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The Little Flowers
OF
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI.
From the Painting^ by Alcssandro Moretto in the Gallery at Milan.
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The Little Flowers
OF
Saint Francis of AfTifi,
In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST, who was crucified, and of His
Mother the VIRGIN MARY. In this Book
are contained certain Little Flowers, Miracles,
and devout Examples of that glorious poor
Follower of Chrift, Saint Francis, and
of certain of his holy Companions.
Told to the Praife of Jefus
Chrift. Amen.
^ranslateti from tije Italian,
With a Brief Account of the Life of Saint Francis,
By ABBY LANGDON ALGER.
BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. 1898.
\
Copyright, 1887^ By Roberts Brothers.
^ -^ z , 3 r
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(Hnibfrst'tD ^rrgg: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A.
PREFACE.
SAINT FRANCIS was born in 1 182, in the little town of Affifi, in Umbria, chiefly notable as having given him birth. His mother, Ma- donna Pica, was of noble race, and his father, Peter Bernardone, that is, Peter the fon of Bernard, the family name being Moriconi, — was a rich mer- chant, who was travelling in France on bufmefs at the time Francis was born. Many ftrange tales are told of the omens attending the litde boys advent into the world. For fome time previous, a poor man roamed the ftreets of Affifi crying aloud, " Peace and profperity ! peace and profper- ity ! " His mother was ill for many days, nor were her fufferings relieved,
vi l^rtfact.
until by the advice of a pilgrim who came that way ilie was laid on a bed of ftraw in a flable. Thus began that likenefs between the life of Francis and that of Chrift, which was contin- ued throughout. Another flranger ap- peared to a6l as godfather, and flill another took the baby in his arms and, marking his right flioulder with a crofs, foretold the viflory which he was to win over the Devil. Madonna Pica named her child John, in memory of the beloved difciple; but on his father's return with rich profits, he chofe to call him Francis, for the country where he had been fo fuccefsful.
The boy was taught by the priefls of the parifli, and learned eafily all that was taught him, fliowing an ef- pecial talent for the language of the land from which he took his name. As he grew to manhood he was fore- moft in the gayeties of the town, win- ning for himfelf the fobriquet of the " flower of youth."
Thomas of Celano, a Francifcan
|)rcCace» vii
brother, and a dear friend of Francis, delcribes him thus: " He was of mid- dle flature, rather under than over, with an oval face and full but low forehead, his eyes dark and clear, his hair thick, his eyebrows clofe, a flraight and delicate nofe, a voice foft yet keen and fiery ; clofe, equal, and white teeth ; lips modeft yet fubtle ; a black beard not thickly grown ; a thin neck, fquare flioulders, fhort arms, fmall hands and feet, delicate fkin, and little flefh." So elegant was his drefs, and fo luxurious were his taftes, that his parents often faid, " He is more like the fon of a prince than like our fon." Still, they were proud of his fplendor, and grudged him noth- ing, though his charities were as lavifli as his pleafures : no beggar ever afked of him in vain.
When he had reached the age of twenty-four, however, a war broke out between Affifi and Perugia. Francis was taken prifoner, and for a year languiflied in captivity. Returning
viii Jlrtfate^
home, he fuffered from a long and tedious illnefs which proved a turn- ing-point in his career. He began to long for fomething better and higher than mere amufement. It was the age of knighthood, and his firfl thought was to redrefs wrong and help the weak. He fet out to join the forces of the Count de Brienne, defcribed as a man of great magnifi- cence and liberality ; but flopping at Spoleto, he was warned in a dream to return home, which he did in a ftate of melancholy and abforption. His merry comrades laughingly afked if he was dreaming of a wife, that he was fo fober. " Yes," was the anfwer, — " of a wife more noble, more beauti- ful, and more rich than anything your fancy can conceive." This bride was Poverty, whom he was fo foon to efpoufe. He now began to devote himfelf more entirely to the fick and poor, particularly the lepers, of whom there were many at that time. Thefe wretched beings were fhunned by
^preface* ix
every one, and Francis mufi; in- deed have feemed mad to thofe who law him fhoop to kifs their infedlious forms.
Going one day to the ruined Church of St. Damian's, an inward voice bade him repair it. At once he hurried home, and his father being away, took a quantity of merchandife, which he fold, offering the price for the work of reftoration. The priefl refufing, he threw it in a corner, where it lay until the angry Peter Bernardone, learning what had happened, came to claim it and to imprifon his head- ftrong fon. His mother finally freeing him, he fought refuge with the priell of St. Damian's, refloring to his father all that he had received from him, even his clothes, ftripping himfelf to the hair fliirt which he had worn in fecret, and renouncing his father for- ever. Thenceforth he begged mate- rial to repair the church from door to door, building it up with his own hands, and colle6ling broken fcraps
of food from the charitable, for his maintenance. In this way, in the courfe of two years he reftored three churches and gained twelve difciples, the iirft being Bernard of Quintavalle. The ftory of their converlion and final formation into the Order of Friars Minor, Gray Friars, or Francifcan Monks, is told in the " Little Flowers " which follow. Within eleven years thefe twelve grew to more than five thoufand. They were vowed to ab- je61: poverty, owning abfolutely noth- ing, thus differing from the other ecclefiaftical bodies then in exiHence. Francis next founded the Order of Poor Ladies, afterwards known as the Poor Clares, in honor of their firft ab- befs, Clara Sciffi, a beautiful heirefs, who left her home at the age of fifteen to enter upon a religious life. Later flill the third Order was eflablifhed, which was open to men and women alike, and meant for thofe who lived in the world. Thefe three Orders fpread rapidly throughout the globe,
J3reCace» xi
Saint Francis travelling even into Syria.
After enduring every privation and forrow for many years, as well as many namelefs raptures in his fpirit- ual intercourfe with God, he faw, as he prayed upon a lonely mountain, a vifion of Chrifl crucified ; and as he gazed, his body became ftamped with the Stigmata, or marks of the Paffion of our Lord, which he thenceforth bore until his death, fome two years after, Oct. 4, 1226, in the forty-fifth year of his age.
Thechief quality of Saint Francis — the central and character ifi:ic charm which has made him perhaps the befl beloved of all the illuflrious members of the calendar — is the depth and tendernefs of his heart. His gentle and generous affe6lion was confi:antly overflowing on all around him, in fympathetic attention, poetic expref- fions, and a6ls of endearment. The objefts of his intenfe and exuberant love were not only God, angels, and
xii J^refacr*
men, but alfo animals, birds, infefls, and even inanimate objefts, which he was wont to addrefs as his brothers and fifters, in reference to their com- mon origin with himfelf. Many charming inflances of his friendfliips with fifh, falcons, fwallows, lambs, wolves, hares, pheafants, and graffhop- pers, may be found in thefe " Little Flowers," and in the various Lives of him.
He was firil to eflablifh the cuftom ftill prevalent in Catholic countries, of reprefenting the Nativity in the ftable at Bethlehem, at Chriflmas time, before the altar. He was alfo among the earlieft of Italian poets; for in thofe days Italian was only the vulgar tongue, Latin or the foft Proven9al being ufed for literary pur- pofes. He improvifed many ardent hymns and fongs, which he taught to his followers, the moft widely known being the " Canticle to the Sun," or " Song of the Creatures," and " Love fets my Heart on Fire/'
J))rcfacr, xiii
Many full and interefting Lives of Saint Francis have been written in various tongues, the belt being thole by Thomas of Celano and by Saint Bonaventura, — his friends and difci- ples, — by Father Luke Wadding, by Mrs. Oliphant, by M. Chavin de Malin, and by a Religious of the Order of Poor Clares. The " Little Flowers " are a feries of legends which were colle6ted fome two hundred years after his death, having been handed down by word of mouth until that time. They form an excellent biog- raphy of him and his difciples, told with quaint hmplicity and grace. The tranflator has tried to preferve the 7idwete and antique flavor of the original in the prefent verfion. The work beins: fo famous and favorite a claffic in Italy and France, it is fome- what Angular that it has never until now been prefented in Englifli.
A. L. A.
NcrvembcTy 1 88 7.
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER I.
In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, Who was crucified, and of His Mother the Virgin Mary. In this Book are contained certain Little flowers, Miracles, and Devout Examples of that glorious poor Follower of Chrift, Saint Francis, and of certain of his holy Companions. Told to the Praife of Jefus Chrift. Amen . . .
CHAPTER H.
Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the firft Companion of Saint Francis 9
CHAPTER III.
How for the evil Thoughts which Saint Francis had regarding Brother Bernard, he com- manded that fame Brother Bernard that three Times he fhould place his Feet upon his Neck and upon his Mouth 16
xvi (tonttntu*
CHAPTER IV.
PAGE
How the Angel of the Lord put a Queftion unto Brother Elias, the Keeper of a certain Convent in the Vale of Spoleto. and for- afmuch as Brother EHas made Anfvver haughtily, departed thence and went forth unto St. James of Compoftella, where he met with Brother Bernard and told his Tale unto him 21
CHAPTER V.
How that Saint, Brother Bernard of Affifi, was defpatched by Saint Francis to Bo- logna, and there took up his abode ... 29
CHAPTER VI.
How Saint Francis bleffed Brother Bernard and made him his Vicar when he came to pafs away from^ this Life 33
CHAPTER VII.
How Saint Francis fafted forty Days and forty Nights in an Ifland of the Lake of Perugia, eating no more but half a Loaf 37
CHAPTER VIII.
How Saint Francis and Brother Leo, as they journeyed, difcourfed of Perfect Blifs . . 40
Qtonttntn. xvii
CHAPTER IX.
PAGE
How Saint Francis taught Brother Leo to make Anfwer unto Him ; and He could never Speak fave the Contrary of that which Saint Francis Willed 44
CHAPTER X.
How Brother Maximus Mockingly faid unto Saint Francis that the World was at his Feet, and he made Anfwer that this was by the Grace of God, and a Difgrace to the World 48
CHAPTER XI.
How Saint Francis caufed Brother Maximus to turn himfelf about, and then departed unto Sienna 50
CHAPTER XII.
How Saint Francis beftowed on Brother Maxi- mus the offices of Gate-Keeper, Almoner, and Cook : then at the Prayer of the other Brothers deprived him of them • • • • 55
CHAPTER XIII.
How Saint Francis and Brother Maximus laid the Bread which they had begged upon a Stone befide a Well, and Saint Francis loudly praifed Poverty. Then he prayed
xviu ^onttntu.
PAOB
unto God and Saint Peter and Saint Paul that they might enamour Him of divine Poverty ; and how Saint Peter and Saint Paul appeared unto Him 58
CHAPTER XIV.
How Saint Francis, difcourfmg of God with his Brethren, He appeared in their Midft . 64
CHAPTER XV.
How Saint Clara ate with Saint Francis and with his Brother Monks in St. Mary of the Angels 65
CHAPTER XVI.
How Saint Francis received the Advice of Saint Clara and of Holy Brother Sylveller, that he fhould go forth and preach, con- verting the People ; and he created the Third Order, and preached to the Birds and filenced the young Swallows ... 69
CHAPTER XVII.
How a Francifcan Child, while Saint Francis prayed by Night, faw Chrift and the Virgin Mary, and many other Saints with Him . 76
(Contents* xix
CHAPTER XVIII.
TAOE
Of the marvellous Chapter held by Saint Francis in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, where were alTembled more than five thoufand of the Brethren . . . . yS
CHAPTER XIX.
How the Grapes in the Vineyard of the Prieft of Rieti, in whofe Houfe Saint Francis prayed, were trampled and plucked by the many People which came thither to him ; and then miraculoully made more Wine than ever before, even as Saint Francis had promiled. And how the Lord revealed to Saint Francis that Paradife fliould be his lot 8s
CHAPTER XX.
Of a very fair Vifion, feen by a young Friar, who held the Cowl in fuch abomination that He was difpofed to lay afide his Habit and forfake the Order 90
CHAPTER XXI.
Of the Moil Holy Miracle, which Saint Francis performed, when he converted the very fierce Wolf at Gubbio 93
CHAPTER XXII.
PAGE
How Saint Francis tamed the wild Turtle- Doves 99
CHAPTER XXIII.
How Saint Francis fet free the Friar who had finned with the aid of the Devil . . . loi
CHAPTER XXIV.
How Saint Francis converted the Sultan of Babylon to the Faith 1 03
CHAPTER XXV.
How Saint Francis miraculoufly healed the Leper in Body and in Soul ; and that which the Soul fpake, afcending into Heaven . . 106
CHAPTER XXVI.
How Saint Francis converted three Thieves and Murderers, and made them Brethren ; and of the moft glorious Vifion beheld of one of them who was a moft holy Brother . 1 1 1
CHAPTER XXVII.
How Saint Francis converted two Scholars of Bologna and made Friars of them ; and then rid one of them of a fore Temptation which befet him 124
Qtonttntn. xxi
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PAQS
Of an Ecftafy which feized upon Brother Ber- nard and held him from Matins even until Nones, he being all that fpace unconfcious of Aught 129
CHAPTER XXIX.
How the Devil ofttimes did appear in the Form of One Crucified unto Brother Rufus, telling him that all his Labor was vain, inafmuch as he was not chofen unto Eternal Life : Saint Francis learning this through Divine Revelation, fhowed Brother Rufus the Error in which he lay 131
CHAPTER XXX.
Of the glorious Sermon which Saint Francis and Brother Rufus preached at Affifi . .138
CHAPTER XXXI.
How Saint Francis duly knew the fecret Souls of all his Brethren 141
CHAPTER XXXII.
How Brother Maximus entreated of Chrift the Virtue of Meeknefs 143
xxii (tonttntn*
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PAGE
How Saint Clara, at the Command of the Pope, blelTed the Bread which was on the Table : whereat on every Loaf was feen the fign of the Holy Crofs 146
CHAPTER XXXIV.
How Saint Louis, King of France, went in Per- fon, in the Guife of a Pilgrim, to Perugia, to vifit Holy Brother Guy 148
CHAPTER XXXV.
How, being infirm, Saint Clara was borne by a Miracle unto the Church of Saint Francis, • upon Chriftmas Night, and heard Mafs therein 151
CHAPTER XXXVI.
How Saint Francis fet forth to Brother Leo a fair Vifion which he faw 153
CHAPTER XXXVII.
How Jefus Chrifl the Blefled, at the requefl of Saint Francis, did convert a rich and noble Knight, and make him a Monk, the Same having made great Proffers and paid much Honor unto Saint Francis , 155
(S^ontents* xxiii
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
PAGE
How Saint Francis had fpiritual Knowledge that Brother Elias was damned, and was dellined to die outfide of the Order ; where- fore at Brother Ehas' Entreaty He prayed to God in his Behalf and was heard . . .159
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Of the Marvellous Sermon which was preached in the Confiftory by Saint Antony of Padua, a Gray Friar 163
CHAPTER XL.
Of ^he Miracle which God performed when Saint Antony, being at Rimini, preached to the Fifhes of the Sea 165
CHAPTER XLI.
How the Venerable Brother Simon freed from lore Temptation a Brother which for that fame caufe was about to f orfake the Order . 1 69
CHAPTER XLII.
Of the fair Miracles which God wrought through thofe Holy Brethren, Brother Wel- come, Brother Peter of Monticello, and Brother Conrad of Offida : and how Brother
xxiv Qtonttntn*
PAGE
Welcome bore a Leper fifteen Miles in moft brief Space ; and to the one fpake Saint Michael, and to the other came the Virgin Mary and laid her Son in his Arms 174
CHAPTER XLIII.
How Brother Conrad of Offida did convert a young Monk who afflidted the other Friars. And how the faid young Monk, coming to die, did appear to the faid Brother , Conrad, entreating that he would pray for him : and how he fet him free by his Prayers from the very great Pains of Purgatory . .179
CHAPTER XLIV.
How the Mother of Chrifl and Saint John the Evangelifl did appear unto Brother Con- rad, and did tell him which of they twain did grieve moft fore for the Paffion of Chrift 182
CHAPTER XLV.
Of the Converfion and Life and Miracles and Death of that holy Brother, John of the Pen 185
CHAPTER XLVI.
How Brother Peace, being at Prayer, faw the Soul of his Brother, Brother Humihty, afcend to Heaven 193
(tonttntu. XXV
CHAPTER XLVII.
PAGE
Of that Holy Monk to whom the Mother of Chrifl: appeared when he was infirm, and brought him three Boxes of Ele6luary . .196
CHAPTER XLVni.
How Brother James of MaiTa faw in a Vifion all the Gray Friars of the World, after the Faftiion of a Tree, and did know the Vir- tues and the Merits and the Vices of every one 199
CHAPTER XLIX.
How Chrift appeared to Brother John of Vernia 206
CHAPTER L.
How, faying Mafs upon All Souls' Day, Brother John of Vernia faw many Souls fet free from Purgatory 214
CHAPTER LI.
Of the Holy Brother James of Fallerone ; and how, before he died, he did appear to Brother John of Vernia 216
xxvi atonttixtn.
CHAPTER LII.
PAGE
Of the Vifion of Brother John of Vernia, wherein he knew the whole Order of the Holy Trinity o 220
CHAPTER LHI.
How, faying Mafs, Brother John of Vernia fell as one Dead 222
The Little Flowers
OF
Saint Francis of Affifi.
CHAPTER I.
In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jefiis Chriji, Who was crucified, and of His Mother the Virgin Mary. In this Book are contai7ied certaifi Little Flowers, Miracles, and devout Examples of that glorious poor Follower of Chrifl, Saint Fraficis, a?td of certain of his holy Companions. Told to the Praife of jFefus Chrifl. Amen.
WE have firft to confider that the glorious Saint Francis in all the a6ls of his life was like unto Chrift, our bleffed Lord ; for even as Chrift in the beginning of His preaching chofe to Himfelf twelve Apoftles who fhould renounce all worldly things and follow after Him in poverty
and
8 srje ILittle iFlototrs of
and in other virtuous deeds, eve i fo Saint Francis chofe in the beginning of the foun- dation of his Order twelve companions, vowed to the moft abje6l poverty ; and alfo even as one of the twelve Apofbles of Chrift, reproved of God, went out and hanged him- felf by the neck, fo one of the twelve Compan- ions of Saint Francis, the fame which was called Brother John of the Chapel, did turn apoftate, and finally go out and hang himfelf by the neck. And this is a worthy exam- ple for the ele6l, and a fubje6l for fear and humility, confidering that none can be fure of continuing unto the end in the grace of God. And as thofe holy Apofbles were a wonder to all men for their fan6lity and humility, and were filled full with the Holy Ghoft, fo too the moft holy companions of Saint Francis were men of fo much fanc- tity, that, from the days of the Apoftles down to the prefent time, the world has known no fuch wonderful and holy men, infomuch as a certain one among them was fnatched up into the third Heaven, like Saint Paul, and that was Brother Guy; a certain one among them, that is Brother Philip Long, was touched upon the lips by an Angel with a living coal, as was the
Prophet
Saint iFrnucis of ^nniui. 9
Prophet Ifliiah ; a certain one among them, and that was Brother Silveller, talked with God, as might one friend with another, even as did Mofes ; a certain one among them did rife by fubtlcty of intelledl even unto the hght of divine wifdom, Uke unto the Eagle, which is John the Evangelift, and this was Brother Bernard, the moft humble of men, who did expound the Holy Scriptures moft learnedly ; a certain one among them was fanftified of God, and canonized in heaven while ftill living upon this earth, and that was Brother Rufus, a gentleman of Affifi. And thus were all priv- ileged to receive fingular figns of fan6lity, even as lliall be fet forth in the following pages.
CHAPTER n.
0/ Brother Bernard of Qiiintavalle, the firjl Co7np anion of Saint Fra?icis.
THE firft companion of Saint Francis was one Brother Bernard of Affifi, the fame being converted in this fafliion ; Saint Francis being ftill clad in fecular garb, al- though
lo ^f\t autle iFlotoers of
though he had already renounced the world, and went about defpifing all vain fhow, and mortifying his flefh by manifold forms of penitence, infomuch that of many he was held to be half mad, and was fcorned as a fool and driven forth with ftones and loath- ing alike by his family and by ftrangers, and he amidft all infults and injuries remained paffive, as if deaf and dumb, — Bernard of Affifi, who was one of the moft noble, rich, and wife men of that city, began prudently to confider Saint Francis' exceeding con- tempt for this world and his great patience amid infults ; how that for the fpace of two long years, being thus held in abomination and defpifed of all men, he feemed ever but the more fteadfaft in his faith. He began to think and to fay to himfelf, " It can in no wife be but that this Brother is poffeffed of the great grace of God ; " and he invited him to fup with him that night and to lodge with him. And Saint Francis accepted his proffers, and fupped and lodged with him. And then did Bernard ponder in his heart and meditate upon his fan6lity; whereupon he ordered a bed to be laid for him in his own chamber, wherein a lamp ever burned at night. And Saint Francis
defiring
Saint iFrancis of ^nnini. n
defiring to hide his great fanc^lity, imme- diately that he entered the chamber, threw himfelf upon his bed and feigned fleep ; and even fo did Bernard, and after a cer- tain fpace he turned himfelf over and began to fnore loudly, as he were fleeping heavily. For the which thing Saint Francis, truly believing that Bernard flept in his firft flumbers, arofe from the bed and fell him- felf upon his knees, lifting both hands and eyes to heaven, and with the utmoft fervor and devotion he exclaimed, ** My God ! my God ! " and thus crying and weeping much, he remained until morning, repeating ever, " My God ! my God ! " and nought elfe ; and thus fpake Saint Francis, contemplat- ing and admiring the excellency of the Divine Majefty Which had deigned to de- fcend to pardon a perifhing world ; where- fore Saint Francis became a poor beggar and devoted his life to feeking out fome means of falvation for his foul and for the fouls of others. And ftill illumined by the Holy Ghoft, or elfe indeed by the fpirit of prophecy, forefeeing the great things which the Lord was to do for him and for his Order, and confidering his own infuffi- ciency and little virtue, he cried aloud and
prayed
12 ^rjt mttU jFlototrs of
prayed unto God that of His Charity and Omnipotence, without which human weak- nefs availeth nought, He would fupply, aid, and complete the work which man alone could not achieve.
Bernard, feeing by the light of the lamp these moft pious a6ls of Saint Francis, and confidering devoutly the words which he uttered, was touched and infpired of the Holy Ghoft to change his life ; infomuch that at dawn of day he called unto Saint Francis and faid thus : " Brother Francis, my heart is greatly minded to forfake the world and to follow after thee in all things that thou fhalt command me." Hear- ing this. Saint Francis rejoiced in fpirit and fpake thus: ** Bernard, this of which you fpeak is fo great and difficult a talk that we muft needs take counfel concern- ing it with Our Lord Jefus Chrift, and pray Him that it may pleafe Him to fhow us His fovereign will in the fame, and to teach us how we may execute it ; and there- fore let us go forth together to the Epif- copal Palace, where we may find a right- eous prieft, and we will bid him fay a mafs ; there we will remain and pray even unto the third hour of the day, entreating God
that
Saint jFtaucis of ^nninU 13
that even in the three openings of the Miffal He will fet forth to us the way which it fliall pleafe Him to have us go."
Bernard replied that thefe things liked him well. Thus they fet forth and came unto the Bifliop's Palace ; and there hav- ing heard the Mafs, and remained abforbed in prayer even unto the third hour of the day, the prieft, at the petition of Saint Francis, took up the Miffal, and making the fign of the moft Holy Crofs, did open it three times in the name of Our Lord Jefus Chrifb ; and at the firft opening there appeared thefe words, which Chrifb fpake in the Gofpel unto the young man who afked of Him the way to be perfe6l : " If thou wilt be perfe6l, go and fell that thou haft and give to the poor, and come and follow Me." At the fecond opening there appeared thefe words uttered by Chrift to the Apoftles when He fent them forth to preach : " Provide neither gold, nor filver, nor brafs in your purfes, nor fcrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither flioes, nor yet ftaves ; " defiring thereby to teach them that they lliould fet all their truft in God, and bend their whole thoughts to the preaching of the Holy Gofpel ; at the
third
14 ^fit ISLittlt iFlotoers of
m
third opening of the Miffal there appeared thefe words which Chrift fpake : " If any man will come after Me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs, and follow Me."
Then faid Saint Francis to Bernard, ''Behold the counfel which Chrift hath given us. Go therefore and do that which you have heard ; and bleffed be Our Lord Jefus Chrift, which hath ftooped to fhow us the way of His gofpel." Hearing this, Bernard went out and fold all that that he had, — and he was very rich, — and with great joy did divide all his wealth among widows and orphans, among prifons and monafteries, and among hofpitals and pil- grims ; and in all things was aided faithfully and providently of Saint Francis.
And a certain man, whofe name was Silvefter, feeing that Saint Francis gave fo much money to the poor, and continued to give large fums, pinched by avarice, faid to Saint Francis, " Never yet have you paid me all that you owe me for thofe ftones that you did buy to repair the church ; now therefore that you have money, pay." Then Saint Francis, marvelling much at his avarice, and loath to contend with him,
like
Saint jfvantin of ^nnini. 15
like unto a true obferver of the Holy Gof- pel, did ftretch forth his hand into the lap of Bernard, and drawing it out full of money, caft the fame into the lap of Sil- vefter, faying, " If more you defire, yet more will I give you." Silvefter being content with that that he had, went away and returned to his own houfe ; but at evening, pondering on that which he had done that day, and reproaching himfelf for his avarice, confidering the fervor of Ber- nard and the fan6lity of Saint Francis, the following night, and for yet two other nights, God fent him this rare vifion : that from the mouth of Saint Francis there iffued forth a crofs of gold, the top of which reached even unto Heaven, and the arms of which ftretched from the Eafb even unto the Weft. Becaufe of this vifion he gave away for love of God all that that he had, and became one of the Gray Friars ; and fuch were his fan6lity and grace while in the Order, that he fpake with God even as one friend with another, as Saint Francis many times experienced, and as is by him fet forth in thefe pages.
Bernard likewife received great grace from God, forafmuch as he was often tranf-
ported
1 6 ^Je nettle iFlotoers oi
ported in the contemplation of God ; and Saint Francis faid of him that he was wor- thy of all reverence, and that he was the true founder of this Order, inafmuch as he was the firft who forfook the world, keeping nothing for himfelf, but giving all to Chrift's poor ; and he fet an example of Chriftian poverty, offering himfelf naked to the arms of Chrift crucified ; for which thing may he be bleffed iji faecida faeculorinn. Amen.
CHAPTER III.
How for the evil Thoughts which Saint Francis had regarding Brother Ber?iard, he commanded that fame Brother Bernard that three Times he fhould place his Feet upofi his Neck and upon his Mouth,
THAT moft devout fervant of the Crofs, Saint Francis, from fevere penance and conftant tears had become almoft blind and faw but little. Upon one occafion he left the place where he abode and went to that place where Brother Bernard fo- journed, to fpeak with him of divine things.
And cominj
to that place he learned that
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,Saint jFranciQ of ^uuini. 17
the Brother was at prayer in the wood, rapt, and conjoined with God. Then Saint Francis went forth into that wood and called aloud, faying, " Come hither and fpeak to this blind beggar." And Brother Bernard anfwered him not, forafmuch as, being a man greatly given to meditation, his mind was abforbed in the contempla- tion of God ; and he was ftrangely favored in converfe with God, as Saint Francis had ofttimes proven, and therefore did he defire to have fpeech with him. After a certain fpace he called unto him a fecond and even a third time after the fame fafliion ; and never once .did Brother Bernard heed or hear his voice; neither did he make any anfwer, nor came he forth to meet him ; fo that Saint Francis departed no little difconfolate, and marvelling and lamenting in his own mind that Brother Bernard, three times called, came not forth to him. Journeying thence with thefe thoughts, Saint Francis, having gone but a little way, faid unto his companion, "Await me here." And he went afide into a folitary place and fell to praying, befeeching God that He would reveal to him wherefore Brother Bernard made not anfwer unto him. And
ftanding
1 6 ^Se mttlt jFlotorrs of
ported in the contemplation of God ; and Saint Francis faid of him that he was wor- thy of all reverence, and that he was the true founder of this Order, inafmuch as he was the firfb who forfook the world, keeping nothing for himfelf, but giving all to Chrift's poor ; and he fet an example of Chriftian poverty, offering himfelf naked to the arms of Chrift crucified ; for which thing may he be bleffed in faecula faeculortnn. Amen.
CHAPTER III.
How for the evil Thoughts which Saint Francis had regarding Brother Bertiard, he com?nanded that fame Brother Bernard that three Times he fJioiild place his Feet upon his Neck and upon his Mouth,
THAT moft devout fervant of the Crofs, Saint Francis, from fevere penance and conftant tears had become almofl blind and faw but little. Upon one occafion he left the place where he abode and went to that place where Brother Bernard fo- journed, to fpeak with him of divine things. And coming to that place he learned that
the
.Saint iFrancfs of ^BUinu 17
the Brother was at prayer in the wood, rapt, and conjoined with God. Then Saint Francis went forth into that wood and called aloud, faying, " Come hither and fpeak to this blind beggar." And Brother Bernard anfwered him not, forafmuch as, being a man greatly given to meditation, his mind was abforbed in the contempla- tion of God ; and he was ftrangely favored in converfe with God, as Saint Francis had ofttimes proven, and therefore did he defire to have fpeech with him. After a certain fpace he called unto him a fecond and even a third time after the fame fafliion ; and never once .did Brother Bernard heed or hear his voice; neither did he make any anfvver, nor came he forth to meet him ; fo that Saint Francis departed no little difconfolate, and marvelling and lamenting in his own mind that Brother Bernard, three times called, came not forth to him. Journeying thence with thefe thoughts, Saint Francis, having gone but a little way, faid unto his companion, "Await me here." And he went afide into a folitary place and fell to praying, befeeching God that He would reveal to him wherefore Brother Bernard made not anfvver unto him. And
ftandins:
1 8 ^f\t nettle jFlotocrs of
Handing there, he heard a voice from God which fpake thefe words : " O poor weak foul, why art thou difturbed ? Should man leave God for his fellow man ? Brother Bernard, when you cried unto him, was conjoined with Me, and hence he could not come to thee, neither could he make anfwer unto thee ; therefore marvel not that he anfwered thee not, fmce his foul was fo far removed from his body that he heard not any of thy words." Saint Fran- cis, having this anfwer from God, imme- diately returned again with much fpeed to Brother Bernard, humbly to accufe himfelf of the evil thoughts which he had cherifhed towards him. And feeing him draw nigh, Brother Bernard went out to meet him and fell down before him ; and then Saint Francis raifed him up, and with all humil- ity told his thoughts, and the trouble which he had felt concerning him, and how that God had made anfwer unto him in the mat- ter ; hence he concluded thus : " I charge you by your facred vow of obedience that you do do the things which I fhall com- mand you." Brother Bernard, fearing left Saint Francis fhould require of him fome exceffive thing, as was his wont, made honeft
endeavor
cSaint iFtancis oC ^nnisiu 19
endeavor to avoid this obedience, anfvvering thus : " I am prepared to obey you meekly, if you will promife me to do that which I in turn fhall command of you." And Saint Francis promifmg him, Brother Ber- nard faid, '* Speak, father ; bid me what you would have me to do." Then faid Saint Francis : " I command you, by your facred vow of obedience, that, to punifh my prefumption and the boldnefs of my heart, now as I throw myfelf flat upon the ground you place one foot upon my neck and the other upon my mouth, and thus fliall you pafs three times over my body, crying fhame upon me and reviling me ; and more efpecially fl:iall you cry unto me, * Lie there, thou vile fon of Peter Bernardone ; whence haft thou acquired fuch pride, vileft of all creatures that thou art ? ' " Hearing this, Brother Bernard, hard as was his talk, yet for the fake of his facred vow of obedience, as courteoufly as he might, did fulfil the will of Saint Francis, even as he had com- manded him ; and this done, Saint Francis faid : *' Do you command me now in turn whatfoever you will that I fhall do, inaf- much as I have promifed obedience." Then faid Brother Bernard, " By your facred vow
of
20 5ri)e nettle iFlotacrrs of
of obedience I charge you that as many times as we may hap to be in company you do reprove me and corre6t me fharply for my fins." At which thing Saint Fran- cis marvelled greatly, feeing that Brother Bernard was a man of great fan6tity whom he held in much reverence, nor did he hold him cenfurable for any fm whatfoever. And although from that time forth Saint Francis ftrove to fpend much time with him in ac- cordance with his vow of obedience, never any word of reproof or blaaie paffed his lips toward one whom he knew to be a man of fuch great fan6lity ; but as often as he defired to fee him, or indeed to hear him converfe with God, as fpeedily as might be he went forth unto him ; and it was moft devout to fee with how great love and rev- erence and humility Father Saint Francis ufed to fpeak with Brother Bernard his firft- born fon. To the praife and glory of Jefus Chrift, and of that poor Chriftian, Francis. Amen.
<Saint ^yrancis of ^nninu 21
CHAPTER IV.
JIo7a the A?igcl of the Lord put a Quejlion unto Brother Elias, the Keeper of a ce7'tain ConveJtt m the Vale of Spoleto, and forafmuch as Brother Elias made Anjwer haughtily, de- parted thence and went forth imto St. Jaines of Cofnpojlella, where he met with Brother Bernard and told his Tale unto hi7n.
AT the beginning and firft undertaking of the Order, when the Friars were but few, and but little land had been ac- quired, Saint Francis, from a fpirit of devo- tion, did go to St. James of Galicia, and in his train were certain Brethren, of whom one was Brother Bernard. And travelling thus their road, they met a poor fick beg- gar, having pity upon whom. Saint Francis faid to Brother Bernard : *' Son, I befeech you, ftay here and ferve this fick man." And Brother Bernard, humbly kneeling and bowing his head, yielded obedience to the Holy Father and remained in that fpot ; and Saint Francis with his compan- ions went his way unto St. James. Coming thither and fpending the night in prayer
within
22 JTSe JLitilt JFlotDtri^ of
within the Church of St. James, it was rei- vealed of God to Saint Francis that he wa^ deftined to acquire much land throughout the world, inafmuch as his Order was def- tined to fpread and to grow even unto a vaft multitude of Monks ; and in accord- ance with this revelation Saint Francis forthwith began to acquire land in that fame region. And travelling homeward by that felfsame way he came, Saint Francis met with Brother Bernard and the fick man with whom he left him, healed and made quite whole ; hence Saint Francis granted Brother Bernard in the enfuing year that he alfo fhould vifit St. James.
And thus Saint Francis returned into the Vale of Spoleto. And here he fojourned in a defolate place, he and Brother Maxi- mus and Brother Elias and others. And every man among them ftrove mightily left he fhould pefter or annoy Saint Francis as he prayed ; and this they did for the great reverence which they bare him, and for- afmuch as they were well aware that God made known unto him great wonders in his prayers. It befell one day that Saint Francis being at prayer in the wood, a Beauteous Youth arrayed for a journey came
to
<SaCnt jFrancis oC ^nnini. 23
to the door of that place wherein he ftaycd, and knocked fo often and fo loud and for fo long a fpace, that much the broth- ers marvelled among themfelves at fuch unwonted noife. Brother Maximus went out and oped the door and faid to that youth, " Whence come you, O Son, fmce it feems you never did come hither yet, inaf- much as you knock thus contrary to all ufe ? " The youth made anfwer : " And how Ihould I knock ? " Then faid Brother Max- imus, " Knock thrice, the one knock follow- ing flowly after the other ; then wait fo long as until the Brother fhall have faid a Pa- ternoster and come unto you ; and if after that fpace he come not, knock yet once again." The young man anfwered, ** My hafte is exceeding great, forafmuch as I have a long journey to make, and am come hither to fpeak with Brother Francis ; but he now is in the wood loft in a mufe, and hence I will not vex him ; but go call me hither Brother Elias, to whom I would put but one queftion only, fmce I hear that he is very wife." Brother Maximus went in and bade Brother Elias go out to the young man ; and he waxed angry and would not go. At which thing Brother
Maximus
24 ^i)t aittU JFIotorrs of
Maximus knew not what to do, neither what anfwer he fliould make to him, inaf- much as faying that Brother Ehas could not come, he fpake falfely ; faying he was vexed in fpirit and wouki not come, he feared left he fhould fet an evil example. And Brother Maximus lingering thus, the young man knocked yet again as before, and in a little time Brother Maximus re- turned to the gate, and faid to the young man, " Why heed you not my counfels in your knocking ? " The young man an- fwered : " Brother Elias comes not unto me ; go therefore and fay to Brother Francis that I am come hither to fpeak with him ; but forafmuch as I would not come againft him in his praying, let him bid Brother Elias come out to me." And then Brother Maximus went in to Saint Francis, who was praying in the thick wood with his face lift up to heaven, and he delivered the young man's meffage and the anfwer of Brother Elias ; and that young man was the Angel of the Lord in the likenefs of a Man. Then Saint Francis, removing not from his place, neither cafting down his eyes, faid to Brother Maximus : " Go, fay unto Brother Elias, by his vow of obedience
I
.Saint jftamin of ^nnini. 25
I charge him that he fliall go forthwith to that young man." Brother Elias, hearing Saint Francis' charge of obedience, went out to the gate greatly troubled, and with fury and noife did open it, and fpakc to the young man, faying, " What would you with me ? " The young man made anfwer, fay- ing, " Beware, Brother, left you be troubled in fpirit even as you feem ; for anger clouds the mind, letting it not fee the Truth." Then faid Brother Elias, "Tell me what you would with me." The young man made anfwer, " I afk you whether it be lawful for followers of the Holy Scrip- tures to eat that which is fet before them, even as Chrift fpake to his difciples ; and I afk you alfo whether it be lawful for any man to fet before them aught that is contrary to Chriftian freedom .?" Brother Elias made anfwer loftily : " Well might I anfwer your queftion, but I will not do fo ; go your way." The young man faid, " Bet- ter can I anfwer this queftion than can you." Then Brother Elias, vexed and angered, clofed the gate and went thence. Going in, he began to ponder upon the faid quef- tions, and to doubt within himfelf concern- ing them, and he knew not how to folve
them
26 ^fje mttit jFlotoers of
them, notwithftanding that he was Vicar- General of the Order, and had commanded and writ in the Rule, contrary to the gof- pel and contrary to the Rule of Saint Fran- cis, that no brother of the Order fhould eat meat ; fo that the faid queftion was ex- preffly dire6led againft him. Thus, know- ing not how to diffipate his doubts, and confidering the modefty of the Youth, and how that he had faid He could better anfwer the queftion than he, he turned back to the gate and opened it to afk of the Youth the aforefaid queftion ; but he had already jour- neyed thence, forafmuch as the proud fpirit of Brother Elias was not worthy to hold converfe with the Angel.
This done, Saint Francis, to whom all things were revealed of God, returned from the wood, and with a loud voice reviled Brother Elias, faying, " 111 have you done, O proud Brother Elias, for you have driven hence from our midft holy Angels who came hither to counfel and inftru6l. I tell you that I fear exceeding much left your pride lead you not forth at laft from this Order." And even fo it fell out, as Saint Francis had faid, inafmuch as he died out- fide the Order.
In
.Saint jfvantiu of ^ssisC* 27
In that fame clay and in the fclfsamc hour when that Angel departed thence, He appeared in the felfsame form unto Brother Bernard, who was travelling back from St. James, and ftood on the fhores of a vaft rtream, and greeted him in his own tongue, faying, " God grant you His peace, O good Brother." And good Brother Bernard, marvelling much, and confidering the fair face of the Youth and the fpeech of his own land with that peaceful greeting and joy- ous countenance, he afked him : " Whence come you, good Youth ? " The Angel an- fwering faid, '*! come from that fame place where dwells Saint Francis, and I travelled thither to have fpeech of him ; but I could not, he being in the thick woods loft in contemplation of things divine, and I was loath to vex him. And in that fame place dwell alfo Brother Maximus and Brother Guy and Brother Elias ; and Brother Max- imus bade me knock at the gate like unto a Friar ; but Brother Elias, although at firft he would not anfwer me concerning the queftion which I put to him, yet after did repent him fore and would fain have heard me and feen me and he could not." After thefe words the Angel fpake to
Brother
28 2ri)e Hittle jFlotoers oC
Brother Bernard, faying, "Why crofs you not over yonder ftream ? " Brother Ber- nard made anfvver : " Forafmuch as I fear the dangers of the deep waters which I fee." The Angel faid, " We will pafs over together, nothing doubting." And He took his hand, and in the twinkling of an eye He put him on the farther fide of the ftream. Then Brother Bernard knew that this was the Angel of the Lord, and with great awe and gladnefs he cried aloud, " O bleffed Angel of the Lord, declare unto me your name." The Angel anfvvered and faid, " Why afk you me my name, which is Wonderful } " And faying this the Angel vanifhed, leaving Brother Bernard much comforted, infomuch fo that he travelled all his road with great rejoicing ; and he was mindful of the day and the hour in which the Angel had appeared unto him. And coming unto that place where Saint Fran- cis abode with his chofen Companions, he told them all in due order ; and he knew for a certainty that that fame Angel in the felfsame day and hour had appeared to him and them.
<Saiut jFt^ancCs of ^nnini. 29
CHAPTER V.
How that Saint, BrotJicr Bernard of AJfifi, was dcfpatchcd by Sa'mt Francis to Bologna, and there took up his Abode.
INASMUCH as Saint Francis and his companions were called of God and chofen to bear in their hearts and in their lives, and to preach with their tongues, the Crofs of Chrift, they both feemed and were men who crucified the fiefh, alike in their habit and in their auftere life, alike in their every a6l and deed ; and neverthelefs they defired the rather to endure fliame and opprobrium for the love of Chrift than to receive worldly honors, or reverence, or the praife of men : thus injuries rejoiced them and honors affli6led them ; and thus they paffed through the world as Pilgrims and Strangers, bearing with them nought fave Chrift Crucified ; and yet they were the true Vine, which is Chrift, bringing forth great and good fpiritual fruit, which they garnered in for God. It happened in the firft days of the Order that Saint Francis fent Brother Bernard forth to Bologna, to
the
30 ^ije ILittlt JFlotocrs of
the end that there he might bear fruit unto God, according to the grace given him of Our Lord ; and Brother Bernard, making the fign of the moft Holy Crofs, and mindful of his facred vow of obedience, departed thence and came unto Bologna ; and the children, fee- ing him in worn and tattered raiment, mocked at him and reviled him as they might have any clown ; and Brother Bernard patiently and cheerfully bore all things for the love of Jefus Chrifl; nay, rather that the more he might be chaftened, ftudioufly did feat himfelf in the market-place, where fitting, there foon flocked round about him many boys and men, who pulled him by the cowl, fome before and fome behind, fome caft duft upon him and fome ftones, fome thruft and fhoved him here and fome there ; and Brother Bernard bore all things with patience and meeknefs, and with a fmiling face, murmur- ing not, neither complaining ; and, more- over, often he returned to that fame place folely to fuffer fimilar things for the good of his Soul. And albeit Patience have her perfe6l work and be a token of Virtue, a learned do6lor of laws, feeing and conflder- ing fo much conftancy and valor in Brother Bernard, fuffering for fo many days unmoved
by
<Saint jFrancis oC ^nninu 31
by any blows or pinches, faid to himfelf, "Verily, it cannot be but that is a holy man;" and drawing near to him, he quef- tioned him thus: "Who art thou, and wherefore haft thou come hither ? " And Brother Bernard for all anfwer put his hand into his bofom and drew forth the Rule of Saint Francis, and gave it to him that he might read ; and having read, confidering his extreme ftate of Perfe6tion, with the utmofh wonder and admiration he turned to his companions and faid, "Verily, this is the moft high ftate of religion of which I have heard ; and this man and his com- panions are the moft holy men in all the earth, and he who harms the leaft among them is guilty of a very grievous fm ; for every man among them fnould be held in high honor, inafmuch as he is the true friend of God." And he fpake to Brother Bernard, faying, " If you will abide among us, where you may ferve God acceptably, I for the falvation of my foul will joyfully give you an abiding-place." Brother Ber- nard made anfwer : " Sir, methinks your words are infpired of Our Lord Jefus Chrift ; and I cheerfully accept this your offer, to the honor and glory of Chrift." Then the
faid
32 Kit JLittlt iFlotoers of
faid Judge with great joy and lovingkindnefs led Brother Bernard to his houfe, and there beftowed upon him the promifed lodging, and fet it in order, and provided for all his cofts ; and lliortly after he himfelf became a Father, and the efpecial ally and cham- pion of Brother Bernard and of his com- panions. And Brother Bernard, for this his holy converfion, began to be much honored of all men, infomuch that they who might touch the hem of his garments, or could but look upon him, held them- felves bleft ; but he, as a true difciple of Chrift, and of the meek and lowly Francis, fearing left worldly honors fhould mar the peace and fafety of his foul, departed thence one day and returned to Saint Francis and fpake thefe words : " Father, an abiding-place is found in the city of Bologna : I prithee fend thither Brothers who may maintain it, and let them fojourn there, forafmuch as I no longer profit you aught in that fpot ; indeed, for the exceed- ing honor which is paid me I fear left I lofe more than I gain." Then Saint Fran- cis, hearing all things in due order, how Our Lord had wrought a great work through Brother Bernard, praiied and thanked God,
Who
Saint jfvantiu of '^nnim, 33
Who thus deigned to increafe the number of poor followers of the Crofs : and then he fent forth his Companions into Bologna and into Lombardy, who acquired much land in many places.
CHAPTER VI.
How Saint Francis blejjfcd Brother Bernard^ and made him his Vicar when he came to pafs away from this Life.
SO great was the fan6lity of Brother Ber- nard, that Saint Francis reverenced him much, and many times did praife him. Saint Francis once being devoutly rapt in prayer, it was revealed to him of God that Brother Bernard was by Divine Leave to fuftain many and valiant battles with the demons; hence Saint Francis, having ex- ceeding great compaffion upon the faid Brother Bernard, whom he loved as he were his own fon, he prayed many days with tears, entreating God for him, and recommending him to Chrift Jefus, that he might give him vi(5lory over the demon. And Saint Francis, praying thus devoutly, God one day made anfwer unto him : " Francis, fear
not ; 3
34 ^t)^ Hittle iFIotatrs of
not ; forafmuch as all the temptations by which Brother Bernard is to be affailed are allowed of God as a teft of his valor and a Crown of Glory, and finally he fhall triumph over all his enemies, forafmuch as he is one of the Commiffaries of the kingdom of Heaven." At the which anfwer Saint Francis rejoiced greatly, and praifed the Lord ; and from that time forth his love and reverence waxed ever greater. And well he proved them, not only in his life, but alfo in his death. Forafinuch as Saint Fran- cis, being about to die, even as that holy Patriarch Jacob, his mourning fons ftanding about him devoutly, weeping at the de- parture of fo amiable a father, he afked them, " Where is my Firftborn ? Come hither to me, my Son, that my Soul may blefs thee before I die." Then Brother Bernard faid privily to Brother Elias, who was the Vicar of the Order, " Father, go thou to the right hand of the Saint, that he may blefs thee." And Brother Elias, placing himfelf upon his right hand. Saint Francis, who had loft his fight by reafon of his many tears, laid his right hand upon the head of Brother Elias and faid, " This is not the head of my firftborn fon, Brother
Bernard
Saint iFvanci.a oC 'JXmini. 35
Bernard." Then Brother Bernard went and ftood by his left hand ; and Saint Francis ftretching forth his arms in the form of a Crofs, laid his right hand upon the head of Brother Bernard and his left hand upon the head of that fame Brother Elias, and faid to Brother Bernard : " May God the Father and Our Lord Jefus Chrift blefs thee with every fpiritual bleffmg, and may Chrift grant thee all celeftial bleffings, even as thou art the Firftborn, chofen into this Holy Order to give a godly example, to follow Chrift in Chriftian poverty ; inaf- much as thou haft given not only all that which was thine, dividing it wholly and freely among the poor for the love of Chrift, but alfo haft given thyfelf a free-will offering unto God in this Order, a facrifice pleafing in His fight. Receive, therefore, the bleffingof Our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of me. His poor fervant, bleffings everlafting, whether walking, ftanding, waking, fleep- ing, living, or dying ; and all who fliall blefs thee fliall themfelves be filled with bleffing. They who curfe thee fhall not go unpunifhed. Thou art chief among all thy Brethren, and all the Brothers (hall bow to thy will. Thou haft my leave to receive
into
36 ^f)0 JLittlt iFIotD^rs of
into the Order whomfoever thou wilt ; and no Brother fliall have fupremacy over thee, and thou art free to come and go whither- foever thou wilt." And after the death of Saint Francis the Brethren loved and re- vered Brother Bernard as a venerable Fa- ther ; and he, coming to die, many Brothers gathered about him from all quarters of the globe, among them being that divine hierarch Brother Guy, who, seeing Brother Bernard, cried aloud, with great gladnefs, ^' Lift tip yotir heart, Broth €7'- Bernard', lift lip your hearty And Brother Bernard bade one of the Brethren privily that he fhould prepare a place meet for contempla- tion for Brother Guy ; and fo it was done. Brother Bernard, being at the laft hour of his death, bade his Brethren lift him up, and fpake to fuch of them as were there prefent, faying : *' My beloved Brethren, I have not many words to fpeak to you. But you muft be mindful that that degree of Religion which I have had you have at this prefent, and unto that which I now enjoy, you fliall yet attain ; and I tell you from my foul of fouls that I would not for a thoufand Worlds like unto this have ferved other Lord than Our Lord Jefus
Chrift.
Saint jFrancis of Assist, ^^
"hrift. And for every offence that I have committed I confefs myfelf guilty, and ac- cufe myfelf before my Saviour Jefus and before you. I befeech you, my deareft l^rethren, love one another." And after thcfe words, and other wholefome teach- ings, he laid himfelf down upon his bed, his face flione with joy and fplendor fo exceeding that all the Brothers marvelled greatly, and in that rapture his moft faintly foul, crowned with glory, paffed from this prefent life into the bleifed life of the angels.
CHAPTER VII.
Ho7U Saint Fra7icis fajtcd foj-iy Days and fo?'ty Nights in an IJIand of the Lake of Perugia, eating no vioi-e but half a Loaf.
THAT true fervant of Chriil, Saint Francis, being in certain things almoft another Chrift, fent into the world to fave the nations, Our Lord and Fa- ther God defired to make him in many a6ts conformable and like unto His Son Jefus Chrift ; even as we have feen in the venerable College of the twelve Com- panions,
38 Kf\t Hittlt jFlctoers of
panions, and in the admirable Myftery of the Sacred Stigmata, and in the Faft lafting throughout the whole term of Lent, which took place after this manner : Saint Fran- cis being once, upon the lafb day of the Carnival, befide the Lake of Perugia in the houfe of one of his devout followers, with whom he had tarried for a night, he was infpired of God that he fhould proceed to keep his faft in an Ifland of that lake; wherefore Saint Francis prayed this his fol- lower that for the love of Chrift he would bear him over in his boat unto an Ifland of the lake where no man abode ; this he fhould do upon the night of Afh Wednef- day, in fuch manner that they might be feen of none ; and he for love of the great devotion which he felt for Saint Francis faithfully did his beheft, and bare him over to the Ifland : and Saint Francis took nothing with him fave two fmall loaves. And having come to the Ifland, and his friend departing thence to return to his houfe. Saint Francis charged him by the love which he bare him that he fhould reveal to no man where he did lie, and that he fliould not journey back to fetch him fooner than Maundy-Thurfday ;
and
<Saint jftantiu of Slssisi* 39
and thus they parted. And Saint Francis abode there alone ; and there being no habitation wherein he might find flielter, he entered into a thick wood wherein many thorns and brambles and little bullies had formed a den or burrow, and herein he fell to praying and to mufing upon celeftial things. And herein he ftayed during the whole fpace of Lent, eating not, neither drinking aught, fave the half of one of thofe fmall loaves, according as his faith- ful follower found him when he croffed over to him on Maundy-Thurfday ; the which found of two fmall loaves one en- tire, and of the other half; it is believed that Saint Francis did partake out of rever- ence for the fafting of the bleffed Chrift, Who fafted forty days and forty nights, par- taking of no bodily food ; and thus with that half loaf he drove far from him the venom of Vainglory, and following after Chrift fafted forty days and forty nights. And then in that place where Francis did fuch marvellous feats of abftinence God the Lord wrought many miracles through his merits : for the which thing men began to build houfes there and to dwell there ; and in a brief fpace a Caftle good and great
ftood
40 ^Ijc SLtttlr jFlotDcrs of
flood therein, and this was the home of the Brethren, and it was called by the name of the Ifland ; and even unto this prefent time the men and the women of that Caftle difplay great reverence and devotion upon that fpot where Saint Francis fafted as has been here fet forth.
CHAPTER VIII.
How Saint Francis and Brother Leo, as they journeyed, di/cour/ed of Ferfe^ Blifs.
SAINT FRANCIS once journeying from Perugia to St. Mary of the Angels with Brother Leo in winter time, and the very great cold pinching him fore, he called aloud to Brother Leo, who walked before, and faid thus : " Brother Leo, although the Gray Friars in every place fet a good ex- ample of fan6lity and of godly leffons, neverthelefs I defire you to write down and diligently to note that they know not per- fe6l blifs." And Saint Francis journeying yet farther, a fecond time he called aloud, '' O Brother Leo, albeit the Gray Friar be eyes to the blind, deliver men from evil, drive out demons, be ears to the deaf, and
feet
Saint jFrancis of ^nninu 41
feet to the lame, a tongue to the dumb, and what is yet more do reftore the dead to hfe within the fpace of four days, yet write that he knows not perfc6l bhfs." And journey- ing yet a little farther, he cried with a loud voice, *' O Brother Leo, if the Gray Friar know all tongues, all knowledge, and all the Scriptures in fuch fafhion that he may prophefy and reveal not alone the things of the future, but even alfo the fecrets of all confciences and of all fouls, ftill I bid thee write, herein lies not perfect blifs." Going yet a little farther. Saint Francis called aloud yet once again : *' O Brother Leo, Lamb of God, even though the Gray Friar fpeak with the tongues of men and of angels, and know the courfe of the ftars and the virtues of all herbs, and were all the treafures of the earth laid bare to him, and did he know the virtues of birds and fifties, and of all animals and of men and of trees and of ftones and of roots and of waters, ftill write that herein lies not perfe6l blifs." And journeying yet a little fpace Saint Francis cried aloud : " O Brother Leo, even could the Gray Friar preach fo well as that he fhould turn all infidels to the faith of Chrift, yet write,
herein
42 ^J0 ILittlc iFlototrs of
herein lies not perfe6l blifs." And this dif- courfe enduring for full two miles, Brother Leo with amazement aiked him, faying, " Father, I pray thee, for God's fake, that thou wilt tell me where may perfe6l blifs be found ? " And Saint Francis made anfwer thus : " When we fhall have come unto St. Mary of the Angels, dripping with rain and frozen with cold and be- fpattered with mud and tormented fore with hunger, and fhall knock at the door of that place, and the porter fliall look forth in wrath, and fliall fay, ' Who are ye ? ' and we fhall fay, * We be two of your Brethren ; ' and he fhall fay, ' You fpeak not truly ; forfooth you are two ribald knaves who go about deceiving folk and ftealing alms from the poor, get you gone!' and he fhall not open unto us, and fhall leave us ftanding without in the fnow and the wet with cold and hunger even till the fall of night ; then if we fhall patiently endure fuch great injuftice and cruelty and villanous rebuffs without peevifhnefs or turbulence, murmuring not againft him, and fhall think humbly and charitably that verily that doorkeeper reads us aright, that our Lord hath bade him revile us and
fpeak
Saint ifrancis o£ ^nninu 43
Ipcak againft us, then, O Brother Leo, mayft thou write, herein Hcs perfe6t bhfs. And if we fliall perfevere our knocking, and he Ihall come forth in his wrath and drive us thence as rafcals, with ftripes and reviUngs, faying, * Get you hence, vileft thieves, get you to the hofpital, for here you fliall not abide, neither fhall you eat, — if we fhall endure the fame meekly and with rejoic- ing and love, O Brother Leo, then mayft thou write that herein lies perfedl blifs. And if we, urged by hunger and cold and by the darknefs, fliall ftill perfifh our knock- ing and fliall cry aloud and entreat him for the love of God with much weeping and wailing that he will open and let us in, and he, fcandalized yet more, fliall fay, * Thefe are importunate knaves, I will chaftife them as is meet ; and fhall come forth with a knotty ftaff, and fliall feize us by the hair of the head and caft us to the ground, and roll us in the fnow, and beat us knot by knot with that fame ftaff, — if all thefe things patiently and cheerfully we do endure, thinking upon the fufferings of the bleffed Chrift, which greatly are we bounden to fuffer for His fake, O Brother Leo, then mayft thou write that herein and
in
44 ^^^ Hittlc jFlolBcrs of
in this lies perfe6l blifs. And yet hearken unto the end, Brother Leo. Beyond al] the graces and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, which Chrift has granted unto His faithful friends, is vi6lory over felf, and power for love of Chrifb to fuffer pain and infult, poverty and difgrace ; forafmuch as in all the other gifts of God we can take no pride, they being not our own but of God. Hence the Apoftle faith, ' What have ye which is not of God ? And if it be of Him, where- fore do ye glory in it, as if ye had it of your own felves ? ' But in the crofs of forrow and grief we may glory, inafmuch as the Apoftle faith, * God forbid that I ftiould glory, fave in the crofs of Chrift.'"
CHAPTER IX.
How SaiJit Francis taught Brother Leo to 7nake A?i/wer imto Him : and He could 7iever Speak fave the Contrary of that which Saint Francis Willed
SAINT FRANCIS being once, in the firft days of the Order, with Brother Leo in a place where they had no books to fay the divine offices, when the hour for Matins
was
.Saint jFPttncisi of '^uninL 45
was at hand, Saint Francis faid to Brother Leo : " My beloved, we liave no breviary from which to fay Matins, but in order that we may fpend the time duly in praifing God, I will recite and do you refpond as I fliall teach you ; and beware left you change the words diverfely from that which I fhall teach you. I will fay thus : * O Brother Francis, fo much evil haft thou done, and fo many fins haft thou commit- ted in this world, that thou art worthy of Hell-fire.' And you. Brother Leo, muft re- fpond : * Verily, verily thou art deferving of the hotteft fires of Hell.'" And Brother Leo, with the fimplicity of the dove, re- plied, **I am ready. Father; begin, in the name of God." Then Saint Francis began to fay, *' O Brother Francis, fo much evil haft thou done, and fo many fins haft thou committed in this world, that thou art worthy of Hell-fire." And Brother Leo replied, ** The Lord fliall work for thee fuch miracles that thou fhalt go ftraight to Paradife." Then faid Saint Francis, '' Say not fo. Brother Leo ; but when I fay, ' Brother Francis, thou haft finned griev- oufly againft God, and art worthy to be curfed of God,' you muft make anfwer thus :
'Verily
46 ^5e Hittlc jFlotocrs of
* Verily, verily thou art worthy of a place among the Accurfecl.'" And Brother Leo replied, "I am ready, Father." Then Saint Francis, with many tears and groans and much beating of his breaft, cried aloud, " O Lord my God, Lord of heaven and of earth, I have committed fuch fms againfl Thee, and fuch iniquities, that I am worthy to be curfed of Thee." And Brother Leo made anfwer, " O Brother Francis, God fhall do fuch things for thee that thou fhalt be Angularly bleffed among the bleffed." And Saint Francis marvelling that Brother Leo anfwered ever the contrary of that which he had charged him, effayed once more, faying, " Why anfwer you not as I bid you ? I charge you by your holy vow of obe- dience that you make anfwer as I fliall dire6l you. I will fay thus : * O wretched Brother Francis, doft thou think that God will have mercy upon thee, who haft com- mitted fuch great fms againft the Father of all Mercies and the God of Confolation that thou art no more worthy to find favor in His fight ^ ' And you. Brother Leo, flieep of my flock, muft make anfwer, ' In no manner art thou worthy to find favor in His fight.' " But fo foon as Saint Francis
faid,
Saint iFcancis of ^nninu 47
{■Aid, ** O wretched Brother Francis," etc., Brother Leo replied : " Our Heavenly Father, whofe mercy is infinitely greater than are thy fins, will have mercy upon thee and will pour His grace upon thee." At this anfwer Saint Francis was gently enraged and meekly difturbed, faying to Brother Leo, "And wherefore do you make fo bold to a6l contrary to your vow of obe- dience, and have fo many times made an- fwer contrary to that which I charged you to fay }" Brother Leo replied very humbly and reverently, " God the Lord knoweth the why and the wherefore, my Father, for every time I have fchooled my heart to anfwer as you did bid me ; but the Lord made me fpeak as beft it pleafed Him, and not according as was pleafmg in my fight." At which thing Saint Francis marvelled, and faid to Brother Leo, " I pray you moft lovingly that this time you anfwer me as I do bid you." Brother Leo replied, " Say on, in God's name, for affuredly I will now make anfwer as you would have me." And Saint Francis, weeping, faid, "O wicked Brother Francis, doft thou think that God will fhow mercy unto thee } " Brother Leo anfwered him, faying, ** Ay, and great grace
flialt
48 ^t}t Hittlr jTlotatrs of
llialt thou have of God. He lliall exalt thee, and glorify thee in all ages, forafmuch as he who humbleth himfelf fhall be exalted ; and I can fpeak no otherwife than I do, forafmuch as God Himfelf fpeaks through my mouth." And thus in this humble ftrife, with many tears and with much fpiritual confolation, they watched until day.
CHAPTER X.
How Brother Maximus Mocki?igly /aid wito Saini Francis that the World was at his Feet, A?id he made an/wer that this was by the Grace of God, and a Dijgrace to the World.
SAINT FRANCIS fojourning upon a time in the Convent of Portiuncula with Brother Maximus of Marignano, a man of much fandlity, difcretion, and grace in dif- courfmg of God, for the which thing greatly did Saint Francis love him, one day Saint Francis returning from the thick wood and from prayer, and being upon the outfkirts of that woody wild, that fame Brother Maxi- mus, defiring to know whether his humility were unfeigned, went forth to meet him by
the
the way, and mockin[;ly cried out to him, *' Wherefore after thee ? Wherefore after thee? Wherefore after thee?" Saint Fran- cis afked, "What fay you?" Then faid Brother Maximus, " I fay, wherefore fol- loweth the whole world after thee, and why doth every man defire to fee and to hear and to obey thee ? Thou art not fair to fee, thou haft no great learning, neither art thou noble ; wherefore, then, doth the whole world follow after thee ? " Hearing this, Saint Francis, greatly rejoiced in fpirit, lifting his face to Heaven, fhood for a fpace with his mind fixed on God, and then coming back to earth he knelt and gave praife and glory to God, and then with very fervent fpirit he turned to Brother Maximus and faid, "Would you know wherefore men follow after me ? Would you know wherefore men follow after me ? Would you know wherefore men follow after me ? This grace I have from the eyes of the Moft High God, which in all places behold the godly and the ungodly : forafmuch as thofe moft holy eyes never yet beheld of finners one more vile, nor more infufficient, nor a greater finner than am I ; nor yet to do that marvellous work
which 4
50 2rf)e nettle jflotorrs of
which He willeth to accompHfh has He found a viler creature upon earth. And therefore hath He chofen me, to confound the Nobihty and the Grandeur and the Strength and the Beauty and the Wifdom of the world, to the end that it may be made known that all Virtue and all Good- nefs are from Him and not from His crea- tures, and that none may glory in his own fight ; but that all who glory may glory in the Lord, unto whom be all glory and honor for ever and ever. Amen." Then Brother Maximus at fo humble an anfwer, uttered with fuch fervor, was affrighted, and knew of a furety that the humility of Saint Francis was unfeigned.
CHAPTER XI.
How Saint F)'ancis caufcd Brother Maximus to turn Himfelf about, and then departed unto Sienna.
SAINT FRANCIS one day journeying with Brother Maximus, thatfame Brother Maximus walking a few paces before, and coming unto a fpot where three roads met,
the
<Saint jFtnucis oC '^nninu 51
the which led to Florence, to Sienna, and to Arezzo, Brother Maximus fpake thus : " Father, which road ihall we purfue ? " Saint Francis made anfvver, " By that which God choofeth." Then faid Brother Maximus, "And how may we know the will of God ? " Saint Francis replied, " By that felfsame fign which I fliall fhow you ; wherefore I charge you by the fruits of holy obedience that at this meeting-place of the roads, in the very fpot whereon your feet now reft, you do turn yourfelf about, even as do children, and give not over turning until I do bid thee ceafe." Forth- with Brother Maximus be^^an to turn and to twirl himfelf round about ; and fo long did he turn, that at laft from fheer dizzi- nefs, fuch as fuch twirling is wont to gener- ate, he fell often to the ground : but Saint Francis not bidding him to ceafe, and he defiring faithfully to obey, rofe ever and again to his feet. Finally, as he turned valiantly. Saint Francis cried out, " Stand ftill, and move not." And he flood ftill, and Saint Francis queftioned him, fay- ing, " Towards what land do you look ? " Brother Maximus anfvvered, " Towards Sienna." Saint Francis faid, " That way
God
52 m)t iLittlr jFlotocrs of
God wills us to go." Travelling that way, Brother Maximus marvelled that Saint Francis had made him do fuch things, even as do children at play, in the fight of thofe laymen who paffed along that road. Never- thelefs, fo great was his reverence that he ventured not to fpeak to the Holy Father. Coming near to Sienna, the people of that city heard of the coming of the Saint, and went forth to meet him ; and from devo- tion they bore him and his Companion even unto the Epifcopal Palace in their arms, fo that they touched not earth with their feet. In that fame hour certain men of Sienna ftrove together, and two of them already lay dead. Saint Francis being in their midfl, preached unto them fo devoutly and fo holily that he reftored them all, every man among them, to peace and great unity and mutual concord ; for the which thing the Bifhop of Sienna, hearing of this holy work which Saint Francis had wrought, invited him to his own houfe, and received him with extremeft honor that day and even for the night. And the next morn- ing Saint Francis, being truly humble, feeking never any glory for his works, fave only the glory of God, rofe betimes with
his
Saint jftantiti of Assist. 53
his Companion and departed unknown to the Bifhop. At which the faid ]5rother Maxim us murmured within himfelf as he journeyed, faying as he went, " What things are thefe which this good man does ? He makes me turn and twirl Hke any filly child ; and to the Bifhop, who has done him fuch honor, he f peaks no word, neither thanks him, and it feemeth to Brother Max- imus as if Saint Francis thus had borne himfelf indifcreetly." But then by divine infpiration returning unto himfelf, and chiding himfelf in the filence of his own heart. Brother Maximus exclaimed, " You are of too proud a fpirit, you who dare to condemn divine works, and you are worthy of Hell-fire for your foolifh pride ; inaf- much as Saint Francis in the day of yefter- day performed fuch holy deeds, that had they been done by an Angel of God they could not have been more marvellous. Hence, if he command you to dafli your- felf againft a rock, you fliould obey him and do fo ; for thofe things which he has done upon this pilgrimage proceed from Divine Aftion, as is fet forth by the good refult which followed after them ; foraf- much as if he had not pacified thofe who
ftrove
54 ^t)^ ILittle JFlotoers of
ftrove together, not only many bodies, as already there began to be feen, would have perifhed by the knife, but even alfo many fouls would the Devil have dragged down into Hell ; and yet you, vain and filly that you are, murmur at that which manifeftly proceedeth from the will of God." And all thefe things which Brother Maximus fpake within his own heart were ftraightway re- vealed of God to Saint Francis. Whence Saint Francis drawing near to him fpake thefe words : " Abide by thofe things on which you now mufe, forafmuch as they are good and ufeful, and infpired of God ; but the firft complaints which you uttered were blind and vain and arrogant, and inftilled into your mind of the Devil." Then Brother Maximus faw clearly that Saint Francis knew the fecrets of his heart, and knew for a furety that the Spirit of Divine Wifdom guided the Holy Father in his every adlion.
.Saint ifcancis of ^nninu 55
CHAPTER XII.
//ow Saint Francis bcjloivcd on Brother Maxi- mus the Offices of Gate-Keeper, Al7?ioner, and Cook : then at the Prayer of the other Broth- ers def rived hint of the??i.
SAINT FRANCIS, wifhing to mortify Brother Maximus, to the end that the many gifts and graces which God had given him might not make him Vainglori- ous, but that by virtue of HumiHty he might grow with them from virtue to virtue, upon a time when he dwelt in a foHtary place with thofe his firft companions, very Saints, of whom was the faid Brother Maximus, fpake one day to Brother Maximus before all his companions: "O Brother Maximus, all thefe your companions have the grace of contemplation and of prayer, but you have the grace to preach the word of God to the fatisfaftion of the people ; and hence I de- fire, to the end that they may apply them- felves to contemplation, that you do take upon yourfelf the offices of Door-keeper, of Almoner, and Cook. And when the other Brothers do eat, you fhall eat without the
convent
56 ^i]t ILtttle jFlotDcrs of
convent gate ; to the end that thofe who come hither, before they knock you may fatisfy them with certain goodly words from God ; fo that there be no need for any to iffue forth but only you ; and this do through the fruits of holy obedience." Thereupon Brother Maximus drew on his cowl, and bowed his head, and humbly received and continued to obey this charge for many days, filling the offices of Door-keeper, of Almoner, and of Cook. Whence his Com- panions, like men illumined of God, began to feel great remorfe within their hearts, confidering that Brother Maximus was a man of exceeding great Perfectnefs, like unto themfelves or yet more, and upon him refted all the burden of the Convent and not on them. For the which thing they were all moved with one accord, and went in and prayed the floly Father that it might pleafe him to diftribute thofe offices among them ; forafmuch as their confciences could in no manner endure that Brother Maximus fliould undergo fuch toil. Hearing this, Saint Francis yielded to their counfels and confented to their wifh, and calling Brother Maximus, faid to him, " Brother Maximus, your companions defire to fliare in thofe
offices
^aint ifrancis of ^nmm. 57
offices wliich I liavc bcftowcd upon you ; and therefore I defirc that the faid offices may be divided." 15rother Maximus faid with great Patience and Meeknefs, "Father, the burden which you lay upon me, be it all or but a part, I hold it as the work of God alone." Then Saint Francis, feeing the Loving-kindnefs of thofe brothers and the humility of Brother Maximus, preached them a marvellous fermon upon the moft faintly quality of Humility ; teaching them that the greater are the gifts and the graces beftowed upon us by God, fo much the more humble fhould we be, forafmuch as without Humility no virtue is acceptable in God's fight. And the Sermon ended, he diftributed the Offices with the utmoft Affedion.
58 Kf\t ILittlt jFlotorrs ot
CHAPTER XIII.
JIow Saint Fra7icis ajid Brother Maximiis laid the Bread which they had begged upo7i a Stojte bejide a Well, and Saint Francis loudly praifed Poverty. Then He prayed unto God ajid Saint Feter and Saiftt Paul that they might en- ainour Hifn of divine Poverty ; and how Saint Peter and Saint Paul appeared imto Hi?7i.
THAT wondrous fervant and follower of Chrift, which is Saint Francis, defiring to conform himfelf perfe6lly unto Chrift in all things, who, as the Gofpel tells us, fent out his Difciples two by two into all thofe cities and towns whither He was to go; therefore following the example of Chrift he affembled together twelve Com- panions and fent them forth into the world to preach two by two. And to fet them an example of true obedience, he firft began to pra6life that which he did after preach. Hence having affigned to his Companions the other parts of the world, he, taking Brother Maximus as his companion, fet forth towards the Province of France. And coming one day to a
certain
<Saint iFtancis of ^nninu 59
certain town and being very hnngry, they begged their bread as they went, accord- ing to the rule of their Order, for the love of God ; and Saint Francis went through one quarter of the town and Brother Maxi- mus through another. But forafmuch as Saint Francis was a man mean and low of ftature, and hence was reputed a vile beg- gar by fuch as knew him not, he only begged a few fcanty crufts and mouthfuls of dry bread ; but to Brother Maximus, inafmuch as he was great and well-favored, were given good pieces and large, and an abun- dance of bread, yea, whole loaves. Hav- ing begged, they met together without the town to eat, at a place where there was a clear well, and befide it was a fair large ftone, upon which each fpread forth the alms which he had begged ; and Saint Francis feeing that the pieces of bread begged by Brother Maximus were more and better and bigger than his own, rejoiced greatly, faying, '* O Brother Maximus, we are not worthy of fo great a treafure;" and repeat- ing thefe words many times, Brother Maxi- mus replied, " Father, how can you talk of treafures, where there is fuch great pov- erty and fuch lack of all things needful ?
Here
6o Kfit ILittlt jFIotDtrs of
Here is neither napkin nor knife, neither board nor trencher, neither houfe nor ta- ble, neither man-fervant nor maid-fervant." Saint Francis faid : "And this is that fame which I repute a great treafure, where nought is made ready by human indufbry ; but all that is here is prepared by Divine Providence, as is plainly fet forth in the bread which we have begged, in the table of fair ftone, and in the well of clear water, and therefore I would that we fliould pray to God that He teach us to love with all our heart the treafure of Holy Poverty which is fo noble a thing, and whofe fervant is God the Lord," And having faid thefe words, and having prayed, and having taken the bodily refe6lion of thofe crufts of bread and of that water, they arofe to journey into France ; and coming to a church, Saint Francis faid to his Companion, " Let us enter into this church to pray." And ftraightway Saint Francis retired behind the altar and fell to praying ; and in that prayer he received exceeding fervor from the Divine Vifitation, which fo inflamed his foul with the love of Holy Poverty, that what with the color of his face and with the yawning of his mouth he feemed to dart
forth
.Saint jFrancifj of '^nnini, 6i
forth flames of love. And coming thus kindled unto his comrade, he faid, " y\h, ah, ah, Brother Maximus, give me thyfelf ; " and thefe words he fpake three times ; and the third time Saint Francis lifted Brother Maximus in the air with his breath, and caft him before him for the fpace of a tall fl;aff; at which that fame Brother Maximus was much amazed. lie afterwards told his Companions that in that raifmg and impulfion of the breath, performed of Saint Francis, he felt fuch fpiritual fweetnefs and confolation of the Holy Ghoft as he never before had known in his life. And this done, Saint Francis faid, *' Comrade mine, let us go to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and let us pray them that they will be pleafed to teach us and aid us to poffefs the unbounded treafure of moft Holy Pov- erty ; forafmuch as it is a treafure fo worthy and fo divine that we are not worthy to poffefs it in our moft Vile Veffels ; feeing that it is that celeftial virtue by which all things tranfitory and terreflrial are trodden under foot, and by the which every care is. fmoothed from the Soul, to the end that it may freely be conjoined with the Everlail-'^ ingGod; and this is that fame virtue which
makes
62 m)t mttlt JFlotocrs of
makes the Soul ftill bound to earth con- verfe with Angels in Heaven ; and this it is which went with Chrift even to the Crofs, was buried with Chrift, rofe from the dead with Chrift, with Chrift afcended into Heaven ; which even in this life grants to Souls which truly love it the power to afcend into Heaven, forafmuch as it pre- ferves the armor of true Humility and Lov- ing-kindnefs. And therefore let us pray the moft Holy Apoftles of Chrift, who were perfe6l lovers of this Gofpel Pearl, that they will be pleafed to beftow on us this grace of our Lord Jeftis Chrift, that of His moft holy mercy He will make us worthy to be true lovers, followers, and humble difci- ples of the moft precious, moft dearly be- loved, and evangelical Poverty." And in fuch difcourfe they reached Rome, and entered into the Church of St. Peter ; and Saint Francis began to pray in one corner of the Church and Brother Maxi- mus in the other. And praying long with many tears and great devotion, the moft Holy Apoftles Peter and Paul appeared unto Saint Francis with great fplendor, faying, " Forafmuch as you demand and defire to follow that which Chrift and the
Holy
-Saint iFrancis of ^nniui, 63
Holy Apofllcs followed, the Lord Jefus Chrift fends us to you to fay that your prayer has been heard, and that God yields to you and to your followers the treafure of moll; Holy Poverty in fulleft meafure. And alfo He bids us fay unto you that whofo- ever like you fliall truly follow this defire, he fhall be bleffed forevermore ; and you and all your companions fhall be bleffed of God." And having uttered thefe words they vaniflied away, leaving Saint Francis greatly confoled. The fame rofe from his prayers and returned to his Companion and afked him if God had revealed nothing to him. And he anfwered, *' No." Then Saint Francis told him how the Holy Apoftles had appeared unto him, and that which they had revealed to him. Upon which, each being filled with joy, they de- termined to return into the Vale of Spoleto, journeying not into France.
64 STijc Hittlc iFlctocrjs of
CHAPTER XIV.
How Saint Frajicis, dijcourfiiig of God ivith his Brethren, He appeared in their Midjl,
SAINT FRANCIS, in the early days of the foundation of his Order, being gathered together with his Companions, difcourfing of Chrift, in the ardor of his fpirit, did charge one among them that he open his mouth in the name of God, and fpeak concerning God that which the Holy Ghoft fhould infpire him to fay. The Brother obeying the command, and fpeak- ing marvellous well concerning God, Saint Francis impofed filence upon him, and required the fame of another friar. He obeying, and fpeaking fubtilely of God, Saint Francis likewife impofed filence upon him ; and he commanded a third that he fhould fpeak of God, who likewife began to talk fo wifely of the fecret things of God that Saint Francis knew certainly that he, as alfo the other two, fpake from the Holy Ghofl, and this alfo was proven by an ex- ample, and by an exprefs fign ; for they being in this difcourfe, Chrift the Bleffed
appeared
Sadit iTraucifl of ^nnim, 65
appeared in their midll vifibly and in the bodily form of a mod lovely Youth ; and blefling them, he filled them all with fuch grace and fweetnefs that they were rav- ifhed out of themfelves, and fell like dead men, knowing nought of this world. And then returning to their fenfes, Saint Fran- cis faid to them : " My beloved Brothers, give thanks to God, Who has been pleafed to reveal the treafures of the Divine Wifdom through the mouths of the fimplc ; foraf- much as it is God Who opes the mouth of the dumb and makes the tongue of the fimple to difcourfe moft wifely."
CHAPTER XV.
JIo7v Saint Chwa ate with Saint Francis a?id with his Brother Monks in St. Mary of the Angels.
SAINT FRANCIS, when he was at Affifi, ofttimes vifited Saint Clara, giv- ing her holy teachings ; and fhe having the greateft defire to eat with him but once, and entreating him many times to this end, he would never grant her that Confolation.
Hence,
66 Kf^t aittlr jFlotoers of
Hence his Companions, feeing the defire of Saint Clara, faicl to Saint Francis : " Father, to us it feems that fuch feverity is not in accordance with Divine Charity, that Sifter Clara, a virgin fo faintly and fo beloved of God, fhould not find favor in your fight to gain fo fmall a thing as to eat with you ; and efpecially confidering that fhe through your preachings forfook riches and all the pomps of this world ; and verily, were fhe to afk you a much greater grace than this, you fhould grant it to your fpiritual child." Then Saint Francis replied, •* Does it feem to you that I fhould hear her prayer ? " His Companions anfwered, " Father, yes ; it is a righteous thing that you fhould grant her requeft, and a confolation." Then Saint Francis faid : " Since it feems meet to you, it feems fo alfo unto me. But that fhe may be the more confoled, I defire that this meal fhould be eaten in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, forafmuch as fhe has long been cloiftered in St. Damian : there- fore it will rejoice her much to fee the Church of St. Mary, where her locks were fhorn off and fhe was made the bride of Jefus Chrifb ; and there we will eat to- gether in the name of God." When the
day
^aint jfvanziu of ^nninu 67
clay came a]:)pointcd for this, Saint Clara left her Convent with one companion, accom- panied by the Companions of Saint Francis, and came to St. Mary of the Angels; and having devoutly fainted the Virgin Mary before the altar, where her locks had been fhorn and the veil had been placed upon her head, they led her about to fee the place until at laft it was time to dine. And Saint Francis ordered the cloth to be laid in their midft upon the bare ground, as he was wont to do. And when the hour for dinner came, Saint Francis and Saint Clara fat down together, and one of the Comrades of Saint Francis with Saint Clara's Companion, and then all their other Companions took their places humbly. And for the firft difli Saint Francis began to talk of God fo fweetly, fo nobly, fo won- drous well, that the abundance of the Divine grace defcending upon them, they were all tranfported as it were to Heaven. And being thus tranfported, with eyes and hands raifed to Heaven, the men of Affifi and of Bettona, and of the country round about, faw how St. Mary of the Angels, and all that place, and the wood which flood befide it, burned fiercely ; and it
feemed
68 ^fje ILtttle JFIolDccs of
feemed as it were a great fire, which filled the Church, and the place, and the wood alfo ; wherefore the people of Affifi in great hafte ran thither to put out the Fire, truly- thinking that everything was burning. But on reaching the fpot, and finding no flames, they entered in, and found Saint Francis with Saint Clara, and with all their companions, abforbed in the contemplation of God, and fitting around that humble board. Whence they perceived that thofe were divine and not material flames, which God had caufed to appear miraculoufly, to fhow forth and fignify the Fire of the Divine Love with which the fouls of thofe holy monks and nuns were confumed ; where- fore they departed with great Confolation in their hearts, and with holy Edification. Then after a great fpace Saint Francis re- turning to himfelf, and likewife Saint Clara, together with the others, and feeling them- felves much comforted by the fpiritual food, they cared little for bodily fuftenance. And thus, this bieffed meal being ended. Saint Clara, well efcorted, returned to St. Damian ; whence her Sifters, feeing her coming, re- joiced greatly, inafmuch as they feared left Saint Francis had fent her to rule
over
Saint jTrnncis of ^nnini. 69
over fome other convent, even as he had already fent Sifter Agnes, her ghoftly fifter, as abbefs to rule over the monaftery of Monticelli at Florence ; and Saint Fran- cis had once faid to Saint Clara, " Be ready, if I need you, that I may fend you fome- whither," and flie, as befeemed a daugh- ter of Holy Obedience, had made anfwer, " Father, I am ever ready to go whither- foever you may fend me." And hence the Sifters rejoiced greatly v^^hen they faw her again among them : and Saint Clara thenceforth remained much confoled.
CHAPTER XVI.
Ifozci Sai7it Francis received the Advice of Sai7it Clara and of Holy Brother Sylvefler, that he fJwuld go forth and preach, cofiverting the People ; a7id he created the Third Order, and preached to the Birds and filenced the young Swallows.
THAT humble fervant of Jefus Chrift, Saint Francis, fhortly after his con- verfion, having already gathered together many companions and received them into
the
70 Kf\t ILittlt Jf^lomvu of
the Order, fell into deep thought and into grave doubt as to what he fhould do, — whether he fhould devote himfelf wholly to prayer, or whether indeed he fhould fome- times preach ; and on this fubje6l he greatly defired to know the will of God. And forafmuch as the Saintly Humility which was in him would not let him truft to him- felf or to his own prayers alone, he ftrove to feek out the Divine will through the prayers of others ; hence he called Brother Maximus, and fpake to him thus: "Go to Sifter Clara and tell her from me that fhe, with certain of her moft fpiritual compan- ions, fhall pray devoutly to God that it may pleafe Him to reveal to me whether it is better that I fhould devote myfelf to preaching, or merely to prayer. And then go to Brother Sylvefter and fay the fame words." This was that fame Mafter Sylvefter who had feen a golden crofs come forth from the mouth of Saint Francis, which was as high as the heavens and as broad as the confines of the globe. And fuch were the devotion and the fandity of this fame Brother Sylvefter, that whatfo- ever he afked of God, even that fame he obtained, and his prayer was granted, and
many
^aint jfvantin o£ ^amnu 71
many times he fpake with God ; and yet Saint Francis alfo had great piety. Brother Maximus went forth, and according to the command of Saint Francis he fulfilled his errand firft to Saint Clara and then to Brother Sylvefter ; who, when he had re- ceived it, incontinently fell to praying, and praying he heard the Divine voice, and turn- ing to Brother Maximus he faid : " Thus faith the Lord, which you fliall repeat to Brother Francis, — that God did not call him unto this ftate for himfelf alone, but that he might reap a harveft of fouls, and many through him fhall be faved." Having this anfwer, Brother Maximus returned to Saint Clara to know that which fhe had obtained of God. And fhe made anfwer that fhe and her Companions had had from God the felfsame anfwer which Brother Sylvefter had had. With this Brother Maximus returned to Saint Fran- cis ; and Saint Francis received him with the utmoft Affe6lion, wafhing his feet and laying the cloth for him to dine. And after eating. Saint Francis called Brother Maximus into the thick wood ; and there he knelt before him, and drawing down his Cowl over his face, he croffed his arms and
afked
72 5rij0 nettle JFIoUJcris of
alked him, faying, " What does my Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift command me to do ? " Brother Maximus made anfvver : "Both to Brother Sylvefter and to Sifter Clara, with her Sifters, Chrift has replied and made manifeft that it is His will that you ftiall go forth into the world to preach ; forafmuch as He did not call you for your- felf alone, but even alfo for the falvation of others." And then Saint Francis, when that he had heard this anfwer and learned there- from the will of Jefus Chrift, rofe up with the greateft fervor, faying, " Let us go forth in the name of God." And he took for his Companions Brother Maximus and Brother Andrew, holy men both ; and going forth filled with the things of the Spirit, without confidering their road or their way, they came to a Caftle, which is called Savur- niano, and Saint Francis began to preach ; and he firft commanded the Swallows, which were finging, to keep filence fo long as until he fhould have preached ; and the Swallows obeyed him ; and he preached in this place with fuch fervor that all the men and the women in that Caftle, from devotion, would have followed after him and forfaken the Caftle ; but Saint Francis forbade them,
faying,
cSaint iFmncis oC Assist, 73
faying, " Be not in haftc, and depart not, and I will order all things which you are to do for the falvation of your foul." And then he created the Third Order, for the Univcrfal Salvation of all men ; and thus leaving many confoled and well difpofed to penitence, he departed from thence and came to Cannajo and Bevagno. And paff- ing on his way with the felfsame fervor, he raifed his eyes and faw certain trees by the roadfide in which were an infinite multitude of birds ; at which Saint Francis marvelled greatly, and faid to his Companions, "Await me here in the road, and I will go and preach to my Sifters the birds." And he entered the field and began to preach to the birds which were on the ground ; and fuddenly thofe which were in the trees came down to him, and as many as there were they all ftood quietly until Saint Francis had done preaching ; and even then they did not depart until fuch time as he had given them his bleffing; and according to the later recital of Brother Maximus to Brother James of Maffa, Saint Francis moving among them touched them with his cape, but not one moved. The fubftance of Saint Francis' fermon was this : ** My Sifters the
birds,
74 ^!)f autlr iFlotoers of
birds, ye are greatly beholden unto God your Creator, and always and in every place it is your duty to praife Him, foraf- much as He hath given you freedom to fly in every place ; alfo hath He given you rai- ment twofold and threefold almoft, becaufe He preferved your Seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might never be lefs. Again, ye are bounden to Him for the element of the air, which He has deputed unto you ; moreover, you fow not, neither do you reap, and God feeds you, and gives you the flreams and fountains for your thirft ; He gives you mountains and valleys for your refuge ; tall trees wherein to make your nefts ; and inafmuch as you neither fpin nor weave, God clothes you, you and your children ; hence ye fhould love your Crea- tor greatly, Who gives you fuch great bene- fits, and therefore beware, my Sifters, of the fm of ingratitude, and ever ftrive to praife God." Saint Francis faying thefe words to them, all thofe birds, as many as there were, began to ope their beaks and ftretch forth their necks and fpread their wings and reverently to bow their heads even to the earth, and by their a6ls and their fongs to fet forth that the Holy Father gave them
the
.V %'
SAIXT FRANCIS PREACHING TO THE BIRDS.
From the Painting by Giotto.
^aint iFrancis of ^nnini, 75
the utmoft delight ; and Saint Francis re- joiced with them, pleafed and marvelling much to fee fo vafb a multitude of birds, and their moll; beautiful variety, their at- tention and familiarity ; for the which things in them he devoutly praifed the Creator. Finally, his preaching ended, Saint Francis made them the fign of the Crofs and gave them leave to depart ; and then all thofe birds rofe into the air with wondrous fongs ; and then, according to the Crofs which Saint Francis had made them, they divided into four parts ; and the one part flew towards the eaft, and the other towards the weft, and the one part towards the fouth, and the other towards the north, and each band went away fmg- ing marvellous fongs ; fignifying by this how that Saint Francis, the Enfign of the Crofs of Chrift, had come to preach to them, and had made the fign of the Crofs over them, according to which they had fcattered to the four quarters of the globe. Thus the preaching of the Crofs of Chrift renewed by Saint Francis was by him and his Brethren borne throughout the whole world ; which Brethren, even as the birds, poffeffed noth- ing of this world's goods, but committed their life to the fole and only providence of God.
76 ^ije ILittle iFlotorrs oC
CHAPTER XVII.
How a Francifcan Child, while Saint Francis prayed by Nighty Jaw Chrijl and the Virgin Ma7y, and many other Sai?its with Him,
AVERY pure and innocent child was received into the Order while Saint Francis yet lived ; and he abode in a fmall convent, wherein from fheer neceffity the Brethren flept in cafb-off rags. Saint Fran- cis coming on a time to this place, at even- tide, Complines being faid, he went to fleep betimes, to the end that he might rife in the night to pray when the other Brothers flept, as was his wont. The faid child de- termined folicitoufly to watch the ways of Saint Francis, for the better acquaintance with his fan6lity, and efpecially to know that which he did at night when he arofe from bed. And to the end that fleep might not overtake him, this little lad lay down to fleep by the fide of Saint Francis, and bound his girdle to that of Saint Francis, that he might have warning if he rofe up : and of this Saint Francis knew not aught. But in the firft fleep of night, when all the
other
<Saint iFtancis of Assist, ^-j
other Brothers flumbered, he arofe and found his girdle thus bound, and loofed it pioufly, fo that the child was not awakened ; and Saint Francis ftraightway went out into the Wood, which was hard by that place, and entered into a tiny cell which was there and fell to praying. And after a certain fpace the child awoke, and finding the girdle loofed and Saint Francis arifen, he alfo rofe up and went about feeking him; and finding the door open whence he had iffued forth into the Wood, he imag- ined that Saint Francis had gone thither, and he alfo followed after into the Wood. And having drawn near to the fpot where Saint Francis was at prayer, he began to hear the murmur of many voices ; and drawing ever nearer to fee and to under- ftand that which he heard, he beheld a great and wondrous light which fhone round about Saint Francis, and therein he faw Chrifl, and the Virgin Mary, and Saint John the Baptift, and Saint John the Evan- gelift, and a vaft multitude of Angels, who difcourfed with Saint Francis. Seeing and hearing thefe things, the child fell to the earth in a fwoon ; then, the Myftery of this holy apparition completed, and Saint
Francis
78 fTije mttlt jFlotorrs of
Francis being about to return to the con- vent, he found the child with his foot, — which is to fay, he ftumbled over him, — ly- ing like one dead ; and from compaffion he lifted him up and took him in his arms, as the good Shepherd does his fheep. And then learning from him how that he had feen that felfsame vifion, he commanded him never to fpeak of it to living man, that is, fo long as he himfelf fhould yet live. The child, growing in the grace of God and the favor of Saint Francis, became a valiant member of the Order ; and he, after the death of Saint Francis, revealed the faid vifion to the Brethren.
CHAPTER XVIII.
0/ the marvellotis Chapter held by Saitit Francis i?t the Church of St. Mary of the Angels^ where were affembled 7nore than five thoufand of the Brethren.
FRANCIS, faithful fervant of Chrift, upon a time held a General Chapter at St. Mary of the Angels, at which fame Chapter were affembled more than five
thoufand
Saint jFrancis of ^ssCsC, 79
thoiifand of the Brethren ; and there came thither Saint Dominic, the head and very foundation of the Order of Preaching or Dominican Friars, who was then jour- neying from Burgundy to Rome. And hearing of the congregation of the Chap- ter which Saint Francis had called to- gether upon the plain round about St. Mary of the Angels, he turned afide to fee it, with feven Brothers of his Order. There was furthermore at this Chapter a Cardinal moft pioufly attached to Saint Francis, to whom he had prophefied that he fhould yet be Pope, and even fo it was ; the which Cardinal had come exprefQy from Perugia, where the Court abode, to Affifi ; daily he came to vifit Saint Fran- cis and his Brothers, and daily he fang the Mafs, and daily he preached a fermon to the Brethren in the Chapter ; and the faid Cardinal felt the utmoft devotion and de- light when he came to vifit that holy College. And feeing the Brethren fitting round about St. Mary's, rank on rank, here forty, here an hundred, and here eighty to- gether, all abforbed in difcourfmg of God, in Prayers and Lamentation, in a6ls of Charity, and they obferving luch filence,
and
8o 2ri)r ILittle jFlotuers of
and fo great their modefty that no fainteft noife nor clamor was to be heard, and marvelling at fo orderly and fo vafb a multi- tude, with tears and much devotion he faid, " Verily, verily this is the Encampment and the Army of the Knights of God." In all that multitude no man was heard recount- ing idle tales nor Jefts ; but wherever a band of Brothers was met together, either they prayed, or they read their Offices, or they bewailed their fins or thofe of their benefa6lors, or they difcourfed of the Salva- tion of their fouls. Upon that field were huts woven of hurdles or of reeds, divided into bands according to the Friars from various provinces ; and hence that Chapter was called the Chapter of the Hurdles and alfo of the Reeds. Their beds were the bare ground, and fome among them had a little ftraw ; their Pillows were of ftone or of wood ; by reafon of which all who heard or faw them felt much Admiration for their devotion. And fo great was the fame of their San6lity, that there came thither from the Papal Court, which was then at Perugia, and from other parts of the Vale of Spo- leto, many counts, barons, cavaliers, and other gentlemen, and many country people
and
Saint Jfvantiu oC Assist, 8i
and Cardinals and Bidiops and Abbots with many other of the clergy to fee a congre- gation fo holy, fo vaft, and yet fo humble, for never before fmce the world began had fo many holy men been met together ; and chiefly they came to fee the Head and moft Holy Father of thefe faintly folk, which had robbed the world of fo fair a prey, and gathered together fo beauteous and fo devout a flock to follow in the foot- fteps of the true Shepherd Chrift Jefus. The entire General Chapter being then affembled, the Holy Father and Com- mander of all, Saint Francis, with fervent fpirit fet forth the Word of God, and preached to them in a loud voice the words which the Holy Ghoft put into his mouth ; and as the fubje6l of his fermon he fpake thefe words : " My fons, great things have we promifed unto God : far greater are promifed to us of God, if we keep our promifes unto Him : and we may furely await thofe which are promifed unto us. Brief are the pleafures of this World ; the pains that follow in their train are everlaft- ing ; flight are the Pangs of this life, but the Glory of the other life is infinite." And preaching devoutly upon this text, he
comforted 6
82 ^Tijt mttlt jFlotoers of
comforted and perfuaded the Brothers to obedience and reverence for their Holy Mother Church, and to brotherly affe6lion, and to worfliip God before all the people, to be patient in worldly Adverfity, and tem- perate in Profperity, to obferve Purity and angelic Chaftity, and to preferve peace and concord with God and with man and with their own confcience, and to love and pur- fue the moft Holy Poverty. And upon this point he fpake thefe words : " I charge you, by the fruits of your holy vow of obedience, that all ye, who are gathered together here, take no thought to yourfelves, nor any heed for what ye fhall eat, or fhall drink, or wherewithal ye fliall be clothed, but apply yourfelves only to praying and praif- ing God ; and leave all care for your bodies unto Him, forafmuch as He hath a fpecial care over you." And every man among them, as many as there were there, received this command with a light heart and a cheer- ful face ; and Saint P>ancis having ended his fermon, they all fell to praying. At which Saint Dominic, who was prefent at thefe things, marvelled greatly at the charge of Saint Francis, and held him to be indif- creet, being unable to fancy how fo vaft a
hoft
Saint iFrancCs of ^nninU S^
hoft could exift without taking any thought or heed for the things of the Body. But the great Shepherd Chrift the bleft, defir- ing to fliow how He cares for His Sheep and His fingular love for His poor follow- ers, ftraightway infpired the men of Perugia, of Spoleto, of Fuligno, of Spello, Affifi, and the other regions round about, to bear food and drink to that holy congregation. And lo fuddenly a great multitude of men came forth from the faid regions, with beafts of burden, horfes, and carts, laden with bread and wine, with honeycomb and with cheefe, and with other good things to eat, according as Chrift's poor had need. More- over they bore alfo napkins, jugs, bowls, glaffes, and other veffels, enough to ferve fo vaft a multitude : and he counted himfelf happy who could fet forth moft offer- ings or could moft acceptably ferve ; in- inafmuch as even the Knights and Barons and other Gentlemen, who came thither to fee, ferved before them with great humility and devotion. Wherefore Saint Dominic, feeing thefe things, and knowing truly that a Divine Providence did work within them, humbly acknowledged that he had falfely judged Saint Francis as indifcreet in his
commands ;
84 ^f^t mttlt jFlotarrs oC
commands ; and going before him, he knelt down and humbly confeffed his guilt, and added: "Verily God hath an efpecial care for thefe poor faints, and I knew it not ; and from this time forth T promife to obferve the Holy Poverty of the Gofpels, and I curfe in the name of God all thofe Brethren of my Order who fhall within that fame Order prefume to hold property." Thus Saint Dominic was much edified by the faith of the moft holy Francis, and by the obedience to their vow of poverty dif- played by fo vaft and orderly a community, and by the Divine Providence and the copi- ous abundance of every good thing. At that fame Chapter fome faid to Saint Fran- cis that many of the Friars wore inftru- ments of torture next their fkin, for the which thing many fell ill, and hence died, and many were thus prevented from prayer. At which Saint Francis, like a moft pru- dent Father, by his vow of Holy Obedi- ence charged every man who might wear fuch inftruments of torture, to ftrip them off and lay them before him, and fo it was done ; and they reckoned at leaft five hun- dred of one kind ; and fo many were there of iron rings taken from arms and breaft,
that
<Saint jFvancis of ^uniuu 85
that they formed a little mountain ; and Saint Francis left them where they lay. Then, the Chapter bein^ ended, Saint Francis comforted them all mightily, and inftrudled them how they might live with- out fin in this wicked world, and fent them all home, every man to his own Province, with the bleffing of God, all greatly con- foled and full of fpiritual joy.
CHAPTER XIX.
Ifo7a the Grapes iit the Vineyard of the Priejl of Rieti, in whofe Hoife Saint Francis prayed^ were trampled a?td plucked by the many People which came thither to him ; and then miracu- loujly made more Wine than ever before, even as Saint Fra7icis had promifed. And how the Lord revealed to Saint Fraficis that Paradife fJioidd be his lot.
SAINT FRANCIS being once affliaed with a grievous malady of the eyes. Cardinal Ugolino, Protector of the Order, for the great love he bore him, wrote to him bidding him come to him at Rieti, where were moft excellent do6lors for the eyes. Then Saint Francis, having re- ceived
86 STJe iLittU JFlotPeo of
ceived the Cardinal's letter, fet forth firft to Saint Damian's, where dwelt Saint Clara, that moft faithful fpoufe of Chrifl, to give her fome little confolation, and thence to journey to the Cardinal. Be- ing there, the next night Saint Francis found his eyes fo much worfe that he could fee no ray of light ; hence being unable to depart, Saint Clara made him a little cell of reeds wherein he might bet- ter reft. But Saint Francis, what with the anguifli of his eyes, and what with the multi- tude of rats and mice which did difturb him mightily, could find no Peace, neither by day nor by night. And enduring long thefe pangs and tribulations, he began to think and to fee that this was a fcourge fent by God to punifh him for his fms ; and he began to thank the Lord with his whole heart and with his lips, and then he cried out in a loud voice and faid : *' My Lord, worthy am I of this and of far worfe. My Lord Jefus Chrift, the Good Shepherd, who haft fhown Thy mercy to fmners by various bodily pains and agonies, grant me. Thy rebellious flieep, grace and power to hold to Thee through all illnefs, anguifh, and pain." And in the midft of this prayer he
heard
^aint iFtancfs of ^nniuL Sy
heard a voice from Heaven, faying, " Fran- cis, anfvver me : Were all the earth gold, and all the feas and fprings and ftrcams precious balm, and all the mountains and hills and rocks precious ftones, and you fliould find another treafure as much more noble than thefe things as gold is more noble than earth, and balm than clear water, and precious ftones than rocks and hills, and with this your affli6tion you were given that far nobler treafure, fhould you not then be content indeed and happy of heart ? " Saint Francis made anfwer, faying, " Lord, I am not worthy of fuch a precious treafure ; " and the voice of God faid unto him, "Rejoice, Francis, and be exceeding glad, for this is the treafure of Life Eternal, which I referved for you, and with which from this time forth I inveft you ; and this your infirmity and afHi6tion is but the pledge and token of that Bleffed Treafure." Then Saint Francis called his Companion, with exceeding great joy at fo glorious a promife, and faid, " Let us fet forth to the Cardinal ;" and comforting firft Saint Clara with holy words, and fhe hum- bly taking leave of them, he took his way towards Rieti. And when he had drawn
near
88 ^ije nettle iFlotacrs oi
near, fo vaft a multitude of people came forth to meet him, that he could not there- fore enter into the city ; but he went to a Church, which was diftant perhaps two miles from the town. The citizens, know- ing that he was within that Church, ran thither in fuch numbers to behold him, that the vineyard of the faid Church was laid wafte, and the grapes were all gath- ered ; at which the Prieft was greatly grieved within himfelf, and repented that he had received Saint Francis. The Prieft's thought being revealed of God to Saint Francis, he called him before him, faying : " Beloved Father, how many meafures of wine does your vineyard yield you in the beft of years ? " He anfwered, "Twelve meafures." Saint Francis faid: "I pray you. Father, patiently to permit me to abide with you yet a few days, forafmuch as I find much reft here, and fuffer every man to pluck the grapes of this your vineyard, for the love of God, and of me a poor beggar ; and 1 promife you in the name of my Mafter Chrift Jefus, that it fhall yield you every year twenty meafures." And this did Saint Francis to the end that he might fojourn there, where
he
.Saint ifccincis of ^nnini. 89
he reaped a rich harvcft of fouls, from the multitude that came thither; many of whom departed thence drunk with Divine Love, and forfook the world. The Prieft had faith in the promife of Saint Francis, and freely fuffered all who came to pluck the grapes. Wonderful to relate ! The vine- yard was laid wafte and bare fo that fcarce a clufter of grapes remained upon the vine. The time for the vintage came, and the Prieft gathered in thofe fcanty clufters, and placed them in the prefs and trod them out, and according to the promife of Saint Francis they yielded him twenty meafures of the beft wine. By which miracle is mani- feftly fet forth, that as by the merits of Saint Francis the vine ftripped of its grapes yet abounded in wine, fo the Chrif- tian people, made bare of virtues by their fins, through the merits and doftrine of Saint Francis ofttimes abound in the good fruits of repentance.
90 K^t mttU iFlotoers oi
CHAPTER XX.
0/ a very fair Vi/io?i, Jem by a young Friar, who held the Cowl in fiich abo7?ii?iation that He was difpofed to lay aft.de his Habit andfor- fake the Order.
A CERTAIN very noble and delicate youth entered the Order of Saint Francis ; the which after the fpace of fome days, by the inftigation of the Devil, began to hold the Habit which he wore in fuch abomination, that he feemed to wear the vileft fackcloth ; he had a loathing for the fleeves, he abhorred the cowl, and its length and harfhnefs feemed to him an unbearable burden. And his diftafte for the Religious Life ever increafmg, he at laft propofed to give up the Habit and re- turn to the world. It had become his cuf- tom, according as he had been taught by his mafter, to kneel moft reverently at what- soever hour he might pafs before the altar of the Convent whereon the Body of Chrift was kept, and drawing his cowl over his head, to bow low with croffed arms. It happened, that upon the felfsame night
wherein
cSaint iFrancis of ^uninL 91
wherein he was to depart and go forth from the Order, he was forced to pafs be- fore the Convent Altar ; and paffmg, as was his wont, he knelt and made a humble reverence. And fuddenly he was rapt in an ecftafy, and was fliown by God a won- drous Vifion, forafmuch as he faw before him an almoft infinite number of faints, walking as in proceffion, two by two, ar- rayed in moft fair and precious robes of linen, and their faces and their hands flione like the fun, and they paffed along with angelic fongs and founds ; among which faints were two more nobly clad and adorned than all the others, and they were fet round about with fuch luftre that all who gazed upon them were filled with exceeding great Awe ; and almoft at the end of the proceffion he faw one decked with fuch glory that he feemed a new-made knight, more honored than the reft. This youth beholding the faid vifion, marvelled and knew not what this procefifion was meant to fignify, and he ventured not to afk any man, but remained ftruck dumb with the delight of it. And neverthelefs all the proceffion having paffed him by, he plucked up his fpirits and ran forthwith to
the
92 5rt)r WLittlt jFIotoers of
the laft men in it ; and with great dread, he afked them, faying : " Oh, my Beloved, I pray you that it may pleafe you to tell me who are thefe wondrous beings, which feem fo glorious in this proceffion ? " And they made anfwer : " Know, O fon, that we are all Gray Friars, who come hither from the fplendors of Paradife." And he again queftioned them, faying : " Who are yonder two, who fhine yet more radiant than the reft ? " They made anfwer : "Thofe are Saint Francis and Saint An- tony ; and that lafb, whom you fee fo greatly honored, is a Holy Brother who died but newly ; who, forafmuch as he fought valiantly againft all temptation, and perfevered unto the end, we condu6l in triumph to the glories of Paradife ; and thefe garments of fair linen, wherewith we are arrayed, are given us of God in exchange for the coarfe tunics which patiently we wore in the Religious Order ; and the glo- rious luftre which you fee round about us is given us of God for the Humility and Pa- tience and for the Holy Poverty and Obe- dience and.Chaftity which we obferved unto the end. And therefore, fon, hold it not hard to bear the fackcloth of Religion which
is
Saint jfvantin of Assist. 93
is fo fruitful of reward ; forafmuch, as if with the fackcloth of Saint Francis, for love of Chrift, you dcfpife the world, and mortify the flefli, and fight a good fight againft the Foul Fiend, you fhall have rai- ment like unto that which we do wear, and a glory of light." And having heard thefe words, the youth returned to his fenfes, and greatly comforted by the vifion, he drove far from him all temptation, and con- feffed his fin before his Superior and the Brethren ; and from that time forth he ardently longed for afperity of penitence and of attire, and ended his life in the Order in great hoHnefs.
CHAPTER XXI.
0/ the Moji Holy Miracle, which Saint Francis performed, when he cofiverted the very fierce Wolf at Gubbio.
IN the days when Saint Francis dwelt in the city of Gubbio, there appeared in that region a very great, terrible, and fierce Wolf, the which not only devoured animals, but even alfo men ; infomuch that all the
citizens
94 ®^t^ Hittlr iFlotorrs of
citizens of that place flood in great dread of him ; forafmuch as many times he came very near to the town ; and neverthelefs none who chanced to meet with him alone could in an}^ wife defend himfelf againft him. And fo great was the fear of this Wolf, that none ventured forth into the country. Wherefore Saint Francis, having compaf- fion upon the men of that land, defired to go forth unto this Wolf, — albeit the citi- zens, every man among them,counfelled him againft it, — and making the fign of the Moft Holy Crofs, he fet forth into the country round about, he with his Companions, put- ting all his truft in God. And the others doubting whether they fhould go farther, Saint Francis took his way towards the place where the Wolf lay. And lo, feeing fo many citizens, who had come forth to fee fuch a miracle, the faid Wolf came out to meet Saint Francis with open mouth ; and drawing near to him. Saint Francis made the fign of the Moft Holy Crofs, and called unto him, faying : " Come hither. Brother Wolf ; I command you in the name of Chrift Jefus, that you do no manner of evil either to me or to any other man." Wonderful to relate ! Immediately that
Saint
.Saint jFrancis of Assist, 95
Saint Francis made the fign of the Crofs, the terrible Wolf clofed his jaws and gave over running ; and hearing this command, he came meekly as any lamb, and laid him- felf down at the feet of Saint Francis. And thereupon Saint Francis addreffed him in thefe words, faying : " Brother Wolf, you do much harm in thefe parts, and you have done great evil, killing and devour- ing God's creatures without His fovereign leave. And not only have you killed and devoured beafts, but you have dared to kill men, made in the image of God ; for the which thing you are worthy of the gallows, like any thief and villanous murderer ; and all the people cry out and murmur againft you, and all the land is hoftile unto you. But I defire. Brother Wolf, to make peace between you and them, fo that you may offend no more, and they fhall forgive you all your paft offences, and neither men nor dogs fhall purfue you any more." Having uttered thefe words, the Wolf by the mo- tions of his body and his tail and his eyes, and by bowing his head, fet forth that he accepted that which Saint Francis faid, and defired to obferve it. Then Saint Francis began again : " Brother Wolf, inafmuch as it
pleafes
96 ^f^t ILittIt JFlotDcrs of
pleafes you to make and to keep this peace, I promife you that I will fee to it that your living fhall be given you continually, fo long as you fhall live, by the men of this country, fo that you fliall not fuffer hunger ; forafmuch as I am well aware that hunger has caufed your every crime. But fmce I get for you this grace, I require, Brother Wolf, your promife never again to do harm to any human being, neither to any beaft. Do you promife ? " And the Wolf, by bow- ing his head, plainly gave fign that he promifed. And Saint Francis faid farther: " Brother Wolf, I defire you to give me fome token of this your promife, although I have full faith in your loyalty." And Saint Francis ftretching forth his hand, the Wolf lifted up his right paw and confid- ingly laid it in the hand of Saint Francis, giving him this pledge of his faith, as befl he could. And then Saint Francis faid : " Brother Wolf, I charge you in the name of Chrift Jefus that you now follow me, noth- ing doubting, and we will go forth and con- clude this peace in God's name." And the Wolf obediently followed after him, like any lamb; fo that the citizens, feeing this, mar- velled greatly. And fuddenly the news was
fpread
SaCnt jftantin of ^nninU 97
fpread throughout all the city : fo that the people, men as well as women, great as well as fmall, young as well as old, flocked to the market-place to behold the Wolf with Saint Francis. And all the people being gathered together, Saint Francis rofe up and began to preach to them, faying among other things : " Inafmuch as for your fins, God hath permitted certain evil things and fundry peftilences ; and far more danger- ous as are the flames of Hell, which en- dure eternally for the damned, than is the wrath of the Wolf, which can but kill the body, — so much more therefore fliould ye fear the jaws of Hell, when the mouth of one fmall animal can terrify and alarm fo vaft a multitude ! Turn then, my Be- loved, unto God, and repent worthily of your fms, and God fliall rid you of the Wolf in this prefent time, and of the fires of Hell in time to come." And having preached, Saint Francis faid : ''Hearken, my Brethren : Brother Wolf, who ftands here before you, hath promifed and given me a token of his good faith to make peace with you, and never to offend you more in anything what- foever ; and you muft promife henceforth to give him daily all that is needful to him, 7 and
98 Kf^t mult jFlotorrs of
and I will be bailfman for him, that he will firmly hold to his compact of peace." Then all the people with one accord promifed to feed him continually. And Saint Francis, before them all, faid to the Wolf: "And you, Brother Wolf, do you promife to keep the peace with thefe people, and to offend no more againft men, neither againft beafts, nor any other creatures ? " And the Wolf knelt before him, and bowed his head, and with fubmiffive motions of body and tail and ears fhowed in fo far as he was able, that he would keep his every prom- ife. Saint Francis faid: ''Brother Wolf, I defire that even as you gave me a pledge of this your promife outfide the gates, fo here before all thefe people you fhall give me a token of your good faith, and that you will not cheat me of my promife and fecurity which I have given for you." Then the Wolf, lifting up his right paw, laid it in the hand of Saint Francis. Upon this ac- tion and upon thofe which had gone before, there was fuch rejoicing and fuch marvel- ling in all the people, both at the devotion of the Saint, and at the novelty of the miracle, and at the peace with the Wolf, that all began to cry aloud unto Heaven,
praifing
Saint iFrancis of ^nninu 99
praifing and bleffing God, that had fciit unto thcni Saint Francis, who by his great merits had freed them from the mouth of this cruel bcaft. And then the faid Wolf lived two years in Gubbio, and entered meekly into every houfe, going from door to door, doing no manner of mifchief to any man, and none being done to him. And he was courteoufly nouriflied by the peo- ple ; and roaming thus through the land and from houfe to houfe, never any dog barked at his coming in or at his going out. Finally, after two years, Brother Wolf died of old age ; at the which the citizens mourned much, inafmuch as feeing him moving fo meekly through the city, they were the more mindful of the virtue and fan6lity of Saint Francis.
CHAPTER XXII.
Ifow Saint Ff-ancis tamed the wild Turtle-Doves.
A BOY one day took a number of turtle- doves, and carrying them to the market-place for fale, he met Saint Fran- cis, who ever felt Angular compaffion for
all
loo TOjt ILittlt JFlotijers tif
all gentle animals. Gazing at thefe turtle- doves with pitiful eyes, he faid to the boy: " Oh, good youth, give them to me, I pray you ; nor fuffer birds fo meek and gentle, to whom chafte, humble, and faithful fouls are likened in the Scriptures, to fall into the hands of cruel men, who will flay them." The boy, fuddenly infpired of God, gave them all to Saint Francis; and he receiving them in his bofom, began to fpeak fweetly unto them : *' O my Sifters, fimple, chafte, and innocent doves, why did ye fuffer yourf elves to be taken } I would now refcue you from death, and make nefts for you, that ye may increafe and bring forth young, according to the command of the Lord our God." And Saint Francis went forth, and made nefts for every one ; and they, ufmg them, began to lay eggs, and to bring forth young before the Friars ; "and fo tame were they and con- forted fo freely with Saint Francis and the other Friars," as they had been hens and ever fed from their hands, and departed not from among them, until Saint Francis with his bleffmg gave them leave to fl}^ thence. And to the boy who gave them to him Saint Francis faid : " Son, you fhall yet be
a
Saint iFcancis of '^XnmnL loi
a brother in this Order, and fliall fcrve Chrill Jcfus worthily," and fo it was ; foraf- much as the boy became a friar and Hved in the Order with great fan6lity.
CHAPTER XXIII.
How Saint Francis fct free the Friar who had finned with the aid of the Devil,
SAINT FRANCIS, being once at prayer within the Convent of Portiuncula, beheld by Divine Revelation all that Con- vent furrounded and befieged of Demons, after the manner of an huge army ; but none among them could enter into the Convent, forafmuch as thofe friars were of fuch fan6lity, that the Demons found no man among them into whom they might enter. But perfevering thus, upon a cer- tain day, one of thofe fame friars grew angry with another one, and took counfel with his own heart, how he might accufe him and take vengeance upon him ; for the which thing, he cherifliing thus this evil thought, the Demon, finding the door open, entered in and placed himfelf upon the neck of that
fame
I02 ^t)^ SLittle JFlotatrs of
fame friar. The pious and careful Shep- herd, who watcheth ever over his flocks, feeing therefore that the Wolf had entered in to devour his Sheep, fuddenly fummoned that friar before him, and charged him that he ihould forthwith confefs the Poifon of Hate conceived of him againft his neighbor, whereby he had fallen into the hands of the Enemy. Upon which he, frighted to feel himfelf read of the Holy Father, ftraight- way made known all his venom and rancor, and revealed his guilt, and humbly begged for juftice tempered with mercy; and this done, being abfolved from his fin, and hav- ing received his punifhment, fuddenly, be- fore the face of Saint Francis, the Demon departed thence ; and the friar thus fet free from the hands of the cruel Beaft, through the kindnefs of the good Shepherd, gave thanks unto God : and returning chaf- tened and corre6led to the flock of the Holy Shepherd, thenceforth lived in great fandity.
<Saint iFrancifl o£ 'JXnmni. lo;
CHAPTER XXIV.
JIo7a Saint Francis converted the Sultan of Babylon to the Faith,
SAINT FRANCIS, led by zeal for the faith of Chrift and by his longing for martyrdom, went upon a time acrofs the feas with twelve of his moft Holy Compan- ions, bent upon going ftraight to the Sultan of Babylon ; and coming into a region of Saracens, where the roads were guarded by certain men fo cruel, that no Chriftian who paffed that way could efcape death, it pleafed God that they were not flain, but captured, beaten, and bound, and were led before the Sultan. And being before him, Saint Francis, taught of the Holy Ghoft, preached fo divinely concerning the faith of Chrift, how that for that faith he would even walk through fire. Upon which the Sultan began to feel exceeding great admi- ration for him, both for the Steadfaftnefs of his Faith, and for the Contempt for the World which he perceived in him, — inaf- much as he would receive no gift from him, being yet moft poor, — and as well for the
martyr's
I04 STfjc aittlc JFlotocrs of
martyr's fervor, which was apparent in him. Thenceforth the Sultan hearkened unto him gladly, and begged him that he would return to him oft, freely conceding to him and to his Mates that they fhould preach wherefoever it feemed good to them ; and he gave them a token, which fhould let no man offend them. . . . Finally, Saint Francis feeing by Divine Revelation that he could reap no more fruits in thofe parts, difpofed all things to return with his Companions to the land of the Faithful ; and calling them all together, he went into the prefence of the Sultan, and took leave of him. And then faid the Sultan unto him : " Brother Francis, I would gladly be- come a convert to the faith of Chrift, but I fear to do fo now ; forafmuch, as fhould my people be ware of it, they would flay both you and me and all your Companions ; and feeing that you may yet do many good works, and I have many weighty matters to defpatch, I would not now occafion your death and mine. But teach me, I pray, how I may be faved ; I am prepared to do that which you may lay upon me." Then faid Saint Francis : " Sir, I now take my leave of you ; but when that I am once more in mine
own
=Saint jTraucis c£ ^nnim. 105
own country and afcend into Heaven by the Grace of God ; after my death, if it be pleafing in the fight of God, I will fend unto you two of my Brethren, from whom you fliall receive the holy baptifm of Chrill;, and you fliall be faved, even as my Lord Jefus Chrift hath revealed unto me. And do you betwixt now and then defpatch all your matters, to the end that when the Grace of God fliall come to you it may find you weU armed with faith and devotion." And thus he promifed to do and did. This done, Saint Francis returned home with the venerable train of his holy Compan- ions, and after fonie years Saint Francis by his bodily death rendered up his foul to God. And the Sultan falling ill was mindful of the promife of Saint Francis, and flationed guards at certain points, and commanded that if two friars fliould appear clad in the garb of Saint Francis they fhould inftantly be brought before him. At that time Saint Francis appeared unto two friars, and charged them that they fhould go without delay unto the Sultan and procure his falvation, even as he had promifed : the which friars ftraightway arofe, and pafflng over the fea, were by the
faid
io6 ^l)c aittle iFlotorrs of
faid guards led before the Sultan ; and fee- ing them, the Sultan rejoiced greatly and faid : " Now, indeed, I know that God hath fent his fervants unto me for my falvation, according to the promife made me by Saint Francis through divine Revelation." Re- ceiving then the do6trines of the faith of Chrift, and Holy Baptifm of thofe fame friars, thus born again in Chrift, he died of that illnefs, and his foul was faved by the merits and the prayers of Saint Francis.
CHAPTER XXV.
How Saint Francis miraculoiijly healed the Leper in Body and in Soul ; a?id that which the Soul /pake J a/cending into Heaven.
THAT true difciple of Chrill:, Saint Fran- cis, living in this miferable life, with all his ftrength ftrove ever to follow Chrift, the Perfe6l Way, whence it ofttimes befell by divine a6lion that whereas he healed a man's body, God did heal his foul in that felfsame hour, even as we read of Chrift. And inafmuch as He not only freely be- came the fervant of Lepers, but further- more
<Saint iFcancis oC '^nmni. 107
more ordered that the Brothers of his Order, whether journeying or fojourning anywhere in this world, Ihould become the fcrvants of Lepers for the love of Chrift, who for our love was fain to be held a Leper, it fell out that on a time at a Convent near which Saint Francis was then abiding, the Brethren were ferving in ahofpital for Lep- ers and infirm ; in which was a Leper fo peevilli, fo intolerable, and fo arrogant that all men affuredly deemed, and fo indeed it was, that he was poffeffed of a Devil, foraf- much as alike with words and with blows he terribly reviled all them that ferved him ; nay, yet worfe, he fcandaloufly blafphemed againft the bleffed Chrift and his moft Holy Mother the Virgin Mary, fo that none could in any wife be found who could or would ferve him. And albeit the Brethren truly ftudy meekly to endure injuries and infults to themfelves, to the end that pa- tience may have her perfe6l work, never- thelefs, thofe to Chrift and his Mother their confciences could not fuffer, and every man among them determined to leave the faid Leper : but this they would not do before they had duly declared their purpofe unto Saint Francis, who was then
abiding
io8 Kf\t ILittlt jFIotoers of
abiding at a Convent hard by. And hav- ing fignified to him their purpofe, Saint Francis came unto that perverfe Leper ; and drawing nigh to him, he greeted him, fay- ing : " God grant thee peace, my beloved Brother." The Leper made anfwer, " What peace can I have of God, Which hath robbed me of peace and of every good thing, and hath made me all corrupt and ftinking ? " And Saint Francis faid, " Son, have pa- tience, forafmuch as the infirmities of the body are given us of God in this world for the falvation of our foul, they being of exceeding merit when they are borne meekly." The fick man replied, "And can I endure the continual Pain that torments me night and day ? And not only am I affli6ted by mine infirmity, but far worfe do I fuffer from the Brethren whom you have given me to wait upon me, and they ferve me not as they fhould." Then Saint Fran- cis, knowing by a revelation that this Leper was poffeffed of an evil fpirit, went out and prayed, and entreated God pioufly for him. And his prayer ended, he returned to him again and fpake thefe words : " My Son, I myfelf will ferve you, fmce you are ill- content with the others." " It pleafeth me
well,"
Saint jFrancis oC '^nniui. 109
well," faid the fick man ; " but what can you do for me more than the others ? " Saint Francis anfwercd, " Whatfocvcr you would that I fhould do." Said the Leper, '* I would that you wafh me, every inch of me ; forafmuch as fo terribly I ftink that I myfelf can ill endure it." Then Saint Francis ftraight commanded water to be heated with many fweet-fmelling herbs ; then ftripping him, he began to wafh him with his own hands, another Brother pour- ing on the water ; and by a divine mira- cle, wherefoever Saint Francis laid his holy hands upon him the Leprofy left him and his flefli remained perfeftly found. And even as his flefh began to heal, fo too his foul began to be made whole ; hence the Leper feeing himfelf beginning to be cured, began to have great compun6tion and repentance for his fms, and began to weep very bitterly ; for as his body was cleanfed of the Leprofy from without by the wafhing of the water, even fo his foul was cleanfed of Sin from within by corre6lion and tears. And being wholly healed, alike in body and in foul, he humbly con- feffed himfelf guilty, and cried aloud, weep- ing : " Woe unto me, for I am worthy of
Hell-fire
no srije ILittlc jFloUJtrs of
Hell-fire for the injuries and infults which I have heaped upon the Brethren, and for the peeviflmefs and blafphemy which I have manifefted towards God." Hence for two long weeks he perfevered in bitter tears for his fins, and in befeeching mercy from God, making ample confeffion to the Prieft. And Saint Francis, feeing fo plain a miracle, which God had wrought by his hand, gave thanks to the Lord and de- parted thence, going into remote countries : forafmuch as from Humility he defired to flee all Vainglory, and in all his a6ls fought only the Honor and Glory of God and not his own. Then, as was pleafmg in the fight of God, the faid Leper, made whole in body and in foul, after two long weeks of penitence fell ill of another malady, and armed with the Sacraments of the Church he died a holy death, and his foul going into Paradife appeared in mid-air to Saint Francis, who was at prayer in a thick wood, and faid unto him, " Know you me ? " " Who are you ? " faid Saint Francis. " I am that Leper whom the bleffed Chrift healed for your merits, and to-day I enter into Eternal Life : for which I give thanks to God and to you. Bleffed be your foul and your
body;
Saint jFrancts of STsBiac. 1 1 1
body ; and blcffcd be your holy words and deeds ; forafmuch as through you many fouls lliall be faved in this world : and know that no day paffeth in this world upon which the Holy Angels and the other Saints do not thank the Lord for the facred fruits which you and your Order have gathered in divers parts of the earth ; and therefore be you greatly comforted and praife the Lord, and His bleffing fhall reft upon your head." And faying thefe words he rofe into Heaven, and Saint Francis was left much comforted.
CHAPTER XXVL
How Samt Francis converted three Thieves and Murderers^ a7id made them Brethren ; atid of the mojl glorions Vijion beheld of one of them who was a mofl holy Brother.
SAINT FRANCIS went once through the defert of Borgo to San Sepolcro, and pafTing by a Cafhle, which was called Monte Cafale, there came forth to meet him a noble and delicate Youth, who faid to him, " Father, I would gladly become
one
112 ^f)c mttlc jFlotoers of
one of your Brethren." Saint Francis an- fwered him, " Son, you are young, delicate, and noble ; peradventure you could not en- dure the poverty and rudenefs of our life." And he faid, " Father, are ye not men like unto me .'' Then that which ye do bear can I alfo endure by the favor of Jefus Chrift." This anfvver was moft pleafmg to Saint Fran- cis ; wherefore, bleffmg him, he ftraightway received him into the Order and put upon him the name of Brother Angelo ; and fo worthily did the Youth comport himfelf, that but a brief fpace thence Saint Fran- cis made him Superior of that felfsame Convent of Monte Cafale. In thofe days that region was infefted by three thieves of much renown, who greatly plagued the land ; the fame came one day to the abode of the Brethren and prayed the faid Brother Angelo, the Superior, that he would feed them ; and the Father Superior anfwered them after this fafliion, reproaching them forely : "You, Thieves and cruel Homicides, ye are not alhamed to fteal the wages of other men's toil ; nay, more, bold and fancy that ye are, ye would fain devour the alms which are beftowed upon the fervants of God ; ye are unworthy that the earth
fhould
<Saint jfvantifi of ^ssisf . 1 1 3
fliould fuftain ye ; forafmuch as yc have no reverence either for man, or for the God which created ye. Go, therefore, about your bufmefs, and appear no more within thefe walls;" upon which they, being difturbed, departed thence much wroth. And behold, Saint Francis returning home with bread and a fmall veffel of wine which he and his Companions had begged, and the Supe- rior, narrating to him how he had driven thofe men thence. Saint Francis blamed him much, faying that he had borne him- felf barbaroufly ; inafmuch as fmners were more readily led back to God by mildnefs than by fierce reproof : hence our Mafter Jefus Chrift, whofe Gofpel we have prom- ifed to obferve, faid that He came not to heal thofe who were whole, but the Tick ; and that He came not to call the juft but fmners to repent : wherefore many times He brake bread with them. Seeing, there- fore, that you have finned againft charity and againft the holy Gofpel of Chrift, I charge you by your vows of obedience that ftraightway you do take this Scrip with Bread, and this Veffel of Wine, and haften after them, over mountains and through valleys, until you fliall find them, and prefent them with ^ this
1 14 m)t mttlt jFlotorrs of
this Bread and Wine in my name; and then fhall you kneel before them and humbly confefs to them your fin and your cruel con- du6l, and entreat them then in my name to do no more evil, but to fear God and offend no more againft His Holy Name ; and if they will do fo, I promife to provide for their wants and to give them a conftant ftore to eat and to drink : and when that you have told them this, return hither humbly." While the faid Superior went forth to do Saint Francis' bidding, he fell on his knees and prayed God that He would foften the hearts of thofe Thieves and lead them to repent. The obedient Superior meeting them offered them the Bread and Wine and faid thofe words which Saint Francis had taught him. And as it pleafed God, thofe Thieves eating the alms beftowed by Saint Francis began to fay to one another : " Woe unto us, haplefs wretches ! and what bitter pangs fhall we endure in Hell ! For not only do we rob our fellow-men with ftripes and cruel blows, but we alfo flay them ; nor for all thefe wicked and accurfed deeds which we do, do we feel any remorfe or fear of God, and be- hold this holy Brother, which hath followed
us
<SaiHt jf caucis of ^uuinL 1 1 5
us hither for a few words with which he jiiftly chid our Evil Craft, and hath humbly confeffed to us his guilt, and moreover hath beftowed on us Bread and Wine, and fuch liberal promifes from the Holy Father: verily thefe Holy Brethren are men of God, which are well worthy of Paradife ; and we are fons of everlafting perdition, who are well worthy of the fires of Hell, and every day does but add to our perdition ; and we know not whether for the many fms which we have hitherto committed we can yet turn to the mercy of God." Thefe and fmiilar words being fpoken by one among them, the others faid : " Surely you do fpeak the truth, but what are we to do ? " " Let us go," faid one, " to Saint Francis, and if he give us hope that we may ftill appeal to the Mercy of God for our fms, we will do whatfover he may command, and fo we may fet our fouls free from the pains of Hell." This counfel was pleafmg in the fight of the others ; and all three agreeing together among themfelves pro- ceeded in hot hafte to Saint Francis and faid to him thus : " Father, fo great and fo terrible are our fins that we fear we can no longer turn to the Mercy of God : but if you
have
ii6 raje mttlt jFloUJcrs of
have any hope that God will grant us His Mercy, behold we are ready to do whatfo- ever you fhall bid us, and to do penitence with you." Then Saint Francis, detaining them affectionately and with kindnefs, com- forted them with many inftances, and affur- ing them of the Mercy of God, promifed them truly to entreat God for them, and fliowed them that the Mercy of God is infi- nite : and if we have an infinite number of fins, yet God's Mercy is greater ftill than our fins, according to the teachings of the Gofpel ; and the Apofi;le Paul faith, ''Chrifi: came into the world to fave finners." Hear- ing thefe words, and other like teachings, the faid three Thieves renounced the Devil and all his works, Saint Francis received them into the Order, and they began to do fore penitence; and two of them lived not long after their converfion, and went thence to Paradife. But the third furviving, and meditating on his fins, gave himfelf such penitence to do, that for fifteen years con- tinually, befide the ordinary fafts, which he obferved in common with the other Brothers, three days in every week he fafted upon bread and water, and went even barefoot, and with but a fingle tunic
to
<Saint jFrancts of ^fiuinu iiy
to his back, fleeping never after Matins. About that time Saint Francis paffcd away from this miferable life. This Man hav- ing then continued the above penitence for many years, behold one night, after Matins, there came to him fuch a tempta- tion to fleep, that in no manner could he hold out againft it and watch, as was his wont. Finally, unable longer to refifb or to pray, he went to his bed to flumber ; and no fooner had he laid his head upon the pillow, than he was rapt in Ecftafy and led in fpirit to a very high mountain, whereon was a moft fteep Precipice, and here and there were rocks fhivered and fplintered and rugged crags amid the rocks: at the fight of this cliff the Soul flood aghaft. And the Angel who led this Brother feized him and caft him over the rugged edge of thofe rocks : and he, ftrik- ing and rebounding from crag to crag and from ftone to ftone, at laft attained the bottom of that precipice, as it feemed, all difmembered and torn ; and lying thus in evil trim upon the ground, he who led him, faid unto him, " Rife, for you have yet another journey to go." The Brother replied, " Mefeems you be a moft cruel and
ill-advifed
ii8 arje acttlr jFlotorrs of
ill-advifed man, for feeing me thus dying of the fall which hath fo fhattered me, you yet bid me rife." And the Angel ap- proached him, and touching him, his every limb was made whole and he was healed perfe(51:ly. And then he fhowed him a vaft plain full of fharp Stones and keen Thorns and Brambles ; and he told him that he muft needs run through all that plain and pais barefoot unto the end, where he beheld a glowing Furnace, into which he muft enter ftraight. And the Brother having croffed the plain with great anguifh and pain, the Angel faid unto him, " Enter into that Fur- nace, for fo it is ordered." The Friar re- plied, " Oh, woe is me ! what a cruel guide have I ! For you fee me almoft dead from that anguifhing plain, and for all repofe you bid me enter that glowing furnace." And gazing, he beheld many Demons around about the Furnace with iron pitchforks in their hands, with which, forafmuch as he delayed to enter, they plunged him fuddenly into the midft of the fire. Having entered into the Furnace, gazing, he beheld a cer- tain man which had been his Godfather, who burned apace with him ; and he queftioned him, faying, " O lucklefs Godfather, how
came
cSaCnt iFranc(s of ^nuini. 119
came you hither ? " And he anfwered, " Go but a little farther in and you (hall find my wife your Godmother, who will tell you the reafon of our damnation. The Brother going on, lo ! there appeared to him the aforefaid Godmother all fmothered and fhut within a meafure of wheat blazing brightly ; and he afkcd her, " O lucklefs and miferable Godmother, how have you come to fuch cruel torment?" And fhe anfwered, " Forafmuch as in the time of the great Famine, the which Saint Francis foretold, my hufband and I fold falfe meafure of wheat and of barley, and therefore do I burn bound within this meafure." And thefe words fpoken, the Angel which led the Friar haled him out of the Furnace, and then faid to him, " Prepare to take a horrid journey, which is yet to make." And he, lamenting, faid, " O harfheft of guides, who haft no Compaffion ! you fee how I am almoft all burned in that Furnace, and yet you would lead me on a dangerous and horrid journey." And then the Angel touched him and made him whole and ftrong. Forthwith he led him to a bridge, the which could not be croffed without great danger, inafmuch as it was very
narrow
I20 m)t nettle jFloliJcrs of
narrow and ftraight, and moft flippery, and without railing at either fide ; and beneath it flowed a dreadful river, full of Serpents and Dragons and Scorpions, and it fent up a moft exceeding great ftench ; and the Angel faid to him, " Crofs this Bridge, and you muft crofs it from end to end." The Friar replied, " And how fliall I crofs over, that I may not fall into that perilous flood?" The Angel faid, " Follow me, and place your foot where you fliall fee me place mine, and fo you fhall come fafely over." The Brother paffed behind the Angel, as he had taught him, until they came to the midft of the Bridge ; and being thus mid- way the Angel flew thence, and departing from him went up into an exceeding high mountain which flood fome diflance from the Bridge ; and the Brother gazed long at the fpot whither the Angel had flown : but remaining without a guide, and looking down, he faw thofe fo dreadful animals ftanding with their heads out of the water, and with their mouths open ready to de- vour him if he fliould fall : and he was in fuch a terror that he in no wife knew what he fhould do or fay, forafmuch as he could neither turn back nor go on. Hence, feeing
how
^aint jfrancis of ^ssisf. 121
how great was his Tribulation, and that he had no other refuge fave only God, he bowed his head and clafped the Bridge in his arms, and with his whole heart and with tears did commit himfelf to the care of God, that of His moft Holy Mercy He might deign to help him. And having prayed, it feemed as if he began to put forth wings : at which he with great rejoic- ing awaited their further growing, that he might fly thence from the Bridge whither the Angel had flown before. But after a certain fpace, for the great defire which he had to crofs that Bridge, he began to fly ; and becaufe, forfooth, his wings were not grown fo much, he dropped back upon that Bridge and his feathers fell from him : upon which, yet again he hugged the bridge, and as before committed himfelf to the care of God ; and having prayed, again he felt his wings fprout forth ; but as before he did not wait until they had gained their perfe6l growth : wherefore, ftriving to fly before the time was ripe, he fell once more upon the Bridge and his feathers dropped yet again. For the which thing, feeing that he fell becaufe of his undue hafte to fly, he began to reafon with himfelf: '* Affuredly, if
my
122 STi&e ILtttlt iFlotoers ciC
my wings fprout for the third time, I will wait until they are great enough for me to fly without another fall." And mufmg thus, he faw his wings put forth for the third time : and waiting a goodly fpace, until they fhould be very great, it feemed to him as if in the firft and the fecond and the third fprouting of his wings had paffed away five hundred years or more. At lalt he rofe for the third time, and winged his flight with all his force, and flew high up to that fame fpot whither the Angel had flown, and knocking at the door of the Palace wherein he was, the door-keeper afked him, '* Who art thou, who art come hither ? " He anfwered, " I am a Gray Friar." The door-keeper faid, " Await my coming, for I go to fummon Saint Francis, to fee if he know thee or no." Going thence for Saint Francis, he who was left behind fell to confidering the marvellous walls of that Palace; and lo, thofe walls were tranflucent, and of fuch clearnefs that he did plainly fee the choirs of Saints within and all thofe things that they did. And ftanding thus loft in wonder at this fight, lo ! Saint Fran- cis came and Brother Bernard and Brother Guy ; and after thefe fo great a multitude
of
.Saint ifrancis of Slssisi, 123
of faints which had followed in their foot- Heps upon earth that they leemed alnioft numberlefs : and Saint Francis, drawing near, faid to the door-keeper, " Let him enter in, forafmiich as he is one of my Brethren." And no fooner was he entered in than he felt fuch Confolation and fuch Sweetnefs that he forgot all the Tribula- tions which he had undergone, as if they had never been. And after Saint Francis, leading him by the hand, fhowed him many wondrous things, and after faid to him : '* Son, you muft return to the world, where you fliall tarry feven days' fpace, wherein you fhall prepare yourfelf diligently with great devotion ; forafmuch as after thofe feven days I fhall come for you, and then fliall you live with me in this abode of the Bleffed." Saint Francis was clad in a mar- vellous cloak, adorned with glittering Stars ; and his five Wounds ^ were like unto five moft beauteous Stars, of fuch fplendor that the whole Palace fhone with their rays ; and Brother Bernard had upon his head a crown of moft fair ftars ; and Brother Guy was decked in wondrous light ; and he recognized many other holy Friars in their
midft
^ The Stioftiiata.
124 ^Tijt Hittle jflotsitVH of
midft which he had never feen on earth. Thus difmiffed by Saint Francis, he re- turned, albeit relu6lantly, to the world. Awaking and returning to his fenfes and reviving, the Brothers were ringing the bells for Primes : fo that that Vifion had endured no longer than from Matins unto Primes, although to him it feemed as it had endured for many years. And relat- ing all this Vifion to his Superior in its due order, within feven days he began to grow fevered ; and the eighth day Saint Francis came to fetch him, even as he had prom- ifedjwith a vaft multitude of glorious Saints, and took his foul thence to the Kingdom of the Bleffed, unto Eternal Life.
CHAPTER XXVII.
How Saint Francis converted two Scholars of Bologna and made Friars of them ; and then rid one of them of a fore Temptation which befet him.
SAINT FRANCIS once coming to the city of Bologna, all the people of that town ran out to fee him : and fo great was
the
Saint jfrancis of Assist. 125
the prcfs, that folk had much ado to gain the Market-place ; and the Market-place being filled full with men and women and fcholars, Saint Francis arofe in their midft, and ftanding upright, did begin to preach thofe things which were taught him of the Holy Ghoft : and fo wondrous well did he preach, that it feemed an Angel preached rather than a man ; and his celeftial words feemed as they were fliarp arrows, which pierced the hearts of all them that heard him, for by that preaching a vaft hoft of men and of women were converted to true repentance ; among the which were two noble ftudents from the Marches of An- cona ; and the one was called by the name of Pilgrim and the other Rinieri ; which two after that fame Sermon, touched to the foul by divine infpiration, came unto Saint Francis faying that they defired to forfake the world and all its pomp and become one with his Brethren. Then Saint Fran- cis, knowing through revelation that they were fent by God and that they were def- tined to lead a holy life within the Order, and conrideri;:g f.h'^ir much fervor, received them joyfully, faying : "You, Pilgrim, fliall follow the path of humility while in the
Order
126 ^Je ILittle iFlotoers of
Order, and you, Brother Rinieri, fhall wait upon the Brethren." And fo it was; forafmuch as Brother Pilgrim would never become a Prieft, but remained a Lay- Brother, although he was moft learned, and very wife in canon law. Through this his humility he attained to exceeding great per- fe6lion of virtue, fo much fo that Brother Bernard, the eldeft fon of Saint Francis, faid of him that he was one of the moft perfe6l Friars in this World. And finally the faid Brother Pilgrim, full of virtue, paffed on from this life to the Bleffed Life, working many miracles both before his death and after. And the faid Brother Rinieri devoutly and faithfully waited upon the Friars, living in great fan6lity and humility; and he became moft familiar with Saint Francis, and Saint Francis revealed many fecret things to him. Being then made Minifter of the Province of the Marches of Ancona, he long ruled in the utmoft peace and difcretion. After a certain fpace God permitted a fore Temptation to afiail his foul ; at which he, vaftly troubled and vexed, afflicted himfelf with Faftings, with Difcipline, with Tears and with Prayers, by day and by night, and ftill could not drive
thence
Saint iFiMUCis of Slssfsf. 127
thence that Temptation ; but ofttimes he was in extreme defpair, inafmuch as for this thing he held himfelf to be forfaken of God. Being thus defperate, as a laft remedy he refolved to go to Saint Francis, thinking thus : " If Saint Francis look gra- cioufly upon me and receive me familiarly, as is his wont, I lliall believe that God will yet have compaffion upon me ; but if not, it fhall be for a fign that my God has for- faken me." He therefore arofe and went unto Saint Francis, who at that time abode in the Palace of the Bifliop of Affifi griev- oufly ill ; and God revealed to him the whole manner of the temptation and de- fpair of the faid Brother Rinieri, and his purpofe and his coming. And ftraight- way Saint Francis called Brother Leo and Brother Maximus, and faid to them : " Go forth to meet my beloved fon Brother Rinieri, and embrace him in my name, and greet him, and fay to him that of all the Brethren throughout the world I love him moft Angularly. " They fet forth and met by the way Brother Rinieri, and em- bracing him they told him all thofe things which Saint Francis had charged them to fay. Hence fo much comfort and delight
did
128 mjt ILittlt jFlotocrs of
did flow into his foul, that he was almoft befide himfelf : and thanking God with his whole heart, he went on until he came to the place where Saint Francis lay ill. And albeit Saint Francis was grievously ill, neverthelefs hearing Brother Rinieri's ap- proach, he rofe and went out to meet him, and embracing him mofl: fweetly, faid : " Brother Rinieri, my beloved fon, of all the Brethren throughout the world moft Angularly do I love thee." And faying thefe words he made the fign of the moft Holy Crofs upon his brow, and after kiffed him there. And then he faid : " My be- loved fon, God the Lord hath permitted this Temptation for your great increafe in merit : but if you defire not this increafe, it fhall not be thine." Wonderful to relate! So foon as Saint Francis had uttered thefe words, inflantly all Temptation departed from him, as if he never in his life had felt aught of the kind, and he was left greatly comforted.
.Saint iFrancis of ^nmuL 129
CHAPTER XXVIII.
0/(zn Ec/iafy whicJi fcizcdup07i Brother Bernard and held liimfrom Matins eve?i until Nones, he being all that /pace unconjcioiis of Aught.
THE great favor which our Lord oft- times fliowed to thofe poor Evange- lifts who forfook the world for love of Chrift is fet forth in Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, who, after taking on the habit of Saint Francis, was very many times abforbed in God, in the contempla- tion of celcftial things. Among others, it happened upon a time that being in Church hearkening to the Mafs, and ffcanding with his whole mind bent on God, he became fo abforbed and rapt in the Lord, that at the Elevation of the Hoft he was confcious of naught, neither knelt, nor bared his head, as did the others ; but without once wink- ing, did ftand fteadfaftly gazing from the hour of Matins until Nones, as if infen- fible : and after Nones, returning to him- felf, did go about the Convent crying in tones of awe and wonder : " O Brothers ! O Brothers ! O Brothers ! There is no
man 9
I30 ^i)e ILittle jFlotorrs of
man in this land fo great, or fo noble, to whom, were he promifed a mofb beauteous palace filled with gold, it were not eafy to bear moft loathfome burdens, to gain fo rare a treafure." Now the mind of the aforefaid Brother Bernard was fo bent upon this Celeftial Treafure promifed to all true lovers of God, that for fifteen years con- tinually he went ever with his head and face upraifed to heaven ; and in all that time he fatisfied never his hunger at table, albeit he ate of that which was put before him a little, forafmuch as he faid that the mere ia.tt of eating naught conftitutes not perfe6l abftinence, but true abftinence is to be temperate in all things which are favory in the mouth ; and thereby he at- tained to fuch clearnefs and light of intel- le6l that even the great Do6lors of the Church had recourfe to hira for the folu- tion of knotty queftions and hard paffages of Scripture ; and he made plain every puzzle to them, and inafmuch as his mind was freed and abftra6led from all earthly things, he, after the manner of a Swallow, flew oft aloft in thought ; hence fometimes twenty days and fometimes thirty days he would abide alone upon the top of very
high
cSaint jfvamiu of 'J^nniuu 131
high mountains mufing upon celcftial mat- ters. Wherefore Brother Guy fpoke con- cerning him, faying that this gift was not given to other men which was given to Brother Bernard of Quintavalle ; which is to fay, that he fed upon the wing Hke the Swallow ; and for this excellent grace, given him of God, Saint Francis gladly and often held converfe with him both night and day. Hence they were at certain times found the whole night long abforbed in God in the thick wood, where they had met together to difcourfe of Him.
CHAPTER XXIX.
How the Devil oftti7nes did appear in the Form of One Crucified unto Brother Rufus, telling hitn that all his Labor was vain, inafmuch as he was not chofen imio Eternal Life : Saint Fran- cis learning this through Divine Revelation, fhowed Brother Rufus the Error i?i which he lay.
BROTHER RUFUS, one of the mod noble men of the city of Affifi, and a comrade of Saint Francis, a man of
exceedin.GT
132 ^ije autle iFlotoers of
exceeding fan6tity, was upon a time forely tempted and tormented in fpirit concern- ing the do6trine of Predeftination ; where- fore he was moft melancholy and fad ; in- afmuch as the Devil put it into his heart that he was damned and was not one of thofe ele6led unto Eternal Life, and that all the good works which he wrought in the Order would avail him naught. And this temptation enduring day after day, he for fheer fhame forbearing to reveal aught of it to Saint Francis, yet paufed not in praying and fafting : for which thing the Enemy began to heap forrow upon forrow, befides the inner battle, fhaking him from without with evil vifions. Hence he once appeared to him in the form of One Cruci- fied, faying unto him : " O Brother Rufus, why fhould you thus affli6l yourfelf with penitence and prayers, forafmuch as you are not one of the Ele6l? And beheve me, that I know them whom I have chofen and pre- deftined ; and put not your faith in the fon of Peter Bernardone,"^ albeit he may tell you to the contrary, and moreover queftion him not concerning fuch matters, fmce neither he nor any man elfe can know, fave only I,
Who
^ Saint Francis.
Saint jfrancis oC ^nninu 133
Who am the Son of God : wherefore of a verity you may beheve me, that you are of the number of the damned ; and the fon of Peter Bernardone, your father,^ and alfo his father, are damned, and whofover fhall follow after them is deceived and mifled." And hearing thefe words. Brother Rufus began to be fo overfhadowed by the Prince of Darknefs, that already he loft all faith and love which he cherifhed for Saint Francis, and cared not to tell him aught of thefe things. But that which Brother Rufus told not to the Holy Father was made known to him of the Holy Ghoft ; hence Saint Francis feeing in fpirit the great danger of the faid Brother, fent Brother Maximus to fummon him ; to whom Brother Rufus made anfwer fcorn- fully, " What have I to do with Brother Francis ? " And then Brother Maximus, filled full with divine wifdom, knowing the deceitful wiles of the Devil, faid : " O Brother Rufus, know you not that Brother Francis is like to an Angel of God, which hath enlightened fo many fouls in this world, and from which we receive the
Grace
^ That is, the founder of the Order to which he belonged.
134 ^8^ Hittlr jFlotoers oC
Grace of God ? Wherefore I would that at all hazards you come before his face with me ; forafmuch as I fee clearly that you are led afbray of the Devil." And hav- ing faid this, Brother Rufus was moved, and went forth to Saint Francis, and Saint Francis feeing him from afar began to cry aloud, *' O wicked Brother Rufus, in whom have you trufted ? " And Brother Rufus drawing near to him, he told him in due order all his temptation brought upon him by the Devil from within and from without, and clearly fhowed him that he who had appeared to him was the Devil and not Chrift, and that in no manner muft he confent to his fuggeftions ; but when the Devil fhould again fay to him, " You are damned," he fhould make anfwer, " Open your mouth ; " " and this fhall be for a fign unto you that he is the Devil and not Chrift : for fo foon as you have given him this anfwer, ftraightway he fhall flee thence. By another token alfo fhall you know that he is the Devil, forafmuch as he hath hard- ened your heart againft all goodnefs, which thing is proper to his office ; but Chrift the Bleffed did never yet make hard the heart of the faithful, but rather foftens it, even
as
<Sa(nt iFrancis of ^nniuL 135
as is fpokcn by the mouth of the Prophet : * I will take the i\ony heart out of their flelh, and will give them a heart of flelh.' " Then Brother Rufus, feeing that Saint Francis had related to him in due order all the manner of his temptation, ftung by his words, began to weep very fore and to adore Saint Francis, and humbly to acknowledge his fin, in that he had hidden his temptation. And thus he was left much comforted and confoled by the admonitions of the Holy Father, and quite changed for the better. Then fi- nally Saint Francis faid to him : " Go, fon, and confefs your fm, nor give over your wonted prayers : and know of a certainty that this temptation fhall be of great ufe and comfort to you, and in a brief fpace you fhall fo prove it." Brother Rufus re- turned again to his cell in the foreft ; and praying there with many tears, lo ! the enemy came again in the femblance of Chrift, that is in his outward feeming, and faid to him : " O Brother Rufus, did I not tell you to put not your faith in the fon of Peter Bernardone, and that you fhould not weary yourfelf with tears and prayers, fince you are damned ? What avails it to affli6t
yourfelf
136 ^f}t JLittlt iFIoujcrs of
yourfelf while you live, and then when you die, ftill you will be damned ? " And fud- denly Brother Rufus replied to the Devil, " Open thy mouth that I may fpit upon thee." At which the Devil, waxing wrath, llraightway departed thence with fuch a tempeft of wind and fo great a rain of fbones from Mount Subaffio, which was in that neighborhood, that the noife of the ftones which fell down was heard for a great fpace round about ; and fo great was the tumult that they made, together with the rumbling, that horrid flames of fire flafhed through the valleys, and at the found that they made, Saint Francis with his Companions came out from the Con- vent in great amaze, to fee what ftrange thing this might be ; and even unto this day men may fee that exceeding great wafte of ftones. Then Brother Rufus faw plainly that this was the Devil which had mifled him. And returning again to Saint Fran- cis, again he fell before him on the ground and confeffed his fault. Saint Francis com- forted him with fweet words, and fent him again confoled to his cell, wherein he, pray- ing moft devoutly, Chrift the Bleffed ap- peared to him, and fired all his foul with
Divine
cSai'nt jFrancis ot 'JXnmnL 137
Divine Love and faid, ** Well doft thou, fon, to put thy faith in l^rother Francis, forafmuch as he who affli6led thee was the Devil ; but I am Chrift thy Mafter : and that you may be well affured of this, I give you this fign : while you live, you lliall never know any forrow, neither any grief." And faying thefe words, Chrift departed thence, leav- ing him with fuch Rejoicing and fuch fvveet- nefs of fpirit and elevation of mind that day and night he was abforbed and rapt in God. And from that time forth he was fo confirmed in Grace and in the fure fenfe of his Salvation, that he was wholly changed to another man ; and he would fain have remained day and night in prayer and in contemplation of Divine Things, would oth- ers have but let him. Hence Saint Fran- cis faid concerning him, that Brother Rufus was canonized of Chrift in this life, and that fave in his prefence he hefitated not to call him Saint Rufus, albeit he yet lived upon this earth.
138 ^Tije ILittle JFloto^rs of
CHAPTER XXX.
Of the glorious Sermo7i which Saint Francis and Brother Rufus preached at AJfiJi.
THE laid Brother Rufus, through con- tinual contemplation, grew to be fo abforbed in God that he became almofb dumb and infenfible, and but very rarely fpoke ; and withal he had not the Grace, nor the Valor, nor the Eloquence to preach : and neverthelefs Saint Francis charged him upon a time that he fhould go to Affifi, and Ihould preach to the people even as the Lord ihould infpire him. To which Brother Rufus made anfwer : " Reverend Father, I befeech you, pardon me and fend me not forth, inafmuch as you are well aware that I have no grace in preaching, and am fimple and unlearned." And then faid Saint Francis : " Forafmuch as you have not obeyed promptly, I command you by your facred vow of Obedience that you go, clad only in your breeches, unto Affifi, and enter there a church and preach to the people." Upon this command the faid Brother Rufus laid off his raiment and
went
Saint iFtancis of Assist. 139
went to AiTifi and entered into a church, and doing reverence to the altar, went up into the pulpit and began to preach ; at which thing the men and boys began to laugh, and faid, " Lo, one who doth peni- tence, left he grow proud and vain." Meantime Saint Francis, pondering on the ready obedience of Brother Rufus, which was one of the nobleft gentlemen of Affifi, and of the hard command which he had laid upon him, began to reproach himfelf, faying, "Whence haft thou fuch prefump- tion, fon of Peter Bernardone, thou vile and petty fellow, that thou Ihouldft com- mand Brother Rufus, which is one of the nobleft gentlemen of Affifi, to go forth and preach to the people even as he were mad ? In God's name, go forth thou like- wife, and prove for thyfelf even that thou haft commanded of others." And fuddenly, in the ardor of his fpirit, he alfo laid off his raiment and went forth to Affifi, and with him went Brother Leo bearing his habit and that of Brother Rufus. And the men of Affifi feeing them in like plight, feoff ed at them, holding that they with Brother Rufus were made mad by much Penitence. Saint Francis entered into the
church
I40 ^f}t Utttlr jFlotocrs of
church where Brother Rufus was preach- ing thefe words : ** Fly, my beloved, from the World, and forfake Sin ; covet not the goods of others, if you would efcape Hell ; follow God's commands, love God and your neighbor, if you would gain Heaven ; do penitence, if you would poffefs the King- dom of Heaven." Then Saint Francis went up into the pulpit; and he began to preach fo marvelloufly of the Vanity of the world, of holy Penitence, of voluntary Poverty, and of the longing after the Celeftial King- dom, and of the nakednefs and fcorn of the Paffion of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that all they who heard his preaching, men and women in great multitudes, began to weep violently with admirable devotion and con- trition ; and not only here, but throughout all Affifi, upon that day fuch floods of tears were fhed for Chrift's Paffion, that nothing fimilar was ever feen. And the people being thus edified and confoled by the a6l of Saint Francis and Brother Rufus, Saint Francis clad again both Brother Rufus and himfelf ; and thus reclad they returned back to the Convent of Portiuncula, praifing and glorifying God, Who had given them grace to win the vi6lory over felf by their felf-
contempt,
.Saint jFrancis of '^urAni. 141
contempt, and to edify the flock of Chrift Jefus by their good Example, and to fliow what it is to dcfpife the World ; and that day fo great was the devotion which the people felt for them, that he held himfelf bleffed who could but touch the hem of their garments.
CHAPTER XXXI.
How Saint Francis duly kfiew the Jccret Souls of all his Brethren.
EVEN as our Lord Jefus Chrift faith in the Gospel, " I know my fheep and they know me," etc., fo the bleffed Father Saint Francis, like unto a good fhepherd, knew all the merits and virtues of his Com- panions by divine revelations, and even fo was made aware of their defe6ts ; for the which thing he knew how to provide for each the beft remedy, which is to fay, he hum- bled the Proud, exalted the Lowly, inveighed againft Vice, and lauded Virtue, according as may be read in the wondrous revela- tions which he had concerning his firffc family. Among the fame we learn that
Saint
142 ^f)c ILittlr JFIoUjers of
Saint Francis once being with the faid family in a certain place difcourfing of God, Brother Rufus was not among them to hearken unto this difcourfe, but was loft in a mufe in the midft of the wood ; pro- ceeding with their difcourfe of God, lo ! Brother Rufus came forth from the wood and paffed by fomewhat remote from them. Then Saint Francis, feeing him, turned again to his Companions and afked them, faying : " Tell me, whofe think you is the holieft foul which God hath fent into the world ? " And they made anfwer, faying that they believed it to be his own. And Saint Francis faid to them : " Beloved Brethren, I know myfelf to be the moft unworthy and the vileft man whom God hath fent into this world ; but fee ye not that fame Brother Rufus, who even now came forth from the wood ? God hath re- vealed to me that his foul is one of the three moft holy fouls in the world : and verily I fay unto you that I fhould not hefitate to call him Saint Rufus while he yet lives, forafmuch as his foul is confirmed in grace and fanftified and canonized in Heaven of our Lord Jefus Chrift." And thefe words Saint Francis uttered not be- fore
cSaint iFrancfs of ^ssisC, 143
fore the face of the faid Brother Rufus. How Saint Francis Hkewife knew the faults of his Brethren may be clearly feen in Brother Elias, whom ofttimes he re- proved for his pride ; and in Brother John of the Choir, to whom he did prophefy that he fliould go out and hang himfelf by the neck ; and in that Friar whom the Devil held faft by the throat when he was cor- re6led for his difobedience ; and in many other Friars, whofe fecret faults and virtues he knew clearly through a revelation from Chrifl.
XXXII.
How Brother Maximus entreated of Chrijl the Virtue of Meeknefs.
THE firft Companions of Saint Francis ftrove with all their ftrength to be poor in worldly goods and rich in virtues, by which they might gain true riches, celeftial and eternal. It happened one day, that they being met together to talk of God, one of them related this parable : " There was a certain man who was a dear friend of God, and had great gifts alike for
a
144 ^J^ atttle jFlotoers of
a life of a6lion and of contemplation, and withal had fuch exceeding meeknefs, that he held himfelf as the greateft of finners : which meeknefs fan6lified and ftrengthened him in grace, and made him grow continu- ally in virtue and in the favor of God, and never let him fall into any manner of fin." Brother Maximus hearing fuch marvellous things concerning meeknefs, and knowing that it was a treafure of eternal life, began to be fo inflamed with love and longing for this virtue of meeknefs, that, raifing his eyes with great fervor to Heaven, he made a vow and moft certain promife never more to be merry in this world until he ftiould feel the faid virtue abiding perfe6lly within him ; and from that time forth he would pafs almofb the entire day fliut up within his cell, mortifying himfelf with fafts, vig- ils, prayers, and extreme lamentations and tears before God, to the end that he might wring from Him this virtue, wanting which he held himfelf worthy of Hell, and with which that friend of God, as he had heard, was fo plentifully endowed. And Brother Maximus, cherilhing thus this defire for many days, it came to pafs that he one day entered into a wood, and in the fervor of his
fpirit
cSaint iFrancis of ^unitiL 145
fpirit wandered on, weeping, fighing, groan- ing, and befeeching with ardent longing that God would grant him that divine vir- tue : and forafmuch as the Lord gladly hears the prayers of the contrite and the lowly, Brother Maximus being thus forlorn, a Voice came down from Heaven, and the fame called him twice: " Brother Maximus, Brother Maximus ! " And he, having fpirit- ual knowledge that this was the Voice of Chrift, replied : " My Lord ! " And Chrift faid to him : " What will you give to have this Grace that you afk ? " Brother Maxi- mus replied : " Lord, I will give the eyes out of my head." And Chrift faid to him : " And I defire that you have the Grace, and likewife the eyes." And faying this, the Voice vanifhed ; and Brother Maximus was left behind filled with fo much grace of the defired virtue of meeknefs and of the Light of God, that from that time forth he went ever rejoicing ; and ofttimes when he prayed, did rejoice aloud, making a dull noife like that of a dove, — 00, 00, 00, — and with a fhining countenance and a light heart he would linger thus loft in contemplation ; and withal, being become very meek, he held himfelf to be lefs than all other men.
Being 10
146 ^fje mttlt iFIotoers of
Being afked by Brother James, of Falle- rone, why in his rejoicing he changed not ever his tune, he repHed with great cheer. That when one thing containeth all good, it boots not to change the meafure or the tune.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
J^ow Saint Clara, at the Commaiid of the Pope, blejfed the Bread which was on the Table: whereat on every Loaf was feen the fgn of the Holy Crofs.
SAINT CLARA, that moft devout fol- lower of the Crofs of Chrift, and the noble offspring of Saint Francis, was of fuch fan6lity that not alone Bifhops and Cardinals but even the Pope himfelf longed with great affe6tion to fee and to hear her, and many times vifited her in perfon. Among other times, the Holy Father once went to Moniftero to hear her converfe of celeftial and divine things ; and being thus met together, reafoning of divers matters, Saint Clara meantime bade them make ready the tables, and place upon them
bread.
Saint iFpancis of Assist, 147
bread, to the end that the Holy Father might blefs it ; whence, her fpiritual dif- courfe completed, Saint Clara, kneeling with exceeding great reverence, prayed him that it might pleafe him to blefs the bread upon the table. The Holy Father replied : " Sifter Clara, moft faithful among women, I defire that you do blefs thefe loaves, making above them the fign of Chrift's Holy Crofs, to which you have given yourfelf entirely, body and foul." Saint Clara faid : " Pardon me, Moft Holy Father, for I fhould be worthy of great reproach if before the face of Chrift's Vicar on earth, I, who am but a vile and filly woman, fhould venture to give fuch bleff- ing." And the Pope made anfwer : " To the end that it be not reputed prefump- tion, but merely righteous fubmifTion, I charge you, by your facred vow of Obedi- ence, to make the fign of the moft Holy Crofs above thefe loaves, bleffing them in the name of God." Then Saint Clara, like a true daughter of Obedience, did devoutly blefs the bread with the fign of the moft Holy Crofs. Wonderful to relate ! Sud- denly upon all thofe loaves appeared the fign of the Crofs moft beauteoufly carven.
Then
148 m)t Hittle jFloU3trj3 of
Then of thofe loaves a part were eaten, and a part preferved in token of the miracle. And the Holy Father, after that he had feen that miracle, partaking of the faid bread and giving thanks to God, departed thence, leaving Saint Clara with his bleff- ing. In thofe days Sifter Ortolana, the mother of Saint Clara, abode in the Con- vent, and Sifter Agnes, her fifter, both of them together with Saint Clara, full of vir- tue and of the Holy Ghoft, and with many other Nuns ; unto whom Saint Francis fent many that were fick and infirm ; and they by their prayers and by the fign of the moft Holy Crofs healed them all every one.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
How Saint Louis, King of France, went in Perfon^ in the Guife of a Pilgrim, to Perugia, to vifit Holy Brother Guy.
^
AINT LOUIS, King of France, once »^ went on a pilgrimage to fee the holy places of the world : and hearing the ex- ceeding great fame of the fand ity of Brother Guy, who was one of the firft followers of
Saint
<Saint jffvantiu of ^nuinu 149
Saint Francis, he felt a hearty defire, and at length determined to vifit him in perfon ; for the which purpofe he came to Perugia, where the faid Brother Guy was then abid- ing. And drawing nigh to the gate of the Monaftery, in the guife of a poor and un- known pilgrim, with but a few Com- panions, he moft perfiftently demanded Brother Guy, faying to the gate-keeper naught of who he was that afked for him. The gate-keeper then went to Brother Guy and told him that a pilgrim flood without the gate and afked for him : and God revealed and made known to him that this was the King of France : at which fuddenly he with great fervor left his cell and ran forth to the gate ; and without fur- ther queftioning, and before even they had fet eyes each upon the other, kneeling with extreme devotion, they embraced and kiffed with much familiarity, as they had long been bound by the bonds of friend- fhip : but withal they fpoke no word, neither the one nor the other ; but flood thus em- braced in filence with thefe tokens of affec- tionate amity. And having remained thus for a fpace without fpeaking a word to- gether, they parted one from the other ;
and
ISO ^i|e WLittlt JFlotoers of
and Saint Louis departed thence on his journey, and Brother Guy returned again to his cell. The King being departed, a Friar afked a certain one among his Breth- ren who that man might be who had fo ardently embraced Brother Guy ; and he made anfwer that it was Louis, King of France, who had come thither to fee Brother Guy. The fame being repeated to the other Monks, they were fore afflided that Brother Guy had fpoken no word with him ; and reproving him, they faid : " O Brother Guy, wherefore were you fo churl- ifh, as when fo holy a King came hither from France to fee you and to hear wife words from your lips, you fpake not unto him ? " Brother Guy made anfwer : '' My beloved Brothers, marvel not hereat: foraf- much as neither I could fpeak a word to him nor he to me ; inafmuch as fo foon as we were embraced, the light of Divine Wifdom revealed and laid bare his heart to me and mine to him ; and thus by Divine Authority gazing each into the other's heart, we knew far better thofe things which he might have fpoken to me and I to him, than had we fpoken them with our lips, and with greater comfort than had we ftriven to fet
forth
Saint jftantiu of ^uninu 151
forth with our voices thofc things which we felt in our hearts ; whereas the human tongue being but faulty and ill-fitted to ex- prefs clearly the fecret myfteries of God, it would have rather added to our difcom- fiture than our confolation ; wherefore know that the King departed hence from me wondrous well content and comforted in fpirit."
CHAPTER XXXV.
How, being mjirm, Saint Clara 7vas borne by a Miracle unto the Church of St. Francis, icpon Chrijlmas Night, and heard Mafs therein.
SAINT CLARA being once infirm of body, fo that flie could in no manner go forth to fay Mafs in Church with the other Nuns, when the folemn feaft of the Nativity of Chrift was at hand all the others went to Matins ; and fhe remained behind in bed ill content that fhe could not go forth with the reft to receive that fpiritual comfort. But Jefus Chrift, her heavenly Spoufe, loath to leave her fo ill content, had her borne by miraculous power unto the Church of St. Francis, and thus was Ihe prefent at
the
152 ^f)e ilittlc jFIolKcrs of
the office of Matins and at the Midnight Mafs ; moreover, did receive Holy Com- munion, and was then tranfported again to her bed. The Nuns returning back to Saint Clara, fervice being ended at St. Damian's, faid to her : " Oh, our Mother, Sifter Clara, what exceeding confolation has been ours at this facred feaft of the Nativity ! Would it had pleafed God that you might have been among us ! " And Saint Clara replied : " Thankfgiving and praife give I unto Our Lord Chrift Jefus ; may His name be bleffed, my beloved Sifters and Daughters, forafmuch as I have wit- neffed every folemn rite of this moft holy night, and even greater things than you have feen, to the great confolation of my foul : forafmuch as through the interceffion of my Father Saint Francis, and by the Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, I was pref- ent in the Church of my venerable Father Saint Francis, and heard all the Office with my bodily as well as my fpiritual ears, and the found of the organ as it was played ; and there too I did partake of the moft Holy Communion. Wherefore for all thefe mercies voucbfafed to me, rejoice greatly and thank our Lord Jefus Chrift.
Saint jfrancis of ^nninu 153
CHAPTER XXXVI.
JIow Saint Francis fet foi'th to Brother Leo a fair VifiOfi which he faw.
UPON a time Saint Francis was fore infirm, and Brother Leo ferved him ; the faid Brother Leo, being at prayer be- fide Saint Francis, was rapt in Ecftafy, and borne in fpirit to an exceeding great ftream, broad and brawling. And Handing there to note who fhould pafs over, he faw cer- tain heavily-laden Friars enter the Flood, the which were ftraightway beaten down by the rulhing waters and were drowned ; certain others came a third of the way over ; others reached the middle of the Plood ; certain others came almofb over to the other fliore ; who all, from the violence of the Flood, and from the burdens which they bare upon their backs, fell at laft and periflied miferably. Seeing this. Brother Leo was much moved to pity : and fud- denly ftanding thus, behold there came a great multitude of Monks, without burden or weight or any other thing, whofe counte- nances fhone with the light of Holy Pov- erty;
154 ^8^ JLittlt iFlotoers oC
erty ; and they entered upon the waters, and paffed over without any danger ; and feeing this, Brother Leo returned to him- felf. And then Saint Francis, feehng in fpirit that Brother Leo had feen fome Vifion, called him unto his bedfide and afked him concerning thofe things which he had {qqw. And Brother Leo relating duly all his Vifion, Saint Francis faid : " That which you have feen is true. The great river is this world ; the Brethren which were drowned in the Flood are they who forfake the calling of the Evange- lifts, and above all elfe attain not unto the moft extreme poverty : but they who paffed over unharmed are thofe Monks who feek after naught earthly or carnal, neither pof- fefs aught of this world's goods, but having naught fave a modicum of food and rai- ment, therewith are well content, following Chrift naked on the Crofs ; and they do bear cheerfully and willingly the burden and the fweet yoke of Chrift and of their facred vow of Obedience ; and hence they pafs eafily from temporal unto Eternal Life.
<Saint iFrancifl of ^ssisu 155
CHAPTER XXXVII.
How ycfus Chrijl the Blejfed, at the Requejl of Saifit Francis, did convert a rich and noble Knight, and make him a Monk, the Same hav- ing 7nade great Proffers and paid much Honor u7ito Saint Francis.
SAINT FRANCIS, the fervant of Chrift, coming late one night unto the houfe of a great and powerful lord, was received and entertained of him, he and his Com- panion, even as they had been Angels of God, with exceeding courtefy and devo- tion : for the which thing Saint Fran- cis held him in much efteem, confidering that upon his entering into the houfe he had embraced and kiffed him with ex- treme amity, and thereafter had wafhed his feet and dried them and kiffed them humbly, and had made a great fire, and lay- ing the table with many rich meats, con- tinually did ferve on him with fhining face while he ate thereof. Now Saint Francis having eaten, together with his Companion, this gentleman faid : " Lo, my Father, I and all my worldly goods are thine : whenfo-
ever
156 ^1)0 nettle jFlotoers of
ever thou doft want raiment or mantle or whatfoever thing, buy, and I will pay the price ; and behold, I am ready to provide for thine every want, forafmuch as by the Grace of God I have wherewithal fo to do, inafmuch as I abound in all temporal goods ; and hence for love of God Who gave them, I cheerfully do good unto His poor." Upon which Saint Francis, feeing him poffeffed of fuch courtefy and bland- nefs, and the bounty which he proffered, conceived fuch affe6lion for him that, de- parting thence, he faid to his Comrade as he went : ** Verily this gentleman would well befeem our Religion and Company, being fo grateful and fo pleafmg unto God, and fo loving and courteous towards his fellow-men and to the poor. Know, be- loved Brother, that Courtefy is one of the effential qualities of God, Who maketh His fun to fhine and His rain to fall upon the juft and upon the unjuft, through Courtefy: and Courtefy is alfo the fifter of Charity, which puts out Hatred and preferves Love alive. Becaufe I have known fo much divine virtue in this good man, I would gladly take him for my Companion : and hence I defire that we may one day return
again
cSaint jfvantin of ^nnini. 157
ap^ain unto him, if haply God may touch his heart and move him to go along with us to enter upon the fervice of God ; and meantime we will pray God that He may breathe this defire into his heart, and give him grace to execute it." Wonderful to relate ! A few days thence. Saint Francis having prayed, our Lord breathed this de- fire into the heart of that gentleman. And Saint Francis fpake to his Companion, fay- ing : ** Let us go forth, my Brother, to the abode of that courteous man ; forafmuch as I have firm faith in God, that he in the Courtefy of temporal things Ihall give him- felf to us and become our Companion." And they went forth ; and drawing nigh to his houfe, Saint Francis fpake to his Companion, faying : " Await me here a little, forafmuch as I am fain firft to pray to God that it may pleafe Him to profper our journey ; that it may pleafe Chrift Jefus to grant unto us poor weak men the noble prey which we hope to capture from the world through the virtue of His moft Holy Paffion." And faying this, he began to pray at a place whence he might be feen of the faid courteous man ; hence, as it pleafed God, that fame, gazing hither and yon,
foon
158 ^ije atttle jFlotoers oi
foon saw Saint Francis loft in moft devout prayer before Chrift, Who with great fplen- dor appeared to him in the faid prayer and ftood before his face ; and as he abode there thus, he faw Saint Francis for a good fpace Hfted up bodily from the earth. For the which thing he was fo moved of God and infpired to forfake the world, that pref- ently he went forth from his palace, and in the fervor of his fpirit haftened towards Saint Francis ; and drawing nigh unto him as he prayed, he knelt before his feet, and with exceeding great urgency and devotion he befought that it might pleafe him to re- ceive him and to let him do penitence with him. Then Saint Francis, feeing that his prayers had been heard of God, and that the felfsame thing which he defired, this gentleman befought with fuch urgency, he raifed him up, and fervently and joyoufly embraced and kiffed him, moft devoutly thanking God, Which had added fo noble a knight to his Company. And that gentle- man faid to Saint Francis : " What com- mandefb thou me to do, my Father } Lo, I am ready for thy command, and to give to the poor all that that I have, and to follow after Chrift with thee, thus fet free of all
temporal
<Saint iFcancis ot ^nnini, 159
temporal burden." And even fo he did, ac- cording unto the counfel of Saint Francis ; for he fliared his goods among the poor, and entered into the Order, and Uved in great penitence and fan6lity of life, and in honeft converfation with his Brethren.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
I/'o7£/ Sai7it Francis had Jpiritual Knowledge that Brother Elias was damned, afid was dejlined to die outjide of the Order; wherefore at Brother Elias' Entreaty He prayed to God in his Behalf and was heard,
SAINT FRANCIS and Brother Elias once abiding together in the felfsame Convent, Saint Francis had a revelation from God that Brother Elias was damned, and was deftined to renounce his faith and finally to die outfide of the Order. For the which thing Saint Francis conceived fuch difpleafure againft him, that for a fpace he fpake not to him, neither held he any converfe with him ; and if at any time it happened that Brother Elias came forth to meet him, he would turn afide and take
another
i6o STIje Hittle jFIotocrs of
another road, that he might not meet with him ; at which Brother Elias began to note and to underftand that Saint Francis was much difpleafed with him ; hence, defiring to know the caufe, he one day accofted Saint Francis to fpeak with him ; and Saint Francis ihunning Brother Ehas, he retained him courteoufly perforce, and began to en- treat him difcreetly that it would pleafe him to fignify to him the caufe for which he thus fhunned his company and all con- verfe with him. And Saint Francis made anfwer : *' The caufe is namely this : foraf- much as it has been revealed to me of God that you for your fins fliall renounce your faith and (hall die outfide of the Order, and alfo God hath revealed to me that you are accurfed and damned." Hearing this, Brother EHas fpake thus : " Reverend Father, I befeech you for the love of Jefus Chrift that you fliun me not for this, neither drive me from you ; but like unto a good Shepherd, following after the example of Chrift, recover and receive again the flieep which muft perifli if you aid him not; and pray unto God for me that, if it may be. He revoke the fentence of my damnation ; forafmuch as it is written that God will
change
.Saint jFcancis oC ^BUinu i6i
change His decree if the finner turn from his fin : and fo great is my faith in your prayers, that were I in the midmoft part of Hell and you fent up a prayer to God for me, I fliould feel a certain eafe ; therefore I pray you yet again to recommend me, a finner, unto God, Which came into the world to fave finners, that He will grant me His Mercy." And this Brother Elias faid with great devotion, ay, even with tears ; upon which Saint Francis, like a pious Father, promifed to pray to God for him ; and fo he did. And praying to God very fervently for him, he knew by revelation that his prayer was heard of God, in fo far as concerned the revocation of the fentence of Brother Elias' damnation, for finally his foul fhould not be damned ; but affuredly he would forfake the Faith and die outfide the Order. And even fo it happened ; forafmuch as Fred- eric, King of Sicily, rebelling againft the Church, and being excommunicated by the Pope, he and whofoever fliould give him aid or counfel, the faid Brother Elias, who was held to be one of the moft wife men in the world, being fummoned by that fame King Frederic, joined himfelf unto him, and be- came a rebel to the Church and an apof-
tate II
1 62 ^Ije ILittlr jFlotJtrs ot
tate from the Order : for the which thing he was excommunicated of the Pope, and ftripped of his habit by Saint Francis. And being thus excommunicate, and fall- ing very ill, a certain lay Brother among his Brethren, which had remained in the Order and was a man of good and honeft life, hearing of his fore infirmity, went to vifit him ; and among other matter faid to him : " My beloved Brother, it grieves me much that you fhould be excommunicate and driven out from your Order, and that even fo you muft die ; but if you can per- ceive any mode or manner by which I may refcue you out of your peril, I will cheer- fully endure any fuffering for your fake." Brother Elias made anfwer : ** My Brother, I fee no other manner than that you fhould betake yourfelf to the Pope, and entreat him that for the love of God, and of Saint Francis his fervant, through whofe admo- nitions I was led to forfake the world, he abfolve me from his excommunication and reftore to me the habit of my Order." Thus he fpake to his Brother, who cheer- fully undertook any labor fo that he might but be faved : and departing thence from him, he threw himfelf at the feet of the
Holy
cSaint jFvantiH of ^nnini. 163
Holy Father, humbly befecching him that he would fliow mercy to his Brother, for love of Chrift and of Saint Francis his fcr- vant. And as it pleafed God, the Pope granted him his leave to return again, and if he found Brother Elias ftill alive, abfolve him in his name from excommunication, and reflore to him his habit ; upon which he fet forth rejoicing, and with great fpeed came again to Brother Elias, and found him alive, albeit at the point of death, and fet him free from the ban of the Church ; and putting on him again his habit, Brother Elias paffed away from this life, and his foul was faved through the merits of Saint Francis and by his prayers, in which Brother Elias had put fuch great faith.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
0/ the Marvellous Sermon which was preached in the Conjljiory by Saint Anto?iy of Padua, a Gray Friar.
THAT marvellous veffel of the Holy Ghoft, Saint Antony of Padua, one of the chofen Difciples and Companions
of
1 64 STftc mttlt iFlotoras of
of Saint Francis, who was called of Saint Francis his Vicar, once preached in the Confifhory before the Pope and his Cardi- nals ; in which Confiftory there were men of divers nations ; namely, Greeks, Latins, French, Germans, Slavs, and Englifh, and men fpeaking other divers tongues. Fired by the Holy Ghoft, fo efficacioufly, fo de- voutly, fo fubtly, fo fweetly, fo clearly, and fo plainly did he fet forth the Word of God, that all they which were prefent at the Con- fiftory, of whatfoever divers tongues they were, clearly underftood all his words dif- tin6lly,even as he had fpoken in the language of each man among them ; and they all were ftruck dumb with amaze, and it feemed as that ancient miracle of the Apoftles had been renewed, when as at the time of the Pentecoft they fpake by virtue of the Holy Ghoft in every tongue ; and they faid one to another with admiration and awe : " Is not he who preaches come out from Spain? and how do we hear in his difcourfe every man of us the fpeech of his own land ? " Likewife the Pope, confidering and marvel- ling at the profundity of his words, faid : " Verily this man is the Ark of the Cove- nant and the Vehicle of the Holy Gofpel."
<aaint jfvantin of ^HUinu 165
CHAPTER XL.
0/ the Miracle which God performed when Saint Antony, being at Rimini^ preached to the FiJJies of the Sea.
OUR Bleffed Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, defiring to fet forth the great fandlity of His moft faithful fervant Saint Antony, how devout a thing it was to hear his preaching and his Holy Do6lrines, He reproved the folly of heretics and infidels through unreafoning beafts, notably the fiflies, as of old in the Bible He chid the ignorance of Balaam through the mouth of the Afs. Hence, Saint Antony being at Rimini, where there was a great mul- titude of heretics, defiring to bring them back to the light of the true faith and to the ways of virtue, for many days did preach and fet forth to them the faith of Chrift and of the Holy Scriptures : but they, not only confenting not to his Holy Words, but even like hardened and obfti- nate finners refufing to hearken unto him. Saint Antony one day by Divine Infpira- tion went forth to the banks of the river,
clofe
1 66 rje JLittlt iFlobJtrs of
clofe befide the fea ; and Handing thus upon the fhore betwixt fea and ftream, he began to fpeak in the guife of a fermon in the Name of God unto the fifhes : " Hear the Word of God, ye fifhes of the fea and of the ftream, fince heretics and infidels are loath to liften to it ; " and having uttered thefe words, fuddenly there came towards him fo great a multitude of fifhes, great, fmall, and middle-fized, as had never been feen in that fea, or in that ftream, or of the people round about ; and all held their heads up out of the water, and all turned attentively towards the face of Saint An- tony, and the greateft peace and meeknefs and order prevailed : infomuch that next the fhore ftood the leffer fifh, and after them came the middle fifh, and ftill after them, where the water was deepeft, ftood the larger fifh. The fifh being thus ranged in order. Saint Antony began folemnly to preach, fpeaking thus : " My Brothers the fifh, you are greatly bounden, fo far as in you lies, to thank your Creator that He hath given you fo noble an element for your habitation ; fo that at your pleafure you have frefh waters and fait ; and He hath given you many fhelters againft ftorm.
He
.Saint jftmxtiu of ^nniuL 167
He hath alfo given you a clear and kicid element, and food, by which you may live. God, your courteous and benign Creator, when He created you, commanded you to grow and multiply, and He gave you His blefling : then when the great Flood fvval- lowed up the World, and all the other ani- mals were deftroyed, God preferved you only without injury or harm. Almoft hath He given you wings, that you may roam whitherfoever it pleafes you. To you was it granted, by God's command, to preferve the prophet Jonah, and after the third day to caft him up upon the land fafe and found. You offered tribute to our Lord Jefus Chrift, which He, poor and lowly, had not wherewithal to pay. You were the food of the everlafting King Chrift Jefus, before the refurre6lion and again after it, by a ftrange myftery ; for the which things greatly are you bounden to praife and blefs God, Which hath given you fuch great and fo many benefits, more than to any other creatures." Upon thefe and other fimilar words and teachings of Saint Antony the fifhes began to ope their mouths, and to bow their heads ; and by thefe and other figns of reverence, accord- ing
1 68 ^Tije mttlt jFlotoeris of
ing as it was poffible to them, they praifed God. Then Saint Antony, feeing fuch reverence in the fiflies towards God their Creator, rejoicing in fpirit, cried aloud and faid : *' Bleffed be the eternal God, fince fifhes of the waters honor Him far more than heretic men, and the unreafoning beafts more readily hearken to His Word than faithlefs men." And as Saint An- tony continued his preaching, the multi- tude of fifhes was increafed yet more, and none departed from the place which he had filled. Upon this miracle the people of the town began to haften forth, and among them were alfo the aforefaid here- tics ; the which, feeing fo manifefb and mar- vellous a miracle, felt their hearts forely pricked, and fell with one accord at Saint Antony's feet, to hear his word. Then Saint Antony began to preach of the Catholic faith ; and fo nobly did he dif- courfe, that he converted all thofe heretics and turned them to the true faith of Chrift ; and all the faithful were comforted with great joy, and were confirmed in their faith. And this done. Saint Antony difmiffed the fifhes with the bleffing of God ; and they all departed with marvellous figns of re- joicing,
<Saint iFtancis of '^nninu 169
joicing and likewife the people. And then Saint Antony flayed in Rimini for many days, preaching, and reaping a fpiritual harveft of fouls.
CHAPTER XLI.
Ifo7a the Venerable Brother Swion freed from fore Tci7iptatio7i a Brother which for that fa??ie Caufe was about to forfake the Order.
IN the beginning of the Order of Saint Francis, while he yet lived, there came into the Order a young man of Affifi, which was called Brother Simon ; the which God adorned and endowed with fo much grace, fuch power of contemplation and eleva- tion of mind, that throughout his life he was ever a mirror of fan(5lity, according as I have heard from them which long abode with him. But very rarely was he feen outfide his cell, and if ever he did abide with the Brothers, he continually did difcourfe of God. Never had he ftudied the laws of grammar, and neverthelefs dif- courfed fo deeply and fo loftily of God and of the love of Jefus Chrift, that his
words
170 2^1)0 Hittlc jFlototrs of
words feemed fupernatural words ; hence one evening he being gone into the wood with Brother James of Maffa to converfe of God, and fpeaking moft fweetly of the Divine Love, they remained all night in fuch difcourfe, and at dawn of day it feemed as they had tarried there but a very brief fpace, according as the faid Brother James did tell me. And the faid Brother Simon poffeffed in fuch fuavity and fweetnefs of fpirit the divine and loving Light of God, that ofttimes when he did feel it defcend- ing upon him he would take to his bed ; forafmuch as the tranquil fuavity of the Holy Ghoft required of him not alone re- pofe of foul but likewife of body ; and in fuch Divine Vifitations he was ofttimes ab- forbed in God, and became wholly infenfible to all earthly things. Hence, once being thus rapt in God, and infenfible to the world, the Divine Love burned within him, and he felt naught external with his bodily fenfes. A Brother defiring to have proof of this, to fee if it were even as it feemed, went and took a coal of fire and laid it to his bare foot ; and Brother Simon knew naught of it, and it made no mark upon his foot, albeit it was held there for a great
fpace
cSaint iFtancis of ^nninu 171
fpace, until it went out of itfelf. The faid Brother Simon when he took his feat at table, before ever he partook of bodily food, took for himfelf and did break the fpiritual food, difcourfnig of God. By his devout converfation he once converted a young man of San Severino, who was in his time a moft vain and worldly youth, and was of noble blood and very delicate of his body : and Brother Simon, receiving the young man into the Order, retained his fecular garb in his keeping ; and he fo- journed with Brother Simon to be taught of him the meet obfervances. Wherefore the Demon, who labors to diftort all good, befet him with fuch fore defire and ardent temptation to fm, that in no manner could he refift; wherefore he went forth to Brother Simon and faid to him : " Give me again my raiment which I wore in the world, for- afmuch as I can no longer ftand up againft temptation." And Brother Simon, having much compaffion for him, faid to him, '* Sit here, my fon, a little fpace with me." And he began to talk with him of God in fuch manner that every temptation departed from him ; and yet again the temptation returned, and he again entreated that his
raiment
172 ^f\t iLittlr iFIotoers oi
raiment might be reftored unto him. And Brother Simon drove it thence with dif- courfe of God. And this he did many times ; and finally one night the faid temp- tation affailed him fo fore, more than was its wont, that being unable by any manner of means to hold out againft it, he went forth to Brother Simon, entreating that his worldly raiment might be given him again, for in no manner might he linger longer there. Then Brother Simon, according as was his wont, bade him fit befide him ; and as he fpake of God, the young man did lay his head in Brother Simon's lap, for pure melancholy and grief Then Brother Simon, for the great compaffion which he had, raifed his eyes to Heaven and made a prayer, be- feeching the Lord moft devoutly for him, and was rapt and heard of God : hence re- turning again to his fenfes, the young man felt himfelf wholly freed from that tempta- tion, as if he had ne'er felt aught of it : nay more, the ardor of temptation being con- verted into the ardor of the Holy Ghoft, inafmuch as he was brought near to the Living Coal, which is Brother Simon, he became all inflamed with the love of God and his fellow-man ; infomuch that, a male-
fa6lor
Saint jFrancis of <^nniuu 173
fa61or being once taken, both whofe eyes were to be plucked from him, he, that is, Brother Simon, through compaliion went forth fervently to the Prior ; and in full Council, and with many tears and devout prayers, he entreated that from him might be plucked out one eye, and from the male- fadlor another, to the end that the latter might not be deprived of both. But the Prior and Council, feeing the great fervor of the brotherly love of this Friar, did par- don both the one and the other. The faid Brother Simon being once at prayer within a wood, and feeling much confolation in his own foul, a band of crows began to con- found him with their chatter, at which he commanded them in the name of Jefus that they fliould depart and return again no more ; and the faid birds, departing thence, were thenceforth feen no more, neither were they heard either there or in all the region round about. And this mira- cle was known to all the territory of Fermo, wherein the faid Convent flood.
174 ^i)f JLittlt iFlotoers of
CHAPTER XLII.
0/ the fair Miracles which God wrought through thofe holy Brethren, Brother Wel- coi?ie, Brother Peter of Monticello, and Brother Conrad of Offida: and ho7v Brother Welcome bore a Leper fifteen Miles in mofl brief Space : and to the onefpake Saint Michael, and to the other came the Virgi7t Mary a7id laid her Son in his Arms.
THE Province of the Marches of An- cona was of old adorned with holy and exemplary Monks, even as the Heavens are adorned with ftars ; which fame Monks, like unto the luminaries of the fky, did illu- mine and adorn the Order of Saint Fran- cis and the world by their example and their do6lrine. Firft among thefe men was Brother Lucius Antico, who was indeed a fliining light for fandlity and burned with Divine Charity ; whofe glorious tongue, informed of the Holy Ghoft, gathered won- drous fruit by its preaching. Another was Brother Welcome of San Severino, which was feen by Brother Maximus lift up into the air for a great fpace, he being at prayer in the wood ; for the which miracle the
devout
Saint iFtancis of Assist, 175
devout Brother Maximus, being then parifli prieft, left his parifli and became a Gray Friar; and was of fuch great fandlity that he wrought many miracles both while he lived and in his death, and his body lies at Murro. The aforefaid Brother Welcome, tarrying once alone at Trave Bonanti, to watch and wait upon a Leper, being com- manded of the Prelate to depart thence and go to another Convent which was fifteen miles away, being loath to leave that Leper, with great ardor of brotherly love took him and put him on his back, and bore him from dawn of day even until the rifing of the fun all that fpace of fifteen miles, unto that fame Convent whither he was fent, which was called Mount Sancino; which diftance, had he been an eagle, he could not fo fwiftly have flown in fo brief a fpace : and great were the awe and admira- tion at this divine miracle throughout all the land. Another was Brother Peter of Monticello, which was feen of Brother Servetus of Urbino (he being then Prior of the ancient Convent of Ancona), raifed up bodily above the earth fome five, ay, fix cubits, even unto the feet of Chrift crucified within the Church before whofe
image
176 ^f\t Hittle JFlotDeria of
image he tarried in prayer. And this Brother Peter, abftaining once upon the Faft of the Archangel Saint Michael with much devotion, and being at the laft of that Faft in the Church at prayer, was heard by a youthful Friar (who ftudioufly remained hidden below the high altar, to fee fome a6l of his fan6lity) difcourfing with the Archangel Saint Michael ; and the words that they fpake were thefe. Said Saint Michael: "Brother Peter, faithfully you have plagued yourfelf for me, and in divers ways have affli6led your body : lo, I am come to comfort you, to the end that you may require of me whatfoever grace you will, and I will entreat it for you of God." Brother Peter replied : " Moft Holy Prince and Captain of the Celeftial Hoft, and moft faithful partifan of Divine Love and pious prote6lor of fouls, I be- feech you grant me this grace ; that you will be pleafed to entreat of God that He may forgive me all my fms." Saint Michael made anfvver : " Afk fome other grace, for this I moft cheerfully grant you." And Brother Peter afked naught elfe fave only this ; and the Archangel concluded : " For the faith and devotion which you have in
me.
Saint Jfvamin of Assist- 177
me, I give you this grace which you have afked, and likewife many others." And their converfe ended, v^rhich had lafted for a great fpace, the Archangel Saint Michael departed thence, leaving him exceeding comforted.
In the time of this Holy Brother Peter lived the Holy Brother Conrad of Offida, who, fojourning together with him in the fame Convent of Forano in the territory of Ancona, the faid Brother Conrad went forth one day into the wood to medi- tate on God, and Brother Peter went fe- cretly after him to fee what might befall him ; and Brother Conrad began to lift up his voice in prayer, to pray moft devoutly to the Virgin Mary with much piety, that fhe would obtain for him from her Bleffed Son this Grace, — that he might feel a little of that fame blifs which Saint Simon felt upon the Feaft of the Purification, when he did bear Jefus, the Bleffed Saviour, in his arms. And having prayed thus, the all- merciful Virgin Mary heard his prayer ; for lo ! the Queen of Heaven appeared to him with her Bleffed Son in her arms, with ex- ceeding great light ; and drawing near unto Brother Conrad, fhe laid that Bleffed Babe
upon 12
178 Kfit nettle iFlotoers of
upon his arm ; and he receiving Him mofl devoutly, embracing and kiffmg Him and preffmg Him to his breafl, languifhed quite away, and was confumed with Divine Love and inexplicable confolation. And like- wife Brother Peter, who had feen all thefe things from his hiding, felt the moft ex- treme blifs and comfort within his foul. And the Virgin Mary departing thence from Brother Conrad, Brother Peter retired in hafte to the Convent left he fhould be feen of him ; but after, when Brother Con- rad returned again jocund and alert, Brother Peter f aid to him : ** Oh, what heavenly great confolation was yours this day ! " Brother Conrad faid, " What fayeft thou, Brother Peter ; and what doft thou know of that which I have had ? " " Well I know, well I know," faid Brother Peter, " how that the Virgin Mary with her Bleffed Son hath vifited thee." Then Brother Conrad, who being truly humble, defired to be fecret with the Graces of God, befought him that he Ihould fpeak no word of this to any man ; and fo great was the love betwixt thofe twain from that day forth, that they feemed to have but one heart and one foul between them in all things. And the faid
Brother
cSaint jfrancis oC ^uninL 179
Brother Conrad did once, at the Convent of Siruolo, fet free a woman who was pof- feffed of a devil, praying for her all one night and appearing to her mother, at dawn of day did flee thence left he fhould be fought out and honored of the people.
CHAPTER XLIII.
How Brother Conrad of Offida did convert a young Monk who affliHed the other Friars, And how the /aid young Monk, coming to die, did appear to the /aid Brother Conrad, entreat- ing that he ivould pray for him : and how he fet him free by his Prayers from the very great Pains of Purgatory.
THE faid Brother Conrad, a wondrous partifan of Evangelic Poverty and the Rule of Saint Francis, was fo religious in his life and of fo great merit towards God, that Chrift the Bleffed honored him with many miracles both in his life and in his death ; among which upon a time, being come to the Convent of Offida a ftranger, the Brethren entreated him for the love of God and of true charity to admonifh a young Monk who did abide in that Convent, the
which
i8o Kfiz ILittle iFlotoers of
which bore himfelf fo childifhly, difor- derly, and diffolutely that he difturbed both old and young of that Convent, heed- ing little or naught the divine offices, or other Ordinances of the Rule. Upon which Brother Conrad, through compaf- fion for the young man and at the prayers of the Brothers, did one day call that youth apart ; and in a fervor of brotherly love fpake to him fuch efficacious and devout words of admonition, that by the a6lion of Divine Grace he fuddenly became, from a child, an old man in his habit, and fo obe- dient and benign and diligent and devout, and moreover fo peaceful and fo docile, and fo ftudious of all virtuous deeds, that even as before the whole Convent had been dif- turbed through him, fo now all were made comfortable and content through him, and they loved him much. It happened, as it pleafed God, that thereafter, after his con- verfion, the faid youth died ; at which the faid Brothers mourned. And a few days after his death his foul did appear to Brother Conrad, he being devoutly at prayer before the altar of their faid Con- vent, and faluted him pioufly, as a father ; and Brother Conrad afked him : ** Who art
thou } "
cSaint iFraucis of Assist. i8i
thou ? " The fame made anfwer and faid : " I am the Soul of that young Monk which did die a brief fpace fince." And Brother Conrad faid : *' Oh, my moft beloved Son, how is it with thee ? " The fame made anfwer : " Through the Grace of God and thy do6lrines it is well with me, foraf- much as I am not damned : but for certain of my fins, of which I had not time fuffi- ciently to purge me, I muft endure the worft pains of Purgatory ; thus I befeech thee. Father, as by thy piety thou didft fuc- cor me in my living, fo now it may pleafe thee to fuccor me in my torment, reciting certain Paternofters for me ; for thy prayers are mofb acceptable in the fight of God." Then Brother Conrad, confenting kindly to his entreaties, and faying the Paternofter for him but a fingle time together with the Reqidan (Eterjiain, that Soul cried out : "Oh, beloved Father, what well-being and refrefh- ment I perceive ! Now, I befeech thee, fay them yet once again." And Brother Con- rad did fo ; and he having recited them, the Soul faid : '' Holy Father, when thou doft pray for me I feel much eafe : hence I en- treat thee that thou ceafe not from worfhip and praife for me." Then Brother Conrad,
feeins:
i82 Kfjt aittle iFIotoers of
feeing that that Soul was thus aided by his prayers, recited for him an hundred Pater- nofters ; and when that he had ended them, that Soul did fay : " I thank thee, beloved Father, in the name of God, for the broth- erly love which thou haft fhown towards me ; forafmuch as through thefe thy prayers I am fet free from all pains, and am about to enter the kingdom of Heaven." And faying this, that Soul departed thence. Then Brother Conrad, to the end that he might give comfort and joy to the Breth- ren, recited to them all this Vifion in due order. And thus the Soul of that youth entered Paradife through the merits of Brother Conrad.
CHAPTER XLIV.
I/ow the Mother of Chrijl and Sai?it John the Evangelijl did appear wito Brother Conrad^ and did tell hi77i which of they twain did grieve mofl fore for the FaJ/lon of Chrifl.
IN the days when there abode together in the territory of the Marches of Ancona, at the Convent of Forano, Brother
Conrad
cSaint iFtancis oi ^uninL 183
Conrad and the aforefaid Brother Peter, which were two fliining ftars of the Prov- ince of the Marches, and two celeftially- minded men, forafmuch as between them was fo much Love and fo much Charity that they feemed but one heart and one foul, they were both bound together by this contra6l : that every confolation which the Grace of God fliould grant them they fhould mutually reveal the one to the other in all brotherly affeftion. This contra6l being figned and fealed, it befell that Brother Peter being one day at prayer, and meditating moft devoutly upon the Paffion of Chrift, and how the moft Bleffed Mother of Chrift and John the Evangelift, His moft dearly loved Difciple, and Saint Francis, were portrayed at the foot of the Crofs, crucified with Chrift by mental pangs and dolor, he was feized with a longing to know which of thefe three did grieve moft fore for Chrift's Paffion, — whether the Mother who bare Him, or the Difciple who had flept upon His bofom, or Saint Francis, which was crucified with Chrift ; and lingering thus loft in thefe pious muf- ings, the Virgin Mary appeared unto him with Saint John the Evangelift, and with
Saint
184 ^fit Hittle iflcitoers of
Saint Francis, arrayed in moft fair raiment of beatific glory ; but behold ! Saint Francis feemed clad in more beauteous garb than Saint John. And Peter being all alarmed at this vifion, Saint John comforted him, and faid to him : " Fear not, beloved Brother, forafmuch as we are come to com- fort thee in thy doubt. Know, then, that the Mother of Chrift and I did grieve be- yond all other creatures at the Paffion of Chrifb ; but after us. Saint Francis felt greater pangs than any other, and hence doft thou fee him clad in fuch glory." And Brother Peter alked him : '' Moft holy Apoftle of Chrift, why feemeth the raiment of Saint Francis more fair than thine .? " Saint John made anfwer : " The reafon is this : forafmuch as when he lived on earth he did wear raiment more vile than I." And faying thefe words. Saint John be- ftowed on Brother Peter a glorious gar- ment which he held in his hand, and faid to him : " Take this garment, which I have brought to give to thee." And Saint John defiring to clothe him with this garment, Brother Peter fell to the ground in a maze, and cried aloud : *' Brother Conrad, dear- eft Brother Conrad, fuccor me ftraight ;
come
cSaint jFrancis of ^nniui. 185
come hither and fee marvellous things." And as he fpake thefe holy words that fa- cred vifion vanifhed quite away. Then Brother Conrad coming there, he told him all things in due order as they had hap- pened ; and they gave thanks unto God.
CHAPTER XLV.
0/ the Converjton and Life and Miracles a7id Death of that holy Brother, John of the Pen,
BROTHER JOHN OF THE PEN be- ing yet a child and not a churchman, in the Province of the Marches of Ancona, one night there appeared before him a moft beauteous boy, who cried aloud unto him : " John, go forth unto St. Stephen's Church, where there preacheth one of my Gray Friars ; believe thou in his teaching, and hearken to his words, forafmuch as I have fent thee thither : and this done, thou muft take a far journey, returning then again to me." Upon which forthwith he rofe up, and felt a marvellous change within his foul ; and going forth to St. Stephen's Church, found there a great multitude of
men
1 86 K'^t ILittlt iFlotoers of
men and women tarrying to hear the preaching. And he who was to preach there was a certain brother, Brother PhiUp by name, which was one of the first Friars who had come into the Marches of Ancona ; and but few convents had as yet been founded in that region. Going up into the pulpit, this Brother Phihp began to preach ; and he preached moft pioufly, not with words of human wifdom, but by virtue of the Spirit of Chrift, foreteUing the kingdom of Eternal Life. And the fermon ended, the faid child went forth to the faid Brother Phihp, and fpake to him : " Father, if it pleafe thee to receive me into the Order, I will cheerfully do penance, and will ferve our Lord Jefus Chrifl." Brother Philip feeing and recognizing in the faid child a marvellous innocence and a prompt defire to ferve God, faid to him : " Come to me on fuch a day at Recanati, and I will fee that thou art received ; for in that place we do intend to make the Provincial Chap- ter-houfe ; " at which the child, which was moft exceeding fimple, bethought himfelf that this was the far journey which he muft take, according unto the revelation which had been made unto him, and there- after
^aint jFtancis oC ^uuini, 187
after he fliould go thence to Paradife ; and fo he thought he muft do fo foon as he had been received into the Order. He went thither, therefore, and was received : and feeing that his thoughts were not then fulfilled, the Head of the Chapter faying that whofoever would go forth through the Province of Provence, through the merit of his holy vow of Obedience, he would cheer- fully give him leave fo to do, he felt a great defire to go thither, thinking in his heart that even this was the great journey which he was to take before he might reach Paradife ; but feeling fhame to tell his thoughts, at laft he confided them to the aforefaid Brother Philip, who had had him taken into the Order, begging him lov- ingly that he would entreat for him leave to go into the Province of Provence. Then Brother Philip, feeing his purity and his holy purpofe, begged for him this grace : whence Brother John with great rejoicing fet about his departure, full of the thought that, his journey ended, he fhould go thence to Paradife. But, as it pleafed God, he fo- journed in the faid Province twenty-five years in this expe6lation and defire, living in extreme honefty and fan6lity and exem-
plarity,
1 88 ^^t SLittle iFloUJtris of
plarity, growing ever in virtue and in the Grace of God and of the people, and was fupremely loved alike of Monks and laymen. And Brother John being one day devoutly at prayer, and weeping and wailing becaufe his defire was not fulfilled, and that his pilgrimage through this life was too long protra6led, there appeared unto him Chrift the Bleffed, at whofe afpe6l his whole foul was melted within him, and He fpake to him thus : ** Son, Brother John, require of Me what thou wilt." And he made anfwer: " My Lord, I know not what other thing to alk of Thee than this, fmce I defire naught elfe : but this only do I pray Thee, that Thou wilt forgive me all my fins, and wilt grant me grace to fee Thee yet once again, when I may have greater need of Thee." Jefus faid : " Thy prayer is granted ; " and faying this, He departed thence, and Brother John was left wholly comforted. At the lafi: the Monks of the Marches, hearing the fame of his holinefs, fpake fuch great things of him to the Vicar General, that he commanded him by his vow of Obedience to return into the Marches ; which command he receiving, fet forth joyfully, thinking that, the journey over, he
fhould
Saint iftancis of ^uninu 189
fhould furely rife to Heaven, according to the promife of Chriit. But being returned again into the Province of the Marches, he lived there thirty years, and was not known of any of his kindred ; and every day he waited for the Mercy of the Lord, that He fhould fulfil His promife. And in thofe days he many times filled the office of Prior with much difcretion ; and Our Lord wrought many miracles through him. And among other gifts which he had of God, he had the fpirit of prophecy ; hence once, he going forth from the Convent, a certain one among his novices was attacked by a Demon and fo forely tempted that he, con- fenting unto the temptation, determined within himfelf to forfake the Order fo foon as Brother John fhould return again from abroad ; which thing, both temptation and deliberation, being made known to Brother John through the fpirit of prophecy, he ftraightway returned home, and called be- fore him the faid novice, telling him that he defired to hear his confeffion : but be- fore ever he did confefs, he recited to him all his temptation in order, even as God had revealed it to him, and concluded thus : *' Son, forafmuch as you awaited my com- ing,
190 ^ije ILittlc jFlotDrrs of
ing, and would not depart without my bleff- ing, God hath granted you this grace, that you fhall never leave this Order, but fhall die in the Order with the Divine Favor.'* Then the faid novice was confirmed in good-will, and remaining in the Order he became a holy Monk; and Brother Hugh told all these things to me. The faid Brother John, which was a man of bright and peaceful fpirit, and but rarely fpake, was a man of great devotion and prayer, and efpecially after Matins he would never return into his cell, but would tarry in the church praying until day. And he being at prayer one night after Matins, the Angel of the Lord appeared before him, faying : " Brother John, the end of your journey, which you have fo long awaited, is at hand, and I am come to tell you in God's name that you may now afk whatfo- ever favor you will. And I alfo announce that you may choofe whichfoever you will, either one day in Purgatory, or a week of torment in this world." And Brother John, choofmg rather the week of torment in this world, fuddenly he was affli6led with divers ills ; forafmuch as he was burned with fever, and pinched hand and foot with
gout
.Saint iFrancifl of ^nninu 191
gout, and many other ills ; but that which troubled him moil; was, that a Demon flood before him and held in his hand a great parchment infcribed with all the fms which he had ever finned or conceived, and faid to him : " For thefe fins which you have wrought in thought, and with your tongue, and in deed, you are condemned to the loweft depths of Hell." And he was not mindful of any good thing which he had ever done, neither that he was in the Order, neither that he had ever been ; but believed verily that he was damned even as the Demon faid. Whence, when he was afked how he did, he replied : *' Very ill, foraf- rauch as I am damned." The Brethren feeing this, they fent for a very ancient Brother, Brother Matthew of Mount Rub- biano by name, which was a holy man and very dear to this Brother John ; and the faid Brother Matthew, coming to him on the feventh day of his tribulation, greeted him, and afked him how he fared. He made anfwer that he fared but ill, becaufe he was damned. Then faid Brother Mat- thew : " Remember you not that many times you have confeifed to me and I have abfolved you wholly of all your fins .'' and
yet
192 Ki)t nettle jFlotorrs of
yet again, remember you not that you have ever ferved God in this Holy Order for thefe many years ? and again, remember you not that the merciful kindnefs of God exceedeth all the fms of the world, and that Chrifl the Bleffed, our Saviour, hath paid an infinite price for our redemption ? And therefore be of good cheer, for verily you are faved." And with thefe words, the term of his purgation being fulfilled, the temptation departed from him, and confo- lation came. And with great rejoicing Brother John fpake to Brother Matthew : ''Forafinuch as you are weary and the hour is late, I pray you go to your reft." And Brother Matthew would not leave him ; but yet at laft, at his great inftance, he went from him and lay down to reft : and Brother John remained alone with the Brother who ferved upon him. And lo ! Chrift the Bleffed came with exceeding great fplendor, and with exceffive fweet finell, according as He had promifed to appear to him once again when he had greater need of Him; and He healed him of his every ill. Then Brother John with clafped hands gave thanks to God, who with wife defign had thus ended his great journey of the
prefent
cSatnt jFvancis o£ ^nniuL 193
prefent mifcrablc life, committed himfelf to the care of Chrill and rendered up his foul to God, paffnig from this mortal life into Eternal Life with Chrill the Bleffed, which he had fo long defired and waited to fee. And the faid Brother John refts in the Convent of Brother John of the Pen.
CHAPTER XLVI.
How Brother Peace being at Prayer faw the Soul of his Brother, Brother Humility, afcend to Heaven.
IN the aforefaid Province of the Marches, after the death of Saint Francis, were two Brothers belonging to the Order ; the one was called Brother Humility and the other was called Brother Peace, the which were men of moft extreme fan6lity and perfe6lion ; and the one, that is Brother Humihty, abode in the Convent of Soffiano, and there did die ; and the other dwelt in a community belonging to another Con- vent quite remote therefrom. As it pleafed God, Brother Peace being one day at prayer in a folitary fpot was rapt in ecftafy, and
faw 13
194 ^8^ atttlc iflotoers ot
faw the foul of Brother Humility rife ftraight to Heaven, without any let or hindrance, even in the felfsame moment that it left the body. It then happed that after many years this Brother Peace, who remained, was placed with the Monks of the faid Convent of SofBano, where his brother had died. In thofe days the Breth- ren, at the petition of the Lords of Bru- forte, exchanged the faid Convent for another : wherefore among other things they did tranflate the relics of certain Holy Friars which had died within thofe walls : and coming to the fepulchre of Brother Humility, his brother. Brother Peace, took up his bones and wafhed them with good red wine ; and then he wrapped them in a fair white napkin, and with great reverence and devotion kiffed them and wept ; at which the other Monks mar- velled, and held him as an ill example, forafmuch as, he being a man of great fanftity, it feemed that through fenfu- al and fecular love he did weep for his brother, and that he fhowed more de- votion towards his remains than towards thofe of the other Monks, who were no lefs holy than Brother Humihty, and were
worthy
Saint iFcancfs of ^nulni. 195
worthy of as much reverence as he. And Brother Peace knowing the evil imagina- tion of the Brethren, meekly fatisfied them, faying unto them : " My beloved Brothers, marvel not if I do thefe things to the bones of my Brother and do them not likewife to the others, inafmuch as, bleffed be God, I am not led, as you believe, by carnal love ; but I have done fo becaufe that when my brother paffed away from this life I, pray- ing in a defert fpot and remote from him, faw his foul rife ftraight into Heaven ; and hence I am affured that his bones are fa- cred and fhould reft in Paradife. And had God granted me a fimilar affurance con- cerning the other Friars, I fhould have fliowed the fame reverence to their bones. For the which thing the Brethren, feeing his holy and devout intention, were much edified, and praifed God.
196 Kf^t nettle jFlotoers of
CHAPTER XLVII.
0/ that Holy Mo?ik to who77i the Mother of Chriji appeared wheit he was iufirm, afid brought him three Boxes of Electuary.
IN the aforefaid Convent of Soffiano there was of old a Gray Friar of fuch exceeding fan61ity and grace that he feemed all divine, and ofttimes was he rapt in God. This Brother being on a certain time quite abforbed in God and exalted, forafmuch as he was notably endowed with the grace of contemplation, there came unto him birds of divers kinds, and familiarly alighted upon his fhoulders, upon his head, and upon his arms, and upon his hands, and marvelloufly did they fing. This man was a folitary foul and but rarely fpake ; but when he was queftioned concerning aught, he made anfwer fo gracioufly and fo prudently that he feemed rather an Angel than a man ; and he was moft fervent in prayer and contemplation ; and the Brothers held him in great reverence. This Brother having fulfilled the courfe of his virtuous life, according to Divine ordinance, he fell
ill
.Saint ^iFiMncis of Assist* 197
ill even unto death, infomuch that naught could he take ; and therewithal he would re- ceive no carnal medicine, but all his faith he put in the Heavenly Phyfician, Jefus Chrift the Bleffed, and in His Bleffed Mother; thereby he merited the divine clemency of being mercifully vifited and healed. Hence he being once in his bed and making ready for death with all his heart, and with all due devotion, there appeared unto him the glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of Chrift, with an exceeding great multitude of An- gels and Holy Virgins, with wondrous fplendor. She drew nigh unto his bed : whence he gazing upon her was moft greatly comforted and rejoiced, both in foul and in body; and he began to pray humbly that She would pray Her beloved Son that through His merits He would releafe him from the prifon-houfe of this wretched flefh. And perfevering in this prayer with many tears, the Virgin Mary replied to him, calling him by name, and faying : " Doubt not, fon, forafmuch as your prayer is granted, and I am come to com- fort you a little before that you depart hence from this life." There were with the Virgin Mary three Holy Virgins, which
bore
198 Kfit autle jFloir.ers oi
bore in their hands three boxes of Ele6luary of matchlefs odor and fweetnefs. Then the glorious Virgin took and opened one of thofe boxes, and all the houfe was filled full of the fmell ; and taking a fmall por- tion of that Ele6luary in a fpoon, She gave it to the fick man : who, fo foon as he had received it, felt fuch great comfort and eafe that it feemed as his foul could no longer abide within his body; whence he began to fay : " No more, O moft holy and bleffed Virgin Mother ! O bleffed Healer and Sav- iour of mankind, no more ! for I am unable to endure fuch fweetness." But the pious and benign Mother ftill offering that Ele6t- uary to the fick man and conftraining him to take it, emptied all that box. Then the firft box being emptied, the beatific Virgin took the fecond and laid the fpoon therein to give to him ; whereat he did lament, faying : " O moft bleffed Mother of God ! my foul is almoft melted away by the ftrength and fweetnefs of the firft Eleftu- ary, and how may I endure the fecond ? I pray you, bleffed above all Saints and all Angels, that you will be pleafed to give me no more." The glorious Virgin Mary an- fwered : " Tafte, my fon, but a little of this
fecond
.Saint iFrancis of ^nnini. 199
fecond box." And giving him a little, flic faid : "Now, fon, you have fo much as may fuffice ; be comforted, O fon, for I will come for you ere long, and will lead you to the kingdom of my Son, which you have ever fought and defired." And fay- ing this, taking leave of him, She departed thence ; and he was left fo confoled and comforted by the fweetnefs of that confec- tion, that for feveral days more he furvived fated and ftrong, and partaking of no bodily food. And after fome days, joyoufly dif- courfing with the Brethren, with great jubi- lee and rejoicing, he paffed away from this miferable life.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Ifow Brother James of Majfa faw in a Vifion all the Gray Friars of the World, after the FafJiioii of a Tree, and did know the Virtues and the Merits and the Vices of every one.
BROTHER JAMES OF MASSA, to whom God opened the way to His myfteries, and gave him perfect wifdom and underftanding of the Divine Scriptures and
of
200 STfje 2Littlt ifloUjrrs oC
of future things, was of fuch great fan6lity, that Brother Guy of Affifi, and Brother Mark of Montino, and Brother Juniper, and Brother Lucius faid of him that they knew no man in the world more famihar with God than this Brother James. Great was my defire to fee him; forafmuch as I, praying Brother John, the Companion of the faid Brother Guy, that he would ex- pound to me certain fpiritual matters, he faid to me : " If you would be well informed concerning the life of the Spirit, make fhift to have fpeech with Brother James of Maffa:" forafmuch as Brother Guy longed to be informed of him, and no man was able either to add or to take away from his words, not one jot or tittle, and his words are the words of the Holy Ghofl, and there is no man on the earth whom I fo much defire to fee. This Brother James, in the beginning of the miniftry of Brother John of Parma, praying was once rapt in God, and remained three days in this ftate of ecfbafy, deprived of all bodily fenfe, and was fo lifelefs that the Brethren doubted whether he were not dead ; and in this trance God revealed to him the future of our Order : for the which thine:, vvhen I
heard
^^int iFrancis of ^nniuL 201
heard it, my dcfire to hear him and to fpeak with him did but wax ever greater. And when it pleafed God that I fliould have occafion to talk with him, 1 befought him thus : " If thofe things be true which I have heard of thee, I prythee keep them not hidden from me. I have heard that when thou didft lie three days as one dead, among other things which God revealed unto thee was that which was to befall this our Order ; and this was I told by Brother Matthew, preacher in the Marches, to whom thou didft reveal it in compliance with thy vows of Obedience." Then Brother James with great humility acknowledged that the words of Brother Matthew were true. His words, that is, thofe of Brother Matthew, the preacher in the Marches, were thefe : " I know. Brother, unto whom God hath made known that which fhall befall our Order, forafmuch as Brother James of Maffa hath publiflied and told me, that after many things which God revealed to him concerning the future ftate of the Church Militant, he faw in a vifion a beau- teous and very great tree, whofe roots were made of gold, the fruits which hung upon its boughs were men, and they all were
Gray
202 ^tjr HittU iFloUiers of
Gray Friars, the chief branches being di- vided according to the number of the Prov- inces of the Order ; and upon each branch hung fo many Friars as there were in the Province appropriated to that branch ; and thus he knew the number of all the Friars in the Order, and of each Province, and alfo their names and ages and conditions, and the great offices and dignities and efpecial graces belonging to each, and their offences. And he faw Brother John of Parma at the higheft tip of the midmoft bough of this tree ; and in the topmoft twigs of the branches, which grew about this midmoft branch, ftood the minifters of every Prov- ince. And after this he faw Chrift feated upon a great white throne ; and Chrift called Saint Francis to fit befide him, and gave him a Chalice full of the Water of Life, and fent him forth, faying : ' Go, vifit your Brethren, and give them to drink of this Cup of the Water of Life ; forafmuch as the fpirit of Satan fhall rife up againft them and fhall dafh them down, and many among them fhall fall and fhall not rife again.' And Chrift gave to Saint Francis two Angels which fliould walk befide him. And then came Saint Francis to offer the
Cup
<Saint jftantiu of ^ssifiC, 203
Cup of Life to his Brethren : and he did firft offer it to Brother John of Parma, who, taking, drank it all, every drop, devoutly and in hafte ; and fuddenly he became luminous as the fun. And after him fuc- ceflively Saint Francis offered it to all the reft : and there were but few among them who with due reverence and devotion did take and drink it all. They who took it pioufly and drank it all, every drop, ftraight- way became fplendid as the fun ; and they which fpilled it on the ground and received it not with meet piety, became black, or dark and miffhapen, and horrible to look upon : they that drank a part and poured out a part became partly luminous and partly fhadowed, and in greater or lefs de- gree, according to the meafure of that that they drank and fquandered ; but more than all the reft the aforefaid Brother John fhone refplendent, which moft compla- cently had drank the Cup of Life, whereby he had moft deeply contemplated the abyfs of infinite light, and therein had perceived the adverfity and tempeft which were to arife againft the faid tree, to fhake and agitate its branches. Wherefore the faid Brother John departed from the tip of the
bough
204 ^Sf Hittlr iFlotorra of
bough whereon he Hood, and defcending downwards through all the boughs, did hide himfclf amid the great limbs of the tree clofe to the trunk, and there abode in pen- five mood : and a certain Brother, which had taken a portion of the Cup and had fquandered a part, mounted up to that branch and that twig whence Brother John did defcend. And being on the faid twig, the nails of his hands were changed to fharp and piercing fteel, like unto razors : upon which he did move from that place whither he had climbed, and with force and fury would fain have thrown himfelf upon the faid Brother John to do him an injury ; but Brother John feeing this, cried out in a loud voice, and confided himfelf to the care of Chrift, which fat upon the throne ; and Chrift at his call fummoned Saint Francis, and gave him a fharp flint ftone, and faid to him : * Go with this ftone and cut the nails of yonder Friar, with which he would fain claw Brother John, to the end that he may do no manner of harm to any man.* Then Saint Francis came and did even as Chrift did command him. And this done, there came a whirlwind, and ftiook the tree fo fore that the Brothers fell to earth ;
and
^aint JFrancis of ^asCsi. 205
and the firft to fall were they who had fpilled all the Cup of the Water of Life, and were borne thence by Demons to realms of darknefs and torment. But Brother John, together with the others which had drunk all the Cup, were tranflated of An- gels to the abode of Life and Eternal Light and of Beatific Splendor. And the aforefaid Brother James, who faw the vifion, under- ftood and knew particularly and diftincStly that which he faw, reading clearly the names and conditions and ftates of each. And fo long endured that tempeft about the tree, that it fell, and the wind bore it away. And then fo foon as the tempeft did ceafe to rage, from the root of that tree, which was of gold, fprang forth another tree, which was all of gold, which brought forth flowers and fruits and foliage of gold. Of the which tree, and of its increafe, fize, beauty, odor, and virtues, it is better to be filent than to fpeak at this prefent."
2o6 ^f\t ILittlr iFlotoers oC
CHAPTER XLIX.
How Chrijl appeared to Brother John of Vernia.
AMONG the other wife and holy Broth- ers and fons of Saint Francis, who, as Solomon faith, are the glory of their father, there lived in our times, and in the faid Province of the Marches, the venerable and holy Brother John of Fermo, the which, by reafon of the great fpace that he abode in the Holy Convent of Vernia, and for that he there paffed away out of this life, was alfo called Brother John of Vernia, forafmuch as he was a man of rare life and of great fan6lity. This Brother John, being a layman and yet a child, defired with all his heart to follow the way of true repentance, which fhould keep his foul and body clean and pure ; hence, being but a little lad, he began to bear about him a breaftplate and an iron belt next his fkin, and to keep great fafts, and efpecially when he fojourned with the Canons of Saint Peter of Fermo, which lived fplendidly, he would fhun fenfual de- lights, and mortify his flefh with moft rigid
faftings.
cSaint jFrancis oC ^ssfsi. 207
faftings. But his companions being moft contrary to him in this, tearing from him his breaftplatc and hindering him in divers falhions from falling, he, infpircd of God, bethought him to forfake the world and its lovers, and to caft himfelf wholly into the arms of Chrift crucified, with the habit of the crucified Saint Francis; and even fo he did. And being received into the Order thus young, and committed to the care of the Mafler of the Novices, he became fo fpiritual and devout, that once on a time hearing the faid Mafter difcourfe of God, his heart melted within him like wax before the fire ; and with fuch exceeding fweet grace was he warmed by Divine Love, that he, not able fteadfaftly to endure fuch great fuavity, rofe up, and, like a man drunk in fpirit, ran hither and thither, now through the garden, now the wood, and now the church, according as the flame and fury of the fpirit did urge him on. Then in the courfe of time Divine Grace did make this angelic man to grow from virtue to vir- tue, and in celeftial gifts and divine ex- altation and ecftafies, infomuch that at certain times his mind was exalted to the fplendors of the Cherubim, at other times
to
2o8 Eiftr ILittlr jFlotorrs of
to the joys of the Bleffed, and yet again to the loving and extraordinary embrace of Chrift. And efpecially upon a certain day was the flame of Divine Love once kindled in his heart, and this fire burned within him for the fpace of three years, in which time he received marvellous con- folations and Divine vifitations and was ofttimes rapt in God ; and did speedily appear all on fire and aflame with the love of Chrift : and this was on the holy Mount of Vernia. But inafmuch as God is ftrangely watchful of his children, giv- ing them, according to their various ne- ceffities, now confolation, now tribulation, now profperity, and now adverfity, accord- ing as He fees it needful to uphold them in the way of humihty, or the more to enkindle their defire after celeftial things, it pleafed the Divine Bounty, after the three years, to take away from the faid Brother John that bright beam and that flame of Divine Love, and to deprive him of allfpiritual confolation. For the which Brother John was left with- out light and without the love of God, and was quite comfortlefs and aflfli6led and fad ; wherefore he wandered through the wood, roaming hither and yon, calling with
groans
Saint iFtancis of '^unini. 209
groans and tears and fighs to the beloved Spoufe of his foul, which had hidden Him- felf and departed from him, and without whofe prefence his foul could find no reft neither any repofe : but in no place, neither in any manner, could he meet his fweet Jefus, or again recover thofe moft dear and divine delights of the love of Chrift, which had been his wont And this tribula- tion endured for many days ; during which he perfevered in continual weeping and fighing, and in praying God that of His pity He would reflore to him the beloved Spoufe of his foul. At the laft, when it pleafed God to have fufficiently proved his patience and inflamed his defire, one day, as Brother John walked in the faid wood thus troubled and affli6led, he fat down to reft in flieer languor, leaning againft a beech-tree, with his face all bathed in tears, gazing Heavenward, and lo ! fuddenly there appeared Jefus Chrift clofe befide him in the very path by which Brother John came thither, but faying naught. Brother John feeing Him and knowing Him well, that He was Chrift, fuddenly threw himfelf at His feet and with inor- dinate tears moft humbly befought Him,
faying : 14
2IO 5r!)0 ILittle iFlotocrs of
faying: "Help me, Lord, for without Thee, my fweeteft Saviour, I live in darknefs and in the midft of tears ; without Thee, moft meek and gentle Lamb, I live in anguifh, in pain and fear ; without Thee, Son of God Moft High, I Hve in confufion and fhame ; without Thee I am ftripped of every good, and blind, forafmuch as Thou art Chrift Jefus, True Light of fouls ; with- out Thee I am loft and damned, forafmuch as Thou art the Spiritual Life, and the very Life of Life ; without Thee I am withered and dry, forafmuch as Thou art the Fountain of every gift and every grace ; without Thee I am all comfortlefs, foraf- much as Thou art Jefus, our redemption, love, and defire, the Bread that doth com- fort, and the Vine that maketh to rejoice the hearts of Angels and the hearts of all the Saints. Shine upon me, moft gracious Mafter and moft loving Shepherd, foraf- much as I am Thy lamb, unworthy though I am." But to the end that the dehre of holy men, unto which our Lord is flow to hearken, might be kindled unto greater love and merit, Chrift the Bleffed departed thence and left him unheard, neither fpake He any word, and went His way along that felf-
fame
Saint iFtancCfl of '^Xnnini. 211
fame path. Then Brother John rofe up, and haftcned after him, and yet again did fall at His feet, and with a holy importu- nity did hold Him by His garment, and with moft pious tears befought Him, fay- ing : " O fweeteft Jefus Chrift, have mercy upon my tribulation ; hearken unto me for the abundance of Thy mercy, and for the truth of Thy falvation, and give me back the light of Thy countenance and of Thy loving kindnefs, forafmuch as the whole earth is full of Thy merciful deeds." And Chrift departed from him yet again, and fpake not to him, neither gave He him any confolation ; and He did even as the mother doth to her child, when fhe lets him long for her breaft, and lures him to purfue her with weeping, to the end that fo he may take it more gladly. At which Brother John once more with greater fervor and defire followed after Chrift ; and having drawn nigh to Him, Chrift the Bleffed turned to him, and looked upon him with a gracious and fmiling countenance ; and opening His moft holy and merciful arms, He did moft fweetly embrace him. And in that opening of His arms Brother John faw rays of refplendent light to iffue from
the
212 5ri)e ILittlt iFlotorrs of
the moft Sacred Breaft of the Saviour, the which lighted all the wood and pierced his very foul and body. Then Brother John knelt at Chrift's feet ; and the Bleffed Jefus, even as He did to Magdalen, gave him His foot to kifs. And Brother John, taking it with fupreme reverence, bathed it in fo many tears that verily he feemed another Magdalen ; and he cried devoutly : "I pray Thee, O Lord, that Thou wilt not regard my fms, but by Thy moft Holy Paffion, and by the fhedding of Thy moft Precious and Holy Blood, that Thou wilt revive my foul by the grace of Thy Love ; fmce this is Thy command, that we love Thee with all our hearts and with all our minds ; which command can none fulfil without Thy aid. Aid me, then, moft beloved Son of God, for I love Thee with my whole heart and my whole ftrength." And Brother John, en- treating thus at Chrift's feet, was heard of Him, and asrain received from Him his former grace, which is the flame of Divine love, and felt himfelf quite confoled and renewed ; and knowing the gift of Divine grace to have returned into him, he began to give thanks unto Chrift the Bleffed, and devoutly to kifs His feet. And then rifing
up
<Saint jFtrancis of ^unini. 213
up to gaze upon the face of Chrift, Jefus Chrift ftretchcd forth and offered him His moft Sacred Hands to kifs : and when that Brother John had kiffed them, he drew near and fell upon Chrift's bofom and em- braced and kiffed Him ; and Jefus likewife did embrace and kifs him. And in thefe kiffes and embraces Brother John enjoyed fuch Divine odors, that had all the odorifer- ous delights and all the perfumed things of earth been conjoined together, they would have feemed but an evil ftench in compari- fon with that fmell ; and therein Brother John was rapt and confoled and enlight- ened, and that fmell dwelt in his foul for many months. And thenceforth, from his mouth, which had drank of the Fountain of Divine Wifdom in the Sacred Bofom of the Saviour, came forth marvellous and celeftial words, which turned all hearts ; and they that heard him reaped much fpiritual har- veft : and in the path in the wood wherein had flrayed the Bleffed Feet of Chrift, and for a good fpace round about. Brother John did ever fmell that fmell, and fee that fplen- dor, whenfoever he returned thither for a great time thereafter. Brother John re- turning again to himfelf after that ecftafy,
and
214 ^t)^ Hittle iFItJtoers oi
and the bodily prefence of Chrift being van- ifhed, he remained fo enlightened in foul, in the depth of his divinity, that albeit he was no fcholar by human ftudy, neverthe- lefs he did miraculoufly folve and expound the moft fubtle and profound queftions concerning the Divine Trinity and the deep myfteries of the Holy Scriptures. And many times thereafter, fpeaking be- fore the Pope and his Cardinals, and before the King and his Nobles, and the Doctors and learned Men of the Law, he put them all in great amaze by the wife decrees and lofty words which he did utter.
CHAPTER L.
How, faying Mafs upon All Souls' Day, Brother yohn of Verniafaw many Souls fet free fro7n Purgatory.
THE faid Brother John, once faying Mafs upon All Souls' Day, for all the fouls of them that are dead, according as the Church hath decreed, offered up that moft noble Sacrament with fuch loving- kindnefs and fuch pious compaffion that for
its
cSatnt jFrancis of '^nninu 215
its efficacy the fouls of the dead defired above any other good that he might be chofen of all men to fay fervice for them ; for he fcemed to melt quite away in the fweetnefs of his pity and brotherly love. For the which thing, as he did devoutly raife aloft the Body of Chrift in that Mafs, offering it unto God the Father, and pray- ing Him that for love of His Bleffed Son Jefus Chrift, Which hung upon the Crofs to buy back fouls. He would be pleafed to fet free from the pains of Purgatory the fouls of the dead, created and redeemed by Him, ftraightway he faw an almoft infinite number of fouls rife up out of Purgatory, as they had been countlefs fparks of fire flying up from a burning furnace ; and he faw them go up into Heaven, through the merits of Chrift's Paffion, which is every day offered up for the quick and the dead in that moft Sacred Hoft, worthy to be adored in fceaila fcectdoriim.
2i6 ^fit mttle jFlototts of
CHAPTER LI.
O/ the Holy Brother yames of Fallerone ; and how, befo7'e he died, he did appear to Brother jfohn of Vernia.
AT the time when Brother James of Fallerone, a man of much fan6lity, lay very ill at the Convent of Moliano in the territory of Fermo, Brother John of Vernia, who was then abiding at the Con- vent of Maffa, hearing of his affli6lion, forafmuch as he loved him like his own dear father, fell to praying for him, de- voutly entreating God in filent prayer that He would make whole the body of the faid Brother James, if it were for his foul's beft good ; and praying thus devoutly, he was rapt in ecftafy, and faw in mid-air a vaft army of Angels and Saints above his cell, which was in the wood, encompaffed with fuch fplendor that all the region round about was lighted up with the glory thereof ; and among thefe Angels he faw the fick Brother James, for whom he prayed, arrayed in white and fhining robes. He alfo faw among them the bleffed
Father
.Saint jfrancifl of Assist* 217
Father Saint Francis, adorned with the Sacred Stigmata of Chrill;, and of exceed- ing luftre. He alfo favv and recognized Holy Brother Lucius, and Brother Matthew the Prior of Mount Rubiano, and many more Friars, the which he had never feen nor known in this life. And Brother John gazing thus with great delight, as was his wont, upon that bleffed band of Saints, there was revealed to him as a verity the Spiritual Salvation of the faid fick Brother, and that he muft needs die of his difeafe ; but he fhould not go ftraight to Paradife after death, inafmuch as it befeemed him firfh to purge his fms a little fpace in Pur- gatory. At the which revelation Brother John did fo greatly rejoice for that foul's falvation that he heeded not the death of the body, but with great fweetnefs of fpirit called him foftly, faying : " Brother James, my dear father ; Brother James, my dear brother ; Brother James, moft faithful fer- vant and friend of God ; Brother James, Companion of Angels and Confort of the Bleffed." And thus in this affurance and cheer he returned again to himfelf, and incontinently did fet forth from the Con- . vent and go to vifit the faid Brother James
at
2i8 srifte ILittlr JFlotocrs of
at Moliano ; and finding him fo heavily- burdened that he could fcarce fpeak, he announced to him the death of his body and the glory and falvation of his foul, according to the affurance which he had received through Divine revelation ; at which Brother James, much rejoiced in foul and in afpe6l, received him with great cheer and with a jocund laugh, thanking him for the good tidings he did bring, and devoutly recommending himfelf to his prayers. Then Brother John befought him dear, that after his death he would return and fpeak to him concerning his condition ; and Brother James gave him his promife fo to do, if it fhould thus pleafe God. And having faid thefe words, the hour of his paffing away drew near, and Brother James began pioufly to recite that verfe of the Pfalms : In pace in idipfum doruiiamy et reqidefcam; which is to fay: I will lay me down in peace, and take my refl ; and having repeated this verfe, with a light and jocund face he paffed away from this life. And after that he was buried. Brother John travelled thence to the Convent of Maffa, and awaited the promife of Brother James that he would return again to him
upon
^aint ifrancis of ^sminL 219
upon the day which he had named. But on the faid day, he being at prayer, Chrift did appear unto him with a great company of Angels and of Saints, among whom Brother James was not ; whence Brother John, marvelling much, recommended him fervently to Chrift. Then the day follow- ing thereafter. Brother John praying in the wood, Brother James did appear to him ac- companied by the Angels, all glorious and all bright, and Brother John faid to him : " O deareft father, why did you not return again unto me upon the day which you did name ? " Brother James replied : " Foraf- much as I had need of certain purgation ; but in that fame hour that Chrift appeared to you, and you did commend me to His care, Chrift heard you and delivered me out of all punifhment. And then I ap- peared unto Brother James of Maffa, a lay faint, which was ferving at Mafs, and faw the Confecrated Wafer, when the Prieft did raife it up, converted and changed into the form of a moft beauteous living boy, and faid to him : * I go this day with this fame child unto the realm of Eternal Life, whence can none go without him.' " And faying thefe words. Brother James difap-
peared,
2 20 ^fjr JLittlt JFlotoers of
peared, and rofe up to Heaven with all that bleffed company of Angels ; and Brother John was left greatly comforted. The faid Brother James of Fallerone died upon the eve of the day of Saint James the Apoftle, in the month of July, at the aforefaid Convent of Moliano ; wherein for his merits the Divine Bounty wrought many miracles after his death.
CHAPTER LII.
O/ the Vifton of Brother Johfi of Vernia^ wherein he knew the whole Order of the Holy Trinity.
THE aforefaid Brother John of Vernia, forafmuch as he had perfedly ab- jured every mundane and temporal comfort and delight, and had put all his pleafure and all his hope in God, Divine Bounty gave him wondrous confolations and reve- lations, efpecially at the high feafts of Chrift ; whence the folemn feaft of Chrift's Nativ- ity once drawing nigh, whereon he furely awaited comfort from God in the fweet hu- manity of Jefus, the Holy Ghoft poured
into
cSnint iFrancifl of ^nmni. 221
into his foul fuch great and cxceffive love and longing for the brotherly affe6tion of Chrift, through the which He did abafe Himfelf to take on our humanity, that verily it fecmed as his foul had been dragged from his body and were burning like to a furnace. Unable to endure which ardor, he grieved and melted apace, and cried out in a loud voice, forafmuch as through the force of the Holy Ghoft, and through the overmuch fer- vor of his love, he could not longer reftrain his cries. And in that fame hour when that meafurelefs fervor came upon him, with it came fo ftrong and fure a hope of his falvation, that he could not in any manner believe that if he were dead he muft needs pafs through the pains of Purgatory ; and this love endured in him full fix months, albeit that exceffive fervor was not con- tinual, but came upon him at certain hours of the day. And at this time he did re- ceive marvellous vifitations and confola- tions of God : and ofttimes was he rapt, as he was feen of that Brother which firft wrote down thefe things ; among which, he was one night fo mightily exalted and rapt in God that he faw in Him the Crea- tor of all created things both celeftial and
terreftrial,
2 22 Kf^t ILittlt JFlotorrs of
terreftrial, and all their perfe6lions and de- grees and various orders. And then he knew clearly how every created thing look- eth in the eye of its Creator, and how Our Lord is above, and within, and without, and beneath all created things. He alfo faw and knew one God in three Perfons, and three Perfons in one God, and the infinite loving-kindnefs which did make the Son of God incarnate through obedience to the Father. And laftly and finally, he knew in that vifion how that there is no other way by which the Soul can journey to God and have Eternal Life, fave only through Chrift the Bleffed, which is the Way and the Truth and the Life of the Soul.
CHAPTER LHI.
How, fayijig Mafs, Brother John of Verniafell as ojie Dead.
TO the faid Brother John, as he did abide in the aforefaid Convent of Moliano, there did hap on a certain time this wondrous chance, as thofe Brethren which were prefent do relate ; for the firfl
fennight
Saint jFrancis oC ^nmni, 223
fennight after the feaft of Saint Lorenzo, and during the fennight of the Affumption of Our Lady, he having faid Matins in Church with the other Friars, and the un6lion of Divine Grace coming unlooked for upon him, he went forth into the garden to meditate upon Chrift's PalTion and to pre- pare himfelf to celebrate with all due piety the Mafs which it was his duty that morn- ing to fing ; and pondering the words of the confecration of the Body of Chrift, that is, confidering the infinite CompalTion of Chrift, which led Him to redeem man- kind, not only with His moft Precious Blood, but alfo to leave with us His moft Worthy Body and Blood as food for our hungry fouls, his love of the fweet Jefus began to wax within him in fuch fervor and fuch fuavity that his foul could no longer en- dure fuch piercing fweetnefs ; but he cried aloud, and as one drunk in fpirit ceafed not from faying, Hoc ejl corpus meum : foraf- much as faying thefe words he feemed to fee the Bleffed Chrift with the Virgin Mary and a multitude of Angels, and as he faid thefe words he was enlightened of the Holy Ghoft concerning all the deep and lofty myfteries of that moft high Sacra- ment.
2 24 ^8^ mttlt iFlotoers of
ment. And at day dawn he entered the Church with that fervent fpirit and with that felfsame anxious pang, and repeated ever thofe fame words, thinking himfelf heard of none and feen of none ; but a certain Monk knelt in the choir at prayer, which heard and faw all. And unable in that ardor to reftrain himfelf, through the abundance of Divine Grace, he cried out in a loud voice, and fo long he did continue thus, that it was the hour to fay the Mafs ; wherefore he went to trim the altar ; and beginning Mafs, the farther he proceeded fo much the more grew his love of Chrift and that fervor of devotion with which he was given a fenfe of the ineffable God fuch as he himfelf knew not, nor could exprefs it after with his tongue. Wherefore he, fearing left that fervor and fenfe of God fhould wax fo great that he muft need leave the Mafs unfaid, was greatly troubled, and knew not which part to choofe; whether to proceed with the Mafs, or to ftay and await what might befall. But forafmuch as another time a fimilar chance befell him, and the Lord had fo tempered that ardor that he was not forced to leave the Mafs unfaid, and trufting that fo he might
have
Saint jfvantiu of ^nuiuu 225
have ftrength to endure again, he went on and finiilied the Mafs with great fear; and coming even fo far as the Preface of Our Lady, the Divine Ilkimination and Gracious Suavity of the love of God began fo to grow upon him, that, reaching the Qui pridie, he could fcarce endure fuch excefs of fuavity and fweetnefs. Finally, attaining unto the a6t of confecration, and faying one half the words over the Hoft, that is. Hoc eji, in no manner could he go farther, but ftill did repeat thofe felfsame words, that is. Hoc ejl enhn: and the caufe why he could not pro- ceed farther was, that he felt and faw the prefence of Chrift with a multitude of An- gels, whofe majefly he could not fuffer, and he faw that Chrift would not enter into the Hoft, or rather that the Hoft could not be tranfubftantiated into the Body of Chrift, un- lefs he did utter the other half of the words, that is, corpus meimi. At the which he, lingering thus in anguifh, and not proceed- ing farther, the Prior and the other Monks, and even many laymen which were in the Church to hear the Mafs, hallened towards the altar; and they ftood affrighted as they faw and confidered the a6ts of Brother John, and many among them wept for pure piety.
At IS
226 STfje mttlt JFlotoers of
At laft after a great fpace, that is, when it pleafed God, Brother John uttered the words, e7izm corpus nieum, in a loud voice ; and fud- denly the form of the Wafer vanifhed, and Jefus Chrift the Bleifed appeared within the Hoft incarnate and glorified, and fet forth unto him the humility and charity which did incarnate Him of the Virgin Mary, and which daily maketh Him to de- fcend into the hands of the Prieft when he doth confecrate the Hoft ; whereby he was the more exalted in fweetnefs of con- templation. Hence, having lifted up the Hoft and confecrated Cup, he was rapt out of himfelf ; and his foul having loft all fen- fual and fleftily fenfe, his body did fall back- wards ; and if that the Prior had not held him in his arms as he ftood behind him, he would have fallen to the ground. At which the Brethren drawing nigh, together with thofe laymen which were in the Church, both men and women, he was borne away thence into the facrifty like unto one dead, forafmuch as his body was quite cold, and the fingers of his hands were clenched fo clofe that they had much ado to fpread or move them. And in this manner he did lie as one fenfelefs, or
rather
.Saint iFrancis of ^nniuu 227
rather rapt, even until Tierce, and fo re- mained. And forafmuch as I, who was prefent at thefe things, defired mightily to know thofe things which God had wrought in him, ftraightway that he did return to himfclf I did go in to him, and did pray him for the love of God that he would tell me all. Hence he, becaufe he had great faith in me, did narrate to me all in order: and among other things which he told me, he declared that as he confidered the Body and Blood of Chrifl; Jefus which were before him, his heart was liquefied like unto well-tempered wax, and it feemed as his flefh were deprived of bones, in fuch manner that he could not lift either hand or arm to make the fign of the Crofs above the Chalice. So, too, he told me that before ever he became a Prieft it was revealed to him of God that he fliould but feldom go to Mafs ; but inafmuch as he had already faid many Maffes, and this thing had never yet befallen him, he bethought himfelf that the revelation came not from God. And neverthelefs fome fifty days before the Affumption of Our Lady, whereon the aforefaid chance befell him, he did receive yet another revelation of God, telling him
that
2 28 jFlotocrs of <Saint jFvantin.
that this chance fhould befall him on or about the faid feaft of the Affumption ; but he remembered not thereafter the faid vifion, or rather revelation, made to him by Our Lord.
University Press : John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.
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