them the lively and holy flames which illuminated their Father, +who, though absent in the body, was present with them in spirit, in +order that, as true Israelites, like unto Eliseus, they might look up +to and imitate this new Elias, whom He had appointed the light and +guide for spiritual men. Doubtless, he continues, the Lord, who opened +the eyes of the servant of Eliseus, that he might see around that +Prophet, that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire," +would also, at the prayer of Francis, open those of his disciples to +shew them the marvel which was operating in their favor. + +At his return from Assisi, the Father conversed with his children on +the prodigy which they had witnessed, and took occasion from it to +confirm them in their vocation. He entered in detail as to the secret +dispositions of their consciences; he foretold them many circumstances +relative to the increase of his Order; he made known to them, in fine, +so many sublime things beyond human ken, that they became perfectly +aware that the Spirit of God rested fully on him, and that their +greatest security would be in a conformity of themselves to his life +and doctrine. + +People were so greatly moved and affected by his virtues and his +discourses, that many presented themselves to join his Order, but he +declined as yet to receive them, because the hut was too small for the +twelve he had; but he availed himself of the opportunity to say to +these: "My dear brethren, God, in His goodness, has made known to me +that He proposes to increase our poor family. I cannot receive those +who wish to join us, until I have a place large enough to admit all. +We require a larger habitation, as well as a church, where we may hear +mass, say the Divine Office, and deposit in peace those of our society +who may die. Let us therefore go to our lord Bishop and the canons. +Let us earnestly entreat of them, for the love of God, to cede to us +some church near the town, and to put our rising Order under cover in +some part of their domain. If they cannot assist us, we will go and +ask the same favor of the Religious of Mount Soubazo." + +The Bishop of Assisi and the Canons had it not in their power to promote +such views, having no church at their disposal; but the Abbot of Mount +Soubazo, with the consent of the community, granted him for himself +and his brethren the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, or of +Portiuncula, which he had put into repair, but he added this condition, +that, if the Institution became more extended, this church should be +always considered the place of its origin, and the chief monastery. + +Francis received the present, and accepted the condition with great +thankfulness. He came and told his brethren of it, expressing the +pleasure he felt, in having, for the first church of his Order, a +church of the Blessed Virgin, very small and very poor, obtained by +begging, and in which he had first taken upon himself the Apostolic +life. + +On the same day he went to St. Mary of the Angels, where a pious +ecclesiastic of Assisi was living, whose name was Peter Mazancoli, to +whom the care of that church had been intrusted after it had been +repaired. He communicated to him the cession which the Religious of +Mount Soubazo had made to his Order, and begged him to come and live +with his brethren. + +As true piety, which is charity itself, is never jealous, and is +delighted in what is of advantage to its neighbors, the ecclesiastic +embraced Francis, and assured him how desirous he was to see the Blessed +Virgin honored and praised in this place, which she loved, where +concerts by the angelic host were constantly heard. As a proof of this, +he called a laborer of the vicinity, who certified to have several +times heard in the night melodious canticles, and to have seen a great +light come forth from the windows. + +The experience of Francis himself was an additional proof. For, being +in prayer during the following night in order to recommend his family +to the protection of the Blessed Virgin, he saw on the altar, by means +of a splendid light, our Saviour Jesus Christ, His holy Mother, and +a multitude of angels, who cast upon him looks of great benignity. He +adored, and recited these words: "O most holy Lord, King of Heaven, +Redeemer of the world, sweet Love! and thou, O Queen of Angels! by +what excess of goodness do you come down from heaven into this small +and poor chapel?" He immediately heard this reply: "I am come with my +Mother to settle you and yours in this place, which is very dear to +us." All then disappeared, and Francis exclaimed: "Truly this place +is holy, which ought to be inhabited by angels, rather than by men. +As long as I possibly can, I will not leave it; it shall be, for me +and mine, an eternal monument of the goodness of God!" It became, in +fact, a great object of devotion and veneration for himself and his +brethren, particularly after it had been revealed to him that, among +all the temples consecrated under the name of the Blessed Virgin, this +was the one for which she had the greatest attachment. + +At break of day he sent for the other religious by his companions, +with directions to bring with them the few pieces of furniture which +they had in the hut at Rivo Torto, in order to place them in the house +adjoining the church of St. Mary of the Angels, which the pious +ecclesiastic willingly gave up to them. + +He communicated to the new guests the sanctity of the place they were +about to inhabit, and recommended them to live therein holily, never +ceasing to praise the Lord. Then he said to them: "You must be very +grateful to the Benedictine Fathers for the benefit they have conferred +upon us. They have consecrated all the habitations we shall hereafter +have, by this house of God, which is the model of the poverty which +must be observed in all the houses of our Order, and the precious germ +of the holiness which we must seek for in it." + +But, in order to show that he did not live there as on a property +wholly his, as well as for a mark of his gratitude to his benefactors, +he took care to have taken yearly to the Abbey of Mount Soubazo, as +a ground-rent, a basket of fish, a species of mullet, which is taken +in quantities in the River Asi, or Chiascio, near the Church of St. +Mary of the Angels. The Friars Minor have always cherished the feelings +of the blessed Patriarch for the Order of St. Benedict. They will ever +manifest, with sincerest gratitude, that it is to this great order, +so ancient and so celebrated in the Church, that they are indebted for +their first establishment, and for many other benefits. + + + + +BOOK II + +A. D. 1210 + + +It was therefore in the small Church of St. Mary of the Angels, or of +Portiuncula, that Francis laid the foundations of the Order of Friars +Minor, which spread over the whole earth with wonderful rapidity. This +holy place was, as it were, the cradle of the Institute, and the nursery +of the houses of the religious; the source which supplied a great +river, which was divided into various channels; the citadel from whence +numerous brave warriors went forth to encounter the enemies of the +Church; the school which has produced a very great number of saints, +and a multitude of learned men, whose doctrine and piety have been +equally celebrated. + +The new habitation, less confined than the hut of Rivo Torto, enabled +the Patriarch to receive the postulants who had before presented +themselves; among whom may be noticed, Leo, Rufino, Masseo of Marigan, +and Juniper:--Leo, whom Francis chose for his confessor and secretary, +and whom he generally called Pecorella Di Dio (the sheep of God), on +account of his admirable candor. Rufino, of whom he said: "I learnt, +by a revelation, that he is one of the most faithful and of the most +pure souls that there is in this world, and I should have no fear of +giving him, though in a mortal body, the title of Saint, since he is +already canonized in heaven." Masseo, whom he often sent, instead of +going himself, to converse with persons of piety, in order not to be +interrupted in his own meditations, because this religious added great +mildness and suavity of manner to a rare talent of speaking about +heavenly things. Juniper, whom he found so valuable for his evangelical +simplicity, for his contempt of himself, and for his great desire to +attract upon himself the contempt of the world, that, alluding to his +name, he used to say good-humoredly: "I wish to God we had a wood full +of such Junipers." + +The charitable father had all his children in his heart, and he brought +them up with a tenderness truly maternal. He was the first to go from +door to door, to ask charity to provide for their wants; sometimes he +even went alone, to spare them the mortification of begging, under the +impression that they might still retain the prejudices of the world +on this head. But the weakness of his frame not admitting of his +providing for all, and his religious being bound to subsist on charity +alone, he resolved to teach them to solicit it for the love of God, +and he made them the following exhortation, which they have recorded:-- + +"My very dear brethren and well-beloved children, be not ashamed of +soliciting alms, since our Lord became poor in this world for the love +of us, and that, following His example, we have chosen this state of +the most perfect poverty. For, if we have made this choice for the +love of Jesus Christ, we must not blush at begging in our quality of +poor. Heirs of the kingdom of God should not blush at what is a pledge +of their heirship. Yes, we are heirs of heaven; this is a benefit which +our Lord has obtained for us, to which He has given us a right, as He +has to all those who choose to live in a state of holy poverty. I make +known to you as a truth, that a great number of the most noble of the +age will become members of the Order, who will consider it an honor +to solicit alms, and who will look upon it as a favor to be permitted +to do so. You, therefore, who are the very first of the Order, do this +cheerfully; do not refuse to practise what you will have to teach these +saintly personages. Go, then, and with the blessing of God solicit +alms, full of confidence and joy, more than would be felt by him who +should offer a hundred for one. For it is the love of God you offer +in asking, when you say, 'For the love of God, bestow your charity on +me;' and in comparison with this divine love, heaven and earth are as +nothing." + +To mitigate the reluctance still felt by some of them, he brought +forward the two following motives: "The bread which holy poverty causes +to be collected from door to door, is the bread of angels, because it +is the good angels who inspire the faithful to bestow it for the love +of God. It is thus that the words of the prophet, 'Man ate the bread +of angels,' are fulfilled in these holy poor ones. God has given the +Friars Minor to the world in these latter times, that the elect may +have it in their power to practise what will cause them to be glorified +by the Supreme Judge, when He will address them in these mellifluous +words: 'What you did to one of these, the least of My brethren, you +did it to Me.' It is pleasing to solicit charity in the capacity of +a Friar Minor, whom our Master seemed to designate expressly by the +appellation, 'the least of My brethren.'" + +The disciples, persuaded and moved by this appeal, went of their own +accord to quest in the neighboring places, to get the better of the +natural repugnance they felt to it. At their return they presented +themselves to their Father with satisfied countenances, which delighted +him, and by a holy emulation they were proud of the things they had +collected for the love of God. One of them returning one day with much +cheerfulness, singing loudly the praises of the great Benefactor of +men, Francis took from him the weighty wallet, which was full of bits +of bread, placed it on his own shoulders, kissed the shoulders of him +who had carried it, and came and said publicly: "So it is that I wish +my brethren to go always on the quest, and return from it: ever gay, +and glorifying God for all the good which He does in our favor." + +The blessed founder employed himself day and night unceasingly in +inspiring them with the love and practice of the most sublime virtues; +he warned and exhorted each one of them in particular, and he made +discourses to them when collected, on the most essential heads; and +this again he enforced by his own good example; knowing that they were +called by God to train up those who would embrace his rule in the +different parts of the earth, and that on the instruction of the one +depended that of the others. + +Under such a master, with the powerful assistance which they received +from Heaven, they made in a short time such considerable progress, +that the latest comers were not less competent for the exercise of the +Evangelical ministry than the first. Altogether animated with the same +spirit, watching, fasting, praying, penetrated with the fear of God, +full of holy desires, they resembled in a great degree the primitive +Church confined in the supper-room. Francis, who was perfectly +acquainted with their most inward feelings, and with the intentions +of Divine Providence, thought that he ought not to delay sending them +forth on missions according to the idea of St. Chrysostom, who says +that the Apostles, who were commissioned to labor in the conversion +of the world, were necessarily separated, and that it would have been +very prejudicial to the interests of the universe had they kept together +longer. + +But, as he had not yet heard them preach, he desired prudently to judge +by his own experience of their respective talents. Having assembled +them together, he desired Bernard de Quintavalle to speak on the +mysteries of religion. He immediately obeyed, and spoke beautifully +on the several points. Peter of Catania was directed to set forth the +greatness of God, which he did with as much facility and learning as +if he had been long perfect in the art of preaching. A third was called +upon to give an exhortation on avoiding sin, and practising virtue, +which he complied with in powerful language. In short, they all handled +the subjects which were allotted to them, so as plainly to show that +wisdom was given to them from on high. + +After they had made this essay in preaching, or rather this masterpiece +of eloquence, Jesus Christ, who had inspired their thoughts and words, +appeared in the midst of them in the form of a very beautiful young +man, and gave His blessing to each of them successively, with wonderful +benignity. This astonishing vision threw them into a rapturous +transport; after which, Francis addressed them as follows: + +"My brethren, and dear children, give abundant thanks to God most +powerful, and to His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for having deigned +to have communicated celestial treasures through the speeches of the +most simple of men; for it is God who causes infants to speak, who +opens the mouths of little children, and makes the tongues of the most +ignorant eloquent: His goodness renders Him compassionate to the world, +which is loaded with crime. He has resolved to warn men of the woes +into which they are plunging themselves; and in order to root out from +amongst them the works of the devil, which are sins, He has chosen +vile and despicable preachers, so that no one shall have reason to +glorify himself before Him, and that every one shall acknowledge that +all the good which is done comes from Him. Although there are few among +you of whom it can be said that they have worldly wisdom, or are +powerful or noble, yet it is you whom the Lord hath chosen for this +important work. It is His will that you should go into all parts to +honor Him by your actions and by your words, bringing to His fear and +to His love such as have strayed into evil ways." + +"Prepare yourselves therefore to set forth; gird your loins according +to the commands of Jesus Christ; be courageous; put on the armor of +faith; be devoted to the service of the Gospel; always prepared to let +yourselves be carried away as clouds, whithersoever the Spirit of God +may direct you, by the guidance of obedience, to shed the dew of the +divine word on the dry and arid soil of hardened hearts. For our Lord +has not called you into this Institute to think of nothing but saving +your own souls quietly, without any fatigue, in the hearts of your +country, and in the bosom of your families; His intention is, that you +carry His name and His faith into the nations, and before the kings +of the earth. Now, lest we should appear to be slow in carrying His +will into execution, we will divide Italy amongst us; and soon after, +we will make other missions into more distant countries." + +To this discourse the disciples replied, that they were prepared for +everything; that, having renounced their own will, they only waited +the order to commence the journey; and that the distrust they had of +themselves in consequence of their simplicity, was counterbalanced by +the confidence they had in the assistance of the Almighty, which +animated them. + +The next morning Francis divided Italy among them, taking Tuscany for +himself with Sylvester, who was the first priest in his Order, so that +he might, by this arrangement, be at the shortest distance from St. +Mary of the Angels, where he left some of the brethren to guide the +novices whom he should send there. + +Two reasons induced him to make his beginning in Italy. The first was, +that it appeared to him to be just that the Divine Word should be first +spread in that country, of which the preachers were natives, as the +Apostles had done in regard to the Jews. The second was, that he might +judge from what they should effect among the Italians, what they were +capable of effecting elsewhere: in which his judgment is to be admired. + +He could not doubt but that the vocation of his children came from +God; nevertheless, he used all the precautions which prudence dictated, +because he knew that the Lord, who acts according to His good pleasure +by secret and supernatural means, chooses that men on their part should +pursue the ordinary course in all that depends on them. This is a sure +ground-work, which is not only a rule in all that relates to salvation, +but also is applicable to the affairs of this life. + +The man of God, having commenced his route towards Tuscany, passed +through Perugia, where he preached in the great square, as is customary +in Italy. Some young gentlemen, of the first families of the place, +came also there for the exercises of the tournament, and made so much +noise that the preacher could be no longer heard. As they continued +their lance exercises, notwithstanding the remonstrance of the people, +the Saint, turning to the side in which they were, addressed them in +the following words with great animation:-- + +"Pay attention, and learn what the Lord declares to you through me, +who am His servant, and do not imagine to satisfy yourselves by saying, +This is only a man from Assisi who speaks to you." (A precaution he +took because Perugia and Assisi, neighboring towns, were always opposed +to each other.) "What I tell you, I do not tell you as man. God has +raised you above all the adjacent countries; in gratitude for which +you should humble yourselves, not merely in His eyes, but before all +the world. But, on the contrary, your strength and your glory have so +inflamed your pride, that you have pillaged and laid waste all that +surrounds you, and you have killed no inconsiderable number. For which +reason I declare to you that, unless you be speedily converted, and +repair the damage you have done, the Lord, who suffers no evil to be +committed with impunity, will take revenge on your sins. In order to +create in you the greater dismay, He will suffer you to rise up one +against the other, to excite a popular commotion, and to do yourselves +much greater injury than any of your neighbors could do to you." + +He remained some time at Perugia, where they soon saw the effect of +his threats. The nobles were irritated against the plebeians, the +clergy joined the party of the nobles, and they came to blows; the +people, who were the strongest, drove the others out of the town. The +discomfited party, in order to be revenged, laid waste everything in +the country which belonged to the people; who, by way of reprisals, +pillaged the houses of the nobles, and massacred their servants and +even their children. Indeed the disaster was so great, that, according +to the prediction, armed neighbors could not have caused any greater. + +The Perugians having thus, at their cost, discovered the holiness of +the preacher, wished to retain him in their city, and entreated him +to choose what place he pleased for his abode. Many young persons of +pure morals joined his Order; one among others, whose vocation was +very singular. As he was walking one day out of the town, his mind +intent upon his wish to consecrate himself to God, Jesus Christ appeared +to him, and said: "Man of desires, if you hope to be in the enjoyment +of what you wish for, and to effect your salvation, take a religious +habit and follow Me." He immediately asked into what order he should +enter. Our Lord answered him: "Join the new Order of Francis of Assisi." +He then made this further inquiry: "Lord, when I shall have joined +that Order, what mode of life shall I follow, to be more agreeable to +Thee?" and this is the answer he received: "Lead the usual life; enter +into no particular intimacies with your brethren; take no notice of +the defects of others, and form no opinion to their disadvantage." +These are admirable means for living holily and peaceably in a +community. The young man came and offered himself to Francis, who knew +that Jesus Christ had sent him, and he admitted him immediately, giving +him the name of Brother Humble, on account of the humility he found +in his heart. + +At Crotona, to which place he next took the word of God, there was +another young man named Guy, who, moved by his preaching, had invited +him to dinner: "This young man," said Francis, "will enter our militia +to-day, and will sanctify himself in this town." He was the oldest +of his family, brought up in study and in virtue, and the excellence +of his conduct exceeded even that of his education. He frequented the +churches and the sacraments, he gave great alms, and visited the sick +to assist them; he wore a hair-shirt, and chastised his body severely, +to enable him to preserve his virginal purity. He had made a vow to +do this. After the dinner, he knelt down and petitioned for the habit +of a Friar Minor, which he received in the principal church of the +town, in the presence of a numerous concourse of people, after having +first fulfilled two conditions which the father had prescribed for +him: The first was, to give to the poor all that he had inherited by +his right of primogeniture; the second was, to renounce all the rest +of his fortune. It was in the same town that he lived a most holy life, +as had been foretold, honored by many miracles; now by permission of +the Holy See, he is publicly invoked. + +The love of prayer and retirement made Francis wish to find in the +neighborhood of Crotona a fit place for building a house suitable for +the education of his novices. Guy pointed one out to him in the valley, +near a place called Celles. This location greatly pleased him, because +it was solitary; and by the aid of some pious persons, he built a very +poor dwelling, which he soon filled with novices, and where he received +the celebrated Brother Elias, of whom we shall have much to say +hereafter. + +Having spent nearly two months in preaching at Crotona, and in forming +his novices at the Convent of Celles, he was inspired to pass over to +a desert island in the middle of the Lake of Perugia. Lent was drawing +near. He recommended the care of the house to Sylvester, without letting +him know what his own intention was; and on Ash-Wednesday he caused +himself to be taken to the island by a boatman, having with him only +two loaves of bread. The boatman was a worthy man and his friend. He +begged him not to tell any one where he was, and only to come to him +on the Wednesday of Holy-Week, to take him back to the shore. + +Having made himself there a sort of hut in one of the thickets, to +preserve himself from the cold, he had his intercourse with God alone +during two and forty days; and his fast was so rigorous, that of the +two loaves he brought with him he only ate half a one.--In +ecclesiastical history we meet with examples of these miraculous fasts, +of which the Holy Fathers have had an assured knowledge, and which the +weakness of human nature was enabled to sustain by virtue of the Spirit +of God, which supported them. The fruit which they were to derive from +it, was to animate the faithful to keep, with as much exactness as was +in their power, the fasts prescribed by the Church, and particularly +the fast of Lent, which many principal motives of religion render so +venerable. + +On Wednesday in Holy-Week, the boatman went to fetch Francis and bring +him back to Crotona. On the passage the Saint stilled a storm, by +making the sign of the cross on the waves; and as soon as he had landed +he went to the Convent at Celles, where he passed the remainder of the +Holy-Week with his brethren. His confidant did not think it necessary +to keep the secret of the marvellous fast. The rumor spread, and many +persons went to the island to see and venerate the hut in which he had +lived. The miracles which were wrought there by the merits of the +Saint, induced some persons to build there; and gradually a small town +arose, where later a church was built, with a convent of his Order, +near a spring at which he had drunk; sick were afterwards cured there. + +After the Easter solemnities, he placed a superior in the convent; +then having tenderly embraced the religious, he made the sign of the +cross on them, and separated himself from them to go to Arezzo. + +This town was at that time greatly agitated by internal dissensions, +which were likely to bring on its entire ruin. Francis being lodged +in the suburbs, where he had been hospitably received, saw over the +town, with the penetrating sight which the Almighty had given him, +devils who excited the citizens to massacre each other, and who appeared +to be transported with joy. To put these evil spirits to flight, he +sent Sylvester, as his herald, and gave him this command: "Go to the +gate of the town, and standing before it, order the devils, in the +name of the Almighty God, and in virtue of obedience, instantly to +retire." Sylvester, who was a man of extraordinary simplicity, praising +God beforehand for what was about to happen, went as fast as possible, +and cried out with all his might: "All you devils who are here, begone, +go far from hence. It is in the name of God and of His servant, Francis, +that I call upon you to go." At this very moment the citizens, who +were on the point of flying to arms, came to an understanding on the +points which were in dispute, and peace was restored to the town. On +which St. Bonaventure remarks, that the obedience and humility of +Francis had obtained for him that absolute power over the proud spirits +who fear and fly from the sublime virtue of the humble. + +It became known in Arezzo who the author was of so sudden a +reconciliation, because the words which had been spoken by Sylvester +had been heard. Francis was sought for and brought into the town in +a sort of triumph, notwithstanding the efforts he made to escape from +this honor. He preached in the great square on the love of peace, and +on the means of preserving it; pointing out to them that dissensions +and quarrels came from, and are promoted by, the evil spirit. The +magistrates entertained him at the town-house, and had a convent built +for his Order according to his wishes, that is to say, according to +holy poverty; in which he placed some worthy subjects who had presented +themselves to him. A child was brought to him who was quite distorted; +he took it into his arms, and it forthwith became straight. This +miracle, and several others which he performed during his stay, proved +that God had given him as much power over bodily complaints as over +the evil spirits. + +From Arrezo he bent his steps to Florence, preaching with great success +throughout the route. The lords of Ganghereto received him with great +respect, and were so pleased with the holiness of his life, that they +begged his acceptance of a field and a small wood for the service of +his religious. He set up a hut there, where his infirmities compelled +him to remain some time. After preaching and prayer, to which he daily +gave some time, one after the other, he employed himself in building +a small wall round a spring of water which he got miraculously, and +which still flows, the water of which God was pleased to render +salutary. + +As soon as his health was in some degree restored, he continued his +way towards Florence, where he went to lodge in the hospital. The +following day he preached in the town, and was listened to as a saint. +They gave him a small dwelling near the church of St. Gall, about five +hundred paces from the city, in which he received several novices, who +rendered themselves illustrious by their exalted virtues; among whom +John Parent is particularly noticed, who was a native of Carmignano, +near Pistoria. + +His conversion was attributable to a very peculiar circumstance. As +he was walking one evening in the environs of the town, he saw a +swineherd who was endeavoring to drive his pigs into a stable, and +who, being in a great passion because, instead of going in, they +dispersed themselves in all directions, called out to them in his +anger: "Swine, get into this stable as judges get into hell." He had +scarcely said the words, when these animals went quietly in. That which +might have appeared to this magistrate nothing but an impertinence, +struck him, and made so strong an impression upon him, that, having +seriously reflected on the dangers incurred by a judge (which are +indeed very great) as to salvation, he threw up his magistracy, and +retired to Florence. There he saw Francis, examined his conduct, admired +his virtues, and felt himself called by God to imitate him. An only +son of his had a similar vocation. The father and the son divided their +all among the poor, and became disciples of the Saint, whose prophecy +began thus to be fulfilled: that the wise and learned of the world +would enter into his Order. + +Such a conversion sets before us this important truth: that the Spirit +breatheth where He will; that the Lord gives His grace sometimes to +what is most common, most simple, and even most base, according to the +notions of the world; that it is necessary to be attentive, that we +may not receive the grace of God in vain; and that, little as it may +seem at first, by being carefully attended to, it may have the most +beneficial results. Not to be thankful for it, to neglect it, to resist +it, is a heavy loss. + +While Francis was at St. Gall, he foretold a thing which the event +justified a few years afterwards. Three men at Florence brought each +a child to receive his blessing. As soon as he was apprised of it, he +went into the garden and gathered five figs, then he came in, and gave +one to the first of the children, one to the second, and three to the +third, to whom he addressed the following words: "You will be my dear +child." That one, when he had attained the proper age, took the habit +of the Friars Minor, and was called Brother Angel, which he deserved +by his angelic life, which was the fruit of his great devotion to the +Blessed Virgin, from whom he received very marked favors. + +From the month of October, 1211, to the beginning of 1212, the man of +God visited the Towns of Pescia, Pisa, San Miniato, Sarthiano, Cetona, +and other places in Tuscany, where he made many wonderful conversions, +and left some of his brethren to continue the work of God. We shall +relate, at the end of his life, the great honors which were publicly +shown him,--honors which he received with the greatest humility, and +yet with the most generous sentiments. + +The brethren whom he had dispersed in the other provinces of Italy, +and who partook of his apostolic spirit, labored on their part with +great zeal and success. They founded many establishments, and formed +many disciples, whom they sent to the holy Founder in order to receive +the habit of the Order from him. + +They mention particularly what happened at Bologna to Bernard de +Quintavalle. As soon as he made his appearance, his extraordinary and +very poor habit made him looked upon as a person not worthy of notice. +He went to the great square in order to preach the truth of salvation, +and he went there several times without having collected an audience. +Children and idle people surrounded him; some pulled him by the hood, +others threw mud and stones at him; and he was daily assailed with +fresh outrages, which he bore with exemplary patience. + +A lawyer, having noticed this, made his reflections on it, and it +occurred to him that his conduct might be attributed to virtue rather +than insensibility. One day, then, he came up to Bernard and asked him +who he was, and what he had come to do at Bologna. "You will know who +I am," replied Bernard, "if you will take the trouble to read what I +now offer you." It was the Rule of Francis, of which he had a copy, +and which he placed in his hand. The lawyer having read it with +astonishment, said to those who accompanied him: "I own I have never +seen anything so perfect or so heroic as this mode of life. Those who +ill-use this man are very criminal; he ought, on the contrary, to be +loaded with honors, as a special friend of God." Then, addressing +himself to Bernard, he said: "If you will follow me, I will give you +a place in which you may serve the Lord." Bernard, having accepted the +offer, was taken to the house of his benefactor, who received him with +affection, and gave him a house, which he furnished with everything +necessary, and promised to protect him and his companions. After this, +Bernard was so highly respected in Bologna, that people considered +themselves fortunate if they could get near him, touch him, or even +see him. This truly humble man, mortified at the honor which was shown +him, went to Francis, and said, "My Father, all is in good order at +Bologna. But send any other religious thither rather than me, for I +have no longer any hopes of being useful there: it is even to be feared +that I may lose many graces on account of the great honors I receive." +This prudent mistrust of himself was as pleasing to the holy Father +as the affection of the Bolognese, to which he responded by sending +them several of his disciples, who subsequently spread the Order +throughout all Romagna. + +The holy Patriarch returned some time before Lent to St. Mary of the +Angels, where his first care was to examine rigidly whether in his +Evangelical progress some worldly dust might not have adhered to him +in consequence of his communications with seculars; and in those +instances in which the extreme delicacy of his conscience gave him +room for self-reproach, he purified himself by very severe penitential +observances. He then applied himself carefully to the formation of the +novices, whom he had collected from various places, and he preached +during the Lent at Assisi. + +His discourses, backed by his example, and his prayers and exhortations, +animated by an ardent zeal, were so efficacious, that in the town and +county of Assisi a very great number of persons was converted, and the +fire of divine love was kindled in every heart. "Then," says St. +Bonaventure, using the words of the Holy Scriptures, "the vine of the +Lord spread its branches and bore flowers of a most agreeable odor, +and produced fruits of glory in abundance." There were many young girls +who made vows of perpetual virginity; amongst whom, says the same holy +doctor, the Blessed Clare appeared as the most beautiful plant in the +garden of the Celestial Spouse, and as a star more brilliant than all +the others. + +This illustrious maiden was the daughter of a rich and noble family +of Assisi. The Cavaliere Favorine, or Favarone, her father, was +descended from the ancient and powerful houses of Scifi and Fiumi. Her +mother, of equal high birth and exalted piety, was called Hortulana. +She had the talent of joining the care of her household to the practice +of good works, and to regulate her time so well, that she found enough +in which to visit, with the consent of her husband, many holy places: +she even made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. If this practice is no +longer usual in these days, particularly as regards distant countries, +it arises from the circumstances of the times being very different, +and from there having been a great change in manners. But Christian +piety does not permit us altogether to condemn (independently of abuses) +voyages or journeys of devotion, since they are sanctioned by the +examples of the saints, have been approved by the Fathers of the Church, +and since at one time they were directed as sacramental penances for +certain sinners. + +Hortulana had three daughters, Clare, Agnes, Beatrix. Being about to +be confined of the first, and praying to God before a crucifix in a +church for a safe delivery, she heard a voice, which said to her: +"Woman, fear not, thou wilt bring forth, without danger, a light which +will illuminate a vast space." This was the reason she gave the name +of Clare to the daughter to whom she gave birth, in the hopes of seeing +the accomplishment of what it might signify. + +Indeed, from her earliest years, her virtue shone as an aurora, the +prognostication of a fine day. She received with docility the +instructions of her mother, and her whole conduct was the fruit thereof; +the exercise of prayer became familiar to her; she every day recited +the Lord's Prayer a number of times, which she marked with small stones, +in order to be exact in the daily number she had assigned for herself. +In that she resembled the solitary of the Desert of Seethe, who kept +an account of the number of his prayers, offering them to God three +hundred times each day. Naturally tender and compassionate to the poor, +she aided them voluntarily, and the opulence of her family enabled her +to assist them abundantly. But, in order to render her charities more +agreeable to God, she sent to the poor, by confidential persons, the +nicest eatables which were served to herself. The love of God, with +which these holy practices inflamed her heart, inspired her with a +hatred of her own body, and showed her the vanity of all the things +of this world. Under her own costly dresses, which her situation in +society obliged her to wear, she constantly had a hair-shirt; and she +cleverly refused a proposal of marriage which her parents wished her +to accept, recommending to God her virginity, which she intended to +preserve in entire purity. Although she was at that time confined in +the bosom of her family, and solely intent on sanctifying herself in +secret before the eyes of God, her virtue became the subject of +admiration, without her being conscious of it, and drew down upon her +the esteem and praise of the whole town. + +The great celebrity which the sanctity of Francis gained in the world, +could not be unknown to young Clare.--Aware that this wonderful man +renewed a perfection on the earth which was almost forgotten, she +wished much to see him and to have conversations with him. Francis +also, having heard the reputation of Clare's virtues, had an equal +desire to communicate with her, that he might tear her from the world +and present her to Jesus Christ. They saw and visited each other several +times. Clare went to St. Mary of the Angels with a virtuous lady, a +relation of hers, whose name was Bona Guelfucci; Francis also came to +see her, but always taking the necessary precautions to have the pious +secret kept. She placed herself entirely under his guidance, and he +soon persuaded her to consecrate herself to God. An interior view of +eternal happiness inspired her with such contempt for the vanities of +the world, and filled her heart with such divine love, that she had +a complete loathing for finery, which it was not as yet permitted her +to throw aside; and from that time she entered into engagements to +live in a state of perpetual virginity. + +The holy director did not choose that so pure a soul should continue +longer exposed to the contagion of the world. She had herself come to +him some days before Palm-Sunday to hasten the execution of her +intention; he told her to assist at the ceremony of the delivery of +palms dressed in her usual ornaments, to leave Assisi the following +night, as our Blessed Saviour had left Jerusalem to suffer on Mount +Calvary, and to come to the church of St. Mary of the Angels, where +she would exchange her worldly ornaments for a penitential habit, and +the vain joys of the world for holy lamentations over the Passion of +Jesus Christ. + +On the 18th of March, being Palm-Sunday, Clare, magnificently dressed, +went with other ladies to the Cathedral Church, and as she remained +in her place out of bashfulness while the others crowded forward to +receive the palms, the bishop came down from the altar, and carried +a palm branch to her, as a symbol of the victory she was about to gain +over the world. + +The following night, accompanied as propriety required, she arranged +her flight as her spiritual Father had directed, and according to the +earnest wish of her soul. Not being able to get out by the front door, +of which she had not the key, she had the courage and strength to break +open a small door which had been blocked up with stones and wood, and +she repaired to the church, where Francis and his brethren, who were +saying their matins, received her with great solemnity, bearing lighted +tapers in their hands. They cut off her hair before the altar, and +after she had taken off her ornaments with the help of the females who +accompanied her, she received the penitential habit, consecrating her +virginity to Jesus Christ, under the protection of the Queen of Virgins, +while the religious chanted hymns and canticles. + +It was a touching scene to see a young noble lady, only eighteen years +of age, in solitude, in the middle of the night, renounce all the +advantages and allurements of the world, put on sackcloth and a cord, +and devote herself to a rigorous system of penitential exercises, +solely for the love of God. Similar sacrifices can only be made by a +supernatural virtue; they prove that the religion which inspires them +is divine; and justly does St. Ambrose consider them to be far above +the most heroical pagan virtues. + +It must be remarked, moreover, that the Church of St. Mary of the +Angels, which was the cradle of the Order of the Poor Evangelical +Brethren which Francis had just established, was also the place where +Clare made profession of the same poverty, that she subsequently +prescribed to the Order of Women, which she instituted together with +the holy Patriarch. This gives to the two orders the pleasing +consolation of knowing that they belong to the Mother of God from their +origin, and that she is specially their mother. + +As soon as the ceremony was over, Francis, who was always guided by +the spirit of wisdom, took the new bride of Jesus Christ, followed by +her companions, to the monastery of Benedictines of St. Paul, there +to remain until Divine Providence should provide a dwelling for her. + +When morning dawned, and her parents learnt what had occurred during +the night, they were overwhelmed with grief. They equally disapproved +of what Clare had done, and of the manner in which she had carried her +intention into execution; and they went in great numbers to the +monastery of St. Paul, to compel her to leave it. At first they spoke +to her in mild and friendly terms; they represented to her that she +was choosing a vile and contemptible state of life, which was +disgraceful to her family, and that there was no precedent in the whole +country of such an occurrence. After which they attempted by violence +to force her from the monastery; which they might easily have done, +because in those times the religious females did not keep strict +enclosure, beside which her relations were all military men, accustomed +to acts of violence. + +Clare uncovered her head to show them that she was shorn; and she +protested, clinging to the altar, that nothing in the world should +tear her from Jesus Christ. Either because they had too much respect +for religion to venture to violate so holy an asylum, or that God +restrained them by His power, they molested her no farther. She had +only to resist the fresh efforts they made to induce her to return to +her father. But the love of God gave her courage to resist with such +determined firmness, that, giving up all hopes of conquering her, they +left her in peace. + +A short time after, Francis removed her from the Monastery of St. Paul +to that of St. Angelo de Panso, of the same Order of St. Benedict, +near Assisi, to which she drew her sister Agnes. The conformity of +their inclinations and manners, which rendered them tenderly united, +had made them sensibly feel their separation. Clare was greatly grieved +that Agnes, at so tender an age, should be exposed to the dangers of +the world. She prayed fervently to the Almighty to cause her sister +to feel the sweets of His grace, so that she might grow disgusted with +the world, and become her companion in the service of Jesus Christ. +Her prayer was soon favorably heard, for, a fortnight after her +consecration, Agnes came to her, and declared that she was decided to +give herself wholly to God. "I return Him thanks," replied Clare, "for +that He has thus relieved me from the uneasiness I was in on your +account." + +The indignation of the family was extreme, when it became known that +one sister had followed the other. On the morrow, twelve of its +principal members hastened to the Monastery of St. Angelo. At first +they feigned to have come in a peaceful mood; but, having been admitted, +they turned to Agnes, for they had no longer any hopes of Clare, and +said: "What business have you here? Come immediately home with us." +She replied that she did not choose to leave her sister, when one of +the knights, forgetting himself altogether, attacked her furiously, +struck her with his fist, kicked her, pulled her down by the hair, and +the others carried her off in their arms. All that this innocent lamb +could do, thus torn by the wolves, was to cry out: "My dear sister, +come to my aid; do not let them separate me from Jesus Christ." Clare +could give her no assistance, but by praying to God to render her +steadfast, and to check the violence of her ravishers. This prayer was +followed by a miraculous effect, similar to what the Church records +in the life of the illustrious virgin and martyr, St. Lucia. + +As the relations of Agnes dragged her down the mountain, tearing her +clothes, and scattering her hair along the road, because she continued +violently to resist, she became suddenly so heavy, that they were +unable to raise her from the ground, even with the help of persons who +flocked from the fields and the vineyards. They were blind to the +finger of God in so extraordinary an event, and they even made a jest +of it; for ill-disposed persons, like the Pharisees of the Gospel, +do not submit to the evidence of miracles, but carry their impiety to +the length of turning all miracles into ridicule. The one which God +was pleased to perform in the person of Agnes, threw her uncle, whose +name was Monaldi, into such a rage, that he raised his arm to strike +her in such a manner as would have killed her, if the Divine power had +not arrested the blow by bringing such an excessive pain into the limb +as to disable it; this pain lasted a considerable time. This is a grand +lesson for those parents who prevent their children from consecrating +themselves to God in a religious state. If they do not experience in +this world the effects of His anger, they ought to fear the consequences +of the anathema in the next with which the Council of Trent menaces, +not only them, but those also who compel their children to embrace a +religious state. + +Clare came to the field of battle, where she found her sister half +dead. She entreated the relations to retire and to leave her in her +care, which they regrettingly did. Agnes then rose with great ease, +glad to have had a share in the cross of Jesus Christ. She returned +to the monastery with her sister, to consecrate herself to God under +the direction of Francis, who cut off her hair with his own hands, and +instructed her in the duties of the state she was about to enter. +Clare, not having her mind quite at ease in the Monastery of St. Angelo, +removed to the house which adjoined the Church of St. Damian, the first +of the three which he had repaired, and where he had foretold that +there would be one day a monastery of poor females, who should lead +a sanctified life, and whose reputation would cause our Heavenly Father +to be glorified. + +Clare had scarcely fixed herself there, when the fame of her sanctity +spread all around, and produced wonderful effects. The influence of +grace was so great, that there were many persons of all sexes and all +ages, of all states of life, nobles and rich, who took to a religious +life. They mutually incited each other in families, as St. Jerome tells +us that it occurred in all Africa, when the illustrious virgin, +Demetrias, moved by the exhortation of St. Augustine, took the holy +veil. It was even seen that married persons separated by mutual consent, +and entered separate convents: and those who could not do this, strove +to sanctify themselves in the world. The virtues of the holy spouse +of Jesus Christ, as a precious perfume, attracted pure and innocent +souls, who made the house of St. Damian a numerous community, and the +cradle of the Order of the Poor Clares, or Poor Ladies, the second of +the three orders which were established by St. Francis. He appointed +Clare Abbess of St. Damian, although her humility made her wish to be +the servant of the others, and he only overcame her repugnance by +enforcing that obedience which she had promised him. + +It was there that this holy abbess was enclosed during a period of +forty-two years in the practice of the most eminent perfection, and +which we shall have an opportunity of referring to, when we come to +speak of her rule. + +After Francis had regulated the spiritual exercises of these nuns, +provided for the enclosure, and placed the house in good order, he +turned in his mind things personal to himself, as to what should be +his future way of life. In order to come to a decision, he consulted +those of his brethren with whom he was in the habit of having familiar +intercourse, and proposed to them his difficulties as follows: + +"My brethren, what do you advise me? Which of the two do you think +best: that I shall give myself to prayer, or that I shall go forth to +preach? To me it seems that prayer is what is most advantageous to me, +for I am a simple person, who am not a good speaker, and I have received +the gift of prayer, rather than that of speech: moreover, we gain much +by prayer; it is the source of graces; but, in preaching, we only +distribute to others what God has communicated. Prayer purifies the +heart and the affections; it unites us to the sole true and sovereign +good, and strengthens us in virtue. Preaching renders the feet of the +spiritual man dusty; it is an employment which dissipates and distracts, +and which causes regular discipline to be relaxed. In fine, in prayer +we speak to God, and we listen to Him; we converse with the angels, +as if we lived an Evangelic life. In preaching we must have much +condescension towards men, and, living with them, we must hear and +see, speak and think, in some measure as they do, in a human way. But +there is one thing which seems to prevail over all this before God, +which is, that the Only Son, who is in the bosom of His Father, and +is the Sovereign Wisdom, came down from heaven to save souls, to +instruct mankind by His example and by His word, to redeem them by His +blood, and to make of this precious blood a bath and a celestial +beverage: all that He had He gave up liberally and without reserve for +our salvation. Now, having bound ourselves to do all things according +to the model given us in His person, it seems more in conformity to +the will of God, that I should give up my own repose in order to labor +for the benefit of others." + +After all these reflections, he continued in an anxious state of +uncertainty as to the course he ought to take; and this man, who had +wonderful knowledge through the spirit of prophecy, had no light thrown +on his doubts by prayer: God permitting at that time that he should +not be sensible to the evident proofs he had, that he was called to +the apostolic life. + +We have already seen that powerful attractions to a contemplative life +had given rise to similar difficulties arising in his mind. As he +wished in all things to act faithfully and perfectly, his principal +care was to apply himself to the virtues which he knew, by the +inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to be most agreeable to God. + +St. Bonaventure says that this was the ground of his doubt, and he +gives two reasons why God permitted that the Saint should not have +been able to solve the difficulty, the solution of which appeared so +easy. The first is, in order that the heavenly oracles which had +announced that Francis was destined to preach the Gospel, should give +a more exalted idea of the merits of that ministry; to this may be +added, that it was of consequence that it should be known with certainty +that the holy Founder and his disciples were destined by Heaven to +labor for the salvation of souls, since in after times it has been +found that some of their adversaries have contested it. Secondly, the +doubt of the servant of God was useful in preserving his humility and +rendering it still greater. In the capacity of a Friar Minor, he was +not ashamed of seeking the advice of the least of his brethren, he who +had been taught such elevated things from the Sovereign Master. It was +likewise one of his maxims throughout his whole life, and of the +principles of the sacred philosophy, of which he made profession, to +address himself to the simple as well as to the learned, to the +imperfect as well as to the perfect, to the young as to the old, with +the ardent desire to find from intercourse with them in what way and +by what means he could best serve God according to His good pleasure, +and raise himself to the greatest perfection. + +Finally, we must not be surprised that he entreated God to grant him +additional proofs of his vocation, after having received such convincing +ones by revelations, by miracles, and from the mouth of the Vicar of +Jesus Christ; when we see in the Sacred Scriptures, that Gideon, having +been chosen by God to fight the enemies of His people, and this choice +having been manifested by the apparition of an angel, by a miracle and +by a revelation, he nevertheless begged the Lord to give other +miraculous signs, in order to be still further assured of it, and his +prayer was granted. Would to God, that, without asking for miracles +and without expecting them, all vocations, particularly those for the +holy ministries, and other affairs of conscience, were examined on +such sound principles, and weighed by means as likely to deserve the +light of Heaven. + +In order to know how finally to decide, Francis sent two of his +religious, Philip and Masse, to Brother Sylvester the priest, who was +then on the mountain near Assisi, continually intent on prayer, begging +him to consult the Lord on the subject of his doubt, and to let him +know the result. He made a similar application to Clare, recommending +her to put the same question to her sisters, and particularly to the +one who should appear to her to be the most pure and most single-minded. +The venerable priest and the consecrated virgin gave similar answers, +and pronounced that it was the will of God that Francis should go forth +to preach. + +When the two religious returned, Francis received them with great +respect and affection; he washed their feet, embraced them, and gave +them their meal. He then took them into the wood, where he knelt +bareheaded and inclined, with his hands crossed upon his breast, and +said to them: "Now tell me what my Lord Jesus Christ commands me to +do?" "My very dear brother, and my Father," replied Masse, "Sylvester +and Clare received precisely the same answer from our Lord Jesus Christ, +which is, that you set out to preach; because it is not for your +salvation alone that He called you, but for the salvation of others +also; and for them He will put His words into your mouth." + +Then Francis, moved by the Spirit of God, as the prophets had been, +and inflamed by the fire of charity, rose up, saying: "Let us then go +in the name of the Lord;" and he set out with two of his companions, +Masse of Marignan, and Angelo of Rieti. He walked so fast to obey the +words of Heaven, that it was easy to see that the Lord acted upon him, +and that he had received fresh strength from above for the ministry +of preaching. His companions were the more convinced of this by the +very extraordinary wonders which were worked by him on the route. + +The apostolical preacher went first to Bevagna, where he pronounced +an excellent discourse on the love of God; after which, in presence +of the whole audience, he restored the sight of a blind girl by putting +spittle three times on her eyes in the name of the Blessed Trinity. +This miracle had a salutary effect on a number of sinners, who were +converted; and many of them joined him who was the instrument of the +Divine Power. + +So many souls gained to Jesus Christ in one place, stimulated him to +carry the faith into the Levant. The triumph of martyrs, whose charity +could not be extinguished by the violence of persecutions, excited in +him a holy jealousy. Burning with similar fire, he wished to offer +himself, as they had done, a sacrifice, in order to mark his gratitude +in some measure, by the effusion of his blood, for the goodness of +Jesus Christ, who vouchsafed to die for our salvation, thus the better +to excite others to love Him. But he desired to have the sanction of +the Sovereign Pontiff for this undertaking, and therefore bent his +steps to Rome, preaching as he went the truths of salvation, which God +confirmed by miracles. + +Arrived at Rome, he sought an audience with the Pope. Innocent III +still filled the Papal throne; he first communicated to him the +wonderful extension of his Order, the holy lives of his brethren, and +the design which God had to bring about a reformation of morals in the +world, which was growing old, and was visibly in a state of decay. +Then he disclosed the project he had of transporting himself to the +lands of the Mahometans and Tartars, to endeavor to give them some +knowledge of the Gospel. It must be remarked, that the Saint attributed +to the world that decay which is the effect of old age, but he did not +extend this to the Church, because he well knew that, although old, +she was not infirm. St. Augustine says, that her old age is always +young, fresh, vigorous, and that she bears fruit in abundance. The +Pope, who was very religious, was highly gratified at the fortunate +success which he now learnt had attended the Saint's labors; he +willingly granted the servant of God leave to preach to the infidels, +and he affectionately gave him his blessing. + +Two sermons which Francis preached at Rome procured him two disciples, +Zachary and William; the one was a Roman, the other was an Englishman. +John de Capella, of whom we have before spoken, having left the Order +about this time, and having had a similar end to that of Judas, William +was substituted for him, as St. Mathias had filled the place of the +traitor in the Apostolate, and William was afterwards always considered +as the twelfth of the first companions of the Patriarch. + +A Roman widow, very noble and very rich, called Jacqueline de Settesoli, +having heard the Saint preach, was very anxious to have an interview +with him. He agreed to it, although reluctantly, and he gave her such +salutary instructions, that she committed the care of all her affairs +to her two sons, who were afterwards senators, in order that she might +apply herself to the sanctification of her soul, employing the gift +of tears which God had given her, to weep incessantly the neglects of +her past life. This lady and St. Clare were the only two persons of +the female sex with whom the servant of Jesus Christ had any intimate +relations on the subject of their salvation; which ought to serve as +a caution for this sort of direction lest it be too greatly +multiplied,--and be unholy. + +As there is no affection more solid or more effective than that which +is grounded on charity, the pious widow rendered to Francis and his +brethren all the good offices in her power. When they came to Rome she +provided them with lodgings, she fed them, clothed them, and assisted +them in their sicknesses with the tenderness of a mother. It was she +who procured for them from the Benedictines of the Abbey of St. Cosmas +beyond the Tiber, a refuge in the Hospital of St. Blaise; and this +hospital with its church was entirely ceded to them by the same +religious order in the year 1229, at the request of Pope Gregory IX; +it is to this day the Convent of St. Francis of Ripa. Thus the Friars +Minor are indebted to the children of St. Benedict for the first +establishment they had in Rome, as well as for that of St. Mary of the +Angels, or Portiuncula, the first of the whole Order. + +Francis, having terminated his business at Rome, returned to St. Mary +of the Angels, where he communicated to his brethren his intention of +proceeding to the Levant. He exhorted them in the strongest terms to +perfect themselves in the exercises of a religious life; he left them +Peter of Catania as superior during his absence, and set out with one +companion for Ascoli. At that place they were extremely anxious to see +and hear this admirable man, who was everywhere looked upon as a saint: +he had scarcely arrived in the town when all flocked to him; whichever +way he went, a crowd followed him; every one was anxious to get near +him, and they pressed upon each other in order only to be able to touch +his miserable habit. His presence and preaching in this town procured +him thirty disciples, some priests, and some laymen, whom he placed +in different houses of the Order. + +The desire of martyrdom which he aspired to from the infidels, did not +admit of a longer stay at Ascoli; he therefore made for the sea-side, +and embarked on board a vessel which was bound for Syria. But on the +passage the winds became adverse, and they were obliged to come to +anchor off Sclavonia, where he remained some days in hopes of finding +some other vessel bound to the Levant. Not finding any, and perceiving +that his intention had been foiled, he applied to some seamen who were +about to sail to Ancona, to take him on board their vessel for the +love of God. They refused obstinately to do so, because he had no money +wherewith to pay his passage; notwithstanding this, the holy man +contrived to slip secretly on board with his companion. + +An unknown person came on board the vessel and brought provisions with +him, saying to one of the passengers: "Worthy man, I confide these +provisions to you, for the use of two poor religious who are secreted +in the vessel; take care of them, and give food to them when required." +Who could this charitable purveyor be? There is reason to think, with +St. Bonaventure, that he was sent by God to the assistance of these +two poor religious, who were only poor for love of Him. Stormy weather +rendered the passage disastrous; they could neither carry sail, nor +return to land. All the sailors' provisions were expended: there was +nothing left but the provisions put on board for the two religious. +Divine Providence was pleased to multiply these, inasmuch that they +sufficed for all who were in the vessel for several days, during which +they were still at sea, before they reached Ancona. The sailors, +astonished at this miracle, were convinced that the poor man whom they +had refused to receive on board, had, by his merits, saved their lives, +and they returned thanks to God for His mercy. + +After having landed, Francis went to several places, spreading the +word of God as a precious seed, which produced an ample harvest. Many +came to see him from afar, so greatly had his reputation been +disseminated. A celebrated poet came amongst others, having heard his +entire contempt for the things of this world spoken of. He was of the +class of persons who were called in Provence _Troubadours_, who +invented fables, and composed different pieces of poetry, which were +sung in the houses of the nobles. The art of versifying in the vulgar +tongue was uncommon in those times, and was only practised by the +nobility. The Italians imitated the people of Provence, and translated +into their language the best compositions of the _Troubadours_. +The poet of whom we are speaking excelled in this art, and the Emperor +Frederic II had crowned him as the Prince of Poets, which caused him +to be usually called "The King of Verse." + +Coming then to see Francis, he passed through the Borough Town of San +Severino, and entered the church of a monastery, where the Servant of +God was preaching on the mystery of the Cross. He listened to him at +first without knowing him; but God disclosed Francis to him in the +course of the sermon, by two shining swords pierced through the Saint +cross-wise, one from the head to the feet, and the other from one hand +to the other through the breast; from this he became aware that the +preacher was the holy man of whom so much was spoken. The first +impression which the vision made upon him was, that he ought to lead +a better life; but the words of the preacher filled him with such +compunction, that he felt as if he had been pierced by the sword of +the spirit which came out of his mouth. He went after the sermon to +renounce in Francis' hands all the vanities of the world, and to embrace +his Institute. Francis, seeing him pass so perfectly from the agitations +of the world to the peace of Jesus Christ, gave him the name of Brother +Pacificus. + +St. Bonaventure adds, that he was a man of so much holiness that he +received the additional favor from God of seeing on the forehead of +his Blessed Father a great T, painted in a variety of colors, which +threw a remarkable softness on his countenance. This letter, which +represents the cross, showed the interior comeliness which the love +of the cross gave to his soul. + +Watchfulness and affection inspired the Father with the wish to return +to Tuscany, to visit the establishments he had founded there the +preceding year, and to learn from his own inspection how they progressed +in the ways of God. The family of the Ubaldini, which is among the +most illustrious of Florence, gave him a convent which had been built +and founded by their ancestors for the religious of the Order of St. +Basil, in the sixth or seventh century, some leagues from the city, +in the middle of a wood, and which had been since occupied by hermits. +He put some of his companions into it, and returned towards the end +of October to St. Mary of the Angels, preaching, as was his custom, +in all the places he passed through. The repose he allowed himself +after so much fatigue, was that of applying himself to the instruction +of his disciples, and addressing discourses to them full of wisdom. + +At the end of this year he had an attack of ague, which became quartan, +and reduced him to a great state of languor. The bishop of Assisi, who +was a most charitable prelate, and his particular friend, having heard +of his illness, came to see him, and, notwithstanding his resistance, +had him removed to his palace, where he attended to his recovery with +the charity of a pastor and the affection of a parent. His religious +came to him there to seek the light they required. They also brought +to him such postulants as presented themselves, and those who were +recommended to him (at times there were thirty or forty) by the +missionaries he had in various parts of Italy; for none were then +received who had not been examined by the founder himself. A young +gentleman from Lucca came with tears in his eyes, to entreat him to +give him the habit. "Unfortunate young man," said the Saint, "why do +you attempt to show by your eyes what is not in your heart? You have, +without due consideration, formed a plan which you will soon as lightly +give up." In fact, a few days after he went home with two of his +relations who had come in search of him, and he thought no more of +becoming a religious. + +The servant of God, having regained some portion of strength during +his residence with the bishop, by relaxing in the severity of his +abstinences, which were extreme, became irritated with his own body, +and was inflamed with the desire of humbling himself: "It is not right," +he said, "that people should think me austere, while I am pampered in +secret." Upon which the spirit of humility suggested to him an act, +which St. Bonaventure records, not as an example, but as a prodigy, +to be compared only with those extraordinary things which God commanded +the Prophets to perform. He rose, and accompanied by a great number +of his brethren, he went to the great Square of Assisi, assembled the +people, and led them to the cathedral. Then he caused himself to be +dragged by the vicar of his convent from the church to the place of +execution, stripped, and with a cord round his neck, as the Prophet +Isaias. There, weak as he still was, and shivering with cold, he +addressed the assembly with surprising energy, and said in a loud +voice: "I assure that I ought not to receive honor as if I were a +spiritual man. I am a carnal, sensual, and greedy man, whom you ought +thoroughly to despise." The hearers, who knew the austerity of his +life, struck with such a scene, admitted that this extraordinary +humility was more to be admired than imitated. + +Nevertheless, the holy doctor, whom we have just named, finds in this +some wholesome instruction. It teaches us, he says, that, in the +practice of virtue, we must avoid with great care everything having +any tendency to hypocrisy, repress the slightest approaches of vanity, +and have a sovereign contempt for praise. The humble Francis, who +strenuously labored for his interior sanctification, did many things +with a view of rendering himself contemptible, endeavoring, above all, +to prevent men from being deceived in the idea they might have formed +of his sanctity. This is the characteristic of true devotion; it has +no borrowed exterior; it is, or it endeavors to be, all that it seems. + +The religious whom Francis had sent into Lombardy, fulfilled the mission +in an admirable manner. They acquired so much esteem at Milan by their +preaching and by their good example, that the archbishop of that city, +Henry Satalas, gave them an establishment there, which became +considerable later, by the liberality of the Milanese. + +One of the fruits of their apostolic labors was the vocation of a young +man of rank, who was rich and talented, and who solicited the habit +of the Order. Upon their acquainting him that, to become a Friar Minor, +it was requisite to renounce all temporal goods, he immediately disposed +of all of which he was then master, and distributed the greater part +to the poor, reserving the remainder to pay the expenses of his journey +to Assisi, where he was told that it was necessary to present himself +to the founder, who alone had the power of receiving novices. + +He induced some of his relations and friends to accompany him, and +took with him a considerable number of servants; one of the religious +was also requested to go with them, in order to introduce the postulant, +and favor his reception. When they arrived at St. Mary of the Angels, +Francis, seeing such a number of persons, and such an appearance of +vanity, asked the religious who was with them, who these lords were, +and what they wanted? He answered: "My Father, this is a young man, +learned and rich, of one of the first families of Milan, who wishes +to become your disciple." Francis replied, before them all, smiling: +"This young man does not seem to me to be fit for our Order, for, when +people come with so much pomp, which is the mark of a proud spirit, +to embrace a state of poverty, we are led to believe that they have +not yet sufficient contempt and aversion for the world, and that they +are not prepared wholly to relinquish it. But I will consult our +brethren on the subject." + +He assembled them all, and asked their opinion, which was not to receive +him, because he had still a fund of pride, and because the love for +the splendor of the world was not yet eradicated from his heart. + +The young man who was present burst into tears; and Francis, who was +moved with compassion, said: "My brethren, will you receive him if he +consents to serve in the kitchen? it will be the means of inducing him +to renounce the vanities of the world." They assented on this condition, +which the postulant willingly agreed to, protesting that he was prepared +to do anything that was required of him. The Father embraced him, after +having returned to those who accompanied him his money and his equipage. +He sent him to the hospital of St. Blasius of Rome, there to act as +cook; and the young novice attained to such perfection in that humble +employment, that Francis judged him worthy to be placed over others, +and made him superior of the same place. + +The line adopted in respect to this young man shows evidently, that +for the religious profession neither birth, nor riches, nor talents, +are to be heeded, but that the essential qualifications principally +to be considered for this holy state, are, to be sincerely prepared +to die to the world and to self. + +At the beginning of the year 1213, the fever of which Francis had been +cured at the bishop's palace of Assisi recurred; sometimes it was +tertian, sometimes quartan, but always with great severity. He bore +the suffering with great equanimity, because of the hatred he felt for +his body, and from the patience taught by Jesus Christ. The violence +of the fever which burned his body, was, in his opinion, a lesser evil +than the fire of temptations which inflame the soul; his sufferings +appeared to him a gain. All the saints have had a like way of thinking, +and the principles of Christianity admit of no other. The only +uneasiness the sickness gave to the holy man, was its having prevented +him putting in force the intentions he had in view for the salvation +of souls. But charity, which is ever active, suggested to him to exhort +the faithful in writing, as he could not do so in person; he therefore +addressed them a short letter, couched in the following terms:-- + +"O how happy are all those who love God, and who worthily practise all +that Jesus Christ has taught in His holy gospel. Thou shalt love the +Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and thy +neighbor as thyself. Let us love and adore God with great purity of +mind and heart; for that is what He seeks for above all things. He has +said that the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in +truth, and that they who adore Him, must adore Him in spirit and truth. +I salute you in our Lord." + +This short letter was still fresh from his hand, when an infinity of +copies were made of it, so anxious were all people to see anything +that came from the hand of so holy a person. In this simple and brief +exhortation they admired the candor of his soul and the extent of his +charity, and, in reading it, they were moved by a power which penetrated +the soul; for the words of the saints have a secret unction which is +not found elsewhere. + +These spiritual services, and others which Francis rendered to his +neighbor, with the continual instruction he gave to his brethren, were +his occupations during his sickness, and until such time as returning +health permitted him to do more. He was somewhat better in the spring, +as is usually the case with those who have the quartan ague; but his +extraordinary austerities had so weakened his constitution, that he +never wholly recovered his health, and the remainder of his life was +little else than a state of languor. + +As soon as he could commence travelling, he committed the care of his +Order to Peter of Cantania, and set out with Bernard of Quintavalle +and some others, in order to go to Morocco, through Spain, to preach +the Gospel to the Miramolin and to his subjects, in the hopes of +attaining by this means the crown of martyrdom, which was the great +object of his wishes. + +The servant of God did not reach Spain till near the end of the year, +because he had stopped in various places to preach, to visit the houses +of his Order, and to receive accounts of others. His whole route was +a succession of miracles, and other remarkable things, which contain +admirable instructions. + +At Foligno, the sign of the cross which he made on the house of his +host, protected it from various accidents, and particularly from fire, +which did no damage to that dwelling, although the adjoining houses +were three or four times on fire: the flames were even seen to take +a contrary direction. At Spoleto, knowing that a rich man thought ill +of his Institute, and refused his brethren alms, he asked him only to +give him a loaf; and, having received it, he divided it among his +religious, and directed them to say the Lord's Prayer and the +Evangelical Salutation three times, for the person who had given it. +Their scanty meal was scarcely finished, when this man came to ask +forgiveness for the harshness he had shown them, and he was, after +that, the best friend of their convent, so good an idea of their +Institution had the saint impressed upon him. + +At Terni, the bishop who had listened to one of Francis' sermons, +ascended the pulpit when he had done, and said to the people:--"My +brethren, the Lord, who has often enlightened His Church by men +illustrious for their science, has now sent you this Francis whom you +have just heard, a poor illiterate man, and contemptible in appearance, +in order that he may edify you by his word and his example. The less +learned he is, the more does the power of God shine in his person, who +chooses those who are foolish according to the views of the world, to +confound all worldly wisdom. The care which God takes of our salvation +obliges us to honor and glorify Him; for He has not done the like to +other nations." + +Francis followed the prelate, fell on his knees, kissed his hand, and +said:--"My lord, in very truth, no one has ever done me so much honor +as I have this day received from you. Some attribute to me a sort of +sanctity, which noway belongs to me, and which ought to be referred +to God alone, the author of every perfect gift. But you, my lord, have +wisely separated what is valuable from what is vile, the worthy from +the unworthy, the saint from the sinner; giving the glory to God, and +not to me, who am but a miserable mortal. It is, indeed, only to God, +the King of Ages, immortal and invisible, that men should give honor +and glory for ever and ever." The bishop, even more pleased with this +specimen of his humility than with his preaching, embraced him +affectionately. + +In the same city, by the sign of the cross he rendered some sour wine +perfectly good, and that before persons who had tasted it in its acid +state. But he performed a much greater miracle, which was universally +admired, on a young lad who had been just crushed by the fall of a +wall; having had him brought to him, he applied himself to prayer, +and, extending himself on the corpse, as the Prophet Eliseus had done +on the child of the Sunamite, he restored him to life. + +In the County of Narni, he was lodged in the house of a worthy man who +was in great affliction for the death of his brother, who had been +drowned, and whose body could not be found, so that it might be buried. +After having privately prayed for some time, he showed a spot in the +river where he said that the body certainly was at the bottom; it had +been stopped there by the entanglement of the clothes. They dived at +that place and found the body, which he restored to life in the presence +of the whole family. + +The fever, and a severe stomach complaint, caused him to faint in a +hermitage which had been given him near the Borough of St. Urban, and +he asked for some wine to recover from the weakness which had ensued. +As there was none to be had there, he had some water brought to him, +which he blessed, by making the sign of the cross over it, and it was +instantly changed thereby into excellent wine. The little that he took +of it renovated him so promptly, that it was a double miracle. Upon +which St. Bonaventure remarks, that this wonderful change is a type +of the change he had effected in his heart, in casting off the old man +to put on the new. + +In the City of Narni, he cured a man who had lost the use of his limbs +for five months from palsy, employing no other remedy than a sign of +the cross, which he made over his whole body; this he did at the request +of the bishop of the place, and by virtue of the same sign he restored +the sight of a blind girl. Being at Orti, he straightened a child, who +was so deformed that its head touched its feet. At San Gemini, he +prayed, with three of his companions, for the wife of his host, whom +the devil had possessed for a long while, and the evil spirit left +her. Such evident miracles, publicly performed, and in great numbers, +gave a wonderful splendor to his sanctity. In the archives of the Town +of Poggibonsi, in Tuscany, the act of donation of a house given to him +is preserved, which commences thus:--"We cede to a man named Francis, +whom all the world considers as a saint," etc. + +The discourses of so holy a man, of one so gifted with the power of +miracles, had the greatest effect upon the hearts of his hearers, and +made the people very anxious to have houses of his Order established +among them. He settled some of his religious at Foligno, at Trevi, at +San Gemini, at Sienna, and in several other places. + +Fresh disciples joined him from all quarters, but he did not receive +any until he had strictly examined their vocation. A young gentleman, +having heard him preach at Monte Casale, a town in the Appennines, +came to acquaint him with the design he had long formed of entering +his Order. "You must think seriously of it," replied Francis; "for the +kind of life we lead must appear very hard to those who have been +tenderly brought up." The young man answered courageously: "My Father, +are not you and yours of the same nature as I am, and formed of the +same earth? I hope, with God's help, to bear without much inconvenience +what my fellow-men can bear so willingly." These ideas were very +pleasing to the Patriarch, and the postulant was received. It must be +admitted that man has resources of strength which he might make use +of to imitate the saints in many things, if he were not wanting in +exertion and confidence in God. + +From Monte Casale Francis passed over the Appennines, and went through +the Valley of Marecchia to reach Monte Feltro, or St. Leo. He learnt +on the road that the lord of that town was about to be knighted at his +castle, where he was giving a grand feast, accompanied by games and +theatricals, to a numerous assembly of the nobility, among whom was +Count Orlando Catanio, lord of Chiusi Nuovo, and of all the Casentino. +Being near the castle, and hearing the sound of the trumpets, which +denoted that the revelry was about to begin, he said to his +companions:--"Let us go hither also, and let us combat the devil with +all our might, who never fails in these rejoicings to lay his snares +into which many fall; for it is our duty to labor everywhere and in +all places for the salvation of souls." He went up to the castle, and +heard the solemn mass with all those who accompanied the new knight. +As soon as it was over, he took a position on a height near the church, +in order to preach from thence, and the crowd gathered round him to +listen. + +He took the following Italian words for his text:--"Tanto e il ben che +aspetto, che d'ogni pena mi diletto:" which means--"the good which I +hope for is so great, that to obtain it all suffering is pleasurable." +He proved his text by this passage from St. Paul:--"The sufferings of +this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come;" by +the example of the apostles, who were filled with joy for having been +found worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus; by the example of the +martyrs, who willingly exposed themselves to torments and death, that +they might obtain heaven; and, finally by such cogent reasons, so +pathetically set forth, that all the auditors admired the doctrine, +and felt what he wished to inspire them with. They found in the preacher +something divine, which commanded respect, and they fixed their looks +upon his countenance as if it had been that of an angel. + +Count Orlando, more impressed with what he had heard than the rest, +went after the sermon to embrace the preacher, and he entreated him +particularly to instruct him in the affairs of his salvation. Francis, +who, in addition to his ardent zeal, had much discretion and suavity +of manner, said:--"Count, go now and do honor to your friends whom you +have invited, and we will talk of this affair at a more convenient +time." The count, complying with this advice, joined the nobility who +waited for him, and did not forget to take care of the servants of +God. The feast having ended, he returned to the prudent director, with +whom he had a lengthened conversation, with which he was so much struck, +that in order to have the comfort of seeing familiarly the religious +of the Institute, he offered Francis the Mountain of Alvernia, with +a promise, if he agreed to it, of building there a convent. + +As this was a lonely place, very fit for contemplation, Francis gladly +accepted the offer, and promised to send two of his brethren to Chiusi, +before he should leave Italy. He did in fact send them, and the count +having received them as angels sent from heaven, he took them to Mount +Alvernia, where they fixed upon a spot which appeared to them an apt +location for a church. Fifty soldiers who had been brought thither +began immediately to fell timber, and a place was cleared, where hutting +was set up to lodge the religious, in which they dwelt until the church +and convent were built. These are the circumstances under which the +Friars Minor were settled on this mountain, which subsequently became +so celebrated in the Christian world by the stigmata of St. Francis. +The place was ceded to them by an authentic document which the count +gave them, and which is preserved in the original in the archives of +the convent. We shall speak further of this holy place when we come +to relate the first visit the Saint paid it on his return from Spain. + +He continued his journey through Bologna, from whence, after having +visited his brethren, he came to Imola. He first went to offer his +respects to the bishop, and asked permission to preach to his people. +"I preach," replied the bishop coldly, "and that is quite enough." +Francis bowed humbly, and retired; but an hour afterwards he returned, +and the bishop, surprised and angered at seeing him again, asked him +what he could possibly want? to which he replied, in a tone of sincere +humility: "My lord, if a father drives his son out of the house by one +door, it is right that the son should return through another." The +bishop mollified by this mild address, embraced him with affection, +and said: "From henceforth you and your brethren may preach in my +diocese. I give you a general leave, it is what your humility has +merited." Is there anything which can soften minds and obtain favors +sooner than this virtue? + +The humility of Francis was accompanied with great courage, which +rendered him firm and confident in the most imminent dangers, this was +owing to the great confidence he had in God. Night overtook him once +when he was in company with Leo, between Lombardy and the Trevisan +Marshes, on a road having on one side the Po, one of the most +considerable rivers in Italy, and on the other a deep morass. Leo, +much alarmed, exclaimed: "Father, pray to God to deliver us from the +danger we are in." Francis, full of faith, replied: "God can, if it +is His good pleasure, give us light to dissipate the darkness of the +night." These words were hardly spoken, when they found themselves +surrounded by a brilliant light, which not only made the way clear to +them, but enabled them to see many things on either side of the way, +although the darkness was very dense everywhere else. They pursued +their route, singing the glories of God; the celestial torch served +them as a guide till they reached the place where they were to be +lodged, which was then very far off. This miraculous light was a +notification to the Saint that it was God's pleasure that he should +have a dwelling in the place to which His goodness had led him, and +he told this to his companion. The inhabitants made no difficulty in +assigning him one, after having heard him preach, and he gave the +convent the name of The Holy Fire, as it is still called. + +In Piedmont, where he was well received, his preaching, with the +reputation of his sanctity, confirmed by many miracles, converted a +considerable number of persons, and procured him several houses. From +thence he went into Spain, but the writers of his life have not recorded +by what route. Now, it is scarcely to be doubted that he went by land, +and through France; ancient documents show that he entered Spain through +Navarre, and that he arrived in the year 1213 at Logrono, a Town of +Old Castile, which had formerly belonged to Biscay. + +On the road he came up with a poor and abandoned invalid, for whom he +felt so much pity that he directed Bernard de Quintavalle, one of his +companions, to stay with him and take care of him, which Bernard +willingly undertook to do. At Logrono he miraculously cured a young +gentleman who was on the point of death; then he went on to Burgos, +where Alphonso IX., (or VIII., according to some,) father of Blanche +Queen of France and mother of St. Louis, then was. Francis presented +himself before the king, he showed him the rules of his Institute, and +entreated him to receive the Friars Minor into his states. This monarch, +who, in addition to his political and military talents, had a great +fund of goodness and piety, received the holy man very favorably; he +condescended to read the rules, and after having conversed with him +for some time, gave him leave to build houses in Spain. + +Francis now fixed his thoughts only on advancing towards the sea-side +in order to embark for Morocco, there to suffer martyrdom, for this +was the great object of his wishes. If we only formed our opinion of +things by the ordinary rules of prudence, we should be surprised, that +a man, visibly sent by God for the institution of a new order of +religious, should leave it so short a time after its birth, to seek +for death among the infidels. But the saints only thought of following +the impulses which the Spirit of God suggested to them, with reference +to the works which they had commenced by God's order. St. Anthony, +father of a great number of Cenobites, left his monastery, and followed +at Alexandria certain confessors of the faith; he attended upon them +in prison, and exhorted them under torment to procure for himself the +palm of martyrdom. St. Dominic, animated by a similar spirit, had +formed the intention of going among the Saracens, only two years after +the institution of his order. Francis, thus inspired from above, desired +to meet death for Jesus Christ, and left to God the care of his rising +family. + +This disposition, which was the fruit of ardent charity, was very +pleasing to God; it entered into the economy of His providence for the +salvation of souls and for the aggrandizement of the new Order, for +the Saint did not cease his labors when he took the route which was +to lead to martyrdom. Nevertheless, God did not choose that his design +should be carried into execution; and His will was made known to His +Servant by a violent illness, which put it out of his power to embark +for Morocco. Francis gave up his wishes, obeying what was thus signified +to him. and came to the resolution to return to Italy for the guidance +of his flock, however, he did not set out till the close of the year. + +The authors of the Order are agreed in saying that he went to visit +the tomb of the Apostle St. James, at Compostella, the capital of +Galicia, to which place devotion has attracted, for many centuries +past, crowds of pilgrims, and that an angel appeared to him there, and +assured him that it was God's will that he should return to Italy, +after having founded some establishments in Spain. They also say that +he went into Portugal, where he raised to life the daughter of his +host at Guimaraens, a town of the diocese of Braganza, which caused +him to be spoken of as a saint throughout the whole country; and that +he went through nearly the whole of the Kingdom of Arragon and the +adjacent provinces; and, finally, they relate the following most +extraordinary circumstance: + +Francis being one evening on the banks of the River Orbego, with his +companions, where there was no food, a young man of the Town of Novia +overtook them, and carried them over on some horses he had with him, +and received them hospitably. The gratitude the Saint had was shown +by saying: "May the Lord reward you for the kindness you have shown +us, when He rewards the just." Some short time after this, the young +man, having gone to Rome out of devotion, and having endeavored to put +his conscience in a good state, prayed fervently to God, to take him +out of this world before he should commit a mortal sin. His prayer was +heard; he died. His father desired to have a funeral service said for +him, and thirty Friars Minor attended to it without having been asked; +none knew from whence they came, nor whither they afterwards went, +which made it thought that the assistance was miraculous; and as it +was known what the holy man Francis had said to the deceased, it was +understood that he had, by this means, procured the reward of the just +for him whose hospitality he had received. + +Gonzagues, Bishop of Mantua, who had been General of the Order of St. +Francis, says, that it is held as certain that St. Francis commenced +the establishments of Gasta, Arevalo, Avila, Madrid, Tudela, and caused +several other convents to be built. It is easily understood that in +the eight or nine months in which he remained in Spain after his +illness, he arranged much by himself and by his companions; the old +inscriptions which are still seen on the tombs of many Minors are an +additional proof. Moreover, it is certain that his holy life and his +preaching were of the greatest benefit to souls, and that his Order +was received in Spain with an affection which has passed from age to +age, from fathers to sons; so that Spain is one of the countries of +the world in which we find the greatest veneration for St. Francis, +and the greatest consideration for the Order of Friars Minor. + +The same bishop tells us, on the testimony of universal and unvaried +tradition, of many miracles performed by the Almighty, through the +ministry of the holy man. We shall satisfy ourselves by relating one +of them, which is warranted by manuscripts and documents. + +Francis was lodged at Compostella, at the house of a poor dealer in +charcoal, whose name was Cotolai, and he often went to pass the night +in contemplation on a neighboring mountain. God made known to him, +that it was His will that he should build a convent between two valleys, +the one of which was commonly called the Valley of God, and the other +the Valley of Hell. He knew that this ground belonged to the +Benedictines of Compostella, of the Abbey of St. Pay, or Pelagius, +since transferred to that of St. Martin; and, bearing in mind the +favors which the religious of this holy order had done him in the gifts +of St. Mary of the Angels, and at Rome, he called upon the Abbot and +asked unhesitatingly for permission to build a convent between the two +valleys. "What will you give me in payment?" said the abbot. Francis +replied: "As I am very poor, I have neither money, nor anything else +to give you, if you grant me what I ask. Yet what will be most precious +to me, I will give you in quit rent yearly--a small basket of fish if +they can be caught in the river." The abbot who was a very pious man, +admiring his simplicity and his confidence, granted him his request +on the condition proposed, and an act to that effect was prepared and +signed by both. + +The holy man came to Cotolai and told him what had passed between the +Abbot of St. Pay and himself, and added: "My dear host, it is God's +will that you should build this convent; therefore prepare yourself +for the work." "Oh, how shall I be able to do that," answered Cotolai, +"I who am so poor, and who live by my daily labor?" "Take courage," +said Francis, "take a pickaxe, and go to the spring which is close by; +make a hole a little in front of it, and you will find a treasure which +will enable you to execute the order of Heaven." Cotolai, relying on +the Saint's word, searched as he was bidden, found the treasure, and +built the convent, which is known by the name of St. Francis to this +day. This fact is narrated in an authentic manuscript in the archives +of the Abbey of St. Martin, from whence this is copied; and in two +very old inscriptions, one of which is on the tomb of Cotolai and his +wife, whose name was Mary de Bicos, and the other over the gate of the +church of the convent in which their tomb is. The deed which was +executed by Francis and the Abbot of St. Pay, is preserved in the +original in the archives of the Abbey of St. Martin of Compostella. +The Prince of Spain, Philip the Second, saw it in the year 1554, when +he was about to embark at Corunna, to espouse the Queen of England. +However, the marvel has nothing in it which should be the cause of +much surprise: our Saviour, who made St. Peter find in the mouth of +a fish wherewithal to pay the tribute for his Master and himself, could +easily cause a treasure of money to be found sufficient to build a +house for his faithful Servant Francis. + +When the Apostolical man had terminated his mission in Spain, he went +to rejoin Bernard de Quintavalle, whom he had left on entering it, in +charge of the poor sick man, who was perfectly cured. Francis came +through Aragon into Catalonia. The magistrates of Barcelona, where he +stopped for a short time, were so pleased with his poverty, his +humility, and his other virtues, that, for the sake of having some +religious of his Order, they converted the hospital where he was lodged +into a convent, the church and cloister of which are still extant, and +are venerable from the remembrance of the Saint. + +At San Saloni, a small town between Barcelona and Gerona, an adventure +occurred to him which seemed purely accidental, but which God turned +to good. As he walked by the side of a vineyard, his companion gathered +a bunch or two of grapes to refresh himself. He who had charge of the +vineyard, perceiving it, came violently upon the religious, beat him +and abused him in no measured terms, and took from him his poor cloak. +Francis asked to have the cloak back, alleging mildly, that what had +been taken had done no injury to the vineyard; and that good feeling +required that this assistance should be given to a passer-by who needed +it. But, not having succeeded in procuring its restoration, he went +to the proprietor of the vineyard, from whom he had no difficulty in +getting it back, after having told him what had happened. He then +conversed with him on heavenly things with such effect, that the man, +devoting himself from that moment to his service, promised to receive +hospitably all the Friars Minor who should pass through San Saloni, +and furnish them with whatsoever they might require, as far as his +means would allow; which he never failed to do as long as he lived. +Francis, in return, granted him participation in all the spiritual +merits of his Order, and gave him the name of Father of the Friars +Minor. + +It is from this precedent that the superiors of the Order give letters +of filiation, as they are called, in virtue of which the holders +participate in the merits of all the practices of the community. This +is grounded on the communion of saints, one of the articles of the +apostolic symbol by which each member of the faithful who is not +excommunicated, and principally if he be in a state of grace, +participates in the good works of others. Besides this general +communication, the faithful may assist each other by their prayers, +and their own merits, as is done in confraternities and all pious +associations. This is the way in which the Order of St. Francis, and +all other religious orders, manifest their gratitude to their +benefactors; in this they do that which St. Augustine says of the +ministers of Jesus Christ in regard to the faithful who support them; +"They give spiritual things, and only receive temporal ones; they give +gold, and only receive brass." Those who know what the communion of +saints is, and who neglect nothing which can contribute to their +salvation, have great esteem (as, indeed, they ought) for letters of +filiation, and strive to live in a Christian-like manner in order to +profit by them. + +From Catalonia, Francis continued his route through Roussillon, and +it is believed that he placed some of his religious at Perpignan, the +capital. He then entered Languedoc, which the errors and arms of the +Albigenses had alike tended to desolate. The Catholics at that time +enjoyed some calm by the valor of the illustrious Simon, Count of +Montfort, who had just overthrown the heretics, principally by the +celebrated victory obtained, at Muret, over Peter, King of Aragon, +whom ill-understood interests had made protector of the Albigenses, +to the detriment of religion, and who was killed in that battle. The +saintly traveller did not make any stay in Languedoc; perhaps because +it was the field destined by Providence to be cultivated by St. Dominic, +whose preaching and miracles had made an infinity of conversions, and +who was then at Carcassonne, where he gave the nuptial benediction to +the marriage of Amaury de Montfort, the son of Simon, with the Princess +Beatrice, the daughter of the Dauphin, Count of Viennois. Francis +arrived at Montpellier at the time when they were about to open the +council, at which Simon of Montfort was loaded with praises, and chosen +to be possessor of the City of Toulouse, and the other conquests of +the Crusaders; he preached there, and foretold that a convent would +be built soon for his brethren at the hospital where he lodged; a +prophecy which was fulfilled in the year 1220. + +His bad health, the fatigues of his journey, and the rigor of the +season, had brought him into a state of great languor, and compelled +him to stop one day. His malady gave him a disgust for all sorts of +food, and he thought that he could only relish some wild fowl. As he +was speaking of it to his companion Bernard, a well-appointed cavalier +brought him one ready dressed, saying, "Servant of God, take what the +Lord sends thee," after which he disappeared. Francis, admiring the +goodness of God, who fulfils the desires of those who fear Him, ate +willingly of this celestial food, and was so strengthened by it, that +he rose up immediately and continued his journey through Dauphiny and +Piedmont; from whence he went to St. Mary of the Angels, continuing +to perform the functions of an Apostle and Patriarch of the Order on +his way, but not without having to endure the honors which his miracles +and the reputation of his sanctity procured him from all parts. + +His return was the subject of great rejoicing to his children, to Clare +in particular, and to a number of young men, among whom were many +nobles and many learned persons who were waiting to be received into +the Order. + +He was surprised to find a building which Peter of Catania, his own +vicar had constructed during his absence; he inquired the reason of +it, and Peter having replied, "that it was for the accommodation of +their guests, where they might say the divine office more commodiously," +He said:--"Brother Peter, this place is the rule and the model of the +Order; I choose that those who come to it shall suffer the +inconveniences of poverty as well as those who live in it, in order +that they may tell others how poorly we live at St. Mary's of the +Portiuncula; for if the guests see that they are provided with +everything they can wish for, they will expect the same thing in their +provinces, and will say, that they only do as they do at Portiuncula, +which is the original place of the Institution." He was desirous that +the building should be pulled down, and he even directed it to be done; +but, upon the representations of the need they had of it, he consented +to let it stand. They could not do without room to lodge the number +of people who were drawn thither by the rumor of his great virtues, +and the multitudes of his religious who came from various parts to +consult him. + +Those whom he had destined for Mount Alvernia, having come with several +others to congratulate him on his return, informed him that Count +Orlando had loaded them with favors; that they were settled on the +mountain, and that it was the place, of all others, proper for +contemplation. This gave him a wish to go thither, and he set out with +three companions, Leo, Masse, and Angelo of Rieti. It was his custom +in travelling to name one of those who accompanied him as guardian and +leader, and he obeyed him humbly in all things. On this occasion, he +gave this commission to Masse, desiring him not to disquiet himself +about their food, and giving no other instructions, except that the +divine office should be punctually and piously recited, that silence +should be rigidly observed, and that their deportment should be +reserved. He preached, as usual, wherever he went, and performed many +miracles. + +One night he went into a church which was deserted, in order to pass +the night in prayer, knowing from experience that the Spirit of God +was communicated more freely to the soul in quiet solitary places. At +the beginning of the night, the devils used every sort of artifice to +interrupt his prayers and to disturb him. Then they attacked him in +person, as St. Athanasius relates that they did St. Anthony, so that +they seemed to come to blows with him. The more they annoyed him, the +more fervently he prayed, and the more strenuously he invoked Jesus +Christ with confidence, in the words of the prophet:--"Protect me under +the shadow of thy wings from these wicked ones who pursue me;" and he +said to the devils:--"Spiteful and deceitful spirits, do all you can +against me, for you can do nothing but what God permits, and here I +am, ready to suffer with pleasure all the afflictions it is His pleasure +to send me." Then the devils cast themselves upon him with still greater +violence; they pushed him about on all sides, they dragged him along +the ground and beat him severely. In the midst of his sufferings, he +exclaimed:--"My Lord Jesus Christ, I give Thee thanks for all Thy +benefits; this is not one of the least; it is an assured mark of the +goodness Thou hast for me. Thou punishest my sins in this world to +spare me in the next. My heart is ready, O my God, my heart is ready +to suffer still more if such be Thy holy will." St. Bonaventure says, +that he was often tormented in this manner by demons; but that these +proud spirits, not being able either to overcome him, or to bear his +constancy, retired in confusion. Such a resistance would repress all +the efforts of the tempter when he attacks us invisibly. + +In the morning, he could not disguise from his companions what had +happened to him, and the extreme weakness which it had brought on +obliged him to desire his companions to go to the neighboring village, +to procure for him, in God's name, some means of riding on with them. +The farmer to whom they applied, having learnt that it was for Francis +of Assisi, of whom he had heard so much good spoken, went to fetch his +own ass to carry him on, during the journey. + +On the way, Francis bethought himself of stopping for a short time at +this farmer's to recruit his strength by some poultry and other +delicacies of the country; but, wishing to punish himself for having +merely listened to such a suggestion, he took up a half-rotten fowl +from a dunghill, and smelt at it, saying to himself:--"Here, glutton! +here is the flesh of the poultry that you so anxiously wished for; +satisfy your longing, and eat as much as you like." To support himself, +he ate nothing but bread, on which he sprinkled ashes, and he drank +nothing but water. He blessed the house of his host, and promised him +very long lineage, who should be neither poor nor very rich. The +remembrance of this prediction has been carefully preserved in this +place, and the house still exists, bearing the name of St. Francis, +where the religious of his Order are always charitably received. This +lesson is taught by the apostle:--"That God, by His blessing, gives +to charitable persons the means of continuing and multiplying their +good works." + +The invalid was replaced on the ass, and they took the road to Chiusi +which they reached by noon. Count Orlando was greatly pleased to see +them, and would have been but too glad to detain them, if only for +that day; but Francis would go as soon as dinner was done to Mount +Alvernia, whither the count accompanied him. + +"The Mountain Alvernia is on the confines of Tuscany, not far from +Camaldoli and Val Ombrosa; it is part of the Apennines, and it rises +higher than the adjacent mountains from which it is separated: two +rivers flow at its foot, the Tiber and the Arno. On their sides it has +rocks so perpendicular and so smooth that they might be mistaken for +walls; and on the side on which the top may be reached, no one would +dare to attempt the ascent but for the number of beech trees and +underwood which hide the precipices. These trees, which are very lofty, +hide some extensive and beautiful pasturages. There also an abundance +of plants is found called carline or Caroline which is a cure for the +plague." + +The farmer, who was their guide, made bold to address Francis thus: +"Brother, I hear much good spoken of you, and I understand that God +has shown you great favors, for which you are greatly indebted to Him; +strive, then, to be what it is said you are, and never to change in +order that those who have confidence in you may not be deceived; this +is a piece of advice I give you." Francis, delighted at what he had +heard, dismounted, kissed the man's feet, thanked him, acknowledging +the great mercy of God, who had been pleased to cast His eyes on the +lowliness of His servant. Although this advice came from a poor +countryman, it was nevertheless the very best that could be given to +a saint. So true it is that no one should be despised, and that the +most simple-minded persons often say more sensible and more spiritual +things than men of the greatest genius. + +The same man being very thirsty at the steepest part of the mountain, +exclaimed loudly: "I shall die, if I cannot get something to drink." +Francis immediately alighted, threw himself on his knees, raised his +hands to heaven, and prayed until he knew that he had been heard. Then, +pointing out a large stone to the man, he said, "Go there quickly, and +you will find some living water: it is Jesus Christ who, out of His +great mercy, makes it spring from this rock that you may drink." The +man ran directly, found water, and drank as much as he required. + +No spring had ever been known to be in that place, and no water was +ever found there afterwards. Wonderful goodness of the Almighty, +exclaims St. Bonaventure, who thus with so much benevolence grants the +prayers of His servants. The birds seeing St. Francis and his companions +approaching came in great numbers to welcome him to their home. + +At length they reached the top of Mount Alvernia, where the religious +resided. The father was well pleased with their dwelling, because +everything was on a small scale and poor. + +Count Orlando returned in the evening and came back next day, bringing +something for their dinner. After they had finished their meal, he +gave orders for the construction of a small chapel under a very tall +beech tree, and a cell, which Francis had asked him for, and, calling +the others aside, he said: "Since your founder has given his consent +to the donation I made you two years ago of this mountain, you may +consider it as yours, and hence both myself and mine will be always +devoted to your service whenever you shall need it. You will not be +able to please me more than by addressing yourselves to me, looking +upon me as your servant; and even, if you will do me that favor, +considering me as one of your brethren." After the departure of the +count, the holy Patriarch made them the following discourse, relative +to the count's kindness, which they took care to commit to writing: + +"My dear children, it is God who thus turns the hearts of the faithful +towards His little and useless servants, in which He does us a very +great favor. On what we have hitherto received let us place our hopes +for what is to come; if that seems but little, the Lord, who is +infinitely liberal, will add to it by His goodness still greater +benefits, provided we are faithful to Him. Let us, then, leave to Him +the care of all that relates to you, and He Himself will feed you, as +He fed Elias, Paul, and Anthony in the desert. The birds of the air +neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father +nourishes them; how much more will He do this for His servants? If He +tries you, it will be only for a time, for it is written, that He will +not suffer the just to waver forever; the eyes of the Lord are on them +that fear Him, and on them that hope in His mercy to deliver their +souls from death and feed them in famine. Trust not to the princes of +the earth, nor to the charitable offers made you by our benefactor, +Count Orlando, for cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh +flesh his arm. This lord has acted nobly by us, and according to his +piety; let us do on our parts what depends on us, and fail not therein; +that is to say, let us not have recourse to his generosity, as to a +treasure of which we are the masters, and in that regard let us have +the greatest reserve that we may not in any respect trench upon holy +poverty. Be sure, my dear children, that our best resource for providing +for our wants, is to have none to provide for. If we are truly +evangelical poor, the world will have compassion upon us, and will +generously give us all that is necessary for our subsistence; but if +we swerve from holy poverty, the world will shun us; the illicit means +which we might take for avoiding indigence, would only make us feel +it the more." Is not such a discourse sufficient to show us, that St. +Francis had great talents and judgment, joined to great knowledge of +the practice of virtue? + +Count Orlando had a church built on Mount Alvernia, according to the +plan which the Saint had given him, which, it was confidently said, +had been given to Francis by the Blessed Virgin, who appeared +accompanied by St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist. + +While they were at work at this building and at the cells for the +brethren, Francis explored the mountain on all its sides, to discover +the sites best adapted for contemplation. He found one, where there +were some large openings in the rock, great masses overhanging them, +deep caverns, and frightful pits; and what seemed to him to be most +curious, there was a rock so split that the interior formed a room +with a smooth flooring, and a sort of ceiling which had a small opening +which admitted the light. He was anxious to know whether this was the +natural formation of the rock, or whether it was not the effect of an +earthquake; and, after having recited the seven penitential psalms, +he begged God to grant him information on this head. An angel acquainted +him, in an apparition, that this had happened at the death of Jesus +Christ, when the earth shook and the rocks were rent asunder. This +circumstance gave Mount Alvernia additional value in the eyes of the +servant of Jesus Christ crucified. He never afterwards saw these +openings without thinking of the sufferings his Divine Master endured +on the cross, and without wishing that his feelings of compassion might +break his heart. In the opinion of the holy Fathers, the rocks which +were rent when Jesus Christ expired were reproaches to the Jews for +the hardness of their hearts, and this reproach falls equally on +Christians who are insensible to His sufferings. + +We can have no difficulty in thinking, with Cardinal Baronius, that +the rocks on Mount Alvernia were split at the death of our Saviour, +since the earthquake was universal, according to the opinions of +Eusebius, St. Jerome, and many others, and even according to the +testimony of pagan authors. + +It is also very credible that the Son of God has manifested to His +special servants, some of the effects of this motion of the earth, in +order to impress more vividly on their minds the remembrance of His +Passion; and may we not think that the Lord, who is the beholder of +all ages, as the wise man says, and who had selected Mount Alvernia +as the place in which He would do His Servant Francis the favor of +imprinting the stigmata on him, as we shall see further on, was pleased +to give this mountain some resemblance to that of Calvary, where St. +Cyril of Jerusalem assures us, that in his time the rents caused by +the earthquake were seen? + +Among the masses of rock on Mount Alvernia, there is one much more +elevated and much larger than the rest, and which is separated from +them by precipices, to which there is no access but by throwing a +bridge across. There, as in an insulated citadel, a celebrated brigand +had his stronghold, who was called the Wolf, on account of the plunder +and murders he committed in the surrounding country, either by himself, +or by the gang of which he was the chief. He often, also, by means of +a flying bridge, confined travellers in this place, whom he had +surprised on the high-roads, and whom he detained till their ransom +was paid. The establishment of Francis and his brethren displeased him +greatly: people of that sort do not like having neighbors. He gave +them several times notice to begone, and he threatened them should +they not obey. Their great poverty gave them nothing to fear from +thieves, but there was just cause for apprehending that the murderer +might massacre them all. Divine Providence, however, saved them by a +change which might well be called the work of the Most High. The villain +came one day determined upon expelling them, and used the most atrocious +language to them. Francis received him with so much mildness, listened +to him with so much patience, and induced him by degrees to hear reason, +so that his anger entirely fell, and he not only consented to their +remaining, but he begged that they would admit him into their poor +dwelling. He witnessed during several days their angelic mode of life, +and he became so changed, that he determined upon adopting a similar +plan. The Saint perceiving that from a ravenous wolf he was become a +gentle lamb, gave him the habit of the Order, and the name of Brother +Agnello, under which he expiated his crimes by religious penance, of +which he rigidly fulfilled all the duties. This fact was of such +notoriety, that the rock to which he used to retire has always been +called since, and is still known, by the name of Brother Wolf's prison. + +All things being put in order at Mount Alvernia, he left it to go to +Rome. He passed through Monte Casale, Fabriano, Osimo, Ancona, Macerata, +Ascoli, Camerino, and many other places, preaching in all the truths +of salvation, gaining disciples, founding houses for his Order, +prophesying and working miracles; we shall only put on record here the +most remarkable, and those that are most edifying. + +God favored him, as He had done St. Ambrose, with power of discovering +relics which were hidden. He knew by revelation that there were some +in a certain church in which he had prayed, and some business calling +him away from thence, he communicated the circumstance to his brethren, +desiring them to take them from thence and place them in a more suitable +situation; but they either through forgetfulness or neglect did not +do so. One day as they were preparing the altar for Mass, they found +under the altar-cloth some beautiful bones, from which a sweet perfumed +smell issued, and they immediately recollected that these were the +relics of which their Father had spoken. At his return he inquired +whether they had been disinterred, and the religious, having told him +exactly what had occurred, he said: "Blessed be the Lord, my God, who, +of His goodness, has done what you ought to have done out of obedience;" +but he imposed a penance upon them in expiation of their fault. At the +Monastery of Monte Maggiore, a joy and interior consolation which he +felt on entering the church, made him sensible that the high altar +contained something which had been used by the Blessed Virgin. He spoke +of it to the religious, who searched closely, and found that it was +true. In ecclesiastical history we find that God had often caused the +relics of His saints to be discovered, in order to do them honor, and +the Holy Fathers have taught the faithful to venerate them and to +preserve them with great care. + +While he was preaching at Fabriano in the middle of the market-place, +some workmen who were employed at a palace made so much noise, that +it prevented his being heard. Having entreated them to be quiet for +a short time, to which they paid no attention, he said that the work +of those who were building the house would be of no use, because the +Lord did not build it, but that it would soon fall; however, that +neither man nor beast would be injured by it; and this happened but +a few days after it had been finished, as he had foretold. He assured +the people at the same town, that at a place called the Poor Valley, +his brethren, who were poor, would some day have a habitation. And, +in fact, in the year 1292, the town of Fabriano placed Friars Minor +there. + +Among the most considerable establishments which he placed on his +route, was that of St. Mary of the Stony Valley, so called from its +being situated in a very rocky valley, between two mountains, four +miles distant from Fabriano. It was a church dedicated to the Blessed +Virgin, with a monastery, which the Religious of St. Benedict had +abandoned in order to take refuge in the town, on account of the wars, +and it is one of the most beautiful solitudes of all Italy. Devotion +to the Mother of God, and the love of retreat, had induced Francis to +ask for this place; and it was given him by those who were its +proprietors. The first time he went there, he lost his way, with his +companion, and asked a ploughman to take him to the valley. "What," +says the man, "shall I leave my plough and lose my time, to serve you?" +However, he took him to the place, mollified by Francis' mildness, and +by his promising him that he should be no loser by so doing: on +returning, after receiving the Father's blessing, he found his field +quite ploughed. + +Some workmen who were employed repairing a house which had been given +him, at a place called Trabe Bonata, being very tired, asked him to +give them some wine. He sent two of his brethren to procure some in +a neighboring village, from some charitable benefactor; but the workmen +being very urgent, out of compassion for them he went to a spring, +made the sign of the cross over it, and in an instant, instead of +water, wine issued from it, which flowed for a whole hour. Those who +drank of it published in all places the miraculous effect of the Saint's +charity. + +In a parish called La Citta, he was very well received by the curate, +whose name was Raniero, with whom he became very intimate, so that he +was in the habit of visiting him, and going to confession to him. One +day after confession he gave him, in a very humble manner, notice, +that he, the curate, would become one of his brethren, because they +had become too closely united to live different kinds of lives: "But," +he said, "this will not happen till after my death." The event verified +the prediction: as soon as the curate learnt that his friend Francis +shone by an infinity of miracles, and was just canonized, he entered +the Order of Friars Minor, and adhered to the rules with great +regularity. + +The holy man coming to Osimo, was greeted, notwithstanding his great +humility, and brought into the town, with great honors. The next day +he preached on the vanity of the world, in so persuasive a strain, +that all his hearers, penetrated with compunction, turned their thoughts +seriously to their reformation, and thirty young men entered his +Institute. + +On the same journey, he and his companions lodged at the house of a +gentleman, the greatness of whose soul equalled the antiquity of his +nobility, and whose politeness was joined to piety. The welcome he +received there was followed by this open-hearted proffer: "Man of God," +he said, "I place my person at your disposal, and all that I possess, +all is yours, do as you please with it; if you want clothing, or a +cloak, or books, or whatever it may be, take it, and I will pay for +it. Be assured that I am wholly at your service. God has given me +wealth; I have wherewithal to assist the poor, and it is but just that +I do not fail in so doing." + +Francis merely at the time contented himself with making those grateful +acknowledgments which so handsome and obliging an offer required; but +when he left him, he could not refrain from admiring the generosity +of this gentleman, and he said to his companion: "Indeed, brother, he +would be an excellent subject for our Order; he is humbly thankful for +what he has received from God; he loves his neighbor very sincerely; +he gives willingly to the poor; and he exercises hospitality from his +heart; he is extremely affable and polite; and politeness is sister +to charity; it puts down contention and promotes concord; he is +naturally benevolent; and this feeling is highly pleasing to our Father +who is in Heaven, who causes the sun to rise on the good and on the +wicked. So many excellent qualities which I see in this young man, +make me wish to have him to be one of us, and I should admit him with +pleasure. We must pay him another visit, and exhort him to devote +himself to the service of God; perhaps the Holy Ghost may incline him +to do so; meanwhile let us implore the Lord to grant our wish, if He +judges it right." In fact, they did pray for this purpose. + +Some days afterwards they returned to this person's house, who had the +curiosity to watch what Francis did in the night; he saw him in prayer, +and in an ecstasy raised from the ground, and surrounded by a splendid +light, and he felt interiorly a certain celestial fire, which inspired +him with an ardent desire to imitate his mode of life. In the morning, +he communicated his feelings to the Saint, who was already made aware +of them by revelation, and who thanked the Giver of all good gifts for +them. The postulant gave all he had to the poor, took the habit of a +Friar Minor, and lived holily; preserving always the same affable and +polite manners, with which he received the guests of the convents in +which he resided. This endeared him still more to the Patriarch, who +was very zealous in the exercise of hospitality. The duties of +hospitality, lauded by the pagans, taught by the Gospel, enforced by +the Apostles, and all the Holy Fathers, are exercised in the Order of +St. Francis with so much the more care as, being totally dependent on +charity, they consider themselves bound to give all in the same manner, +and they apply to themselves these words of the Son of God to the +Apostles, on the gift of miracles: "Freely you have received, freely +give." This is what draws down the blessing of God, and which makes +so many houses subsist, without any revenue, by the charity of the +faithful. + +The holy Patriarch of the Friars Minor arrived at Rome when everything +was preparing for the opening of the Twelfth Ecumenical Council, the +4th of Lateran, one of the most numerous ever held in the Church. +Innocent III had convoked it for the extinction of heresies, for the +reformation of morals, for regulating the discipline of the Church, +and for the recovery of the Holy Land by the union of the Christian +princes. + +Francis came to Rome to induce the Sovereign Pontiff to give a public +approval to the Rule of his Order, which was of the highest importance +in order that the prelates might have it in their power to distinguish +the poor of Jesus Christ, true children of the Church, from certain +sectaries of those times who affected, as has been already said, to +bear the marks of Apostolic poverty. + +What the Servant of God required was put in force; the Pope declared +before all the Fathers of the Council, that he approved the Order and +the Rule of St. Francis, although he had hitherto issued no bull. This +is a fact which is related by the companions of the Saint who wrote +his life, and by two authors of the Order of St. Dominic, Jordan of +Saxony, a disciple of that blessed Patriarch, and St. Antoninus. +Moreover, in order to avoid too great a variety of religious orders, +the council prohibited the formation of any new ones, and directed +that the existing ones should be considered sufficient. Yet it is clear +that the Pope could not, in this instance, avoid making known the +approbation he had given to an Order so new and peculiar as was that +of the Friars Minor, which in the last five years, had spread over +Italy, and was established in Rome. + +The holy friendship which was subsequently formed between St. Dominic +and St. Francis, renders it proper that we should here record that St. +Dominic came also to this Lateran Council, together with Fulke, Bishop +of Toulouse, in order to propose to the pope an intention he had of +instituting an order of preachers, and that the Pope had seen in a +dream St. Dominic supporting the Lateran Church, which was falling, +in the same way as he had seen Francis supporting it five years before. +He praised his undertaking, but told him, according to the decree of +the council, to return with his brethren, and prepare a rule for the +guidance of the order, and then come back to have the order confirmed, +which the holy patriarch complied with. + +The Council of Lateran having terminated its labors, Francis left Rome +at the beginning of December to return to St. Mary of the Angels. + +When he had reached his convent, Clare, who, being very humble, had +accepted only through obedience the quality of Abbess of St. Damian, +wished to lay it down into his hands, to which he would by no means +assent, because he knew that by the disposition of Divine Providence, +she was to form the disciples who were to establish his Order in various +places, from whence it was to spread throughout the Church. + +Clare had admitted many virgins during the three years she had presided +over St. Damian, among whom were some of her own relatives. Beatrice, +the youngest of her sisters, came a short time afterwards; and +Hortolona, her mother, as soon as she became a widow, decided upon +consecrating herself to God, with her three daughters, in the same +monastery, where miracles testified to the holiness of her life. +Finally, the virtues of Clare were so resplendent, and the miracles +which it pleased the Almighty to work by her means, threw so much +splendor around her, that, according to the remark of Pope Alexander +IV, in the bull of her canonization, the truth of the prediction which +was made to her mother, was clearly seen:--"That she would give to the +world a light which would even enlighten the world." The sequel of the +life of the Father will afford further opportunity for speaking of the +daughter. + +The Benedictines of Mount Soubazo, in this year, gave the holy Patriarch +a convent on this very mountain, two miles from Assisi. It has been +called the prison of St. Francis, because he often shut himself up +there in contemplation after his Apostolical labors. His oratory is +still there, also: his cell, the stone and the wood which served him +for bed and pillow, and a copious spring which, by his intercession, +he obtained from God. + +From the beginning of the following year, 1216, to the 30th of May, +the Festival of Whitsuntide, the day on which the general chapter was +held, which was the first of the Order, he had as much leisure as he +could desire for conversing with God, for giving instruction to his +brethren at St. Mary of the Angels, and to the Town of Assisi and its +environs. In the assembly, provincial ministers were appointed, to +whom power was given for admitting postulants into the Order; which +the Founder had previously reserved to himself. One whose name does +not appear, was sent into Apulia, and John de Strachia was sent into +Lombardy; Benedict of Arezzo, into the Marches of Ancona; Daniel the +Tuscan, into Calabria; Augustin of Assisi, into the Terra di Lavoro; +Elias of Cortona, into Tuscany. Evangelical laborers were chosen for +different nations. Bernard de Quintavalle, for Spain; John Bonella, +a Florentine, with thirty companions, for Provence; John de Penna, and +sixty of his brethren, for Upper and Lower Germany; Francis took for +his share Paris and what is properly called France and the Low +Countries. + +The Apostolic laborers being all assembled at the feet of their Father, +to receive his orders, he addressed them with paternal tenderness, in +the following discourse:-- + +"In the name of the Lord, go forth modestly, two and two, observing +strict silence from the morning till after the hour of Tierce, praying +to God from your hearts. Let no idle or useless words be heard among +you; although you are travelling, your deportment should be as humble +and as decorous as if you were in a hermitage, or in your cells. For +wherever we are, and, whithersoever we may be going, we have always +our vocation with us; our brother, the body, is our cell, and the soul +is the hermit, who dwells in it to think of God and to pray to Him. +If a religious soul does not dwell quietly in the cell of the body, +the external cells will be of little use to him. Behave, then, in such +manner in the world, that whosoever may see or hear you, may be moved +to devotion, and praise our Heavenly Father to whom alone all glory +belongs. Proclaim peace to all men, but have it in your hearts, as +well as in your mouths. Give to no one cause for anger, nor for scandal; +on the contrary, by your own mildness, induce every one to feel +benignly, and draw them to union and to concord. We are called to heal +the wounded, console the afflicted, and to bring back those who err; +many may seem to you to be members of the devil, who will one day be +disciples of Jesus Christ." What Francis said of the inutility of +exterior cells, where the soul is not at ease in the cell of the body, +is in conformity to these words of St. Bernard:--"You may be alone +when you are in the midst of the world, as it may so happen that you +may be in the midst of the world when you are alone." + +The children of the holy Patriarch received his blessing; and having +recommended themselves to the prayers of their companions, they set +out for those places to which obedience sent them. The success of the +several labors will be adverted to further on. The missionaries for +Provence remained some days after the breaking up of the chapter, to +receive further instructions relative to their mission. The day of +their departure, there were only three loaves of bread in the convent, +two of which had been sent there by Clare; these were found sufficient +for more than thirty who were present, and there was a great deal to +spare, a circumstance which was considered to be a good omen. + +Francis, having animated all the others by his zeal, prepared himself +for setting out for Paris. Besides the natural affection he had for +France, of which he liked the language, as it was familiar to him, he +chose this city preferably to many others, because he knew that their +devotion was great towards the blessed sacrament, and this was a great +attraction for his piety. + +May the Parisians ever entertain and transmit to their posterity this +fervent devotion of their ancestors, which Pope Urban IV., who was a +native of France, stirred up in the hearts of the faithful forty-six +years afterwards, by the institution of the Feast of the Most Holy +Sacrament, which is celebrated throughout the Church, with so much +solemnity. The bull which he issued on this occasion, enters into the +strongest and most moving arguments calculated to inspire veneration, +love, and the zeal which the precious memorial of the goodness of the +Son of God calls for, and to invite to a frequent and worthy +participation in the divine mystery, which the Council of Trent has +since expressed its anxiety to see reestablished. + +Before his departure, Francis undertook to reconcile the members of +the illustrious family of the Baselennesi, a long time disunited by +unhappy family dissensions, and he succeeded to the satisfaction of +all parties. Out of gratitude they had built for him, on one of their +estates on a spot near the Tiber, surrounded with very beautiful trees, +a convent called St. Angel of Pantanellis. + +He chose to go once more to Rome to recommend to the holy Apostles his +journey to France. On the road, having seated himself close to a spring +to take his meal, he put some pieces of bread, which had been given +to him on his quest, and which were very hard and mouldy, on a stone +near him; he expressed much satisfaction, and he pressed his companion +Masse to give thanks to God for so great a treasure; and he repeated +several times the same thing, elevating his voice more and more. "But +of what treasure are you talking" said Masse, "at a time when we are +in want of many things?" "The great treasure is," replied Francis, +"that, being in want of so much, God has had the goodness to furnish +us by His providence with that bread and this spring, and to find us +this stone to serve as a table." + +He went shortly after into a church, where he prayed to God to give +him and his children the love of holy poverty; and his prayer was so +fervent that fire seemed to issue from his countenance. Full of this +celestial ardor, he went towards Masse with open arms, calling him by +name with a loud voice; Masse, in great astonishment, going to throw +himself into the arms of his Father, was raised into the air several +cubits high, and felt such sweetness in his soul, that he frequently +afterwards declared that he had never experienced anything like it. +After this ecstasy, Francis spoke to him on the subject of poverty in +an admirable strain. + +When at Rome, in a chapel of the Church of St. Peter, while he was +praying with tears that the holy Apostles would give him instructions +on the subject of holy poverty and of an Apostolic life, they appeared +to him surrounded by lights, and, after tenderly embracing him, said: +"Brother Francis, our Lord Jesus Christ has sent us to tell you that +He has favorably heard your prayers and tears on the subject of holy +poverty, which He Himself had followed, as well as His Blessed Mother, +and we, who are His Apostles, after his example. This treasure is +granted to you for yourself and for your children; those who shall +carefully adhere to it, will have the kingdom of heaven for their +reward." The Servant of God, filled with consolation, went to his +companion Masse, to whom he communicated what had passed, and they +went together to give thanks at the place which is called the Confession +of St. Peter, which is his tomb. + +While Francis was at Rome, Pope Innocent III died at Perugia. He was +of the illustrious house of the Counts of Segni, which has given five +popes to the Church, the last of whom was Innocent XIII, of blessed +memory. It was at the University of Paris that his merit was first +noticed; he shone there above the many who were its honor and its +ornament. It was his rare and transcendent qualities which induced the +cardinals unanimously to elect him to the pontificate; and these +qualities shone with additional splendor when his humility urged his +resistance to the election, from which he prayed with unaffected tears +to be released. His government and the works he has left to posterity, +show, that he had great genius, great science, prudence, and probity, +with solid piety, and ardent zeal. "He was," says a French contemporary +writer "a man of great courage and great wisdom, who had no equal in +his day, and who did marvellous things." He was indeed one of the most +eminent men who have filled the chair of St. Peter. The affection he +bore to Francis, and the favors he conferred on his Order, have +compelled us to do this justice here to his memory. + +On the 18th of July, they elected for his successor Cardinal Savelli, +who took the name of Honorius III. He was a learned and worthy man. +He generally followed the designs of his predecessor, and had a similar +affection for the religious orders, of which he gave substantial proofs +in the favors he bestowed on that of St. Francis. + +Some months after his election, he gave his approval of the Order of +St. Dominic. This holy patriarch having returned to his companions to +fix upon a rule, as had been recommended to him by Pope Innocent at +the Lateran Council, and having adopted the rule of St. Augustine, to +which he had added some more austere regulations, came back to Rome +to procure the approval of the Holy See. While he solicited it from +Honorius, who had arrived from Perugia, he made acquaintance and +contracted an intimacy with Francis, in consequence of a miraculous +vision which he had in the Church of St. Peter, where he prayed +unceasingly with great fervor for the success of his enterprise. + +He saw the Son of God seated on the right hand of His Father, who rose +up greatly irritated against sinners, holding three darts in His hand, +for the extirpation of the proud, the avaricious, and the voluptuous. +His holy Mother threw herself at His feet, and prayed for mercy, saying +that she had persons who would remedy the evil; and she at the same +time introduced to Him Dominic and Francis, as being proper persons +for reforming the world, and reestablishing piety; this pacified Jesus +Christ. + +Dominic, who had never seen Francis, met him next day, recognized him, +ran to him and embraced him, saying: "You are my companion; we will +work in concert with each other; let us be strictly united, and no one +will be able to master us." Francis himself communicated this favor +of Heaven to the children of Dominic: and St. Vincent Ferrer, and some +other authors quoted by Wading, say that Francis had received a similar +favor from Heaven. The event proved the truth of the Vision. Dominic +alone, without any human aid, having nothing to command success but +poverty, humility, and prayer, obtained the approbation of his order, +which was an affair of great difficulty, particularly at the +commencement of a Pontificate, when the Pope is occupied by most +important affairs. + +We may here notice the groundwork of the ardent zeal of the Friars +Preachers and the Friars Minor for the glory of the Mother of God. +Persuaded that their orders were established under her protection, and +that she is especially the mother of their holy patriarchs, they strive +by every means in their power to restore the devout veneration due to +her. It is the common interest of all the faithful who see that she +is, according to the expression of the Holy Fathers, their advocate +and their mediatrix; that she prays and solicits for them; that she +interposes between them and the wrath of her Son, and appeases Him: +this affords great room for confidence in her, and should induce them +to invoke her for their conversion and sanctification. + +Dominic and Francis, confident of the protection of the Blessed Virgin, +entered into a strict friendship and resolved to spare no pains in +their exertions for the glory of God, and concerted together as to the +best means for attaining their object. Upon which an author quoted by +Wading, makes a most appropriate reflection: "It was," he says, +"something admirable to see two men, who were poor, badly clad, without +power or interest despicable in the eyes of the world, divide between +them the world itself, and undertake to conquer it. Who would not have +turned their plans into ridicule hearing them seriously consult together +on such an undertaking, since they seemed to have so little means of +carrying them into execution? Nevertheless, they succeeded; because +God selected by their means to confound what is strong." They resembled +St. Peter and St. Paul, proposing to themselves, in the same City of +Rome, to convert the universe by the preaching of the Gospel; this +shows that God made use of means for reanimating the faith, similar +to those which He had employed to establish it. + +It is reported, that while Dominic and Francis were still at Rome, +Angelus, of the Order of the Carmelites, who was afterwards martyred +in Sicily, was also there; that, preaching in the Church of St. John +Lateran, where the two others were among the hearers, he foretold that +they would become two great pillars of the Church; that when the sermon +was finished, they foretold to one another what would happen to each +of them, and even that Francis would receive the stigmata; then the +three together cured a man afflicted with leprosy, and passed a day +and a night together in prayer and conversing on holy subjects. + +Francis left Rome at the end of the year, intending to continue his +journey into France. He passed through Sienna and by Mount Alvernia +and arrived at Florence in the month of January, 1217, to pay his +dutiful respects to Cardinal Ugolino, who was Papal Legate there. This +cardinal, who had declared himself his protector and his friend, when +he went to request the approbation of his rule from Pope Innocent III., +in 1210, received him with great kindness, detained him some days, +inquired into the affairs of his Order, and said to him on the subject +of his journey: "Francis, your Order is still in its infancy. You know +the opposition it met with in Rome, and you have still there some +secret enemies; if there is not some one there to watch over your +interests, it will be an easy matter to cause all you have obtained +to be revoked. Your presence will go a great way in upholding your +work, and those who are attached to you will have a greater stimulus +for giving you their support. As to myself, I am from this moment +wholly yours." + +The holy man, after having thanked the cardinal, replied: "I have sent +many of my brethren into far distant countries. If I remain quietly +in our convent, without taking any share in their labors, it will be +a great shame for me; and these poor religious, who are suffering +hunger and thirst, will have great reason to murmur and complain; but +instead of that, if they find that I work as much as they do, they +will bear their fatigues more willingly, and I shall more easily +persuade them to undertake similar missions." + +The cardinal, feeling for the sufferings of these missionaries, said: +"But why, brother, have you the harshness to expose your disciples to +such arduous journeying and to so much suffering?" "My Lord," replied +Francis, who was urged by a prophetic spirit, "you think that God has +sanctioned the Institute for this country only; but I tell you that +He has formed it for the good of the universe, and for the salvation +of all men, without excluding the infidels: for religious of this Order +will go into their territories; and provided they live in conformity +to the Gospel, God will provide amply for all their wants, even among +the enemies of His name." + +These words made a great impression on the cardinal, who was a very +holy man, and increased his affection for Francis, whom he again +exhorted in stronger language than before, to remain in Italy to +consolidate an Institute which was to have such beneficial results. +The Saint having yielded to the reasoning of the cardinal, entreated +him to be the protector of the Friars Minor, according to his promise, +and to be so good as to be present at the next general chapter; after +which he took the road to the Valley of Spoleto. + +There he learnt that some of his brethren had been seriously ill-treated +by several prelates, and that at the court of Rome there were persons +who spoke against his Order. This news confirmed him in the resolution +he had taken to remain in Italy; and he named three of his disciples +for the French mission, to wit: Pacificus of the Marches of Ancona, +the celebrated poet, whose conversion we have related; Angelus, and +Albert, both of Pisa. + +He likewise intended to request the Pope to nominate a cardinal of the +Holy Roman Church, to protect his Order against all who should attack +it. Three of his companions, the writers of his life, say, that he was +induced to this by a celestial vision in his sleep. He saw a hen +endeavoring to gather all her chickens under her wings, to protect +them from a hawk; she could not cover them all, and many were about +to become its prey; but another large bird appeared, spread its wings +over them, and preserved them from the danger. On awaking, Francis +prayed our Lord to explain to him the meaning of this, and he learnt +that the hen represented himself, and the chickens were his disciples, +that the bird with the large wings represented the cardinal, whom they +were to solicit for their protector. He told all this to his brethren, +and addressed them as follows:-- + +"The Roman Church is the mother of all the churches, and the sovereign +of all religious orders. It is to her that I shall address myself to +recommend to her my brethren, in order that her authority may silence +those who are hostile to them, and that she may procure for the children +of God full and perfect liberty to advance quietly in the way of eternal +salvation; for when they shall be under her protection, there will be +no more enemies to oppose them, nor disturb them; there will not be +seen among them any son of Belial to ravage with impunity the vineyard +of the Lord. The holy Church will be zealous for the glory of our +poverty; she will not suffer that the humility which is so honorable +to her, shall be obscured by the clouds of pride. It is she who will +render indissoluble among us, the bonds of charity and peace, rigorously +punishing the authors of dissensions. Under her eyes, the holy +evangelical observance will ever flourish in its pristine purity; she +will never permit these holy practices to flag even momentarily, those +practices which shed around them a vivifying light. May the children, +then, of that holy Church be very grateful for the great favors which +they receive from their mother; let them kiss her feet with profound +veneration, and remain forever inviolably attached to her." + +The first words of this discourse show that St. Francis was perfectly +cognizant of the prerogatives of the Church of Rome, and of the extent +of the authority of the Holy See. It was not in vain that he sought +her protection, since his Order was established, extended, supported, +and sometimes even renovated under this powerful authority; and the +attachment to the Holy See, which he so strongly recommended to his +brethren, has been so visibly manifested during five centuries, that +it has procured for them the esteem and love of all Catholics, as well +as the hatred of the heretics, so that they have the honor of having +some share in the eulogiums which St. Jerome passed on St. Augustine: +"The Catholics esteem and respect you, and, what enhances your glory, +all the heretics detest you. They hold me in equal hatred; and if they +durst not put both the one and the other of us to death, they have at +least the wish to do so." This wish of the heretics has not been without +effect as regards the children of St. Francis, for of a thousand martyrs +which they reckon in his Order, a very great number of them were put +to death with greater cruelty in this and latter times by the sectarians +than by idolatrous tyrants. Heresy will be ever so, the daughter of +a parent, who, according to the words of Jesus Christ, was a murderer +from the beginning. + +The holy Patriarch went then to Rome, where he found Cardinal Ugolino, +who was returned from Tuscany, to whom he communicated the intention +he had of soliciting the pope for a protector. The cardinal at the +same time expressed his wish to hear him preach before the pope and +the sacred college. Francis excused himself from this as much as he +could, assigning for reasons, his ignorance, his simplicity, and his +uncultivated mind, which unfitted him for speaking in the most august +assembly in the world. But he was obliged to yield to the pressing +instances of the cardinal, who entreated him as a friend to comply, +and even ordered him to prepare himself for the task, recommending him +to compose carefully a sermon wherein there should be as much erudition +and reasoning as such an audience required. + +Up to that time, the Servant of God had never prepared himself for +preaching; he only spoke from the pulpit what the Holy Ghost inspired. +Nevertheless, he, in this instance, obeyed the cardinal; he prepared +a sermon as carefully as he could, and learned it by heart. When he +came into the presence of the Pope, he forgot every part of the +discourse, and could not utter a syllable of it. But after having +humbly explained the circumstance, and implored the aid of the Holy +Ghost, words flowed copiously from his mouth, and he spoke with so +much eloquence and animation, that the Pope and cardinal were deeply +affected. + +Having been admitted to an audience of the Pope in presence of Cardinal +Ugolino, he said: "Most Holy Father, I am not in fear of becoming +importunate for the interests of your lowly servants, the Friars Minor, +while you are occupied with so many important affairs which regard the +whole Church. I entreat you to give us this cardinal, to whom we may +have recourse in our wants, always under your sanction, since it is +from you, the Head of the mystical Body, that all power emanates." The +Pope granted his request with alacrity, and recommended the cardinal +to take great care of the Order. From that time, the Orders of Friars +Minor have always had a cardinal protector, whose powers are extended +as the Pope shall see fit; the terms of the Rule, which oblige the +Order by obedience to apply for one, show, that it was the intention +of Francis, that his powers should be most ample. + +Cardinal Ugolino was one of the most accomplished men of the City of +Rome; his person well made, his countenance mild and majestic, his +genius quick, with great memory and eloquence, possessing in perfection +all human sciences, civil and canon-law, and particularly the Holy +Scriptures; he was very expert in all public business; a lover of +virtue and order, and of a pure and exemplary life. + +His first care in undertaking the office of protector, which he did +willingly, was, to defend the Friars against all those who attacked +them, to conciliate the prelates in their favor and to spread them +into all parts for the salvation of souls; his great authority silenced +their enemies. As often as his affairs admitted of it, he assisted at +their general chapters; then he officiated pontifically. Francis acted +as his deacon, and preached. He conformed to the rule of the Institute +as much as was in his power, and was, when with them, as one of +themselves, and even endeavored to appear as the lowest among them. + +A contemporary author, who was an ocular witness, expresses himself +thus: "O how often has he been seen humbly to divest himself of the +marks of his high dignity; put on the poor habit, and, with bare feet, +join the religious in the regular exercises, in order to imitate their +evangelical life!" A lively and enlightened faith, a solid and fervent +piety, and a superior mind, convinced him that since the time of the +abasement of the Son of God, humiliation is honorable, and adds to the +splendor of the highest dignities; a truth which is not understood by +persons of little faith, by the proud, the indevout, and those of +little mind. + +This great cardinal respected Francis as much as he loved him; looking +upon him as a man sent down from heaven. His presence was a source of +pleasure to him, and he often admitted, as the above-quoted author +states, that from the time he had made acquaintance with this holy +man, as soon as he saw him and heard him speak, all that caused in him +uneasiness of mind, or grief at heart was dispelled; his countenance +became serene, and his soul was filled with fervor. + +Francis, on his side, had great veneration for the cardinal. He insisted +on his brethren considering him as the Pastor of the Flock, and, with +an attachment as tender as that of an infant for its mother's breast, +he gave him in all things marks of the profoundest deference. One day, +hearing that he was about to receive a visit from him he ran away and +hid himself in the thickest part of the wood. The cardinal had him +sought for, and went himself in search for him. Having found him he +asked Francis as his friend to tell why he avoided him. "My Lord and +my Father," answered the humble Francis, "as soon as I knew that your +Grandeur intended to honor me with your presence, me who am the poorest +and the most despicable of men, I was covered with confusion, and I +blushed at the thought of my baseness, finding myself wholly unworthy +to receive so distinguished an honor, for I truly revere you as my +Lord and my Father." These feelings were partly owing to a vision he +had, which revealed to him that this cardinal would be Pope; he foretold +it to him,--this is recorded by St. Bonaventure; and in the private +letters which he wrote to him, he put on the heading: To my Reverend +Father and Lord Ugolino, who is one day to be the Bishop of the whole +world, and the Father of all nations. + +The respectful gratitude of the Friars Minor required that we should +insert all these anecdotes in memory of Cardinal Ugolino, who honored +the holy Patriarch of his Order, as well as that of St. Clare, with +his affection, his protection, and his liberality, and who surpassed +all his former favors ten years afterwards, when he was Pope under the +name of Gregory IX. + +When Francis had obtained from the Pope so powerful a protector, and +had put his various affairs in order, he set out on his return to St. +Mary of the Angels, but he spent the remainder of the year in the +Valley of Rieti, where he performed many wonderful things, of which +one of his companions has given a very ample account. + +At Grecio, or Grecchia, a very dissolute town in which he first +preached, no one frequented the Sacraments; no one listened to the +Word of God, and marriages within the prohibited degrees were of +ordinary occurrence.--By word and example he urged them to repentance +and made such an impression that they entreated him to make some +brothers stay among them. He willingly agreed to do so, in the hope +of their conversion, which took place in a short time; meanwhile he +retired to a mountain, from whence he came to Grecio and other places +to preach. + +On returning one day from Cotanello, a neighboring town, and not being +able to find the way to the mountain, he asked a farmer to be his +guide. This man excusing himself, saying that there were wolves in +that direction that committed great havoc, Francis promised him, and +pledged himself as his surety, that he should not be attacked by any +wolf either in going or coming back; he found that the Saint was +correct, for, in returning, two wolves which were in the way, played +with him as dogs do, and followed him to his house without doing him +any harm. The farmer reported this over all his neighborhood, and said +that, assuredly, the man to whom he had served as guide, must be a +great favorite with God, who gave him such absolute command over the +wolves. Upon this they assembled in great numbers, and came to the Man +of God, entreating him to deliver them from their calamities. + +"Two sorts of calamities bore hard upon them," says St. Bonaventure, +"wolves and hail." The wolves were so ravenous in the environs of +Grecio, that they devoured both cattle and men; and the hail fell every +year in such quantity and of such large size, that their crops of corn +were destroyed, and their vineyards sorely damaged. Francis preached +on this subject, and pointed out to them that scourges of this nature +were the punishment of sin; and he ended by saying: "For the honor and +for the glory of God, I pledge my word to you, that if you choose to +give credit to what I say, and have pity on your own souls, by making +a good confession, and showing worthy fruits of repentance, God will +look upon you with a favorable eye; will deliver you from your +calamities, and render your country abundant in all sorts of good +things. But I also declare to you that if you are ungrateful for these +benefits, if, like the dog, you return to the vomit, God will be still +more irritated against you, and you will feel the effects thereof +twofold by the fresh afflictions He will then send." They believed the +preacher, and did penance; from that moment the scourges ceased; nothing +more was heard of wolves, and there was no more hail; and, what seemed +most remarkable, continues St. Bonaventure, was, that when it hailed +in the vicinity, the cloud, on nearing their lands, either stopped or +went off in another direction. This lasted as long as those people +remained faithful to God. + +Four authors, in different centuries, who have written the history of +the Valley of Rieti, assure us, that when dissoluteness recommenced +in that country, the wolves returned and made great havoc. Wading, who +wrote in Italy in the 17th century, says, that the inhabitants of the +valley admitted this to be the case. It is certain by the testimony +of the Holy Scriptures, that the sins of the people call down not +unfrequently the scourges of the wrath of God, which may be averted +by repentance, or be rendered useful to salvation. But how many +afflicted sinners are there, of whom it may be said with the prophet: +"O Lord, Thou hast struck them, and they have not grieved; Thou hast +bruised them, and they have refused to receive correction; they have +made their faces harder than the rock, and they have refused to return." + +A knight, whose name was John Velita, who was converted by the preaching +of Francis, became his intimate friend, and used often to go to see +him and consult him in his hut, which was made of the branches of two +large hornbeams intertwined. As he was an elderly man, and very +corpulent, whom the steepness of the road greatly fatigued, he begged +Francis to come nearer to the town: this would be agreeable to all, +and he offered to build him a convent on any spot he should select. +The Servant of God assented to the proposal, and, smiling, promised +the knight not to settle farther from the town than the distance to +which a child could throw a lighted brand. Upon this they went together +down the mountain, and when they reached the gates of Grecio, the +knight sent the first child he met to fetch a lighted brand, and desired +him to throw it as far as he could, not thinking he could throw it +very far. But the child, with a strength surpassing that of men, threw +the brand to a distance of more than a mile, and it fell on a hill +belonging to the knight, and set fire to the wood which covered it, +and lit at length on a very stony spot. This prodigy made it clear +that God desired that a convent should be built there, and it was cut +out of the rock. The oratory, the dormitory, and the refectory, which +are still extant, on the ground floor, are only thirty feet long by +six broad; precious remains, which show us the love of poverty which +planned them. + +The Saint founded three other establishments in the Valley of Rieti, +at St. Mary of the Woods, at Monte Raniero, or Monte Columba, and at +Pui Buscone. These four houses, which are situated on eminences on the +four sides of the valley, formed together a cross. In each of them, +as in the Town of Rieti, and all around the lake which surrounds it, +traces are shown of several miracles which were performed by the man +of God. + +He returned to St. Mary of the Angels in the Month of January, 1218, +and he determined upon convoking a general chapter, which he proclaimed +by circular letters, to be held on Whitsuntide of the year 1219, in +order that he might be made acquainted with the state of the missions +intrusted to his disciples, and that he might send missionaries into +parts where there had hitherto been none. + +While he was thus occupied by his important projects for the salvation +of souls, God, in order to prevent any emotions of pride stealing into +his heart, and to maintain in him a profound humility, was pleased to +permit that he should be attacked by a violent temptation; it was an +extraordinary depression of spirits, which lasted several days. He +made every effort to surmount it by his prayers and his tears; and one +day when he was praying with more than ordinary fervor, a celestial +voice said to him: "Francis, if thou hadst the faith of a grain of +mustard-seed, and thou wert to say to this mountain, go thither from +hence, it would go." Not understanding the meaning of these words, he +asked "what is the mountain"; and he was answered: "The mountain is +the temptation." He immediately replied, weeping and humbling himself: +"Lord, Thy will be done." And from that moment the temptation ceased, +and his mind became perfectly at ease. + +The year 1218 was divided between the stay he made at St. Mary of the +Angels, for the instruction of his brethren, and some excursions he +made to Mount Alvernia and to some other places, where new dwellings +were made over to him. His route was always marked by the fruits of +his preaching, and by the splendor of his miracles. Passing by Montaigu, +above the Valley of Caprese, before a Church of St. Paul, which was +being repaired, and seeing that two of the masons could not succeed +in lifting a stone, which was to be placed as a jamb for the door, his +compassion and zeal induced him to lift it and place it as required, +which he did alone, and with a strength which was not that of a mortal. +The Abbot of the Monastery of St. Justin, in the Diocese of Perugia, +met him, and alighted from his horse to compliment him, and to speak +to him on some matters of conscience. After a conversation replete +with unction, the abbot, recommended himself humbly to his prayers. +Francis replied: "I will pray with all my heart;" and they parted. At +a little distance from thence, the Saint said to his companion: "Wait +a little, brother, I will here perform my promise." He knelt to pray; +and while he was so doing, the abbot, who was riding on, felt his mind +inflamed with a suavity of devotion, such as he had never before +experienced. He stopped, and the vivid impressions with which God +favored him, threw him into an ecstasy. But when he came to himself +again, he became aware that it was entirely owing to the prayers of +Francis. + +On his return from his last journey in 1218, which was much longer +than any of the others had been, Francis found that another building, +large and commodious, had been erected in his absence, close to the +Portiuncula convent. Displeased at seeing this infringement of the +rules of holy poverty, he took some of his brethren with him, and went +on the roof, to begin to break it down, which he certainly would have +carried through, had not some of the people from Assisi, who were +there, informed him that the building belonged to the town; that it +had been built by them for the foreign religious, who daily arrived +there, it being dishonorable to the town to see them compelled, in +consequence of the want of room in the convent, to sleep outside, and +even in the fields; that the town had destined this building for their +accommodation, and that they would be received there in its name. On +hearing this he came down, and said:--"If that, then, is your house, +I leave it, and shall not meddle with it; we shall have nothing to do +with it, neither myself nor my brethren; take care of it yourselves." +It was decided in consequence by a deliberation of the municipality, +that the magistrates should provide for the repairs. + + + + +BOOK III + + +The time of the general chapter drew near, of that chapter which became +so celebrated by the number of religious which attended it, and by +many other marvellous circumstances. Before its assembling, the holy +Patriarch proposed to go to Perugia, to confer with the cardinal +protector, who was living there, on the affairs of the Order. Wading +states, on good authority, that St. Dominic was there at the same time, +and that they had several deliberations together with the cardinal, +who had a like esteem for both. + +One day when they were in serious conversation on the affairs of the +Church, the cardinal asked them whether they should consider it +advisable for some of their members to be raised to ecclesiastical +dignities; "for," said he, "I am persuaded that they would have no +less zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, than those +bishops of the early ages of the Church, who, although in great poverty, +animated by ardent charity, fed their flocks with salutary instructions +and the example of a good life." + +After a contest of humility between the two patriarchs, as to who +should speak first, Dominic, urged by Francis to take the lead, said +to him:--"You excel me in humility, and I will excel you in obedience." +He then gave the cardinal this answer:--"My lord, my brethren may well +consider themselves as holding a very elevated rank. What is there +more honorable than teaching others from the Evangelical pulpit? What +should well-thinking minds desire more than to be employed in defence +of the faith, and to combat the enemies of the Church? For this reason +I strenuously desire that my brethren may remain as they are, and I +will keep them so as long as I can." Francis made the following +reply:--"My lord, my brethren have received the appellation of Minors, +in order that they might never have the presumption to become great. +If it be your intention that they shall bear fruit in the Church, leave +them in their vocation, and never permit them to be raised to +prelatures." + +The cardinal was greatly edified by their answers, and highly commended +the humility of their opinions, but he did not therefore change his +views. He thought, on the contrary, that such ministers would be most +useful in the Church, considering the corruption of the times. + +The Church has since followed the opinion of this eminent dignitary, +having made many bishops and cardinals from the two orders, and several +have been even elevated to the sovereign pontificate. + +But the Friars Preachers and the Friars Minor, who have preserved the +spirit of their vocation, have never had any other feelings than those +of their holy patriarchs on the subject of ecclesiastical dignities. +They have refused them as long as they could, and those who have +accepted them, have been compelled to do so by superior authority, +which they could not be dispensed from obeying. + +Brother Leo, the companion and confessor of St. Francis, who was at +Perugia, and who assisted at all the conferences, says, that they spoke +much on the propagation of the faith and the salvation of souls; that, +having made reciprocal inquiries into the peculiarities of their +respective orders, Dominic proposed to Francis to unite them, and make +but one order, in order that the difference of the Institute should +not divide those whom the intimate friendship of their fathers had +closely united. To this proposition Francis replied:--"My dear brother, +it has been God's will that our orders should be different, the one +more austere than the other, in order to their being by this variety +better adapted to human infirmity, and to give an opportunity to such +as could not bear a life of very great austerity to embrace one which +was somewhat milder." Leo adds, that they took steps for maintaining +permanent agreement between the two orders; and, after having mutually +praised their congregations, they recommended to their companions who +were present, reciprocal respect and friendship for each other; that +Dominic requested Francis to give him his girdle, which was a cord +with large knots; and, having obtained it after many entreaties, he +wore it during the remainder of his life under his habit, as a bond +and perpetual symbol of the charity which so intimately united them. + +Francis having discussed with the cardinal protector all the affairs +of his Order, left Perugia to return to St. Mary of the Angels. As he +discoursed on the road with his companion Leo, on the virtue of humility +and entire abnegation of self, he said in a moment of fervor: + +"My dear brother, I do not believe myself to be a Friar Minor, and, +in truth, I am not one, unless I can bear humbly and with entire +tranquillity of mind, all that could happen to me under circumstances +which I can figure to myself. I suppose, then, that my brethren came +to seek me, with great respect and confidence, to assist at the general +chapter which is about to be holden, and solicit me to preach at it. +If, after having exhorted them in such terms as God shall have inspired +me, they were to rise up against me, and manifest openly that they +hold me in aversion, saying:--'We will no longer have you to govern +us; we are ashamed of having such a man as you at our head, who has +neither learning nor eloquence, who is simple and ignorant, with very +little prudence and experience; therefore, in future, do not have the +arrogance to call yourself our superior.' If they were to put other +affronts upon me, and to drive me ignominiously from the assembly, I +should not consider myself to be a true religious, unless I were to +receive all this as patiently and with equal serenity of countenance +as I should receive those who would load me with praise and honor." + +To this he added: "Assuredly, places of honor are very dangerous to +salvation, not only from the vainglory which is to be feared, but +likewise from the government, which is very difficult; whereas, in +opprobrium, there is nothing but merit to be acquired. If I am removed +from the headship, I shall be exempt from being accountable to God for +a great number of souls. Prelature is a station of danger, and praise +brings one to the very edge of the precipice. In an humble, lowly +station, there is much to be gained. Why, then, do we look to and +prefer what is dangerous to what has so much more spiritual advantage, +since it is for this that time is given to us?" These are sentiments +which should be well considered by persons in every station of life, +whether they aspire to honors, or fear the losing of them. The profound +humility of St. Francis does not admit of a doubt of his having gone +through the trial which he here supposes; and even in putting it thus +hypothetically, he strengthened in his mind the virtue requisite for +supporting it in reality. These sorts of suppositions, which might be +stumbling-blocks to the weak, are very useful to those who aspire to +perfect humility. + +The Friars Minor assembled for the general chapter of their Order at +the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels, or Portiuncula, near Assisi, +at the Feast of Pentecost, and their number exceeded five thousand. +This circumstance is truly amazing, particularly when it is recollected +that some remained in their respective convents; that the Order had +only existed ten years since its institution; and that the novices had +always been admitted by the Founder himself, except since the chapter +of the year 1216, when he had given the provincial ministers power to +receive them. It is nevertheless certain, that more than five thousand +Friars Minor assisted at this celebrated chapter: the fact is attested +by four of St. Francis' companions, who were present at it; by St. +Bonaventure, who lived with them and by many others. + +What can be said on this subject, except that it pleased God to recall +in some measure, by the rapid establishment of this Order, the wonderful +spread of the Gospel by the preaching of the Apostles? St. Augustine +says that the Apostles were as dark clouds from whence lightning and +thunder emanated; that, by their poverty and their simplicity, they +shone in the eyes of the universe; that, by the powerful virtue and +splendor of their admirable actions, they overthrew everything which +was opposed to the empire of Jesus Christ, and, in a short time, +christianized the world. May we not also say, that Francis and his +companions, men poor and simple, were a representation of the Apostles; +that Jesus Christ rendered them powerful and eminent in words and +works, to bring back sinners to His empire, and that by them, in an +inconceivably short period of time, an immense number of Apostolic men +was collected and formed who embraced the same Institute, in order to +exercise the same ministry? What assists us in comprehending that in +ten years it had been possible to build a sufficient number of houses, +to contain so many thousand men is, that they were poor and without +any income. + +The religious of this chapter were lodged in huts made of matting, +erected all round the Portiuncula convent, from which this chapter has +been called the Chapter of Mats. They were there separated from the +world, but perfectly united among themselves, all lovers of watching +and fasting after the example of their Father; zealous in prayer and +in the recital of Psalms, in spiritual reading, and in readiness to +execute all works of mercy, and having no other hope than that of the +happiness of a future life. + +Cardinal Ugolino, as Protector of the Order, came to preside over the +chapter, and all the religious went in procession before him. He opened +the assembly on Whitsunday the 26th of May: he officiated pontifically, +and preached; and he deemed it his right to inspect the ranks of this +holy army of the Lord, in which he found everything in good order. +These soldiers of Jesus Christ were not seen wandering about; but all +were collected in groups, a hundred in one spot, sixty in another, +more or less, and conversing on holy subjects, on their own salvation, +or on that of their neighbours, and on the means of reforming the +morals of a corrupt world. The cardinal, delighted with so interesting +and unusual a scene, said to those who followed him, as Jacob had when +he met the angels on his way: "Truly, this is the Camp of God." We +might also apply to it what Balaam could not prevent himself from +saying, when he saw the Israelites encamped: "How beautiful are thy +tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel!" + +Francis, as a general in his camp, went through all the tents; he +encouraged his troops to fight valiantly the battles of the Lord, +assuring them of receiving assistance from on high, animating some, +and fulfilling in every place the duties of a vigilant chief. + +He assembled all his brethren, and addressed them in an excellent +discourse, of which the following embraces the subject: "We have +promised great things; and we have been promised greater. Let us keep +the first, and let us sigh after the others: Pleasure is of short +duration; the penalty is eternal. Sufferings are light; glory is +infinite. Many are called; but few are chosen. Each one will receive +according to his deserts." + +On this beautiful text he exhorted them, in the most forcible and +moving terms, to the practice of virtue and to the duties of a religious +life; urging them, above all things, to implicit obedience to our Holy +Mother the Church, to a contempt of the world, to purity of mind and +body, to a love of holy poverty and humility, to charity, to concord +and mildness, to continued watchfulness, and to an ardent zeal for the +salvation of souls. He recommended to them to pray for all the faithful, +and particularly for the exaltation of the Holy Roman Church, and for +the benefactors of the Order. After which he positively forbade them +to have any anxiety whatever for anything concerning the body, and he +quoted to them these words of the psalmist: "Cast thy care upon the +Lord and He shall sustain thee." He had conformed strictly to the rule +he laid down, for he had made no provision for the chapter. + +St. Dominic, who, out of friendship for St. Francis, had come with six +of his companions to this assembly and who heard this discourse, was +fearful lest what he said and did was perhaps an exaggeration, and +that it might seem to be tempting the Lord, if some steps were not +taken for procuring food for so great a multitude. But he was of a +very different way of thinking shortly after when he saw arrive from +Assisi, Perugia, Spello, Foligno, Spoleto, and many more distant towns, +ecclesiastics, laics, nobles, burgesses, and persons of every state +of life who brought with them not only what was necessary for the +subsistence of such vast numbers, but pressed forward to serve the +religious themselves with an emulation of humility and charity. + +So marked an interposition of Providence in behalf of these Evangelical +poor struck the Patriarch of the Friars Preachers with astonishment; +and it is believed that it suggested to him the intention which he +carried into execution the year after, when he assembled the first +general chapter of his order at Bologna, in which it was resolved that +the Friars Preachers should adopt the system of entire poverty, and +consider it as the fundamental rule of their order, renouncing forever +all property in land, or revenue arising therefrom, even what they had +at Toulouse, which the Pope had confirmed to them by his first bull. +In dying, he recommended to them this Evangelical poverty as the +foundation of their institute; and lest this foundation should be +undermined by the prudence of the flesh, he forbade in the strongest +terms, on pain of the curse of the Almighty, and of his also, the +introduction into the order of any temporal possessions. + +May Evangelical poverty that made so strong an impression on the mind +of St. Dominic teach the faithful never to be mistrustful of the care +of Divine Providence! + +However, we are not to look for, or expect miraculous assistance; this +is not in the ordinary course of God's dispensations; but after doing +all that depends on ourselves, provided there be no irregularity on +our part, and that our desires are within the bounds of moderation, +without any impatience as to the event, we may assure ourselves that, +according to the words of the wise man: "No one hath hoped in the Lord +and hath been confounded." + +Several prelates, and other persons of quality, who had been invited +by Cardinal Ugolino to the Chapter, as to a grand and admirable sight, +had the curiosity to examine everything minutely. They saw the religious +in their miserable huts, coarsely dressed, taking but a very small +portion of nourishment, sleeping on mats spread on the earth with a +log of wood for a pillow. They noticed at the same time that they were +quite calm, that joy and concord were universal amongst them, and that +they were entirely submissive to their saintly founder. Admiring all +these things, they said to each other: "This shows that the way to +heaven is narrow, and that it is very difficult for the rich to enter +into the Kingdom of God. We flatter ourselves that we shall eke out +our salvation in the enjoyment of all the comforts of life, having our +ease in all things, while these people, to save their souls, deprive +themselves of everything, mortify their bodies, and are notwithstanding +not without great apprehension. We should like to die as they will, +but we do not choose to live as they live." Similar reflections +converted a great number of persons, and more than five hundred took +the habit of the Friars Minor during the chapter. + +The holy Patriarch found that many of his religious submitted themselves +to extraordinary mortifications, which either shortened their days or +rendered them useless to the Order by the illnesses which were the +consequence. He therefor publicly forbade them, by the virtue of holy +obedience, to make use of such means, and ordered all who had coats +of mail, iron girdles, or other instruments of mortification, to leave +them off and deliver them up to him. This was done, and some most +extraordinary modes of inflicting self-punishment were discovered. The +number of coats of mail and iron girdles which were delivered up were +more than five hundred; they were put into a heap, and the Patriarch +thought proper to show them to the cardinal and his company, for their +edification. They were astonished on witnessing so great a love of +such penitential austerities, in men of such pure and holy lives. In +their presence he again forbade his dear brethren indiscreet +mortifications, which are injurious to the body; representing to them +that they either hasten death, or throw the body into such a state of +languor and weakness, as makes it unfit for spiritual exercises, or +an impediment to the practice of good works. Oh, fortunate and happy +times, when it was necessary to check such failings! + +God made known to Francis, in a revelation he had during the sitting +of the chapter, that the Prince of Darkness, alarmed at the fervor of +the new Order, had collected thousands of demons, to concert together +on the means of bringing it to ruin; and that one of them, more astute +than the rest, had put forth an opinion which it had been decided +should be acted upon. It was, not to attack the Friars Minor openly, +but to have recourse to artifice; to induce them to receive into their +society nobles, learned men, and youths. Nobles, in order by their +means to introduce effeminacy in which they had been brought up; learned +men, who, proud of their learning, should have a contempt for humility; +and youths, who, being weak and delicate, would greatly relax in the +regular discipline. + +Religion teaches us that there are demons, and that they are subordinate +one to the other; that God, when it pleases Him, permits them to tempt +mankind, and even torment them corporally; and St. Paul speaks of "the +Prince of the powers of this air." We know what Satan did to holy Job; +and what our Lord said to St. Peter: "Satan hath desired to have you, +that he might sift you as wheat;" and what He stated elsewhere: "When +an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he taketh with him seven spirits +more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there." Thus we +need have no difficulty in believing that the prince of darkness had +collected such a number of demons against St. Francis and his Institute. +St. Gregory says, that they attack with greater violence those in whom +they find a greater disposition to holiness, and that the principal +demons are employed in the attacks on the bravest soldiers of Jesus +Christ. What must be the wrath of these malignant spirits against the +apostolical men, whose lives are wholly employed in effecting the +salvation of souls! + +Francis had already been made aware by the words of a young female who +was possessed, as St. Bonaventure relates, that the devils, irritated +by the injury he did them, had assembled against him, and then he +merely said, as Paul did: "I am the stronger." But he was alarmed when +he learnt from God Himself the increase of their rage. He retired for +two days to an oratory to pray for grace to be able to escape from +their snares, and that he might be protected by good angels. His prayer +gave him fresh courage; he returned to the chapter, and addressed his +brethren with energy on the watchfulness with which it was incumbent +on them to work out their salvation, without placing too much reliance +on the holiness of their state of life, from which they must be +apprehensive lest they should fall off by the machinations of their +enemy. "You know," he said, "the examples we have; Satan fell from +Heaven, and drew with him a number of the angels; he caused Adam and +Eve to be driven from Paradise; he prayed to be allowed to sift the +Apostles as wheat is sifted; and he did so with such effect, that one +of them betrayed his Master, another denied Him, and all fled when He +was captured." + +The Saint then explained to them what God had made known to him of the +designs of the devil; and in order that the enemy's malignity might +fall on himself, he warned them to pay more attention in the reception +of advices to the sentiments of the mind than to the advantages of +birth; to be very careful that the learned whom they should admit, +should be devoid of pride, and were fit to edify others by their +humility, and to be careful that such as joined them in the flower of +youth, should be informed of all that they would have to practice in +future. + +For the holy man did not think it requisite, in consequence of Satan's +malice, to prohibit noblemen from joining his Order, since their example +has great influence, and the elevated sentiments which are found in +that class, render them more fit to do great things for the service +of God. He did not wish to drive away the learned, since learning is +necessary for the exercise of the functions of religion, and since +those men who join the knowledge of sound doctrine to an Evangelical +life, are most instructive teachers in the Church, for the dissipation +of error and the establishment of virtue. He also desired that they +should receive such young men as should present themselves in the +tenderest age, "because it is good for man to bear the yoke from his +youth:" to leave the world, before having any knowledge of it, except +through the lights of the Church, and to offer themselves as pure +victims, rather than to bring to Him the remains of a heart stained +by the passions; and, moreover, our Saviour said to His disciples, who +turned away the children who came to Him: "Suffer them, and forbid +them not to come to me." We know that there are in the world censorious +people who condemn the custom of permitting young persons to enter +into a religious state; it would be easy to show, if it were not for +fear of rendering this work too voluminous, that their arguments are +based on a superficial foundation, and are contrary to the maxims of +Christianity; we therefore content ourselves with saying that at the +Council of Trent, which was guided by the Spirit of truth in its +discipline, as well as in its dogmas and morality, permission was given +to persons of either sex, to make profession as a religious at the +full age of sixteen; that rule is authorized by the ordinances of all +Christian princes, and it therefore seems very extraordinary that any +individuals should be rash enough to oppose their private opinions to +so respectable an authority. + +Francis, who was desirous of encouraging the fervor of his disciples, +apprised them of what they had to fear, and anticipated the smallest +inclinations to pride in them, by salutary humiliations. The cardinal +protector having one day preached before all the religious of the +chapter, and having concluded his sermon by bestowing on them +considerable praise, the holy Patriarch asked his permission to address +the audience. He foretold to them, and represented in lively colors, +all that was to happen to the Order; the temptations to which they +were to be exposed; the tribulations they were to suffer; the changes +that would be brought in, and their decline. He reproached them with +their laxity, and with their want of fervor in cooperating with the +peculiar graces they had received from God; he spoke so energetically, +that, in censuring their foolish obsequiousness, if such a fault they +had, he covered them with confusion. The cardinal was somewhat +mortified, and said:--"Pray, why, brother, did you gainsay me, setting +the imperfections of your brethren in opposition to the praises I had +given them?" "My lord and my father," answered Francis, "I did so, in +order to preserve the substance of your praise. I was apprehensive +that such praise being given by a person of your exalted rank, might +inspire vanity into the minds of those in whom humility has not as yet +thrown out deep roots." This affords great matter for reflection for +those virtuous persons who voluntarily receive praise, at least when +it is artfully administered; and for indiscreet flatterers, who expose +virtue to a dangerous trial. + +What occurred on the following day, showed that the holy man had +received from God the perfect means of appreciating men's minds. Brother +Elias, who was the provincial for Tuscany; Brother John of Strachia, +who was provincial for Bologna, and several others came to the cardinal +protector and entreated him to tell Francis, as from himself, that he +ought to listen to the advice of his brethren, among whom there were +many learned men, fully capable of governing; particularly as he himself +was a simple and unread man, whose ill health did not permit him to +bring their affairs into good order. They added, that respect ought +to be paid to the ancient rules of St. Basil, of St. Augustine, and +of St. Benedict, and that Minors should not differ so widely by a new +rule and excessive severity, as if they wished to be better than their +fathers. + +The cardinal took his time, and then proposed all these things to +Francis, as maxims which he deemed good for the government of the +Order. The Saint being immediately made aware by the Spirit of God, +that these things were suggested by others, rose up from the place in +which he had been seated with the cardinal, took him respectfully by +the hand, and led him to the brethren who were assembled in chapter, +and said: + +"My brethren, my brethren, God has called me by the way of simplicity +and humility, in order that I might follow the folly of the cross: it +is for His glory and my confusion, and for the security of your +consciences I am about to tell you what He said to me:--'Francis,' He +said, 'I desire that you may be in the world a new little idiot, who +shall preach by thy actions and by thy discourses the folly of the +cross. Do thou and thine follow me only, and not any other manner of +life.' Speak not to me therefore of any other rule, he added, for I +shall not follow, nor prescribe any other than that which God has in +His mercy given me; those who swerve from it, I fear, will feel the +Divine vengeance, and will be covered with confusion, when at length +they shall be obliged once more to enter into this path, which God has +shown me." + +Then addressing himself to the cardinal, he said:--"My lord, these +wise people, whom your lordship praises so much, would wish by their +worldly prudence to deceive both God and you; but they deceive +themselves, endeavoring to destroy what God has ordained for their +salvation, through me, his unworthy servant. I attribute nothing to +myself of what I do, or of what I say; I rely not on my own lights in +the government of the Order; I arrange everything by long prayers with +our Divine Father, who governs it sovereignly, and who has made His +will known to us by so many manifest signs, in order to bring to +perfection the work He has commenced by so miserable a man as I am, +for the salvation of souls, and the edification of our holy mother the +Church. Those who prefer the wisdom of the world to the will of the +Lord, expose themselves manifestly to be lost." Having spoken thus, +Francis retired. + +The cardinal, who admired the energy of his words, and the light which +disclosed to him at once the most secret thoughts, said to the superiors +who were abashed:--"My dear brethren, you have seen how the Holy Ghost +has himself spoken by the mouth of this apostolical man; his words +came forth as a two-edged sword, which has penetrated to the bottom +of the heart. Take care that you do not grieve the Spirit of God; be +not ungrateful for the favors He has done you. He is truly in this +poor man, and manifests to you, through him, the marvels of His power; +in listening to him, it is Jesus Christ that you hear; in despising +him, it is Jesus Christ whom you despise. Humble yourselves, therefore, +and obey him, if it is your desire to please God, and not lose the +fruit of your vocation; for I know by experience, that everything which +either the devils or men are about to attempt against his Order, is +revealed to him. Whatsoever may be said to him with good or bad +intention, it is difficult to find him off his guard; neither my advice, +nor that of any other person, will turn him from his purpose." The +provincials who had given rise to this scene were moved, and submitted +themselves to the will of the Patriarch. + +Among the religious who had congregated at the chapter, there were +many who came to seek a remedy for the ill-treatment they had received +in many places out of Italy, which had its rise in two causes; the +first was, that they had no authenticated letters to show that their +Institute had been approved by the Church; the second was, that the +pastors would not allow them to preach. They begged therefore that the +Pope might be solicited to give them written testimonials to certify +that they had his approbation of their Institution; and, moreover, +that they should obtain from the Holy Father a privilege, in virtue +of which they might preach wherever they thought proper, even without +leave from the bishops. + +The holy founder could not hear this second article without indignation. +"What my brethren" said he, "are you still devoid of understanding; +and do you not know the will of God? It is His pleasure that we should +gain the good will of our superiors by our respect for them, and by +humility; and then by word and good example, those who are under them. +When the bishops see that you live holily, and that you do not encroach +on their authority, they themselves will apply to you to work for the +salvation of the souls which are committed to their care; they +themselves will collect their flocks to listen to you, and to imitate +you. Let it be our sole privilege to have no privilege calculated to +swell our pride; to give ourselves a confidence which shall be to the +prejudice of others, and be the cause of contentions. Let us ask nothing +of the Holy See but what is calculated to aid us in serving God, in +extending the faith, and in gaining souls under the good pleasure of +the prelates, without causing any disturbance among the people." + +Some represented that they had found many of the heads of the parochial +clergy so harsh, that they had been unable to mollify them, either by +entreaties, or by labor, by submissiveness or good example, so as to +obtain leave to preach to their parishioners, or to receive from them +any corporal assistance; to this Francis replied: + +"My brethren, we are sent to the aid of priests, to make good that in +which they may be deficient. Each one will receive his reward, not +according to the degree of his authority, but in proportion to his +labors. Know, then, that what is most agreeable to God is, to work for +the salvation of souls, and that we shall best succeed in this by +living in concord with the priests than by living separately from them; +if they throw obstacles in the way, God, to whom all vengeance belongs, +will give them in His good time what is their due. Be therefore +submissive to ecclesiastical superiors, in order to avert, as much as +may be in your power, any jealousies. If you are children of peace, +you will soon ingratiate yourselves with the clergy and the people, +and this will be more acceptable to God than if you gained over the +people, and thereby gave scandal to the clergy. Hide the faults of the +priests, make good what they are deficient in, and be only in +consequence the more humble." + +The Religious of St. Francis must not be surprised if they, even in +these days, meet with opposition in the exercise of their holy +ministries. It is an occurrence which the similarity of men may at all +times bring about; and which St. Paul experienced more than any other +in the course of his ministry. But let them be careful to put in +practice the advice of their Father, in order that they may be able +to say in truth with the apostle:--"We have injured no man" And, +finally, the advice which he gave them must induce us to notice his +moderation and his discretion, in an age when the Church had reason +to renew the laments of one of the Prophets against the pastors of +Israel. + +He judged it proper, by the advice of the cardinal protector, to procure +Apostolic letters to make known the approbation his Institute had +received; and he obtained them from the Pope, who was then at Viterbo. +These were the first which were given to the Order of Friars Minor: +their contents are as follows: + +Honorius, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to the Archbishops, +Bishops, Abbots, Deacons, Archdeacons, and other Superior +Ecclesiastics-- + +"As our dear son, brother Francis and his companions, have renounced +the vanities of the world, and embraced a state of life which the Roman +Church has justly approved; and, following the example of the Apostles, +are about to go into different parts to announce the word of God; we +beg and exhort you in our Lord, and we command you by these Apostolical +letters, to receive as Catholic and faithful, the brothers of this +Order, the bearers of these letters who may apply to you, to be +favorable to them, and to treat them with kindness, for the honor of +God, and out of consideration for us. Given this 3d of the Ides of +June, the third year of our pontificate." + +Many cardinals and other illustrious persons added their letters of +recommendation to those of the Pope, particularly Cardinal Ugolino, +the protector of the Order, who testified by a document addressed to +all prelates, which certified the intimate knowledge he had of the +virtues of the Founder and of his religious, and the great fruit that +was to be expected from them for the propagation of the faith, and the +benefit of the whole Church. They made a great number of authenticated +copies of these letters, to give them to those friars whom Francis had +resolved to send in all directions, even into the most distant lands. + +Three things were decreed at this general chapter. The first was, that +on every Saturday a solemn mass should be celebrated in honor of the +immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary. This glorious title of Immaculate, +which the general councils of the seventh and eighth centuries, and +the ancient fathers of the Church, have given to Mary, has been used +by the Council of Trent, which has declared in its decree on the subject +of original sin, "that it is not its intention to include therein the +blessed and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God." The use which the +Friars Minor made of it in 1219, shows clearly that they adopted, as +did their sainted Patriarch, the common opinion of the Greek Church, +which was already spread in various parts of the Latin Church, in honor +of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, because they thought it wholly +pure and exempt from the stain of original sin. Their successors have +always, with admirable zeal, maintained this opinion, which God in so +far blessed, that they have now the advantage and consolation of seeing +the institution of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the whole +Church, and of knowing that what was at one time only a pious opinion +is now a dogma. + +It is proper to notice here, that at the head of the Friars Minor, who +supported the proposition of the Immaculate Conception, was the +celebrated John Duns Scotus, so respected in the Church for his +penetrating genius, for the solidity of his doctrine, and for his +singular piety. He silenced his opponents, and his success was so +manifested that all considered him to have had the special aid of the +Blessed Virgin, and his reasonings were so convincing that the +University of Paris admitted them, and declared in favor of the doctrine +of the Immaculate Conception, which it has maintained ever since. In +the fifteenth century, the faculty of Theology passed a solemn decree +on this point, in which it declared that in consonance with the opinions +of its predecessors, and in order to oppose the enemies of the Blessed +Virgin, it bound itself by oath to maintain the proposition that the +Mother of God was preserved from original sin, framing a law, not to +receive any doctor who should not take this oath; which practice was +continued till the dogma was declared in 1854, when it was no longer +necessary. + +This is the pious triumph of all the Sons of St. Francis who, in +gratitude for so singular a privilege, honor the Blessed Virgin as the +Patroness and Protectress of their Order, under the title of her +Immaculate Conception, and by celebrating the festival thereof with +every possible solemnity. + +The second statute directed, that express mention should be made of +the names of St. Peter and St. Paul, in the prayer, "Protege nos Domine, +etc.," and in another which begins with these words--"Exaudi nos Deus," +etc., in memory of what had been revealed to St. Francis, that these +apostles interceded powerfully with God for his Institute. This is +practised by the whole Church since Innocent IV revised and reformed +the Roman Breviary, through Aymon, an Englishman, who was the fifth +general of the Order of Friars Minor. + +In the third statute it was said that poverty should be apparent in +everything, in the convents which they should build; that the churches +should be small and low, and that the walls of the rest of the buildings +should be of wood or mud. Some difficulties were started to this; many +represented that in their provinces wood was dearer than stone, and +that walls of masonry, if they were not too high, would better denote +poverty, because they would be solid and not compel frequent repair. +The holy Founder would not argue this matter with them; for it is +remarked that not to give rise to any dispute, and not to give scandal +to the weak, he often condescended to the opinions of others in similar +matters. Nevertheless he recommended to them all, not to receive either +churches or houses which were not in conformity to holy poverty which +was their rule. + +It was not possible always to follow out his intentions. The prelates +and princes who were greatly attached to his Order had beautiful +convents built, which his religious could not avoid receiving; and St. +Bonaventure even says that a numerous community which has different +exercises to perform, requires large houses, although care should be +taken that holy poverty should be apparent throughout, and that +superfluity should not preponderate over what is reasonably necessary. + +The chapter being ended, Francis, following the example of the Apostles, +divided the world among his brethren, in order to bring it all in +subjection to the Empire of Jesus Christ. + +The first mission to Germany had not been successful. Those who had +been sent thither by the preceding chapter, not knowing the language, +and answering badly the questions put to them, were suspected from +their poor and unusual habit to belong to those heretics who were +prosecuted in Italy, in consequence of which they were cruelly +ill-treated and driven away. The recital which they gave on their +return made Germany so unpopular among the brethren that they said +that none ought to go there but such as aspired to martyrdom, and that +many prayed to Heaven to be preserved from the ferocity of the Germans. +Francis did not think proper to send any more there till such time as +he should have received some novices from thence who might go there +with others; but he sent some into Hungary. + +As soon as the several missions had been fixed upon, the missionaries +prepared to set out. Before we give an account of St. Francis' voyage +to the Levant, we think it desirable to give an abridgment of what his +children did in various parts of the world, because the principal glory +is due to him, and these proceedings naturally belong to the history +of his life. + +Benedict of Arezzo embarked with his companions for Greece, where their +preaching, backed by the holiness of their lives, and confirmed by +miracles, produced abundance of fruit for the salvation of souls, and +procured so many houses for the Order that in a very short time it was +formed into an entire province, and was called Romania. + +Giles and Electe, who anxiously aspired to martyrdom, and who were +only lay-brothers, had appeared to St. Francis to be more fit to be +sent to the Saracens than even those of the clergy, and they hastened +to go into Africa with several others. What chiefly animated the zeal +of brother Giles, as the author of his life remarks, was his having +heard that the Saracens treated with great cruelty those Christians +who spoke ill of the law of Mahomet. When he reached Tunis with a party +of missionaries, he generously preached the faith in public, and this +continued for some time. A person who was looked up to among the +Saracens for his great wisdom, having come forth from his retreat, +told the people that they ought to put to the sword all those infidels +who spoke against the law of their prophet. Giles and his companions +were delighted at the prospect of an early martyrdom; but the Christians +with whom they had their domicile, fearing lest they might be included +in the massacre, took away these preachers and compelled them to go +on board a vessel in the harbor, and did not permit them again to land. +As they did not cease addressing the Mahometans who crowded to the +sea-shore, with a view to induce them to embrace the faith of Jesus +Christ,--their desire to sacrifice their lives for His glory being so +ardent,--the Christian residents hastened to have them removed to +Europe. Thus seeing that even their fellow-believers were opposed to +their views, they returned to Italy. + +Electe was more fortunate; during some years he performed the functions +of an apostle in another town in Africa, where he received the crown +of martyrdom. A body of Saracens rushed upon him while he was preaching, +upon which he fell on his knees, grasped the Rule with both hands, +asked pardon for his faults from God and from his companions, and then +presented his neck to the infidels who took away his life. This did +not happen till after the death of St. Francis. He had entered the +Order when very young, and had lived in it with great austerity, always +wearing a coat of mail on his bare body, so that he prepared himself +for the martyrdom of blood by the martyrdom of penance, as was +recommended to the Christians in time of persecution. + +Those who went into Spain with John Parent proceeded with so much speed +that ten of them arrived at Saragossa by the Feast of the Assumption; +a very short time after their departure, Bernard de Quintavalle, who +was sent into this kingdom after the chapter of 1216 had established +two convents, the one at Toledo, the other at Carrion de los Condes, +a town in the Kingdom of Leon. Some of his companions had been admitted +at Lerida, and at Balaguer, in Catalonia, under very extraordinary +circumstances, which are omitted not to be too prolix. Zachary and +Gautier, who had been sent into Portugal, had had much to suffer in +the beginning; but Queen Urraqua, the wife of Alphonso II, who then +reigned, was a most pious princess. She, having caused their Institute +to be examined by very learned men, and having had full assurance of +the holiness of their lives, now obtained leave from the king for their +being received into his states, and permission for their building +convents. A house was given them, with a chapel attached to it, of St. +Anthony, near Coimbra, where the court then was, and subsequently one +on a larger scale at Lisbon. Princess Sancia, the daughter of Sancho +I, and sister of Alphonso II, highly praised by historians for her +piety and chastity, protected Zachary, and gave him a third house, +called of St. Catharine, at some distance from the Town of Alenquer, +which was her own; but in consequence of the distance and the +insalubrity of the air, she some years after converted her own palace +into a convent, which she gave to the Friars Minor. Gautier, one of +Bernard's companions, who had made many great conversions by his virtues +and his miracles, near Guimaraens, had built a convent not very far +from that town. + +While at the convent of St. Catharine, a very queer thing occurred, +which we have not thought right to omit here on account of the +instruction it contains. One of the ladies, in waiting on the princess +whose name was Maria Garcia, often came to have some pious conversation +with one of the holy religious, who was very averse to receiving her, +because he feared the company of females. One day when he was at prayer, +she came to the church, and expressed a wish to see him, but he refused +to go to her. The historian says that in order to obtain what she +wished for, she did what women generally do under such circumstances, +she became more importunate, and cried bitterly, and protested that +it would give her great pain if she might not speak to the holy man. +He therefore came, to get rid of her importunities; but he brought +some straw in one hand, and some fire in the other; he set the straw +on fire in her presence, and then said to her: "Although, madam, all +your conversations are pious, I refuse to hold them with you in private, +because what you see has happened to the straw, is what religious +persons have to fear may occur to them if they have private and familiar +intercourse with women; and at least they lose the fruits of their +holy communications with God in prayer." The lady blushed, retired, +and troubled him no more. St. Jerome, who so strongly recommended to +ecclesiastics and religious to avoid conversations with the female sex +would certainly have approved of this action. + +John Parent arrived at Saragossa in the month of August, 1219, with +nine of his brethren who were followed by many others soon after; he +addressed himself to the Bishop and to the magistrates who assembled +to hear him. He explained to them who Francis of Assisi was, his +vocation, his mission, his mode of life, his Institute, the approbation +given to his Rule by Pope Innocent III and Honorius III, and the +testimonials given to him by several cardinals. He remarked to them +that the new Order had been exceedingly multiplied in a very few years, +and that they had seen more than five thousand religious at the general +chapter which had been lately assembled in the neighborhood of Assisi, +which was considered to be miraculous; that their Father had sent a +great number of his children into all parts of the world to combat +vice and encourage virtue, which circumstance should be considered as +a bountiful effect of Divine Providence towards His Church, in such +calamitous times. He concluded by saying: "If our Institute is agreeable +to you, we earnestly entreat you to give us some small place in which +we may recite the Divine Office, and fulfil the other ministries which +our Founder has recommended to us. Have no anxiety as to our +subsistence, for we solicit no part of your goods; we content ourselves +with very little; we are poorly clad; work and questing furnish us +with all that we require." + +All the assembly admired the spirit of humility which prevailed through +this discourse, and the reading of the Papal Bull, with the testimonials +of the cardinals, were proofs that nothing had been set forth but what +was true. They conceived such a liking to the Order, that they took +immediate measures for giving to John Parent and his companions a +dwelling of which they took possession on the 28th of August. + +The Order of St. Francis, as well as that of St. Dominic, began from +that time to spread through all Spain. On all sides preachers of the +two orders were found, and new convents were erected, as Luke, Bishop +of Tuy, a contemporary author, mentions in his chronicle when he speaks +of the marvels of the reign of St. Ferdinand, King of Castile and Leon. +It would clearly appear that both the one and the other were in the +City of Leon about that time, since the same author, in his excellent +work against the Albigenses, says that they exerted themselves with +great zeal and energy against the heretics, who, to seduce the faithful, +published pretended miracles which they asserted to have been performed +by the bones of one Arnold a man of their sect who had been dead sixteen +years, and they also accused the good religious who exposed their +impostures of heresy. Such is the mode adopted by certain sectarians; +they endeavored to establish their false doctrine by fictitious +miracles; while they insolently refused credence to those which the +Catholic Church admitted as certain; and all have sufficient audacity +to treat as heretics the orthodox who prove them to be heretics +themselves. + +The mission to France was equally successful with that of Spain. +Pacifico and his companions who began it in 1216, were exposed to +hunger, cold, and all other kinds of inconveniences, which men are +exposed to suffer when out of their own country, unknown, and destitute +of everything, and moreover living an unusual and extraordinary sort +of life. They went to that office of the night which is called matins +in those churches in which it is said at midnight, as is still the +custom at Notre Dame, in Paris. If there was no service in the places +where they were, they then prayed by themselves at that hour, and they +passed the whole night at the foot of the altar; after which, if no +one offered them a meal, they went questing from door to door. The +remainder of the day was spent in the hospitals, making the beds of +the lepers and other sick, dressing their wounds, and rendering them +such other services of humility and charity as they had learned from +the example and instruction of their Father Francis. So saintly a life +attracted the attention of all, gained their esteem, caused many to +embrace the Institution, and procured for them many establishments, +notably the one at Paris. + +Angelo of Pisa, one of the missioners sent by St. Francis, was the +first warden of the Parisian convent. This convent soon became a +college, where young men, from all parts of the world came to study, +and, subsequently, to take out degrees in the university. Several great +men have, in the last five hundred years, rendered this college +illustrious. + +Pacifico, whom St. Francis had appointed provincial of the French +missions, sent some of the religious into different parts of the +kingdom, where they were well received. He went with some companions +into Hainault, and other provinces of the Low Countries, where, by the +liberality and under the protection of the Countess of Flanders, Joanna +of Constantinople, he caused many houses to be built. + +Thomas de Chantpre, a Canon Regular of St. Austin, and subsequently +a religious of the Order of St. Dominic, states, as an eye-witness, +a very marvellous thing which deserves to be recorded in the life of +St. Francis, since it occurred during his lifetime, relative to his +Order. At Thorouth, a town in Flanders, a child of five years of age, +whose name was Achaz, of a good family, having seen, in 1219, the habit +of the Friars Minor, begged his parents to give him a similar one. His +entreaties and tears induced them to gratify him. He was therefore +habited as a Friar Minor, with a coarse cord and bare feet, not choosing +to have any money, not even to touch it, and he practised as much as +was in his power the exercises of the religious. Among his companions +he was seen to act as preacher, cautioning them against evil, exciting +them to virtue by the fear of the pains of Hell, and by the hopes of +the glories of Heaven; teaching them to say the Lord's Prayer, and the +Angelic Salutation, and to honor God by genuflections. He reproved +such as did anything wrong in his presence, even his own father, if +he heard him swear, or saw him in a state of inebriety. "My Father," +he would say, with tears in his eyes, "does not our cure tell us that +those who do such things will not possess the Kingdom of God?" Being +one day at church with his mother, who was dressed in a handsome gown +of a flame color, he pointed out to her a crucifix, as a censure on +her vanity, and warned her to be careful that the color she wore did +not cause her to fall into the flames of Hell, which warning had so +great an effect that his mother never after wore anything but the +plainest dress. Such a precocious mind, with so much matured wisdom +and piety, was universally admired, and every one took pleasure in +seeing and listening to this amiable child. + +God took him from this world before he had attained his seventh year. +In his last illness, he confessed, and solicited most earnestly to be +allowed to receive the Body of Christ. The cure not venturing to comply +with his request, on account of his tended age, although his reason +was so mature and his holiness so manifest, he raised his hands to +Heaven, and said, in tender accents:--"My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou +knowest that all that I wish for in this world is to receive Thee. I +begged for Thee, and have done what I could; I hope with entire +confidence that Thou will not deprive me of the happiness of possessing +Thee." He then consoled and exhorted his parents and others who +surrounded him, after which he gave up his pure soul to God, praising +Him, and ejaculating prayers to Him. + +The ocular witness adds two circumstances which are very remarkable; +the first is, that the religious habit which this holy child wore +disappeared, and could never afterwards be found. The second, that the +Friars Minor who, as well as himself, went to pray at his grave, could +not go through the _De profundis_ which they had commenced, +notwithstanding all the efforts that they made to do so; by which they +understood, that so pure a soul stood in no need of prayer; and, no +doubt, they only endeavored to offer up some under the impression that +a mind so early in other respects matured, might have been capable of +contracting some stain. + +Francis, having despatched his disciples to the several missions +allotted to them, as has been said, prepared to go himself to the +Levant, with a zeal equal to that with which he had inspired his +brethren, when Cardinal Ugolino, the protector of the Order, entered +into discussion with him on the subject of the government of the +establishment of St. Damian's, in which Clare presided, and of the +other monasteries of females which had been commenced on that model. + +Cardinal Ugolino, by the advice and authority of the Pope leaving to +Francis the guidance of the Monastery of St. Damian of Assisi, took +upon himself the direction of all the others who had adopted that rule, +and nominated as visitor-general under his orders, a prudent religious +of the order of Citeaux, called Ambrose. He gave them the rule of St. +Benedict, with constitutions which Wading gives at length. We do not +transcribe them here, because, in the year 1224, St. Francis gave them +another rule, which will be spoken of later, and which is the only one +which ought to be called the rule of St. Clare or of the Second Order. + +The holy Patriarch being now about to set out in order to preach the +Gospel to the Mahometans of the Levant, resolved to send to those who +were in the west, some of his brethren. He chose six for Morocco: +Vidal, a very prudent and pious religious, whom he nominated superior; +Berard de Carbio, from the vicinity of Narni, who was well versed in +the Arabian language; Peter, of St. Geminien, and Otho, who were in +priests' orders; and Ajut, and Accurse, who were lay-brethren.--Having +sent for them he spoke as follows:-- + +"My dear children, it is God who has commanded me to send you amongst +the Saracens, to make known His faith, and refute the law of Mahomet. +I shall go in a different direction to work for the conversion of the +same infidels, and thus I shall send preachers over the whole earth. +Prepare yourselves, therefore, to fulfil the will of the Lord. To +render yourselves worthy of it, take great care to preserve peace and +concord among yourselves, as the ever-subsisting ties of charity. Avoid +envy which was the first cause of the loss of mankind. Be patient in +tribulations, and humble in success; which is the means of coming off +victorious in all encounters. Imitate our Lord Jesus Christ in his +poverty, chastity, and obedience; He was born poor, He lived poor, and +it was in the bosom of poverty that He died. To manifest how highly +He loved chastity, He chose to be born of a virgin, He took virgins +for His first soldiers, He kept, and counselled virginity, and He died +in presence of two virgins. As to obedience, He never ceased from +practising it from His birth to His death on the cross. Place your +hopes in the Lord, He will guide and assist you. Take our rule with +you, and a breviary, in order that you may be punctual in saying the +Divine Office, and be always submissive to Brother Vidal, your superior. +My children, although I am greatly pleased to see the good-will with +which you embrace this undertaking, yet our separation is painful to +my heart from the sincere affection I bear you; but the commands of +our Lord are to be preferred to my own feelings; I entreat you to have +the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ always present to your mind; it +will strengthen you and powerfully animate you to suffer for His glory." + +These apostolic men, encouraged by this address of their Father, replied +that they were ready to go into any country and expose themselves to +the severest labors for the interests of the faith; that he need not +hold out an example for them, by going himself among the infidels, as +if his word was not sufficient; that they did not think his orders too +strict, and that they expected assistance from above for carrying them +into execution; but that they required his prayers and blessing in +order to gather some fruit in unknown lands, among barbarous people, +enemies of the Christian name. "He," rejoined the Saint, with great +animation, "who sends you, it is He who will take care of you; you are +under His protection, under the protection of God; you belong no more +to me from this moment; I tear you from my bosom to send you as His +laborers." They threw themselves on their knees, kissed his hands and +prayed for his last blessing which he gave them weeping, in the +following terms:--"May the blessing of God the Father be upon you, as +it descended on the apostles; may it strengthen you, guide you, and +console you in your sufferings. Fear not; the Lord is with you, as an +invincible warrior; go, in the name of God who sends you." + +We shall speak of their voyage when we come to relate the martyrdom +they suffered in Morocco, on the 16th of January, 1220. + +At length, Francis, anxious for the crown of martyrdom in which he had +been twice disappointed, confided the government of his Order during +his absence to Brother Elias, the Provincial of Tuscany, and set out +on his voyage to Syria with twelve companions, the principal of whom +were Peter of Catania, Barbaro Sabbatino, Leonard of Assisi, and +Illuminus of Rieti. + +In the Marches of Ancona through which they passed, in order to embark +at the last-named place, a young man came to solicit to be received +into the society of Friars Minor, and the Saint said to him: "If you +have the intention of joining the Poor of Jesus Christ, go and bestow +upon the poor all that thou hast." The postulant went away and gave +all he had to his parents whom he loved very much, without giving any +to the poor. He then returned and said how he had disposed of his +property. Francis censured his conduct in the strongest terms, +considering him as a man who would be totally useless, and nowise fit +for evangelical perfection. "Tender brother," he said to him (for so +he called all those whom he considered of no real value), "Tender +brother, go thy ways, you have neither left your country nor your +kindred; you have given what you had to your parents, and disappointed +the poor; you do not deserve to be received into the company of those +who make profession of holy poverty. You commenced by the flesh, which +is an unstable foundation for a spiritual edifice." This carnal and +animal man returned to his parents, resumed his property, and rather +than give it to the poor, he gave up the good purpose he had +entertained. + +The love of his relations did as much disservice to this young man as +the love of riches did to him whom our Saviour desired to sell all he +had and give unto the poor. Perhaps also he had an intention of finding +a resource in what he gave to his relations, which is contrary to the +entire renouncing of everything which Jesus Christ requires. For which +reason, when St. Bonaventure relates this circumstance, he says, that +St. Francis only admitted those into his Order who gave up all they +had, and did not in any manner keep anything back. + +The man of God received many novices on his way. Many of his brethren +in the vicinity accompanied him as far as Ancona, to witness his +departure, as sorrowful, as had been the faithful of Miletus and +Ephesus, who accompanied St. Paul embarking for Jerusalem, although +he had not told them, as the Apostle did, that they would see him no +more. The arrival of this holy band was so agreeable to the magistrates +at Ancona, that they immediately allotted a spot for the erection of +a convent, and had it commenced at their own expense. It was so large +that when Francis returned from Palestine he caused it to be reduced +out of love for holy poverty, and then he gave the model of a church +which is still extant. + +The captain of a vessel who was about to take succor to the Christian +forces before Damietta, was so good as to receive him, one of twelve, +on board his ship. All the religious who were there were desirous of +going to sea with him, and each one vied for the preference, not only +that they might accompany the Patriarch, but that they might obtain +the crown of martyrdom, which they ardently wished for; but not to +mortify any of them, and to show no preferences, he prudently and with +the mildness of a common father, addressed them as follows:-- + +"My very dear children, there is not one of you, from whom I should +wish to be separated; I wish you would all accompany me on the voyage +I am about to make; but it would have been unreasonable of me to ask +the captain of the vessel to take you all. On which account, and that +none should have reason to complain, nor to be jealous of the others, +I will not make the selection; it must be Made by God." And thereupon +calling a child who happened to be on board, he said: "The Lord has +often made His will known by the mouth of children, and I have no doubt +He will do the same now; let us ask this child, and let us credit what +he shall say; God will speak through him." Then asking the child, +whether it was God's will that all the religious who were with him +should put to sea and make the voyage with him? the child replied with +a firm voice: "No, it is not God's will." He then again asked which +of them among those who were there present he should take? The child, +inspired by the Almighty, selected eleven, pointing them out with his +finger, and going up to them as he named them. + +The religious, full of astonishment, were all satisfied: those who +were destined to remain behind as well as those who were selected to +accompany him. They fell on their knees, received the blessing of their +common Father, and separated after having given to each other the kiss +of peace. + +Francis embarked with his eleven companions; they weighed anchor, and +shortly after they reached the Island of Cyprus, where they remained +a couple of days. In this interval, one of the religious committed a +fault which was soon atoned for. In a gust of passion he made use of +some harsh expression to one of his brethren before the others, and +before another person who might have been scandalized at the event. +Reflecting on what he had done, and being immediately sorry for it, +he took up some dung, and, returning to the spot, he put it into his +mouth, and began chewing it, saying: "It is but just that he who has +offended his brother by his speech, should have his mouth filled with +filth." This act of penance was fully satisfactory to him who had been +offended, and made such impression on a gentleman who had witnessed +the scene, that he offered himself and all he possessed to the service +of the Order. + +From Cyprus, Francis proceeded to Acre, from whence he sent his +companions, two and two, into such parts of Syria in which missionaries +were most wanted. He himself preached for some days in the vicinity +of the town, where he did some good, and then embarked again with +Illuminatus to join the army of the Crusaders who were besieging +Damietta. We shall now speak of the Crusade, and of this siege. + +At the council of Lateran, which was held in 1215, Pope Innocent III +represented so energetically the miserable state to which the Christians +in the Holy Land were reduced under the domination of the Saracens, +that in order to deliver them from so cruel a slavery, the council +ordered the assembly of a similar crusade to that which had been ordered +two centuries before, for the same object. The bishops proclaimed it +everywhere with great ardor, and the Pope, to give it greater weight, +went himself into Tuscany to preach it after having published it at +Rome. This great Pope, dying on the 16th of July, 1216, Honorius III, +who succeeded him, imitated his zeal, and wrote to the princes and +prelates of all Europe, and sent legates everywhere, to urge the +execution of what had been decreed in the Council of Lateran. The +success was as prompt as it was fortunate, so that at the time fixed, +that is, on the 1st of June, 1217, an infinity of crusaders, principally +from the North of Europe, were in readiness to set out for Palestine, +by land and by sea. + +After some expeditions, the crusaders thought that, instead of +operations in Palestine, to which they had hitherto confined themselves, +it would be advisable to carry the war into Egypt, because it was +thence that the sultans sent large armies into the Holy Land against +the Christians; and this had been the opinion of Pope Innocent at the +Lateran Council. It was therefore decided to lay siege to Damietta, +the strongest town in Egypt, and from its situation the key of that +kingdom. The first of those who sailed arrived before the place on the +30th of May; they disembarked, and intrenched themselves without meeting +with any resistance, and when the remainder of the army arrived, the +attack commenced. + +The siege lasted nearly eighteen months, with enormous losses, yet +some astonishing acts of bravery were witnessed. Coradin, (or Moaddam) +the Sultan of Damascus, came with an army much more numerous than that +of the Crusaders, and besieged them in their intrenchments; and Meledin, +(or Melic Camel) his brother, Sultan of Egypt or of Babylon, having +brought an equally numerous army, they drew up their troops in order +of battle, on the last day of July, 1219, in the early morning, and +appeared before the Crusaders' lines, which they attacked on several +points. The battle was obstinately contested; it lasted till night, +and the Saracens seemed to have the victory, but it was torn from them, +chiefly by the indomitable bravery of the French, supported by the +Grand Master of the Temple, and the Teutonic knights, who drove the +infidels far from their lines with great slaughter. Dissensions then +arose between the cavalry and infantry of the Crusaders. They accused +each other of cowardice, a reproach very grating to military men; the +consequence was, that a turbulent rivalry ensued, in order to prove +which had the greatest courage, and they compelled John de Brienne, +King of Jerusalem, who commanded the army, to lead them to the enemy +and offer him battle. + +It was at this moment that Francis arrived at the camp, having no other +arms than those of faith. He said to his companion, with deep sighs:-- +"The Lord has revealed to me, that if they come to blows, the Christians +will be worsted. If I tell them this, I shall be considered an idiot;-- +and if I do not tell it, my conscience will reproach me; what do you +think of it?" His companion, whose name was Illuminatus, and who indeed +was filled with light, replied:--"My brother, do not let the opinions +of men guide you; it is not the first time that you have been looked +upon as one bereaved of sense. Clear your conscience, and fear God +more than the world." Francis immediately went and warned the Christians +not to fight, and foretold them that if they did, they would be beaten. + +Minds were, however, too much excited to listen to sound reason; the +words of the Saint were taken for ravings. On the 29th of August, when +the heat was overpowering, the whole of the Christian army left their +lines and offered battle. The enemy at first retired, in order to draw +the Crusaders to an extensive plain, where there was no water, and +when he saw that thirst and fatigue had caused their ranks to be broken, +he turned suddenly and fell upon the cavalry of the right wing which +he took by surprise; it was broken and dispersed; its rout caused the +infantry which was supported by it, to flee, and the whole army would +have been cut to pieces had not the king, followed by the knights of +the three orders of French, Flemish and English, and other troops, +placed themselves in front and stopped the Saracens who were pursuing +the fugitives and effecting an awful retreat. The Christians lost on +this occasion near six thousand men, besides prisoners, among whom +were many of considerable note. This loss was the accomplishment of +what Francis had foretold; and it showed, adds St. Bonaventure, "that +his valuable advice ought not to have been disregarded, since, according +to the words of the Holy Scriptures, 'the soul of a holy man discovereth +sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit on a high +place to watch.'" + +The faults of the Crusaders, and the ill-successes which often attended +their measures, have given room to minds disposed to censure, to condemn +all wars undertaken against infidels, or heretics. Nevertheless, the +Crusades, during two centuries, were suggested by the Sovereign +Pontiffs, and by the councils of the Church, proclaimed by most holy +personages, and authorized by their miracles; led by Christian princes +of all Europe, by many of our kings, by a Saint Louis, by men full of +religious zeal, such as Godfrey of Bouillon, and Simon, Count of +Montfort. Is there not the greatest rashness in including such men as +these in one sweeping condemnation? If all the Crusaders had not equally +pure intentions; if debauchery insinuated itself into their armies, +if prudence did not always regulate their proceedings; if sometimes +even success did not crown their best-concerted measures, are these +sufficient grounds for blaming the enterprise, or, are we only to judge +of measures by the event? + +Saint Bernard preached the crusade which was decided on in the year +1144, of which Louis VII, King of France, had first formed the plan, +and of which Pope Eugenius III, and the bishops of France approved. +The preaching of the holy abbot was publicly supported by a prodigious +number of miracles, which even his humility could not dissemble. Two +powerful armies, the one commanded by the Emperor Conrad III, the other +by the King of France, with the princes and nobility of the states, +were calculated to inspire the infidels with terror. Nevertheless, +from various causes, nothing could have been more unfortunate than the +issue of this war; and, as the loss of these two armies was felt through +the whole of France and through the whole of Germany, where St. Bernard +had preached, and promised glorious success, public indignation fell +upon him, and he was treated as a false prophet. What he wrote to Pope +Eugenius in his justification, must be considered as an answer to all +those who, even in these days, condemn the Crusades, the result of +which was disastrous. He says, that Moses, in God's name, had solemnly +promised the people of Israel to lead them into a very fertile land, +and that God had even confirmed that promise by splendid miracles; +that, nevertheless, all those who went out of Egypt perished in the +desert without entering into the land of promise, in punishment of the +sins of the people during the journey; that it cannot be said that +this punishment was a contradiction of the promise, because the promises +which God, in His goodness, makes to man, never prejudice the rights +of His justice; and this reasoning the Saint applies to the crimes +committed in the armies of the Crusades. + +This digression may, perhaps, appear long, but we could not dispense +with it for the honor of the religious and of the preceding ages; and, +besides, it is connected with the life of St. Francis, who certainly +approved of the Crusades, although, by a supernatural inspiration, he +blamed a particular enterprise of the Crusaders which had the +unfortunate issue which he had foretold. + +The ardor of his charity which urged him to labor for the conversion +of the Saracens, and to expose himself to martyrdom, induced him to +take the resolution to present himself to the Sultan of Egypt. "We +saw," says James de Vitry, "Brother Francis, the founder of the Order +of the Friars Minor, a simple and unlearned man, though very amiable +and beloved by God and man, who was respected universally. He came to +the Christian army, which was lying before Damietta, and an excess of +fervor had such an effect upon him, that, protected solely by the +shield of faith, he had the daring to go to the sultan's camp to preach +to him and to his subjects the faith of Jesus Christ." + +The two armies were in sight of each other, and there was great danger +in going from one to the other, particularly as the sultan had promised +a handsome reward in gold to any one who should bring him a Christian's +head. But this would not deter such a soldier of Jesus Christ as was +Francis, who, far from fearing death, eagerly sought it. He betook +himself to prayer, from which he arose full of strength and confidence, +saying with the prophet: "Since Thou art with me, O Lord, I will fear +no evil, though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death;" +and he set out for the infidel camp. + +Two sheep which he met on setting out, gave him much joy. He said to +his companion: "My brother, have confidence in the Lord, the word of +the Gospel is being fulfilled in us, which says: 'Behold I send you +forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.'" In fact, only a very little +farther on, some Saracens rushed upon them, as wolves upon sheep, +insulted and beat them, and bound them. Francis said: "I am a Christian, +lead me to your master;" and God permitted that he should be so led +to comply with the desire of His servant. The Sultan Meledin asked him +who sent them, and for what purpose they came? Francis answered with +courageous firmness: "We are not sent by men, but it is the Most High +who sends us, in order that I may teach you and your people the way +of salvation, by pointing out to you the truths of the Gospel." He +immediately preached to him, with great fervor, the dogma of one God +in three Persons, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind. + +Then was seen verified what our Saviour said to His apostles. "For I +will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not +be able to resist or gainsay." Meledin became so mild and tractable, +that, admiring the courage of Francis, he listened quietly to him for +some days, and invited him to stay with him. The man of God said: "If +you and your people will be converted, I will remain for the love of +Jesus Christ. And if you hesitate between His law and that of Mahomet, +let a great fire be lit up, and I will go into it with your priests, +in order that you may see thereby which is the faith to follow." "I +do not believe," replied the sultan, "that any of our priests would +go into the fire, or suffer any torments for his religion." He answered +thus because he perceived that as soon as the fire was proposed, one +of the eldest of the priests, one who was of the most considerable of +them, got quickly away. "If you will promise me," added Francis, "that +yourself and your people will embrace the Christian faith, in case I +come forth from the fire safe and sound, I will enter it alone; if I +am burnt let it be imputed to my sins; but if God preserve me, you +will then acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the true God and Saviour +of mankind." + +Meledin acknowledged that he dared not accept this challenge, lest it +should be the cause of a sedition; but he offered him rich presents +which the servant of God despised from his heart as so much dirt. Such +entire disengagement from the good things of this world inspired the +prince with such veneration and confidence that he entreated the Saint +to receive his presents, and to distribute them among the poor +Christians or to the churches for the salvation of his soul. Francis +who had a loathing of money, and who did not find in the sultan any +groundwork of religion, persisted in his refusal of these offers. He, +moreover, thought it was time to leave the infidels when he saw no +prospect of effecting any good, and where he had no further chance of +gaining the crown of martyrdom; and he learnt by a revelation that +what he intended was conformable to the will of God. The sultan, on +his part, fearing that some of his people might be moved by the +discourse of Francis, and, being converted, might join the Christian +army, caused him to be escorted with marks of consideration to the +Christian camp before Damietta, after having said to him in private: +"Pray for me, that God may make known what religion is most agreeable +to Him, in order that I may embrace it." + +Was it not a sight worthy of God, worthy of angels, and of men, to see +on one side Francis, clothed in sackcloth, pale, emaciated, disfigured +by his penitential austerities, pass through an army of infidels, and +present himself boldly before their sovereign, speak to him against +the law of their prophet, and exhort him to acknowledge the divinity +of Jesus Christ? and, on the other side, the Sultan of Egypt, the +mortal enemy of the Christians, elated by the victory he had just +gained over them, and anxious to shed more of their blood, suddenly +lose all his ferocity, become mild and tractable, listen attentively +to the poor one of Jesus Christ, endeavor to retain him, offer him +large presents, admire his poverty, his disinterestedness, his courage, +ask the aid of his prayers, that he might know and embrace the true +religion, and send him back to the Christian camp with honor? How +certain it is that the religion of Jesus Christ will never be made +more respectable and amiable to the infidels than by the practice of +the exalted virtues which it teaches, and by which it became established +in the world. + +Another scene which is not less striking in the eyes of piety, is the +heart of Francis, burning with anxiety to shed his blood for the glory +of his Master, and not being able to satisfy that ardor. Already, in +the hope of attaining it, he had embarked for Syria, and contrary winds +had driven him back to the Christian shores. He had gone into Spain +in order to pass into Africa, when a violent illness compelled him to +desist from the undertaking. He thinks he already grasps the palm, +when he finds himself in Egypt; in order to hasten the accomplishment +of his desires, he places himself in the hands of the infidels, and +attacks the tyrant on his throne; when, instead of the opprobrium and +tortures which he sought, he finds nothing but mildness and curiosity, +attentions and honor. He seeks for martyrdom, and martyrdom flies from +him. "It was," St. Bonaventure remarks, "by an admirable disposition +of Divine Providence, who chose that the ardent desire of his faithful +servant should give him the merit of martyrdom, and that his life +should be preserved to receive the glorious stigmata which were to be +impressed on his body by a singular prerogative, in reward of his great +love for Jesus crucified, who inflamed his heart." + +Wading relates, upon the authority of a religious of the Order, who +was a contemporary of St. Francis, whose name was Ugolino of St. Mary +of the Mount, corroborated by some other writers of the Order, that +the sultan was converted and baptized. Some later authors deny this, +and remark that they have mistaken the Sultan of Egypt for the Sultan +of Ieonium, who never saw St. Francis, and of whom James of Vitry says, +that he was believed to have received baptism at his death which +happened in the year when Damietta was besieged. It is admitted that +Wading was mistaken in quoting this passage to prove the conversion +of the Sultan of Egypt, but that does not weaken the evidence of +Ugolino. He says that Francis went a second time to the sultan before +his return to Italy. He urged him to be converted. The Saint, not being +able to induce him to overcome the human obstacles which stood in the +way, prayed fervently for him for several successive days, and then +felt that his prayers were heard. This he communicated to Meledin, who +imbibed still greater affection for him, and wished to detain him, but +he departed according to the command that he had received from heaven. +Some years after, this prince being dangerously ill, the Saint appeared +to two of his religious who were in Syria and ordered them to go to +him, instruct him, baptize him, and remain with him till he should +expire; all this was complied with. There is nothing in this legend +which is not very probable, and which is not consistent with +circumstances that cannot be called into question: + +1. We have seen, in the narratives of James of Vitry, and of St. +Bonaventure, that Meledin said to Francis: "Pray for me, that God may +make known to me which religion is most agreeable to Him;" and that +he wished to induce him to receive his presents, in order to distribute +them to the poor Christians, or to the churches, for the salvation of +his soul. + +2. After he had seen the holy man, he treated the Christians with great +humanity, and shortly after their discomfiture, he sent some of his +prisoners to their camp, to offer terms of peace. In the year 1221, +their army, which was coming to offer him battle, entangled itself +between two branches of the Nile, where it must have inevitably +perished. "He behaved to his enemies," says one of our authors, "in +such a manner as could not reasonably have been expected from a Saracen, +and which in these days would do honor to a Christian prince were he +to do it." + +3. An author, whose testimony on such a point is beyond suspicion, +says, "that this sultan, being on his deathbed, caused a large sum of +money to be distributed among the poor Christians who were sick in the +hospitals, and that he left a considerable revenue for the same purpose; +that he enfranchised many slaves, that he had performed various other +acts of mercy, and that his death was greatly lamented by the +Christians, whom he spared to the utmost of his power. The Emperor +Frederic was inconsolable after Meledin's death, having had strong +hopes that he would receive baptism according to a promise he had given +him, and that he would strenuously contribute to the propagation of +Christianity in the Levant." + +4. It may have happened that St. Francis who was then in heaven, +appeared to two of the religious of his Order, and that he sent them +to Meledin; that these religious instructed and baptized him; and that +the thing was done secretly from the circumstances of the times; that +the authors of those times were not informed of it, and that Ugolino +learned it from the religious themselves. In short, it is not improbable +that the conversion of this soul should have been granted to the zeal, +labors, prayers and tears of such a friend of God as St. Francis. Thus, +the baptism of the sultan is not so very uncertain, and those who have +recorded it have not given the Saint praise which may be called false, +as Wading has been acrimoniously taxed with. After all, if Meledin was +not converted, it is a judgment of God, which those must be fearful +of who recommend themselves to the prayers of the pious, forming +projects of conversion, and even doing some good works, who yet +positively resist the grace vouchsafed them, which requires an effectual +change of heart. If he was converted, which is probable, it was a great +effect of divine mercy, which sinners must not abuse by deferring their +repentance; these graces are very rarely given, and those who wait for +them run great risk of their salvation. + +There is reason for thinking that Meledin gave Francis and his +companions leave to preach in his dominions, since it is well known +that the Friars Minor began from that time to spread themselves amongst +the Saracens, as James de Vitry says:--"Even the Saracens, blinded as +they are, admire the humility and perfection of the Friars Minor, +receive them well, and provide them cheerfully with all the necessaries +of life, when they go boldly amongst them to preach the gospel; they +listen to them willingly, speaking of Jesus Christ and His doctrine; +but they beat them and drive them away if they attack Mahomet, and +hold him as a liar and infidel." + +An anecdote, related by St. Bonaventure, may have easily happened in +those times. A Saracen seeing some Friars Minor, was moved by their +poverty and offered them some money, which they refused to accept, and +this astonished him. Having understood that it was for the love of God +that they refused money, he conceived such a liking for them, that he +undertook to provide them with everything necessary as long as he was +able to do so. The holy doctor exclaims on this:--"O inestimable +excellence of poverty, which is so powerful to inspire a barbarian +with such tender and generous compassion!" It would be a shameful and +very criminal thing, were Christians to despise and trample under foot +this precious evangelical pearl, for which a Mahometan showed such +esteem and respect. + +While Francis remained in Egypt, he did not gather much fruit from +among the infidels; but his words were a fertile seed which his +disciples reaped the abundant harvest of, when afterwards sent thither +by Gregory IX and Innocent III. + +The Saracens were not the only objects of the zeal of Francis. He +labored also for the salvation of the Christians in the army of the +Crusaders, and some of them became his disciples. James de Vitry, +Bishop of Acre, writing to his friends in Lorraine informed them that +Renier, the Prior of St. Michael, had joined the Order of the Friars +Minor; and that three of the most eminent of his clergy had followed +his example, and that it was with difficulty he prevented the chorister +and several others from taking the same course, to which he adds that +this religious Order spreads fast in the world because it is an exact +imitation of the form of the primitive Church, and of the life of the +Apostles. + +The most ancient records of the Order assure us that after some months' +residence in Egypt, the holy Patriarch went to Palestine, and visited +the holy places, but they enter into no particulars. What we may safely +conjecture is, that God, who led him into the Holy Land, seemed to say +to him, as He had said to Abraham: "Arise and walk through the land +in the length and in the breadth thereof, for I will give it to thee." + +Rather more than a hundred years after his death, the Sultan of Egypt +permitted the Friars Minor to take charge of the Holy Sepulchre of our +Lord, and they still have the care of it in the midst of the infidels, +under the protection of the Eldest Son of the Church. This privilege, +which is so honorable for the Order of St. Francis, is justly considered +by them as the fruit of the fervent devotion of the blessed Patriarch +to Jesus Christ crucified. + +From Palestine Francis went to Antioch, the capital of Syria, and +passed by the black mountain, where there was a celebrated monastery +of the order of St. Benedict. The abbot who had died only a short time +before, had foretold that a saintly man would soon come to their house, +who was much beloved by God, the Patriarch, of a great Order, who would +be poorly attired and of mean appearance, but very much to be revered; +in consequence of which the religious, hearing of his coming, went in +procession to meet him, and received him with all the honors due to +a man of God. He remained some days with them, and the holiness which +they observed in him made such an impression upon them, that they +embraced his Institute, placing all their effects at the disposition +of the patriarch of Antioch. Some other monasteries followed their +example; and, in a few years, there was a flourishing province in that +country, which continued until such time as the Saracens ravaged the +whole of Syria. + +While Francis was thus employed in extending his Order in the East, +Brother Elias, who was his vicar-general in the West, was destroying +it there. He said to the religious, in their conferences, that the +life of their Founder was worthy of the highest praise, but that it +was not given to all to imitate it; that among the things which he had +prescribed for them, some appeared in the eyes of prudence very +difficult of observance, others absolutely impracticable and beyond +the strength of man; that, in the opinion of the most prudent, some +modification was requisite and some change required, some practices +necessary, which were not so strictly regular--by specious insinuations +of this nature, he brought over many to his opinions, and even some +of the provincials who ventured to represent the simplicity of their +Father as imprudent. The vicar-general, nevertheless, in conjunction +with the ministers, made some regulations for the government of the +provinces which were very useful; but, by a strange inconsistency, at +the time when they were talking of modifications, they prescribed total +abstinence from meat, and forbade its use either in or out of the +cloisters, which was a direct contradiction of the rule, which permits +the Friars Minor, except in times of fasting, to eat, according to the +terms of the Gospel, whatsoever is put before them. + +All those who had the true spirit of God were greatly grieved to see +that human prudence was preferred to the divine will, and that the +vineyard of the Lord was rendered desolate by Brother Elias. They put +up fervent prayers to God for the speedy return of their pastor, so +necessary for the flock; and, after having secretly concerted together, +they sent Brother Stephen into Syria, to communicate to their Founder +what was going on. Stephen went and gave him a full detail of all +things. Francis was not cast down by this deplorable intelligence, but +he had recourse to God, and recommended to His protection the family +he had received from him. As to the regulation which prescribed entire +abstinence from meat, he, with great humility, asked the advice of +Peter of Catana, who replied: "It is not for me to judge; it is for +the legislator to decide thereon, as on all the rest." Francis deferred +the decision till his return, and embarked immediately for Italy. + +His voyage was not a long one; they soon anchored at the Isle of Candia, +from whence they came to Venice where they landed. He sent circular +letters to convene the chapter which he proposed holding at the ensuing +Michaelmas, to remedy the evil which had been brought about by Brother +Elias. He built a small chapel near the Venetian lakes, (Lagunes,) in +which two of his religious were to say the Divine Office, in memory +of an extraordinary thing which happened to him at this place. + +The Saint then went to Padua, Bergamo, Brescia, the island of the lake +of Garda, to Cremona and Mantua; at all these places there were convents +of his Order. We are assured that St. Dominic joined him on his way; +that they conferred together and with John of Navarra de Torniella, +Bishop of Bergamo, on the salvation of souls; that they made some pious +visits to the solitaries of the valley of Astino, and that the patriarch +of the Friars Preachers celebrated Mass there, that of the Minors being +the deacon at the service. When they were in spiritual conference at +Cremona, the religious came to request them to bless the well, and to +solicit the Almighty to purify the water which was thick and muddy. +Dominic, at the entreaty of Francis, blessed a vessel full of the +water, and caused it to be thrown back into the well, and all water +that subsequently was drawn from it was clear and wholesome to drink. + +The two saints separated, but, shortly after, met again at Bologna. +Francis going to Bologna, met a woman whose son was epileptic, and who +came to beg the aid of his prayers. He wrote on a slip of paper some +short but very devout ejaculatory prayers which he thought might be +taken to the sick youth; they had no sooner been given to him, than +he was entirely cured; in gratitude whereof, he placed himself at the +service of the Friars Minor in the convent of Parma. + +The reputation of the holy man was so great that, according to Sigonius, +the streets were choked with the number of students who wished to see +and hear him. It was with difficulty that way was made for him to reach +the principal square, where he preached in so sublime a manner that +they thought they heard an angel and not a man. The greater part of +the audience was converted; and many solicited the habit of the Order, +among whom were Nicholas of Pepulis, Bonizio, Pelerino, Falleroni, and +Riger or Ricer of Modena. Nicholas was that learned jurisconsult who +had been so kind to Bernard de Quintavalle in 1211, when every one had +treated him with contempt at Bologna. Bonizio excelled in the love of +holy poverty, and was very useful to the Saint in affairs of importance, +by the talent he had of managing with prudence. Pelerino and Riger +were young gentlemen from the Marches of Ancona, who were students at +Bologna--to them Francis foretold all they would do in the course of +their lives. The first would only be a lay-brother, although he was +well versed in canon-law; it was said of him that when he was in +company with men of the world, either from necessity or from charitable +motives, he left them as soon as he could; and when he was censured +for so doing as being guilty of rudeness, he replied: "When we have +sought Jesus Christ our Master, we have never found Him either amongst +relatives or amongst our acquaintances." The second attached himself +to his holy Patriarch, and strove to imitate him in all things. Although +he was eminently favored with the gift of chastity, he nevertheless +avoided with great care the conversation of females, and he said to +those with whom he was intimate, who were surprised at it: "I should +perhaps lose the gift with which I have been favored, by a just judgment +of God, if I took fewer precautions: he who loves danger will perish +in it." + +Here is an authentic testimonial as to one of the sermons which Francis +preached at Bologna in the year 1220; it is taken from the Archives +of the church of Spalatro, and it is found in the history of the bishops +of Bologna, written by Sigonius: + +"I, Thomas, citizen of Spalatro, and archdeacon of the cathedral of +the same town, saw, in the year 1220, on the day of the Assumption of +the Mother of God, St. Francis preach in the square in front of the +little palace where almost the whole city was collected. He began his +sermon thus: 'The angels, the men, and the demons.' He spoke of these +intelligent beings so well and with such precision, that many learned +men who heard him, were astonished to hear such a discourse from the +mouth of so simple a man. He did not diverge to draw a moral from +different subjects, as preachers usually do, but as those who dilate +upon one point, he brought everything to bear upon the sole object of +restoring peace, concord, and union which had been totally destroyed +by cruel dissensions. He was very poorly clad, his countenance was +pale and wan, and his whole appearance was uninviting; but God gave +such force and efficiency to his words, that they led to the +reconciliation of a great number of gentlemen who were greatly +exasperated against each other, and whose irritation had caused the +shedding of no small quantity of blood. The love and veneration for +the Saint were so universal, and went so far, that men and women ran +to him in crowds, and those esteemed themselves fortunate who could +only touch the hem of his garments." + +The author who records this testimonial adds that he performed miracles +also in Bologna. A child of quality was taken to him, who had what is +called a pearl on his eye, which rendered his eye quite blind, and no +remedy could be found for it. Francis made the sign of the cross over +him from the head to the feet, and he was perfectly cured. Having +subsequently entered the Institute of his miraculous physician, he saw +much better with the eye on which the pearl had been than with the +other. This miracle, which was known throughout the city, increased +the zeal and respect which the Bolognese had for the servant of God +so much, that they could not tear themselves from him, and they gave +him a second house for his Institute, situated in a wood about a mile +from the town. + +After these apostolical functions, he went to see Cardinal Ugolino, +who was then legate in Lombardy, by whom he was received with marks +of the most sincere affection. He proposed next to visit the convent +of his Order which was close to one of the gates of Bologna, but as +soon as he saw it, finding it much more spacious and handsome than was +requisite for strict poverty, he turned away his eyes from it, and +said indignantly: "Is this the dwelling of the poor Evangelical +laborers? Such grand and superb palaces, are they for Friars Minor? +I do not acknowledge this house as one of ours, and I do not look upon +those who dwell in it as my brethren. I, therefore, order and enjoin +all those who wish to continue to bear the name of Friars Minor, to +leave this house forthwith, and to give up to the rich of the world +buildings which are only fit for them." + +He was so implicitly obeyed, that even the sick, among whom was Brother +Leo, one of his first companions, who is the relator of this +circumstance, were carried out on the shoulders of their brethren and +exposed to the air. There they all remained till the arrival of the +legate, who, having been informed of what was going on, had come and +appeased the holy man. He represented to him that it was necessary to +allow the convents to be more spacious, in order that the infirm might +have more air for restoring their health; and that such as were well +should have more room for relaxing their minds. "But as to the +property," he added, "I can assure you that your brethren have no part +in it, as it remains entirely to the founders. Moreover, if you have +any further scruples on the subject, I declare to you that I take the +whole upon myself in the name of the Holy Roman Church." + +Francis could not resist the powerful reason of the prudent and pious +legate, the protector of his Order. He, therefore, consented that his +brethren should remain in the convent; he even ordered them to return +to it, but he would not go into it himself, and he chose to take the +repose which nature required, in the house of the Friars Preachers, +where he passed some days with his friend Saint Dominic. + +It would appear that St. Bonaventure had this circumstance in view, +when he said: "that if it happened that St. Francis found in the houses +which his brethren occupied, anything which looked like property, or +that was too elegant, he wished the houses to be pulled down, or that +the religious should quit them, because he maintained that the Order +was grounded on Evangelical poverty as its principal foundation, so +that if this poverty was adhered to in it, it would flourish, but that +it would perish if it was set aside." + +While the Saint was with the Friars Preachers, one of them, from +feelings of compassion, begged him to return to his children, and to +pardon the fault they had committed, but he replied: "Indulgence which +gives rise to an easy relapse into sin, is not be commended. I will +not sanction by my presence what has been committed against holy +poverty." This charitable religious endeavored to induce him at least +to see them, in order that they might be made aware of their fault, +and be corrected. "We will come back here together," he said, "if you +do not choose to remain there, after having performed this duty of +superior." Francis yielded to this prudent advice; he went to his +children, and seeing them grieved and repentant, and ready to receive +the penance he might inflict, he pardoned them. + +His indulgence did not extend to the provincial, whose name was John +de Strachia, one of those who wished to have the rule mitigated in +1219. He censured him severely for having had so beautiful a house +built, or, at least, for having permitted it to be built. He upbraided +him in strong terms for having, without consulting him, opened a school +for the studies of the Friars Minor, and for having made regulations +for its conduct more favorable to science than to piety. He did away +with this school, because he chose that his religious should pray +rather than study, and that the other provincials might learn to be +more humble and more religious in all that had relation to studies. + +And here we must advert to what happened at a later period; the +provincial had the rashness to reestablish the school after the +departure of the Founder, who, having been informed of it, and knowing +from interior revelation the obduracy of this man, cursed him publicly, +and deposed him at the ensuing chapter. The Saint was entreated to +withdraw this curse, and to give his blessing to Brother John, who was +a noble and learned man, but he answered: "I cannot bless him whom the +Lord has cursed." A dreadful reply which was soon after verified. This +unfortunate man died, exclaiming: "I am damned and cursed for all +eternity." Some frightful circumstances which followed after his death +confirmed his awful prognostic. Such a malediction which pride and +disobedience brought upon this learned man, ought to strike terror +into those vain men who forsake piety for science, and in whom great +talents have no other effect than to produce in them great attachment +to their own conceits, and proud indocility, which induces, at length, +even a revolt against the Church. + +St. Francis was not averse to studies, as will be seen, when, two years +after, he caused theology to be taught. But he chose that they should +so study as not to extinguish the spirit of prayer. He approved of +science, but of that only, which the Holy Spirit calls religious, which +is sanctified by the fear of the Lord, of which St. Augustine says: +"that it is the companion of charity, and teaches humility." + +Cardinal Ugolino proposed to the Servant of God that they should make +a retreat of some days together, at Camaldoli, in order to give his +body some rest, which was borne down by fatigue, and relax his mind +from the various cares which oppressed it. He willingly assented to +this, because he liked the life of a recluse. They, therefore, went +to this holy solitude, and they remained there nearly a month, solely +employed in meditation on heavenly things. The cardinal took a cell +at the entry of the desert where it is still to be seen; and Francis +took one near it, which had been inhabited by St. Romnald. It has since +taken the name of St. Francis' cell, and is only occupied by the prior, +or major of Camaldoli. The writers of the country add, that the festival +of St. Francis is celebrated solemnly there, and that it is decreed +by the statutes that the anthem which the Friars Minor chant shall be +sung on that day: Salve, Sancte Pater, &c. + +The two pious solitaries went from thence to Mount Alvernia, where +they only stayed a few days. The cardinal returned to Bologna, and +Francis took the route for Assisi, in order to open the chapter at St. +Mary of the Angels, as he had given notice. + +On the way, St. Bonaventure acquaints us what occurred to him. His +infirmities and fatigue having compelled him to mount on an ass, his +companion, Leonard of Assisi, who followed him on foot, and was also +very much fatigued, gave way to human feelings, and said to himself: +"His parents were not the equals of mine; yet, there he rides, and I +am forced to trudge on foot and lead him." As he was thus giving way +to these thoughts, Francis, to whom God had made known what was passing +in Leonard's mind, dismounted, and said: "No, brother, it is not fitting +that I should ride while you walk on foot, because you are better born +than I am, and are of greater consideration in the world." Leonard, +greatly surprised, and blushing for shame, threw himself at his Father's +feet, acknowledged his fault, and with tears solicited his pardon. + +As soon as the holy Patriarch entered the Valley of Spoleto, his +children came in crowds from various parts to meet him, and to +congratulate him on his return. He was greatly gratified on seeing +them, and communicated freely with them, encouraging the weak, consoling +those who were in affliction, censuring such as were in fault, and +exhorting them all to adhere strictly to the rules. It was there that +he received a confirmation of the complaints which had been made to +him in the Levant, against the government of Elias, his vicar general, +and he had himself the proof of it. + +Elias ventured to present himself to him, in a newer habit and one +made of finer cloth than those of the other brethren, the cowl of which +was longer and the sleeves wider, and he assumed an air little suitable +to his profession. Francis, dissembling what was passing in his mind, +said to him before the assistants:--"I beg you to lend me that habit." +Elias did not dare refuse: he went aside and took it off and brought +it to him. Francis put it on over his own, smoothed it down, plaited +it nicely under the girdle, threw the cowl over his head, and then, +strutting fiercely with his head erect, he paced three or four times +round the company, saying, in a loud voice :--"God preserve you, good +people." Then taking the habit off indignantly, he threw it from him +with contempt, and, turning to Elias, "That is the way," he said, "that +the bastard brethren of our Order will strut." After this he resumed +his usual demeanor and walked humbly with his old and tattered habit, +saying:--"Such is the deportment of the true Friars Minor." Then, +seating himself amongst them, he addressed them in the mildest manner, +and spoke on poverty and humility, of which he so forcibly pointed out +the perfection, that it seemed to them that those whom they had +previously considered the poorest and most humble, had made but small +advance in the practice of those two virtues. In fine, he annulled all +the novelties which the vicar-general had introduced into the Order +during his absence, except the prohibition of eating meat, which he +thought it necessary to retain some time longer, lest he might be +thought to encourage gluttony. + +The means he had taken to curb the foolish vanity of Brother Elias, +showed both his prudence and his authority, and made such an impression +on his disciples, that there was not one of them who ventured to say +a word in favor of the vicar-general, although he had his partisans +amongst them. Some time afterwards, the Patriarch had an opportunity +of taking off the prohibition of eating meat, in consequence of a +wonderful event which is worthy of being recorded. + +A young man in the dress of a traveller, came in haste to the door of +the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels, and said to Brother Masse, who +was the porter:--"I wish to speak to Brother Francis, but I know he +is meditating in the woods; call Brother Elias to me, who is said to +be learned and prudent, in order that he may satisfy a doubt which +presses upon me." The porter was turned away by Brother Elias, and was +puzzled what reply to give the stranger, not to scandalize him, and +not to say what was untrue. The young man anticipated him, saying: +"Brother Elias does not choose to come, I must therefore beg you to +go to Brother Francis, in order that he may order him to come to speak +to me." Masse went, and did as he was requested, and Francis, having +his eyes fixed on heaven, said, without changing his position:--"Go +and tell Brother Elias that I order him to speak to the young man." + +This order vexed Elias, and he came to the door in great irritation, +asking what he was wanted for? "Do not be angry," said the young man, +"I ask you, if those who profess to follow the Gospel may not eat +whatever is given to them, as Jesus Christ has observed; and if any +one may rightfully direct the contrary?" Elias, seizing hastily the +door to shut it, said:--"I know all that, and have no answer to give +you but: go your ways." The young man replied:--"I cannot tell what +you would answer, but I know very well that you ought to give an +answer." + +When Elias got calm in his cell, he reflected on what had passed, and +on what would be proper to say in answer to the question which had +been put to him; and, finding it difficult, and being sorry that he +had given the young man so ungracious a reception, in whom he thought +he had remarked something extraordinary, he returned to speak to him, +but he was gone and could not be found. Francis learned from God that +it was an angel, and, on his return to the convent, he said to Brother +Elias:--"You do what is not right; you turn contemptuously away angels +who come from God to visit and instruct us; I greatly fear that your +pride will render you unworthy of the humble institution of Friars +Minor, and that you will die out of that state." It was then that he +revoked the statute which forbade eating meat. + +Bernard of Quintavalle returning from Spain and being on the border +of a river which he could not cross, the same angel appeared to him +in the same form, and greeted him in the Italian language. Bernard, +surprised at hearing the language of his country, and taken with the +good looks of the young man who addressed him, asked him from whence +he came. The angel then told him what had just occurred between him +and Brother Elias. He took him by the hand, carried him across the +river, and disappeared, leaving him so full of consolation, that he +had no fatigue during the remainder of his journey. When he arrived +in Italy, and had related the circumstance, with the day and hour, he +found that it was in fact the same angel. + +Before the opening of the chapter, Francis, reflecting mournfully on +the relaxation which had been introduced into his Order by those who +ought to have been most zealous in promoting the purity of its +observance, had a vision which was very extraordinary. A great statue +appeared before him, and he saw it with his bodily eyes; it greatly +resembled that which Nabuchodonosor had seen in a dream, the +interpretation of which had been given him by the Prophet Daniel. God +chose to employ this mode to acquaint the holy Patriarch with the +various revolutions which would take place in his Order, and he +signified them to him by the statue itself, by the different metals +of which it was composed, either thus to modify by these humiliating +foreshowings the honor which he derived from being the Founder of so +wonderful a work as that of the establishment of his Order; or to +inspire him with the intention of sending up fervent prayers to heaven, +which should draw down graces on his flock at all times, which, in +fact, he did with a profusion of tears; or, in fine, it was a foresight +given him of the relaxations which would be introduced, to enable him +to advise his religious to be more vigilant, as St. Paul had predicted +the errors and irregularities which were to occur in the Church, in +order to excite the vigilance of the bishops. + +In Nabuchodonosor's vision, a stone was separated from the mountain, +which, striking the feet of the statue, shivered it to pieces; the +statue was wholly broken, and disappeared. This did not occur in the +vision which Francis had; for the great body of religion which it +represented, which has had its vicissitudes, as all others (and with +more lustre than any, because of its more extensive and greater exposure +to the eyes of the public) has nevertheless continued to have existence, +to maintain itself, to serve the Church at all times, and to furnish +it with saints. It has even often renewed itself with features which +bring to mind its primitive beauty; by which it may be said to be a +type of the mystical body of Jesus Christ, which notwithstanding the +decay of ages, does not cease to have vigorous and healthy members who +are as fervent as those of the earliest periods. + +The holy Founder having listened to all that was said against the +government of Brother Elias, and to what he had alleged in his +justification, held his chapter on the Festival of St. Michael, in the +Convent of Portiuncula. He substituted Brother Gratian, in the place +of Brother John of Strachia, as Provincial of Bologna, of which we +have spoken before; and Brother Peter of Catania, in place of Brother +Elias. Peter had been the second of his disciples, and into his hands +he committed the whole guidance of his Order, not only because he did +not think himself able to look to it in person, on account of the +multitude of religious now belonging to it, and on account of his +infirmity, but in order to improve himself in the virtue of humility, +to which he was so much attached. + +He then assembled them and said:--"I am now dead to you all; there is +Peter of Catania, who is your superior, whom henceforward we must all +obey, you and I," and prostrating himself at the feet of Peter, he +promised to obey him in all things as minister general of the Order. +This title of minister general was displeasing to the religious, who +did not wish it should be given to any one during the lifetime of their +Father, and they agreed that he who took his place should only have +the title of vicar general. + +Francis being on his knees, with his hands clasped, and his eyes lifted +up to heaven, said, with affecting emotion: "My Lord Jesus Christ, I +recommend to Thee this family, which is Thine own, and which up to +this moment Thou hast confided to me. Thou knowest that my infirmities +incapacitate me from having any longer the care of it; I leave it in +the hands of the ministers; if it should so happen that on their part, +negligence, scandal, or too great severity, should be the cause of any +one of the brethren perishing, they will render to Thee, O Lord, an +account of it at the day of judgement." + +From that time till his death he continued as much as it was in his +power in the humble state of an inferior, although he did not fail to +communicate to the superiors the lights which God gave him for the +good government of the Order, and on several occasions he could not +avoid acting as its Founder and General. + +St. Dominic, his friend, had similar feelings as to the employments +of office. In this year he held the first chapter of his Order at +Bologna, and wished to resign the station of superior, of which his +humility made him consider himself incapable and unworthy; but his +religious would not permit it. These have been the feelings of all the +saints, because they knew that, for the purpose of salvation, it is +safer to obey than to command. Eight days before the chapter, Pope +Honorious issued a bull addressed to Francis, and to the superiors of +the Friars Minor, by which he forbade them to receive any one to +profession, unless after a twelvemonth's probation, and directing that, +after profession, no one whosoever should leave the order; forbidding, +also, any persons from receiving such as should quit it. What gave +rise to this measure was that, at the commencement of the Order of +Friars Minor, and of that of the Preachers, there were some who made +their profession without a novitiate, according as the superiors thought +proper under different circumstances, and this sort of precipitate +engagement was found to have its inconveniences. + +Peter of Catania, acting as vicar general, and finding that he could +not provide for the multitude of religious who came to the Convent of +St. Mary of the Angels, as to the chief monastery of the Order, thought +that, in order to provide for this, some portion of the property of +the novices might be retained; on which he consulted Francis to know +whether he thought the suggestion proper, and if he would permit it. +Francis said: "My dear brother, God preserve us from this sort of +charity, which would render us impious in respect to our rule, in order +to acquire consideration in the sight of men." The vicar then asking +what he should do for the relief of the guests; "Strip the altar of +the Blessed Virgin," replied Francis, "take away all the ornaments +which are there; the Lord will send you what is requisite to restore +to his Mother what we shall employ in charity. Believe firmly that the +Virgin will be pleased to see her altar stripped, rather than that +there should be any contravention of the Gospel of her Son;" and he +took occasion again strenuously to recommend holy poverty. + +He also said many things relative to books, to science, and to +preaching, which will be recorded in another part of his life. Brother +Casar of Spires, who had been professor of theology before becoming +a Friar Minor, and who was a man of great piety, having heard all that +the Father said on the subject of science, and the learned, had a long +conversation with him on the state of his soul, and on the observance +of the rule, which he concluded thus: "My Father, I have made a firm +resolution, with God's grace, to observe the Gospel and the rule, +according to the instruction of Jesus Christ, until my death; and now, +I have a favor to ask you, which is that, if it may happen in my +lifetime that some should swerve from it, as you have foretold, you +give me your blessing from this moment, and your leave to separate +myself from such transgressors, in order that I may adhere to the rule +alone with those who have a like zeal with myself." Rejoicing at this +proposition, Francis embraced him and blessed him, saying: "Know, my +son, that what you solicit is granted to you by Jesus Christ, and by +me;" and placing his hands on his head, he added: "Thou art a priest +forever according to the order of Melchisedech"--the holy man desiring +to have it understood thereby that all the promises he had received +from Jesus Christ, would have their accomplishment to the end, in those +who adhered to the rule. + +It was at this time that he addressed a letter to the religious of his +Order, and particularly to the priests, upon the profound veneration +which we ought to have for that august mystery of the Eucharist. + +In the course of the year 1220, Francis received the news of the +martyrdom of the five religious whom he had sent to Morocco. We must +relate the circumstances, more at length, since they belong to the +life of the holy Patriach, who gave this mission to these valorous +soldiers of Jesus Christ, and since they are the first martyrs of the +Order. + +Berardus, Peter, Otho, Ajut, Accursus, and Vital, their superior, +having left Italy for Morocco, after having received their Father's +blessing, as has already been noticed, arrived shortly after in the +kingdom of Arragon. There Vital was detained some time by a lingering +illness, which induced him to think that it was not God's will that +he should continue his journey. He therefore let the other five proceed, +who soon reached Coimbra, and were favorably received by Urraca, queen +of Portugal, the wife of King Alphonso II. This princess conceived so +high an opinion of their virtue and placed such confidence in them, +that she entreated them to pray to God to inform them of the time at +which she should die. They promised to do so, although they considered +themselves unworthy of making such a request; but they were so favorably +heard, that they foretold to the queen that they were to suffer +martyrdom with all the circumstances thereof; that their relics would +be brought to Coimbra, and that she would receive them honorably, after +which she would be called from this world. Predictions which were fully +verified. They went from thence to Alanquer, where the Princess Sancia, +sister to the king of Portugal, approving their plans, induced them +to put secular clothing over their religious habits, without which +precaution they would not have been able to pass into the territories +of Morocco. + +Having reached Seville, which was then occupied by the Moors, they +remained a week concealed in the house of a Christian, where they threw +off their secular clothing. Their zeal induced them to go forth, and +they got as far as the principal mosque, which they attempted to enter +in order to preach to the infidels, but they were driven back with +loud cries and severely beaten. From thence they went to the gate of +the palace, saying that they were ambassadors sent to the king from +Jesus Christ, the King of kings. They were introduced, and said many +things relative to the Christian religion, to induce the king to be +converted and receive baptism; but they afterwards added much against +Mahomet and against his law, which irritated him to such a degree, +that he ordered them to be beheaded; but being mollified by the +entreaties of his son, he was satisfied with having them confined at +the top of a tower, from whence he had them removed to the ground-floor, +because, from above, they continued to speak of Jesus Christ, and +against the prophet, to those who entered the palace. Having caused +them to be again brought before him, he engaged to pardon them, if +they would change their religion: "Prince," they replied, "would to +God that you would have mercy on yourself! Treat us as you think proper. +It is in your power to take away our lives, but we are sure that death +will lead us to a glorious immortality." The king, seeing their +unshakeable firmness, sent them, by the advice of his council, to +Morocco, with Don Pedro Fernandas de Castro, a gentlemen of Castile, +and some other Christians. + +They found there the Infant Don Pedro of Portugal, who had retired to +that country in consequence of some misunderstanding which he had with +his brother, King Alphonso, and who now commanded the troops of the +king of Morocco. This prince received them with great respect and +charity as apostolical men, and had them provided with every thing +necessary for their subsistence. Knowing what had occurred to them at +Seville, in consequence of their preaching, and seeing that, +consequently, they were still in a state of great weakness, he +endeavored to dissuade them from doing the same thing in Morocco; but +the generous missionaries, solely intent upon their pious object, +ceased not to preach without any fear, wherever they met with any +Saracens. + +One day, when Berardus was giving instruction to the people and was +declaiming against Mahomet from a wagon, the king passed by, going to +visit the tombs of his predecessors, and seeing that he continued his +talking notwithstanding his presence, he thought the declaimer must +be out of his mind, and instantly directed that all the five should +be driven out of the town, and sent back to the country of the +Christians. The Infant Don Juan gave them an escort to convey them to +Ceuta, whence they were to embark. On the road, they got stealthily +away from their escort, and returned to Morocco, where they recommenced +preaching in the great square. The king, being informed of this, became +greatly irritated, and had them imprisoned, in order to starve them +to death. They were there twenty days without food or drink. + +During this time the heat became so excessive and caused so much +sickness, that it was thought that the hand of God fell heavily upon +them to avenge his servants. The king became alarmed, and by the advice +of a Saracen named Abaturino, who loved the Christians, he liberated +the prisoners. They were extremely surprised to find that, after twenty +days' confinement, without any nourishment whatsoever, they came out +in full health and strength. + +As soon as they had left the prison, they were anxious to recommence +their preaching; but the other Christians, who were apprehensive of +the wrath of the king, opposed themselves to it, and had them taken +to the place of embarkation; but they again made their escape, and +returned to Morocco. Then the Infant Don Pedro was induced to keep +them in his palace, and to place guards over them to prevent their +appearing in public. + +This prince being obliged to set out, some short time after, to take +the command of the army which the king sent against some rebels, he +took the Friars Minor with him, as well as several other Christians, +fearing lest, during his absence, they should escape from those who +had charge of them. As he returned victorious, his army was three days +without water, and was reduced to the greatest distress. Brother +Bernardus resorted to prayer, and having made a hole in the ground +with a pickaxe, he caused a spring to flow from it, which sufficed for +the whole army, and enabled them to fill their goat-skins, after which +it dried up. So palpable a miracle procured for them from all parts +the greatest veneration. Many even went so far as to kiss their feet. + +When they returned to Morocco, the Infant continued to take the same +precautions as before, to prevent their appearing in public; +nevertheless, they found means to get out secretly one Friday, and to +present themselves before the king, as he was passing, according to +his custom, to visit the tombs of his predecessors. Berardus again got +upon a wagon, and spoke in his presence with astonishing intrepidity. +The king, irritated beyond control, gave orders to one of the princes +of his court to have them put to death. This prince only had them put +in prison, because he had witnessed the miracle which we have recorded +above. + +They were very ill-treated in this confinement, but continued to preach +even there, when there were either Christians or Saracens to listen +to them. All this occurred towards the end of the year 1219. + +At the beginning of the year 1220, the Saracen prince who had received +the order to put them to death, having sent for them from the prison, +found them very firm in their faith, and that they spoke with the same +boldness against their prophet Mahomet. He was so enraged at this, +that, forgetful of the miracle he had witnessed on the return of the +army, he directed them to be kept separated and tortured in various +ways. They tied their hands and feet, and dragged them along the ground +by a cord fastened round their necks, and they were so cruelly scourged +that their bowels nearly protruded. Thirty men who were employed for +this cruel service did not leave them till they had poured boiling +vinegar and oil into their wounds, and rolled them upon broken pieces +of earthenware covered with straw. + +Some of those who guarded them, saw a great light which came from +Heaven, and which seemed to raise these religious up, with an +innumerable number of other persons; they thought that they had left +the prison and entered it in great haste, where they found them in +fervent prayer. + +The king of Morocco, informed of what had been done, desired that they +might be brought into his presence. They brought them to him, their +hands tied, and they were driven in with blows and cuffs. A Saracen +prince who met them endeavored to induce them to embrace the law of +Mahomet. Brother Otho rejected the proposition with horror and spat +on the ground, to mark his contempt of such a religion; this brought +upon him a severe box on the ear, upon which he turned the other side, +according to the direction of the Gospel, and said to the prince:--"May +God forgive thee, for thou knowest not what thou doest." + +When they had reached the palace, the king said to them: "Are you then +those impious persons who despise the true faith, those foolish persons +who blaspheme the prophet sent from God?" "O king," they answered, "we +have no contempt for the true faith; on the contrary, we are ready to +suffer and die in its defence; but we detest your faith, and the wicked +man who was its author." The king, imagining that he might perhaps +gain them over by the love of pleasure, of riches or of honors, said +to them, in pointing out to them some Saracen women whom he had brought +there on purpose: "I will give you those women for wives, together +with large sums of money, and you shall be highly esteemed in my +kingdom, if you will embrace the law of Mahomet; if not, you shall die +by the sword." The confessors of the faith answered without hesitating: +"We want neither your women nor your money: keep those for yourself, +and let Jesus Christ be for us. Subject us to what tortures you please, +and take away our lives. All suffering is light to us, when we think +of the glories of heaven." Then the king, having lost all hopes of +overcoming them, took his scimitar, and with his own hand split their +skulls in two; and thus was completed the martyrdom of the five Friars +Minor, on the 16th of January, 1220. + +Their bodies, having been dragged out of the town and cut to pieces +by the infidels, were collected by the Christians; and the Infant Don +Pedro took them into Spain, from whence he sent them into Portugal to +King Alphonso, not daring as yet to revisit his own country. This king, +accompanied by Queen Urraca and some of the grandees of the kingdom, +came with the clergy to meet them, and had them placed with great pomp +in the monastery of Regular Canons of the Holy Cross, at Coimbra, where +they still are. The celebrated miracles which were achieved there in +great numbers as well as those which were performed in Morocco, and +on the way to Europe, are recorded by contemporary authors, who have +written their acts. Pope Sixtus IV recognized them solemnly as martyrs, +in the year 1461, and gave permission to the religious to say their +office. + +At the time of their death, the Princess Sancia of Portugal, was in +the act of prayer; they appeared to her with a bloody scimitar in their +hands and told her that by their martyrdom they were on their way to +heaven, where they would pray to God continually for her and would +thus reward the good she had done them. + +What they had foretold Queen Urraca, as to the time of her death, came +to pass, and her confessor, a canon regular of Santa Cruz, a most +exemplary man, of great piety, was made acquainted with it by a very +marvellous vision. A short time after the bodies of these glorious +martyrs had been placed in the church of this monastery, he saw in the +middle of the night the choir filled with religious, who were singing +very melodiously, which surprised him exceedingly, neither knowing +what brought them there, nor how they got in. He asked one of them, +who replied: "We are all Friars Minor. He whom you see at the head, +is Brother Francis, whom you have longed so much to see; and the five +who are more resplendent than the rest, are the martyrs of Morocco, +who are honored in this church. Our Lord has sent us hither in order +to pray for Queen Urraca, who is dead, and who had great affection for +our Order; and he has willed that you should see all this, because you +were her confessor." The vision disappeared, and the confessor's door +was immediately knocked at, to communicate to him that the queen was +dead. + +The severe vengeance with which God visited the king of Morocco and +his subjects was also noticed. The right hand with which this prince +had struck the holy martyrs, and the whole of his right side, from the +head to the feet, was paralyzed and became perfectly dry. During three +years, no rain fell in the whole country, and an infinity of people +died by pestilence and famine, which scourges lasted five years, God +choosing to proportion the duration of the punishment to the number +of the martyrs. + +All these marvels which he wrought in their favor, and the title of +martyrs, which the Church gives them, must convince every faithful +Christian, enlightened by the wisdom which is from above, that it was +by a particular impulse from the Holy Ghost that they exposed themselves +to death with so much ardor, against the advice of the other Christians. +Human prudence is very rash when it takes upon itself to blame what +is approved by God and by His Church. + +It would be difficult to express the joy which filled the heart of +Francis, when he learned that his brethren had suffered martyrdom. He +said to those who were with him:--"It is now that I can rest assured +that I have had five true Friars Minor!" and he called down a thousand +blessings on the convent of Alanquer, where they had prepared themselves +for martyrdom, which had such effect, that there have been always since +a great number of religious there, and at least one who has been +distinguished for religious perfection. + +Brother Vital, who had been the superior of these generous martyrs, +was delighted on hearing of their triumph, and greatly regretted not +having shared therein. It was not in good-will that he was deficient; +he was only arrested by his illness, of which he died at Saragossa +some time afterwards. + +One of the authors of the life of St. Dominic, tells us that this great +patriarch, who held his general chapter at the time, was in ecstasies +of joy, when he heard that five Friars Minor had received the crown +of martyrdom; that he looked upon it as the first fruits of the plans +of his friend Francis, and, at the same time, as a powerful incentive +for his brethren to aspire to what is most perfect, which is to suffer +for the faith of Jesus Christ. The Friars Preachers have profited by +the example, as is evinced by the great number of martyrs of their +order, by whom the Church has been enriched. + +It was not without a special dispensation of Providence that the relics +of the five martyrs were deposited at Coimbra, in the Church of the +Canons Regular of Santa Cruz, since our Lord made them subserve to the +vocation of St. Anthony of Padua, who is one of the most striking +ornaments of this renowned Order. + +He was a native of Portugal, of a very noble family of Lisbon, born +in the year 1195, and had received the name of Ferdinand in Baptism. +The first years of his life had been passed in innocence and piety; +the fear of being seduced by the world, and the wish to consecrate +himself wholly to God, made him take the resolution, at the age of +fifteen, to enter the Order of Regular Canons, in the Convent of St. +Vincent, at Lisbon. Two years afterwards, in order to avoid the frequent +visits of his friends, which interfere with habits of retirement, he +asked permission of his superior to remove to the convent of Santa +Cruz at Coimbra, which is of the same order. He had some difficulty +in obtaining this leave, because they had great esteem for him +personally. He made use of the quiet he now enjoyed to apply himself +to the study of sacred literature, and, as if he had foreseen what he +was to do at a future period of his life, he not only taught himself +what was requisite for his own sanctification, but also what was useful +for instructing others in the paths of virtue; he gathered also from +the Holy Scriptures, and from the study of the Fathers, what could +serve to confirm the truths of faith, and to impugn error. The assiduity +with which he pursued his studies, together with the excellence of his +memory, and his surpassing talents, with the light he received from +Heaven, rendered him in a short time very learned. + +The relics of the five Friars Minor who had been martyred at Morocco, +and which were taken to Santa Cruz, at Coimbra, at that time, inspired +in his heart an anxious desire to die for Jesus Christ as they had +done, and made him entertain the thought of becoming a member of that +Order, as the school of martyrdom. Some old authors add that St. +Francis, who was then at Assisi, appeared to him, and induced him to +embrace his Institute, foretelling him what would happen. + +The Friars Minor of the convent of St. Anthony of Olivares, near +Coimbra, having come to the Canons Regular of Santa Cruz to quest, +Ferdinand could not control his zeal, but taking them aside, he opened +to them the wish he had to enter their community. They were highly +pleased on hearing this, and fixed the day with him for putting his +design into execution. In the meantime, he asked leave of the Superior +of Santa Cruz to effect the change, and with great difficulty obtained +it. The Friars Minor returned on the appointed day, and gave him the +habit of the Order, in the Convent of Santa Cruz itself, and took him +back with them to that of St. Anthony. The loss of so estimable a +member was very distressing to the canons; one of them who felt it +more than the others, said to him with bitterness, as he left the +house:--"Go, perhaps you shall become a saint." To which Ferdinand +answered with humility:--"When you hear that it is so, you will +doubtless give praise to God." He was not satisfied with having changed +his order; he chose likewise to change his name, in order by that means +to disappoint those who might endeavor to seek for him; and as St. +Anthony was the titular saint of the convent, he begged the superior +to call him Anthony, which is the name he was ever after known by, and +to which was added of Padua, because his body reposes in that city, +and is there honored by the faithful. + +The wish to shed his blood for the faith of Jesus Christ, which was +the source of his vocation, was constantly increasing in his mind and +gave him no rest. He solicited leave from the superiors to go into +Africa, which was granted to him, as had been promised him, when he +entered the Order. Being come into the land of the Saracens, he was +seized with a violent illness, which confined him the whole winter, +and obliged him to return to Spain in the spring for his recovery. He +embarked for this purpose, but the Almighty, who had destined him for +the martyrdom of the apostolical life, and who intended by his means +to convert an infinity of souls in Italy and France, gave him a passage +in a contrary direction. The wind drove the vessel he was in to Sicily, +where he landed, and from thence he went to Assisi, where we shall +meet him in the general chapter at St. Mary of the Angels. + +It was in the year 1220, that the Friars Minor, Angelus and Albert, +both natives of Pisa, after having stayed some time at Paris in order +to arrange the first establishment there, crossed the channel to +England, whither Francis had sent them at the general chapter of 1219. +The religious of St. Dominic had already a convent at Canterbury, where +they received the two new comers with great charity. King Henry III, +who reigned at that time, settled them with royal magnificence at +Oxford. There he held his court, and he conceived so great a liking +for them that he had a lodge built near their convent, to which he +occasionally retired in order to converse with them. + +The reason which primarily induced him to show them so much +consideration, was his having learnt from authentic sources what had +occurred to them on their journey from Canterbury to Oxford. The prior, +the sacristan, and the cellarer of the abbey of Abingdon, who were at +one of their farms, contrary to the usual practice of their order, +where hospitality is always given, as recommended by St. Benedict, +refused it to these poor religious, and turned them from their doors, +although it was at nightfall. A young religious, who was in their +company, seeing that they were about to pass the night in the wood, +introduced them secretly into the barn, brought them some food, and +recommended himself urgently to their prayers. In the night he had a +dreadful vision of the justice with which God visited the prior and +the two others, but which did not fall on him, because he had been +charitable. In the morning he went to them with a view of telling them +what he had seen in his sleep, and found them all three dead in their +beds. Struck with astonishment he left the farm, from whence the two +Friars Minor had departed before daybreak, and went to relate what had +happened to the abbot of Abingdon; they both had serious reflections +on this subject, which ended in their entering into the Order of Friars +Minor. So extraordinary an occurrence could not be kept secret; many +persons heard it; the king was made acquainted with it, and this caused +the favorable reception he gave to Angelus and Albert. + +His open protection, with the sanctity of their lives, caused the +Institute to flourish throughout the kingdom. Several doctors of +theology embraced it; and subsequently Robert Maideston, Bishop of +Hereford, an enlightened prelate of great distinction at court, obtained +leave from Gregory IX to give up his bishopric to take the poor habit +of St. Francis, under which he became a model of humility and poverty. + +Three hundred years after, King Henry VIII destroyed all these monuments +of science and religion, which his predecessor Henry III had raised +with so much zeal, and tyrannically treated the successors of those +who had been received with so much benevolence. The strange revolution +which the incontinence and heresy of this prince brought about in +England, reduced the Friars Minor, and all other missionaries, to the +necessity of running greater risks in endeavoring to maintain the +remnant of faith, than what they had to incur amongst the infidels. + +We suppress all comment on so deplorable a subject, and we are satisfied +with offering up our prayers to the Almighty that He might deign to +cast the eyes of His mercy upon those islands which formerly gave so +many saints to the Church; that by His grace, the talent and learning +which are found there, may be employed in searching for the truth and +appreciating that truth which the illustrious Pope St. Gregory had +taught there in the sixth century; that these talents may be no longer +employed in the defence of a variety of sects, equally at variance +with the doctrines of antiquity, condemned by the principles of the +Christian religion, and by the rules of right reasoning; and that it +shall no longer be said that men of learning make use of the light +they have received and cultivated, to countenance every description +of falsehood; so that, as St. Leo said of idolatrous Rome, dictating +to almost all other nations, she herself was the slave of all their +errors. + +Francis, having received the resignation of his vicar general, on his +return from his visitations, deferred the choice of his successor till +the assembly of the chapter which was held on Whitsunday. He consulted +God on the election, who made known to him by revelation that Brother +Elias should be restored; he communicated this to his companions, and +when the chapter met, he named Elias vicar-general. + +We may feel assured that after having deposed him for laxness, he would +not again have placed him at the head of his Order, had he not been +certain that God himself had ordered it. As soon as the saints are +made aware of the will of God, they have no thought but of obeying, +whether it be that they know His reasons, or that they be hidden from +them. Thus, three hundred years before St. Francis, St. Stephen, the +third Abbot of Citeaux, did not fail sending Arnaud to Morimond to be +its first abbot, although he knew by divine inspiration, that this +post would be prejudicial to him, and that it would not turn out well: +it was enough for him that it was God's will that he should be so sent. +Thus we find in Holy Writ that Eliseus, by God's order to Elias, +consecrated Hazael King of Syria, who, he foresaw would bring such +great evils on the people of God, that the foresight moved him to +tears. Human prudence must not censure in the saints what they have +only done from supernatural views, against their own impressions, and +their own inclinations. In these extraordinary cases we must only adore +the counsels of Divine Wisdom, without endeavoring to penetrate them: +we must acknowledge, as Tobias did, that all His ways are ways of +mercy, truth, and justice; and say with one of the prophets: "Thy loss +comes from thyself." + +At the chapter Francis sat at the feet of Elias and, as his infirmities +prevented him from making himself heard, it was through Elias that he +proposed all that he wished to communicate to the assembly. Towards +the close he pulled him by the tunic and told him in a low tone of +voice his intention of sending some of the brethren into parts of Upper +Germany, into which they had not yet penetrated. Elias laid the affair +before the brethren in the following terms: "My brethren, this is what +the Brother says" (for thus they designated Francis, as a mark of great +respect). "There is a part of Germany, the inhabitants of which are +Christians and devout; they go, as you know, through our country during +the heats with long staves and great jack-boots, singing the praises +of God and His saints, and thus visit the places of devotion. I sent +some of our brethren into their land, who returned often having been +sorely ill-treated. For this reason, I compel no one to go thither, +but if there are any sufficiently zealous for the glory of God and the +salvation of souls, to undertake this journey I promise him the same +merit as is attached to obedience, and even more than if he made a +voyage over the sea." + +About ninety offered themselves for the mission which they considered +as an opportunity for suffering martyrdom. The chief was named with +the title of Provincial Minister of Germany, and Brother Caesar, a +German, was selected for that office. He was an ecclesiastic of Spire, +who had been drawn into the Order by the preaching of Brother Elias, +some time before, he himself having the character of a good preacher. +He had permission to select those whom he desired to take with him +from among those who had volunteered; however, he only chose +twenty-seven, twelve of whom were priests, and fifteen lay-brethren, +among whom there were some Germans, and some Hungarians, excellent +preachers. He remained nearly three months in the Valley of Spoleto, +with leave from Francis, and sent his companions into Lombardy to +prepare themselves for the great work they were about to undertake; +then they set forth dividing themselves into small groups of three and +four. We shall further on give the details of their journey, and of +their labors and success. + +In the choice which Casar made of those whom he thought adapted to the +German mission, something occurred which at first was amusing, but +which turned out very serious and very useful. Some one having suggested +to him to take one of the brethren named Jourdain, he went to him and +said:--"And you Brother Jourdain, you will come with us?" "I?" replied +he, "I am not one of yours; if I rose up, it was not with any intention +of going with you, it was to embrace those who were about to go into +Germany, and who, I am certain, will all be martyred." He was so +apprehensive that the Germans by their cruelty, and the heretics of +Lombardy by their artifices, would be the causes of his losing his +faith, that he daily prayed to God for the favor of being kept away +from the one and from the other. + +Casar, continuing to urge him to go with him, and Jourdain continuing +to refuse, they went to the vicar general, who, after having been +informed how the matter stood, said to Jourdain:--"My brother, I command +you, on your holy obedience, to decide absolutely upon going into +Germany or not going." This order put his conscience in a dilemma: if +he should not go, he feared its reproach for having followed his own +will, and did not like to lose a glorious crown; and, on the other +hand, he could not determine on going, thinking the Germans so cruel +as he had been led to believe. In order to come to a conclusion, he +consulted one of the religious who had greatly suffered in the first +mission, and had been stripped in Hungary no less than fifteen times, +who said to him:--"Go to Brother Elias, and tell him that you are +neither willing to go into Germany nor to stay here, but that you will +do whatsoever he shall desire you to do. You will hardly have addressed +him, then your difficulties will be done away." He followed this advice, +and Elias ordered him by the obligation of obedience to accompany +Brother Casar into Germany. He went and labored assiduously, and more +than any of the others, to extend the order throughout the country. +His obedience quieted his mind for a man is never more satisfied with +himself than when he obeys. "Experience shows," says St. Bernard, "that +the yoke of obedience is light, and that self-will is oppressive." + +Anthony had heard in Sicily that the chapter was to assemble at St. +Mary of the Angels, and although he was still in a state of weakness, +he had come to it with Philippinus, a young lay brother of Castile. +When the chapter was over, the brethren were sent back to their convents +by the vicar general, but no one asked to have Anthony, because no one +knew him, and he appeared so feeble, that he did not seem fit for work. +He offered himself therefore to Brother Gratian, who was Provincial +of Bologna, or of Romagna, whom he begged as a master, to instruct him +in the rules of regular discipline, making no mention of his studies, +or of any talent he had, and showing no other desire than to know and +love the crucified Jesus. Gratian delighted with these his sentiments, +asked to have him, and took him with him into his province, with +Philippinus, who was sent to Citta di Castello, and from thence to +Columbario, in Tuscany, where he died a holy death. Anthony, who only +wished for solitude, had leave from the provincial to live at the +hermitage of Mount St. Paul, near Bologna, where he wished to have a +cell cut in the rock, which was separated from all the others; this +the brother who had cut it out for himself ceded to him. There he lived +in as much solitude as obedience allowed him, devoting himself to +contemplation, fasting on bread and water, and practising such other +austerities, as to be thereby so weakened, that, according to the +savings of his brethren, he could hardly stand when he came to them. +Although he was full of zeal, he did not dare attempt to preach; the +martyrdom which he had escaped in Africa had rendered him timid; he +abandoned himself to Divine Providence, without any other anxiety than +that of inciting himself to the more perfect love of God, and +strengthening himself in the hope of enjoying the good things of Heaven, +and resisting the attacks of the tempter, who strove to dissuade him +from the holy exercise of prayer. Living thus in great simplicity among +his unpretending brethren, he disguised under a plain exterior the +vast light he received from Heaven; but by that humility he deserved +to be brought forward for the accomplishment of the designs of +Providence, who generally prepares those in secret, whom he destines +to splendid ministrations. + + + + +BOOK IV + + +After the chapter, Francis, notwithstanding the bad state of his health, +actuated by his zeal, undertook to preach repentance in the towns +adjacent to Assisi, where he dilated, in forcible language, on vice +and virtue, and the sufferings and happiness of a future life. The +inhabitants of Canaria were so moved by his preaching, that they +followed him in crowds, forsaking their usual occupations. Many also, +from the neighboring villages, joined them, and all together solicited +him to teach them how to profit by his instructions. + +Many married men were desirous of separating themselves from their +wives, in order to embrace the religious state, and many married women +were anxious to shut themselves up in cloisters; but the holy Patriarch, +not wishing to break up well-assorted marriages, nor to depopulate the +country, advised them to serve God in their own houses, and promised +to give them a rule by which they might progress in virtue and live +as religious, without practising the austerities of that state of life. + +He was under the necessity of repeating the same injunctions in several +towns in Tuscany, particularly in Florence, where similar views +prevailed, and where they had already commenced building a monastery +for females, who were desirous of renouncing the world. While he was +yet ruminating on the mode of life he should prescribe for them, he +assembled them all, and formed them into two congregations: the one +of men, and the other of women; and having given each of them a +president, they gave themselves separately up to exercises of piety +and practices of mercy, with so much fervor, that a contemporary author +compares them to the Christians whom Tertullian so eloquently eulogizes. +With the alms which the two congregations collected, they built a +hospital for the sick and aged, on the outskirts of the town where all +the virtues of charity were assiduously exercised; an establishment +which is extant to this day. St. Antoninus, when Archbishop of Florence, +removed these pious assemblies to a locality near the Church of St. +Martin, for the convenience of the poor. The vicinity of the church +and their good works procured for them the name of the "Good Men of +St. Martin;" and they were afterwards called the "Penitents of St. +Francis," because they followed the rule of the Third Order of Penance, +which the Saint instituted. + +One day St. Francis having gone from Florence to Gagiano, near +Poggibonzi, in Tuscany, met a shop-keeper of his acquaintance, whose +name was Lucchesio, who had been very avaricious, and an enthusiastic +partisan of the faction of the Guelphs, but who, having been converted +a few months before, now lived a very Christian-like life, gave away +great sums in alms, attended the sick in hospitals, received strangers +hospitably into his house, and endeavored to instil similar sentiments +into Bonadonna, his wife. They had already asked Francis to put them +in a way of sanctifying their lives, which should be suitable to their +position; and the holy man had given them this answer: "I have been +thinking of late of instituting a Third Order, in which married persons +might serve God perfectly; and I think you could not do better than +to enter it." After having given the subject serious consideration, +Lucchesio and his wife entreated him to admit them into this new Order. +He made them assume a modest and simple dress, of a grey color, also +a cord with several knots in it for a girdle, and he prescribed verbally +certain pious exercises, which they were to follow until such time as +he should have composed the rule. + +This was the beginning of the Third Order of St. Francis, which many +persons in the environs of Poggibonzi embraced, and which was soon +established in Florence by the congregation of men and women of which +we have just spoken. The following year, at latest, the Founder composed +a rule for this Order, which he called the Order of the Brethren of +Penance, in which the sisters were comprised, which was also called +the Third Order, or the Order of Tertiaries, as relative to the two +older Orders: the Order of Friars Minors, which is the first, and that +of the Poor Clares, which is the second. This rule was subsequently +confirmed by Pope Nicholas IV, and Leo XIII, with some changes, which +they considered advisable as well in regard to the times as to the +Order itself. + +The holy Patriarch manifests therein not only the zeal which animated +him in all that concerned the purity of the faith, but also the prudence +which guided all his actions. He requires that all those who apply for +admission into the Order shall be carefully examined in the Catholic +faith, and their submission to the authority of the Church, and he +directs that they shall only be received after having made profession +of all the orthodox truths; and that great care shall be taken not to +admit any heretic, nor any one suspected of heresy; and should any +such be detected after having been admitted, he insists on their being +immediately informed against. He, likewise, directs that their previous +conduct may be inquired into, to ascertain whether any notorious crimes +are imputed to them, or whether their morals are irreproachable, and +he desires that they be warned to restore what they have which belongs +to any other person; he also forbids receiving any married female into +the Order without the consent of her husband. + +The profession consists in a promise to keep all God's commandments, +and to perform such penances as the visitor shall enjoin for faults +committed in breach of the practices required by the rule. The habit +is similar to what was given to Lucchesio and his wife; but so, that +this may be dispensed with, according to the state of life of the +persons, and the customs of the country in which they may be. The +spiritual exercises laid down in the rule, have nothing in them which +can interfere with the different stations of persons living in the +world. Days of fasting and abstinence are prescribed, but modified +prudently for the infirm, for pregnant women, for travellers, and for +laboring people; and it is clearly explained that these observances +are not obligatory under pain of sin, and that they only bind the +transgressor to perform the penance imposed on him, unless the +transgression has at the same time contravened any law of God, or +commandment of the Church. + +St. Francis, moreover, strenuously recommends to the brethren and +sisters, to avoid all words tending to swearing or imprecation, the +theatre, dancing, and all profane meetings; to undertake no law-suits, +and to live in fraternal union; to take great care of the sick of the +Order, to bury the dead, and to pray for them. + +He adds to this, an article which is deserving of peculiar notice; it +is, that all persons who enter the Order and have property over which +they have the disposal, shall make their wills within a few months +after their profession, lest they should die intestate. We see that +his intention was to make them think on death, and to have their minds +free for meditating on the important affair of their salvation, and +to prevent those dissentions which frequently occur after the death +of such as have not regulated their temporal affairs, before being +called away. Wills which are made during a last illness are frequently +exposed to deceit and fraud. They are never better made than when +executed while the testator is in good health, in possession of all +his faculties. + +By the institution of the Third Order, Francis proposes to himself to +reanimate the fervor of the faithful, to induce all the world, those +in orders, laics, married persons of either sex, and such as were +living in a state of celibacy, to a stricter observance of God's +commandments, to live a more Christian and Catholic life, and to add +the practice of virtues to the duties of civil life. His views met +with astonishing success; the Order was established, and spread with +the greatest rapidity through all conditions of life. Cardinals, +bishops, emperors, empresses, kings, queens, considered themselves +honored in being admitted into it, and it has given to the Church an +infinite number of saints and blessed of either sex, who are publicly +revered with her sanction. Wading says, that in his day, (that is in +1623,) there were at the court of Madrid more than sixty lords who +belonged to the Third Order; and Cardinal Trejo, who had joined it, +wrote to him in these terms on the subject of the works of St. Francis, +which that author was about to give to the public with learned notes. + +"You praise me with some surprise, that wearing the purple of a +cardinal, I should have taken the habit and made solemn profession to +adhere to the rules of the Third Order of St. Francis. Could I do less +than devote myself wholly to his Order, I, who owe to him all that I +have, and all that I am? Does not the cord of St. Francis deserve to +gird even royal purple? St. Louis, King of France, St. Elizabeth, Queen +of Hungary, wore it, as well as many other sovereigns and princesses. +In our own day, Philip III, King of Spain, died in the habit of the +blessed Father; Queen Elizabeth, wife of Philip IV, the reigning monarch +of Spain, and the Princess Mary, his sister, have made their profession +in the Third Order. Why, then, should it be a subject of astonishment +to you, that a cardinal should cover his purple with a garment of ash +color, and gird himself with a cord? If this dress seems vulgar and +vile, I require it the more, because, finding myself raised to a high +degree of honor, I must humble myself the more in order to avoid pride. +But is not the garb of St. Francis, which is of ash color, a real +purple, which may adorn the dignity of kings and cardinals? Yes, it +is a true purple, dyed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and in the blood +which issued from the stigmates of His servant. It gives, therefore, +a royal dignity to those who wear it. What have I done, therefore, in +clothing myself with this garment? I have added purple to purple, the +purple of royalty, to the purple of the cardinalate; thus, far from +being humiliated by it, I have reason to fear that I have done myself +too much honor, and that I derive from it too much glory." + +These sentiments of this learned and pious cardinal, are well calculated +to silence the proud and irreligious spirits who turn into ridicule +practices which the Church approves, and which her most illustrious +children embrace with fervor. We have seen Queen Ann of Austria receive, +at Paris, the holy habit of a penitent, and make profession of the +rule of the Third Order of St. Francis; Queen Maria Theresa of Austria, +wife of the renowned king, Louis XIV, follow this example, and even +permit herself to be chosen superior of the sisters of the congregation, +established in the church of the great convent of the Observance, under +the protection of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and assist at the various +pious exercises with great edification. + +The Holy See has loaded the brethren and sisters of the Third Order +with many spiritual favors; and has granted them many privileges and +indulgences. It has given to them a participation in all the merits +which are gained in the other two Orders. What is singular is, that +shortly after its institution, congregations of Tertiaries were formed, +in which they lived in community of property, making the three vows +of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and practising the works of mercy. +God and the Sovereign Pontiff raised them to a religious body. Thus, +besides the secular Third Order, there is now a religious one, of both +sexes, which Pope Leo X confirmed and extended by his bull, dated 28th +of January, 1521, in which he abridged the rule and adapted it to the +observances of the religious state. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, being +a widow, joined the three vows of religion to the profession of the +Third Order of St. Francis, three years after the death of the blessed +Patriarch, which makes her to be justly considered as the mother of +the religious of both sexes of the Third Order, since she was the first +Tertiary who took these solemn vows. + +Lucchesio and his wife, who were the first Tertiaries whom St. Francis +received, acquired by the exercise of prayer and good works, a holiness +which God honored by many miracles during their life and after their +death; but the wife was sanctified by the husband. Although she had +embraced, after his example, the state of piety, she continued to +disapprove the great donations of alms which he made, and to prevent +them as much as was in her power, in consequence of that spirit of +avarice and self-interest, which constantly induces such tempers to +fear that they shall come to want. + +One day, Lucchesio having given all the bread that was in his house +to the poor, he begged his wife to give something to others who +followed. She flew into a passion, like the wife of Tobias; and having +reproached him with the care he took of strangers to the prejudice of +those of his own household, she said that it was quite plain that his +fasts and watchings had disordered his brain. The husband, as patient +as he was charitable, was not irritated by these reproaches, but quietly +requested his wife to look into the place where the bread was kept, +thinking of Him, who by His power had satiated several thousand persons +with a few loaves and fishes. She did so, and found a large quantity +of fresh bread, sufficient to supply the wants of all the poor. This +miracle had such an effect upon her, that from that time forward, he +had no occasion to exhort her to the performance of works of mercy; +both husband and wife gave themselves up to them with emulation, and +devoted themselves to them until their deaths. The husband's charity +shows us that almsgiving does not impoverish; but that, on the contrary, +God increases, even sometimes by miracles, the property of such as +give liberally; and the conversion of Lucchesio's wife shows that the +spirit of interest and avarice, covered by pretence of economy, renders +piety false and deceitful. + +After having established his Third Order, Francis preached in several +parts of Tuscany, and received an establishment at Columbario, in a +very solitary situation, which was the more agreeable to him from the +great attraction he had for contemplation. He had it erected under the +title of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, in honor of her Divine +maternity; he then returned to St. Mary of the Angels. + +An abbess was requested from the Monastery of St. Damian for that of +Moncel, of the same institute, which was forming at Florence; he +consulted thereon the cardinal protector, and by his advice he selected +Agnes, the sister of Clare. Agnes, out of obedience, set out willingly; +she found a very fervent, very united, and very submissive community, +and the Sovereign Pontiff granted all that she required for their +spiritual wants. But Agnes was seriously grieved to have to part from +Clare, and to satisfy her heart, she wrote to her a most affectionate +letter, full of the most tender sentiments, in which we see that the +feelings of nature are elevated and sanctified by virtue, instead of +being weakened. + +At that time, about the month of October, Francis obtained the famous +indulgence of St. Mary of the Angels, or of Portiuncula, of which we +shall here relate the circumstances. + +The great lights and inspirations which this holy man received in +prayer, discovered to him the wretched state of sinners; he deplored +their blindness, and was moved to compassion, and he often prayed for +them. One night, when he was soliciting their conversion from God with +great fervor, he was directed by an angel to go to the church, where +he would find Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother, accompanied by a +host of celestial spirits. Greatly rejoiced, he went and prostrated +himself to render due homage to the Majesty of the Son of God. Our +Saviour said to him: "Francis, the zeal which thou and thy followers +have for the salvation of souls is such, that it entitles thee to +solicit something in their favor, for the glory of my name." In the +midst of the marvels which enraptured him, he made the following prayer: +"O Jesus, my Saviour, I entreat Thee, although I am but a miserable +sinner, to have the goodness to grant to men, that all those who shall +visit this church may receive a plenary indulgence of all their sins, +after having confessed them to a priest; and I beg the Blessed Virgin, +Thy Mother, the general advocate of humankind, to intercede that I may +obtain this my request." The Blessed Virgin did intercede, and Jesus +Christ spoke the following words: "Francis, what thou askest is great, +but thou wilt receive still greater favors; I grant thee this one; I +desire thee, nevertheless, to go to my vicar, to whom I have given +power to bind and to loose, and to solicit him for the same indulgence." +The companions of the Saint who were in their respective cells, heard +all these things; they saw a great light which filled the church, and +the multitude of angels; but a respectful fear prevented them from +approaching nearer. + +In the early morning, Francis assembled them, and forbade their speaking +of this miraculous event, and then set out with Masse of Marignan for +Perugia, where Pope Honorius then was. + +When he came into his presence, he said to him: "Most Holy Father, +some years ago I repaired a small church in your dominions; I beg you +to grant to it a free indulgence, without any obligation of making an +offering." The Pope replied, that the request could not reasonably be +granted, because it was but just that he who wished to gain an +indulgence should render himself deserving of it by some means, +particularly by some work of charity. "But," added he, "for how many +years do you ask me for this indulgence?" "Most Holy Father," replied +Francis, "may it please your Holiness, not to give me so many years +but so many souls." "And in what way do you desire to have souls?" +rejoined the Pope. "I wish," added Francis, "that it may be the good +pleasure of Your Holiness, that those persons who enter the Church of +St. Mary of the Angels, are contrite, shall have confessed their sins, +and have properly received absolution, may receive an entire remission +of their sins, as well in this world as in the next, from their baptism, +to the time of their so entering the church." The Pope then said to +him, "Francis, what you solicit is a thing of great importance. The +Roman court has not been accustomed to grant any similar indulgence." +"Most Holy Father," returned Francis, "I ask not this for myself, it +is Jesus Christ who sent me; I come from Him." Upon which, the Pope +said publicly three times: "It is my desire that it be granted to you." + +The cardinals who were present, represented to him, that in granting +so important an indulgence, he was subverting the throne of the holy +law, and that of the sepulchre of the holy Apostles. "The concession +is made," replied the Pope, "nor is it right it should be revoked; but +let us modify it." And recalling Francis, he said to him: "We grant +you this indulgence which you have solicited. It is for all years in +perpetuity; but only during one natural day; from one evening including +the night, to the evening of the following day." At these words Francis +humbly bowed down his head. As he went away, the Pope asked him: +"Whither art thou going, simple man? What certitude hast thou of what +thou hast just been granted?" "Holy Father," he replied, "your word +is sufficient for me. If this indulgence is the work of God, He will +make it manifest. Let Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, and the +angels, be the notary, on this occasion, the paper, and the witnesses. +I require no other authenticated document." This was the effect of the +great confidence he had in God. + +He left Perugia to return to St. Mary of the Angels, and midway he +stopped at a village named Colle, at a leper hospital, where he rested +awhile. On awaking, he had recourse to prayer; then he called Masse, +and said to him with great exultation: "I can assure you that the +indulgence which has been granted to me by the Sovereign Pontiff is +confirmed in Heaven." The day had not been fixed, however, until the +beginning of the year 1223. + +Clare wished to see once more the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in +which she had renounced the world, and to take another meal with +Francis, her spiritual Father. He refused her his leave for some time; +but his companions having represented to him that he treated a virgin +whom he himself had consecrated to Jesus Christ, with too much +harshness, he consented to what she wished. An appropriate day was +fixed on, and she came to the convent of Portiuncula, accompanied by +some of her nuns, and some Friars Minor who went on purpose to the +convent of St. Damian. + +After having prayed fervently in the church, and visited the convent, +the Friars and the nuns seated themselves round the reflection which +St. Francis had laid out on the ground, in pursuance of his usual +practice of humility, which was his daily observance, whenever it was +in his power. The first nourishment they took was for the soul. The +holy Patriarch spoke of God, but in so moving a manner, and with so +much unction and animation, that all who heard him were thrown into +ecstasy, as he was himself. At the same time, the convent, the church, +and the woods seemed to the inhabitants of Assisi and environs, to be +on fire. Many ran thither to afford their aid; but finding everything +in good order, they entered the convent, where they saw, with still +greater surprise, the whole assembly in a state of ecstasy. By that +they were made aware that what had seemed to them to be a fire, was +the type of the fire which inflamed these holy bosoms, and they returned +greatly edified. + +By this marvel the Lord clearly showed that He approved the request, +which Clare had made, to be allowed to come to the Portiuncula; as by +another marvel He approved of the prayer which St. Scholastica made +to detain her brother, St. Benedict, whom she wished to hear speak of +the happiness of the future life, in the place in which they had just +dined together. Such, was the condescension of His goodness for the +consolation of these two saints, and it is thus that, according to the +words of the Prophet, "He fulfils the wishes of those who fear Him." + +The repast finished without any one having chosen to eat anything, so +much were they filled with celestial aliment; and Clare returned to +the Monastery of St. Damian, where her sisterhood received her with +so much the more satisfaction, as they had been fearful that they would +have given her the direction of some new establishment, as they had, +a short time before, sent her sister Agnes to Florence as abbess. They +knew that Francis had said to her on other occasions: "Be prepared to +go wherever it may be necessary;" and that she had obediently answered, +"My Father I am ready to go whithersoever you may send me." Her having +gone out seemed to them a preparation for some longer journey and their +grief for having lost Agnes, their dear companion increased the fears +they had, lest they should lose Clare, also, who was in their regard +a most excellent mistress of spiritual life. But they had not, +thereafter, any similar alarms; this was the only time in forty-two +years that their holy mother left the enclosure. + +Elias, the vicar general, gave Francis great uneasiness, by his +erroneous views. Many of the Friars Minor came to see their Patriarch, +who received them with every mark of kindness. The vicar made great +distinction between them. He was very particular in honoring those +whom science and dignities rendered considerable in the Order; he never +failed giving them the first places, and he took care to satisfy all +they needed; while he left the others in the lowest places, and often +without attending to their necessary wants. In his station he did what +the Apostle St. James forbids all Christians to do. + +Their common Father, who could not endure that so great a difference +should be made, particularly amongst persons of the same Institute, +affected, one day, at table, after grace had been said, to call two +of the most simple of the brethren, and to place one on each side of +him, without showing any attention to the merits of others. + +He did this, not because he disapproved of peculiar consideration being +shown to those to whom it is due, according to the maxim of St. Paul, +in consequence of their character, their dignity, or their personal +qualifications, but because he did not choose that these considerations +should be to the disadvantage of those who had not similar circumstances +to recommend them, and to whom, according to the same apostle, besides +the feelings of charity to which they and all others are entitled, a +certain degree of honor should be shown. + +The vicar general, who was not impressed with a similar way of thinking, +was highly indignant at this act of the Saint, and murmuring to himself, +he said: "Ah! Brother Francis, it is quite certain that your extreme +simplicity will be the ruin of the Order. You place alongside of you, +men who have neither learning nor talents, and you affront those who +are the support of the Order by their science." Francis, who by a +supernatural revelation, was made aware of what his vicar had passing +in his mind, replied immediately to his thought: "And you, Brother +Elias, you do much greater injury to the Order by your vanity, and by +the prudence of the flesh, with which you are filled. The judgments +of God are impenetrable; He knows you as you are, and nevertheless, +He chose that you should be Superior of the Order; and it is His desire +that I leave it in your hands. Alas! I fear that the people, and he +who governs them, resemble each other, and that God has only given a +pastor, such as He foresees the flock will be." The holy Patriarch +well knew that the whole of the flock would not be corrupted by Brother +Elias, and that the majority of the members would resist him, as it +came to pass. And thus the fear which he experienced in general terms, +was a warning to keep them all to their duty. But what he added was +a true prophecy: "Unhappy man, as you are, you will not die in this +Order; God has so decreed. You have been weighed in the balances, and +have been found wanting, because you are puffed up with the science +of the world." + +The following is the way in which this matter is related in the ancient +legend which is followed by St. Antoninus. Francis, knowing by a +revelation that Brother Elias would die out of the Order, and would +be damned, avoided conversing with him, and even seeing him. Elias +noticed this, and did not rest till he discovered the reason. Terrified +and dismayed at such a prophecy, he threw himself at the feet of his +kind master, and entreated him to intercede with God to prevent one +of the flock committed to his care, from perishing eternally: "Let not +the sentence which has been revealed to you, discourage you; for the +Lord may change His decree, if the sinner corrects his sin. I have +such confidence in your prayers, my very dear Father, that I should +think they would mitigate my sufferings even if I were in hell, as you +have been told I shall be. Pray for me, my Father; pray, and I have +no doubt but that God will modify His decree, and that I shall be +converted." Francis prayed, and obtained from God that Brother Elias +should not be damned, but he could not obtain the reversal of the +decree which said that he should not die in the Order. It was, in fact, +out of the Order that he died; but, previous to his death, he gave +great signs of contrition. + +Wading makes on this a judicious remark, worthy of a sound theologian. +He says that Brother Elias, who was universally admitted to be a learned +man, was not ignorant that the decrees of God which are absolute, are +immutable, because He Himself is incapable of change; but he also knew +that the Lord sometimes expressed Himself in absolute words against +sinners, which decrees are merely threats, which may be changed by +their repentance, without His changing, according to what He has said +by the Prophet Jeremy: "I will suddenly speak against a nation, and +against a kingdom, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy it. +If that nation against which I have spoken shall repent of their evil, +I also will repent of the evil that I thought to do them." Jonas sent +from God, had positively announced that in forty days Nineveh should +be destroyed, and nevertheless the penitence of the Ninevites hindered +the destruction of their city. St. Gregory says, that in this sense +God changed His decrees, but did not change His design; and St. Thomas +says, that God proposes the change of certain things, but that in His +will no change takes place. Sinners, however, must not abuse this +doctrine, and imagine that God only threatens them, and that He will +not damn them, for He has an absolute will to damn eternally those who +die in mortal sin, as well as to crown with immortal glory such as die +in a state of grace. In truth, it is His wish that sinners should be +converted, and He places the means in their power by His mercy: "But," +says St. Augustine, "He has not promised a to-morrow to your delay;" +and as the Apostle has it: "According to thy hardness and impenitent +heart thou treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath, +and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will render to every +man according to his works." + +The example of the holy Patriarch, who had sought three times, the +crown of martyrdom, and the triumph of the five brethren martyred at +Morocco, had inspired many with an ardent desire to die for Jesus +Christ. Shortly after Elias had been restored as vicar general, Daniel, +Minister in the Province of Calabria, asked leave to go and preach the +faith to the Moors, with six other brethren, whose names were Samuel, +Donule or Daniel, Leo, Hugolin, Nicholas, and Angelus. Having received +the permission of the vicar general, and the blessing of Francis, they +embarked in a port of Tuscany, from whence they sailed to Tarragona. +Their first intention was to have gone to Morocco, to mingle their +blood with that of their martyred brethren, but some reasons, probably +favorable to their intention, induced them to go to Ceuta. + +Daniel arrived first with three of his companions, the master of the +vessel not having thought proper to take on board more. They lived out +of the town, in a village inhabited by traders from Pisa, Genoa, and +Marseilles, because Christians might not enter the town without a +particular permission. Their occupation here was to preach to these +traders, until they should be joined by their companions, who arrived +there on the 29th of September. + +The following Friday, which was the first of October, they consulted +together as to their future plans, and the aids they should require +in the formidable combat they were about to sustain. On the Saturday, +they confessed and received the Holy Communion, without which, when +it is possible to receive it, St. Cyprian would not suffer confessors +to be exposed to martyrdom for the faith, because it is the Body and +the Blood of Jesus Christ which gives the strength to endure it. St. +Chrysostom and St. Bernard, also, say that it is the firmest defence +which can be opposed to the temptations of the devil, and to the +allurements of sin, which are powerful motives for having recourse to +frequent Communion. + +The seven brothers went forth from the holy table, according to the +expression of St. Chrysostom, "as roaring lions, breathing fire and +flames," and they could not restrain the zeal which animated them. On +the evening of the same day, they washed each other's feet, in order +to follow the example of the Son of God, who washed His disciples' +feet before His Passion; and very early on the Sunday morning, before +there were any persons in the streets, they entered the town, having +their heads strewed with ashes, and commenced crying out with a loud +voice, "There is no salvation but through Jesus Christ." + +The Moors soon collected, abused and beat them, and led them to the +king. The missionaries then repeated, in presence of the learned in +the law, what they had previously said to the people, "That it is +requisite to believe in Jesus Christ; that there is no salvation in +any other name than His," which they proved by the most forcible +arguments. The king, who fully understood that in thus upholding the +name of Jesus Christ they rejected that of Mahomet, looked upon them +as idiots, and thought that their shaven heads, with a crown of hair +round them, was a proof of their folly. However, to prove their +constancy, he had them confined in a loathsome jail, where he kept +them eight days in irons, and where they were cruelly treated. + +Their confinement did not prevent their finding means to write to the +Christians who were in the vicinity of Ceuta. Their letter was addressed +to Hugh, Cure of the Genoese, and to two religious, one of their own +Order, and the other of the Order of Friars Preachers, who had just +returned from the farthest part of Mauritania. They blessed, in the +first instance, the Father of Mercies, who consoled them in their +tribulation; and, after having quoted several passages from the +Scriptures to justify their mission and to animate themselves to +suffering, they assured their brethren that they had borne witness, +and strongly argued in presence of the king, "that there is no salvation +but in the name of Jesus Christ;" and they concluded by referring to +God the glory of all that they had done. + +The judge, whose name was Arbold, wishing to see what they did in +prison, saw that they were no longer chained, that their faces shone +with a splendid light, and that they sang the praises of God with +extraordinary joy. The king, having been apprised of this, caused them +to be brought before him on Sunday, the tenth of October, and offered +them great wealth if they would become Mussulmen. They boldly replied, +that they utterly despised all the things of this world and of the +present life, in consequence of the happiness of the future life. They +were then separated, and each was separately tempted, by promises and +threats, but they were all found steadfast in their resolution. Daniel, +speaking with great energy, one of the Moors cut him across the head +with his scimitar, from which he did not even wince, and another +exhorted him to embrace the law of Mahomet, to save his life with +honor. "Wretch!" exclaimed Daniel, "your Mahomet and all his followers +are but ministers of Satan, and your Koran is but a series of lies; +be no longer misled, but embrace the Christian faith." + +As soon as the seven brothers were collected together, six of them +threw themselves at Daniel's feet, who had procured this mission for +them, and who was their leader, and said to him with tears of joy: "We +give thanks to God and to you, our father, for having procured for us +the crown of martyrdom; our souls will follow yours; bless us and die; +the struggle will be soon over, and we shall enjoy eternal peace." + +Daniel tenderly embraced them, gave them his blessing, and encouraged +them by these words: "Let us rejoice in the Lord; this is for us a +festival day; angels surround us, the heavens are opened to receive +us; this day we shall receive the crown of martyrdom, which will last +forever." + +In fact, the king, seeing that they were resolute, and not to be shaken, +condemned them to be beheaded. They were stripped, had their hands +tied behind them, and were taken to the place of execution, whither +they went as to a banquet, preceded by a herald, who proclaimed the +cause of their death, and where, after having recommended their souls +to God, they were decapitated, on the tenth of October, in the year +1221. + +Infidel children and adults broke their skulls to pieces, and mutilated +the remains of the holy martyrs; but these precious relics were gathered +up by the Christians, and removed into the storehouse of the +Marseillese, and were afterwards buried in their dwellings beyond the +walls of Ceuta. It is asserted that some years afterwards they were +transferred to the Church of St. Mary, near Morocco, and that God +manifested them by miracles, and particularly by a splendid light, +which even the Moors saw during the night; and that some time afterwards +an Infant of Portugal, having obtained them from a King of Morocco, +had them removed into Spain, where fresh miracles rendered them +celebrated. Whatever truth there may be in the account of these +translations, it is not known now where the relics of these seven +martyrs are. This is certain--that the faithful had their memory in +great veneration, and that in 1516, the Friars Minor solicited leave +from Pope Leo X, to recite an office in their honor, which leave he +most willingly granted to them, placing them in the number of martyrs +recognized by the Church, as they are commemorated in the Roman +Martyrology on the 13th of October. + +We may imagine the satisfaction their triumph gave to Francis, from +the ardent desire he always evinced for the crown of martyrdom, and +the tender love he bore for his children. He had, moreover, in this +year another great consolation on this subject. Pope Honorius sent to +almost all the bishops of Europe, desiring them to send him four men +from each province, or at least two, noted for their science and the +integrity of their lives, whom it was his intention to commission to +preach to the idolaters, and to the Saracens, for whose conversion he +was most anxious, and amongst the number thus selected there were many +Friars Minors, and Friars Preachers who generously exposed themselves +to every sort of peril for the salvation of souls. + +The intimate union which the love of God had formed between St. Dominic +and St. Francis, induces us to note here, that the blessed Patriarch +of the Dominicans died this year, on the sixth day of August at the +age of fifty-one years. The eminent sanctity of his life, the great +miracles he performed; the ardor and splendor of his zeal for the +destruction of heresy; his inviolable attachment to the holy See; his +tender piety to the Blessed Virgin, whom he causes to be generally and +daily honored in the devotion of the Rosary; and the establishment of +his Order, so useful by its science, by its piety, and by the great +service it still renders to the Church, cause him to be illustrious +through the entire Church. Among the Friars Minor, there is not one +who, if animated by the spirit of St. Francis, must not have a special +devotion for Him, and a respectful affection for those of his order. + +Charity, which inflamed the breast of Francis, soon drew him from his +retreat. He set out at the beginning of the year 1222, for the Terra +di Lavoro, Apulia and Calabria, and, in the course of this journey, +God worked many splendid miracles by his hand. + +Passing, first, through the Town of Toscanella, on the road to Rome, +he received hospitality from a knight, whose only son was lame in both +legs, and was in a state of suffering through his whole body. The +afflicted father asked him to procure the cure of his son from God; +he abstained from doing this for some time out of humility, esteeming +himself unworthy of being loved by others, but being prevailed upon +by reiterated entreaties, he placed his hands upon him, and made the +sign of the cross upon the boy, who, at the same moment, stood upright +and firm on his legs, and was entirely cured, to the great astonishment +of his whole family. + +At Rome, he made acquaintance, and became intimate with a nobleman, +named Mathew de Rubeis, of the illustrious family of the Orsini. One +day, on which he had been invited to dinner there, and having got there +at the appointed hour, not finding his host yet returned from town, +he joined, unperceived, the poor to whom they were giving a meal, and +he received the alms with them. The nobleman arrived shortly after, +and inquired where Brother Francis was, and as they did not find him, +he declared he would not eat his dinner, if he did not come. While +they were looking for him, he saw him seated in the yard with a group +of poor. He went to him, and said: "Brother Francis, since you won't +dine with me, I am come to dine with you;" which he did, placing himself +on the ground near him, and in the group, where he found himself very +comfortable in that company. When he heard that the holy man had +established a Third Order for secular persons of all ranks, he prayed +for admission into it, and had himself instructed in the practices to +be observed. The consideration which his rank in life gave him in the +world, threw great splendor on the new institution, and drew many +persons to it. + +There was a little child called John whom he requested Francis to +bless; the servant of God gave him his blessing; he took him in his +arms and foretold to all there that he would bring great glory to his +house, and that he would be Sovereign Pontiff. Then, fixing his eyes +upon the child, he spoke to him as if he had had the use of reason; +he entreated him seriously, and in most affectionate terms, to be +favorable to his Order; after which the prophet continued as follows: +"He will not be a religious of our Order, but he will be its protector; +he will not be reckoned among its children, but he will be acknowledged +as its father; and our brethren will be delighted at seeing themselves +under his shadow. I consider the immense benefits we shall receive +from this child, I see them already in his little hands." Such a +prediction caused as much pleasure as surprise to the lord of the +family of the Orsini, but he never spoke of it till he saw its +fulfilment, which happened fifty-five years afterwards. His son, +cardinal, under the title of St. Nicholas, was chosen Pope in the year +1277, and took the name of Nicholas III. His singular benevolence for +the Order of the Friars Minor showed that its holy Founder had not +spoken in vain to him in his infancy. + +From Rome Francis went to visit the Grotto of St. Benedict. He +considered with great attention the bush covered with thorns, into +which the great Patriarch of the monastic life had the courage to throw +himself, in order to overcome a temptation of the flesh. In admiration +of such extraordinary fervor, he touched this bush as a sacred relic; +he kissed it, and made on it the sign of the cross. God, in order to +honor his two servants, changed it immediately into a beautiful +rose-tree, the flowers of which have served in many cases for the cure +of the sick; the place has since been held in greater respect. In a +chapel which is near it, and which was consecrated by Gregory IX, we +see that Pope, with Francis on his left hand, who holds a scroll of +paper, on which these words, taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, are +written, "Peace be to this house," words which he constantly used as +a salutation. + +The remainder of his journey was remarkable for many other wonders +which were worked through his means, in announcing the word of God. +While preaching at Gaeta, on the border of the sea, seeing that a crowd +of people were anxious, from a devotional feeling, to touch him, he +threw himself into a boat to avoid these demonstrations of respect, +which were disagreeable to him. The boat, which had no sailors in it, +floated to a certain distance out to sea, and then became stationary; +from thence he gave instruction to those who were on the shore, and +the crowd dispersing after having received his blessing, the boat +returned of itself to its former place. St. Bonaventure thereupon +says:--"Who, after this, will have a heart so hardened and so +irreligious as to despise the preaching of Francis, to which inanimate +things lent their aid, as if they had reasoning faculties?" + +The inhabitants of Gaeta, admiring the power which God gave to His +servant, entreated him to stay some time in their town, and to permit +them to build there a convent for his Order. He assented to this, and +the work was commenced forthwith. While the church was in progress, +a carpenter was crushed by the falling of a beam. As the other workmen +were carrying him home, Francis, who was returning from the country, +met them, and directed them to lay the dead man on the ground; he then +made the sign of the cross on him, took him by the hand, called him +by his name, and commanded him to arise. The dead man rose immediately +and went back to his work. This is well-known in the country by +successive tradition, and a small chapel has been erected, under due +authority, on the spot where the miracle was performed, in order to +perpetuate the memory thereof. + +The earliest authors of the life of our Saint record a very singular +miracle which he performed on his route, in the house of a gentleman. +All the inhabitants of the place were gone to the great square to hear +him preach. A female servant who had been left in a house to take care +of a child, wishing to hear the sermon, left the child alone. On her +return, she found the child dead, and half-boiled in a copper of hot +water, into which it had fallen. She took it out, and in order to hide +the disaster from the father and mother, she shut it up in a trunk; +the parents, however, learnt their misfortune, which was the more +afflicting as this was their only child. The husband entreated his +wife not to let her distress appear, out of respect for the servant +of God, who was to dine with them. During dinner, Francis endeavored +to inspire them with a holy joy, knowing what the Almighty had in store +for their consolation, and at the end of the dinner he feigned a wish +to eat some apples. They expressed their regret that they had none to +offer him; but pointing to the trunk in which the child was shut up, +he said: "Let them look there, and some will be found." It was in vain +that they assured him that there were none there; he insisted on having +the trunk opened. The gentleman, to oblige him, and with a view of +hiding the object of their grief, opened the trunk, when, judge of his +astonishment on finding his child alive and well, and, with a smiling +countenance, holding an apple in each hand. Transported with joy, he +carried the child and placed it in the arms of the holy man. + +The people of Capua were so moved by his preaching, and by the miracles +he performed, particularly on his having saved from the waters a woman +whom the river Volturnus had carried off, that the town made him the +offer of a convent. St. Anastasius, Bishop of Civita di Penna, gave +him another, with great marks of regard, after having gone out to meet +him, on an inspiration he had in his sleep that Francis would come the +next day to his town, a circumstance which is recorded by a painting +in the church, and is explained in two Latin verses. + +The servant of God having preached during the entire day at Montella, +went to pass the night in a wood in the vicinity of that town, where +he seated himself with his companion under an evergreen oak. Some +persons who passed by, in the morning, perceived that there was no +snow where the two religious sat, although there had been a heavy fall +in the night, and they related the circumstance to the Lord of Montella, +who sent for Francis, and entreated him to remain in that country, or +to leave some of his companions amongst them, for the instruction of +the people. He left two, for whom they built a house on the very spot +where heaven had been so favorable to him. + +The force which God gave to his discourses, and the miracles of which +He made him the instrument, converted sinners, and animated the piety +of the good. Both the one and the other were anxious to retain him +amongst them, or, at least, to have some of his religious. In this +journey alone, he founded more than twenty houses, among which was one +at Amalfi, whither his devotion had led him to honor the relics of the +Apostle St. Andrew. The inhabitants of Acropoli, who at first had been +deaf to his instruction, were penetrated with contrition, and gave him +a convent, after having been reproached with the hardness of their +hearts by a multitude of fish, that God caused to collect round a rock +from which Francis preached those truths which this people had refused +to listen to. + +The Emperor Frederic II was, at that time, with his court at Bari. The +servant of God went there, no doubt, to venerate the relics of the +great bishop St. Nicholas; he preached in the town, and as his +discourses were always made suitable to the wants of his auditors, he +spoke energetically on the dangers of the court, and particularly +against impurity. + +On leaving Bari, he found on the road a purse, which appeared to be +full of money. His companion, who was aware of his great charity, said +that he ought to take it for the poor. Francis refused to do so, saying +that it was only a snare of the devil, and that, if it was really money +which had been lost, it would not be right to take what belonged to +others to give away in alms; so they continued their route. His +companion was not satisfied; he thought that an opportunity was lost +of doing a good action, and he tired Francis with his remonstrances. +The holy man, who was very mild and very obliging, returned to the +spot where the purse was, not intending to do what his companion wished, +but to expose to him the artifice of the evil spirit. A young man was +passing at the time, in whose presence he told his companion to take +up the purse; he, trembling from a secret misgiving of what was about +to happen, would have been glad not to have anything to do with it; +but, obliged to obey, he put his hand to it, which he had no sooner +done than he saw a large snake slide out, which disappeared with the +purse. On which, Francis said to his companions: "Brother, money is, +as regards the servants of God, but as a venomous serpent, and even +the devil himself." We may here add, that it is the same thing for +those who are too fond of it, and who avariciously keep it, or make +it serve for the gratification of their passions. A chapel, which has +been built in that place, is a memorial of the teaching of the Patriarch +to the poor of Jesus Christ. + +His devotion induced him also to visit the grotto consecrated by the +apparition of the Archangel Michael, on Mount Gargano. They wished, +out of respect, to take him to the very spot where the blessed spirit +was manifested, and where mass is offered up, a privilege which is not +allowed to all. But through humility he stopped at the door, and, as +he was urged to enter, he said: "I dare not go farther; this place is +awful; it is the dwelling of angels, whom men should respect in all +ways." The place where he stopped to pray is shown to this day. These +sentiments of humility should abash those Christians who crowd round +our altars in unbecoming postures, and particularly those worldly women +who, in immodest postures and in an air of vanity, approach +contemptuously the sanctuary in which the Sacred Body of Jesus reposes. + +Francis placed some of his religious near Mount Gargano and in some +other parts, after which he came to Gubbio, where he cured a woman, +the sinews of whose hands were contracted. + +Near Gubbio, a soldier called Benvenuto, asked to be admitted into the +Order; he was admitted as a lay-brother, with directions to wait upon +the lepers. Profound humility, implicit obedience, an ardent charity, +the love of poverty and of silence, assiduity in prayer, perfect +patience in sickness, and a tender devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, +rendered this soldier an excellent religious. God honored him with so +many miracles during his lifetime and after his death, which happened +in the year 1232, that Pope Gregory IX had information taken on the +subject, in 1236, through the Bishops of Malfi, Molfetta, and Venosa, +and permitted these three dioceses to allot to him an office, which +is now said by the whole Order of Friars Minor. + +There lived, between Gubbio and Massa, an old advocate of the Roman +court, called Bartholomew Baro, who had retired thither to avoid the +tumults and dangers of the world, and lived in great reputation of +sanctity. Francis, delighted at what he had heard of him, wished to +see him. They discoursed on spiritual things, and Bartholomew, hearing +that there was a Third Order, willingly entered it. The holy Founder +who saw that great prudence was associated with his consummate piety, +placed confidence in him regarding the affairs of his Order, and left +some of his religious with him. + +St. Antoninus relates, that Bartholomew had in his hermitage a man +possessed by the devil, who was incessantly talking, but who did not +speak a word during the three days that Francis was there. After his +departure he recommenced talking, and Bartholomew having asked him +why, during the stay of Francis, he had kept silence: "It was," he +said, "because God had so tied his tongue that it was out of his power +to speak a single word." "How is it, then," replied Bartholomew: "is +Francis so great a man, that his presence has such an effect?" "Truly," +rejoined the demoniac, "his virtue is so great, that all the world +will see in him most wonderful things. It is not long since our prince +called us all together, and told us that God, who in all times had +sent men for the conversion of sinners, has similar designs in regard +to this man, and that Jesus Christ proposes to renew His passion in +Francis, in order to imprint it in the hearts of men from whence it +is obliterated." + +As this was said two years before Francis received the stigmata, it +would seem that the prince of darkness had some knowledge of the favors +which Jesus Christ intended to confer on Francis. St. Augustine says, +that the Son of God made Himself known to the demons on earth, making +certain signs to them of His presence; but that it was only as far as +He thought proper; that He made use of it, when necessary to inspire +them with terror; and that, at other times, He left them in doubt as +to His divinity. According to this doctrine, it might be said that +God, to confound the demons, had made known to their chief His intention +to renew the Passion of Jesus Christ in the person of Francis, without +informing him in what manner this was to happen, for it is certain +that this spirit of darkness, neither by his natural lights, nor by +conjectures, had the means of discovering a favor which solely depended +on the Divine will. + +At length, having labored for the salvation of souls with great fatigue, +nearly the whole year, the holy Patriarch returned to his dear home, +St. Mary of the Angels, to attend more immediately to his own +sanctification. He there received Brother Casar of Spire, who had +returned from Germany, and the subject of whose mission we must now +resume, having lost sight of it since the year 1221. + +This zealous missionary left Italy with twenty-seven companions, divided +into small parties, and before the Feast of St. Michael, they arrived +successfully at Trent, where they remained fifteen days, during which +the bishop provided liberally for all their wants. On the day of the +festival, Casar preached to the clergy, and Barnabas to the people. +An inhabitant of the town, named Pellegrino, was so moved by Barnabas's +discourse, that he had all the brethren newly clothed, and shortly +afterwards he sold all his property, gave it to the poor, and took the +same habit himself. + +Casar left some of the brethren at Trent, exhorting them to the practice +of patience and humility, and then set out with the remainder. On their +way they attended with greater interest to spiritual than temporal +wants, although they had commissioned some of their companions to +provide what was necessary for them. The Bishop of Trent, whom they +found at Posen, detained them for some days, and gave them leave to +preach in the whole of his diocese. From thence they went to Brixen, +where the bishop received them very charitably; but from thence they +had much to suffer in the mountains, where they could procure nothing +to eat, after long and fatiguing marches, and were reduced to feed +upon wild fruits, and even then they had a scruple of tasting these +on Friday morning, because it was, by their rule, a fast, although +they had slept in the open air, and had had scarcely anything to eat +the preceding day. But God supported them, and they reached Augsburg, +where the bishop embraced them all, and gave them special marks of his +benevolence. + +In 1221, near the Feast of St. Gall, which is on the sixteenth of +October, Casar assembled the first chapter of the Order which had been +held in Germany; there were about thirty of his brethren, whom he +distributed in several provinces of this vast country. Some were sent +to Wurtzburg, Mentz, Worms, Spire, and Cologne, where they exerted +themselves with much success for the salvation of souls, and built +convents. Giordano was sent with two companions to Saltzburg, and the +archbishop of that city received them with great benevolence. Three +others went to Ratisboa, where they founded an excellent establishment. +The provincial followed them, animating them by word and example. While +at Wurtzburg, he gave the habit of the Friars Minor to a young man of +good family, named Hartmod, who had enjoyed a good education. He called +him Andrew, because the day of his reception was that of the holy +Apostle. Andrew, having taken holy orders some time after, became a +celebrated preacher, and was the first warden in Saxony. Rodinger was +also admitted into the Order, who was afterwards warden of the convent +of Halberstad, and director of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, before Dr. +Conrad of Marburg. + +In 1222, Casar, having received a great number of novices, some of +whom were made priests, assembled a chapter at Worms, and finding that +the Order was taking firm root in Germany, he instituted as +vice-provincial, Thomas de Celano, and returned into Italy with Simon +de Collazon, who had preferred the humble state of Friar Minor to the +nobility of his birth. The reason of Casar's return was the anxious +desire he had to see once more his holy Patriarch, and his companions +in the Valley of Spoleto, with whom he was intimately united through +virtue. He was a man greatly attached to contemplation, very zealous +for holy poverty, and highly esteemed by his brethren, who, after their +holy Father, looked up to him above any other. + +The religious whom he had left in Germany pursued their mission with +great success. Even in this year, or shortly after, they penetrated, +with the Friars Preachers, into the Kingdom of Sweden, and into some +other countries of the North, according to the testimony of John the +Great. Archbishop of Upsal, and Legate of the Holy See, who notices +this circumstance in the history of his church. + +This prelate remarks that one of the first who entered the Institute +of the Friars Minor, was Laurence Octavius, an illustrious man, whose +conversion made such a sensation, that it drew into the Order many +persons of high rank. The poor habit which he wore, and which he honored +by his splendid virtues, and particularly by love of suffering, did +not render it less venerable than his sciences. + +Octavius could not avoid giving his consent, in the year 1244 or 1245, +to the election which was unanimously made of his person, by the clergy +and people, for the Archbishopric of Upsal, which was confirmed by +Innocent IV. In this dignity, he continued to live the life of a true +Friar Minor, and did so much for the salvation of his flock, as well +as for the benefit of the whole kingdom, that, if heresy had not +destroyed in Sweden all sentiments of piety with the light of faith, +his memory would still be honored there as one of their greatest as +well as holiest persons. He died a saintly death, in the year 1267, +and chose to be buried among the Friars Minor, with whom he would have +gladly spent his life. + +While the Institute of St. Francis thus flourished in Germany and in +the North, a treasure was discovered in Italy, which had been up to +this time overlooked. It was the great St. Anthony of Padua, who was +leading a hidden life in the Hermitage of St. Paul near Bologna. + +His superior sent him, with some others, to Forli, in Romagna, to take +orders. Some Friars Preachers were also present. Being assembled +together at the hour of conference, the superior of the place requested +the Friars Preachers to give them an exhortation. As they excused +themselves because they were not prepared, he turned to Anthony, and +without being aware of the depth of his learning, he ordered him to +say whatever the Holy Spirit should suggest to him. Anthony replied +with great humility that he was ill fitted for such a task, and that +he was much more qualified for cleaning the plates than for preaching. +However, yielding to the superior's reiterated order, he began to +discourse with simplicity and timidity; but God, proposing to place +conspicuously the lamp which was hidden under the bushel, he continued +his discourse with so much eloquence, and showed himself to possess +so profoundly learned a doctrine, that the audience was most agreeably +surprised, and admitted that they had never heard anything to equal +it; and they did not know which most to admire, his learning or his +humility. + +It was, indeed, requisite to be possessed of rare and extraordinary +humility, to hide with so much care such sublime learning, and talents +so varied; for Anthony had earnestly requested the guardian of the +convent in which he was, to employ him in cleaning the plates and +dishes, and in sweeping the house. This man, who, according to the +saying of the Apostle, was "A vessel of honor, sanctified and profitable +to the Lord, prepared unto every good work," treated himself, and +wished to be considered by his companions, as one of the vilest amongst +men. He was deserving of the highest place, and took the very lowest. +He was so deeply versed in the Holy Scriptures, that his memory served +him as a book; and he penetrated so well into the most obscure passages +that he was the admiration of the most profound theologians; but he +was more anxious to be confounded with the unlearned, and to be unknown, +than to let his learning be discovered, and to appear capable of +instructing others. + +We may here notice a reflection of St. Bernard on a somewhat similar +case: "Let this passage be remarked by those who undertake to teach +what they have not learnt themselves; seeking for scholars, without +having had masters, they are the blind leading the blind. But justice +is done them; although it is admitted that they have some talent, it +is soon found that they have nothing solid, and they are treated with +contempt." + +The fortunate discovery that was thus made of the talents of Anthony, +soon reached the ears of Francis, who ordered him to apply himself to +the pulpit. He desired, however, that the preacher, in order to exercise +his ministry with the greatest effect, should study theology at +Vercelli, under the Abbot of St. Andrew, who gave lessons with great +reputation, and who is supposed to have been the celebrated Doctor +Thomas, a canon regular of the Abbey of St. Victor of Paris. He was +sent to be the first abbot at the Abbey of St. Andrew of Vercelli, +which was founded about the year 1220. Anthony had as a fellow-student +another Friar Minor, named Adam de Marisco, an Englishman, who was +afterwards a doctor of the University of Oxford, the holiness of his +life, his learning, and his writings rendered him famous throughout +the whole realm of England. He was subsequently elected Bishop of Ely. + +The application which Anthony gave to the study of theology did not +prevent his preaching during all Lent at Milan, and at other times in +some parts of the duchy. But his preaching was no hindrance to his +studies, because the lights he had previously acquired, and those he +received from above, together with his splendid talents, gave him an +insight into the most sublime truths. His progress was so quick and +so great, that his master often declared, that he learnt many things +from his scholar. Speaking of the book of the celestial hierarchy which +he was explaining, he said that his scholar ran over the several orders +of blessed spirits with so much precision, and a penetration so +surprising, that it might have been thought that the whole heavenly +host passed before him. This exalted wisdom, joined to his eminent +virtues, induced his illustrious preceptor to give him the name of +Saint, and to apply our Blessed Lord's eulogy of St. John the Baptist +to him: "He was a burning and a shining light." Anthony was requested +by his fellow-students to communicate to them the learning in which +he abounded, and to give lessons in the convent, but he would not take +upon himself to exercise the functions of master, without having first +consulted the holy Founder of the Order. He wrote to him on the subject, +and received the following answer: + +"To my dear Brother Anthony, Brother Francis sends greeting in Jesus +Christ. + +"I entirely approve of your teaching the brethren sacred theology; in +such a manner, however, that the spirit of prayer be not extinguished +in you or in them, according to the rule which we profess. Adieu." + +This is a proof that Francis was not hostile to study, but that he +only wished it to be conducted in a religious manner, without prejudice +to piety. Anthony, having obtained leave, taught first at Montpellier, +and then at Bologna, where studies were again set on foot, to which +disobedience had put a stop, as has been said; then he taught at Padua, +at Toulouse, and in other places where he was stationed: always joining +to this holy exercise, that of preaching with wonderful success. + +At the time when he began taking lessons from the Abbot of Vercelli, +the most celebrated doctor of the University of Paris took the habit +of the Friars Minor. This was Alexander d'Hales or d'Hels, or Hales, +thus named from the place of his birth in the County of Gloucester, +where, from the year 1246, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, had founded a +convent of the Order of Citeaux. Having gone through his course of +humanities in England, he came to Paris, where he studied philosophy +and theology, took a doctor's degree, taught, and was universally +admired. + +St. Antoninus believes that what led to his vocation was this: having +made a vow to grant, if he possibly could, whatever should be asked +of him for the love of the Blessed Virgin, for whom he had a singular +devotion, a person who was questing for the Friars Minor, came and +said to him: "It is now long enough that you have been laboring for +the world, and you have acquired celebrity in it. I entreat you, for +the love of God, and of the Blessed Virgin, to enter into our Order, +which you will honor, and you will sanctify yourself." The doctor was +surprised at this request, but God touched his heart, and he replied +to the brother: "I shall follow you very soon; and shall do as you +wish," and shortly after, he took the habit of a Friar Minor. Others, +however, are of opinion, that he was induced to quit the world by the +example of his fellow-countryman, John of St. Gilles, an illustrious +doctor, who, preaching one day to the clergy, with great energy, on +voluntary poverty, in the convent of the Friars Preachers, descended +from the pulpit in the middle of his sermon, and in order to give force +to his words by his example, he took the habit of St. Dominic, and +returned to the pulpit to finish his discourse. + +However this may be, the holy life and happy death of Alexander Hales +in the Order of St. Francis, bore testimony to his having been called +by God. It is said that, at first, the practices were difficult to +him, and that some interior suffering made him think of leaving the +Order, but that, in this agitation, he saw in spirit Francis bearing +a heavy wooden cross, and endeavoring to carry it up a very steep hill; +that he offered to assist him, but that the holy Patriarch spurned his +aid indignantly, saying: "Begone, you feeble man; you have not the +courage to bear your own light cross, and you would attempt to bear +this heavy one!" This vision having enlightened the doctor who was a +novice, he was delivered entirely from the temptation under which he +labored. + +He continued to teach with the same repute; and the faculty of theology, +to do honor to his merits, gave him the privilege of presenting one +of his brethren and disciples for a doctor's degree; which he did the +first time by an interior revelation, in favor of Brother John de la +Rochelle, who afterwards became very celebrated. Alexander had many +other disciples distinguished both for their learning and their piety, +but there are none who have done more honor to his instructions than +St. Bonaventure, and, according to the opinion of many authors, St. +Thomas Aquinas. Among his writings, which are very numerous, and on +all sorts of subjects, his Summa is much esteemed, in which, by order +of Pope Innocent IV, he arranged methodically the theological subjects. +This is the first Summa which was compiled, and it has served as a +model for all others. Pope Alexander IV spoke in the highest terms, +both of the author and of his work. + +Gerson, Chancellor of the University of Paris, in speaking of +Alexander's doctrine, expresses himself as follows: "It is not to be +told how many excellent things it contains. I declare to have read in +a treatise, that some one having asked St. Thomas what was the best +mode of studying theology, he replied, 'To study the works of a single +theologian;' and being asked what theologian it was desirable to fix +on, he named Alexander Hales. Thus," continues Gerson, "the writings +of St. Thomas, and principally the Seconda Seconda, show how familiar +the works and doctrine of Alexander were to him." + +So then learned men entered the Order of Friars Minor, as St. Francis +had foretold; and this is the reason why he recommended that prayer +should be joined to study, lest learning should obliterate piety. + +The indulgence granted to St. Mary of the Angels, or the Portiuncula, +two years previous to this time, had not yet had the day fixed on which +the faithful could gain it. Francis waited till Jesus Christ, who first +conceded so precious a boon, should Himself mark the day, nor was he +disappointed. It occurred as follows: + +One night, when he was praying in his cell, at St. Mary of the Angels, +in the beginning of the year 1223, the tempter suggested to him not +to watch and pray so much, but rather to adopt other modes of penance, +because, from his age, more sleep and rest was absolutely necessary +for him, and these watchings would be his death. Being aware of the +malice of his infernal enemy, he retired to the woods, and threw himself +down into a bush of briars and thorns, till he was covered with blood. +"For," said he to himself, "it is much better that I should suffer +these pains with Jesus Christ, than that I should follow the advice +of an enemy who flatters me." + +A brilliant light which surrounded him, disclosed to him a great number +of white and red roses, although it was the month of January, and the +winter was very severe. This was an effect of the power of God, who +had changed the briars into rose-trees, which have ever since been +evergreen and without thorns. + +Angels, who appeared in great numbers, said to him: "Francis, hasten +to return to the Church, Jesus Christ is there, together with His +Blessed Mother." At the same time, he perceived himself miraculously +clothed with a new habit of pure white; he gathered twelve roses of +each color, and went to the church. After a profound adoration he +addressed the following prayer to Jesus Christ, under the protection +of the most Blessed Virgin: "Most holy Father, Lord of heaven and +earth, Saviour of man, deign, through Thy great mercy, to fix the day +of the indulgence which Thou hast been pleased to grant to this sacred +place." + +Our Lord answered him, that it was His desire that it should be from +the evening of the vigil of the day when St. Peter the Apostle was +delivered from his chains, to the evening of the following day. Francis, +again asking in what manner this should be publicly made known, and +whether his own assertion would be given credit to, he was directed +to present himself before the vicar of Jesus Christ, to take with him +some white and red roses as testimonials of the truth of the fact, +also a number of his own brethren, who would testify to what they had +heard; for, from the cells which were near the church, they had, indeed, +heard all that had been said. Then the angels sang the hymn "Te Deum +laudamus." Francis took three roses of each color in honor of the Most +Blessed Trinity, and the vision disappeared. + +Francis, accompanied by Brothers Bernard de Quintavalle, Peter of +Catania, and Angelus of Rieti, set out for Rome, where he related to +the Pope all that had happened at St. Mary of the Angels, in proof +whereof, he presented to him the roses he had brought, and his +companions testified to what they had heard. The Pope, astonished to +see such beautiful and sweet-smelling roses in the depth of winter, +said: "As to myself, I believe the truth of what you tell me, but it +is a matter which must be submitted to the cardinals for their +opinions." In the meantime, he directed his attendants to see that +they should not want for anything. + +The next day, they came before the consistory, where Francis, by the +Pope's desire, said, in presence of the cardinals: "It is the will of +God that whoever shall, with a contrite and humble heart, after having +confessed his sins, and received absolution by a priest, enter the +Church of St. Mary of the Angels, in the Diocese of Assisi, between +the first vespers of the first day of August and the vespers of the +second day, shall obtain an entire remission of all the sins he may +have committed from his Baptism until that moment." The Sovereign +Pontiff, seeing that the words of Francis were not thought to have any +deceit in them, having conferred with the cardinals thereon for some +time, confirmed the indulgence. And he subsequently ordered the Bishops +of Assisi, Perugia, Todi, Spoleto, Foligno, Nocera, and Gubbio, to +meet at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, on the first of August +of that year, and there solemnly to publish this indulgence. + +All these prelates met on the day specified, and having mounted a large +platform, which had been prepared outside of the church, they made +Francis mount there also, to explain to the assembly, which was very +numerous and gathered from all parts of the country, the cause of their +meeting. He spoke with so much fervor that it seemed to be rather an +angel who addressed the meeting than a man, and he ended his discourse +by announcing the plenary and perpetual indulgence which God and the +Sovereign Pontiff granted to this church every year on that day. The +bishops were not satisfied with his publishing it to be in perpetuity. +"Brother Francis," they said, "although the Pope desires us to do on +this occasion whatever you wish, it is not, however, his intention +that we should do things which are not suitable; therefore you must +give notice that the indulgence is only to last for ten years." The +Bishop of Assisi was the first to restrict it to this time, but he +could not help saying, as St. Francis had, "in perpetuity." The other +bishops endeavored successively to announce this restriction, but God +permitted that, without intending it, they should all say, "in +perpetuity." By this, they were made sensible of the will of God, and +willingly proclaimed the indulgence to be perpetual. + +Many of those who were at the sermon preached by Francis, have left +testimony in writing to the effect, that he had in his hand a small +scroll on which was written these words: "I wish you all to go to +Paradise. I announce to you a plenary indulgence which I have obtained +from the goodness of our Heavenly Father, and from the mouth of the +Sovereign Pontiff. All you who are assembled here to-day, and with a +contrite and humble heart have confessed with sincerity, and have +received absolution from a priest, will have remission of all your +sins; and in like manner, those who come every year with similar +dispositions, will obtain the same." + +Such is the way in which the famous indulgence of St. Mary of the +Angels, or of Portiuncula, was published on the second day of August; +an indulgence which the Sovereign Pontiffs have since extended to all +the churches of the Order of St. Francis. + +The seven prelates consecrated the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, +and performed a similar ceremony for the Church of St. Damian, at the +request of Francis and Clare. The remembrance of this is commemorated +yearly at Assisi, on the ninth of August. + +The benevolent feeling which Honorius III expressed to the holy +Patriarch, when he was at Rome, for the indulgence of the Portiuncula, +induced him to wish that this Pontiff would authorize solemnly the +Rule of the Order, which Innocent III had only verbally approved. He +had in the night the following revelation, which is thus recorded by +St. Bonaventure: + +It seemed to him that he had taken up from the ground some very small +crumbs of bread, in order to distribute them to the half-starved +brethren who surrounded him, and how, fearful lest such small crumbs +should fall out of his hands, a heavenly voice said to him: "Francis, +collect all these crumbs and make a host of them, and give of it to +such as wish to eat of it." He did so, and all those who did not partake +of it devoutly, or treated it contemptuously, after having received +it, seemed to be infected with leprosy. In the morning, he related all +this to his companions, and was distressed at not comprehending the +mystery. The following day, while he was at prayer, a voice from heaven +said to him: "Francis, the crumbs of last night are the words of the +Gospel, the host is the Rule, and the leprosy is iniquity." + +The term of Host, to designate the Rule, is worthy of particular +consideration. Its import is that, as bread without leaven, which is +called the Host, is made of the finest flour, so the Rule is composed +of what is most perfect in the Gospel; and as this bread, by the words +of consecration, is changed into the Body of Jesus Christ, the true +Host immolated on the altar, so those who make profession of the Rule, +must be transformed into hosts, or victims, and immolate themselves +to God. It is thus that St. Paul warns Christians, "To become as a new +paste without leaven," and to pass the whole time of their lives as +a continual festival, "presenting their bodies a living sacrifice, +holy and pleasing unto God." St. Peter also says to them, that they +are a "Spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual +sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." + +The oracle of Heaven communicated to Francis that the Rule which he +sought to have approved, and which was composed of sentences from the +Gospel, required abridgment, and putting into order with greater +precision. In order to effect this, he was inspired, after the +publication of the indulgence, to go to Mount Columbo, near Rieti, +where he retired into an opening in the rock, with Brothers Leo and +Bonzio, fasting on bread and water; and this fast, according to the +statement of Marianus, lasted forty days. There he wrote the Rule, +according to the dictation of the Holy Spirit manifested to him, in +prayer. On his return to St. Mary of the Angels, he put it into the +hands of his vicar, Brother Elias, to read it, and keep it. Elias +thought it too severe, and some days afterwards, in order to suppress +it, he feigned to have lost it by negligence. The holy men returned +to the same place, and wrote it out a second time, as if God had +dictated it to him with His own mouth. + +The vicar-general communicated to some of the provincial ministers +what had happened, and told them that the Founder was desirous of +imposing upon them a stricter mode of life than that to which they had +hitherto adhered. They concerted together what they should do to avert +this, and it was agreed that Elias, as vicar-general, should go and +represent to him the inconvenience of such increased austerity, and +the objections of his brethren. Elias, who was aware of the firmness +of Francis in these matters, and had been severely rebuked by him on +other occasions, acknowledged that he did not dare execute this +commission alone, but he offered to accompany them for the common +cause, and they consented to this arrangement. + +While they were drawing near to the mountain, Francis had a revelation +of what was passing. When they had reached the top, he left the opening +of the rock quickly, and demanded of Elias what he and all these +ministers who were with him wanted. Elias, with downcast eyes, and +trembling, said, in a low tone of voice: "These ministers, having +learnt that you were about to give them a new Rule above the strength +of man to endure, have engaged me to come here, in my capacity of +vicar-general, to entreat you to modify it, because they will not +receive it, if it is too austere." + +At these words, the Saint, in great emotion and shuddering, raised his +eyes to heaven and exclaimed: "Lord, did I not say that these people +would not believe me? As to myself, I will keep this Rule to the day +of my death, with those of my companions who love poverty; but I shall +not have it in my power to compel those who do not choose it, and who +make so much resistance." + +Jesus Christ appeared in a luminous cloud above Francis, and said, so +that all heard him: "Little man, why are you discontented, as if this +is your work?--It is I who have dictated the Rule; no part of it is +yours. I insist on its being literally observed to the very letter--to +the very letter, without gloss or comment. I know what frail man can +endure, and what support I can and will give him. Let those who will +not keep the Rule leave the Order; I will raise up others in their +place; and if it be requisite, I will bring them forth from these +stones." + +Then Francis, from the top of the rock on which he had knelt down, +addressed these words to the vicar-general and to the others, who were +greatly alarmed: "You now know that your conspiracy has been solely +an opposition to the will of God, and that instead of taking into +consideration what He can do for us, you have only consulted the feeble +light of your human prudence. Have you heard, have you, yourself, heard +the voice which came forth from the cloud, and which spoke so audibly? +If it did not resound in your ears, I will take steps to cause you to +hear it once more." Upon this, Elias and his companions, astounded and +beside themselves, retired without saying a single word. + +The holy Patriarch having returned to join his faithful children in +the small fissure of the rock, in which they lay prostrate at the voice +of the Lord, said to them: "Rise up now, and fear nothing, but as true +soldiers of Jesus Christ put on the armor of God, in order to be on +your guard against the snares which the devil will not fail to throw +in the way of your following Him." He left the mountain and went to +the nearest convent to show the Rule to his brethren, intending to +communicate it afterwards to the others, in order to know what each +one thought of it. His countenance, animated and shining, was a +manifestation that God himself had dictated to him the rule of life +which he proposed to them. It was a striking representation of Moses +coming down from Mount Sinai, his face shining brightly. The resemblance +cannot be too much admired in its several relations. Moses, after a +fast of forty days, received, on a mountain, the Law which God gave +him. Jesus Christ having fasted forty days, was on a mountain when He +taught that doctrine which embraces, as St. Augustine observes, all +the perfection of the Christian life. And it was on a mountain that +it was His pleasure to give His servant Francis, who fasted rigorously, +a Rule in which the perfection of the evangelical life is contained. + +Some having read the Rule, said to Francis, that it was necessary that +his Order should have something in common, as the other religious +orders had; seeing that the number of the brethren was already very +great, and that, according to all appearance, the Order would be so +extended; that it would not be possible to exist in so restricted a +state of poverty. The Saint returned to the place he had left, and +having had recourse to prayer, he consulted Jesus Christ, the true +Legislator, who gave the following reply: "It is I who am their portion +and their inheritance, I do not choose that they should be encumbered +with the things of this world. Provided they adhere strictly to the +Rule, and that they place their confidence in me, I will take care of +them; I will not suffer them to stand in need of anything necessary +to life; the more their numbers increase, the more will I manifest my +providence to them." + +We must here render to that adorable and loving Providence the justice +due to it. It has never been wanting to the Order of St. Francis, and +they have never had greater proofs of His care than when they have +chosen to live most poorly. We see verified to the letter, in these +poor evangelical brethren, the imitators of Jesus Christ crucified, +what is said in the twenty-first psalm, in which the Son of God has +clearly foretold His Passion: "The poor shall eat and shall be filled, +and they shall praise the Lord that seek Him, their hearts shall live +forever and ever." Were He now to ask the Religious of St. Francis, +as He asked the Apostles: "When I sent you without purse, or scrip, +and shoes, did you want for anything?" There is not one who would not +answer as they did: "No, we have not wanted for anything." For a poor +evangelical brother is bound to consider himself as not wanting anything +while he lives, and to look upon having nothing but what is necessary +as the treasure of his state of life. + +A religious order which, without any revenue, maintains many thousand +men, was a subject of admiration for an infidel prince, and the Founder +was considered by him as a very great man. He was not aware of the +cause of this wonderful effect, but religion teaches us that it is God +himself who provides for the wants of His servants, by the charity +with which He inspires the faithful. + +Francis communicated to the ministers what our Lord had said to him. +They submitted to everything, and returned with him to St. Mary of the +Angels, where the Rule was approved by the brethren who were there, +and was then sent into the provinces to be examined before it was +submitted for confirmation. + +Speaking of the Rule, he said to his children: "I have not put anything +into it of my own; I caused it all to be written as God revealed it +to me;" and he adduced this motive to incite them the better to keep +it. He confirmed the revelation in his will, in the following terms: +"When the Lord confided to me the guidance of the brethren, no one +communicated to me how I was to behave towards them, but the Almighty +Himself revealed to me that I ought to live according to the form +prescribed by the Gospel; I caused it to be written out in few and +simple words," etc. + +This is the eulogium he passed on it: "My brethren and my dear children, +a very great favor was done to us in giving us this Rule; for it is +the book of life, the hope of salvation, the pledge of glory, the +marrow of the Gospel, the way of the cross, a state of perfection, the +key of Paradise, and the bond of our eternal alliance. None of you is +ignorant how greatly advantageous to us holy religion is. As the enemy +who fights against us is extremely clever in inventing and executing +everything which is malicious, and strews in our way all sorts of +snares to effect our perdition, there are many whose salvation he would +have brought into great peril, if religion had not been their shield. +Study, therefore, your Rule, all of you, not only for alleviating your +pains, but in order that it may remind you of the oath you have taken +to keep it. It is necessary that you should employ yourselves in +meditating on it, that it may sink into your hearts, and be always +before your eyes, so that you may observe it with exactness, and hold +it fast at your deaths." + +St. Bridget being in prayer at Jerusalem; where she was interceding +for a Friar Minor who had some conscientious scruples on the subject +of the Rule, our Saviour caused her to hear the following words: "The +Rule of St. Francis was not the composition of the human mind; it is +I who made it; it does not contain a single word which was not inspired +by my spirit; and thus Francis gave it to the others." + +Pope Nicholas III says, that it bears on the face of it, the evidence +of the Trinity; that it is descended from the Father of Light, that +it was taught to the apostles by the example, and by the doctrine of +His Son, and that the Holy Ghost inspired it to the blessed Francis +and to those who had followed him. He also declares, as Gregory IX had +done before, that it is established on the word of the Gospel, +authorized by the life of Jesus Christ, and supported by the actions +and words of the Apostles, who founded the Church Militant. It consists, +according to the remark of St. Bonaventure, in observing the Holy +Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, because all its substance is taken +from the pure source of the Gospel. It is, therefore, no new rule; it +is only a renewed rule; literally the same as what the Son of God laid +down for the Apostles, when He sent them forth to preach; and that +ought always give great spiritual consolation to those who keep it. +This holy doctor considers the impressions of the wounds of Jesus +Christ, which Francis received from the hand of the living God, some +time after the revelation of the Rule, as a bull of Jesus Christ, by +which that High Pontiff confirmed it; and Pope Nicholas III was of the +same opinion, in his decrial. + +Finally, the Rule of the Friars Minor, given by St. Francis, is wholly +Evangelical, and wholly Apostolical; there never was one which was so +universally and so promptly followed. Men illustrious by their birth, +by their knowledge, by their talents, by their virtue, embraced it and +have followed it, during a number of centuries, in all parts of the +Christian world; it has given to the Church a new family, in numbers +most extensive, whose fecundity does not become exhausted, and it has +produced a great galaxy of saints. + +The children of the Patriarch, having most willingly received it, he +left them in the month of October, in order to solicit the approval +of the Sovereign Pontiff. When at Rome, he was invited to dine with +Cardinal Ugolino, the Protector of the Order, who had a sincere +affection for him; but he did not come to the invitation, until he had +begged some pieces of bread, as he was accustomed to do, when he was +to dine with persons of rank. Being at table, he drew this bread from +his sleeve and began to eat of it, and he gave some to the other guests, +who partook of it from devotion. After dinner, the cardinal embraced +him, and said, smiling: "My good man, why, as you were to dine with +me, did you put the affront on me, to go and beg bread first and bring +it to my table?" "My Lord," replied Francis, "far from doing anything +to affront you, I did you honor, in honoring, at your board, a much +greater Lord than you are, to whom poverty is very agreeable, especially +that which goes as far as voluntary mendicancy, for the love of Jesus +Christ. I have resolved not to give up in favor of false and passing +riches, this virtue which is of royal dignity, since our Lord Jesus +Christ became poor for us, in order that, by His poverty, we might +become rich and heirs to the kingdom of heaven." + +An admirable reply, which is quite in unison with what was said by St. +Gregory Nazianzen. "If I am reproached for my poverty, I am sure that +it is my treasure;" and with these words of St. Ambrose, on the birth +of Christ: "His poverty is my patrimony; He chose to want for +everything, in order that all others might be in abundance." + +The cardinal presented Francis to the Pope, that he might solicit the +confirmation of his Rule. The Holy Father read it, and, finding it too +severe, he desired some changes might be made in it; but, the man of +God protesting by everything that was most sacred, that he had not put +a single word into it, and that Jesus Christ had dictated it, as it +there stood, the Pontiff, after discussing it with the cardinals, +confirmed it. His bull commences thus: + +"Honorius, bishop, the servant of the servants of God. To our dearly +beloved sons, Brother Francis, and other brethren of the Order of +Friars Minor, health and apostolical benediction. The Apostolic See +is accustomed to assent to pious intentions and to favor the laudable +wishes of those who solicit her favors. For which reason, our dear +children in Jesus Christ, we confirm by apostolical authority, and we +strengthen by this present writing, the Rule of your Order, which was +approved by Pope Innocent, of glorious memory, our predecessor, +expressed in these terms, etc." + +After having gone through it all, he concludes as follows: "Let no +person, therefore, have the temerity to violate the contents of our +present confirmation, or to contravene it. Should any one dare to do +so, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, +and that of His blessed Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul. Given in the +Lateran palace, the twenty-ninth day of November, 1223, the eighth of +our pontificate." + +The original of this bull, with its leaden seal, is preserved as Assisi, +in the Convent of St. Francis, where Wading saw it, in 1619, with a +copy of the Rule written by St. Francis' own hand. + +While Francis was still at Rome, he proposed to himself to celebrate +the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ at Grecio, with +all the solemnity possible, in order to awaken the devotion of all in +that vicinity. He wrote a letter on the subject to his friend, John +Velita, begging him to prepare all things; and in order that there +should be no room for censuring what he was about to do, he spoke to +the Pope about it, who approved highly of this pious ceremony, and +granted indulgences to those who should assist at it. + +St. Bonaventure informs us that, before his departure from Rome, he +went to pay his respects to Cardinal Leo Brancaleone, titular of Santa +Croce, with whom his friendship began in 1210, when he first came to +have his Rule approved. This cardinal invited him to stay some days +in his palace, because the severity of the weather and the floods might +impede his journey; it was the month of December. He retained, to +remain with him, with Francis' leave, Brother Angelo Tancredi, whose +miraculous conversion we have related; at that time, there were but +few of the cardinals who did not wish to have some of the Friars Minor +in their company; such was the veneration they had for their virtue +at the Roman court. Francis, however, found excuses for not spending +more than two or three days in the palace of Brancaleone, saying that +it was not fitting for the poor to dwell in the palaces of princes. +The cardinal told him that he would receive him as a pauper, and give +him a bed, not in his palace, but in an adjacent tower near the city +walls quite out of the way of any noise, where he might repose from +his fatigue for some time. Tancredi entreated him not to refuse this +satisfaction to a prince of the Church, who was a person of great +piety, and a generous benefactor to the Order; therefore, out of +respect, and from gratitude, he consented to stay, and with his +companion took up his abode in the tower. + +The following night, when he was about to take some repose, the devils +came and beat him so long, and so violently, that they left him half- +dead. He called his companion, and told him what had happened, and he +added: "Brother, I believe that the devils, who can do nothing without +the leave of the Almighty, have ill-used me to this degree, because +of my having remained with great people, here; if so, it augurs no +good. My brethren who dwell in very poor houses, knowing that I am the +guest of cardinals, might suspect that I enter willingly into the +concerns of the world, that I glory in honors, and that I am living +daintily. I therefore think that a man who is to be an example to +others, should leave the court, and dwell humbly with the humble, in +places adapted to the profession of humility, in order that he may +inspire those with fortitude, who suffer the inconveniences of a life +of poverty, by suffering with them." In the morning, he took leave of +the cardinal, and set out for Grecio. + +It is necessary here to remark that St. Francis, who permitted some +of his brethren to remain with the cardinals, did not think that he +himself, who was the superior, ought to spend a single night in their +palaces, lest others should be disedified thereby, and that it was his +duty to give good example to all. This shows how much persons in power +should strive not to do anything calculated to give bad examples, and +to abstain from certain things which, though irreprehensible in +themselves, and which would not be noticed in a lowly individual, might +be a cause of scandal in one of high station, who ought to be a model +of virtue. On this principle, St. Paul said to the Christians: "All +things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things +are lawful for me, but all things do not edify. I do all for your +edification." He recommended his disciples, Timothy and Titus, whom +he had ordained bishops, to be "an example to the faithful, in word, +in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity, in the practice +of good works." St. Gregory, St. Bernard, and all the Holy Fathers +have always required of prelates, as a primary qualification, that +they should greatly edify; which is the more necessary in the superiors +of religious communities, as their example is under more immediate +observation. + +The bad health of Francis, the beating which he had received from the +devils, and a constant fall of rain, compelled him to ride on an ass. +During his journey he dismounted to say the Divine Office, standing; +he remained on the same spot without paying attention to the rain, and +did not mount till he had quite finished. + +Having reached Grecio, he found all things prepared for the celebration +of the festival by his friend Velita. They had prepared a crib in the +wood, in which was represented the Nativity of our Saviour; they had +placed straw there, and, during Christmas-night, also took there an +ox and an ass. Many Friars Minor had arrived at the wood from the +neighboring convents, and the people of the environs came in crowds +to the ceremony. The wood was lit up by numerous torches, and resounded +melodiously from the sound of a thousand voices which sang the praises +of God with untiring zeal. Francis, full of devotion, and with his +eyes bathed in tears of holy joy, knelt before the manger, above which +an altar had been placed, where mass was celebrated at midnight; he +acted as deacon, and after having sung the Gospel, he preached on the +birth of the newborn King, became poor. + +Velita, who had prepared the ceremonial, assured them that he had seen +a most beautiful child in the manger, who was asleep, and whom Francis +tenderly embraced in order to awaken it. There is so much the more +reason for giving credit to this marvel, says St. Bonaventure, since +he who relates it, having been an eye-witness thereof, was a very holy +man, and since it was confirmed by many miracles; for the straw on +which the child appeared to be sleeping, had the virtue of curing +various maladies amongst cattle; and, what is still more wonderful, +those who came to visit the spot, however tepid and indevout they may +have been, were inflamed with the love of God. After the death of the +Saint, a chapel was erected on the spot, and the altar was placed at +the manger, in order that the flesh of the man-Cod immolated on the +cross, might be eaten on the spot on which He had chosen to appear as +a sleeping infant. + +After the ceremony, Francis retired to the convent of Grecio, where +some of the provincial ministers had collected, who had come thither +to communicate to him the affairs of their respective provinces. The +refectory had been set out in a better style than usual, with napkins +and glasses, not only on account of the solemnity of the day, but to +show respect to the guests. Francis was displeased at this, and, during +dinner, he went to the door of the convent, and took the hat and staff +of a pilgrim who was soliciting alms, and then, in this garb, came to +the refectory to beg as a poor pilgrim. The superior, who knew him by +his voice, said to him, smiling: "Brother pilgrim, there are here very +many religious, who stand in great need of what has been bestowed upon +them out of charity; however, come in, and they will give you what +they can." Francis came in and sat himself on the ground, where he ate +very contentedly some scraps of bread and other things which they gave +him on a platter, without choosing to have anything else. + +Francis remained some time at Grecio, where, one night, when he intended +to lay himself down to sleep, he felt a severe headache, and a shivering +over his whole body, which quite impeded his resting. Thinking that +this might be caused by a feather pillow which his friend Velita had +compelled him to accept, in consequence of his infirmities, he called +his companion, who was near his cell, and said: "Take away this pillow: +I believe the devil is in it." His companion, who took it away, found +it extremely heavy, and he had hardly left the cell, when he found +himself motionless and dumb. The Father, not doubting of the malignity +of the devil, ordered the brother, under obedience, to come back +directly; the wicked spirit having immediately left him, he came back +and related the state in which he had found himself. The Saint, +confirmed by this in the idea with which he had been impressed, that +what he had suffered had been brought on by his enemy, said:--"It is +true that yesterday, when reciting Compline, I perceived that the devil +was approaching, and I prepared to resist him. He is full of malice +and artfulness; as he could not sully a soul which God protects by His +grace, he endeavored to injure the body, and to prevent the necessary +aid being afforded to it; desiring to induce it to commit some fault, +at least of impatience, and prevent its having recourse to prayer." +The holy man was delivered from his sufferings, and got the rest he +could not obtain, when his head was laid upon a feather pillow. To +what a height of perfection did not God propose to raise this His +faithful Servant? He did not even allow him to have a small relief +from his sufferings. He is a holy God, jealous of the sanctity of +souls, who desires to have them purified by all sorts of sacrifices; +but, then, His rewards are great. + +Whilst Francis was at Grecio and in its environs, Peter of Catania, +his first vicar-general, died in the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels, +on the 2d day of March, 1224. As soon as he was in the tomb, God bore +witness to his merit by many miracles. The people crowded to his grave, +and left valuable offerings, which greatly disturbed the quiet of the +religious, and caused them much uneasiness on account of their strict +poverty. Francis, having been informed of it, went to the tomb, and, +moved by holy zeal, he addressed the dead man in a commanding tone, +with which God alone could have inspired him: "Brother Peter, whilst +you were living, you always obeyed me punctually: I command you to +obey me similarly now. Those who come to your grave are very troublesome +to us. Our poverty is offended, and our quiet infringed on, so that +our discipline becomes relaxed; thus, I command you, by your vow of +obedience, to refrain from performing any more miracles." His order +was obeyed. From that moment no more miracles were performed at the +tomb of Brother Peter. + +An ancient manuscript chronicle which is preserved in the Vatican, +mentions that Francis, having directed the body of Brother Peter to +be removed sometime afterwards, it was found that it was turned and +kneeling, the head bowed down, and in the posture of one who obeys a +command given him. To mark the value of obedience and the respect due +to it, God was pleased to permit a dead person to obey the orders of +a superior, as if he had been living. + +A similar prohibition from performing miracles after death, is recorded +in the life of St. Bernard. Gosvin, Abbot of Citeaux, who was at his +funeral with many other abbots of his order, seeing the commotion +caused by the numerous miracles which were worked there, and fearing +this would become prejudicial to regular discipline, approached +respectfully to the coffin, and forbade the saint from performing any +more miracles, in virtue of his obedience. And, in fact, from that +time, there were no more performed at that shrine publicly, although +God performed others privately by his invocation. The author adds, +that St. Benedict requires in his rule, an obedience without reserve, +according to the example of Jesus Christ, who was obedient unto death, +and that the soul of St. Bernard rendered itself obedient even after +death to a mortal man. + +Clare, and her daughters of the Monastery of St. Damian, now asked +Francis to give them a written rule, and a form of life similar to +that of the Friars Minor, in order that, in his absence and after his +death, they and those who should succeed them, might live up to it. +These Religious of St. Damian, did not wish to receive the rule of St. +Benedict, nor the constitutions prepared by Cardinal Ugolino, which +the other monasteries, established on the plan of St. Damian, had +willingly accepted, and which were of great severity: these nuns desired +to have a rule which should be of even greater rigor. + +The holy Patriarch consulted the same cardinal on this subject, he +being the protector of both Orders; and they jointly composed a rule +in twelve chapters, which was similar in all respects to that of the +Friars Minor, with modifications and usages proper for females. If +anything made Francis hesitate, the cardinal gave his opinion either +to modify certain parts, or to take precautions on others. He also +used some articles from the constitutions which had before been drawn +up. While he was writing, he could not help shedding tears, in +reflecting that young females were willing to practise austerities of +such a nature. + +St. Clare says in her will, addressing herself to the sisters: "Our +blessed Father, St. Francis, has written for us a form of life, +principally that we may ever persevere in the practice of holy poverty, +to which he has exhorted us, not only by his word and example, but by +many writings which he has left us. Pope Innocent IV expressly declares +in the bull which he issued at the earnest entreaty of St. Clare, three +days before her death, that the rule which he confirms was given them +by St. Francis. All is his, except some very trifling things, in no +way essential, which seem to have been added to it by Cardinal Ugolino, +by St. Clare, and by the Pope. + +"It was in the year, 1224, that the marvellous apparition recorded by +Wading was seen, which is noted as follows in the legend of St. +Bonaventure: + +"Although Francis could not attend the provincial chapters, the order +which he had laid down for these assemblies, the fervent prayers which +he put up for their success, and the influence of the blessing which +he gave them, were as if he were present at them. Sometimes even, God, +by His almighty power, caused him to appear among them in a sensible +manner, as it happened at the chapter at Arles. While that excellent +preacher Anthony was discoursing to the brethren on the Passion of the +Son of God, and on the inscription on His cross, 'JESUS OF NAZARETH, +KING OF THE JEWS,' one of the religious, named Monald, a man of +exemplary virtue, moved by the Spirit of God to look towards the door +of the chapterhouse, saw the blessed Francis, raised into the air with +his arms extended as a cross, giving his blessing to the assembly. +They then became filled with great spiritual consolation, which was +an interior testimonial assuring them of the presence of their Father, +and confirming what Monald had seen. This became more certain, +afterwards, by the avowal which Francis made respecting it." + +"We should have no difficulty in believing this," continues St. +Bonaventure, "for God, by His almighty power, rendered the holy Bishop +St. Ambrose, during a mysterious sleep, present at the funeral obsequies +of St. Martin; in a similar manner it was His pleasure that the truths +announced by His preacher Anthony, on the subject of the Cross of Jesus +Christ, should receive greater weight by the presence of His Servant +Francis, who carried the cross with such exemplary courage, and preached +it with such zeal." + +Having given a rule to the sisters of St. Damian, and transacted all +that related to the three orders, Francis recommended strongly to +Brother Elias, to attend carefully, and to see that everything was +carried into effect, and then thought it necessary to take some time +to attend to his own interior. For it was his custom to go from one +good work to another, in which he imitated, St. Bonaventure says, the +angels whom Jacob saw in his dream, going up and down the mysterious +ladder, the feet of which rested on the earth, but its summit reached +the heavens. This angelic man so employed the time which was given +him, in which to amass treasures of merit, that he was constantly +occupied either in descending to his neighbor by the laborious +ministries of charity, or in elevating himself to God in the quiet +exercise of contemplation. When circumstances had compelled him to +give more time to the service of souls, he afterwards retired to some +lonely and noiseless place, to remove from himself, by giving his +thoughts solely to God, all the filth which might have attached itself +to him in his intercourse with men. Our Lord often gave His apostles +examples of retreats, and they cannot be too often recommended to those +who labor for the salvation of their neighbors. + +Francis, therefore, went with some of his brethren to meditate in the +convent of Celles, near Cortona. He met on the road a lady of good +family, who was very pious and in great affliction, having a husband +who used her cruelly, and prevented her from serving God. She told him +that she was come to pray to God for the conversion of her husband, +and he made her this answer: "Go in peace; and rest assured that your +husband will soon afford you consolation; only tell him from God and +from me, that now is the time of mercy, and that afterwards will be +the time of justice." The lady received the Father's blessing, and +said what she had just learned to her husband. The Holy Ghost descended +at the same moment on this man, and he became so changed, that he said +to his wife in a mild tone of voice, "Madam, let us serve God and work +out our salvation." He passed thus many years with her in continence, +with which she had inspired him, and they died most holily on the same +day. + +We saw in the first two Tertiaries, a wife sanctified by her husband. +This is precisely what St. Paul says: The one may contribute to the +sanctification of the other. In fact, St. Chrysostom thinks that a +virtuous woman who is mild and prudent, is more likely to bring back +a profligate husband to the service of God, than any other person; and +that the solid piety of a husband, with good manners and discreet +firmness, may soften the asperity of an ill-tempered woman, or at least +render her less fractious. + +All that Francis did at Celles, was to give himself up to contemplation; +and, in order that the place itself should be favorable to meditation, +he resolved, after having been there a short time, to retire to the +desert of Mount Alvernia; it was the Holy Ghost who inspired him with +the desire to go thither, where he was to receive the glorious privilege +of the stigmata. As he passed through the country of Arezzo, his great +infirmities compelled him to ask for an ass to continue his journey. +There was not one in the village, but a person offered him a horse, +which he was under the necessity of accepting: it was the only time +that he had been on horseback since his conversion; for, whenever he +had been forced to ride, he took the most despicable animal, in order +to set an example to his brethren. In the village to which the horse +was sent back, there was a woman who, for several days, was suffering +cruelly from labor-pains, without being able to be delivered, so that +no human hope remained of saving her life. The people of the place, +seeing the horse brought back which had carried the Saint, took the +bridle and placed it on the woman's bed, in full confidence that he +who had had the use of it, would come to her aid; and, in fact, she +was immediately, most fortunately, delivered. This fact is one of those +related by St. Bonaventure. + +On Mount Alvernia Francis reaped extraordinary consolations in +meditation; he was filled with ardent desires of heaven, and, at the +same time, he felt that the celestial gifts were communicated to him +in greater abundance. These interior feelings which threw his soul +into ecstasies, raised his body into the air to greater or less height, +in proportion to their degree, as if an extreme disgust for every thing +that was connected with the earth, gave him a stimulus to raise himself +to his celestial home. + +Brother Leo, his secretary and his confessor, attests to have seen him +raised sometimes to the height of a man, so that one could touch his +feet, sometimes, above the tallest beech-trees, and sometimes so high, +that he was elevated out of sight. When he was not raised higher than +the height of a man, Leo kissed his feet and watered them with his +tears, with tender devotion, saying the following prayer: "My God, be +merciful to me, a sinner such as I am, by the merits of this holy man, +and deign to communicate to me some small portion of Thy grace." When +he lost sight of him, he prostrated himself and prayed, on the spot +on which he had seen him elevate himself. + +St. Thomas and many others believed that St. Paul in his rapture may +have been elevated in body and soul into the third heaven, that is, +into the Empyrean, into Paradise, into the place where the angels and +the blessed are; and we must not call this in question, since the +apostle himself says, that he does not know whether he was raised up +in the body or out of the body. St. Theresa, whose works are published +by authority, says that she had sometimes raptures in which she was +raised from the ground by a supernatural power, whatever resistance +she might make; that others saw her in this state, and she saw herself +in it. We may therefore believe that God raised the body of His Servant +Francis, while his soul was in raptures by interior operations; more +particularly, as the fact is attested by so trustworthy a witness as +Leo, who certifies having seen it with his own eyes. "God," says St. +Theresa, "grants extraordinary favors to a soul, to detach it entirely +from everything that is earthly, by the body itself, so that life +becomes burthensome to it, and that it suffers a sort of torment brought +on by a violent desire of possessing God, which is a martyrdom both +agreeable, and, at the same time, painful; but we must be under the +conviction, that with ordinary grace, which God increases in proportion +to faithfulness, we may attain to an entire disengagement from worldly +affairs, and to that longing for heaven which, as Christians, we are +obliged to feel." + +One day, when Francis was restored from one of the ecstasies which had +raised him from the ground, Jesus Christ appeared seated at a low stone +table, where the Saint was in the habit of taking his meals, and +speaking to him with the familiarity of a friend, as to the protection +which He proposed to give to the Order, after his death, He made known +to him the following points: first, that the Order would last to the +end of the world; secondly, that those who should persecute the Order, +would not be long-lived, unless they became converted; the third and +fourth points, related to favors which our Saviour promised not only +to the Friars Minor, but to those who were sincerely attached to them. + +When our Lord had disappeared from the table, Brother Leo, not knowing +what had happened, was about to prepare it, as usual, for their meal, +but Francis stopped him, saying: "It must be washed with water, with +wine, with milk, with oil, and with balm, for Jesus Christ has +condescended to sit on it, and to make known to me from thence what +will be communicated to you hereafter." As Brother Leo had not the +articles he required, he only took oil, as Jacob had done, to consecrate +this table to the Lord, and, having poured oil on it, he pronounced +these words: "This is the altar of God." He then told his companion +the four favors which had been promised and added that there was a +fifth which he should not repeat: it was thought that it was out of +humility; for, after his death, it was revealed to Brother Leo, that +it consisted in that God, in consequence of the merits of the Saint, +had deferred punishing the country by famine, to give sinners time to +be converted; and, as they did not avail themselves of it, after his +death, this scourge fell on the land, and was followed by a great +mortality. + +Towards the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, he retired +into the most secret part of the mountains, where his companions built +for him a small and unpretentious cell. He remained there with Leo, +having forbidden the others to return to him till the Feast of St. +Michael, and on no account to permit any persons whomsoever to have +access to him. It was then the time of the fast which he prescribed +for himself, in honor of the archangel; one of the nine periods of +fasting he observed during the year, which will be noticed elsewhere. +Proposing to fast this year more rigorously than in the preceding +years, he directed Brother Leo to bring him nothing but bread and water +once a day, and that, towards evening, and place it at the threshold +of his cell. "And when you come to me for Matins," he added, "don't +come into the cell, but only say in a loud voice, 'Domine, labia mea +aperies;' and if I answer, 'Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam,' you +will come in, otherwise you will go back." His pious companion, who +had nothing more at heart than to obey him, and be useful to him, +complied minutely with all he said; but he was often obliged to return +in the night, because the holy man was in ecstasy, and did not hear +him. + +The reward of his solicitude was to be freed from a mental agitation, +which he had found very troublesome; although it was not a temptation +of the flesh, he nevertheless was ashamed of it, and did not dare make +his Father acquainted with it; he only wished to have something written +by him, which he thought would enable him to overcome the temptation, +or at least enable him to bear it with less difficulty. The Father, +knowing by revelation the state of his mind and his wish, desired him +to bring him paper and ink, and he put on the top of the paper, in +large characters, the letter "T," after which he wrote some praises +of God, with his blessing: "May the Lord bless you and take you into +His keeping, may He show you His countenance, and take pity on you, +may He turn His eyes towards you, and give you His peace. May God bless +Brother Leo." "Take this paper," he said, "and keep it carefully all +your life." Leo had no sooner received it than his temptation left +him; he preserved it carefully till his death, knowing the virtue that +was attached to it. This writing is still extant at Assisi, in the +sanctuary of the Church of St. Francis, and God has permitted it to +be frequently used for the cure of diseases. St. Bonaventure says that, +in his days, it had been the means by which several miracles were +effected. + +Francis experienced on Mount Alvernia, what had occurred to St. Anthony +in the Desert of Thebais: after having been the means of freeing others +from the attacks of the devil, he was exposed to them himself. The +subtle spirit often suggested evil thoughts to him. He placed horrid +spectres before him, and he even visibly struck him severe blows. Once +in a very narrow path, and on the edge of a deep precipice, he appeared +to him in a hideous figure, and threw himself upon him to cast him +down; as there was nothing by which he could support himself, Francis +placed his two hands on the rock, which was very hard and slippery, +and they sank into it, as if it had been soft wax, and this preserved +him from falling. An angel appeared to him to put away his fright, and +to console him, causing him to hear celestial music, the sweetness of +which in so far suspended the powers of his soul, that it seemed to +him that his soul would have been separated from his body, had the +music lasted much longer. + +He resumed his prayer in which he returned thanks for having escaped +the danger, and for the consolation he had received; then he set about +considering what might be the will of God. He was not, as St. +Bonaventure remarks, like to those inquisitive minds, who rashly +endeavor to scrutinize the ways of God, and who are overwhelmed with +His glory; but as a faithful and prudent servant, he endeavored to +discover the intention of his Master, only from the anxiety he felt +to conform himself to it in all things. A divine impression induced +him to think that, if he opened the Book of the Gospel, he would learn +from Jesus Christ what in him and for him would be most agreeable to +God. Having, therefore, again prayed with great fervor, he told Brother +Leo to take the New Testament from the altar, and open it; Leo opened +it three times in honor of the most Holy Trinity, and, each time, he +opened it at the Passion of our Blessed Lord. Francis, who was filled +with the Spirit of God, understood from this, that, as he had imitated +Jesus Christ in the actions of His life, he must now conform himself +to His sufferings, and in the pains of His Passion. + +Although his body was greatly weakened by the austerities he practised, +by which he incessantly carried the cross of the Son of God, he was +not alarmed at the idea of having new sufferings to endure; on the +contrary, he put on fresh courage for martyrdom, in which, he thought, +conformity to the Passion of Jesus Christ consists--hence the pious +wish he had three times entertained of exposing himself to it. For the +love he had for the good Jesus, remarks St. Bonaventure, was so lively, +that the following words of the Canticles seemed to be applied to him: +"His lamps are lamps of fire and flame." The charity which inflamed +his heart was so ardent and forcible, that all the waters of +tribulation, and all the fury of persecution would have been unable +to extinguish it. It is in this sense that St. Paul said: "Who shall +separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? or distress? +or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword?" +Such is the exalted love which Christians should have for God, if they +desire to love Him eternally; their hearts must be ready and willing +to make every sacrifice, and to suffer everything in order to preserve +this divine love. + +Some days after the opening of the book of the Gospel, Leo had come +at midnight to say aloud, at the door of Francis' cell, "Domine labia +mea aperies," according to the order he had received; and receiving +no reply, he had the curiosity to advance a step further, and to look +through the chinks of the door, to see what was going on. He saw the +cell entirely illuminated, and a bright ray of light come from heaven, +and rest upon the head of the Saint; he heard voices which made +questions and answers; and he remarked that Francis, who was prostrate, +often repeated these words: "Who art Thou, O my God, and my dear Lord? +and whom and I? a worm, and Thy unworthy servant." He also saw him put +his hand out three times into his bosom, and each time stretch it out +to the flame. + +The light disappeared, the conversation ceased, and Leo wished to +retire quickly; but the Father heard him, and rebuked him severely for +having watched him, and thus seen what ought to have been secret. Leo +asked pardon, and having obtained it, humbly entreated his master to +explain to him, for the greater glory of God, the things he had seen, +which Francis did in these terms:-- + +"God manifested Himself to me in the flame which you saw; He explained +many mysteries to me, by His infinite goodness, and He communicated +to me an immense knowledge of Himself, and I was so overpowered with +admiration, that I exclaimed: 'Who art Thou, Lord, and who am I?' For +nothing has tended more to my knowledge of what I am, than the +contemplation of the infinite and incomprehensible abyss of the +perfections of God, although from afar, and under obscure veils. + +"The Lord then having condescended to disclose to me, as much as I am +capable of knowing of His infinite greatness, I could not avoid making +this reflection; that it is certain that every creature is a mere +nonentity before God. While I was thus meditating, it was His pleasure +to direct that, for all the good He had done me, I should make Him +some offering; I replied that my poverty was so great, that except the +poor habit which I wore, I had nothing in the world but my body and +my soul, which I had long since dedicated to Him. The Lord then urged +me to offer Him what was in my bosom, and I was surprised to find there +a beautiful piece of gold, which I immediately offered to Him; I found +three pieces successively, which I presented to Him in the same manner; +it was when you saw me extend my hand in the flame. I gave thanks to +God for His many benefits, and for the means He put in my power to +make Him some acknowledgment. He gave me to understand that the three +pieces of gold, which were highly agreeable to Him, represented the +three modes of life which it had been His will that I should institute, +and also the three vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity." + +When he said that nothing had tended so much to the knowledge of what +he was, as the contemplation of the infinite perfections of God, he +well knew that the best mode to attain the knowledge of God is to know +one's self, as St. Augustine and St. Bernard teach us; that is to say, +that in order to our obtaining peculiar lights which open to us the +grandeur of God, it is necessary to be thoroughly impressed with our +own vileness, be sensible of our misery, and annihilate ourselves, +because the Divine Majesty only communicates itself to the humble. But +St. Francis proposed to himself to explain that, when it pleases God +to manifest Himself in some manner to a soul which is duly sensible +of its nothingness, it is better impressed with its own nothingness, +by the disproportion it sees between the Sovereign Being and His +creature, which discovers to it a thousand imperfections which it was +not previously aware of, as a ray of the sun penetrating into a room, +discovers a multitude of atoms of which we were previously unaware. +We may also form to ourselves an idea of this by our knowledge of human +ignorance; an ignorant man is less sensible of his ignorance and +sometimes he is not at all aware of it; he thinks he knows everything; +but a very learned man knows that he is ignorant of an infinity of +things, and finds his mind very confined. So also souls which are +interiorly enlightened as to the greatness of the Divinity, are more +perfectly aware of their own nothingness, and are more humble than +those who have not similar views. The mode adopted by the former is +to dive into his own nothingness by the light of faith, to humble +himself continually, in order to attain to a more exalted idea of the +greatness of God and to repeat frequently this prayer of St. Augustine: +"O God, who art always the same! may I know myself, may I know Thee." + +The self-knowledge which St. Francis possessed in such perfection, +prepared him sufficiently for the signal favor which God proposed to +confer upon him, according to the principle of St. Augustine, that +deep foundations are requisite for a building of great height. + +About the Festival of the Exaltation of the Cross, which is on the +fourteenth of September (it is believed that it was on the eve), an +angel appeared to him and gave him notice as he afterwards communicated +to some of his companions, to prepare himself for all that God would +do for him. "I am prepared for everything," he replied, "and I shall +not in any way oppose His holy will, provided he condescends to assist +me with His grace. Although I am a useless man, and unworthy that God +should cast a thought on me, nevertheless, as I am His servant, I beg +He may act by me, according to His good pleasure." + +This generous concurrence, which had martyrdom in its view, was the +last disposition which the Almighty required previous to giving to +Francis the peculiar and signal prerogative of the stigmata, that is +to say, previous to imprinting on his body the five wounds of our +Saviour Jesus Christ. We are about to put on record this marvellous +event as nearly as possible in the very words of St. Bonaventure, which +we have extracted from his two legends. He does not name the precise +day, but Wading assigns good reasons for thinking it occurred on the +Festival of the Exaltation of the Cross. + +"Francis, the servant and truly faithful minister of Jesus Christ, +being one morning in prayer on one side of the Mountain of Alvernia, +elevating himself to God by the seraphic fervor of his desires and by +the motives of tender and affectionate compassion, transforming himself +into Him who, by the excess of His charity, chose to be crucified for +us; he saw, as it were, a seraph, having six brilliant wings, and all +on fire, descending towards him from the height of heaven. This seraph +came with a most rapid flight to a spot in the air, near to where the +Saint was, and then was seen between his wings the figure of a crucified +man, who had his hands and feet extended and fastened to a cross. His +wings were so arranged that he had two of them on his head, two were +stretched out to fly with, and he covered his whole body with the two +others. + +"At the sight of such an object, Francis was extraordinarily surprised; +joy, mingled with grief and sorrow, spread over his soul; the presence +of Jesus Christ, who manifested himself to him under the figure of a +seraph in so marvellous a mariner, and with such familiarity, and by +whom he found himself considered so favorably, caused in him an excess +of pleasure; but the sorrowful spectacle of His crucifixion filled him +with compassion, and his soul felt as if it was pierced through with +a sword. Above all, he admired with deep concern that the infirmity +of His sufferings should appear under the figure of a seraph, well +knowing that this does not agree with His state of immortality; and +he could not comprehend the intention of the vision, when our Lord, +who appeared outwardly, communicated to him interiorly, as to His +friend, that He had been placed before him in order to let him know +that it was not by the martyrdom of the flesh, but by the inflammation +of the soul, that he was to be wholly transformed into a perfect +resemblance to Jesus Christ crucified. + +"The vision vanished, after having had a secret and familiar conference +with him, leaving his soul filled with seraphic ardor, and imprinting +on his body a figure similar to that of the crucifix, as if his flesh, +like softened wax, had received the impression of the letters of a +seal. For the marks of the nails immediately began to show themselves +on his hands and feet, such as he had seen them on the figure of the +crucified man. His feet and hands were seen to be perforated by nails +in their middle; the heads of the nails, round and black, were on the +inside of the hands, and on the upper parts of the feet; the points, +which were rather long, and which came out on the opposite sides, were +turned and raised above the flesh, from which they came out. There +was, likewise, on his right side a red wound, as if it had been pierced +with a lance, and from this wound there often oozed a sacred blood, +which soaked his tunic, and anything he wore round his body." + +This is the new prodigy which Jesus Christ chose to exhibit in favor +of Francis, in order to render him more like to himself. He marked him +and ornamented him with His own wounds, by a singular and glorious +prerogative which had never, previously, been conceded to any one, and +which justly excites the admiration of the Christian world. St. +Bonaventure is of opinion that all human encomium falls short of what +it deserves. In fact, in the midst of all the marvels which we find +in the life of St. Francis, we are compelled to admit that this is the +one which, without any exaggeration, may be termed incomparable. What +can there be so beautiful as to be visibly clothed with Jesus Christ, +to bear on the body the lively resemblance of those wounds which are +the price of our redemption, the source of life, and the pledge of +salvation? What interior conformity must the Servant have had with his +Master, to have deserved to have so marked a one exteriorly, for, no +doubt, the one was in proportion to the other! This faithful Servant +having embraced the cross from the very commencement of his conversion, +he carried it in his heart, in his mind, in his body, and in all his +senses; all his love, all his desires, were centred in the cross, it +was the standard of his militia. Therefore did Jesus Christ, whose +goodness appears with magnificence towards those who love Him, after +having honored the zeal of Francis by various apparitions in His +crucified state, choose, as a crowning of all His favors, that he +should be himself crucified, in order that, as the love of the cross +constituted his merit before God, the glory of being so miraculously +fastened to it, should render him admirable in the sight of mankind. + +Such was the sort of torment which God reserved for him in order to +satisfy the extreme desire he had to suffer martyrdom, on which St. +Bonaventure exclaims: "O truly fortunate man, whose flesh not having +been tortured by the racks of a tyrant, has nevertheless, borne the +impress of the Lamb that was slain! O fortunate soul, thou hast not +lost the palm of martyrdom, and yet thou art not separated from the +body by the sword of the persecutor!" Must we not also admit that the +impression of the five wounds of our Savior Jesus Christ on his body +was a true martyrdom--a precious martyrdom; rigorous in one sense, and +the more so, as it was not the consequence of the cruelty of +executioners, but was owing to the darts of divine love, and to the +very influence of the Son of God, the operation of which is most +powerful; sweet and delicious in another sense, and the more so, as +it was the effect of a most affectionate communication, and brought +about more intimate relations? Out Savior, thus, in some degree, +represented in His creature the situation in which He had been on the +cross, enjoying sovereign beatitude, while He suffered all the pains +and violence of the execution. + +It was in all probability after this favor of the stigmata, that Francis +composed the two Italian canticles which are found amongst his works. +In the first, the burden of which is, "In foco l'amor mi mise, in foco +l'amor mi mise," he describes very practically, with figurative and +very lively expressions, the struggle he had with divine love, and the +attacks he had himself made on that love, the wounds which he received, +the flames by which his heart was kindled, and the state of languor +and faintness to which he found himself reduced, and, finally, the +strength, with a tranquillity of feeling exceedingly refreshing, which +Jesus Christ had imparted to him. In the second, which is much longer +than the first, he describes the strength, elevation, and tenderness, +the vehemence of the divine love in his heart; he enters into +conversation with Jesus Christ, who answers him; and this love +constantly increasing, he declares that he can resist no longer, that +he consents to everything, and that he wishes no other relief than to +die of love. + +St. Theresa, speaking of her situation at prayer, in which she often +found herself, as it were, intoxicated with the love of God, and quite +beside herself, said: "I know a person who, without being a poet, +sometimes made very good extempore verses in spiritual canticles, which +expressed beautifully her sufferings. It was not from her mind that +they originated; but, by order of the glory so delicious a suffering +caused her; she laid her complaint in this manner before God. She would +have wished to tear herself to pieces to show the pleasure she +experienced in this delightful pain." These spiritual and divine +emotions are neither known nor relished by profane minds and hearts, +who only learn from their own corruption, and from the pestiferous +books which encourage it, the extravagances and transports of criminal +love; but pure minds, who know what it is to love God, and to be loved +by Him, are not astonished at the effects which this holy reciprocated +love produced in a St. Francis, in a St. Theresa, and in many others. +Neither is it surprising that the saints who are full of the thoughts +of God, should have had recourse to poetry to express the feelings of +their hearts, since the sacred writers, inspired by the Spirit of God, +have composed many of the sacred books in poetry; this also is practised +by the universal Church in her Divine Office. + +The precious wounds which Francis had received, were a subject of great +embarrassment to him; for, in the first place, he wished to conceal +them wholly, well knowing that it is "proper to conceal the secrets +of the king," as the angel said to Tobit; and, in the second place, +he saw that the wounds were too conspicuous to remain long hidden from +those of his companions who had familiar intercourse with him. His +hesitation was, whether he should tell them what had occurred, in +confidence, or whether he should be silent on the subject, for fear +of making known the secrets of the Lord. He called some of them to him +and laid before them his difficulty in general terms, and solicited +their advice. Brother Illuminatus, he from whom he had received such +excellent advice in the camp before Damietta, opining, from the look +of astonishment which he remarked in him, that he had seen something +wonderful, said: "Brother, you ought to know that it is not only for +your own edification, but for that of others also, that God sometimes +discovers his secrets to you, for which reason you should be fearful +of being reprimanded for having hidden the talent, unless you make +known what is to be of service to many." + +Francis was struck with this advice, and although on other occasions +he was in the habit of saying with Isaiah, "My secret is to myself," +he communicated to them all what had passed in the apparition, but +always with great fear; adding, that He who had appeared to him, had +communicated things to him which, while he lived, he never would +disclose to any one. We must believe, as St. Bonaventure remarks, that +the seraph whom he saw attached to the cross in so wonderful a manner, +or rather, Jesus Christ Himself in the appearance of a seraph, had +said to him, as he had to St. Paul, "Secret words, which it is not +granted to man to utter;" either because there are no words in which +they can be expressed, or, as a respected author thinks, because there +are no souls sufficiently disengaged from sensible objects, and +sufficiently pure, to understand them. + +The confidence which Francis had reposed in his companions, did not +prevent his taking every precaution possible to hide, as much as it +was in his power, the sacred marks with which the King of kings had +secretly favored him. From that time forward, he kept his hands covered, +so that the nails should not be seen, and he wore slippers, which +covered those of his feet. Wading saw in the Monastery of the Poor +Clares at Assisi, the sort of slippers which St. Clare made for her +spiritual Father, so neatly contrived that the upper part covered the +heads of the nails, and, the underneath being somewhat raised, the +points did not prevent his walking; for these miraculous nails did not +take from him the use of his hands and feet, although it was painful +to him to use them. + +But all the precautions which his humility had suggested, became +useless; it is God's providence to reveal, for His greater glory, the +wonderful things which He does. The Lord Himself, who had secretly +marked on Francis the impressions of His Passion, by their means worked +miracles, which manifestly disclosed their hidden and marvellous virtue. +Moreover, the Saintly Man could not prevent his wounds from being seen +and touched by persons whose veracity cannot be called in question, +and who rendered public testimony thereto; besides which, after his +death, all the inhabitants of Assisi saw, touched, and kissed them. +The Sovereign Pontiffs of those days were so convinced of this admirable +event, that they issued bulls to exalt it by their praise, and to +repress by their authority those who refused credence to the fact, +because they had not seen it with their own eyes. Pope Alexander IV +certified it, as having been an eye-witness to it, in a sermon and in +a bull; and St. Bonaventure says that the proofs then collected made +it so certain, that they were sufficient to dispel every shade of +doubt. This degree of certainty is still further enhanced and rendered +more respectable, since Popes Benedict XI, Sixtus IV, and Sixtus V +have consecrated and extolled the impression of the stigmata on the +body of St. Francis, by having instituted a particular festival in +their honor, which is found in the Roman Martyrology, on the 17th of +September, and which is kept in the universal Church. + +The forty days which Francis had resolved to pass in solitude and +fasting having terminated on Michaelmas Day, this new man, whom perfect +love had transformed by a lively resemblance into Him whom he loved, +descended from the mountain, carrying with him the image of Jesus +Christ crucified, not modelled by the hand of a workman on wood or +stone, but stamped on his very flesh by the finger of the living God +Himself, as St. Bonaventure expresses it. He became more partial than +ever to Mount Alverno, where he had received this sacred image, and +recommended to his brethren to cherish great respect for this holy +place. + +As he descended the mountain, he met a number of the country people +who had already heard of the marvellous occurrence; it is probable +that God had informed the people of it by some extraordinary +manifestation. At the time when it occurred, they saw at break of day +the mountain illuminated by a most brilliant light, and what they +heard, informed them of the reason. They wished to kiss his hands; but +they were tied round with bandages, and he only offered them the tips +of his fingers. + +In a village near Arezzo, they brought him a child of about eight years +of age, who had been dropsical for four years, whom he cured +instantaneously by touching him. He went afterwards to Montaigne, where +Count Albert, the lord of that place, who was his good friend, and at +whose house he often took his bed, received him with great pleasure. +But the count was distressed to hear him say that his infirmities would +not allow him to return there any more, and that the time of his death +was hastening on. To mitigate the grief of such melancholy tidings, +he entreated the Saint to leave him some memorial of their friendship; +to which Francis replied, that he had nothing to give but the miserable +habit he had on, but that he would willingly leave it him, provided +he could get another. + +The change was soon effected; and it cannot be told how much Albert +prized the habit in which Francis had received the impression of the +precious pledges of our redemption. After the death of St. Francis he +enfolded this poor habit in rich stuffs of silk and gold, and he placed +it with great veneration on the altar of the church. The Lords of +Montaigne, from father to son, had it long in their possession; and +it, at length, came in the manner related by Wading, into the possession +of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, who preserve it as a precious relic. + +The great infirmities which the man of God suffered, obliged him to +take an ass to carry him from Montaigne to Mount Casal, through the +borough of Saint Sepulchre. When he reached the latter place, which +is very populous, the crowd surrounded him, touched him, and pressed +upon him, but he was insensible of it; he was as a dead person, in no +way aware what was doing, insomuch that, having proceeded a good way +from thence, and coming to himself, as one returned from the other +world, he inquired of some lepers at the door of the hospital, whether +they would soon get to Saint Sepulchre. His mind, contemplating, says +St. Bonaventure, with deep attention the brilliant lights of heaven, +had not noticed the difference of time, place, or persons; so penetrated +was he with divine communications, that he was not aware of what passed +around him. + +On reaching Mount Casal, he learned that one of his religious was +suffering under an extraordinary disorder, which some considered to +be epilepsy, and others thought it a true case of possession by the +devil, for he had all the violent contortions of those possessed. The +Father, who was full of tender compassion for the suffering, was greatly +afflicted at seeing one of his children in this deplorable state, and +he sent him a mouthful of the bread he was eating, the virtue of which +was so great that, as soon as the sick man had swallowed it, he was +cured, and thenceforward had no relapse into the disorder. + +From Mount Casal Francis went to Castello, and at the house where he +went to lodge, he was required to lend his aid to a female whom the +devil possessed, and compelled to talk without ceasing. The servant +of God with great prudence first sent one of his companions to see and +hear her, to examine into the case, to see whether it was really one +of possession, or whether the woman was not counterfeiting. She gnashed +her teeth,--she imitated the cry of an elephant with a dreadful +countenance; she affected to laugh when she saw the religious, and +ordered him to go away, saying that she did not care about him, but +she was afraid of him who hid himself. The Saint, who was in prayer, +having heard this, came into the room, where this woman was speaking +without any reserve, before many who were there. As soon as she saw +him, she fell on the ground, trembling. He reproached the demon with +his cruelty in thus torturing one of God's creatures, and ordered him +to leave her, which he did instantly, but with so much noise as +manifested his wrath. In the same town he cured a child who had an +ulcer, by making the sign of the cross on the dressing which covered +it. When the parents of the child took off the dressing, they saw +with surprise, in lieu of the ulcer, a fleshy excrescence, like a red +rose, which remained during the whole of the child's life, as a sensible +proof and memorial of the miracle which had been performed. + +After an abode of a month at Castello, the man of God set out on his +return to Saint Mary of the Angels. Brother Leo, who accompanied him, +assures us, that during the whole way, and until his arrival in the +convent, he saw a beautiful golden cross, shining--with various colors, +preceding him, which stopped where he stopped, and advanced as he went +on. This pious companion understood from this, that God had chosen to +give to His Servant the consolation of seeing with the eyes of his +body that cross which he had always in his heart, and which he likewise +bore in his flesh by the wounds of Jesus Christ. + +Nothing is more affecting than what St. Bonaventure says of the feelings +of St. Francis after having received the impression of these sacred +wounds. These are the words of the holy doctor:-- + +"Francis, being crucified with Jesus Christ in mind and body, not only +burned with the ardent love of a seraph, but he likewise participated +in the thirst for the salvation of souls which the Son of God felt on +the Cross. As he could not go, as he usually had done, into the towns +and villages, on account of the large nails he had on his feet, he had +himself carried thither, to animate every one, although he was in a +deplorable state of languor and half dead with his infirmities, to +carry the cross of our Saviour. He used to say to his brethren: 'Let +us now begin to serve the Lord our God, for up to this time we have +made but little progress.'" + +"He was also ardently desirous of returning to his first practices +of humility,--to attend the lepers, and to bring his body into +subjection, as he had done in the first days of his conversion. Although +his limbs were enfeebled by his exertions and sufferings, that did not +prevent his hoping that, as his mind was yet vigorous and active, he +should still combat and be victorious over his enemy. Under the guidance +of Jesus Christ, he proposed to perform some extraordinary things; for +when love is the spur, which admits of no neglect nor slackness, it +urges to the undertaking of things of greater importance. His body was +in such unison with his mind, so submissive, so wholly obedient, that, +far from resisting, it was forward in some measure, and went as it +were of itself towards the attainment of the great elevation of sanctity +to which he aspired." + +It being God's will that he should acquire the summit of merit, which +is only attained by great patience, He tried him by many sorts of +maladies, so grievous, that there was scarcely any part of his body +in which he did not suffer excruciating pains. These reduced him to +such a state, that he was scarcely more than skin and bone, almost all +his flesh was wasted away; but these sufferings he did not consider +as such, he denominated them his sisters, to show how much he cherished +them. + +These words of Saint Francis to his brethren, "Let us begin to serve +the Lord our God, for until now we have made little progress," contain +one of the most important lessons of all spiritual life. The Wise Man +says of the knowledge of the works of God: "When a man hath done, then +he shall begin," St. Augustine applies this sentence to the obscurity +of the sacred writings, when he says that, the deeper they are searched, +the more hidden mysteries are found in them; and it is equally +applicable to Christian and religious perfection. It is an error +condemned by the Church to believe that a man is capable of attaining +in this life such a degree of perfection, as not to be able to increase +it; but it would be a deplorable illusion to make use of the language +condemned by Saint Bernard; "I have done enough, I will remain as I +am: neither become worse, nor better." The just man never says, "It +is enough;" he has always hunger and thirst after justice; as the +apostles, "He forgets the things that are behind, and stretches himself +to those that are before, to press towards the mark." To believe that +we have made progress is not to do so; not to strive to advance is to +go back, and to lose one's self. What instruction do we find here for +the most perfect, in the example of a saint who deems himself to have +made little progress in the service of God, and who wishes to begin +all afresh, at a time when he is found deserving to bear on his body +the wounds of Jesus Christ! + +His disorders were only afflicting to Francis inasmuch as related to +the vast projects he unceasingly formed for the good of souls. He was +most grieved at the state of his eyes, which made his sight begin to +fail. Notwithstanding his other infirmities, whenever he could, he +mounted on an ass, and went about, preaching penance, announcing the +kingdom of God, and addressing these words to all his hearers: "Jesus +Christ, my Love, was crucified." He spoke with so much fervor, and +with such assiduity, visiting sometimes five or six towns in the course +of a single day, that it might be paid that God gave him, as to the +prophet, the agility of a deer. However, although in the person of St. +Francis the interior man was renewed from day to day, yet it necessarily +followed that the exterior man, borne down by so much, austerity and +fatigue, began rapidly to decay. The acute pains in his eyes, and the +tears he constantly shed, brought on blindness, besides it was +impossible for him to preach any longer, however desirous he was to +do so. Moreover, he would not have recourse to remedies, although his +brethren urged him to avail himself of them, because, being already +in heaven in mind and heart, he wished, as the Apostle had done, "to +have his conversation in heaven." + +Brother Elias, vicar-general, who felt the loss which the death of his +holy founder would be to the Order, was most anxious to procure him +relief. His feelings also induced him to wish it; for, with all his +faults, he was tenderly attached to his father, and was as a mother +to him by the care he took of him: of this all the first writers of +the life of Saint Francis bear testimony. He used entreaties and +argument to induce him to have recourse to medicine for his disorders, +and quoted the following Scriptural texts: "The Most High hath created +medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them." He +also on this occasion made use of the power he had received from the +Saint: he commanded him, on his obedience, not to resist his cure. +Cardinal Ugolino, Protector of the Order, urged him also to the same +effect, and warned him to be careful, lest there should be sin instead +of merit in neglecting to take proper care of himself. + +The sick man yielded to the advice of his friends. He was removed to +a small and poor cell, very near the Convent of Saint Damian, that he +might be nearer to Clare and her sisterhood, who loved him as their +father, and who prepared the medicines for him. He remained there forty +days with the Brothers Masse, Ruffin, Leo, and Angelo of Rieti; but +the disorder of his eyes became so painful, that he could get no rest +night or day; when he endeavored to procure a little sleep, he was +prevented by a number of rats, which infested the hut, and ran over +his table and bed so daringly, that it was thought to be a stratagem +of the evil one. + +Seeing himself overwhelmed by an accumulation of disorders, he made +the following prayer humbly to God: "My Lord and God, cast Thine eyes +upon me, and lend me Thine aid; grant me grace to bear with patience +all these ills and infirmities." A voice forthwith made him this answer: +"Francis, what price should be set upon that which shall obtain a +kingdom which is above all price? Know that the pains you suffer are +of greater value than all the riches of the world, and that you ought +not to be rid of them for all that is in the world, even though all +the mountains should be changed into pure gold, all its stones into +jewels, and all the waters of the sea into balsam." "Yes, Lord," +exclaimed Francis, "it is thus that I prize the sufferings Thou sendest +me; for I know that it is Thy will that they should be in this world +the chastisements of my sins, in order to show me mercy in eternity." +"Rejoice, then," added the voice, "it is through the way in which you +are, that heaven is reached." At these words he rose up full of fervor; +and wishing that Clare, who was almost always ill, should benefit by +what he had just heard, he sent to her, and informed her of the tender +goodness of God to man, even in the dispositions of His Providence, +which have the appearance of being the most severe. + +Men who are enlightened by the light of faith,--must they not be +convinced of these Christian truths: that the most perfect have some +sins to expiate; that the saints can only attain to heaven by suffering; +that the Kingdom of Heaven, which is invaluable, cannot be purchased +at too great a price; and that God never manifests His paternal regard +in our favor more evidently than when He afflicts us in this world +in order to show us His mercy in the next? What fruit might not be +gathered from sicknesses and other sufferings; what alleviations, what +consolations, and even what joy, might not be found, if these holy +truths were but reduced to practice, which unfortunately are only +viewed theoretically, and with little or no application! + +Francis being one day at dinner, and beginning to eat, stopped suddenly, +and, with his eyes raised to heaven, exclaimed in a loud voice: "May +God be blessed, glorified, and exalted above all!" Then leaving the +room in an unusual manner, he threw himself on the ground, where he +remained motionless in ecstasy during a whole hour. + +When he came to himself, one of the brethren whose name was Leonard, +who had witnessed what had passed, and had heard what he had exclaimed, +spoke to him of it, as if what he had done had been very unbecoming. +"My dear brother," said Francis, "I had great cause for what I did, +which I will communicate to you confidentially, upon condition that +you will tell no one of it during my lifetime. If a king promised to +give a kingdom to one of his subjects, would not that person have great +reason to rejoice? What, then, did I do that was unseemly,--I whom the +Almighty assured of His kingdom? I was so overpowered with joy, that +I could not control the emotions of my heart; you must excuse the +excess in the expressions of my satisfaction, whatever it may have +been, and however it may have seemed to transgress the rules of decorum. +But what I did is not enough, I will praise God still more; I will +unceasingly praise His holy name. I will sing hymns to His glory during +the remainder of my days." + +After which he sat down, and after having reflected a little, he got +one of his companions to write an Italian canticle, which begins thus: +"Altissimo, Omnipotente, bon Signore; tue son le laude, la gloria, +l'onore, ed ogni benedizione," etc. "O God, most high, most powerful, +most good! to Thee belong praise, honor, glory, and every blessing: +these are solely to be referred to Thee; neither is any man worthy to +pronounce Thy holy name. Praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! by all thy +creatures." He speaks of the sun as the most brilliant of all, of the +moon, the stars, the air, the wind, the clouds, the seasons, the water, +the fire, the earth and all that it contains; giving praise to God for +each of His creatures, whose beauties and properties He recites. + +This canticle resembles that which was sung at Babylon, in the fiery +furnace, by the three young men who were thrown into it, for not having +adored the statue of Nebuchodonosor. They called upon all creatures, +inanimate and irrational, to praise God, as David had done before; and +St. Francis calls upon all to praise Him, because of His creatures. +This has the same result; for inanimate creatures, as St. Jerome +observes, only praise God by making Him known to men, and by placing +before them His magnificence. "When they are considered as His work," +says St. Augustine, "we find in them numberless reasons for singing +hymns to His glory; and if His greatness is manifested in His glorious +works, He is not less great in those which are less so. Whatsoever God +has made, praises God; there is only sin, of which He is not the author, +which does not praise Him." It was Francis's desire that all his +brethren should learn his canticle, and recite it daily, and that +Brother Pacificus, the famous poet, of whom we have before spoken, and +who was then in France or in the Low Countries, should put it into +well-sounding verse. He called it the Canticle of the Sun, because of +the preeminence of that beautiful planet, in which, David says, God +seemed to have taken up His abode, in order to show Himself to us. + +As his malady did not show symptoms of amelioration, Elias had him +removed from the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels to Foligno, in hopes +that change of air might be of service to him. And he was in fact +somewhat relieved by it; but God made known, by an extraordinary +revelation, that he would continue to suffer until death. Elias found +himself overpowered with sleep, and in his slumber he saw a venerable +old man, clothed in white, with pontifical ornaments, who told him +that Francis must prepare himself to suffer patiently for two years +more, after which, death would deliver him, and would cause him to +pass into perfect repose, free from all pain. He communicated this to +Francis, who said that the same thing had been communicated to him; +and then, filled with joy, not only on account of the eternal felicity +again promised him, but because the time was fixed when his soul was +to be released from the prison of his body, he added this further +couplet to his canticle: "Be Thou praised, my Lord, for death our +sister, from which no living man can escape," etc. "Blessed are they +who, at the hour of death, are found conformed to Thy holy will, for +they will not be overtaken by the second death. Woe to those who die +in mortal sin! May all creatures praise and bless God, obey Him and +serve Him with great humility!" If we are surprised to find St. Francis +call death our sister, we must bear in mind that the holy man, Job, +said to rottenness: "Thou art my father; and to the worms, you are my +mother and sister." + +The whole of the year 1225, Francis passed in various illnesses and +in great sufferings. Towards autumn, Cardinal Ugolino and Brother Elias +induced him to be removed to Rieti, where there were able physicians +and surgeons who could attend to the state of his eyes. As soon as it +was known in the town, all the inhabitants met, and went to meet him; +but, in order to avoid all the honors preparing for him, he had himself +taken to St. Fabian, a village two miles from Rieti, where he lodged +at the cure's. + +The Pope was at Rieti, with all his court, at that time: many of the +principal persons of the court, and even cardinals, came to St. Fabian +to visit the holy man. While they were in conversation with him, the +persons of their suite went into the cure's vineyard to eat grapes, +and they gathered so many that the vineyard was nearly stripped. The +cure was much displeased at this, and complained to St. Francis, who +asked him, how much he thought he had lost? "I usually," replied the +cure, "have made fourteen measures of wine, which were sufficient for +the consumption of my house." "I am sorry," said Francis, "that they +should have done you so much damage, but we must hope that God will +find a remedy for it, and I firmly believe He will, and that, from the +grapes which remain in your vineyard, He will give you fourteen measures +of wine and more." The cure saw this prophecy fulfilled, for he made +twenty measures from the few grapes which had been left. The magistrates +of Rieti caused, at a subsequent period, a convent to be built for the +Friars Minors on this spot; and the same Pope, Gregory IX, out of +respect for the Saint, chose to consecrate the church himself, in which +are still seen representations of the miracle. + +After some days Francis could no longer avoid going to Rieti, where +the persons of the court received him with honors, which he gladly +would have dispensed with.--He lodged there with a pious citizen, named +Theobald, a Saracen, who had settled in the town. + +The dejection of spirits which his sufferings had brought upon him, +made him desirous of having instrumental music to cheer him; "but," +says St. Bonaventure, "decorum did not allow him to ask for it, and +it was God's pleasure that he should receive this agreeable consolation +by means of an angel. The mere sound, which was marvellously harmonious, +raised his mind so entirely to God, and filled his soul with so much +delight, that he thought himself in the enjoyment of the joys of the +other world. His intimate companions perceived it, and they frequently +observed that God gave him extraordinary consolations, for the effects +they produced on him were so manifest, that it was impossible for him +to disguise them, and then he admitted to them from whence they arose." + +This shows that, if the saintly sufferer wished to hear some +instrumental music, it was in order to listen to it for the glory of +God, as St. Augustine observes was the case with David, and not for +any purely human gratification, nor to take any ordinary pleasure +therein, nor even for the assuagement of his violent sufferings. + +It is true that harmonious sound will procure this relief; and without +referring to what ancient writers say on this head, without noticing +Saul, we know that there are feelings of the body and mind, in which +we experience what the wise man supposes to be a common occurrence, +"that music rejoices the heart." Man being born with a taste for +proportion, and finding himself full of concert and harmony, it is no +way surprising that the harmony and proportion of sounds should cause +strong and vivid impressions on him. + +St. Francis, who may have been naturally more affected by music than +others, may also have reasonably wished for its solace, more from a +desire to prevent the depression of his spirits, than from the violence +of his sufferings, or from being deprived of its solace by a principle +of mortification. For he was too spiritual a man not to have us +convinced that his wish proceeded from a purer and more noble motive. +He desired to prevent his mind from being too greatly depressed, in +order to render himself more equal to interior operations, and to unite +himself more easily and more intimately to God--as the Prophet Eliseus, +who, having been greatly excited against the King of Israel, caused +a canticle of the temple to be sung to him, with a harp accompaniment, +in order to calm his irritated mind, and to prepare him for the lights +of the Lord, as to the knowledge of future events. St. Augustine also +observes, that, after his baptism, the chant of the hymns and psalms +sung in the church excited in his heart tender sentiments of piety, +and drew from his eyes floods of tears. + +We may say: Music is a science given to men by the liberality of the +Creator, to represent to them the admirable harmony by which He governs +the world, in order to guide them by the channel of the senses, and +melody of sounds, to the knowledge and love of immutable truth. This +is also the true use of music, and it is only with this view that the +Church permits it in the Divine Service. That which is soft and +effeminate, which is calculated to excite the passions, by multitudes +of ambiguous expressions, (not the less dangerous for being so cloaked) +should be considered by Christians as an abuse the more deplorable, +as it has even been censured and condemned by the pagans. + +All the skill of the physicians and surgeons of Rieti not having had +any effect towards the cure of their patient, he had himself taken to +his Convent of Fonte Colombo, where they were to continue their +remedies; and it was their opinion that a hot iron should be applied +above his ear, from which it was expected he would obtain relief. For +this reason his brethren urged him to give his consent, which he +willingly did, in hopes to recover his sight thereby, and then to +continue his exertions for the salvation of souls; and also because, +the operation being very painful, he would have an opportunity of +voluntary suffering. + +When they were about to apply the red-hot iron, he could not avoid +feeling a natural sense of fear; in order to overcome it, he addressed +the fire as we should speak to a friend: "My brother," said he, "the +Most High has given you great beauty, and has made you most useful; +be favorable to me on this occasion. I entreat the great God who created +you, to temper your heat, so that I may be able to bear it." He then +made the sign of the cross on the instrument, and without any fear +presented himself to receive the impression. His companions, not having +courage to witness the operation, left the room. The physician and +surgeon remained alone with him, and the hot iron was pressed from +over his ear to his eyebrow, into his flesh. + +After the operation, the brothers having returned, he said to them: +"Praise the Lord, for I assure you I neither felt the heat of the fire, +nor any pain." Then he reproached them mildly in these words: "Why did +you fly, you pusillanimous men, and of little faith? He who preserved +the three young men in the furnace of Babylon, could He not temper in +my favor the heat of my brother, the fire?" We shall see further what +an exalted principle it was which induced him to qualify all creatures +by the names of his brothers and sisters. He said to the physician: +"If the flesh is not sufficiently burnt, replace the hot iron." The +physician, struck with so much fortitude in so feeble a body, saw that +it was miraculous, and said to the religious: "I see truly to-day a +most wonderful occurrence." + +St. Bonaventure, who relates this, makes the following observation: +That Francis having attained so high a degree of perfection, his body +was subject to his mind, and his mind to God; with admirable harmony +it followed from thence, by a peculiar disposition of Divine Providence, +that inanimate creatures which obey God, obeyed His servant also, and +forebore from hurting him, according to the words: "O Lord! the creature +being subject to Thee, as to its Creator, renovates its strength to +torment the wicked, and softens it to contribute to the good of those +who trust in Thee." + +It is, moreover, remarkable that St. Francis feared when he saw the +red-hot iron,--he who had consented to have the remedy applied, because +it was severe, and who had offered, when in Egypt, to cast himself +into the fire to prove the truth of the Christian religion. It is thus +that God permits His saints to become sensible of their natural weakness +in trifling things, in order that they may be sensible that in greater +things all their strength depends upon His grace. + +The disorder in the eyes of St. Francis was caused by the tears he +continually shed. His physician told him he ought to restrain them, +unless he wished to lose his entire sight; and this is the reply he +gave him: "My dear Brother Doctor, for the love of corporal sight, +which we enjoy in common with flies, we must not set aside for a single +instant the Divine illustrations; for the mind has not received the +favor on account of the body, it has been granted to the body on account +of the mind." He liked better, says St. Bonaventure, to lose corporal +sight than to check for a single moment that tender and affectionate +devotion which calls forth tears, by which the interior sight is +purified and rendered competent to see an infinitely pure God. + +In order to show some gratitude to the physician for the trouble he +took in his regard, Francis one day desired the brethren, in his +presence, to take him to dine with them. They represented to him that +their poverty was such that they had nothing which was fit to place +before a person of his consideration, for this physician was in great +estimation, and very rich. "Men of little faith," replied the Saint, +"why have you these doubts? Why have you not considered more favorably +the merit of obedience? Go and take to the refectory our honorable +brother, the doctor." They took him, seeing that he would consent to +partake of their poor fare out of devotion, but, just as they were +sitting down to table, there was a ring at the bell; it was a woman, +who brought, in a basket, several dishes exceedingly well dressed, +which a lady, who lived at a country house, six miles off, sent to the +servant of God. He desired that these might be offered to the physician, +and that he might be told that the Lord took care of His own. The +doctor admired the hand of Providence, and said to the religious: "My +brethren, we do not sufficiently understand the holiness of this man; +and even you who live with him, have no conception of the secret virtue +with which his mind is replenished." + +This physician was not less charitable than learned; he had great +pleasure in prescribing for this sick man, he frequently visited him, +and paid the expense of the medicines he required. God, who considered +as done to Himself what was done to His servant who could not repay +him, rewarded him in this world by a miracle worked in his favor. + +He had laid out all his ready money in building a house which was only +just finished, when one of the principal walls was found to have a +large crack in it from the top to the bottom, which no human art could +make good. Full of faith and confidence in the merits of Francis, he +begged his companions to give him something which the holy man had +touched. After many entreaties they gave him some of his hair, which +he placed at night in the fissure in the wall. He came back in the +morning, and found the whole so completely closed, that it was not +only impossible to get back the hair, but it was no longer perceivable +that there had been any rent in the wall. The good offices which he +had manifested to a worn-out body prevented, says St. Bonaventure, the +ruin of the house he had just built. + +Some days after, Francis was taken to Rieti, where the bishop lodged +him in his palace; they brought to the foot of his bed, upon a tressel, +one of the canons, who was dangerously ill; he had been a very worldly +man, who had lived a dissipated life, but who, struck with the fear +of approaching death, entreated the Saint to make the sign of the cross +upon him. "How," said Francis, "shall I make the sign of the cross on +you, who, without any fear of the judgments of God, have given yourself +up to the lusts of the flesh? I will do it, however, because of the +pious persons who have interceded in your favor. But, bear in mind +that you will suffer much greater ills, if, after your cure, you should +return to your vomit, for the sin of ingratitude and relapse makes the +last state of man worse than the first." He then made the sign of the +cross upon the sick man, who immediately arose, praised God, and +exclaimed, "I am healed." All the bystanders heard his bones crack, +as when dry sticks are broken. That unhappy man, however, did not +remain long without plunging again into vice; and one night, as he was +in bed at the house of a canon where he had supped, the roof of the +house fell in and crushed him, without hurting any one else. + +"It was," says the same holy doctor, "by a just judgment of God; for +the sin of ingratitude is a contempt of the graces of God, for which +we ought to be most thankful; and the sins into which we again fall +after repentance, displease Him more than any others. Will it never +be understood that, in the diseases of the soul, as in those of the +body, there is nothing so dangerous as a relapse?" + +The pains felt by Francis were in some degree assuaged, his sight was +restored, and he made use of this interval to have himself taken into +several parts of Umbria, of the Kingdom of Naples, and of the adjacent +provinces, in order to work for the salvation of souls. At Penna, a +young religious who was naturally good, and of great promise, came to +ask his pardon for having left the Order, which he had only done at +the instigation of the evil spirit, who persuaded him that by living +privately, he could better sanctify himself. As soon as the Saint saw +him, he fled to his cell, and shut the door; when he came out again, +his companions expressed their surprise at what he had done: "Do not +be astonished," he said, "at my having fled; I saw on this young man +a frightful demon, who was endeavoring to throw him down a precipice, +and I acknowledge to you that I could not bear his presence. I have +prayed as earnestly as I could for the deliverance of this poor brother +from such a seducer, and God has heard my prayer." Then, having sent +for him, and telling him what he had seen, he exhorted him to be on +his guard against the snares of the devil, and not to separate himself +again from his brethren: "For, if you do otherwise," he added, "you +will not fail to fall into the precipice from which the mercy of God +has preserved you." The docile and faithful religious passed the +remainder of his days in great piety, and in the exercises of a regular +life. + +At Calano, a town of the Duchy of Marsi, in the farther Abruzzo, where +Francis was come to preach, a common soldier pressed him so earnestly +to come and dine with him, that he could make no excuse. He therefore +went, with one companion, who was a priest,--a circumstance which was +very serviceable. The poor family of the soldier having received them +with great joy, the Saint began to pray, as was his custom, and he had +his eyes constantly raised to heaven. He then said to the soldier, +privately, "My brother and my host, you see I have acceded to your +request in coming to dine with you. Now, follow my advice, and make +haste; for it is not here, but elsewhere, that you will dine. Confess +your sins with as much exactness and sorrow as you can; the Lord will +reward you for having received His poor ones with such good religious +intentions." The soldier, placing confidence in what the servant of +God said to him, made his confession to Francis' companion, regulated +his temporal affairs, and prepared himself, as well as he could, for +death. When that was done, he sat down with the others at table, and +a minute afterwards he expired suddenly. Then were the words of the +Gospel fulfilled, that he who should receive a prophet as a prophet, +that is to say, not seeing in him any other qualification, receives +also the reward of the prophet, inasmuch as the prediction of Francis +enabled him to fortify himself by penance against death, which he did +not think to be so near at hand. + +It was probably in this apostolic tour that the Servant of God performed +a miracle on the person of St. Bonaventure, who, under the dispositions +of Divine Providence; was to become one of the most illustrious of his +children. He was born at Bagnarea in Tuscany, a town belonging to the +Ecclesiastical States, in the year 1221, and he was baptized by the +name of John. His father, John Fidenza, and Ritella, his mother, joined +to the nobility of their birth a large fund of piety. In his infancy +he was seized with a mortal illness, of which he was cured by St. +Francis, which was one of the reasons why he determined to write his +Life. "I should fear," he says in his preface to his Legend, "that I +should be accused of criminal ingratitude if I neglected to publish +the praises of him, to whom I acknowledge that I owe the life of my +body and my soul." + +It is reported, with the circumstances which he himself may have told, +and the memory of which may have been preserved by tradition, that his +mother, having no further hopes of saving him by means of medicaments, +came and presented him to St. Francis, who was renowned in Italy, at +that time, for the splendor of his sanctity and his miracles; she +implored the aid of his prayers, and made a vow that, if the child was +saved, she would give him to his Order. The holy man consoled the +afflicted mother, and obtained from God the cure of her son, to the +astonishment of the physicians, who had deemed his disorder incurable. +At the sight of this miraculous cure, he said, in the Italian language: +"O buona ventura!" "How fortunate!" from whence came the name of +Bonaventure; and finally, he foretold that the child would become a +great light in the Church of God, and that through him his Order would +receive great increase of sanctity. + +In the year 1243, being then twenty-two years old, he proposed to +fulfil his mother's vow, and take the habit of a Friar Minor. This is +not the place to narrate his illustrious actions, but we must notice +two remarkable circumstances which are connected with St. Francis. + +The first is, that, as this blessed Patriarch bears the name of +Seraphic, because of the Divine love with which he was inflamed, when +Jesus Christ, under the figure of a seraph, imprinted on him the sacred +stigmata, so St. Bonaventure has been called the Seraphic Doctor, +"because his whole doctrine, as well as his whole life, breathes the +fire of charity." It is a torch which burns and illuminates; it +influences while instructing; whatever truths he expounds, he brings +back all to God by love, and, to define him properly, he should be +styled the Seraphic and Cherubic Doctor. Tis thus that Gerson, the +Chancellor of the University of Paris, expresses himself. + +"If I am asked," he continues, "who amongst the doctors seems to me +the best calculated to instruct, I answer, without detracting from any +other, it is Bonaventure, because he is sure, solid, exact, and devout, +at one and the same time; and separating from his theology all questions +foreign from the purpose, all superfluous dialectic, and that obscurity +of terms with which so many others load their works, he turns into +piety all the beautiful lights he gives to the mind. In a word, there +is not a doctrine more mild, more salutary, more sublime, than his; +and in devotion alone can neglect it. As to me," he adds, "having +recommenced studying it since I am grown old, the more I advance the +more I am confounded, and I say to myself: + +"What is the use of so much talking, and so much writing? Here is a +doctrine which is quite sufficient of itself, and it is only necessary +to transcribe and to spread it into facts.'"--Such is the opinion of +the celebrated Gerson as to St. Bonaventure, before he was canonized, +declared a Doctor of the Church, and honored by the title of Seraphic, +which he shares with his blessed Father. The Abbot Trithemius, of the +Order of St. Benedict, passes a similar eulogium on him, to which the +Sovereign Pontiffs, Sixtus IV. and Sixtus V., have added the crowning +point in their bulls, the one for his canonization, the other for his +doctorship. + +The second particularity of his life, which had relation to St. Francis, +is, that he gloriously verified his prediction as to the fruits of +sanctity which he was to bring to the Order. Having been elected general +when he was five and thirty years of age, in consequence of his great +talents and eminent virtues, he governed his brethren for eighteen +years with so much zeal, light, mildness, and wisdom, that he perfectly +made amends for the evil which the relaxation of some and the perplexity +of others had occasioned. He prepared such judicious regulations for +the form of government, for the recital of the Divine Office, for the +regularity of discipline, that they have served as a basis and +foundation for all the statutes which have since been introduced into +the Order. + +He decided on the difficulties which occurred as to the observation +of the rules, and this with so much precision, that, in order to follow +them exactly and conscientiously, without scruple, it is only necessary +to practise what he has clearly laid down. He composed spiritual +treatises, so elevated, so instructive, and so affecting, that they +are alone sufficient to guide the Friars Minors, or all other persons +of piety, to the sublimest perfection. He answered, with so much +strength and judgment, the philosophers of his day, who attacked the +Mendicant Orders, despite of the Sovereign Pontiffs, by whom they were +approved, that his works, with those of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas +Aquinas, will ever cover with confusion whosoever may attempt to renew +the former disputes on this head. + +The exertions which St. Francis made, during a short interval from +pain, for the salvation of souls, in an unfavorable season of the year, +increased all his maladies. His legs became inflamed, and he was obliged +to lie by in a small hamlet near Nocera. When this was known at Assisi, +the fear they had lest he should die on the way, and lest his country +should be deprived of his precious remains, induced the authorities +to send means to bring him into town. + +This deputation, returning with the patient, arrived at the dinner +hour in the Village of Sarthiano, where they found nothing to be +purchased for their meal, although they offered a double price for +every thing they wanted. Upon their complaining of this, Francis said: +"You have not found anything, because you have had greater confidence +in your flies than in your Lord" (he called their money flies); "but +return to the houses where you have been, and ask them humbly for alms, +offering to pray to God for them in payment. Don't think, under false +impressions, that there is anything mean or shameful in this, for, +since sin came into the world, all the good which God so liberally +bestows on man, on the just, and on sinners, on the worthy and unworthy, +is done by means of alms, and He is the chief almsgiver." These men +overcame their bashfulness, and went cheerfully to beg for the love +of God, and got whatever they wanted, although they had not been able +to obtain it for money; God having so touched the hearts of the +inhabitants, that, in giving what they had, they even offered +spontaneously every service. + +The Bishop of Assisi had the man of God brought to his palace, and +kept him there till the spring of the year 1226, providing him with +everything he required, with great affection. One day, when his stomach +loathed everything, he expressed a wish for a particular sort of fish, +which the severity of the winter made it difficult to procure, but, +at the very moment, a messenger sent by Brother Gerald, the guardian +of the convent of Rieti, brought three large fishes of this species, +with certain sauces which were calculated to sharpen the appetite and +strengthen the patient. Thus it is that it sometimes pleases the Lord +to give sensible relief to His friends who have neglected their health +and crucified their flesh for His sake. + +The children of the holy patriarch, and particularly Elias, his vicar- +general, who saw that there was no amelioration in the state of his +health, but that, on the contrary, his disorders increased with the +renewal of the year, entreated him to allow himself to be removed to +Sienna, where the mild climate and the excellence of the physicians +might afford him some relief, if there were no hopes of a cure. And +they urged this so energetically, that, as he was mild and obliging, +he consented to be taken thither at the beginning of April. But all +his ills continued, and the disorder of his eyes was greatly increased. +A red-hot iron was again applied to both sides of his head, from the +ears to the eyebrows, but this had no good effect, though he suffered +no pain from it, God having renewed the miracle He had before performed +in his favor. + +So the mild air of Sienna, and the kind care of the physicians, did +not prevent the sufferings of Francis from continuing and increasing. +During one night he vomited so much blood, and he was to such a degree +weakened from it, that it was thought he was about to expire. His +children, cast down and in tears, came to him, like the disciples of +St. Martin, when he was on the point of death, and said to him, +sobbing:-- + +"Dear Father and Master, we are greatly distressed to see you suffer +so intensely, but we are likewise afflicted for ourselves. After all +your labors you are about to go to the enjoyment of eternal repose, +but we shall remain without our Father and Pastor, you have begotten +us in Jesus Christ by the doctrine of the Gospel, and we are scarcely +born before we lose you. Who will instruct us? Who will console us? +You have been everything to us, your presence has been our happiness. +To whom do you consign us, in the desolate state in which we are? Alas! +we foresee that after your departure ravenous wolves will invade your +flock. Leave us, at least, something of yours to remind us of your +instructions, in order that we may follow them when you are no more; +and give us your blessing, which may be our shield against our enemies." + +The holy patriarch, casting his eyes affectionately on his children, +called out to Brother Benedict of Piratro, who was his infirmarian, +and who, during his illness, said Mass in his room: "Priest of God," +said he, "commit to writing the blessing I give to all my brethren, +as well to those who are now in the Order, as to those who shall embrace +it to the end of the world. As my great sufferings and extreme weakness +prevent me from speaking, here are in a few words my intentions and +last wishes: 'May all the brethren love each other as I have loved +them, and as I now love them. May they always cherish and adhere to +poverty, which is my lady and my mistress; and never let them cease +from being submissive and faithfully attached to the prelates and all +the clergy. May the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost bless and protect them! +Amen.'" + +His sufferings being in some degree modified, and his weakness no +longer so intense, his zeal induced him to think of instructing and +exhorting the absent, for, by the example of the Son of God, he loved +his own even to the last. + +As soon as Brother Elias, the vicar-general, learnt the extreme danger +in which the Father was, he came in great haste to Sienna, and proposed +to him to be removed to the convent of Celles, near Cortona. Francis +was very glad to see him, and was quite willing to be removed to Celles, +where he was attended with great care by the relations and friends of +Elias, who were of that country. But, as he became swollen, and the +sufferings of his stomach and liver were greatly increased, he requested +to be taken to Assisi; which the vicar-general had done with all the +care and precaution possible. His return was a source of extraordinary +gratification to the inhabitants, who had been fearful of being deprived +of so great a treasure had he died elsewhere. They went in crowds to +meet him, with great expressions of pleasure, and the bishop received +him again into his palace. + +Before we put on record the last acts and precious death of St. Francis, +it will be proper to notice the state in which his Order was at that +time. There were some of his brethren in all parts of the known world. +In Europe, they filled all Italy. Greece furnished them a province. +The esteem of the great, and the love of the people, procured for them, +daily, new houses in Spain, Portugal, France, the Low Countries, and +England. They had spread into Scotland, and began to be received in +Ireland. Brother Albert, of Pisa, had sent missioners into Upper and +Lower Germany, with great success. They had penetrated into Poland, +and into the countries of the North. In Asia, those whom the holy +Patriarch had left, with others who followed, multiplied the missions +among the Saracens. In Africa they continued to preach Jesus Christ +to the Mohammedans, and we see by letters dated from Rieti, the 7th +October, 1225, which Pope Honorius addressed to the Friars Preachers +and Minors, destined by the Apostolic See for the mission into the +kingdom of the Miramolin, "that they renounced themselves, and desired +to sacrifice their lives for Jesus Christ, in order to gain souls for +Him." + +The Second Order instituted by Francis, and called that of the Poor +Dames, spread itself also throughout Europe, and the Third Order of +Penance made stupendous progress. + +The children of this holy Patriarch, being thus spread in all parts, +preached the Gospel to the infidels, repressed heresies, attacked vice, +inspired virtue, and gave admirable examples of poverty, humility, +penance, and all perfection. + +Anthony, of Padua, preached in Italy and France with so much lustre, +that he has ever been considered as one of the most marvellous preachers +whom Italy ever saw. The strength and the unction of his discourses, +the eminent sanctity of his life, the evidence of his miracles, changed +the face of the towns in which he announced the word of God. His +auditors, penetrated with conjunction, and bursting into tears, excited +each other to works of penance; the revengeful, the lascivious, the +avaricious, the usurers became converted, and resorted so to the +tribunals of penance that the number of priests were insufficient to +hear the confessions. + +In the year 1225 he came to Toulouse, and visited other towns of France, +where his principal object was to confront the heretics. Animated with +the same spirit which inspired his Father, Francis, with so perfect +an attachment to the Roman Church, and the Holy See, he was the declared +enemy of all errors, and he labored with all his strength to root them +out. By quotations from the Holy Scriptures, with which he was +intimately conversant, and the sense of which he perfectly understood, +and by the solidity of his reasoning, he confounded the sectarians, +and created a great horror of the false doctrines they taught. With +admirable tact he discovered their artifices and frauds, which he laid +before the people, to preserve them from their seduction; and, in fine, +he pursued them with so much vigor and perseverance, that the faithful +gave him the name of the indefatigable mallet of the heretics; none +of them ventured to enter the lists with him, not even to say a word +in his presence. + +God favored him by converting a very great number of their supporters, +and, what is very singular, many of the heads of their party. At Bourges +a man whose name was Guiald, and whom the historian calls an heresiarch, +was so convinced by the power of his words, and by a marked miracle +of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, that he +persevered till death in the Catholic faith, and in submission to the +Church. Another named Bonneville, or Banal, who is also stated to have +been an heresiarch, who had been thirty years buried in the darkness +of errors, was converted in a similar manner at Rimini by the sermons +of St. Anthony, and had a like perseverance. + +The state in which, as we have just shown, St. Francis left his Order +when on the point of death, must be looked upon as one of the principal +marvels of his life. God had predestined him for this great work; he +labored at it for eighteen years without ceasing, with all possible +assiduity, and, on the eve of quitting this world, he might say, in +conforming himself to Jesus Christ, after having profited by His grace: +"I have glorified Thee on earth; I have finished the work Thou gavest +me to do, I now go to Thee." Happy the Christian whose conscience bears +him thus out on the bed of death, who can say that he has endeavored +to do what God required of him, and fulfilled the duties of his +profession. + + + + +BOOK V + + +The cruel and continued pain under which the holy Patriarch suffered, +did not prevent his giving instruction to his children, his providing +for their spiritual wants, and his answering, with admirable presence +of mind, to various questions which were put to him relative to the +observance of the Rule, and the government of the Order. + +He spoke as freely, and with as much composure, as if he felt no +inconvenience. As his body became weaker, his mind seemed to acquire +fresh vigor. + +One day, when his sufferings were greatly aggravated, he saw that the +brothers took great pains in endeavoring to afford him relief, and +fearing that fatigue would cause some of those who were about him to +become impatient, or that they might complain that their attendance +on him prevented them from observing their spiritual exercises, he +addressed them affectionately, saying: "My dear children, do not tire +of the trouble you take for me, for our Lord will reward you, both in +this life and in the next, for all you do for His little servant; and +if my illness takes up your time, be assured that you will gain more +from it, than if you were to labor for yourselves, because the aid you +give me is given to the entire Order and to the lives of the brethren. +I also assure you that God will be your debtor for all that you will +do for me." + +It is very true that those who assisted the Saint in his illness labored +for the entire Order, and for the spiritual life of his brethren, +because they aided in the preservation of him who was so necessary to +his Order; and they put it in his power to give further instructions +to his brethren who were now in it, and to those who were to enter it +in future. + +On another occasion, when his sufferings were apparently bringing him +to extremity, one of his infirmarians said to him: "Brother, pray that +God may treat you with less severity, for it seems that His hand presses +too severely upon you." At these words Francis exclaimed in a loud +voice: "If," said he, "I was not aware of the simplicity and uprightness +of your heart, I should not dare to remain in the same house with you +from this instant. You have had the rashness to criticise the judgments +of God in my regard;" and immediately, notwithstanding the weak state +in which he was, he threw himself on the ground with such violence +that his worn-out bones were all bruised; he kissed the ground and +exclaimed: "My God, I return Thee thanks for the pains I endure, and +I pray Thee to add to them an hundred-fold, if such should be Thy good +pleasure. It will be pleasing to me to know that, in afflicting me, +Thou dost not spare me, for the greatest consolation I can enjoy is, +that Thy holy will shall be fulfilled." He had in his sufferings similar +feelings to those of holy Job, and he expressed himself in a similar +manner. Ought not all Christians to have such feelings in their +illnesses and other afflictions? Are the saints not to be imitated in +this? May we not, by the grace of God, which assuredly will not be +wanting, practice those virtues by which they became saints? + +Clare and her daughters, hearing that their father was so dangerously +ill, sent to express to him the grief which it caused them, and they +entreated him to mitigate their sorrow by sending them at least his +blessing. The holy Patriarch, full of tenderness for these pious +virgins, and sympathizing in their grief, and in that which they would +feel on his death, sent them some verses he had composed in the praise +of the Lord, and added to them a letter of exhortation, in which +doubtless he gave them his blessing most amply; but this is not found +in his works. We find only the following fragment, which may belong +to the letter he had written to them at that time:-- + +"I, Brother Francis, little man, I choose to follow the example of the +life and poverty of Jesus Christ, our most high Lord, and that of His +holy Mother, and to persevere in it to the end. I beg you also, all +you whom I consider as my Ladies, and I recommend you to conform +yourselves at all times to this life and to this poverty, the sanctity +of which is so great. Be careful not to swerve from it in the least, +nor to listen to any advice, nor to anything which may be said to +contravene it." + +The oldest historians of the Order say that, in the letter he sent +them shortly before his death, he entreated them, that, as the Lord +had brought them together from many places, in order that they might +apply themselves to the practice of the sacred virtues of charity, +humility, poverty, and obedience, they should use every effort to pass +their lives accordingly, and to die in holy perserverance. He exhorts +those of his sisters who were suffering from sickness, to have patience +under their ills. And because he knew how austere they were, he +recommended them to use with discretion, and with joy and thankfulness, +the alms which Divine Providence sent them. He promised Clare that she +should see him, and, in fact, after his death she and her daughters +did see him, as shall hereafter be related. + +The same writers add, that he had always entertained peculiar affection +and regard for these holy religious females, thinking that the holiness +of their life, which had been from the beginning one of great poverty +and mortification, reflected glory on the religious state, and was a +source of great edification to the whole Church. He wrote to them +several other times, to encourage them in virtue, and particularly in +the love of poverty, as we find in the will of St. Clare, but the +letters are not extant. + +Even to this day we are sensible of the truth of what he said; nothing +is more glorious for the regular state, and nothing more edifying for +the whole Church, than to see the nuns of St. Clare, who keep the rule +of their Order without the slightest mitigation, who renounce the +possession of any property whatsoever, whether private or in common, +who live wholly on alms, and in such a state of rigorous austerity, +that the stronger sex would find to be quite appalling. + +As soon as it was known in Assisi that the holy man was at the point +of death, the magistrates placed guards round the episcopal palace, +with orders to keep strict watch, lest his body should be taken away +the moment he should have expired, and thus the city would be deprived +of so precious a treasure. + +The physician, whose name was John Lebon, a native of Arezzo, +communicated to him that death was approaching; his brethren told him +the same thing. Full of joy, he began to praise God, and having caused +some of the choir-singers to be called in, he sang with them in a loud +voice the last verses which he had added to the Canticle of the Sun: +"Be praised, O Lord! for death, our sister--which no man living on +earth can escape." + +Elias, whose thoughts were always governed by human prudence, was +fearful lest his singing should be considered a weakness of mind arising +from the fear of death, and entreated him to stop. "Brother," replied +Francis, with extraordinary fervor, "permit me to rejoice in the Lord, +and to thank Him for the great tranquillity of my conscience. I am, +through His mercy and His grace, so united to my God, that I have just +reason to manifest the joy that He gives me, who is the high and most +liberal Giver of all good gifts; and do not imagine that I am so wanting +in courage as to tremble at the approach of death." + +He had his children brought to him, and he blessed each one of them +as the Patriarch Jacob had done, giving to each an appropriate blessing. +Then, after the example of Moses, who blessed all the faithful +Israelites, he gave a general and ample blessing to the whole Order. + +As he had stretched his arms one over the other in the form of a cross, +as Jacob had done in blessing the children of Joseph, his right hand +came upon the head of Elias, who was kneeling on his left. He asked +who it was, for his sight was quite gone, and being answered that it +was Brother Elias, he said: "'Tis well, my right hand is properly +placed on him. My son, I bless you in all and above all. Inasmuch as +under your hand the Most High has increased the number of my brethren +and children, thus I bless them all in you. May God, the Sovereign +Lord of all things, bless you in Heaven and on earth! As for me, I +bless you as far as is in my power, and even more than that--may God +who can do all, do in you what I cannot! I pray that God may bear in +mind your labors and your works, and that He may give you a share in +the rewards of the just, that you may obtain the blessings you wish +for; and may what you solicit worthily be fulfilled!" + +The reader may perhaps be surprised that Francis, who knew Brother +Elias, and who had learnt by revelation that he was to die out of the +Order, should have given him a share in his blessing; but we must +recollect that He who enlightens the saints, inspires them with views +similar to His own. He loves and favors those who are in a state of +grace, although He foresees the great sins they will commit hereafter. +What affection had He not for David, and what favors did He not heap +upon him before he became guilty of the adultery and homicide which +rendered him so criminal! Thus, in a manner, the holy Patriarch, in +blessing Elias, only had in consideration the good dispositions in +which he believed him to be at that time, independent of the future, +which God had revealed to him, and which was not to guide him in this +instance. Moreover, Elias was his vicar-general, and was so by an order +from on high; he had labored usefully in the works of the Lord; the +talents he possessed put it in his power to do still more good service; +we cannot deny that he was sincerely and tenderly attached to his +Father, and that he had an ardent zeal:--all these circumstances united +might have induced the Saint to give him an ample blessing, nor was +it without good effect, since he died in sentiments of true repentance. + +The man of God finding the day of his death, which Jesus Christ had +revealed to him, draw near, said to his brethren in the words of the +Prince of the Apostles: "The laying away of this my tabernacle is at +hand;" and he begged them to have himself taken to the Convent of St. +Mary of the Angels, wishing, as St. Bonaventure remarks, to render up +the spirit which had given life to him, in the place where he had +received the Spirit of grace. He was, therefore, removed, according +to his desire; and when he had come to the place between the town and +the convent, he asked if they had reached the hospital of the lepers, +and, as those who were carrying him replied in the affirmative, he +said: "Turn me now towards the town, and set me down on the ground." +Then raising himself upon the litter, he prayed for Assisi, and for +all its inhabitants. He likewise shed tears, in considering the ills +which would come upon the city, during the wars which he foresaw, and +he then gave it this blessing: "Be blest by the Lord, O city, faithful +to God! because many souls will be saved in thee and by thee. A great +number of the servants of the Most High will dwell within thy walls, +and among the number of thy artisans not a few will be chosen for +eternal life." + +Some time after his arrival at St. Mary of the Angels, he called for +paper and ink, that he might acquaint Dame Jacqueline de Septisal of +the proximity of his death: she was the illustrious Roman widow who +was so much attached to him. "It is right," he said, "that, dying, I +should give that consolation to a person who afforded me so many +consolations during my life." This is what he dictated for her: + +"To the lady Jacqueline, the servant of the Most High, Brother Francis, +the poor little servant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings, and +communication with the Holy Ghost, in Jesus Christ." + +"Know, my very dear lady, that Jesus Christ, blessed for ever, has +done me the favor to reveal to me the end of my life: it is very near. +For which reason, if you wish to see me alive, set out as soon as you +shall have received this letter, and hasten to St. Mary of the Angels, +for, if you arrive later than Saturday, you will find me dead. Bring +with you some stuff, or rather, a sackcloth, to cover my body, and +some wax-lights for my funeral. Pray bring also some of those comfits +which you gave me when I was sick at Rome." + +At these words he stopped, having his eyes raised to Heaven. He said +it was not necessary to go on with the letter, nor to send a messenger, +because the lady had set out, and was bringing with her all that was +required; and, in fact, she arrived shortly after with her two sons +and a considerable suite, bringing with her the stuff, a quantity of +wax-lights, and certain electuaries which were comforting for the +stomach. + +The religious asked her how she could have come so opportunely, without +having had notice given her, and how she came to bring all that was +requisite for the time. She told them that during the night she had +received an order from Heaven, and that an angel had requested her not +to leave out any of the things which had been desired. + +On Friday, October the 4th, Francis again collected all his brethren +together, blessed them a second time, and having blessed a loaf of +bread with the sign of the cross, he gave to each a piece as a symbol +of union and fraternal charity. They all partook of it with great +devotion, representing to themselves, in this repast of love, the last +supper which Jesus Christ ate with His disciples. Brother Elias, who +wept bitterly, was the only one who did not eat his portion, which was +perhaps a mournful foreboding of the division he was to introduce into +the Order. In truth, he kept the piece he had received from their +Father respectfully in his hand; but, as if he had cast aside the +charity which was offered him, instead of, at least, keeping the morsel +of bread, he gave it to Brother Leo, who asked him for it. Great care +was taken for its preservation, and God permitted that it should be +subsequently used for the cure of many maladies. + +All the brothers had melted into tears, and the holy Patriarch inquired +where Bernard, his eldest son, was. And Bernard having drawn near, he +said: "Come, my son, that I may bless you before I die." Feeling that +he was kneeling on his left, while Brother Giles was on his right, he +put his hands again crosswise, so that his right hand came on the head +of Bernard, to whom he gave this blessing:-- + +"May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you with all the +spiritual blessings which He has shed from on high on His Son. As you +were chosen the first to give good example of the Evangelical law in +this Order, and to imitate the poverty of Jesus Christ, to whom you +generously offered your goods and your person in the odor of sweetness, +so may you be blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by His poor servant; +and may you be so blessed in your going out and coming in, waking or +sleeping, living and dying. May he who blesses you, be filled with +blessings; and may he who curses you, not remain unpunished. Be the +lord of your brethren, and let them be all subject to you. Let all +those whom you shall approve, be admitted into the Order, and all whom +you shall reject, be rejected. Let no one have authority over you, so +that you may be at liberty to go and dwell where you think proper." + +Bernard having retired, with his eyes bathed in tears, Francis said +to the others: "My intention is, and I direct that whoever may be +appointed minister general, may so love and honor Brother Bernard as +myself, and that all the provincial ministers, as well as all the +brethren of this Order, may look upon him as they have done on me; in +fact, I leave him to you as the half of my soul. There are few who are +able to appreciate his virtue: it is so great, that Satan never ceases +from tempting him, molesting him, and laying snares for him. But, by +God's help, he will get the better of all, to the great profit of his +soul, and he will find himself in an extraordinary manner in perfect +tranquillity." Those who were present, and who afterwards lived with +Bernard, witnessed the fulfilment of these predictions. His eminent +sanctity, well known to Francis, and of which he foresaw the +perseverance, was the reason why he ordered the others to respect him +as their master, and why he rendered him independent, in order that +he might have full leisure to give himself up to contemplation, which +had such charms for him. For a similar reason, he gave him power to +admit or reject novices, as his prudence should dictate: a privilege +which was the more appropriate, as Bernard had been the first to enter +into the Order. + +St. Bonaventure is silent as to the manner and fervor with which the +Servant of God received the last sacraments, following in that the +method of many old authors who, in the lives of saints, only notice +those things which are peculiar and marvellous, without speaking of +the common and ordinary actions of all Christians. But we have only +to bear in mind the great respect St. Francis had for all the practices +of the Church; the spirit of penance by which he was animated; the +vivid and tender affections of his heart towards the Passion of the +Son of God, and the mystery of the Holy Eucharist; the ardor of his +zeal to cause Jesus Christ to be adored in the august sacrament, and +revered in all that related to it; his eagerness in recommending the +frequent approach to the Holy Communion, and the constant recourse he +himself had to this balm for the soul, so that for fear of being +deprived of it, he chose to have Mass said in his own room during his +illnesses:--all these recollections, being united, are demonstrations +of what must have been the dispositions of the Saint when the last +sacraments were administered to him. + +He particularly desired all his brethren to have a peculiar veneration +for the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, because it had been revealed +that the Blessed Virgin had a singular affection for this church among +all those which were dedicated to her name, and upon this subject he +spoke as follows, with great animation:-- + +"It is my desire that this place shall be always under the direction +of the person who shall be minister-general and servitor of the Order; +and that the minister shall be careful to select for its service only +good and holy brethren; and that the clerics who shall be appointed +to it shall be taken from those of the Order who are the best and the +holiest, and are the best instructed for the celebration of the Divine +Offices, so that their brethren and the seculars may be edified in +seeing and hearing them. Let them also be particular in choosing the +lay brethren to be placed there; let them be discreet, mild, and humble +men, whose lives are holy, who shall serve the others without entering +into idle discourse, not talk of the news, or what is passing in the +world, nor of any thing which does not relate to the salvation of +souls. It is also my desire that none of the brethren shall come here +except the minister-general and his companions, and that no secular +shall be admitted, in order that those belonging to the place may the +better preserve themselves in purity and holiness, and that the place +itself may remain pure and holy, being solely devoted to singing the +praises of the Lord. When God shall be pleased to call any one of them +to Himself, I desire that the minister-general may send another whose +life shall be equally holy. My intention is, that, if the brethren +shall swerve from the path of perfection, this place shall be ever +blest, and shall remain as the example and model for the whole Order; +as a beautiful torch before the throne of God, and before the altar +of the Blessed Virgin, where lamps shall be ever burning, to obtain +from the goodness of God that He may grant His pardon to the brethren +for all their faults, and preserve and protect this Order which He has +planted with His own hand." + +"My children," he continued, "be careful never to abandon this spot, +and if you are driven out on one side, return by the opposite one; for +it is holy, it is the dwelling-place of Jesus Christ, and of the Blessed +Virgin, His Mother. It is here that the Lord, the Most High, has +multiplied our numbers, from being very few; here, by the light of His +wisdom, He enlightened the minds of His poor ones; here, by the ardor +of His love, he inflamed our hearts; here, whoever shall pray devoutly, +will obtain whatever he may ask; and whoever shall sin here, will be +punished with greater rigor. Wherefore, my children, have a great +veneration for this place, which is truly the dwelling of the Almighty, +peculiarly beloved by Jesus Christ and His blessed Mother. Employ +yourselves here joyfully, and with your whole hearts, in praising and +blessing God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in unity with the +Holy Ghost. Amen." + +The day at length arrived which had been fixed by Divine Providence +for terminating and rewarding the labors of this faithful Servant of +God: it was a Saturday, the fourth of October. St. Bonaventure who +considers him on his death-bed as a work well finished by the chisel +of suffering, as a precious jewel cut and polished, to be placed in +the sacred edifice of the celestial Jerusalem, remarks, that, finding +himself near his end, and animating himself with fresh fervor, he +stretched himself on the ground. + +All the brethren were penetrated with grief and shed tears. One of +them, whom the holy man called his guardian, knowing by inspiration +what he wished for, went quickly to fetch a tunic, a cord, and the +other parts of the dress of a Friar Minor, and brought them to him, +saying: "Here is what we lend you, as to a poor man; take them out of +obedience." He accepted this alms, and was rejoiced that he was faithful +to the last to poverty, which he called his dame and his mistress; +then raising his hands to heaven, he gave glory to our Lord Jesus +Christ, that, being disengaged and free from everything, he was about +to go to Him. + +At the beginning of his conversion he stripped himself before the +Bishop of Assisi, in imitation of the poor life of our Saviour; and +to resemble Him more completely in His state of poverty, of nudity, +and of suffering on the cross, he stripped himself before his brethren +at his death, and chose to leave this world poor as he came into it, +or, at least, only in a habit which he had received as an alms: such +was his love of poverty. + +"Oh!" exclaims St. Bonaventure, "with what truth may it be said that +this was verily a Christian man, who has rendered himself perfectly +conformable to Jesus Christ while living, or dying, or dead, and who +has merited the honor of such a conformity, by the impression of the +five wounds!" + +What is further remarkable is, that they asked him where he desired +to be buried, to which he answered: "In the vilest of places, on the +Infernal Hill, on that side where criminals are executed." + +This place was out of the Town of Assisi, near the walls, vulgarly +called the Infernal Hill, perhaps on account of its being the place +of execution. The Servant of God wished to be buried there, in order +to be in strict conformity with his Divine Master, "who chose," says +St. Jerome, "to be crucified in the usual place of execution, as a +criminal among criminals, for the salvation of men, and to be placed +in a tomb which was close by." His wish became a prophecy, for, two +years after his death, as will be explained hereafter, a church was +built in his honor on the Infernal Hill, when the name was changed +into that of the Hill of Paradise, and the site of the church was so +contrived that his body was placed precisely on the spot where the +gallows had been formerly erected. + +Seeing his last hour drawing nigh, he summoned all his brethren who +were in the convent, and after having addressed some words of +consolation to them, to mitigate the grief they felt for his death, +he exhorted them to love God as a tender Father. Then he spoke to them +for a long time on the care they should take to persevere in the faith +of the Church of Rome, in poverty and in patience, under the +tribulations which awaited them, as well as in successes of their holy +undertaking. He made use of the most moving expressions in recommending +to them to make progress towards eternal goods, to be armed with +vigilance against the dangers of the world, and to walk exactly in the +paths of Jesus Christ; remarking to them that the observance of His +Gospel was the basis and essence of their Institution, and that all +their practices had this in view. + +After the holy man had made known his last wishes, he sent for Brother +Leo, his confessor, and for Brother Angelo, whom he directed to sing +in his presence the Canticle of the Sun, because death was very near: +this is the canticle of which we have spoken, in which he gives glory +to God for all His creatures, and also for death. As he was assured +by revelation that death would remove him to eternal life, its proximity +filled him with joy, which he evidenced by causing the praises of God +to be sung. + +When the canticle was finished, he placed his arms one over the other +in the form of a cross,--a saving sign, to which he had been always +devoted, as St. Bonaventure remarks--and stretching them over his +brethren who stood around him, he gave his blessing for the last time, +as well to those who were present, as to those who were absent, in the +name and by virtue of Jesus crucified. He then pronounced the following +words with great mildness and suavity: "Adieu, my children, I bid you +all adieu; I leave you in the fear of the Lord, abide ever in that. +The time of trial and tribulation approaches; happy those who persevere +in the good they have begun. As to me, I go to God with great eagerness, +and I recommend you all to His favor" + +He then called for the book of the Gospels, and requested them to read +to him the Gospel of St. John, at that part where the history of the +Passion of our Blessed Saviour begins by these words: "Ante diem festum +Pascha," before the Feast of the Passover. After this had been read, +he began himself to recite, as well as he could, the hundred and +forty-first psalm, "Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi:" "I have cried to +Thee, O Lord, with my voice;" and he continued it to the last verse, +"Me expectant justi, donec retribuas mihi:" "The just wait for me, +until Thou reward me." In fine, all the mysteries of grace having been +fulfilled in this man, so beloved by God, his very soul, absorbed in +Divine love, was released from the shackles of his body, and went to +repose in the Lord. + +Such a death makes good what the Holy Fathers of the Church say, that +the perfect Christian dies with joy, and with pleasure. There is no +one who would not wish for such a death. The most worldly would desire +with Balaam, that their life should end as that of the just; but the +perfection of the just must be imitated to afford any hope of the end +being similar: death is only mild and consoling in proportion to the +fervor of a Christian life. + +St. Bonaventure places on record many proofs which they had of the +glory of St. Francis at the moment of his death. One of his disciples +saw his blessed soul, under the figure of a brilliant star, rise upon +a white cloud, above all the others, and go straight to heaven. This +marked, says the holy doctor, the splendor of his sublime sanctity, +with the plenitude of grace and wisdom, which had rendered him worthy +of entering into the regions of light and peace, where, with Jesus +Christ, he enjoys a repose which will be eternal. + +Brother Austin, of Assisi, Provincial of the Terra di Lavoro, a just +and saintly man, who was in the last stage of a severe illness, and +had ceased to speak, suddenly exclaimed: "Wait for me, my Father, wait +for me; I will go with you" The brethren, quite astonished, asked him +who he was speaking to. "What," said he, "don't you see our Father, +Francis, going up to Heaven?" At that very moment his soul separated +itself from his body, and followed that of his Father. Thomas of Celano, +and Bernard of Bessa, companions of St. Bonaventure, also mentioned +that a holy man of their day had a revelation to the effect, that the +souls of several Friars Minors were delivered from the sufferings of +purgatory, and were joined with that of the holy Patriarch, to enter +Heaven with him. + +The Bishop of Assisi being then on a devotional tour to Mount Gargano, +to visit the Church of the Archangel Michael, Francis appeared to him +on the night of his death, and said: "I leave the world, and am going +up to heaven." The prelate, in the morning, mentioned to those who +accompanied him what he had seen; and on his return, having made exact +inquiry, he found that the apparition had appeared to him at the very +time of the Saint's death. + +The body of St. Francis, after his death, was an object worthy of +admiration, according to this description of it, given by St. +Bonaventure on the testimony of those who had seen it, and reported +verbally to him all the circumstances, conformably to what had been +taken down in writing: On his hands and on his feet black nails were +seen as of iron, wonderfully formed of his flesh by Divine power, and +so attached to his flesh, that, when they were pressed on one side, +they protruded farther on the other, as hard excrescences, and all of +one piece. Nothing now prevented the wound on his side from being seen, +which he hid with so much care during his lifetime,--this wound, which +had not been made by the hand of man, and which resembled the opening +in the side of our Blessed Saviour, from which the sacrament of our +redemption issued, and that of our regeneration. Its color was red, +and the edges, rounded off, gave it the appearance of a beautiful rose. +The flesh of the Saint, which was naturally of a brownish color, and +which his diseases had rendered tawny, became extraordinarily white. +It called to mind the robes whitened in the blood of the Lamb, with +which the saints are clothed. His limbs were flexible and pliable as +those of an infant; evident signs of the innocence and candor of his +soul. The whiteness of his skin contrasted with the black nails of his +hands and feet, and with the wound in his side, which resembled a +fresh-blossomed rose, exhibited a variety of tints which was beautiful +and pleasing, and was the admiration of those who saw it. His body, +in fine, was the representation of the Passion of Jesus Christ by the +wounds imprinted on it, and of the glorious resurrection by the +qualifications it had received after death. + +This marvellous and novel sight mitigated the affliction of his +children; it strengthened their faith, inflamed their love, and quite +enraptured them; and, although the death of so amiable a father caused +them to shed torrents of tears, they, nevertheless, had their hearts +filled with joy when they kissed the impressions of the wounds of the +great King imprinted on his flesh. + +As soon as the news of his death was spread, and the circumstances of +the stigmata came to be spoken of, the people came in crowds to see +them: each person wished to see them with his own eyes, and assure +himself of the truth of an event which was the cause of so much joy +to the public. A great number of the citizens of Assisi were permitted +to approach, to see and to kiss the sacred stigmata. One of them named +Jerome, belonging to the army, a learned and prudent man, whose +reputation was very extensive, finding it difficult to give credit to +so wonderful a circumstance, examined the wounds more particularly and +more minutely than the rest, in presence of the brethren, and of many +persons of the town. He felt the feet, the hands, and the wound in the +side of the Saint's body; he moved the nails, and convinced himself +so perfectly of the truth of the fact, that he was afterwards a most +zealous advocate and witness to it, and made oath to its truth on the +holy Evangelists. "It was," St. Bonaventure remarks, "a case similar +to that of the Apostle St. Thomas, who, from being incredulous, became +a faithful witness after having put his hands into the wounds of the +Saviour, in order that his faith, preceded by incredulity, should +strengthen our faith, and prevent us from becoming incredulous." + +The brethren, who had been present at the death of the blessed +Patriarch, passed the remainder of the night in singing the praises +of God around the body, with a number of other persons, who had +collected there for the purpose, insomuch that it more resembled a +feast of celestial spirits than the funeral service of a mortal. + +The next morning, which was Sunday, the holy corpse was carried to +Assisi on the shoulders of the principal persons of that city, and +those of the highest rank among the Friars Minors; hymns and canticles +being sung the whole way, while the concourse followed, carrying in +their hands lighted torches, or branches of laurel. The procession +passed on to the Church of St. Damian, where Clare and her nuns awaited +it, and where it halted for a short time, to afford them the consolation +of seeing and kissing the stigmata. In admiring this extraordinary +prodigy, and lamenting the death of such a father, they called to mind +the promise he had made them during his last illness, that they should +again see him before their death. Clare endeavored to draw the nail +from one of his hands, which, as the head of it was raised above the +palm of the hand, she thought she would be able to effect, but she +found it impossible. She, therefore, only dipped a piece of linen in +the blood which exuded; and she took the measure of the body, by which +she had a niche made of similar size, on that side of the choir which +the religious occupied, in which the image of the saint was afterwards +placed. These pious virgins would have been glad to have detained the +body longer, but it was necessary to resume the route to Assisi, where +he was buried in the Church of St. George, with every possible +veneration and respect. It was there he had received the first rudiments +of education, it was there he had preached for the first time, and +there was his first place of repose. + +Brother Elias, in his quality of vicar-general, wrote a circular letter +on his death, which he sent into all the provinces of the Order. The +copy which the Provincial of France received, was thus directed: "To +my well-beloved brother in Jesus Christ, Brother Gregory, minister +of the brethren who are in France, and to all his brethren, and to +ours, Brother Elias sends greeting." + +He first expresses his grief in very affecting terms, and in alluding +to the loss the Order had sustained, he passes a high eulogium on the +sanctity of their common Father, with many citations from the Sacred +Scriptures, very aptly applied. Then, he says, that what must console +the children of the blessed patriarch is, that his death opened to him +eternal life, and that previously he had pardoned all the offences +which he might have sustained from any of them. This article only +regarded Brother Elias and his adherents, for they were the only ones +who had caused him any displeasure, and, according to all probability, +Elias only adverted to it to soften the feelings of many who were +irritated with him in consequence of his relaxation. After this +preliminary he communicates to them a great cause for rejoicing in the +miracle of the stigmata, which he treats as follows: "We had seen our +Brother and our Father, Francis, some time before his death as one +crucified, having on his body five wounds similar to those of Jesus +Christ, nails of the color of nails of iron, which perforated his hands +and feet, his side being laid open as by the wound of a lance, from +whence blood often percolated. Immediately after his death his face, +which was not handsome during his life, became extraordinarily +beautiful, white and brilliant, and pleasing to behold; his limbs, +which the contraction of the muscles, caused by his great sufferings, +had stiffened like to those of a corpse, became pliant and flexible +as those of a child: they could be handled and placed in any position +which might be wished." + +He then exhorts them to give glory to God for so great a miracle, and +adds: "He who used to console us in our afflictions is no more, he has +been taken from us; we are now orphans, and have no longer a father. +But, since it is written, that 'to the Lord is the poor man left: He +will be a helper to the orphan, let us address our prayers to Him, my +dear brethren, and let us entreat Him to give us another chief, who, +as a true Machabee, shall guide us and lead us to battle." At the close +of the letter he ordered prayers for the deceased, saying: "It is not +useless to pray for the dead; pray for him, as he requested we should: +but at the same time pray that we may obtain from God a participation +in His grace. Amen." It was signed, "Brother Elias, a sinner." + +Although Elias doubted not that the holy man was in glory, he, +nevertheless, prescribed praying for him, not only to comply with the +wish of the deceased, and not to forestall the decision of the Holy +See, but, also, because he bore in mind what St. Augustine had said, +that the sacrifices and prayers offered for the dead whose life has +been irreproachable, are acts of thanksgiving. + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +We have yet to mention what the Holy See did to glorify St. Francis +and to make his name memorable for all times. Pope Honorius III died +on the 18th of March, 1227, to the great grief of the entire Church. +He dearly loved St. Francis and had approved the Rule of the Friars +Minor. The morning after his death the cardinals assembled and elected +Cardinal Ugolini as his successor, who took unto himself the name of +Gregory IX. Cardinal Ugolini was the intimate friend of Francis, the +Protector of his Order and the founder of several Franciscan Convents; +as was recorded above, St. Francis predicted his Pontificate. + +A riot at Rome shortly after caused the Holy Father to flee to Rieti, +he then went to Spoleto, and from thence to Assisi. At Assisi he was +greeted with the greatest enthusiasm by the people. His deep piety +prompted him to visit the grave of our Saint, where he spent a long +time in prayer. At the general chapter held at Rome, June 7, 1227, in +which Brother Elias was re-elected, His Holiness was petitioned by all +present to canonize Francis whom God already made illustrious by many +miracles. Now a favorable opportunity presented itself to pay special +heed to this petition. He caused a rigorous examination to be made of +all the miracles attributed to the intercession of the Saint after his +death. This was not a difficult matter for there were a great number +of witnesses in the city and neighboring places. In the meanwhile the +Holy Father went to Perugia to attend to some affairs of state. When +the validity of the proofs regarding the miracles and virtues of St. +Francis could in no way be questioned, Gregory returned to Assisi. + +The canonization took place with the greatest solemnity on Sunday July +16th, in the Church of St. George, where the body of the Saint reposed. +Amidst an immense assembly of cardinals, bishops, priests, clerics, +members of the Franciscan Orders, knights, lords, and dignitaries of +the, provinces and a vast multitude of people the Sovereign Pontiff +pronounced from his throne, the following solemn words: + +"To the glory of the Most High God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the +glorious Virgin Mary, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and to the +honor of the whole Roman Church, we have resolved, in concert with our +brethren and other prelates, to inscribe in the catalogue of the saints, +the blessed Father Francis, whom God has glorified in Heaven, and whom +we venerate on earth. His feast shall be celebrated on the day of his +death." + +At once the cardinals intoned the Te Deum, the people responded by +their cries and shouts of joy. Thereupon prayers of thanksgiving were +recited and then the august Pontiff celebrated Holy Mass. It was a day +of grace, of exultation and triumph for Assisi, for the Franciscan +Family and for the whole Church. Thus was St. Francis canonized but +a few years after his death. + +The humble Saint had asked to be interred on the "Infernal Hill," the +hill on which criminals were buried. Up to the present his desire could +not be fulfilled. The City of Assisi waited to make that place of +ignominy a worthy abode for the remains of its most saintly and +illustrious citizen. A magnificent double-church was erected on the +spot. The Sovereign Pontiff declared that henceforth the place shall +be called "Hill of Paradise" and later on laid the corner-stone for +the new edifice. The lower church was completed in 1230. The elaborate +portal is a plan of Baccio Pontelli. The stained glass windows by +Bonino, a native of Assisi, render a soft and mellow harmony of light +no less charming than that of the mosaic interior of San Marco, Venice. +Famous frescoes which influenced all the great movements of art that +followed, cover the walls of the church. Those in the sanctuary by +Giotto are particularly fine. They represent St. Francis espousing +Humility, Charity, and Poverty. The gold and blue of the backgrounds +upon which the numerous scenes are painted, harmonize beautifully in +the general color scheme of the sacred edifice. In the fourteenth +century nine chapels were added along the walls of the lower church, +mostly memorial chapels of cardinals and bishops. + +Two years after the construction of the lower church with its vaulted +top, the building of the upper church began. The Gothic form of +architecture was chosen for the building, so that the high and pointed +arches be emblematic of the lofty spirit of St. Francis, and of the +towering strength of his followers, whose object it is to raise the +spirit of men to a higher standard of religion and devotion. After its +completion in the year 1253 Pope Innocent IV came in person to Assisi +and consecrated the upper and lower church. At the same time the Holy +Father, who resided in the monastery at Assisi with the Franciscan +Fathers for five months, solemnly canonized the Bishop and Martyr +Stanislaus of Cracow. The upper church again afforded the genius of +artists ample opportunity to blossom forth. Zimabue enriched the +sanctuary with brilliant frescoes from the life of the Blessed Virgin +Mary whom St. Francis had chosen to be the Patroness and Protectress +of his three orders for all future times. The choir-picture, the +Assumption of the Virgin, is the finest of the series. In the apse are +frescoes of St. Peter and St. Paul to whose tomb (at Rome) St. Francis +made a pilgrimage to ask for grace and light at the beginning of his +conversion. Other frescoes of Zimabue, also in the apse of the church, +represent various passages of the Apocalypse, relative to the +rejuvenation of the Church; St. Francis was called and appointed by +God to restore the church which was falling into ruins. Along the lower +wall-spaces of the nave are twenty-eight large frescoes from the life +of St. Francis by Giotto, Taddio, Gaddi and Giunto Pisano; the upper +spaces have representations of the Old and New Testament by Pietro +Cavallini and his school. These upper paintings are now in ruins, but +even in their ruins they are precious pearls of mediaeval art. The +stained glass windows are of such exceptional beauty and artistic +correctness that their equal cannot be found in all Italy. Speaking +of the Church of St. Francis at Assisi, a traveller says in substance +as follows: In its tremendous proportions the gigantic Church of St. +Francis can only be compared to the pyramids of Egypt; and both are +symbolic of their times. The pyramids were erected by the iron will +and the cruel might of the Pharaohs, the blood of nations stain every +stone and they are bedewed with many tears. The Church of St. Francis +was built by the self-sacrificing love and heartfelt gratitude of +nations. Its stones are worn by the footsteps and the tears of millions +and millions of people, who came there, perhaps sad and weary, but +returned with the love and the peace of the Saint in their heart. + +When the lower church was completed (1230), the venerable remains of +St. Francis were translated to their new resting-place. Such numbers +were present at this translation, that many had to sleep out under +tents during the night, the walls of Assisi not being able to contain +so vast a multitude. The people of Assisi, having observed a commotion +in the crowd, began to fear that an attempt was being made to deprive +them of their sacred treasure: accordingly they rushed to the bier, +took possession of the Saint's body, entered the church, locked the +doors, and interred the body, without allowing any of the clergy, +religious, or people to enter. In consequence of this event, an +impenetrable veil of secrecy long hung over the place where the body +had been laid. In 1818, Pope Pius VII gave permission to the General +of the Conventual Minors to make researches under the high altar. Many +previous researches had been made; they grew to such gigantic +proportions that the foundations of the massive structure were partly +undermined. To prevent the ruin of the basilica at Assisi, the Holy +See finally forbade all further researches without the special consent +of the Sovereign Pontiff. When Pope Pius VII gave the necessary +permission, the researches were again taken up, but very carefully and +in great secrecy. The workmen were employed for fifty-two nights in +hard labor. At length, after having broken through rocks and massive +walls, an iron grating was discovered, beneath which was a skeleton +in a stone coffin, which when opened, exhaled the most fragrant odor. +The Holy Father deputed the Bishops of Assisi, Nocera, Spoleto, Perugia, +and Foligno, to make a juridical examination, to certify the +authenticity of the body. Then, in accordance with a decree of the +Council of Trent, he named a commission of cardinals and theologians, +and, all being settled, on the 5th of December, 1820, he declared in +a Brief that "this body is verily the body of Saint Francis of Assisi, +Founder of the Order of Friars Minor." The sacred body of St. Francis +now lies beneath the main altar of the lower church, mentioned before, +in an exquisitely beautiful little chapel hewn out of the solid rock. +The remains repose in their original sarcophagus, which is bound by +broad girders of steel. + +Seven hundred years have elapsed since the death of this humble servant +of God. His memory has outlived all the storms that have agitated the +world. The good seed that he sowed is still bringing forth fruit a +hundredfold. Like the Apostles of old, he labored in the vineyard of +the Lord, and opened up to others, Heavenly treasures of untold value. +Yet more, in the person of St. Francis, Jesus of Nazareth lived again +for the instruction and edification of the whole world, as He had never +done in any individual, since the great Apostle of the Gentiles. At +the word of St. Francis a revival of primitive Christianity sprang +into existence at a time when all civilization seemed unhinged on +account of the almost universal decay in morals. He taught men afresh +that the commands of Jesus Christ could be literally obeyed and that +the Sermon on the Mount was as applicable to the men of the middle and +all succeeding ages as to the first age of Christian history. This New +Abraham begot through the Gospel the largest family of Christ's +followers and of missionaries the Catholic Church has ever produced. +It is well known that the history of the Church from the thirteenth +to the sixteenth century was largely the history of the rise and growth +of Franciscanism in every part of Europe. To-day, after seven centuries +have elapsed, we find no symptoms of decay in the great Franciscan +Family. The priests and laybrothers of the First Order are to be found +laboring assiduously in every country. In efficiency and number their +active missionaries are second to none. They are storming the +strongholds of Satan from one end of the world to the other. The Second +Order stands before us as of old, a beautiful lily in the Sanctuary +of God. The Holy Virgins, of the Second Order, called "Poor Clares," +seek voluntary oblivion and by their pure and pious life of the greatest +austerity, of seclusion, silence, penance and prayer, daily open the +floodgates of God's graces to mankind. The wonderful and healthy growth +of the Third Order, especially since the great Encyclical on St. Francis +and on the Third Order by Pope Leo XIII (1882), need not be mentioned; +it is a fact known to all. Since the work of the Seraphic Saint is so +prosperous at present, we need not doubt about the future. As we have +previously seen God Himself revealed to St. Francis that his institution +shall remain till the end of times. Thus the Most High glorified and +rewarded the poor, humble man of Assisi, "the greatest of sinners," +as he loved to call himself. St. Francis now reigns in Heaven, brilliant +as the Morning Star, and showers his blessings upon his many children. +Let us praise God for the grace and glory He gave his humble Servant +and let us deeply impress upon our mind the words of the Holy Ghost: +"God resists the proud, but gives his graces to the humble." "He that +humbleth himself shall be exalted." + +"ST. FRANCIS SEALED WITH THE CHARACTER OF JESUS" + +The eminent perfection of St. Francis was grounded on a tender and +fervent devotion to Jesus Christ crucified. This adorable object had +a powerful attraction for his heart, was the source of all the graces +he received, and the model of all the virtues he practised. From the +sufferings of our Saviour he made for himself, as St. Bernard had done, +a nosegay of myrrh, which he always carried in his bosom; he considered +attentively the sufferings of his Beloved, he suffered them himself, +and they called forth his sighs and his tears; it was his wish that +the fire of this love might transform him entirely into Him who had +borne them. + +The poverty of the Son of God, in His birth, during His life, and at +His death, made such impression on the heart of Francis, that he +embraced this virtue with inexpressible ardor. + +Seeing that it was rejected by the world, and looking upon it as the +pearl of the Gospel, to acquire it, he abandoned father, mother, and +all that he had. No person ever sought after riches with so much +avidity, and no one ever guarded his treasure with so much care. He +never wore, until his death, anything but a worthless tunic, and he +refused himself everything but what was absolutely necessary. He would +yield to no one in poverty, although he considered himself the most +abject of all. If he saw any one worse dressed than he was, he +considered it as a reproach to himself. One day, meeting a poor man +who was almost naked, he said to his companion with a sigh: "There is +a poor man who shames us. We have chosen poverty for our greatest +riches, and in him you see it shine far more than in us." + +For his nourishment, he greatly preferred what he solicited for the +love of God from door to door, to what was offered to him. He frequently +considered within himself, and it brought tears into his eyes, how +poor our Saviour and His Blessed Mother had been in this world, and +the reflection induced him to live in greater poverty. + +As to the cells, he always chose the smallest. One of his secular +friends having had one built, which was only made of wood, though +pretty neat, in the hermitage of Sarthiano, he found it too fine, and +said he would not enter it a second time unless it was put into a state +of poverty; so that, in order to induce him to return, it was necessary +to cover it roughly with branches of trees, both without and within. +He left it afterwards because one of his companions had said to him, +"Father, I am come to look for you in your cell." "I will not occupy +it any longer," he replied, "because you consider it mine in calling +it my cell: another may live in it, to whom it will not be +appropriated." + +This is what his companions tell us on the subject:--"We have often +heard him say, we, who have lived with him: 'I will not have as mine +either dwelling-place, or any other thing, for our Master has said: +"The foxes have lairs, and the birds of the air, nests; but the Son +of Man hath not where to lay His head."'" + +He was also accustomed to say: "When our Lord went to fast in the +desert, where He remained forty days and forty nights, He had no cell +prepared for Him, nor any other covering; it was only in some crevice +of the mountain that He took repose." The same authors add, that, in +order to imitate Jesus Christ perfectly, Francis desired to have neither +convent nor cell which could be called his. And, moreover, if sometimes, +on arriving, he pointed out to his brethren the cell which he proposed +to occupy, he checked himself immediately, as having shown too much +solicitude, and went into another, which had not been prepared for +him. Shall, then, the children of the Patriarch of the poor be censured +when they imitate this tenderness of conscience; and when, to show +their aversion to the possession of property, they call even the things +which are most essential for them to have the use of, by terms which +show that they do not even hold them in common, and that they have +nothing which is their own? + +Although the servant of God possessed every virtue in a very high +degree, yet it was remarked that the virtue of poverty was the one +which was above all the others; and this it pleased the Almighty to +make known by an admirable vision. When the saint was going to Sienna, +three very poor women, who resembled each other both in size and +countenance, and appeared to be of the same age, presented themselves +before him, and greeted him in these words: "May the Lady Poverty be +welcome!" This salutation filled him with joy, because nothing was +more grateful to him in greeting him than to speak of poverty, which +was so dear to him. The vision immediately vanished, and his companions, +who had seen it, had no doubt that there was something mysterious in +it; that God meant thereby to discover to them something which related +to their father.--"In fact," says St. Bonaventure, "these three women, +who were so like to each other, were not bad representations of +chastity, obedience, and poverty, which constitute the beauty of +Evangelical perfection, and were the very eminent characteristics of +the saintly man; yet the expressions which these women made use of in +greeting him, showed that he had chosen poverty as his special +prerogative, and the principal object of his glory; and, indeed, he +was in the habit of calling it sometimes his lady, sometimes his mother, +and sometimes his spouse or his queen." + +It is not possible to record in this place all the praise which the +holy Founder gave to this Evangelical virtue. He called it the Queen, +not only because it shone with splendor in JESUS CHRIST, the King of +kings, and in His Blessed Mother, but because it is elevated above all +earthly things, which it tramples under foot. "Know," he used to say +to his brethren, "that poverty is the hidden treasure of the Gospel, +the basis on which an order rests the special path to salvation, the +support of humility, the mother of self-renunciation, the principle +of obedience, the death of self-love, the destruction of vanity and +cupidity, the rod of perfection, the fruits of which are abundant, +though hidden. It is a virtue descended from Heaven which acts within +us, and enables us to despise everything which is despicable; it +subverts all the obstacles which prevent the soul from perfectly uniting +itself to God by humility and charity; it causes those by whom it is +beloved to become active as pure spirits, and enables them to take +their flight towards Heaven, to converse with angels, though still +living on earth. It is so excellent and so divine a virtue, that vile +and abject vases such as we are, are not worthy of containing it." + +In order to obtain the grace of poverty, he often recited the following +prayer to Jesus Christ: "O Lord Jesus! point out to me the ways of +poverty, which are so dear to Thee. Have pity on me, for I love it +with such intensity that I can find no repose without it, and Thou +knowest that it is Thou who gavest me this ardent love. It is rejected, +despised, and hated by the world, although it is a dame and a queen, +and Thou hast had the goodness to come down from Heaven to make poverty +Thy spouse, and to have from her, by her, and in her, perfect children. +My Jesus, who chosest to be extremely poor! the favor which I ask of +Thee is, to give me the privilege of poverty; I ardently desire to be +enriched by this treasure; I entreat of Thee that it may be mine, and +of those who belong to me, and that we may never possess anything of +our own under heaven for the glory of Thy name, and that we may exist, +during this miserable life, on those things only which are given to +us, and that we be very sparing in the use we shall make even of these. +Amen." + +This friend of poverty did not confine it to the repudiation of all +external things: he carried its perfection to the most elevated +spiritual point. "He who aspires to its attainment," he said, "must +renounce not only all worldly prudence, but in some degree all learning +and science, so that, being stripped of all sorts of goods, he may +place himself under cover of the protection of the Most High, think +only of His justice, and cast himself into the arms of the Crucified. +For it is not to renounce the world entirely, if any attachment to its +lights, and to one's own feelings, remains in the secret recesses of +the heart." He did not assert that, in order to arrive at the perfection +of poverty, it was necessary to be without learning, but he required +that learning should not be considered by the possessor as an interior +property, from which self-love should be fed; that there should not +be that secret attachment to mental illumination, which is the primary +source of error, and the basis of the obstinacy of heretics; that all +of knowledge should "be referred to God, and that we should in some +sense strip ourselves of it to acquire the perception of God alone, +and of His holy law. St. Hilary said, speaking in the same sense, that +we must always bear in mind that we are men, that we have nothing of +our own, not even the use of our senses and faculties; that these come +from God, and that we must only use them as things which are in a +continual dependence on His will. This is an important instruction for +the consideration of the learned." + +The lively affection which St. Francis bore for the crucified Jesus, +from the moment of his conversion, rendered him very austere towards +himself. Not only could he not suffer that the tunic which he wore +should have anything soft in it, but he chose that it should be rough +and harsh; when he found that it had become too soft, he put knotted +cords on the inside to counteract the softness. + +It was usually on the bare ground that he laid his body down,--that +body which was worn out by fatigue; sometimes he slept, sitting with +his head resting on a stone or piece of wood. As to food, he scarcely +took what was absolutely necessary for his nourishment. When in health, +he seldom permitted anything to be put before him which was cooked, +and then he either strewed ashes upon it, or added water to it, to +take away the taste. Pure water was his only beverage, and then he +drank so little that it was insufficient for quenching his thirst. +Besides the Lent kept by all Christians, he kept eight others in the +course of the year. The first, of forty days, from the day after the +Epiphany, in memory of our Lord's fast in the desert, after He had +been baptized by John, which took place on the sixth day of January, +according to the old tradition of the Church. The second was from the +Wednesday in Easter week, to Whit-Sunday, to prepare himself for +receiving the Holy Ghost. The third, from the day after the Festival +of Pentecost to the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, in honor of these +blessed Apostles. The fourth, from the day after their festival to the +Assumption, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. The fifth in honor of St. +Michael, from the Assumption to the feast of that angel. The sixth, +from that feast is the first of November, in honor of all the saints. +The seventh, from All-Souls to Christmas, to prepare himself to +celebrate the birth of Christ. The eighth, from the Feast of St. Stephen +to the Epiphany, in honor of the three kings. Thus was his life a +perpetual fast. + +When he went abroad he ate whatsoever was put before him, not only to +observe the direction of the Gospel, but in order to gain worldlings +to Jesus Christ, by conforming to their ways; but when in the convent, +he resumed his habits of abstinence, and this mode of life was very +edifying to laymen. The more he advanced towards perfection, the more +he mortified himself. We cannot form a more correct opinion of the +Evangelical hatred he bore his body, than by noticing the terms he +made use of to express it. After having finished Complin, and spent +a considerable time in prayer, in a deserted church, in which he passed +the night, he wished to take some rest. As the evil spirits prevented +him from so doing, by suggestions which frightened him, and made him +tremble, he mustered courage, rose, made the sign of the cross, and +said in a loud voice: "Devils, I declare to you from Almighty God, +that you may use against me all the power given to you by my Lord Jesus +Christ, and do all the harm you can to my body. I am ready to suffer +everything, and assuredly you will oblige me greatly, for this body +is a great burden to me; it is the greatest enemy I have, the most +wicked, and the most crafty; and you will revenge me by so doing." + +He exhorted his religious to austerity in their food, in their clothing, +and in everything else. For he was convinced, as was St. Augustine, +that it is difficult to satisfy the demands of the body, without in +some degree sacrificing to sensuality; and he used to say, "Our Saviour +praised St. John the Baptist for his having clothed himself coarsely. +According to the words 'Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, +are in the houses of kings,' soft garments must not be found in the +huts of the poor. I know by experience that the devils fly from those +who lead an austere life; and St. Paul teaches us, that they who are +Christ's have crucified their flesh with its vices and concupiscences." +We remember that he knew how to temper what seemed to be excessive in +the mortifications of his brethren. + +Francis taught persons to flee from idleness. "I desire," he said, +"that my brethren may work and be occupied. He who desires to live by +the labor of others, without doing anything, deserves to be nicknamed +Brother _Fly_; because, doing nothing that is worth anything, and +spoiling what is good, he becomes odious and despicable to all the +world." If he came upon any one wandering about, and without occupation, +he applied to him these words of the Apocalypse: "Because thou art +lukewarm, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth." His example was +an excellent lesson for not losing time, and fostering the idleness +of the flesh; he employed himself always holily, and he called his +body brother ass, which required to be well worked, to be severely +beaten, and to be badly fed. + +Silence was not considered by him to be a small virtue; he considered +it as a guard to the purity of the heart, according to the maxim of +wisdom: "Life and death are in the power of the tongue;" by which he +understood the intemperance of speech, as well as that of taste. But +he principally wished his brethren to become exact in keeping +Evangelical silence, which consists in abstaining from all idle +conversation, of which an account must be rendered at the day of +judgment, and he severely reprimanded those who were in the habit of +saying useless things. In fine, his instruction was, that they should +endeavor to destroy all vice, and to mortify the passions; and that, +in order to succeed in this endeavor, every thing should be cut off +which could serve as an attraction, and, therefore, that the exterior +senses by which death enters into the soul, should be continually +mortified. + +As soon as he felt the smallest temptation, or if he only foresaw it, +he took every precaution for resisting it. At the beginning of his +conversion he frequently threw himself in the depth of winter, into +freezing water, in order to subdue his domestic enemy, and to preserve +his robe of innocence without stain, asserting that it is far less +painful to a spiritual man to suffer the rigor of the severest cold, +than to feel interiorly the slightest attack upon his purity. + +We have seen, in his life, that he threw himself into the midst of +thorns, to drive away the tempter who wanted to induce him to moderate +his watchings and his prayers. One of his actions, the circumstances +of which are thus related by St. Bonaventure, shows how great the +purity of his heart was, and with what force he resisted the impure +spirit. + +One night, while he was at prayer in his cell, at the hermitage of +Sarthiano, he heard himself called three times by his name. After he +had answered, a voice said to him: "There is no sinner in the world +whom God does not pardon if he be converted; but whoever kills himself +by too rigorous a penance, will never find mercy." Francis was made +aware by a revelation that these deceitful words emanated from the old +enemy, who wished to induce him to relax in his austerities, and he +soon had sensible proof of it, for, "he who by his breath sets fire +to coals," as holy Job says, "tempted him strongly to sin against +purity." As soon as he became aware of it, he inflicted a severe +discipline on himself, saying to his body: "O brother ass! this is +what suits you, this is the way in which you should be chastised. The +tunic you wear is that of religion, and is a mark of its holiness. It +is not permitted to one who is impure to wear it: that would be a +theft." As the devil represented to him probably that he might marry +and have children, and have servants to wait upon him, he responded +to that by turning his own body into derision, and treating it cruelly. +With admirable fervor he burst from his cell, and threw himself upon +a large mound of snow; he made seven balls of it with his hands, and +then said to himself: "The largest of these snowballs is thy wife, +four others are thy two sons and two daughters, and the two last are +thy man and thy maid-servants. I must think of clothing them, for they +are perishing with cold." Then he added: "If this solicitude is +overpowering, think hereafter of nothing else than of serving God +fervently." At this the tempter fled, and the Saint returned +victoriously to his cell. He never after had a similar temptation. One +of his brethren, who was at prayer in the garden, saw by the light of +the moon what was going on, and Francis, being aware of it, could not +avoid explaining to him the whole temptation: "But," said he, "I forbid +you strictly from saying a word on the subject during my lifetime." +It was only known after his death. + +Those who know how far the scrupulousness of chaste souls will carry +them, will not feel surprised that, after the example of many other +saints, he had put in practice such severe mortification, to shield +himself from the slightest taint on his purity. His lively and agreeable +turn of mind are apparent in the way in which he taunted his body when +suffering from extreme cold; this also shows how much self-possession +he had under the severest trials, and by what sentiment he was actuated +in his penances. + +St. Bonaventure says that, as a skilful architect, he laid down +humility for the foundation-stone of his spiritual edifice, and that +it was from Jesus Christ that he had acquired this wisdom. The +foundation was so solid that humility became natural to him, as well +as poverty, and thus it is justly that he is called the humble St. +Francis. He was in the eyes of all a mirror of holiness, but in his +own eyes he was but a sinner; on all occasions he sought to vilify +himself, not only in his own mind, but in that of others. + +Upon one occasion Brother Pacificus, while praying with him in a church, +was raised in an ecstasy, and saw several thrones in the heavens, among +which there was one more splendid than the rest, ornamented with +precious stones. As he was pondering for whom this magnificent seat +could be destined, a voice said to him: "This was the seat of an angel, +and now it is reserved for the humble Francis." Some short time after, +when conversing with the Saint, he led to the topic of the knowledge +of one's self, and he asked him what idea he had of himself, upon which +St. Francis answered quickly: "I consider myself the greatest of +sinners." Pacificus maintained that he could not conscientiously either +say so or think so. "I am convinced," replied Francis, "that, if the +most criminal of men had experienced the great mercies I have received +from Jesus Christ, he would be much more grateful for them than I am." +This beautiful effusion confirmed Pacificus in the opinion he had +entertained, that the vision he had seen was a true vision; and it is +quite in accordance with the maxim of the Gospel that, "whosoever shall +exalt himself, shall be humbled; and that he that shall humble himself, +shall be exalted." It is humility that raises men to those places from +whence pride cast down the fallen angels. + +We have seen the extraordinary things which Francis did in order to +humble himself; from the same motive he felt no difficulty in making +public the defects he thought he discovered in himself. If he found +himself attacked by any temptation to pride, vain-glory, or any other +sin, he never failed communicating it to those who were present, whether +they were religious or seculars. One day when he was followed by a +great concourse of people, he gave his cloak to a poor woman who had +asked him for an alms, and some minutes after he turned round to the +crowd and told them in a loud voice that he had sinned from vainglory +in so doing. We may imagine that his humility was at that moment very +great, which prevented him from distinguishing between voluntary consent +and the feeling over which we have no control. + +He took great care not to do anything in private which he should have +had any hesitation in doing in public, and which was not in conformity +with the opinion people had of his sanctity. His illness rendered it +necessary that he should eat meat in the Lent he kept before Christmas, +but this relaxation consisted only in the use of lard; yet he, +nevertheless, accused himself of it in public, as an act of gluttony. +His companions have recorded what he said: "I wish to live in hermitages +and in other solitary places, as if I was seen by all the world; for, +if people have a great opinion of me, and I were not to live as they +think I do, I should be guilty of scandalous hypocrisy." The vicar of +his convent suggested that he should permit his tunic to be lined with +fox-skins, to keep his chest warm, which his disorder had greatly +weakened. "I consent to this," he replied, "provided you put a similar +set of skins outside, that the world may know the relief which is +inside also." This condition put a stop to the proposition. + +Praise mortified him, and he liked that people should blame him, and +he rejoiced in being despised. When he heard people express by +acclamation the merits of his sanctity, he made some of the brethren +say to him, "You are a vulgar man, ignorant and useless in the world, +a nobody;" and when he answered, with pleasure depicted on his +countenance, "May the Lord bless you, my dear child, what you say is +quite true, and is exactly what the son of Peter Bernardo deserves to +hear." To those who called him a saint he used to say: "Do not praise +me; I have no assurance that I shall not sin; a person must never be +praised whose end cannot be known." And he addressed the following +words to himself: "Francis, if the Most High had bestowed so many +favors on a thief as He has on you, he would be much more grateful +than you are." + +One day when great honors were paid him, his companion remarking that +he received them without showing any reluctance, said: "Father, do you +not see what they are doing in your honor? and far from refusing to +receive the applause manifested in your regard, as Christian humility +requires, you seem to receive them with complacency. Is there anything +which a servant of the Lord should more sedulously avoid?" This is the +reply which the holy man made him: "Brother, although it may appear +to you that they are paying me great honors, nevertheless, know that +I consider them as little or nothing in comparison to those which ought +to be paid me." His companion was not only surprised, but almost +scandalized, on hearing him utter such sentiments; but, not to expose +his follower, Francis added: "Now be attentive to this, and understand +it properly. I refer to God all the honor which is paid me, I attribute +nothing to myself; on the contrary, I look upon myself as dirt by my +baseness. I am as those figures of wood or stone for which respect is +had. All goes back to what they represent. Now, when men know and honor +God in His creatures, as they do in me, who am the vilest of all, it +is no small profit to their souls." + +This is the magnanimous humility of which St. Thomas speaks, by which +a man honors in himself the great gifts of God, permits them to be +there honored, and practises great virtues to render himself more +worthy to receive new ones, while he shrinks from the contemplation +of his own merits. Such was the humble Francis, in permitting, for the +glory of God, and the salvation of his neighbor, that the supernatural +gifts which had been imparted to him, should be honored in his person, +while he himself only considered his own nothingness; and afterwards +he retired into solitary places, where he passed whole nights in +meditating upon this nothingness, and on the infinite mercy of God, +which had loaded him with graces. + +Being one day with Brother Leo in one of these solitudes, and being +without the books necessary for saying the Divine Office, he invented +a sort of humiliating psalmody for glorifying God during the night. +"My dear brother," he said to Leo, "we must not let this time, which +is consecrated to God, pass without praising His holy name, and +confessing our own misery. This is the verse which I will say: 'O +Brother Francis! you have committed so many sins in this world, that +you have deserved to be plunged into hell.' And you, Brother Leo, your +response will be, 'It is true; you deserve to be in the bottom of +hell.'" Leo promised, however repugnant he felt, to answer as his +father desired; but, instead of that, he said: "Brother Francis, God +will do so much good through your means, that you will be called into +Paradise." The Father said to him, with warmth: "You don't answer as +you ought. Here is another verse: 'Brother Francis, you have offended +God by so many bad deeds, that you deserve all his maledictions.' +Answer to that: 'You deserve to be among the number of the cursed.'" +Leo promised again; but when the Saint had said his verse, striking +his breast, and shedding abundance of tears, Leo pronounced these +words: "Brother Francis, God will render you such, that, among those +who are blessed, you will receive a peculiar blessing." "Why don't you +answer as I desire you?" said Francis, surprised. "I command you, under +obedience, to repeat the words which I am going to give you. I shall +say: 'O Brother Francis, miserable man, after so many crimes committed +against the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, do you +think he will have any pity on me? In truth you are undeserving of +pardon.' Brother Leo, answer immediately: 'You deserve no mercy.'" +Leo, however, said: "God, our Father, whose mercy infinitely surpasses +our sins, will pardon you all your sins, and will load you with His +favors." + +Then Francis said somewhat angrily: "Why have you dared to transgress +the rule of obedience, and to answer so often differently to what I +desired?" Leo excused himself most respectfully, saying: "My very dear +Father, God is my witness that I had each time intended to repeat the +words which you had directed me, but He put into my mouth the words +I uttered, and caused me to speak, notwithstanding my resolution, +according to His good pleasure." The humble Servant of Jesus Christ +admired this disposition of the Lord; but persisting, nevertheless, +in his intention of humbling himself, he entreated Brother Leo to +repeat, at least once, the following words, which he pronounced with +many sighs: "Oh Brother Francis, miserable little man! do you think +that God will have mercy on you, after so many crimes which you have +committed?" "Yes, my Father," replied Leo, "God, your Saviour, will +have mercy on you, and will grant you great favors. He will exalt you, +and glorify you eternally, because he who shall humble himself shall +be exalted. Nevertheless, pardon me for not having said what you +desired. It is not I who speak, it is God who speaks in me." Finally +Francis bowed to what Leo communicated to him, who only disobeyed him +by an impulse of the Holy Ghost; and they conversed during the remainder +of the night on the great mercy of God to sinners. + +It has been already remarked, with St. Bonaventure, that St. Francis +had given to his brethren the name of Minors, and to their superiors +that of Ministers, in order that their very name should cause them to +be humble. These are the maxims by which he used to impress this upon +them:--"The Son of God debased Himself in coming from the bosom of His +Father to us, to teach us humility by His example and by His word, as +our Lord and Master." "What is exalted in the eyes of man is an +abomination before God." "Man is nothing but what he is before God, +and is nothing more. It is folly to feel glorified by the applause of +man; it is better to be blamed than praised, for blame induces the +person to correct himself, while praise leads to his fall. No man +should pride himself for doing those things which a sinner may do as +well as he. A sinner may fast, pray, weep, macerate his body, but what +he cannot do, as long as he is a sinner, is to be faithful to his God. +Now, this is what we may glory in, to render to God the glory which +is due to Him, to serve Him faithfully, and to return with like fidelity +all that He has given. Happy the servant who finds himself as humble +amidst his brethren, inferiors like himself, as in presence of his +superiors! Happy the servant who does not believe himself better when +men load him with praises, than when he appears in their eyes simple, +vile, abject and despicable! Happy the servant who bears reprimanding +with meekness, who acknowledges his fault with humility, and voluntarily +punishes it; who is sufficiently humble to receive a reprimand without +offering an excuse. Happy the religious who has not been desirous of +the elevation he has attained, and who always wishes to be at the feet +of the others! Woe to the religious who has been raised by the rest +to an honorable position, and who has not the inclination to descend +from it." + +The example of Jesus Christ, who "was obedient unto death, even to the +death of the cross," inspired St. Francis with great love for obedience. +Although he was appointed superior by order of God and of the Pope, +he was always desirous of obeying rather than commanding. In his +travels, he promised obedience to him who accompanied him, and he +rigidly kept that promise. One day he communicated the following in +confidence to his companions: "Among all the graces which I have +received from the bounty of God, this is one, that, if they were to +appoint a novice of an hour's standing to be my guardian, I would obey +him as implicitly as if he was the oldest and the most serious of our +brethren." He was not satisfied with having renounced being General +of the Order, to obey the Vicar-General; he asked Brother Elias, who +filled that position to give him a guardian, on whose will he should +depend in all things. Brother Angelo of Rieti was given to him, and +he obeyed him with entire submission. + +The instructions he gave his brethren on the subject of obedience +contained all the perfection which could be given them: 1st. To renounce +their own will, and to look upon it as the forbidden fruit, which our +first parents could not eat of without being guilty. 2d. To abandon +themselves wholly to their superior, so that they should neither do +nor say anything which they know he would not approve of; and that +they should do what he wishes the moment he has spoken, without waiting +for his speaking a second time. 3d. Not to examine whether what is +ordered is difficult or impossible, for, said St. Francis: "When I +order anything which is above your strength, holy obedience will enable +you to effect it." 4th. To submit their lights to those of the superior, +not with a view of obeying him in anything manifestly contrary to +salvation, but to act upon his views, although they may think their +own better and more useful. 5th. Not to consider the man, nor his +qualifications, in the obedience they bow to, but the authority he +has, the place he fills, and the greatness of Him for whose love they +are subject to man. + +This last point is the greatest sacrifice of a religious life; but a +necessary sacrifice, one which is just, and worthy of God, and the +most certain proof that our obedience is grounded on our love for God. +It is not difficult to follow the dictates of a superior of acknowledged +talent and merit; the hardship is to submit with humility, without +remonstrance or murmur, to one who has not these qualifications. This +also it is which enhances in the eyes of God the value of religious +obedience; it may then be considered as a sort of martyrdom of the +mind, as well as that of the body, which will receive its crown in +heaven. Nevertheless, it is requisite to be cautious, lest antipathy +or some other motive, and the natural revolt of the human heart against +authority, should cause a superior to appear contemptible, who really +is not so. Finally, the religious are highly interested in practicing +holy obedience, whoever may be the superior; it is, as St. Francis +remarks, so abundant in fruits, that such as bend to the yoke pass not +a moment of their lives without some spiritual profit: it increases +virtue, and procures peace to the soul. + +He was asked one day, who was to be considered to be truly obedient, +and he instanced a dead body. "Take," said he, "a dead body, and place +it where you please; you will see that it shows no repugnance at its +removal, it utters no complaint at its situation, nor of dissatisfaction +at being left where it is. If you put it in an honorable place, its +eyes will remain closed, it will not raise them. If you clothe it in +purple, it will only be paler than before. That is true obedience; it +asks no reason as to why it is put in motion, it is indifferent as to +where it is placed, and does not require to be removed.--If a Minor +is raised to the dignity of superior, he remains equally humble; the +more he is honored, the more does he think himself unworthy of it. I +have often," he said, "seen a blind man led by a little dog, the man +went wherever his guide took him, in good roads and in bad. This is +another resemblance of one who is perfectly obedient; he should shut +his eyes, and be blind to the commands of his superior, think of nothing +but submitting immediately to him, without stopping to examine whether +the thing be difficult or not, only keeping in view the authority of +him who gives the order, and the merit of obedience." + +Disobedience is insupportable; he considered it as the unfortunate +offspring of pride, which is the source of all evils, and of which he +had great horror. One day while praying in his cell, and meditating +between God and his brethren, he saw in spirit one of them who refused +to perform the penance imposed on him in chapter by the vicar-general, +and excusing himself as to the fault of which he had been accused. He +called his companion, and said: "I saw on the shoulders of this +insubordinate brother the devil, who was wringing his neck, and leading +him as by a bridle. I prayed for him, and the devil, abashed, loosed +his hold immediately. Go to him, and tell him to bend immediately to +the yoke of obedience," In fact, the brother did submit as soon as he +was told this, and threw himself humbly at the feet of his superior. + +Another, who had erred in some way against obedience, was brought to +Francis, that he might correct him; but he appeared so penitent, that +the Saint, who liked the humility of repentance, felt himself inclined +to pardon the fault. Nevertheless, lest the facility of pardon should +be abused, and to show what chastisement disobedience deserves, he +ordered his cowl to be taken from him, and thrown into the fire. Some +minutes after, he desired it to be taken out of the fire, and to be +returned to him, when it was found that the fire had not injured it +in the least; "God having shown by his miracle," St. Bonaventure +observes, "the power He gave to His Servant, and how agreeable to Him +humble repentance is." + +The conduct of the holy Founder was more severe to one of his brethren, +who was obstinately disobedient. He desired the others to put him into +a pit, and to fill it up with earth, in order to bury him alive; when +they had filled it up to his chin he said:--"Brother, are you dead?" +The religious, absorbed in grief, replied: "Yes, Father, and I ought +to die in reality for my sin." Francis, moved by compassion, had him +dug out, saying: "Come forth from thence, if you are truly dead, as +a good religious ought to be, to the world and its concupiscences. +Obey the smallest sign of the will of your superiors, and make no more +resistance to their orders than a dead body could do. I wish for +followers, not living, but those who are dead." + +He once called Brother Juniper to employ him a little while, and this +brother not having immediately obeyed, because he was busy in planting +a juniper tree, he cursed the tree that it should never grow, and it +remained always in a dwarf state. The Fathers of the Desert were +similarly exact in their attention to obedience, insomuch as to leave +a letter unfinished when they had to attend to the orders of a superior. + +The virtues of St. Francis, which we have recorded, and those which +we have yet to narrate, were cultivated by the exercise of prayer. He +had the gift as soon as he was called to the service of God; and he +followed it up so faithfully, that he consecrated to it his heart, his +body, all his actions, and all his time. In-doors, or out of doors, +walking or seated, working or resting, his mind was always raised to +heaven; he seemed to live with the angels. As he was always diffident +of himself, he had recourse to prayer, and consulted the Almighty, +with perfect confidence in His goodness, in all that He had to do. +Although he could pray in any place he might happen to be in, +nevertheless, he found solitary spots best adapted for recollection; +he sought them out, and often retired to them. This shows us why he +made so many houses of his Order, where there had previously been +hermitages only. + +Careful in attending to the interior calls of the Holy Spirit, if he +perceived one coming on, he let his companions go forward, and stopped, +not to receive it in vain, and to enjoy it to its full extent. When +he prayed in community, he avoided all exterior signs, which might +discover the secret dispositions of his mind, because he loved secrecy. +He did not find the precaution difficult, because he was wholly absorbed +in his interior, and united himself so intimately to God, that he was +almost without exterior motion. If it happened that he was surprised +by a visit from heaven in the presence of his brethren, he had always +something ready to propose to them, to take off their attention. When +he returned from prayer, in which he had been marvellously transformed, +he strove to conform himself to his brethren, lest what they might +perceive might draw from them applause, which would deprive him of his +reward by inspiring him with vanity. + +But in the solitudes he was under no restraint, and gave his heart +entire liberty. The woods resounded with his sacred sighs and laments, +the earth was moistened with his tears, and he struck his breast with +violence. Sometimes he addressed himself to God as to his Sovereign +Lord; sometimes he spoke to Him as to his Judge; sometimes he prayed +to Him as to his Father; and at other times, he conversed with Him as +a friend converses with his Friend. He solicited the pardon of sinners +with loud and energetic exclamations; and he expressed his horror at +the Passion of Jesus Christ in loud laments, as if he had been present +at it. All this was seen and heard by some one or other of his +companions, who had the pardonable curiosity to watch his proceedings. +The devils tormented him severely during his prayers, and that in a +very sensible manner, as St. Bonaventure informs us; but, protected +by celestial aid, he continued his prayers with additional fervor, in +proportion to the efforts they made to distract him. + +God favored him with the gift of contemplation in a sublime degree. +His companions bear witness that they have often seen him in a state +of ecstasy, in which he had lost all the use of his senses, and in +which all the powers of his soul were suspended. Once they saw him, +during the night, raised from the ground, and his arms extended in the +shape of a cross, surrounded by a luminous cloud, as if to betoken the +Divine light which filled his mind. St. Bonaventure says that they had +efficient proof that God at such times revealed to him some of the +great secrets of His wisdom; but His faithful Servant only made such +parts of them known as were for the glory of his Master, or the utility +of his neighbor. + +One of his brethren, not finding him one evening in his cell, went to +look for him in the wood. Having penetrated a short distance into it, +he heard him praying, with loud cries, for the salvation of men, and +addressing the Blessed Virgin with moving sighs, humbly imploring her +to show him her Son. He then saw the Blessed Mother of God descend +from Heaven, with great splendor, and place her Son into the arms of +Francis, who received Him as Simeon had received Him in the temple of +Jerusalem, with the profoundest respect; he caressed the Infant most +tenderly, entreating Him for the conversion of sinners, and the +salvation of the world. At this sight the religious fell on the ground, +half dead, and remained on the spot where he fell. Here the Saint found +him, as he was returning to the convent for Matins; he brought him to +himself from this fainting, but strictly forbade him from telling any +one what had occurred; but he, thinking it for the glory of God not +to be obliged to obey in this instance, communicated the marvel to all +the others. + +A novice whom the holy Patriarch had received, and whom he was taking +to the convent of the novitiate, wished to know what he did during the +night. In order to succeed, he tied his cord to that of the Father, +whom he saw asleep in the fields, in which they had been obliged to +remain, and laid himself down near him, in order that he might be +roused as soon as he should stir. A few hours afterwards, Francis +wished to get up, but finding himself fastened by the cord, he untied +the knot, and went to pray under some neighboring trees. The novice, +not finding him when he awoke, went to seek him under the trees. A +celestial light caused him to draw near a spot, where he stopped, and +from whence he saw Jesus Christ, surrounded by angels, His Blessed +Mother, and John the Baptist, who were in conversation with him. His +astonishment made him fall on the ground, where he remained till +Francis, to whom God had imparted the circumstances, came and raised +him up, and restored him to his senses, forbidding him to speak of the +vision. The young man, who continued to live very holily, kept the +secret; but, after Francis's death, he published what he had seen. + +God chose that his Servant should be respected in the secret retirements +to which he went to pray, and that he should not be disturbed at those +times. The Bishop of Assisi knew this by his own experience. One day, +when he had come to the Convent of Portiuncula, as he frequently did, +he wished to go at once into the cell where the Saint was at prayer; +but scarcely had he seen him in that attitude, when he was pushed back +by an invisible hand, his body became stiff, and he was unable to +speak. Much astonished at this accident, he made his way back, as well +as he could, to the other brethren; God restored his voice, and he +made use of it, to acknowledge that he had committed a fault. The +Celestial Spouse, in the Canticles, conjures the daughters of Jerusalem, +"not to awaken her whom he loves, and not to disturb her repose until +she awakes of her own accord." St. Bernard, on this, says that such +as are given to prayer should not be troubled about useless affairs, +and that those who disturb them when they are conversing with God, +become enemies of heaven. + +In consequence of the knowledge which Francis had of the sweets and +fruits of mental prayer, he constantly urged his brethren to practise +it, and they profited so fully by his instructions, that most of them +became spiritual and contemplative men. "A religious," he said, "must +principally desire to acquire the spirit of prayer. I believe that, +without this, peculiar favors cannot be obtained from God, nor any +great progress made in His service. When one is sorrowful and uneasy, +he should have immediate recourse to prayer, and remain before his +Heavenly Father, until such time as the joy of salvation is restored +to him. If one remains in this state of depression and disturbance, +this disposition, which comes from Babylon, will increase, and produce +rust, unless it be purified by tears." + +He taught them to shun the tumult of the world, and to seek for solitary +places in which to pray, because he knew that the Holy Ghost +communicates Himself more intimately to souls in such places; but he +recommended them to be perfectly secret as to the favors they might +receive; his maxim being, that a slender human communication often +causes the loss of that which is of inestimable value, and has the +effect of preventing the Lord from again communicating what He had +previously given; that when one is visited by God, he should say: "It +is Thou, O Lord! who hast sent me this consolation from Heaven,--to +me who am a sinner, wholly unworthy of thy bounty. I commit it back +to Thy keeping; for I feel myself capable of stealing Thy treasure +from Thee;" and when he returns from prayer, he should show as much +humility and self-contempt as if he had received no peculiar favor. + +All the masters of spiritual life have had similar opinions of the +value of mental prayer as this contemplative Saint, and they have +pointed out the necessity of it for advancing in the ways of virtue. +St. Teresa wrote so sublimely on this practice, that the Church prays +to God that "her Heavenly doctrine may be our nourishment." She declares +that she was near being lost, from having given it up, but that our +Lord had done her the signal favor to urge her to resume it; she exhorts +all to apply themselves to it, even should they make but small progress +in it, because it is always useful, and, if persevered in, will be +attended with great benefit. This is what directors might represent +to those who seriously wish to attend to their salvation, and to say +to them, with the same saint, that "mental prayer is nothing else but +holding friendly intercourse with God, often remaining alone in +conversation with Him, who, we know, loves us." + +The practice of mental prayer no way diminished the zeal of St. Francis +for vocal prayer, which every Christian ought to resort to as he did. +Vocal prayer was practised and taught by Jesus Christ; the Church +employs it in her public worship. "We require it," says St. Austin, +"to assist our memory and understanding, and to animate our fervor; +finally, God desires that we should offer to Him "a sacrifice of +praise," and that it shall be "the fruits of our lips and hearts, +giving glory to His name," because our body and soul belong to Him. +Piety had inspired the holy man to compose vocal prayers on various +subjects, which he often repeated, and some of which he recited daily. +He said the Lord's Prayer, with particular devotion, weighing all the +words, and meditating on the sense they contain, as is seen by the +paraphrase of it he composed, and which we think it useful to insert +at length: + +"'Our Father,' most happy and most holy, our Creator, our Redeemer, +and our Consoler. 'Who art in Heaven;' in the angels, in the saints, +in the illuminated, in order that they may know Thee, who inflamest +them by Thy love; for, O Lord! Thou are the Light and the Love who +dwellest in them, and Thou art their Beatitude by satiating them: Thou +art the Sovereign and Eternal Good, from whom all good proceeds, and +without Thee there is no other good. 'Hallowed be Thy name:' in order +thus to make Thyself known to us by vivid lights, so that we may see +the full extent of Thy bounty, the duration of Thy promises, the +sublimity of Thy majesty, and the depth of Thy judgment. 'Thy Kingdom +come:' in order that Thou mayest reign in us by grace, and that Thou +mayest bring us to Thy Kingdom, where Thou art clearly and perfectly +loved, where we become happy in Thy society, and where Thou art +eternally enjoyed. 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven:' in +order that we may love Thee 'with our whole hearts,' thinking always +of Thee 'with our whole soul,' ever longing for Thee, 'with all our +mind,' referring to Thee all our views, seeking Thy glory in all things; +'with all our strength,' employing in Thy service, for Thy love, all +the strength,' of our bodies and souls, without making any other use +of them; that we may love our neighbor as ourselves, using all our +efforts to draw them to Thy love; rejoicing in all the good that happens +to them, as if it was our own; being grieved at any ills which may +befall them, and giving offence to none. 'Give us this day our daily +bread:' it is Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ; we ask Thee for Him, in +order to remind us of the love He has shown us, and of what He has +said, done and endured for us; we ask Thee to make us fully comprehend +these things, and cause us to revere them. 'Forgive us our trespasses,' +by Thy infinite mercy, by the passion of Thy beloved Son, our Lord +Jesus Christ, by the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin +Mary, and of all the elect. 'As we forgive them that trespass against +us:' what may be not altogether remitted on our part, grant us the +favor, O Lord! to remit entirely, in order that, for love of Thee, we +may sincerely love our enemies, and may intercede for them fervently +at Thy throne; that we may not render to any one evil for evil, and +that in Thee we may endeavor to do good to all. 'And lead us not into +temptation,' hidden, manifest, sudden, grievous. 'But deliver us from +evil:', past, present, and to come. Amen: willingly and gratuitously" +These two words show that he ardently desired what he prayed for; and +that it was purely for the glory of God, without any temporal interest. + +He recited the Divine Offices with a devotion full of respect, and +with great fervor. St. Bonaventure says that, although he suffered +greatly from pains in his head, from his stomach, and from his liver, +he never leant while reciting it; that he stood during the whole time, +with his head uncovered, his eyes looking down. In travelling, he +always stopped to say it; however much it might rain, he never omitted +this pious practice, and he gave this reason for it: "If the body +rests, in order to take its food, which will, as well as himself, soon +become the food of worms, with how much tranquillity ought the soul +to take its spiritual nourishment, which is to cause it to live +eternally!" + +The verse, Gloria Patri, etc., made a lively impression on his heart; +once he repeated it in thankfulness to God for His bounty after each +verse of the Magnificat, which Brother Leo was reciting, and he exhorts +all to say it frequently. A lay brother, who was strongly tempted to +apply himself to study, having come to ask his permission, was told: +"My dear Brother, learn the Gloria Patri, and you will know the whole +of the Holy Scriptures."--The brother obeyed, and had no further +temptation on that head. + +The distractions which his lively imagination caused him during the +holy exercises, appeared to him to be great faults, and he never failed +to confess them, and to expiate them by penance, asserting that we +ought to be ashamed of being distracted by trifles when speaking to +the great King. Once during Tierce, the thought of a little vase which +he had made came into his head, and called off his attention; he +immediately went and took it, and threw it into the fire, saying: "I +will sacrifice it to the Lord, whose sacrifice it has hindered." But +he acquired the habit of reciting the Office so attentively, that this +sort of distractions seldom importuned him. + +His application was equally strong and respectful in reciting the +psalms, as if God had been present in a sensible manner; and he found +so much sweetness in the name of God, that he seemed to have the taste +of sweetness on his lips, after having pronounced it. Thus the Prophet +said to the Lord: "How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than +honey to my mouth." Francis had also an interior joy in pronouncing +the holy name of Jesus, which communicated itself to his exterior, and +produced on his senses a similar effect as if he had tasted something +agreeable to his palate, or heard some harmonious sounds. + +He desired that all the holy names should be peculiarly reverenced, +not only when people thought of them, or pronounced them, but whenever +they saw them written. This is the reason why, in his last will, he +recommends his brethren to pick them up should they find them scattered +about in unseemly places, and put them in a better locality, lest they +should be disrespectfully trampled upon. This must be considered not +as a mere nicety of feeling, but as a sentiment inspired by faith, +which teaches us to venerate the word of God. If a great bishop has +thought it proper to compare the abuse of the sacred word, when it is +announced, to the profanation of the Body itself of Jesus Christ, may +we not, in the same spirit, say that he who permits that word to be +trampled upon when it is written, becomes in some measure as guilty +as if he had allowed the Sacred Body of our Saviour to be treated with +similar indignity? + +It was the love of God which gave St. Francis so much zeal for mental +prayer, as well as for that which is vocal. He sought his Beloved, +from whom he was only separated by the wall of his flesh. To be present +to Him in spirit, and to contemplate Him, were his sole consolations, +and his anxiety to gain these was intense. But then the frequent +exercise of prayer increased his love, and inflamed it to that degree, +that St. Bonaventure does not think it possible to find words to express +it. This Divine charity penetrated his whole interior, as fire +penetrates a burning coal. Only by hearing the term of the love of God +pronounced, he was moved and inflamed, and this movement made the +affections of his soul thrill, as the strings of a musical instrument +sound on being touched. + +To incite himself more and more to the love of God, he made use of all +creatures, as of so many mirrors, in which he viewed the Supreme Reason, +the Sovereign Beauty, and the Principle of being and of life. They +were for him as so many steps by which he raised and united himself +to the object of his love, as so many streamlets in which he tasted, +with inconceivable unction, the Infinite Purity of the source from +whence all that is good is derived; so many delightful strains whose +harmony resounded on his ears, and which, as David in his psalms, he +invited to praise and glorify Him who had given them their being. +Wholly inflamed with love, he prayed to be enabled to love still more, +and he addressed the following prayer to God, which is found among his +works: "Grant, O Lord! that the mild vehemence of Thy ardent love may +separate me from everything which is under Heaven, and may consume me +entirely, in order that I may die for the love of Thy love, since it +was for the love of my love that Thou didst deign to die. I solicit +this through Thyself, O Son of God! who livest and reignest with the +Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen." + +And here is another, which he used to say every day: "My God and my +All, who art Thou, O sweet Lord! and who am I, Thy servant, a miserable +worm? I wish to love Thee, most holy Lord, I wish to love Thee. O God! +I have consecrated to Thee my heart and my body. If I had the means +of doing more for Thee, I would do it, and I ardently wish I had the +means." + +This poor Evangelical could not give more to God than his body and +soul. He continually offered the sacrifice of his body, by the rigor +of his fasts, and that of his soul, by the vehemence of his desires; +"by which," says St. Bonaventure, "he conformed in a spiritual manner +to the practice of the Old Law, which was to offer holocausts out of +the tabernacle, and to burn incense within it." + +The sacrifice of his desires went to a great extent. For the love of +God he had renounced all the things of this earth; he had stripped +himself of everything; he had embraced the severest poverty, and +practised the most austere penitential life; he had devoted himself +to the ministry of preaching, and to the establishment of his Order; +his life was but a course of labors and fatigue, but he reckoned all +that as nothing; he wished to do much more, to mortify himself more +rigorously, to forward thereby the glory of God, because, according +to the words of our Saviour, this is the greatest mark of love which +a friend can give to his friend. This was the motive of the ardent +desire he had to endure martyrdom, and of the three voyages he undertook +in search of it; seeing that he could not succeed, he lowered his views +to wishing for and soliciting grace to know what he could do, to testify +his love for God. The Lord granted his desire, favoring him with the +impression of His five wounds, which rendered him a living and, at the +same time, an expiring martyr; but it inflamed his heart to such a +degree, that then he wished to die for love, and to be absorbed in the +love of Him whom he loved. + +Inflamed with divine love, he endeavored to spread the fire on all +sides. He often made it the subject of his discourses, and it was +usually the motive he employed to animate his brethren to the practice +of virtue. When he proposed anything that was difficult to them, such +as to go about soliciting alms, "Go," he would say, "and ask it for +the love of God." He found a noble prodigality in asking it for that +motive, and he thought those demented who preferred money to the love +of God, the price of which is incalculable, and sufficient to purchase +the Kingdom of Heaven, and which the love of Him who has so loved us +must make infinitely dear to us. They were surprised one day to find +that he could bear the severity of winter in so miserable a habit as +that which he wore, and, full of fervor, he gave this reason, which +contains a very useful lesson; "If we were inwardly inflamed with a +longing for our celestial country, we should easily bear exterior +cold." It was his wish that a Friar Minor should love God with an +effective, liberal, and generous love, which should enable him to +suffer calmly and joyfully pain and opprobrium for the object of his +love. This is what he said one day to Brother Leo, on the subject, in +a conversation which Leo himself has recorded at full length: "If a +Friar Minor had a clear and distinct knowledge of the course of the +stars, and of all other things in the universe; if he possessed all +the sciences, all the languages, and a perfect knowledge of the Holy +Scriptures; and if he spoke with the tongues of angels, cast out devils, +performed all sorts of miracles, even that of raising one from the +dead who had been four days in the tomb; if he had the gift of prophecy, +and that of discerning the affections of the heart; if he preached to +the infidels with such success as to convert them all, and if he should +edify the world by his sanctity, all that would not be to him the +subject of perfect and true joy." + +Afterwards, to show in what this true joy consisted, he proposed a +supposition, similar to one he had made on another subject, and very +like to the hypothesis of St. Paul: "Who shall separate us from the +love of Jesus Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or famine, or +nakedness, or persecution, or the sword?" From which he concluded, +that all that there is in Heaven or on earth could not separate him +from the love of God, which is grounded on Jesus Christ, our Lord. + +"Suppose," said St. Francis, "that we were to arrive at the Convent +of St. Mary of the Angels very wet, covered with mud, perishing with +cold, dying of hunger, and that the porter, instead of letting us in, +were to leave us at the gate in this pitiable state, saying angrily, +'You are a couple of idle vagabonds, who stroll about the world, and +receive the alms which the real poor ought to get.' If we bear this +treatment with patience, without being discomposed, and without +murmuring; if even we think humbly and charitably that the porter knows +us well for what we are, and that it is by God's leave that he behaves +thus to us, mark this down as perfect joy." + +"Suppose, moreover, that we continue to knock at the door, and that +the porter, considering us importunate, should come out and give us +some severe boxes on the ears, and say, 'Get along, scoundrels, go to +the hospital, there is nothing for you to eat here.' If we bear all +these things patiently, and we pardon him from our hearts, and with +charity, note, this would be a subject for perfect joy." + +"Let us, in fine, suppose, that in this extremity the cold, hunger, +and the night, compel us to entreat, with tears and cries to be allowed +to enter the convent, and that the porter, in great irritation, darts +out with a stick full of knobs, takes us by the cowl, throws us down +in the snow, and beats us till we are quite covered with bruises:--if +we bear all this ill usage with joy, with the thought that we ought +to participate in the sufferings of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, +note this, and note it carefully, that this is, for a Friar Minor, the +subject of a true and perfect joy." + +"Now hear the conclusion of all this. Amongst all the gifts of the +Holy Ghost, which Jesus Christ has granted and will grant to His +servants, the most considerable is, that of conquering one's self, and +of suffering pain and opprobrium for the love of God, in order to +respond to the love He has for us. In all the miraculous gifts which +I have noticed, there is not one from which we may derive so much +glory; we have no share in it, it is all from God; we only receive +what He gives us, and, as St. Paul says, 'If thou hast received, why +dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?' But we have our +share in the tribulations which we suffer for the love of God, and we +may make it a subject of glory, as the same Apostle has said: 'God +forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.'" + +St. Francis was far from thinking that we may glory in our sufferings, +as of a favor which we have not received, since he acknowledges that +it is the greatest gift of the Holy Ghost, conformably to what St. +Paul said to the Philippians: "To you is given not only to believe in +Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for His sake;" and to what is written +of the Apostles: "And they, indeed, went from the presence of the +council, rejoicing that they were accounted to suffer reproach for the +name of Jesus." He only proposed to say that our sole cause of glory +is, that God permits us to be associated to the Cross of Jesus Christ, +in which alone we are glorified. Thus it is to God that he refers all +the glory of our sufferings, which indeed is His, since, without the +aid of His grace, we should not suffer as we ought, and without the +Cross of Jesus Christ we should have no merit. But he correctly says, +and he speaks the true orthodox faith, when he adds, that we have a +share in the merit of what we suffer, and when he draws the distinction +between that and miraculous gifts. St. Chrysostom has spoken in the +same manner, and says that our virtues are in so far the gifts of God, +that they are also merits of our will, for which God has been pleased +to render Himself indebted to us, by the promise He has made to reward +them. + +The mystery of the Incarnate Word, "that great mystery of piety, which +has been manifested in the flesh," produced in the heart of St. Francis +sentiments so pious and so tender, that they were observable exteriorly, +by actions of extraordinary fervor, as we saw in the grand solemnity +which he celebrated at Grecio on Christmas night. "Consider," he says, +in his letters, "that the most high Father has sent from Heaven His +archangel, St. Gabriel, to announce that His most worthy, holy, and +glorious Word should descend into the womb of the most Blessed Virgin +Mary. And, in truth, He did so descend, and took from her true human +flesh, passible and mortal, such as ours is: 'Being rich, He became +of His own accord poor.' He chose, by preference, poverty in this world +for Himself and for His Blessed Mother. He gave Himself thus to us, +in conformity to the will of His Father, to wipe away our sins on the +cross, by the sacrifice of His Blood, and to leave an example for us +to follow in His traces, for it is His wish that we should all be saved +through Him; but there are few who desire the salvation He proffers +them, although His yoke is sweet, and His burden light." + +When he spoke of the incarnation and birth of the Son of God, it was +with affectionate devotion; he could not hear the words, "the Word +made flesh," without manifesting great joy. The religious of a monastery +where he was one day, remarked this emotion, and took occasion to ask +him if it was right to eat meat on Christmas-day, when it fell on a +Friday, or if it was not better to abstain from it. "Not only do I +think," he replied, "that men may eat meat on this day, on which the +Word was made flesh, but I wish that princes and rich persons would +throw meat and corn in the highways, in order that the birds and beasts +of the field should rejoice, in their way, in the joys of so great a +festival; I wish, even, that some was placed on the walls, if they +could derive sweetness from it." + +We see plainly that these are hyperbolical expressions, flowing from +his heart, by the emotions of his spiritual joy, by which he was +actuated; but, in saying that men might eat meat on Christmas-day, +although it fall on a Friday, he speaks in conformity with the usage +of the Church, which, however, is a permission, and not a law. Pope +Honorius III. pointed it out clearly to the Bishop of Prague, in +Bohemia, in the following rescript of the year 1222: "We answer that, +when the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Lord falls on a Friday, +those who are not under the obligation of abstinence by a vow, or by +a regular observance, may eat meat on that day, because of the +excellence of the festival, according to the custom of the universal +Church. Those, however, who abstain on that day, from devotion, are +not to be censured." + +St. Francis was, moreover, much affected by the goodness of our Saviour, +who, after His baptism, went into the desert, and there fasted forty +days and forty nights, without eating anything during that time, for +the expiation of our sensuality, and to set us an example of fasting. +He honored this holy retreat by a fast of forty days, which he commenced +on the seventh day of January, and which he passed in some solitary +place, confined to his cell, keeping strict abstinence in fasting and +drinking, and employing himself solely in praising God and in prayer. +It was also during this Lent that he received the most signal favors +from Jesus Christ. + +His soul was penetrated with ardor for the mystery of the Sacred Body +and Blood of our Lord. The work of so tender a love, and of such +condescending goodness, threw him into an excess of admiration, and +put him quite beside himself. He communicated frequently, and with so +much devotion, that it inspired others with similar feelings; they saw +him almost always, after having communicated, as if in a spiritual +intoxication, and raised into ecstasy by the sweetness he tasted in +partaking of the Body and Blood of the Lamb without spot. At Mass, +when at the Elevation, he said this prayer: "Celestial Father, my Lord +and my God, cast Thine eyes on the glorious countenance of Thy Christ, +and have pity on me and on other sinners, for whom Thy beloved Son, +our Lord, has condescended to die, and who has chosen to remain with +us in the Sacrament of the Altar, for our salvation and consolation: +who with Thee, eternal Father, and the Holy Ghost, sole God, liveth +and reigneth to everlasting ages. Amen." + +The profound veneration which is due to the august mystery of the +Eucharist, the solicitude which we ought to have to hear Mass, to +approach to the sacred altar, and to prepare ourselves, in order +worthily to communicate, were points on which he used to dilate in his +conversations, in his instructions, and in his letters. + +The life of the holy man has furnished many examples of the ardent and +respectful zeal which animated him in all that regarded churches or +altars, or all the things which were used for the Sacrifice of the +Mass, and for the divine service. As he could not bear anything dirty +or slovenly, in the country churches, he took the trouble of cleaning +everything himself; and lest they should want altar breads for Masses, +he made them himself in iron forms, which were made in a very +workmanlike manner; he took them into the poor parishes: some of these +moulds are carefully preserved in the convent of Grecio. + +The great love which he had for Jesus Christ, and for the sacrament +which contains His Body, His Blood, His Soul, and His Divinity, inspired +him with a zeal and a tenderness of devotion to His Blessed Mother, +which cannot be expressed, as St. Bonaventure remarks. He placed himself +and his Order under the protection of this Blessed Mother of God, whom +he chose for his advocate; and in her, after Jesus Christ, his chief +confidence rested: "for," said he, "it is she who made this God of +Majesty our brother; through her we have obtained mercy." He used, as +we have noticed, to keep a Lent of six weeks, in honor of her glorious +Assumption; and he observed it with great sentiments of piety. These +are the prayers and eulogiums he was in the habit of addressing to +her:-- + +"Hail, Mary! Mother of God, ever a Virgin, most holy Lady and Queen, +in whom is all the plenitude of grace and every sort of good. Amongst +women there are none born like unto thee; thou art the daughter and +the handmaid of our celestial Father, the great King; and he has chosen +thee for the Mother of His beloved Son. Thou art the Spouse of the +Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Hail to thee, who art the palace, the temple, +and the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ! I honor all the virtues with +which thou art filled. Thou who art as mild as thou art beautiful, +implore thy very dear Son, conjure Him by His great clemency, by the +virtue of His most sacred incarnation and that of His most painful +death, to pardon our faults. Amen." + +The indissoluble ties of spiritual love, says the holy doctor whom we +have quoted, united Francis to the hierarchy of the angels, caused in +him marvellous fire which absorbs man in God, and influences the elect +with noble aims. The ardent zeal he had for the salvation of souls, +attached him intimately to the Archangel St. Michael, because his +employment is to present man to the throne of the Divine Majesty. It +was to honor these blessed spirits, that he kept every year a Lent of +forty days, before the Feast of St. Michael, adding to it a continual +exercise of prayer. He had prescribed to himself another Lent, to +prepare for the Festival of All Saints, who seemed to him to be, +according to the expression of Ezekiel, precious stones, glittering +as fire, the memory alone of which excited him to a more fervent love +of God. The great love which all the Apostles had for Jesus Christ, +led him to revere them with peculiar devotion, particularly Saints +Peter and Paul, in honor of whom he fasted from Whit-Sunday to their +feast. + +It is useful to remark here that this great Saint, who was raised to +a sublime degree of prayer, did not neglect, nevertheless, the usual +practices of piety with the rest of the faithful. This may serve as +a preservative against an illusion which might lead to the belief that +they are useless to the spiritual, and that those who are mystical, +may dispense with them, to devote themselves to contemplation. His +heart was so full and so penetrated with that true and sincere piety, +of which charity is the soul, that it seemed to have entire possession +of him. It united him incessantly to God, to the friends of God, and +to everything which was holy; but, as the Apostle says, "prayer is +profitable to all things"; it gave him a fund of all that was good, +a spirit of meekness, of condescension, and of zeal, to communicate +with his neighbor. + +All men were dear to him, because he saw in them the same nature, the +same grace, the image of the Creator, and the Blood of the Redeemer. +If he had not taken care of the salvation of souls, which Jesus Christ +had redeemed, he would not have considered himself among the number +of His friends. "Nothing," he said, "is preferable to the salvation +of souls;" and he gave several reasons for this, and principally this +one: that, for them, the Only Son of God had condescended to be nailed +to the cross. It was also for them that he labored and lived; for them, +in some measure, he called in question the justice of God in prayer, +and powerfully solicited His mercy; for them he frequently forewent +the sweets of a contemplative life; he undertook journeys, he preached +everywhere, he exposed Himself to martyrdom, and their edification was +one of his motives in the practice of virtue. Although his innocent +flesh, already perfectly under the control of the spirit, did not +require to be chastised for any faults, he, nevertheless, mortified +it in various ways for the edification of his neighbor. When he was +censured for his too great austerities, he replied:--"I am sent to +give this example; if I had not the charity to give it, I should be +of little use to others, and of none to myself, although I spoke all +the languages known to men and angels." + +Seeing that a multitude of persons, stimulated by his example, fervently +embraced the Cross of Christ, he became animated with fresh courage +to put himself at the head of these pious troops, as a valiant captain, +in order to gain with them a victory over the devil, by the practice +of perfect and invincible virtue. + +The sanctity of his life gave him great freedom in his manner of +preaching. He spoke fearlessly, without any apprehension of what critics +might say, because he had acted before teaching, and he felt and had +experienced all he said. The zealous preacher knew not how to flatter. +Far from sparing sinners by complacence, he reproached their vices in +forcible language, and attacked their disorderly conduct with great +vehemence. The presence of the great of the world did not intimidate +him; he spoke to them as plainly and forcibly as he had done to the +common people; and, as all souls were equally dear to him, he preached +as willingly, and with as much zest, to a few people, as to a crowded +auditory. + +The tender love which St. Francis bore for souls redeemed by the Blood +of Jesus Christ, rendered him very sensible to their misfortunes. When +he knew of any one stained by the filth of sin, he lamented over it +with deep grief. His charity, fertile in expedients, inspired him +sometimes to give to wicked persons temporal assistance, with a view +of getting them to return to the ways of salvation. One day, when he +was at the Convent of Mount Casal, Brother Angelo, who was the guardian +of it, told him that there were in the neighborhood three notorious +robbers, who injured considerably the farmers of the vicinity, and +daily came and extorted from them the bread which was destined for the +convent, without their being able to prevent it. "Brother," he replied, +"if you will do what I will point out to you, my confidence in God +tells me that you will reform these men, and gain their souls. Go and +seek them out: although they are robbers, they are still our brothers. +Take them the best bread you have, and some wine, spread a cloth on +the ground, and invite them to eat with you; while they are eating, +speak to them of holy things, in an insinuating manner, both yourself +and your companion; humbly entreat them to injure no one any more. If +they promise you this, return to them the next day, and take them +something to eat, with bread and wine as before, and tell them that +you bring that, as to brethren and friends, who have granted you what +you asked of them. If you do this a third time, do not doubt but God +will enlighten them, and touch their hearts, and bring them into the +right way." + +Brother Angelo followed this advice, and gained over the robbers so +completely, that they gave up their lives of plunderers, and began to +render service to the convent, supplying them with fire-wood, which +they carried to them on their shoulders. Their conversion was complete: +one of them entered the Order, and the other two went elsewhere to +embrace a penitential life. The guardian used similar means for +converting three other robbers, who retired into the recesses of the +mountain, after having induced the Saint to pray for them. All three +afterwards entered the Order of Friars Minor and lived holy lives. + +The affection which our Saint had always shown for the poor from his +infancy, during the first years of his youth, and at the beginning of +his conversion, became stronger and stronger, and was manifested on +all occasions. St. Bonaventure says that he spared nothing to come to +their assistance. Cloaks, tunics, books, the ornaments of the Church, +all that he had he gave to them. Many times he has been seen taking +the burdens from the poor he met on the road, and bear them on his own +weak shoulders. When he returned from begging, he shared what he had +received with any that solicited alms at his hands; and as long as +anything remained, he never refused any one. + +At Sienna, a small cloak had been given to him, which was very necessary +for his infirmities; but, in leaving the town, he met a poor person, +whose wretched state excited his pity, and he said to his companion: +"Let us restore this cloak to him, for it belongs to him; we have only +borrowed it, until such time as we should see some one poorer than +ourselves." The companion, knowing that Francis really required it, +endeavored to prevent his parting with it, but the father made him +this answer: "If I did not give this cloak to a poor man, who had more +need of it than I have, I should think I had committed a theft, which +I should be convicted of by our Sovereign Lord, who is the universal +almoner." It was for this reason that, when anything was given him, +he asked leave to give it away, if he should meet with any one poorer +than himself. + +On the same principle, notwithstanding his infirmities, when he was +at the convent at Celles, he gave another cloak, which he had received +in charity, to a poor woman. One of the brothers having taken it back, +promising to give the woman something else instead, the Saint said +immediately:--"My brother, kneel down and acknowledge your fault; give +the cloak back to the woman: she is poorer than I am." His companions +got him another, and he gave it again to a man of Cortona, who came +to solicit alms for the love of God, at the same convent at Celles. +He told Francis that his wife was dead, that he had several little +children, and that he had no food for them: "I give you this cloak," +said the Saint, "on this condition, that, if you are asked to give it +back, you do no such thing, unless you receive its full value." The +brethren, indeed, did all they could to induce him to give it back: +they told him there was no one poorer than the person who had given +it to him, or who wanted it more on account of his bad health and the +rigor of the season. But the man, referring to what his benefactor had +said, answered that the cloak was his, and that he would not part with +it, unless he received its full value. In order, therefore, to have +it returned, they were under the necessity of taking him to a friend +who gave him in money what the cloak was considered to be worth. + +A very old woman, the mother of two of the Friars Minor, having come +to the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels to ask for charity, Francis +told the guardian to give her something; and he having said that there +was not anything then in the convent which could be given, unless it +was a book of the Gospel which the brethren read out of, when they +were in the choir the Father said:--"Give it that the poor woman may +sell it to provide for her necessities. I believe that this will be +more agreeable to God, than reading out of it. What is it that a mother +has not a right to require from us, who has given two of her sons to +the religious?" + +Another time, a poor man came to ask for an old habit. Francis desired +them to look about well for one that was not used. As such an one was +not to be found, he stole aside and began to unpick some breadths of +his own, in order to give them to the man; the guardian, being informed +of this, came down hastily and forbade his taking them out: "I will +obey you, because you are my superior, but give this poor man something +to cover himself with; otherwise I shall have a scruple, and shall be +grieved to be obliged to wear an entire habit which is lined, to keep +me warm, while this poor man is shivering with cold at the gate." He +went to the poor man to console him, and did not leave him until the +guardian had given him something wherewith to clothe himself; and this +alms was no less comforting to his charitable feelings, than the +clothing was to the misery of the poor man. By a similar impulse of +charity, and in order to prevent curses against God, he gave his cloak +to a servant who complained of the great injury his master had done +him, cursing him and blaspheming Providence for allowing the poor to +be so ill used. He gave him his cloak on the condition that he would +leave off cursing and blaspheming. + +The physician who saw the saint in his illness, near Rieti, having one +day mentioned the extreme poverty of an old woman who was begging, he +sent for the guardian and said: "Here is a cloak which I have worn +until such time as some one should be found who has a greater right +to it than I have; I beg you to send it, with some of the bread which +has been received on the quest, by one of the brethren, to our sister, +who is very poor, and let him say that we only give her what belongs +to her. I conceive that what is given to us can only be ours until +such time as some one shall come forward, who is more in want of it +than we are." Not to vex the holy man, the commission was faithfully +executed. + +The blessed Patriarch wished that such of his children who had not +studied, and had no talent for preaching, should be employed in serving +their brethren, and should frequent the hospitals, there to render the +meanest offices to the lepers, with humility and charity. + +Brother James the Simple, who came from Perugia, was greatly +distinguished by his zeal in this charitable exercise, insomuch that +they gave him the name of the steward and physician of the lepers. +Francis recommended one to him, whose body was a mass of sores, from +his head to his feet. James took such care of him, that, by degrees, +he regained his strength; and, thinking fresh air would contribute to +his restoration, he took him with him, although still full of ulcers, +to the Convent of Saint Mary of the Angels. This appeared to the Saint, +who met him, to have been very indiscreet, and he said to Brother +James: "You should not lead about, in this manner, the Christian +Brothers; it is neither proper in you, nor good for them. I wish you +to serve them in their hospital, but I do not wish you to take them +out of it, for there are many persons who cannot bear the sight of +them." The leper was distressed at hearing his benefactor thus +reprimanded, and he blushed for shame. Francis, perceiving him to have +been mortified, threw himself immediately at his feet, and begged his +pardon, and, in order to console him, he ate at the door of the convent, +out of the same plate with the leper, after which he embraced and +kissed him, and dismissed him satisfied. + +There was in the hospital a leper who was so impatient and so violent, +that he abused and struck the Friars Minor who served him, and even +went so far as to blaspheme God. They reported this to their Father, +who offered himself to the sick man, to wait upon him: "What can you +do for me more than your companions have done?" replied the invalid. +"Ever since I have had this insupportable disorder, God has forgotten +me. I am in despair, I can live no longer; no one can mitigate my +sufferings; neither you nor any one else." Francis, seeing that he was +agitated by the evil spirit, left him for a while, prayed for him, and +returned to exhort him by the most urgent motives, to be patient. As +he saw that the man became calmer, he asked him what might seem most +agreeable to him; what he should do for him. He said that he should +now wash his whole body, that he could no longer endure the stench of +the infection. The saint quickly got some water warmed, into which he +put aromatic herbs, and began to wash him himself, while his companion +poured out the water. As he washed, his cure advanced, and, at the +same time, the grace of God made such impression on the mind of the +patient, that, as the water flowed from his body, the tears flowed +from his eyes. The washing having terminated, the leper being perfectly +cleansed and converted, publicly confessed his sins, asked for mercy, +and went through a rigorous course of penance. He died a few months +afterwards, and appeared to the Saint, thanking him that, by his means, +after a light punishment in purgatory, he was about to enjoy eternal +glory. + +God performed a different miracle on another occasion, to justify the +charity of His Servant to the poor. At Alexandria de la Paille, a town +of the Milanese, where he was received as a Saint, he was invited to +dinner by a wealthy and pious man. While he was at table, a man of bad +character, who was, however, jealous of Francis's reputation, watched +all his actions, in order to decry and criticise them: this man +counterfeited a beggar at the door, and solicited an alms for the love +of God. As soon as Francis heard the appeal for the love of God, he +sent him the wing of a fowl, to which he had been just helped. The +sham beggar, to whom it was taken, kept it. The next day he produced +it, in a large concourse of people, where the Saint was preaching, +and, interrupting the discourse, he said in a loud voice: "This is the +food on which the preacher feeds: should such a man be honored as a +saint?" His malice received a signal check; the wing of the fowl which +he exhibited, appeared to the bystanders to be fish, and he was thought +to have lost his wits. He himself perceiving that what he held up was +nothing but fish, was ashamed of what he had said, was touched with +remorse, and published himself what had happened. After which, one +miracle succeeded another; it was found that what had appeared to be +fish, was in reality flesh. Thus did the Lord vindicate the virtue of +His Servant, punish envy, and convert the envious. The malignity of +envy often finds its punishment in the artifices it employs to injure +persons of virtue, but it is very unusual for the envious to be so +converted. + +St. Bonaventure says that St. Francis felt a most tender compassion +for all who suffered from temporal ills; that, indeed, he had naturally +a feeling heart, but that the goodness of the heart of Jesus Christ, +communicating itself to his, rendered it still more compassionate. He +was the more sensible of the afflictions of others, as in all the poor, +and in all those who suffered, he represented to himself his Divine +Master, poor and suffering; in which, continues the holy doctor, he +who was himself poor, showed that he was so as a perfect Christian. + +When he had it not in his power to alleviate the sufferings of those +in indigence or sickness, he endeavored, at least by soothing words, +to assuage their feelings. One day, when he was about to preach, he +was entreated by a poor and infirm man to recommend him to the auditors. +His compassion was excited, and, with tears in his eyes, he said to +his companion that he felt the man's ills as if they were his own. His +companion answered the man rather drily, who was importunate in asking +for alms, and in order to moderate the feelings of the Saint, he said: +"If we judged by exteriors, this man is apparently in great misery; +but, if we could penetrate his interior, we should, perhaps, find that +in the whole province there is not an individual richer in wishes, or +more eaten up with pride: such characters are frequently found among +beggars." Francis censured him severely for having repulsed the poor +man, and for judging him with so much asperity, and pointed out to him +that in this he offended God. The religious acknowledged his error, +and asked pardon on his knees. "I shall not pardon you," said Francis, +"unless you take off your habit, prostrate yourself before the poor +man, acknowledge your fault, entreat him to pardon you, and to pray +for you." The humble penitent did immediately all that he had been +desired to do, after which Francis embraced him, and said, with great +mildness: "My son, it is not so much against the poor man that you +have sinned, as against Jesus Christ, for He is in all the poor: they +are so many mirrors, in which He represents to us His own poverty, and +that of His Blessed Mother. Therefore, as often as you see the poor +and the sick, respect them, and humble yourself in their presence; +consider, with sentiments of piety, that the Son of God made Himself +poor for our sakes, and condescended to take upon Himself our +infirmities." + +If we cherish these Christianlike views, we should not judge so harshly +of the poor, of whom it is no less faulty to judge, than of the rich; +and in their poverty we should find as powerful motives for loving +Jesus Christ, as for affording the succor they require. + +The heart of St. Francis was naturally so kind and so tender, that he +felt an affection for creatures, but it was from a profound sentiment +of piety that he called them his brothers and his sisters. Going back +to the origin of things, St. Bonaventure says that he considered all +that had being as having emanated from the bosom of the Divinity, and +he acknowledged that they had the same principle as himself. In fact, +the creation established amongst them a sort of fraternity: God being +the parent of all nature, it is not to be denied that, in this sense, +everything which composes it is brotherly. And who can censure a man +who is wholly religious, for expressing himself in a manner which is +grounded on the first principles of religion? This trait shows both +the elevation of his mind, and the piety of his heart; heretics alone +can blame it. + +Among animals, those he preferred were such as reminded him of the +mildness of Jesus Christ, or were the symbol of some particular virtue, +or which gave rise to some edifying reflections; and God has sometimes +shown by miracles, how much the motive of these feelings was pleasing +to Him. Lambs were peculiarly agreeable to the holy man, in memory of +the meek Lamb who permitted Himself to be led to the slaughter, for +the redemption of sinners; he frequently had them purchased, to prevent +their being killed. + +While he was staying at the Monastery of St. Vereconda, which is in +the Diocese of Gubbio, he found that on the previous night a sow had +killed with its teeth a lamb, which had just been born. The Lamb without +spot, whom sinners put to death, flashed immediately upon his +recollection, and the pity this excited in him, caused him to lament +sorely the death of the little animal, which was a symbol of meekness; +to curse the cruel beast which had killed it, and to wish that neither +man nor beast might eat of its flesh. The sow was at that moment struck +with a disease, of which it died in three days. It was thrown into a +ravine, not far distant from the monastery, and no animal ventured to +touch it: it became dry and hard as a piece of wood. St. Bonaventure +remarks, on this occasion, that if God was pleased to punish with death +the cruelty of a beast, how infinitely more severe must not the +punishment of cruel and pitiless men be in the other world. + +A lad went to Sienna to sell some turtle-doves, which he had taken +alive. Francis met him on his way, and said: "These are innocent birds, +which are compared in Scripture to chaste and faithful souls I beg you +earnestly not to put them into the hands of persons who would kill +them, but to confide them to me." They were given to him, and he put +them immediately into his bosom; he spoke to them as if they were +capable of reasoning, not only by that natural impulse which induces +us constantly to speak to animals, when we caress them, but also by +an impression of the spirit of God. He told them of a great miracle, +promising to prepare a nest for them, where they might increase and +multiply, according to the intention of their Creator. Having taken +them to his Convent of Ravacciano, near the walls of Sienna, he forced +his stick into the ground before the gate, and the stick became, by +the following day, a large evergreen oak. He let the turtle-doves fly +into it, desiring them to make their nests there, which they did for +many succeeding years; and they were so familiar with the religious, +that they came to feed from their hands. Wading says that the tree was +still there at his time and that many saw it. + +Nor did the young man go unrewarded. Francis told him that he would +become a religious of his Order, and that he would acquire eternal +glory: he did, in fact, enter the Order, and lived so holily as to +earn Heaven. The miracle was the cause of his vocation, and at the +same time sanctioned the affection the Saint showed these birds: he +only loved God through the affection he showed to His creatures. So +also, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, according to the testimony of St. +Gregory of Nyssa, having planted his stick in a spot where a river was +breaking down the dyke and doing damage through the country, the Lord +changed it suddenly into a large tree, which checked the flood entirely, +and served to honor the faith of his Servant, and incite the infidels +to believe in Jesus Christ. + +The Divine love which inflamed the heart of St. Francis, made everything +appear amiable to him which could tend to the love and service of God. +For this reason he was fond of birds, whose carol seemed to invite +mankind to publish the glory of their Creator, for, according to the +words of Jesus Christ, "neither do they sow nor reap, nor gather into +barns: yet their Heavenly Father feeds them." It was gratifying to him +to remark the gray and ash color of larks, the color he had chosen for +his Order, so that the minors might often think on death. He also loved +to admire the disposition of the plumage of such as were crested, which +seemed to him to have some relation to the simplicity of his habit. +On the lark rising into the air, and singing as soon as it has taken +some grains of corn for its nourishment, he remarked with sensible +pleasure that this example ought to teach us to give thanks to our +common Father, who gives us wherewithal for our sustenance, only to eat +for His glory, to despise the earth, and to raise ourselves up to +Heaven, where our conversation ought to be. He was more fond of these +small birds than of any others, because they induced holy thoughts, +and he took as much care of them as he could. + +As he had noble and spiritual motives for his simplest and most common +actions, God made use of this for the instruction of men by the example +of a bird. Near the Convent of Mount Ranier, or Mount Colombo, there +was a nest of crested larks, the mother of which came every day to +feed out of the hand of the Servant of God and took sufficient for +herself and her brood: when they began to be strong, she brought the +little ones to him. He perceived that the strongest of the brood pecked +the others, and prevented them from taking up the grain. This displeased +him, and addressing himself to the little bird as if it could understand +him, "Cruel and insatiable little animal," he said, "you will die +miserably, and the greediest animals will not be willing to eat your +flesh," In fact, some days afterwards, it was drowned in a basin, which +was placed for them to drink out of. It was given to the cats and dogs, +to see if they would eat it; but neither would touch it. It may be +thought that so trifling an anecdote was not worth recording, but there +is nothing trifling in the moral it contains. It is a natural +representation of those greedy and insatiable men who devour the +substance of their brethren, and envy them all that they cannot despoil +them of; enemies of mankind, unworthy of the name of men, thieves, +ruffians, ravaging wolves, as they are designated in Scripture, whose +voracity, say the Holy Fathers, surpasses that of wild beasts; whose +life is a public calamity; hated and detested by all, during their +lives, they die as they have lived, and their memory is held in +execration. + +The tender-heartedness which Francis evinced for animals has been +ridiculed by heretics. Nevertheless, the Holy Ghost tells us, by the +mouth of Wisdom, that "the just man regardeth the lives of his beasts." +The Patriarch Jacob excused himself from following his brother Esau, +because his ewes and cows were heavy, and he was fearful he should +kill them if he hurried them. When St. Paul said, "Doth God take care +of oxen?" he only wished to insinuate that God is far more interested +in what regards men. + +In this view St. Chrysostom, commenting on the words of Wisdom, which +we have just quoted, says that the saints are tender-hearted; that +they love all men, strangers as well as their own countrymen and their +own families, and that their good feelings are extended to senseless +animals. + +Sulpicius Severus relates of St. Martin, that, seeing some hounds +pursuing a hare, which they were on the point of catching, he ordered +them to stop; he had no sooner spoken, than the hounds became immovable +on the spot where they were, and they did not stir till the hare was +placed in safety. + +An author of the life of St. Bernard, who had been his secretary, says +that not only men, but irrational animals, even birds, and other beasts, +felt the effects of his tenderness. He adds that the Saint, in one of +his journeys, coming close to a hare, which the dogs were about to +catch, and where a bird was nearly seized in the talons of a hawk, +delivered them both miraculously by the sign of the cross, and then +told the sportsmen that all their efforts would be useless for taking +this prey. + +If it had been thought proper not to omit in his life, and in that of +St. Martin also, these anecdotes of the goodness of their hearts, which +were enhanced by supernatural evidence, and of which God approved by +His wisdom and His power, what right can critics have to censure +precisely similar circumstances in the life of St. Francis? + +The glorious Patriarch, who praised God in the minutest things, procured +his glory in the greatest. His principal care was to lead his brethren +to perfection; to render them worthy imitators of Jesus crucified, +capable of exciting His love in all hearts. It would be difficult to +point out the founder of an order who had spoken more, taught more, +or exhorted more, than St. Francis; and it may have been noticed that +he instructed his disciples in the most solid and eminent virtues. He +recommended them to put the Gospel in practice, as they had promised +to do in making profession of the rule; to adore profoundly and with +great devotion the Body of Jesus Christ; to hear Mass most devoutly; +to celebrate the Divine Office with attention; carefully to keep all +the ordinances of the Church; to have the greatest veneration for all +priests, humbly to bow in their presence, and to kiss their hands. He +even said that, if it could be done, they ought to kiss the feet of +the horses on which they rode, to honor the power which they have of +consecrating and administering the Divine mysteries. + +When abroad, it was his desire that his religious should appear with +so much modesty, reserve, and circumspection, that every one might be +edified thereby, and glorify God therein. "Do not despise the men of +the world," he said, "and judge not ill of them. You are not to judge +other persons' servants, who are not yours; whether they stand or fall, +it is not your affair, but that of their masters. Have peace in your +own mind, make it known to others, inspire it to all; labor for the +conversion of sinners, for that is your vocation." + +Attentive to the regulation of the interior, he incessantly exhorted +them to correct the smallest defects; to exercise themselves in the +practice of holy prayer, to meditate on the Passion of our Blessed +Saviour, and to use all their efforts to preserve union and fraternal +love. "Happy," said he, "is the man who loves his brother when absent, +as well as when they are together, and who would not say in his absence +what charity would prevent his saying in his presence." + +In the view of rendering his brethren more perfect, he frequently +counteracted the bent of their devotion. Brother Masse was a very +spiritual man, who was much attached to prayer. Francis, in order to +try him, said to him one day, in presence of the others: "Brother, +these have received from God a greater gift of contemplation than you +have. For which reason, in order to give them more time to give +themselves very freely to it, it seems proper that you, who seem more +calculated for exterior duties, should have the care of the door and +of the kitchen, and, if there is any time over, you will employ it in +questing. Take great care that the strangers who may call, do not +interrupt your brethren in their meditations. As soon as they may knock +at the door, be there ready to receive them, satisfy them with fair +words, and do everything which the others would have done, so that it +shall not be necessary for any of them to make their appearance. Go +in peace, and fail not in doing all these things, in order to have the +merit of obedience." + +Masse, bowing his head, submitted to the order of his superior, without +hesitation or murmur, and, during several days, he acquitted himself +faithfully of what had been directed. His companions, who knew his +virtue, and the love he had for prayer, had scruples at seeing him in +these employments, and begged their father to permit them to share +these duties with him. He assented, and, sending for Masse, said to +him: "Brother, your companions wish to relieve and assist you, and I +also wish that they may have a share in the labors." To which Mass +replied, "Father, I consider as coming from God whatever duties you +direct, whether it be my work or prayer." St. Francis, seeing the charity +on the one part, and the humility on the other, gave them an exhortation +on these two virtues, and distributed the duties among them, with his +blessing. + +What he had ardently desired for himself, and what he was rejoiced to +see some of his brethren look forward to most anxiously, was the +perfection which consists in suffering martyrdom: in shedding one's +blood for the faith. As he could not obtain this favor, and as it was +only granted to a few of his brethren during his lifetime, he +endeavored to make up for it by another species of martyrdom, which, +as St. Bernard says, is indeed less cruel than the first, but is +rendered more bitter by its duration. It is the martyrdom of +mortification, and principally that of voluntary poverty. In fact, +this poverty, as he compelled its observance, not only placed him and +his brethren in the most humiliating situation in the eyes of the +world, but deprived them, moreover, of all the comforts and conveniences +of life; exposed them to hunger, thirst, want of clothing, and various +other annoying discomforts. All this, however, was not, in his view, +the consummation of this description of martyrdom. It was still further +requisite to suffer patiently, in time of pain and sickness, the want +of assistance, which poverty cannot command, to see the disease +increase, and death about to follow, from want of necessary succor. + +His charity had taken all possible precaution for procuring assistance +to the sick of his Order. He had directed that, if any of the brethren +fell sick, the others should attend upon them, as they would wish to +be themselves waited upon in like circumstances, and with more affection +than a mother has for a beloved son. Notwithstanding the great aversion +he had to money, he required that the superiors should make application +to their spiritual friends, to induce them to give coins, in order to +assist the brethren in their sickness. But, as he foresaw that this +measure might not always be successful, and that poverty in such a +case would put it out of the power of the superiors to procure what +was absolutely necessary for the sick, he pointed out to the brethren +what perfection called upon them to do: + +"If one of the brethren, in health or in sickness, finds himself unable, +through poverty, to procure what his absolute necessities require, +provided he has humbly applied to his superior for them for the love +of God, let him bear with the privation, for the love of Jesus Christ, +who sought for consolation, but found none. It is a suffering which, +will be in His sight a substitute for martyrdom; if this should even +increase his disease, he must not fear being guilty of suicide, for +he has done all he ought to have done, by applying humbly to his +superiors." The maxim is well grounded. St. Chrysostom maintains, that +to suffer generously the loss of all goods, as did holy Job, is a +species of martyrdom. St. Bernard says the same thing of voluntary +poverty, and remarks that, in the Beatitudes, a similar reward is +promised to the poor and to martyrs. On those principles, is not a +Friar Minor to be looked upon as a martyr, who, having embraced the +strictest poverty, for the love of Jesus Christ, would, rather than +contravene it, endure with patience every evil, and even death, and +would generously make to God the sacrifice of his health and of his +life, in order to practise this virtue to his last breath? St. Augustine +affirms that a Christian suffers martyrdom in his bed, when he declines +procuring his cure by forbidden means: thus, a sick Friar Minor, who +has not the necessary assistance, brought about by his having embraced +poverty, according to the Evangelical counsel, is a martyr to poverty. +Even supposing that it was less owing to poverty, than to the neglect +or harshness of his superior, that he was without assistance, he would +equally have gained the crown promised to this description of martyrdom, +since it would be as an Evangelical pauper that he would suffer and +die. But woe to that superior who should procure him such a crown! He +would be like to those who have made so many martyrs in the persecution +of the Church. + +When St. Francis learnt that his brethren, by the sanctity of their +lives, and by the efficacy of their preaching, brought back numbers +of sinners into the paths of truth, and enkindled in their breasts the +love of God, he said that such intelligence was to him as most pleasing +odors and precious perfumes, by which he was wholly embalmed; and, in +his spiritual joy, he loaded these holy and edifying religious with +the most ample benedictions. On the other hand, he fulminated dreadful +maledictions against such as dishonored religion by their conduct. +"Most holy Lord," he would say, "may those who overthrow and destroy +by their bad example what Thou incessantly raisest up by the saintly +brethren of the Order, be accursed by Thee and by the whole celestial +choir, and also by me, Thy little servant." + +Any scandal given to little ones gave him so much affliction and +heartsore, that he often might have died of it, if God had not supported +him by interior consolations. One day, when he was suffering extreme +grief on a subject of this nature, and was praying the Father of Mercies +for his children, St. Bonaventure informs us that he received the +following answer: "Poor little man, why do you disquiet yourself? +Because I have appointed you the pastor of this religion which I have +established, are you unmindful that I am its principal protector? I +gave you the direction of it, to you who are a simple man, in order +that what I should do through you might be attributed, not to human +industry, but to my favor. It is I who called those who have entered +it; I will preserve them, and provide for their wants; I will substitute +others for those who will die off; I will cause some to be born, in +order to come into it; and whatever may occur to shake this religion, +which is founded on strict poverty. I will assist by My grace, that +it shall be always upheld." Up to this day, the world has seen the +verification of this prophecy. The Order of Friars Minor has been +powerfully attacked, and has still many enemies; nevertheless, it still +subsists. + +To animate his brethren to perfection, he employed example, rather +than precept. When he imposed punishments, if they appeared to him to +be very severe, he took them also on himself. Having sent Brother +Ruffinus to preach at Assisi without his hood, because he had sought +to be excused from preaching, he reflected on the severity of this +order, and went himself to the church where Ruffinus was preaching. +The latter having left the pulpit to give it up to Francis, he began +his discourse, and instilled into his audience so much compunction, +that it was evident that God had blessed the obedience of the disciple +and the example of the master. + +This admirable preceptor taught no virtues which he did not himself +practise in an eminent degree; and as those which are exterior make +the greatest impression, he practised extreme austerity, in order that +the others should imitate him. Having noticed, on a certain occasion, +that some of his brethren had relaxed from the extreme poverty of their +nourishment, he thus slyly reprimanded them: "My brethren may well +believe that, with so infirm a body as mine is, I require better +nourishment than what I get, but I am obliged to be their model in +everything; for which reason I propose to give up every alleviation, +and to cast aside, with disgust, everything resembling delicacy; to +be satisfied with little in everything; to make use of those things +only which are the commonest, vilest, and most conformable to strict +poverty." + +Being in a hermitage in some mountains, in mid-winter, when the weather +was rigorously cold and severe, his companions prepared a habit for +him, in which they lined the breast, to make it somewhat warmer for +him, but he made them take this out, saying: "I am placed here to give +example to others; my life must be their rule. I know that there is +no harm in wearing a warmer habit in the state I am in, but I see many +of our brethren who require it as much as I do, and who could not get +it. I must therefore bear this poverty with them, and not differ from +them in anything, lest it should be thought that I take greater care +of myself than of the others. They will more willingly bear the +privation of these wants, when they shall see that I voluntarily go +without aid." His three companions, the writers of his life, observed +that he refused his body the most lawful indulgence, in order that his +children should be ashamed of taking those which were less so; and +that his maxim was, always to give instruction more by example than +by discourse. + +He recommended his brethren, also, to preach by example, and, farther +on, we shall see some beautiful sentiments in his maxims, relative to +preaching. Rodriguez, of the Society of Jesus, an excellent master of +spiritual life, mentions, on this subject, a lesson which our saint +gave to one of his religious, which we give here, in the very words +of the talented academician, who translated the Practice of Christian +Perfection, of the pious author. St. Francis, taking one day one of +his religious with him, said:--"Let us go and preach"; and thereupon +he went out, and after having made a tour round the town, he returned +to the convent. "But, Father," said his companion, "are we not going +to preach?" "We have done so already," replied the Saint. It was the +religious reserve which they had used in walking through the streets, +which he considered to be an excellent sermon for the whole town. And, +in fact, a mortified and humble exterior leads the people to piety and +contempt of the world, it excites to compunction for sin, and raises +the heart and desires to heavenly objects. It is a mute exhortation, +which has often more effect than the most eloquent and sublime sermons. + +To example and precept, the holy Patriarch added frequent and fervent +prayers for the spiritual advancement of his children; well knowing +that neither he who plants, nor he who waters, contributes to the fruit +which the tree bears, but that the interior virtue which fructifies, +comes from God. In fine, in order not to be wanting in anything which +might be in his power, when his infirmities absolutely prevented his +watching over the conduct of his children, he unceasingly exhorted the +superiors to fulfil this duty with exactness, and he enforced it by +the following powerful motive: that, if one of the brethren should be +lost by their fault, they would be accountable for him to Jesus Christ +on the day of judgment. + +St. Francis, being ill at Assisi, cured a spiritual wound of a more +serious nature than that of a scruple. One of his children, named +Ricer, of Bologna, Provincial in the Marches of Ancona, a man of a +very saintly life, had taken it into his head, at the suggestion of +the devil, that the patriarch hated him, because he knew that he was +to be damned, and he came to Assisi, in the hopes that this thought +would be dissipated, if the saint should receive him kindly. The Saint, +who had a revelation as to the state of his mind, and of his arrival +at Assisi, said to Brothers Masse and Leo: "Go and meet Brother Ricer, +embrace him, and kiss him from me, and tell him that, among all my +brethren in the world, I love him the most tenderly." They executed +the commission given them, and Ricer found himself strengthened in his +faith, and filled with joy, and thanked God for the happy success of +his journey. As soon as he appeared, Francis, weak as he was, ran to +him, and, embracing him, said, with paternal affection: "Ricer, my +dear son, you are, among all our brethren, he whom I love from the +bottom of my heart;" and, after having made the sign of the cross upon +his forehead, he gave him several kisses, and then added: "Ricer, my +dear child, this temptation was visited upon you for your greater good. +But if you do not choose to be a gainer at this price, you will +henceforward suffer no more from this temptation, nor from any other;" +and from that time, he never had another. + +The holy Patriarch had so tender a love for his brethren, that he could +not bear that a shade of sorrowfulness should pass over their minds, +lest they should lose their spiritual joy. "My dear brethren," he said +to them, "entertain interiorly and exteriorly the holy joy which God +gives. When His servants seek to obtain and preserve His spiritual +joy, which has its source in purity of heart, in the fervor of prayer, +and in other virtuous practices, the devils can do them no injury; and +they say: 'We can do no injury to these servants of God; we have no +entry to them; they are always joyful, whether in tribulation or +prosperity.' But they are highly gratified when they can deprive them +of this happy temper of mind, or, at least, lessen its intensity; +because, if they can succeed in instilling any of their own venom into +them, they will soon turn what has only the breadth of a hair into a +beam, by adding something by little and little, unless we endeavor to +destroy their work by the virtue of prayer, of contrition, of +confession, and satisfaction. For this reason, my brethren, since +spiritual joy comes from purity of conscience and the frequent exercise +of fervent prayer, labor principally to acquire these two blessings, +in order that you always possess it; I am very anxious to see it in +you, and to feel it in myself. It is for the devil and his satellites +to be sorrowful; but as to us, we can always rejoice in the Lord." + +Although the holy man had occasionally reason to be sorrowful, in +consequence of the temptations to which he was exposed, or from the +fear of the pains of hell, arising from the remembrance of his sins, +yet he was ever gay. He was one day asked the reason of this, and he +gave this answer: "My sins sometimes, indeed, make me very sorrowful, +and Satan would wish to imprint this sadness on me, in order to make +me fall into slothfulness and weariness; but when that occurs, I look +on my companion: the spiritual joy I see in him, renews mine, and the +temptation passes off. My joy is a torment to the devils, for they +envy me the favors I receive from God. I know and see that, when they +cannot injure me by making me sorrowful, they endeavor to strip this +spiritual joy from my companions, and, if they cannot succeed either +with them or with me, they retire in confusion." + +We must notice, in this answer of the holy Father, two sorts of sorrow: +the one arising from the anguish caused by sin, of which St. Paul says, +that "it is according to God, and works penance unto salvation." This +does not do away with spiritual joy; on the contrary, it produces it: +nothing is sweeter, or more consoling, than the tears shed from the +impulse of sincere contrition. The other sorrow is a depression of +spirits, brought about by the devil, who endeavors to render us tepid +and sluggish, to give us a disgust for pious exercises, and to induce +us to give them up. A good conscience causes spiritual joy. No one has +truly cause to rejoice, but he who is well with God, faithful to His +law, and submissive to His will. A tranquil mind, free and disengaged +from the tyranny of the passions, is, in the opinion of Wisdom, a +continual feast. It is true happiness: "For a happy life is nothing +more," says St. Augustine, "than the joy which is found in truth; that +is, in God, who is truth, the sweet light of our souls, our salvation +and our repose." Therefore David excites the just of Israel to manifest +their joy, and St. Paul said to the Christians: "Rejoice always in the +Lord; I say again, rejoice." What constitutes the Kingdom of God is +the justice, peace, and joy, which come from the Holy Spirit. + +This disposition of the heart enables it to resist the evil spirit, +according to the words of Esdras to the Jewish people: "The joy of the +Lord is our strength." What can the evil spirit do against a soul whose +sole pleasure is to serve God, who has no other solace than to love +and praise Him? There is, moreover, nothing which makes so great an +impression on the people of the world, as witnessing the interior +contentment of a truly good man, which is seen in the serenity of his +countenance. This is, according to St. Augustine, what compels them +to admit that they themselves have not true joy, for that is reserved +to God's servants. + +It was not alone by the ardor of his zeal, and the tenderness of his +affection, that the holy Founder led on his brethren, but by a wonderful +discretion and prudence in the government of his Order. Although he +used every endeavor to induce his religious to live austerely, he, +nevertheless, recommended them to be guided by moderation; he did not +countenance indiscreet penances. + +Brother Sylvester, the first priest in his Order, having fallen into +an illness of languor, brought on by excess in his mortifications, had +a wish to eat some grapes: Francis, having been informed of it, hastened +to procure him this relief. He took him, as well as he could, into the +vineyard of one of his friends, which was near the convent, and, having +made him sit down near a plant of vine, he blessed it, and ordered him +to eat the grapes, and ate some with him. As soon as the sick man had +eaten of them, he found himself perfectly cured, and he frequently +afterwards related the circumstance to his brethren, with tears in his +eyes, as a proof of the love the holy father bore to his children; it +was, also, an effect of his discretion, for, disapproving of Sylvester's +excessive austerities, he chose that he should take this sort of remedy, +which nature seemed to call for, and it pleased God to render this the +subject of a miracle. + +This prudent and charitable Father came to know, one night, that one +of his children who had fasted too rigidly, could not take repose, in +consequence of the hunger which oppressed him. Not to leave him in so +deplorable a state, he sent for him, offered him some bread, and pressed +him to eat of it, eating some himself first, to give him confidence. +The religious got over the shyness he at first felt, and took the +nourishment he so greatly required, being well pleased to have been +relieved from the peril his life was in, by the prudence and kindness +of the Saint, and to see so edifying an example. In the morning, Francis +assembled his brethren, and having told them what had occurred in the +night, said:--"Brethren, take a precedent from this, not as to what +I ate, but that I had recourse to, what was charitable." Then he pointed +out to them that virtue should always have discretion for its rule and +for its guide; not that discretion which the flesh inspires, but that +which has been taught by Jesus Christ, whose most holy life is the +finished model of all perfection. + +"Let each man," he continued, "have regard to his constitution. If +some of you are strong enough to support life well, while eating very +little, I do not wish, on that account, that one who requires more +nourishment, shall imitate them in this respect: such a one might give +his body what is necessary for it; for, as in eating, we are obliged +to avoid whatever is superfluous, which is hurtful to the body and +soul, so also we must guard against excessive abstinence, and the more +so because the Lord requires mercy rather than sacrifice. This is what +God says by the Prophet Osee, which means that He prefers the practice +of works of mercy to our neighbor, to the exterior exercise of religion; +and that this worship which must be rendered Him, is not pleading to +Him without mercy. Now, as we are commanded to love our neighbor with +a love of charity, St. Thomas teaches us, as does St. Augustine, that +the same love obliges us to have a similar regard for our own body; +from whence it follows that, this charity not being found in immoderate +abstinence, God does not approve of the sacrifice. To this we may add, +that it is sometimes the devil who instigates a person to undertake +immoderate fasting, in order to render that person incapable of +spiritual exercises, and for other evil intentions." + +The holy Founder cautioned his brethren to avoid excess in fasting, +even more than excess in eating, because he knew that they were all +animated by the spirit of mortification. Their fervor was so great +that, in fasting very rigorously, they at the same time wore iron +girdles, coats of mail, coarse hair-shirts, and took severe disciplines, +which brought on frequent illnesses. For this reason he often +recommended discretion to them. "My brethren," he said, "if a servant +of God gives his body what is reasonable for its nourishment and for +its repose, and if the body is nevertheless sluggish, lazy, sleepy at +prayer, in watchings, and other good works, it must, then, be chastised, +and treated as a horse that refuses to work, or an ass that won't go +on, although they are well fed. But, if the body is deprived of its +real wants, it is disabled from bearing the yoke of penance, and +performing the functions required by the soul; it has, then, every +right to complain." + +We shall, perhaps, be surprised that St. Francis, who preaches +discretion so admirably to his brethren, should have carried his own +austerities to excess; but we must bear in mind that he was a man, +guided in all things by the Holy Spirit, in whom God was pleased to +show the abundant riches of His grace, and whose prodigious penitential +exercises were to draw down an abundance of mercy on sinners. Thus, +what appeared excesses in his mortifications, arose from his perfect +fidelity to the extraordinary impulse he received from above; and this +is true prudence. + +Fervent persons are occasionally found who would wish to imitate the +fastings and other austerities of the saints, but this is presumption, +unless they are called thereto by God, and unless the vocation has +been well sounded and approved by legitimate authority. The general +and safe maxim, in cases of austerities, is not to undertake anything +extraordinary, without the consent of superiors and confessors. Before +granting any permission of this nature, the constitution and character +of the person must be carefully examined, and inquiry minutely made +whether the applicant practises regularly the ordinary mortifications, +and if he is as zealous in controlling his passions and acquiring the +virtues requisite in his station, as for the maceration of his body; +for it is often found that those who solicit extraordinary penances, +neglect those which are ordinary and common, and who, in mortifying +their bodies, do not take sufficient pains to purify their hearts, to +become humble, obedient, mild, and charitable. + +It may not, perhaps, be believed that the holy Patriarch carried his +discretion and condescension even to the buildings and the habits,--he +who advocated extreme poverty on these two articles. He had carefully +recommended to his brethren to build only small, low houses, surrounded +only by hedges, in remote and solitary situations; but, as his own +companions tell us, he admitted that in towns, and near towns, it was +proper to act otherwise; that, in consequence of the number of religious +who were there for the service of the faithful, it was necessary to +have the convent surrounded by walls. + +His companions also say that he allowed those who required it, to wear +a softer and warmer tunic; on this sole condition, however, that the +outward garment should be very poor, to keep up the spirit of humility +by the contempt the world entertains for such as are poorly clothed. +Finally, the same authors testify that, although he was very austere +from the moment of his conversion, to his death, with a constitution +very delicate and weak, yet he prudently moderated the austerities of +his brethren; and that many things which he rigidly refused himself, +he allowed to the others, from discretion and from charity. This, +indeed, is characteristic in the saints; severe and inflexible to +themselves, they spared their neighbors, and were indulgent in their +regard; while hypocrites, such as the Pharisees, and certain heretics +who resemble them, put heavy burdens on the shoulders of others, which +they are unable to carry; overwhelm with austerities those whom they +direct, often for the most trifling faults, while they themselves live +in comfort and at their ease. + +The discretion of St. Francis was apparent in every part of his conduct. +Bernard de Besse, one of the writers of his life, and secretary to St. +Bonaventure, says that he never spoke to his brethren but in terms of +moderation and mildness; that he compassionated the weak, and encouraged +the young in the practice of virtue; that he had great respect for old +age; that whatever faults a priest might commit, he never reprimanded +him but in private; in fine, that he had proper consideration for all +those whose birth, merit, or dignity required it. + +Brother Guy, who was beatified by the Holy See, and of whom we have +before spoken, begged the saint to allow him to build a cell in the +fissure of a rock which was opposite to the convent of Celles, near +Cortona, in order that he might live there in great solitude, and give +himself up to contemplation. Francis, who knew that Guy, although he +was only in the novitiate, had the virtue of the ancients, and would +raise himself up to an eminent degree of sanctity, permitted him this +peculiar retreat, but upon this condition, that it was not to prevent +him from attending all the offices said by the community, in order to +preserve the uniformity of the observance, and to obviate the illusion +which might mix itself up with unusual practices. This was also what +the Saint himself practised; he quitted regularly his contemplation, +to join in singing the praise of God in community. + +St. Bonaventure says that some of his religious asked him one day if +he thought it proper that persons who were already learned, when they +were admitted into the Order, should continue to study the Holy +Scriptures? To which he replied: "This is very pleasing to me, provided +they follow the example of Jesus Christ, whom we find to have prayed +more than He seems to have read." + +A novice, to whom the vicar-general had allowed the particular use of +a psalter, came to solicit Francis' confirmation of this permission, +and this is the reply he got: "Charlemagne, Orlando, and other great +captains, rendered themselves illustrious by their exploits; the martyrs +are celebrated in the Church by their sufferings and death; but there +are others who aspire to glory by the sole reading of the feats of +these persons." The Saint intended to give him to understand that no +one is estimable unless by his actions and conduct, and that there is +nothing more vain than a reputation grounded on fruitless science. + +Doubtless the holy Patriarch wished his brethren to have psalters and +breviaries, since they were obliged to say the Divine Office. He knew, +also, that books were necessary for them, to enable them, by study, +to be capable to instruct their neighbors, according as their vocation +required, for he himself read the Scriptures. But he did not approve +that any one should have a book for his own peculiar use. + +All study which is entered upon more through vanity than piety, and +less to gain souls to God than to gain for oneself the praise of man, +was his abhorrence.--He said of those whose desire for learning was +out of curiosity: "In the day of tribulation, they will find nothing +in their hands. It would be better that they should labor now to improve +themselves in virtue, in order to have the Lord on their side at that +time; for the time will come, when books will be thrown aside as +useless. I do not choose that my brethren shall be curious in learning +and books; what I wish is, that they be well grounded in humility, +simplicity, prayer, and poverty, our mistress. It is the only sure way +for their salvation, and for the edification of their neighbor, because +they are called to imitate Jesus Christ, who followed and pointed out +this path. Many will forsake this path, on pretence of edifying other +men by their knowledge; and it will turn out that understanding the +Scriptures, by which alone they fancied themselves filled with light, +devotion, and the love of God, will be the cause of their remaining +cold and empty. Thus, in consequence of having, in pursuit of vain and +useless literature, lost the time which ought to have been given to +living according to the spirit of the state they had embraced, they +will not have it in their power to return to their primitive vocation." + +St. Francis looked upon the ministry of preaching as the most agreeable +sacrifice which could be offered to the Father of Mercies; this is +also the grand idea which St. Paul entertains of it, when he says: +"God has given me the grace that I should be the minister of Jesus +Christ among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, that the +oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable, and sanctified by the +Holy Ghost." St. Chrysostom concludes from this, that preaching is a +sacrifice; that the preacher is the priest; that an attentive and +devout audience is the victim; that the Word of God is the sword which +immolates, spiritually, and the grace of the Holy Ghost the fire which +consumes. What exalted sentiments must not a preacher entertain, in +exercising this sort of priesthood; and with what spirit of devotion +should not those attend who are thus holily immolated! + +The ardor of his love for Jesus Christ, and his great zeal for the +salvation of souls, made him esteem all preachers very venerable. His +intention was, that some of his Order should be brought up to that +duty, and that they should be respected by the others, because it is +they who instil life, who combat the infernal enemy, and who enlighten +the world. But he desired that they should exercise their ministry in +a spirit of charity, even more by example, by prayers, and tears, than +by eloquent discourses. + +"I desire," he said, "that these ministers of the Word of God should +apply themselves solely to spiritual exercises, and let nothing turn +them from this; for, as they are chosen by the great King to declare +His will to the people, it is requisite that they should learn, in the +privacy of prayer, what they are to make known in their sermons; and +that they should be interiorly warmed, in order to make use of language +which shall kindle fire in the hearts they address. Those who make use +of their own lights, and who savor the truths they preach, are very +praiseworthy; but it is a bad division when all is given to preaching, +and little or nothing to devotion. As to those who sell their labors +for the oil of approbation, such persons excite my pity." + +"They are true brethren, whom I call Knights of the Round Table, who +hide themselves in solitary places, to have better opportunities of +devoting themselves to prayer, and whose sanctity, well known to God, +is sometimes unknown to men, or even to their brethren. One day they +will be presented by angels to the Lord, who will say to them: 'My +beloved children, here are the souls that have been saved by your +prayers, by your tears, by your good example. Receive now the fruit +of the labors of those who only make use of their learning for this +object. Because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set +you over many.' They will thus enter into the joy of the Lord, loaded +with the fruit of their virtues; while the others, who have employed +themselves in studying the way of salvation, in order to teach it, +without following it themselves, will appear naked and empty-handed +at the tribunal of Jesus Christ, having on them marks of grief and +confusion." + +All that St. Francis says against vain learning,--a learning which is +ostentatious and void of devotion,--is founded on the beautiful words +of our Saviour: "Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we +not prophesied in Thy name? And then I will profess unto them, I never +knew you, depart from me you that work iniquity;" and on these of St. +Paul: "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not +charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." "I +chastise my body, and bring it into subjection, lest, perhaps, when +I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." + +But it may not be concluded from this that the holy patriarch had any +wish to prevent his brethren from studying and becoming learned; for, +1st, he was not unaware of what St. Augustine teaches on that head. +That learning is good in itself; that it is a gift of God; that it is +most useful, when charity employs it; that it serves as a guide to +piety; and that, when it has the Holy Scripture for its object, it +powerfully excites to the love of God. How many learned men there are +in whom humility, simplicity, and all the other virtues, are combined +with deep reading! 2d. He positively declared, as has been reported +upon the evidence of St. Bonaventure that he was well pleased that his +brethren should study; it was his wish that schools should be opened +in his Order, and he himself, as has been already noticed, instituted +St. Anthony of Padua lecturer in theology. 3d. He wished to have his +brethren Apostolical men, employed in the holy ministry for the +salvation of souls, and he had inserted in his Rule a chapter which +solely relates to the instruction of preachers. He desired, in +consequence, that the Friars Minor should acquire the learning requisite +for fulfilling their functions, which, in the ordinary course of things, +is impossible without study. "It was, certainly, his intention," adds +St. Bonaventure, "that his brethren should apply themselves to the +study of the Holy Scriptures, for, one day, having but one copy of the +New Testament, he divided it into leaves, which he distributed among +them, that all might read and instruct themselves at the same time." +The holy doctor maintains, in another place, that there are no religious +who, by their position, are more employed in preaching than the Friars +Minor; and he adds, that, as St. Francis required them to be correct +and accurate in their discourses, it is clear that he himself obliges +them to study, since, without such application, it is impossible to +be accurate. + +If the blessed founder has spoken more of humility and piety than of +learning and study, it is, in the first place, because he well knew +that, naturally, persons are more prone to learn than to practise; +and, secondly, because the virtues which purify the heart, are gifts +more precious and necessary than learning, which only enlightens the +mind; and, in the third place, because he knew what St. Paul says, +that "knowledge puffeth up," that a learned person easily becomes proud +and presumptuous, if charity does not keep him in humility, and in +mistrust of himself. Finally, let not his words be misconstrued to +give color, under pretence of piety, to laziness and ignorance. He +preferred, to vain and sterile learning, the humility and simplicity +of the poor brethren, who spent their time in prayer: this was no more +than right. "A rustical holiness," St. Jerome remarks, "is more valuable +than vicious learning and criminal eloquence." But the blessed patriarch +only spoke of the lay-brethren, who were not intended for the sacred +ministries, or of those clerics whose talents were not equal to being +employed in them, and whose occupations were limited to prayer and +labor. In respect to the others, who, by study, might render themselves +capable of serving their neighbor spiritually, he certainly would have +censured them, had they continued in ignorance, even under the pretext +of prayer and manual labor,--he, who had adopted, as we have seen, the +maxim, that "nothing is preferable to the salvation of souls." He well +knew that all the brethren did not resemble some among them whom God +had supernaturally enlightened, and who, without any other aid than +that of prayer, had sufficient light to be able to announce the Word +of God. St. Jerome says, that as a man of talent must not persuade +himself that holiness consists in the beauty of his composition, and +in the ornament of eloquence, so also a simple and unpolished man must +not imagine that his ignorance constitutes him a saint. This is even +still clearer, when this man may not be ignorant. Now, it is self-evident +that a Friar Minor, cleric, or priest, is obliged, in conscience, +according to the talent he has received from Heaven, to study carefully, +in order to be competent to fulfil properly the ministries of preaching +and of the confessional; since the spirit of his vocation, and of his +Order, is to labor for the salvation of souls. But he must always have +before his eyes what his blessed Father wrote to St. Anthony of Padua: +"I agree that you should teach the brethren sacred theology, in such +manner, however, that the spirit of holy prayer be not extinguished, +either in yourself or in others, according to the rule of which we +have made profession." + +While the holy Patriarch was ill at Sienna, a religious of the Order +of the Friars Preachers, who was a doctor of theology, and a truly +learned man, put several very difficult questions to him: he answered +them so learnedly, and so clearly, that the doctor was quite surprised, +and spoke of the circumstance with admiration. Truly, said he, the +theology of this holy Father is an eagle, which soars to a great height; +it is raised up, as if with wings, by the purity of the heart, and by +contemplation, while our knowledge is as that of animals which crawl +on the ground. + +Thus, according to St. Athanasius, the great Anthony, who was +illiterate, showed admirable knowledge in his controversy with the +heretical Arians, and in his replies to pagan philosophers who strove +to puzzle him. So also, according to the testimony of Sulpicius Severus, +no one explained the Holy Scriptures more clearly than the celebrated +Bishop of Tours, St. Martin, who had never studied. + +Another Friar Preacher asked St. Francis how he was to understand these +words of the Saviour to the Prophet Ezekiel: "If thou speakest not to +the impious that he may be converted from his wicked way and live, the +same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but I will require his blood +at thy hand." The humble Father having at first excused himself! saying +that he should apply to learned theologians to learn the sense of the +Holy Scriptures; but, as the religious urged him, nevertheless, to +give his opinion, and expressed a great wish to have it preferably to +that of others whom he had consulted, he gave him this answer: "I +believe these words, if taken in the full extent, to mean, that the +servant of God must be by holiness, and the good odor of his life, a +torch which burns and enlightens, in order that the splendor of his +example may be as a voice which censures the impious; for this is the +way to warn and reprehend them all: if he act otherwise, and scandalize +his neighbor, he will not escape the punishment of heaven." + +St. Francis was not ignorant that the literal and immediate sense of +this passage is, that pastors, and all those who are in authority, are +obliged to instruct, warn, censure, and correct those who are committed +to their charge; that they become guilty of the loss of souls, if they +are silent when they ought to speak. He himself, faithful in the mission +he had received from God and the Holy See, never ceased from exhorting +his brethren to sanctify themselves, and from urging sinners to be +converted; but he found in the above passage a more extended sense, +and one of greater moral influence, which was, to preach by example; +and he adhered to this for many reasons:--1. Because words produce +small effect when they are not backed by example. 2. Because there are +a greater number of superiors who instruct and censure, than of those +who edify by example. 3. Because the number of persons who have no +right to instruct and reprove, is the greater, and it is good that +they should know that God will call them to account for the good example +which it was their duty to have given, which might have contributed +to the conversion of sinners. All this shows how solid and proper the +Saint's reply was. + +His style is plain, because he formed it on the Gospel, from which he +would not in any degree deviate--besides that, his was not the age of +elegant Latinity; but in all that he has written we do not find anything +that is not clear and intelligible--there are even passages insinuating +and persuasive: we have also reason to admire some parts which are +beautiful from their simplicity. Let the cleverest men read his +description of the rich sinner on his death-bed, and he will be obliged +to admit that it would be impossible to draw a more natural or more +striking portrait. + +He had so completely the talent of persuasion, that neither popes, +cardinals, nobles, nor any other persons could resist his appeals; +whatsoever he wished, they complied with. It is not easy, for the sake +of piety, to persuade to that which is contrary to the interests of +a family: nevertheless, St. Francis succeeded in this. The following +is an example, which, relating only to a very common subject, we, +notwithstanding, select, because it contains wholesome instruction:-- + +The Saint was one day sweeping in a country church, according to his +usual practice, when a man, whose name was John, and who was ploughing +in an adjoining field, came and took the broom from his hands, and +after having swept the whole church, he said to him: "Brother, what +I have heard of you and of your brethren, has inspired me with an idea +of serving God as you do. I did not know how to come to you, but, since +it has pleased God that I should find you here as I had wished, I offer +myself to you: do with me as you please." Francis, knowing by an +interior light, that this man had been sent him by the Lord, resolved +to receive him into his Order, and after having instructed him in the +Rule, he said to him: "If you resolve upon joining this Institute, you +must renounce all you have, and give it to the poor." John went +immediately to his plough, unyoked the oxen, and brought one to Francis, +saying: "I have been long in the service of my father, and I maintain +the family by my labor; I think I may take this ox for my reward, and +do with it as you shall direct me." He immediately went home to take +leave of his parents, and desired them to take care of the plough. + +The parents, alarmed when they learnt his intention, ran in despair +to the church, where Francis still was, and conjured him not to take +a man from them who was so useful in work, who earned their means of +living. He replied with mildness, and then said that he would come to +dine with them, and sleep at their house, and would endeavor to console +them. He went, and after dinner, addressing himself to John's father, +he said: "My dear host, your son wishes to serve God, and it is God +who has inspired him with this thought. This ought not to give you any +displeasure; on the contrary, it ought to be gratifying to you, and +you should give God thanks that He has been pleased to select one of +your family for His service. This will be no small gain to you; for, +in place of this son whom you give up, you will gain as many children +and brethren as there are religious in the Order he is about to join. +Moreover, your son is one of God's creatures; and if God has destined +him for Himself, who shall dare to resist His will? Who shall say to +Him, 'Why dost Thou do thus?' He is all-powerful, and He is also just. +He only asks for what belongs to Him. May His will therefore be done, +and may His mercy be extended to your son, whom I cannot and ought not +to refuse to receive into the house of God, which he so anxiously +wishes me to do. All that I can, and will do for you, is, to inform +him to leave you the ox he had destined for the poor, according to the +Gospel, and that, abandoning to the world what belongs to the world, +he come stripped of everything, to throw himself into the arms of Jesus +Christ." + +This reasoning was so convincing to the parents, that they assented +willingly and cheerfully to their son's leaving them, whom before they +thought they could not part with. Human prudence will not fail to say +that he ought to have remained with his parents, to provide for their +subsistence by his labor; but will it say that James and John, being +called by Jesus Christ, ought not to have left Zebedee, their father, +who was poor, and whom they maintained by their fishing? Our Lord, in +calling them, desired that they should obey His voice, and leave to +Providence to provide for the subsistence of their father. St. Francis +well knew that, under any other circumstances, this laborer would have +been bound to work to provide for his parents; but, as he knew that +his call was from God to a religious state of life, he wisely judged +that the Lord would assist the family by some other means, and that +the vocation ought to be followed. + +The supernatural and miraculous gifts which St. Francis had received +from God, gave great weight to his discourses. A man, who casts out +devils, who raises the dead to life, who cures the sick, whose +prophecies are verified, who discovers spirits, who commands animals, +and makes them obey him,--a man who performs these prodigies, and many +others, is listened to as if he were an angel, when he speaks. + +The polish of language which St. Francis neglected, was wonderfully +compensated by Divine Power. St. Bonaventura says that the Holy Ghost, +from whom he had received his unction and his mission, inspired him +with abundance of words to preach His holy doctrine, and continually +assisted him; and that Jesus Christ, who is the strength of the Father, +came invariably to his aid; that, indeed, he had recourse to the +ornaments of human eloquence, in his discourses, but that inspiration +was very perceptible; that his preaching was a great fire, which +penetrated quite to the bottom of hearts, with so much efficacy, that +the most obdurate were softened, and had recourse to penance. Men and +women, young and old, nobles and plebeians, flocked in crowds to see +and hear this extraordinary man, whom God had sent them. He seemed to +them, in fact, to be a man from the other world, when they saw him, +with his eyes elevated to heaven, with the view of drawing them thither; +and, as soon as he spoke, they felt their hearts moved to compunction. +All that he said against the public scandals, was received with respect; +those whose crimes he censured, whatever confusion they might feel +from it, did not dare complain--not even those in the highest station. +Some of the learned were likewise noticed amongst his auditory, and +they, more than any others, admired the powerful influence of his +discourses, knowing him to be a man who had not gone through any course +of study. In short, the public was so charmed by hearing him, that, +after preaching one day at Cortona, and wishing to return to the convent +of Celles, the guards at the gates of the town would not let him pass. +After having preached for three successive days there he only got leave +to go, after the strongest entreaties, and after having promised to +leave Brother Guy there, whose sanctity he assured them would free +Cortona from many evils. God punished, in a most frightful manner, an +insolent young girl, who was making a noise with a sort of drum during +the Saint's sermon; he called upon her three times to be quiet, but +she laughed at him, and he was then inspired to say, in a loud voice, +"Devil, take what is thy own." At the same moment the girl was raised +up into the air, and she was seen no more. By this dreadful example, +God proposed to teach them the respect they were bound to have for the +instructions which His servants teach them, as once He taught the +faithful not to lie to the Holy Ghost, by the deaths of Ananias and +Sapphira, which followed the reproach which St. Peter had made them. + +St. Bonaventure assures us that the gift of prophecy appeared in our +Saint with great splendor; that not only did he foretell things to +come, but also spoke of those things which were happening in his +absence, as if they were present before his eyes; that he penetrated +to the bottom of hearts, and saw the most secret recesses of +consciences, so that it might have been said that he inspected the +mirror of eternal light, and that its admirable splendor uncovered to +him what was most hidden. + +God revealed to him, in prayer, the loss of one of the religious, who +had the reputation of being a saint, but who was so peculiar in +everything, that, in order the more rigidly to keep silence, he usually +confessed by signs. The blessed Father having come to the convent in +which this religious was, he saw him, and spoke of him to the others, +who were loud in their praises of him. "Brethren," said he, "cease all +these praises, and give them not to inventions of the devil; know that +all this is but a temptation, and an extraordinary illusion." The +brethren could not persuade themselves that so many marks of perfection +were but covers to imposture; but, a few days after, this pretended +saint left the Order, which proved that St. Francis had probed to the +bottom of his soul. + +He knew, in the same manner, why another, who seemed to be adorned +with every virtue, had thrown off the habit of the Order; and he replied +to his brethren who expressed their surprise at it: "Do not be +astonished, my brethren; this wretch is lost, because he was not +grounded in humility, and in the fear of God. Believe me that, without +this foundation, it is fruitless to endeavor to become virtuous." + +Of two religious who were returning from the Terra di Lavoro, he saw +in spirit that the senior did not by any means edify his companion. +On their arrival, he asked the younger what had occurred on the road, +who then replied, that all had gone on well. "Take care," answered +Francis, "take care, and don't say what is false, on pretence of +humility. I know, I know; but wait a little, and you will see." In +fact, the giver of scandal abandoned his vocation shortly after. + +The charitable father received, with great kindness, one of the brethren +who had apostatized from the Order, and now returned, he even gave him +the kiss of peace. But, pointing out to him the gallows erected upon +a height, at some distance, he said: "If the devil induce you to leave +the Order a second time, he will lead you to be hanged on the gallows +which you see from hence." This weak penitent did not profit from this +warning, but left the Order again, and led a libertine life, was taken +up for a robbery, and hanged on the spot pointed out. St. Francis might +have said of those, as St. John did of the apostates who left the +Church, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for, if they +had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us:" that is +to say, that they were not firm in the Christian religion. + +The knowledge of the human heart belongs to God alone; even the angels +have it not unless imparted to them by His light, and He was pleased +to communicate that light to Francis. We have had several instances +of this, but we must add the following: The blessed Father, being at +the hermitage of Grecio, two of his brethren came, from a great distance +off, urged by a strong desire to see him, and to receive his blessing, +which they had long been desirous of. Unfortunately, they reached the +hermitage when he was retired to his cell, from which he did not come +out to receive visits, and they could not see him. As they were going +away, greatly disappointed, he came out, contrary to his usual custom, +called them, and blessed them in the name of Jesus Christ, and made +the sign of the cross upon their foreheads, as they had wished. Humanly +speaking, he could not have known that they were come, but he knew it +in spirit, as well as if he had seen them. + +Having restored peace, and performed some splendid miracles in a town, +he left the place early in the morning, without having taken leave of +the bishop, who had given him a most honorable reception. At a spot +where three roads diverged, he did not know which one he ought to take, +and desired Brother Masse, who was his companion, to turn round and +round, no doubt to put his obedience to the test. When he began to be +giddy, he ordered him to stop, and to follow the road which was before +him. Masse went first, and said to himself, "How uncivil! how simple! +He not only has not taken leave of the bishop who received him with +so much kindness, but he makes me turn round and round as a child." +This interior murmuring did not last; these reflections followed: "How +could I have so much pride as to despise a man who is so evidently +beloved by God? Fool that I am, I deserve to go to hell for daring to +censure the actions of Francis, through whom the Lord works such +wonders, and whom I ought to look upon as an angel. And, after all, +what reason has he given me for censuring him? He left the town without +having taken leave of the bishop, but it was to avoid fresh honors +being shown him; he made me turn round and round, but he made me take +the right road." Then Francis exclaimed: "Ah, Brother Masse, how +different are these feelings from those first entertained! From whence +do these come, and from whence did those others arise?" Masse, seeing +that his thoughts were discovered, threw himself at the Saint's feet, +and solicited his pardon. + +A particular gift which Francis received from God, was the control of +animals. He gave them his commands, and they obeyed him, they did +whatever he pleased; it was, moreover, noticed that they showed a sort +of affection for him, and applauded what he did in their way. Upon +which two observations occur. The first is taken from St. Bonaventure, +who says that the state of innocence was represented in the power which +God gave to His Servant over animals. Adam, just and innocent, had +absolute control over them, and he exercised it in giving to each of +them its proper name, when God made them pass before him, as we read +in Genesis. His sin caused him to lose his privilege, with all the +others which had been attached to this happy state; and we experience, +as he did, the revolt of the animals, in punishment of his having +disobeyed God. But when an eminent sanctity has brought men more to +original justice, and has, in some measure, reestablished them in a +state of innocence, it has sometimes pleased the Almighty to restore +them to some of the privileges which man enjoyed in those times, and, +in particular, this control over animals. This is what is seen in +well-authenticated acts of many saints, and, in what St Bonaventure +relates of St. Francis, on the testimony of ocular witnesses, as well +as on the evidence of facts which were of public notoriety. + +The second thing which deserves notice is, that, when this holy man +compelled animals to obey him, and when they appeared to be attached +to him, it never occurred but when it was to give authority to the +Word of God, to do some good to a neighbor, to give a salutary lesson, +or to excite to the practice of some virtue, as we shall now see. It +is another proof that these marvels had their source in God, who +proposes, in all He does, some end worthy of His wisdom. + +Francis left Assisi one day, to go to preach, not having any longer +a doubt but that he and his brethren were called for the service of +souls, after the mission they had received from God, and from the +Supreme Pontiff; this was confirmed by supernatural lights, as we have +seen above. Being near to the Town of Bevagna, he saw on a particular +spot a number of birds collected, of various species, and he went up +to them, and said: "My sisters, listen to the word of God; you have +great reason to praise your Creator; He has covered you with feathers; +He has given you wings wherewith to fly; He has placed you in the air, +where the breathing is so pure; and He provider you with everything +which is necessary, without giving you any trouble." While he was thus +speaking and saying other similar things, the birds remained where +they were, turning towards him, and those which were perched on the +branches of trees, bending their heads, as if to listen to what he +said. It was a curious thing to observe the joy they appeared to feel +and make known by their motions; they stretched their necks, they +spread their wings, opened their beaks, and looked anxiously at the +zealous preacher, who walked about in the midst of them, and sometimes +touched them with his habit, without any of them stirring. They only +took to flight after he had given them leave, and made on them the +sign of the cross, to bless them. + +It was God's intention to honor the ministry of the Saint, in the eyes +of his companions, by this miracle, which they witnessed, and the +circumstances of which they communicated to St. Bonaventure. It was +also to show the attention which ought to be given to the truths of +salvation; and this is the reason why Francis, in turning to them, +said, with admirable candor: "I am very neglectful in not having as +yet preached to the birds." He observed, by this apparent simplicity, +which was full of good sense, that men often fail to listen to the +preachers, as the birds had seemingly listened to him; in the same +sense in which St. Martin had said, when complaining of the +insensibility of the men of his times: "They do not attend to me, +though the serpents obey me." This means that, with the aid of reason +and grace, they will not do what unreasonable animals necessarily do, +by the impulse of divine power. + +But why preach to birds? will the sages of this age ask; but why did +David say what the Church repeats daily in her Divine Office? "Whales, +and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord. All ye beasts and +cattle, fowls of the air, bless the Lord." The three young men who +were in the furnace at Babylon, said the same thing. A heart full of +love and gratitude would wish that all creatures should have hearts +and tongues, to glorify the Author of their being; he knows that even +the beasts praise Him by the marks they bear of His power, wisdom, and +goodness; in seeing them, in speaking to them, he commemorates His +sovereign greatness. + +On leaving Bevagna, Francis went to preach in the Borough of Alviano, +and not being able to make himself heard, in consequence of the noise +the swallows made, who had their nests there, he spoke these words to +them: "Swallows, my sisters, you have made yourselves heard long enough; +it is now my turn to speak. Listen, then, to the Word of God, and keep +silence while I preach." Immediately, as if they had understood what +he said, they ceased their noise, and remained where they were, to the +end of his sermon. The fruit of this miracle was to revive the fervor +and piety of the assembly, who glorified God, and listened to the +preacher with wonderful deference. The circumstance was soon spread, +and produced everywhere a similar effect. + +St. Bonaventure, who gives us this anecdote, adds, that, some time +afterwards, a scholar at Paris, who was of good conduct, having been +interrupted in his studies by the chirping of a swallow, said to his +companions: "This is one of those who interrupted the blessed Francis +in his sermon, and which he silenced;" having then addressed the +swallow, he said, with great faith: "In the name of Francis, the servant +of God, I order you to be silent and to come to me." It was instantly +silent, and came to him; in his surprise he let it go, and was not +again troubled by it. It was thus it pleased God to honor the name of +His servant. + +Other examples are found in the Saint's life, of the power he exercised +over animals, when, by their noise, or by any other means, they +interrupted his sermons or prayers, as on his return from Syria, near +the lagunes of Venice, where he saw a great number of birds who were +singing. He went into the midst of them to say his office, with his +companions, but the noise the birds made prevented their hearing each +other; Francis, upon that, ordered them to cease singing, till he had +finished his office, and, in fact, says the holy doctor, the author +of his life, from that moment they ceased their chirping until the +office, being finished, he gave them leave to resume their song, which +they did, as before. He took this opportunity to settle some of his +religious there, to celebrate the praises of the Lord, as has been +before noticed, St. Ambrose speaks of a circumstance as well known to +all the world, that some of the faithful, having been assembled in a +spot where the croaking of the frogs greatly disturbed them, a priest +commanded them to be quiet, and to show respect for holy things, and +that they immediately ceased from making any noise, and that these +irrational animals respected what they were incapable of understanding. + +We have already seen that when Francis was at Grecio, he freed the +country from the wolves which had ravaged it. At Gubio, he tamed one +in an extraordinary manner. He took it into the public square where +he preached, and having pointed out to his auditors that God sends +sometimes these carnivorous animals to warn sinners to return to their +duties, he addressed the wolf, and made an agreement with it, the +clauses of which were, that the inhabitants should feed it, and that +the wolf should do no injury to any of them. This was faithfully +attended to on both sides. During two years the animal came to the +town to feed, and did no injury to any one. The holy man had tamed, +in a similar manner, at Carinola, a fox that stole all the poultry of +a poor old woman, and from which she received no injury afterwards. +Similar traits are found in the lives of many saints, whose acts are +admitted to be authentic and certain, by the most talented critics. +St. Athanasius remarks, in the life of St. Anthony, that wild animals +causing great damage in a field which he cultivated, he took one gently, +and said to all the others, while speaking to the one he had caught: +"Why do you injure me, who never did you any harm? go, and in the name +of the Lord, never come here any more." The holy doctor adds, that +from that time they were never again seen in that place, as if they +had been afraid of disobeying him. Sulpicius Severus relates of St. +Martin, that he had an extraordinary control over all animals. Resting +himself one day with his disciples, on the bank of a river, he saw a +snake swimming over, and he ordered it in the name of the Lord to swim +back again, upon which it was seen to return with as much speed as it +had come. James, who wrote the life of St. Columban, given by the +learned Father Mabillon, after Surius, states that the crows and the +bears obeyed him, and that all the beasts of the field came at his +call, in the same manner as those which are domesticated. It was in +order to teach men to esteem and imitate a virtue which the Lord caused +to be respected, even by dumb animals. + +St. Francis, when at Rome, in 1222, had always with him a little lamb, +to remind him of the Lamb of God, who chose to be sacrificed for us. +When he was about to leave the eternal city, he confided the little +animal to the care of the Lady of Septisal, the illustrious widow of +whom we have often had occasion to speak. The little lamb, as if it +had been trained to spiritual exercises by the holy man, followed this +lady to church, stayed there, and returned with her, never leaving +her. If she was behind her usual time of rising in a morning, it would +go to her bed, where, by bleating or striking the bed with its head, +or other motions, it seemed to call upon her to rise, and offer her +grateful prayer to God. The lady was much attached to this lamb, and +took care of it, says St. Bonaventure, as a disciple of Francis, which +had become her instructor in devotion. A present was made to the holy +Father, at St. Mary of the Angels, of a sheep; he received it +thankfully, because of the innocence and simplicity of which it was +a symbol, and he said to it, as if it could understand him, that it +was necessary it should assist at the praises of the Lord, without +incommoding the brethren; the sheep obeyed with great punctuality. +When the religious went to the choir, to sing the office, the sheep +went of itself to the church, placed itself at the foot of the altar +of the Blessed Virgin, bent in its fore-legs, and bleated in a low +tone, as if to pay its homage. It did the same at Mass, when the Host +was elevated. St. Bonaventure remarks, that this animal, by the respect +it manifested during the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries, taught +the Christians the deep reverence with which they ought to assist at +Mass, and at the same time passed a deserved censure on those who are +irreverent or indevout during its celebration. + +The smallest things raised the heart of St. Francis to God, and he +made use of them to create similar feelings in the hearts of his +disciples. The chirping of a grasshopper, which was on a fig tree, +near his cell, inspired him with fresh fervor; he called it, and it +came to him directly, and he made it sing on his hand, which it began +anew, whenever he required it. At the end of eight days he said to his +companions: "Let it now go; it has incited us long enough to praise +God;" at the very moment the grasshopper flew away, and was seen no +more. One day, as he was about to take his collation with Brother Leo, +he felt himself interiorly consoled, on hearing a nightingale sing. +He begged Leo to sing the praises of God alternately with the bird; +the latter having excused himself, alleging the badness of his voice, +he himself responded to the bird, and continued to do so till night, +when he was obliged to give over, acknowledging that the little bird +had beaten him. He made it come upon his hand, and praised it for +having sung so well, fed it, and it was only after he had desired it +to leave him, and given it his blessing, that the nightingale flew +away. + +In the impression which the power of God affected upon animals, in +favor of St. Francis, there was this further circumstance, which was +marvellous: that they seemed to have an affection for him, and appeared +pleased when they saw him. It is St. Bonaventure who gives several +examples of this. + +The Servant of God, going to Sienna, passed near a flock of sheep which +were feeding in a meadow. He greeted them, as was his custom, with an +air of kindness, and immediately the sheep, the rams, and the lambs, +left their pasture, came to him, lifted up their heads to greet him +in their manner, which was greatly wondered at by the shepherds and +by his companions. Hares and rabbits were presented to him, which had +been caught alive; they were put before him on the ground, and they +immediately sprang into his arms. Although he gave them their liberty, +they remained with him, and he was obliged to have them removed far +off into the country, by some of his religious, and put in a place of +safety. + +On the banks of the Lake of Rieti, a fisherman gave him a live water- +fowl. After having kept it a little while, he tried to make it fly +away, but in vain. He then raised his eyes to Heaven, and remained for +more than an hour in a state of ecstasy, after which he mildly ordered +the bird to go away and praise the Lord, and he gave it his blessing. +The bird showed signs of pleasure by its motions, and flew away. On +the same lake, a large fish which had been just caught, was presented +to him; he held it for some time in his hand, and then put it back in +the water. The fish remained in the same place, playing in the water +before him, as if out of regard for him; it could not leave him, and +did not disappear till it had received the Saint's leave, together +with his blessing. + +The first time that St. Francis went to Mount Alverno, he was surrounded +by a multitude of birds, which lit upon his head, on his shoulders, +on his breast, and on his hands, evincing by their beaks and wings the +pleasure his arrival caused them, which he noticed to his companions, +as a mark of the will of God that he should remain in this mountain. +When he came thither, and received the stigmata there, the birds greeted +him in a similar manner; and a hawk, which could only have come thither +by a supernatural impulse, attached itself peculiarly to his person. +When the hour of the night drew near, at which Francis rose to pray, +the bird did not fail to come and make a noise at the door of his cell. +This punctuality was very pleasing to the Saint, because it caused him +to be watchful; but when his infirmities were more severe than usual, +the bird, well taught by Him who controlled its movements, did not +come to wake him till sunrise, and even then did not make so much noise +as usual. + +The numerous miracles of St. Francis attached men to him in a scarcely +less degree than his extraordinary sanctity; and the gift he possessed +of unbounded love--called for their admiration. This is the portrait +we find of him in the legend we have before alluded to: "Our blessed +Father was agreeable to all. Joy, serenity, kindness, and modesty, +were perceptible in his countenance. He was naturally mild and affable, +compassionate, liberal, prudent, discreet, gave sound advice, was +faithful to his word, and full of courage; he was easy in his manners, +accommodating himself to all sorts of tempers; he was all to all, he +was a saint among the saintly, and among sinners, as if he was one of +them; his conversation was graceful, and his manner insinuating; clear +in his reasoning, energetic and compliant in matters of business; and, +finally, simple in his actions and words." + +These are qualifications well calculated to make their possessor +beloved, particularly when joined, as in the case of St. Francis, with +the purest morals, with the most ardent charity, the most profound +humility, and a countenance which seemed angelical. After the portrait +of his mind, we find in the same narrative the following description +of his person: "He was of middle size, neither short nor tall, but +well shaped. His face was oval, his forehead smooth, his eyes black +and modest, his mouth pretty; his hair was of chestnut color, his beard +black, but scanty, his body very thin, his skin delicate, his speech +pleasing and animated, his voice strong and piercing, but altogether +mild and sonorous." + +We must receive in their true sense what was understood in saying that +"he was simple in his actions and words." The term simplicity has two +significations in English.--Firstly it is used to describe a person +of little mind, narrow-minded, dull, not well informed, weak and +credulous; it is also used to express candor, ingenuousness, and +uprightness; to describe a person who is natural, without artfulness. +It is in this sense that it is said that the greatest geniuses are the +most simple; enemies of subtlety and trick, which are only appropriate +to narrow minds. The simplicity of the just, in Scriptural language, +is true virtue, solid without drawback, purity of heart, uprightness +of intention; in opposition to every sort of duplicity or +disguise--everything that St. Paul calls "the prudence of the flesh; +the wisdom of this world." St. Gregory so explains it. This does not +exclude prudence, but only malice and double dealing. Our Blessed Lord +warns us "to be prudent as serpents, and simple as doves." St. Paul +says: "I would have you to be wise in good, and simple in evil." Every +Christian must be simple in faith, submitting himself purely and simply +to the decisions of the Church, without any endeavor to elude them by +crafty evasions, as some do in so scandalous a manner; simple in the +intercourse of society, being frank and sincere, doing injury to no +one; simple in devotion, going straight to God; following the way +pointed out by the Gospel; not resembling those of whom the wise man +says: "They go two ways, and have two hearts," the one for God, and +the other for the world. + +Such was the simplicity of St. Francis. He was simple because he had +no other intention in his mind, no other movement in his heart, than +to be conformed to Jesus Christ. In order to imitate His poverty, His +humility, His sufferings, all His virtues, he did many things far above +the ordinary rules of human wisdom; and, as to his language, it was +formed on that of the Gospel. + +St. Francis was simple, but he had great qualities of mind and heart; +and his simplicity was a perfection in him--not a defect. If it induced +him to do things of which human prudence disapproves, it was because +he was guided by Divine light; it was because he sought to be despised +by the world, to render himself more conformable to Jesus Christ. Men +of his age were not deceived by it; they discovered the principle which +made him act and speak with such simplicity. His constant endeavor to +humble himself, and draw on himself contempt, only gave them a greater +esteem for his person, and they loaded him with honors. If our age +deems itself wiser, what reason has it for not doing similar justice? + +May the tender holiness of St. Francis, which we have endeavored to +portray, excite all those who read his life to love God, and to manifest +their love, not only by their actions, but by their patience in +adversities! May they love Him so, that the sweet violence of their +ardent love separate them from all that is beneath the Heavens, and +wholly absorb them, may they be enabled to kneel in spirit at the side +of St. Francis and pray with him from the bottom of their heart: + +My God and My All! + +THE END + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Legends of Saint Francis +of Assisi, by Father Candide Chalippe + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANCIS OF ASSISI *** + +This file should be named 6367.txt or 6367.zip + +Produced by Scott Pfenninger, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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