Life of St. Francis of Assisi | 4

Chapter 4.

The increase of his order, and of the confirmation of the rule already approved.

After these things, Francis, being full of faith in Divine grace, and the approbation of the Apostolic See, went his way to the valley of Spoleto, there to preach the Gospel, and to fulfil the evangelical precepts.

And on his way he conferred with his companions as to how they should perfectly observe the rule which they had received, walking before God in all holiness and justice, that so they might make continual progress themselves, and give good example to others.

And as they discoursed at length upon these matters, they perceived not that the time of their collation was passed.

And so, being weary with their long journey, and faint with hunger, they came to a solitary place, where there were no means of obtaining necessary food; but the Providence of God was present with them:

For a man suddenly appeared before them, carrying a loaf in his hand, which he gave to Christ’s poor men, and immediately disappeared; so that they knew not whence he came, nor whither he went.

The poor friars, therefore, knowing by this sign that God’s help would never fail them so long as they should be in company with the holy man, were strengthened rather by the gift of the Divine bounty than by the corporal food,

and were, moreover, filled with Divine consolation, so that they made a firm and irrevocable resolution that, neither for hunger or suffering of any kind, would they break the promise they had plighted to holy poverty.

Having made this firm resolve, they returned into the Valley of Spoleto, considering within themselves whether they should live amongst men, or retire to some solitary place.

But Francis, the servant of Christ, trusting not to his own industry to discover the will of God, sought for it by intense and earnest prayer.

And it was made known to him by Divine revelation that he was sent by God to win back to Christ the souls which the devil was seeking to carry away.

He therefore determined to live not only for himself, but for the good of all; being moved thereto by the example of Him who vouchsafed to die for all.

Therefore, the man of God gathered his companions together, and dwelt with them in a deserted hut, near the city of Assisi,

in which, according to the rule of holy poverty, they lived in much labour and necessity, caring rather to satisfy themselves with the bread of tears than with delicate food.

Here they passed their time in continual prayer, and that rather mental than vocal, for they had no ecclesiastical books from which they might chant their canonical hours.

But instead of such books, they contemplated the Cross of Christ continually, day and night, after the example of their Father, and being instructed by the discourses which he addressed to them continually concerning the Cross of Christ.

For when the brethren asked him to teach them to pray, he said:

“When you pray, say the Pater Noster and We adore Thee, O Christy in all Thy churches which are in all the world, and we bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.”

He taught them also that they should praise God in all things and by all creatures, and that they should pay especial honour to priests, and that they should hold the truth of the faith, according to what the holy Roman Church holds and teaches, and firmly believe and simply confess it.

The friars observed their holy Father’s teaching in all things; and, whenever they saw a church or a cross, though it were a long way off, they humbly prostrated themselves, and said the form of prayer which he had given them.

Now, while the brethren abode in the place aforesaid, the holy man went on a certain Saturday into the city of Assisi, for he was to preach on the Sunday morning, as was his custom, in the Cathedral Church.

And being thus absent in body from his children, and engaged in devout prayer to God (as was his custom throughout the night), in a certain hut in the Canons garden, about midnight, whilst some of the brethren were asleep, and others watching in prayer,

a chariot of fire, of marvellous splendour, was seen to enter the door, and thrice to pass hither and thither through the house; and over the chariot was seen a globe of dazzling light, like to the glory of the sun, which turned the night into day.

The watchers were amazed, the sleepers aroused and affrighted; for that light illuminated the spirit no less than the body and by its marvellous power the conscience of each was laid bare to his brethren.

Now all, with one consent, understood (each beholding the heart of the other) that their Holy Father, being absent in body, was present in spirit,

and was thus Divinely manifested to them, transfigured into that form of heavenly light, burning with the fire of celestial virtue, that they, as true Israelites, might follow after him, who like another Elias, was made by God both the chariot and the charioteer.

They believed also that He had opened the eyes of these simple men, at the prayer of Francis, to see the wonderful works of God, as He opened the eyes of the sons of the prophets to behold the mountain full of horsemen and fiery chariots around Elias.

Now, when the holy man returned to his brethren, he began to discover the secrets of their consciences, and comforted them concerning this marvellous vision, foretelling also many things which should come to pass for the good of his order.

And as he thus revealed to them many things transcending human knowledge, the brethren knew that the spirit of the Lord rested in all His plenitude upon His servant Francis, and that they would be most assuredly safe and blessed in following his life and teaching.

After these things, Francis, the pastor of this little flock, under the guidance of Divine grace, led his twelve brethren to St. Mary of the Portiuncula that the Order of the Friars Minor, which had been born there by the merits of the Mother of God, might there also by her aid receive its increase.

And while he abode there, he went about all the cities and towns preaching the Gospel, not with the words of human wisdom, but in the power of the Spirit, announcing the kingdom of God.

And, beholding him as a man of another world, having his eyes and his heart always fixed on heaven, many were drawn to follow him thither.

And thenceforward Christ’s vine began to bring forth the sweet flowers of the Lord, and abundant fruits of sweetness, honour, and virtue.

And by the fervour of his preaching, many of both sexes, who served God in conjugal purity, were enkindled to ask for a rule of life from the holy man,

and to bind themselves by new bonds of penance, who, living after this manner, received from the servant of God the name of brethren and sisters of the Third Order of Penance.

This state and order admitted all manner of persons, laymen and clerics, virgins and married persons, men and women; and God has testified His acceptance of the same by many miracles wrought by its members.

Many virgins were also called to a life of perpetual chastity, amongst whom was Clare, that virgin most dear to God, the first flower amongst them all, who, like a sweet spring blossom, diffused a fragrant odour around her, and shone like a brilliant star in the Church of God.

She who is now glorified in heaven, and worthily venerated by the church of earth, was the daughter in Christ of the Holy Father Francis, the poor servant of God, and the mother of the Poor Ladies (now called Poor Clares).

Many being thus not only pierced with compunction, but inflamed with a desire for the perfection of Christ, followed in the footsteps of Francis, despising all the vanities of the world, so that the number of his followers, marvellously increasing from day to day, soon reached the utmost limits of the world :

for holy poverty, which they took with them as their only procuratrix, made them prompt in obedience, strong to labour, and swift of foot.

And because they possessed nothing earthly, loved nothing earthly, and feared to lose nothing earthly, they were secure in all places; troubled by no fears, distracted by no cares, they lived without trouble of mind, waited without solicitude for the coming day, or the night’s lodging.

Many sufferings and insults were inflicted upon them in various parts of the world, as on men unknown, vile, and of no account;

but the love of the Gospel of Christ had given them so much patience, that they sought rather to be where they might endure persecution in the body, than where (their sanctity being known) they might receive honour and favour from the world.

And from this their penury they reaped exceeding abundance, according to the counsel of the wise man, who chose less rather than more.

Now it came to pass, that some of the brethren went into an infidel country, and a certain Saracen, moved with pity, offered them money to buy necessary food; and when they refused it, the man marvelled greatly, seeing how poor they were.

But when he understood that, having become poor for the love of God, they refused to possess anything, he was so moved with admiration that he offered to minister to them, and to provide for all their necessities, so long as he should have anything in his possession.

Oh, inestimable value of poverty! By whose marvellous power the fierceness of this barbarian was turned into such sweet compassion.

Shameful and horrible is it to see a Christian man trample upon that precious pearl, which was thus venerated even by a Saracen.

About this time, a certain religious man, of the Order of the Crucified Friars, Moricus by name—

who had been languishing for a long time in a hospital near Assisi, under a grievous sickness, and was now judged by the physicians to be nigh to death—

sent a messenger to the holy man, to beseech him earnestly to intercede for him with the Lord.

And the holy Father, benignly consenting to his request, took some pieces of bread, and, having steeped them in the oil which burned before an image of the Blessed Virgin, sent it by the hands of his friars to the sick man, saying:

“Take this medicine to our dear brother, Moricus, that, by the power of Christ, he may not only fully recover his health, but may be strengthened to become a valiant warrior, and steadfastly cleave to our army.”

No sooner, then, had the sick man tasted the antidote prepared for him by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, than he arose,

having obtained from God such perfect health and vigour, both of mind and body, that he soon afterwards entered the religion of the holy man, wearing only a single tunic, under which, for a long time, he wore a shirt of mail.

He fed continually upon uncooked herbs, vegetables, and fruit—for a long space of time tasting neither bread nor wine; and yet he preserved his health and strength under the hardships of this way of life.

The merits and virtues of these little ones of Christ thus daily increasing, the odour of their good report was spread throughout all that country, and many were drawn to the presence of the holy Father from various parts of the world;

amongst whom came a certain man, ingenious in the composition of secular verses, who had been crowned by the Emperor, and was hence called King of Poesy:

He came to seek the holy man who despised all earthly things, and he found him in the city of San Severino, preaching in a monastery, the hand of God being upon him.

And as he preached, it seemed that the cross of Christ was traced upon his body by two flaming swords, placed over each other in the form of a cross, one of which reached from his head to his feet, and the other across his breast from one hand to the other.

Now, the minstrel knew not the countenance of the servant of Christ, but by that miracle he recognized him at once, and determined to change his life;

for, being pierced by the power of his words, and, as it were, transfixed by the sword of the Spirit which issued from his mouth, he cast away all the pomp and vanities of the world, and embraced the profession of the blessed Father.

Wherefore, the holy man, seeing that he was converted from the perturbations of the world to the perfect peace of Christ, gave him the name of Brother Pacificus.

This man, being afterwards filled with all sanctity, before he was made Minister-General in France (he was the first to fill that office), was counted worthy, on another occasion, to see the great sign of the cross, in a distinct variety of colours, adorn the forehead of St. Francis.

For the holy man had a great veneration for that sacred sign, often discoursed in its praise, and always inscribed it upon all the letters which he wrote with his own hand;

as if it had been all his care (according to the words of the prophet) to sign with that sign of Tau the foreheads of all those who, in weeping and mourning, are truly converted to Christ.

In process of time, the number of the friars being greatly multiplied, their watchful, pastor assembled them all in general chapter, in the holy place of St. Mary of the Portiuncula, that, by Divine distribution, each should receive his portion from obedience, according to their poverty.

Now, although there was a want there of things necessary to life, and although more than five thousand friars were gathered together at one time in that place, nevertheless, by the Divine clemency, there was food sufficient for all, and they were all full of corporal health and spiritual joy.

But as to the provincial chapter, although he could not be present with them in body, yet by his solicitude for their good government, his earnest prayers and effectual benediction, he was always present with them in spirit; and oftentimes also, by the marvellous power of God, he even appeared visibly among them.

For when the illustrious preacher and glorious Confessor, Antony, who is now with Christ, was preaching to the brethren in the chapel at Arles, on the title upon the Cross—“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”—

a certain friar of approved virtue, named Monaldus, casting his eyes by Divine inspiration upon the door of the chapterhouse, beheld, with his bodily eyes, the blessed Francis raised in the air, blessing the brethren, with his hands outstretched in the form of a cross.

And the brethren were at the same time filled with such true and unwonted consolation, that they were assured, by the testimony of the Spirit, that the holy man was truly present with them.

And not long afterwards this truth was certified, not only by these evident signs, but by the words of the Holy Father himself.

And it is surely to be believed that the power of Almighty God, by which the holy Bishop, St. Ambrose, was present at the burial of the glorious St. Martin, to do honour to that holy Pontiff, also caused His servant Francis to be present at the preaching of His true herald Antony, that he might thus bear testimony to the truth of his words, especially concerning the cross of Christ, of which he was the true minister and standard-bearer.

Now, seeing that the Order and form of life already approved by Pope Innocent was greatly enlarged and increased, Francis desired, in obedience to the Divine revelation, to procure its perpetual confirmation from his successor, Honorius.

It seemed to him one night, in a vision, that he was gathering from the ground some very small morsels of bread;

and, as he was about to distribute them amongst a number of friars, who were famishing round him, and doubting how he could distribute such small pieces, fearing lest they should fall from his hands,

a voice from heaven said to him: Francis, make one Host of all these pieces, and give to as many as desire to receive.”

And when he had done this, all those who received that Host without devotion or despised the offered gift were immediately struck with leprosy, and so visibly distinguished from the rest.

In the morning, the holy man related the vision to his companions, grieving that he could not understand the mystery signified thereby.

On the following day, as he persevered in prayer, he again heard the same voice from heaven: “Francis,” it said, “the crumbs of bread which thou didst see last night are the words of the Gospel, the Host is the rule, the leprosy is sin.”

Then he set himself to bring into a shorter form the words of the Gospel, which at that time were scattered somewhat diffusely through the rule, which was now to be confirmed, according to the vision which he had seen.

He took with him two friars, as his companions; and, being guided by the Holy Ghost, he went to a mountain, where he fasted upon bread and water; and there he caused the rule to be written, according to what the Divine Spirit suggested to him while he prayed.

And this rule, when he came down from the mountain, he committed to the keeping of his Vicar, who, after a few days had elapsed, declared that he had carelessly lost it.

Once more, therefore, the holy man returned to that solitary place, and there he re-wrote the rule as at the first, as he had received the words from the mouth of God.

And by the above- named Pope Honorius, in the eighth year of his Pontificate, it was confirmed;

and to enforce on the brethren the more fervent observance of that rule, he was accustomed to say that there was therein nothing of his own industry or device, but that he wrote all things as they were revealed to him by God.

That this truth might be certified by the testimony of God, not many days afterwards the Stigmata of the Lord Jesus were impressed upon his body by the finger of the Living God,

the bull, as it were, of Christ, the Supreme Pontiff, in confirmation of the rule, and in commendation of its Author, as, after the narration of his virtues, shall be related in its place.