De sancto Francisco
The Name and Calling of Francis
The name Francis is explained through its symbolic connection to divine grace, preaching, and spiritual strength.
Francis was originally named John, but his name was later changed to Francis. There seem to be many reasons for this change of name. First, it marks a miracle, as it is known that he miraculously received the French language from God. His legend says that whenever he was filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, he would speak French, pouring out burning words. Second, it relates to his office of preaching; it is said in the legend that divine wisdom gave him this name so that, through such a unique and unusual name, the reputation of his mystery might become known to the whole world more quickly. Third, it relates to the effect to be achieved—that is, to show that through himself and his many followers, he was to make many servants of sin and the devil free and frank. Fourth, it relates to the magnanimity in his heart, for the Franks were named for their ferocity, because they possess a natural truth and greatness of spirit. Fifth, it relates to the virtue in his speech, because his words cut through vices like an axe. Sixth, it relates to the terror he caused in driving away demons. Seventh, it relates to the security born of his virtue, the perfection of his works, and the honesty of his conduct. They say that 'franciscas' refers to certain symbols, like the axes carried before the consuls in Rome, which served as signs of terror, security, and honor.
Early Conversion and Poverty
Francis abandons his worldly life to embrace poverty, humility, and the imitation of Christ.
Francis, a servant and friend of the Most High, was born in Assisi. He worked as a merchant and lived in vanity until he was nearly twenty. The Lord struck him with the scourge of illness and suddenly transformed him into another man, so that he began to flourish with a prophetic spirit. For when he had once been captured by the Perugians along with many others and thrown into a harsh prison, while the others were grieving, he alone rejoiced; and when rebuked for this by his fellow captives, he replied, "You should know that I rejoice because I will yet be worshipped as a saint throughout the whole world." Once, while traveling to Rome out of devotion, he took off his own clothes and, putting on the clothes of a certain poor man, sat among the poor before the church of Saint Peter and ate greedily with them as if he were one of them, and he would have done the same more often had the shame of those who knew him not prevented it. The ancient enemy tried to turn him away from his healthy purpose and sent a certain hunchbacked woman of his city into his heart, threatening that he would do the same to him if he did not repent of his undertakings; but, comforted by the Lord, he heard, "Francis, take bitter things for sweet and despise yourself if you wish to know me." Therefore, having encountered a leper, he asked men of this kind that, while his father was cursing him, he himself might bless him in return. His brother by blood, seeing Francis in the wintertime covered in cheap rags and trembling while he prayed, said to someone, "Tell Francis to sell you a penny's worth of his sweat." Hearing this, he replied cheerfully, "Truly, then, I will sell it to my Lord." One day, while he was listening to what the Lord said to his disciples when he sent them out to preach, he immediately rose with all his strength to keep everything; he took the shoes from his feet, put on one tunic—and a cheap one at that—and replaced his belt with a rope. Traveling through the woods in the time of snow, he was captured by robbers, and when asked by them who he was, he asserted that he was a herald of God. They grabbed him and threw him into the snow, saying, "Lie there, you rustic herald of God." Many nobles and commoners, both clergy and laypeople, spurned worldly pomp and followed in his footsteps, and the holy father taught them to fulfill evangelical perfection and poverty. He learned to embrace and walk the path of holy simplicity. He also wrote an evangelical rule for himself and his brothers—both those already with him and those to come—which Pope Innocent confirmed. From that time on, he began to sow the seeds of the Word of God more fervently, traveling through cities and villages with remarkable zeal. There was a certain brother who, as far as he appeared on the outside, was of exceptional holiness, yet he was quite singular, observing silence with such strictness that he would confess not with words but with nods; and when he was being praised by everyone as a saint, the man of God, arriving there, said, 'Leave it be, brothers, and do not praise the devil’s illusions in him for my sake; let him be urged to go to confession once or twice a week, for if he does not do so, it is a diabolical temptation and a fraudulent deception.' When the brothers urged him, he placed a finger to his mouth and, shaking his head, signaled that he would not confess at all. Not many days later, he returned to his vomit and ended his life in wicked deeds. The servant of God, weary on his journey while riding a donkey, and his companion, Brother Leonard of Assisi, also weary, began to think to himself and say, 'He asked,' and she said, 'Pray for me, Father, because I am not carrying out the healthy resolution I conceived, as a man is hindering me, and he is greatly opposing me in the service of Christ.' He said to her, 'Go, daughter, for you will soon receive consolation regarding him. On behalf of God Almighty and myself, tell him that now is the time of salvation, but later will be the time of justice.' At her warning, the man was suddenly changed and promised to live in continence. For a certain peasant in the wilderness who was dying of thirst, he obtained a spring of water through his prayers. . Prompted by the Holy Spirit, he shared this secret with a brother who was very close to him, saying, 'Today there is a servant of God on earth for whose sake, as long as he lives, the Lord will not allow famine to rage over humanity.' But it is told that it was so, beyond any doubt. But once he was taken away, the whole situation changed for the worse; for after his happy passing, he appeared to the aforementioned brother and said, "Look, the famine has now come, which the Lord did not allow to come upon the earth as long as I was alive." On Easter, when the brothers were setting the table at the hermitage more carefully than usual with white cloths and glassware, the man of God saw it, immediately turned back, put on the cap of a poor man who was nearby, and carrying a staff, went outside to wait at the door. So, while the brothers were eating, he called out from the door, asking them to give alms to a poor, sick pilgrim for the love of God. The poor man who was called entered, sat down alone on the floor, and placed his dish in the ashes. The brothers were filled with astonishment at this, and he said to them, "I saw a table prepared and decorated, and I realized it wasn't the only one for the poor who go from door to door." He loved poverty so much in himself and others that he always called it his lady; whenever he saw someone poorer than himself, he felt envious and afraid of being surpassed by another. For when he met a poor man one day, he said to his companion, "This man's neediness brings great shame upon us and is a severe rebuke to our poverty." For I have chosen my lady poverty over my own riches, and look, it shines more brightly in him."
Signs, Wonders, and Discernment
Francis exercises spiritual discernment and authority over demons while demonstrating profound humility.
As a poor man passed by, the man of God was moved with deep compassion, and his companion said to him, "Even though this man is poor, perhaps there is no one in the whole province richer in will than he is." To this, the man of God replied, "Quickly take off your tunic and give it to the poor man, then prostrate yourself at his feet and confess that you are the one at fault." He obeyed immediately. Once, he met three women who were identical in appearance and dress in every way, and they greeted him, saying, "Welcome, Lady Poverty," before they immediately disappeared and were never seen again. When he arrived at the city of Arezzo and found that a civil war had broken out, the man of God saw demons exulting over the land from a high place. Calling his companion, Silvester, he said, "Go to the city gate and, on behalf of God Almighty, command the demons to leave the city." He hurried to the gate and shouted loudly, "On behalf of God and by the command of our father Francis, depart, all you demons!" And so, after a short time, all the citizens returned to harmony. While the aforementioned Silvester was still a secular priest, he saw in a dream a golden cross coming out of Francis's mouth, the top of which touched the heavens, while its outstretched arms embraced and encircled both sides of the world. Pierced with compunction, the priest immediately abandoned the world and... of the man. He became a perfect imitator of God. While the man of God was in prayer, the devil called him by his own name three times. When the saint had answered him, he added, "There is no sinner in this world so great that the Lord wouldn't forgive him if he were to turn back; but whoever destroys himself with harsh penance will never find mercy." The servant of God immediately recognized the enemy through a revelation. The ancient enemy, realizing he had tried to lead him into lukewarmness and seeing he hadn't succeeded, sent a severe temptation of the flesh against him; the man of God, sensing this, took off his habit and beat himself with a very hard cord, saying, 'Come on, brother donkey, this is how you must stay.' This is how you must endure the lash. But when the temptation didn't go away at all, he went outside, plunged himself naked into a large snowdrift, and, gathering the snow into the shape of balls, packed together seven mounds; setting these before himself, he began to speak to his body: 'Look,' he said, 'this one is the larger one.' 'Your wife, these four are two.' 'Your sons and two daughters, the rest are the manservant and the maidservant; hurry, therefore, to clothe them all, since they are dying of the cold; but if this complex anxiety troubles you, be concerned to serve the one Lord.' The devil immediately left in confusion, and the man of God returned to his cell, glorifying God. While he was with the Lord. When he was staying for a time with Cardinal Leo of the Holy Cross at his request, demons came to him one night and beat him severely. He called his companion, explained what was happening, and said, "These demons are the bailiffs of our Lord, whom He sends to punish our faults. I don't recall any offense that I haven't already washed away through the mercy of God and penance, but perhaps the Lord allowed His bailiffs to attack me because I'm staying in the palaces of the great, which might not give my poor brothers a good impression, as they might think I'm living in luxury." And rising early in the morning, he left. While he was praying at one point, he heard a crowd of demons running noisily over the roof of the house. He quickly went outside, made the sign of the cross, and said, "Demons, I tell you in the name of the Almighty God, do whatever you are permitted to do to my body. I will gladly endure everything, because since I have no greater enemy than my own body, you will be avenging me against my adversary while you carry out this punishment in my place." The demons, confused, vanished. A certain brother, a companion of the man of God, fell into an ecstasy and saw, among the other seats in heaven, one that was most worthy and shining with noble glory. As he wondered for whom such a splendid seat was being kept, he heard, "This seat belonged to one of the fallen princes, and now it is being prepared for the humble Francis." And when he came out of his prayer, he asked the man of God, "Father, what do you think of yourself?" And he replied, "I see myself as the greatest of sinners." Immediately, the Spirit said in the brother's heart, "Know how true the vision you saw was, for humility will raise the most humble to the seat lost through pride."
The Stigmata and Miraculous Intercession
Francis receives the stigmata and continues to perform miracles, including preaching to creatures.
In a vision, the servant of God saw a seraph above him, crucified, who impressed the signs of his own crucifixion upon him so clearly that he appeared to be crucified himself. His hands, feet, and side were marked with the character of the cross, but he took great care to hide these stigmata from everyone. Some saw them during his life, but many more saw them at his death. Many miracles proved these stigmata were genuine; two that occurred after his death should suffice: In Apulia, a man named Roger stood before an image of Saint Francis and wondered if it were true that he had been honored by such a miracle, or if it had been a pious illusion or a scheme fabricated by the friars. While he was turning this over in his mind, he suddenly heard a sound like a bolt flying from a crossbow and felt himself severely wounded in his left hand; but since no injury appeared on his glove, he took it off and saw a deep wound in his palm, as if from an arrow, from which such a force of burning heat radiated that he felt he might collapse from the pain and heat. After two days, when he had prayed to the saint of God through his stigmata, he was immediately healed. In the kingdom of Castile, a man devoted to Saint Francis was on his way to Compline when he was mistakenly attacked by men lying in wait for someone else and was left mortally wounded, half-dead. Then the cruel executioner drove a sword into his throat and, unable to pull it out, fled. A crowd gathered from all sides, and everyone lamented that he was dead. When the brothers' bell rang for Matins in the middle of the night, his wife began to call out, "My lord, get up and go to Matins, for the bell is calling you." Immediately, he raised his hand and seemed to signal someone to pull out the sword; and suddenly, as everyone watched, the sword flew out as if thrown by the hand of a very strong fighter. He was immediately healed perfectly and sat up, saying, "Blessed Francis came to me and, by placing his stigmata upon my wounds, soothed them all with their sweetness and miraculously healed them with his touch. When he wanted to leave, I signaled for him to pull out the sword, because I couldn't speak otherwise." He grabbed it and threw it with force, and immediately, by touching the throat wounded by the holy stigmata, he healed it perfectly. In the city of Rome, those bright lights of the world, blessed Francis and blessed Dominic, were present before the Bishop of Ostia, who later became Supreme Pontiff. The bishop said to them, "Why don't we make bishops and prelates from your brothers, who excel others in teaching and example?" A long debate arose among the saints about who should answer. In the end, humility won over Francis, so he wouldn't put himself forward; it also won over Dominic, so he would be the first to answer and obey humbly. Blessed Dominic therefore said, "My lord, it is a good rank, and if they know it, my brothers are exalted; I will not, as far as I am able, allow them to seek any other form of dignity." After this, blessed Francis replied, "My lord, my brothers are called 'minors' so that they do not presume to become 'majors.'" Blessed Francis, therefore, full of the simplicity of a dove, urged all creatures to love their Creator; he preached to the birds, and he was heard. They are touched by him, and they do not leave unless given leave; the swallows, while they were chirping as he preached, fell silent immediately at his command. Near the Portiuncula, by his cell, a cicada often sang in a fig tree. The man of God reached out his hand and called to it, "My sister cicada, come to me." It immediately obeyed and climbed onto his hand. He said to it, "Sing, my sister cicada, and praise your Lord." It sang immediately and did not leave until it was given leave. He spares lamps, lanterns, and candles, not wishing to dim their brightness with his hand.
Life in the Spirit and Final Days
Francis lives a life of total devotion, culminating in his joyful passing and entry into heaven.
He walked reverently upon rocks out of respect for Him who is called the Rock; he would pick worms up from the path so they wouldn't be crushed by the feet of passersby, and he ordered honey and the finest wine to be set out for bees so they wouldn't perish in the midwinter ice, calling all animals by the name of brother. He was filled with a wonderful and ineffable joy because of his love for the Creator; he would gaze at the sun, the moon, and the stars, and invite them to love their Creator. He forbade a large crown to be made for him, saying, "I want my simple brothers to have a part in my head." A certain man, very much a worldly person, found Francis, the servant of God, preaching near Saint Severinus. With God revealing it to him, he saw Francis with two crossed swords shining brightly in the manner... ...of a cross, one of which stretched from his head to his feet, and the other from hand to hand across his chest. Though he had never seen him before, he recognized him by this sign, and struck with compunction, he entered the order and lived his life well to the end. When he had contracted an eye ailment from constant weeping and people were urging him to stop crying, he replied, "The visitation of eternal light should not be repelled for the sake of the love of the light we share with flies." But when he was pressured by the brothers to allow a remedy for his failing sight and to hold a surgical iron instrument, glowing with fire, in his hand, the man of God said, "My brother fire, be kind and gentle to me in this hour; I pray to the Lord who created you that He may temper your heat for me." Saying this, he made the sign of the cross over it, and as he pressed it into his tender flesh from his ear to his eyebrow, he felt no pain, as he later reported. At the hermitage of Saint Urban, while a servant of God was suffering from a very severe illness and, feeling his strength failing, asked for a cup of wine, and there was none to be found, he blessed the water brought to him by making the sign of the cross; it was soon turned into the finest wine. What the poverty of the desert couldn't achieve, this holy man's purity did; he suddenly recovered his health after tasting it. He preferred to hear insults about himself rather than praise, and so, when people would exalt his holiness, he would instruct a brother to speak words that would trample him down and belittle him to his face. He would call him a peasant, a useless and unskilled hireling, and Francis, filled with joy, would say: 'May the Lord bless you, for you speak the truth, and it's fitting that I hear such things.' The servant of God didn't want to be in charge so much as to be subject to others, nor did he want to command so much as to obey. For this reason, he stepped down from his position as General and asked for a guardian to whose will he could submit in all things. He also promised obedience to the brother with whom he usually traveled, and he kept that promise. When a certain brother had acted against the law of obedience and showed signs of repentance, the man of God, to strike fear into others, ordered his hood to be thrown into the fire; and after the hood had remained in the middle of the fire for some time, he ordered it to be pulled out and returned to the brother. The hood was pulled from the middle of the flames without a single trace of burning. - He agreed immediately, put his affairs in order, and prepared for penance. He received it as a saving grace. When they sat down to eat, the host suddenly died. When he had found a great flock of birds. After greeting them as if they were capable of reason, he said, "My brothers, the birds, you have much..." "You ought to praise your Creator, who clothed you with feathers, gave you wings to fly, granted you the purity of the air, and has cared for you without any effort on your part." The birds, however, began to... They stretched their necks toward him, spread their wings, opened their beaks, and watched him with great attention. He, however, walked through the middle of them, brushing against them with his habit. Yet not one of them moved from its spot until, once given permission, they all flew away together. When he was at the castle, the castle. he couldn't preach because of the chirping of the swallows nesting there. he couldn't. He said to them, 'My sisters, the swallows, it's time for me to speak now, since you've had your say; keep silence until the word of the Lord is finished,' and they were immediately obedient. They fell silent immediately. Once, while the man of God was traveling through Apulia, he found a large purse on the road, stuffed with coins. His companion saw it and wanted to pick it up to give to the poor, but he— wouldn't allow it at all, saying, "It isn't right, my son, to take what belongs to someone else." But when his companion kept insisting, Francis prayed for a moment and then told him to pick up the purse, which now contained a snake instead of money. Seeing this, the brother grew afraid, but wanting to obey and fulfill the command, he took the purse in his hands, and a large snake immediately crawled out. The saint said, "For the servants of God, money is nothing other than the devil and a poisonous snake." When a certain brother was being severely tempted, he began to think that if he had some writing from the father's hand, the temptation would immediately be driven away. But since he didn't dare to reveal the matter to him, the man of God called him one day and said, "Bring me paper and ink, my son, for I want to write some praises of God." After he had written them, he said, "Take this paper and keep it carefully until the day of your death." And immediately all temptation left him. The same brother, while the saint was lying ill, began to think: "Look, the father is approaching death, and I would be greatly comforted if I had [something] of my father's after his death." After a little while, Saint Francis called him and said, "I give this tunic to you, and you shall have it by full right after my death." While staying with an honest man in Alexandria, Lombardy, he was asked by his host to eat whatever was set before him, out of respect for the Gospel. When he agreed to this out of devotion, the man hurried off and prepared a seven-year-old capon for him to eat. While they were eating, an unbeliever asked for alms for the love of God; as soon as the man of God heard that blessed name, he passed him a piece of the capon. The unhappy man kept the gift, and the next day, while the saint was preaching, he held it up and said, "Look at the kind of meat this brother eats, whom you honor as a saint; he gave this to me last night." But because the piece of capon looked like a fish to everyone, the crowd rebuked him as a madman. When the man learned of this, he was ashamed and asked for forgiveness, and the meat returned to its original form once the slanderer came to his senses. Once, while he was sitting at the table and a discussion was taking place about the poverty of the Blessed Virgin and her Son, the man of God immediately rose, began to sob with painful sighs, and, bathed in tears, ate his remaining bread on the bare ground. He wanted great reverence to be shown to priestly hands, to which the power of consecrating the Sacrament of the Lord's Body has been entrusted. That’s why he often said: if I were to meet a saint coming from heaven and a poor priest at the same time, I would hurry to kiss the priest’s hands first, and I would say to the saint, 'Wait for me, Saint Lawrence, because these hands handle the Word of Life and possess something beyond what is human.' He was famous for many miracles during his life; he blessed bread brought to him, which then brought health to many sick people, and he turned water into wine, which a sick man tasted and was immediately healed, along with many other miracles he performed. When he was nearing his final days, worn down by a long illness, he had himself placed on the bare ground and called all the brothers who were there to him; he laid his hands on each one, blessed everyone present, and, like the Lord’s Supper, divided a morsel of bread among them. As was his custom, he invited all creatures to praise God; he even urged death itself—which everyone finds terrible and hateful—to offer praise, and he met it joyfully, inviting it to his own lodging by saying, 'Welcome, my sister death.' When his final hour came, he fell asleep in the Lord. A certain brother saw his soul in the form of a star, similar to the moon in size and to the sun in splendor. The Minister of the brothers in the region of Labor, named Augustine, who was in his final hour and had long since lost the ability to speak, suddenly cried out, 'Wait for me, Father, wait! Look, I am coming with you.' When the brothers asked him what he was saying, he replied, 'Don't you see our father Francis, who is going into heaven?' And immediately he fell asleep in peace and followed his father.
Posthumous Miracles and Divine Mercy
Through the intercession of Saint Francis, the dead are raised and the faithful are protected by divine power.
When a certain lady, who had been devoted to Saint Francis, had gone the way of all flesh, and the clergy and priests were standing by the bier celebrating the funeral rites, the woman suddenly sat up on the bed. She called one of the priests standing nearby and said, "Father, I want to confess; for I, Father, was dead." I had been, and I was in a terrible state. I was destined for prison because I hadn't yet confessed the sin I'm about to tell you. But through the prayers of Saint Francis for me, I was allowed to return to my body so that, by revealing this sin, I might merit forgiveness; and as soon as I've made it known, I will rest in peace before your eyes. . Having confessed, therefore, and received absolution, she soon... ...fell asleep in the Lord. When the brothers from Vicera were borrowing a cart from a certain man, he answered indignantly, "I would rather give it to two..." ...than to you with Saint Francis, than to my cart." I would accommodate you. But coming to his senses, he rebuked himself, repented of his blasphemy, and fearing the wrath of God, he immediately turned to his son. His son fell ill and... He was brought to the point of death; seeing his son dead, the father threw himself on the ground, weeping and calling upon Saint Francis, saying: "It is I who have sinned, me." "You should have punished me; now, Saint, restore to me, who pray devoutly, what you impiously took from the blasphemer." Soon his son rose up and, stopping the mourning, said: "When I was dead, Saint Francis led me along a long and dark path, eventually placing me in a most beautiful garden, and then he said to me: 'Return to your father; I do not wish to keep you any longer.'" A certain poor man, owing a sum of money to a rich man, asked him to extend the deadline for the love of Saint Francis. The rich man answered him arrogantly: "I will lock you in a place where neither Francis nor anyone else will be able to help you." Soon he locked him in a dark prison, bound in chains. A little later, Saint Francis appeared and, breaking the prison and snapping the chains, led the man safely back to his own home. A certain knight, disparaging the works and miracles of Saint Francis, was playing at dice one day when, full of madness and disbelief, he said to those around him, "If Francis is a saint, let eighteen come up on the dice." Immediately, a triple six appeared on them, and for nine consecutive throws, he rolled a thirty each time. But adding madness to madness, he said, "If it is true that this Francis is a saint, let my body fall by the sword today; but if he is not a saint, I shall escape unharmed." When the game ended, and so that his prayer might turn into sin, he got into an argument with his nephew and injured him; the young man grabbed a sword, pierced his uncle's vitals, and killed him instantly. A man whose leg was so badly damaged that he couldn't move at all called out to Saint Francis, saying, "Help me, Saint Francis, and remember the devotion and service I gave you; I carried you on my donkey, and I kissed your holy feet and hands, and look, I am dying in excruciating pain from this injury." Immediately, the saint appeared to him with a small boy who bore the sign of the Tau, touched the painful spot, and the abscess broke; he was healed instantly, though the mark of the Tau remained on the spot. Saint Francis was accustomed to signing his letters with this sign. When a girl in the castle of Pomereto in the mountains of Apulia—the only child of her parents—died, her mother, who was very devoted to Saint Francis, was consumed by excessive grief. The saint appeared to her and said, "Do not weep, for the light of your lamp, which you mourn as extinguished, shall be restored to you through my intercession." The mother, taking heart, didn't allow the body to be carried out; instead, she called upon the name of Saint Francis, took hold of her dead daughter, and lifted her up unharmed. In Rome, when a small boy fell from a palace window and died, Saint Francis was invoked and the boy was immediately restored to life. In the city of Suessa, when a house collapsed and killed a young man, and they had already placed the corpse on a bed for burial, the mother invoked Saint Francis with all the devotion she could. Suddenly, around midnight, the boy yawned, rose up healthy, and burst into words of praise. Brother James of Rieti had crossed a river in a small boat with some other brothers, and as they were stepping onto the bank, he was preparing to get out last when the boat tipped and he fell into the deep water. The brothers immediately called upon Saint Francis for the rescue of the one who had drowned, and he himself, as best he could, called out in his heart for the help of Saint Francis; suddenly, the brother was walking through the deep water as if it were dry land, and he grabbed the sunken boat and brought it with him to the shore.✦ Yet his clothes weren't even wet, and not a single drop of water had touched his tunic.
Read the original Latin
Franciscus prius dietus est Johannes, sed postmodum nntato nomine Franciscus vocatus est. Cujus nominis mutationis multiplex causa fuisse videtur. Primo ratione miraculi connotandi, linguam enim gallieam miraculose a Deo recepisse cognoscitur. Unde dicitur in legenda sna, quod semper, cum ardore sancti spiritus repleretur, nrdentia foris verba eructans gallice loquebatur. Secundo ratione officii divulgandi, unde dicitnr in legenda, quod divina prudentia sibi hoc vocabulum indidit, nt ex singulari et insueto nomine opinio mysterii ejus toti cilius innotesceret orbi. Tertio ratione effectus consequendi, wt scilicet per hoc daretur intelligi, quod ipse per se et per filios suos multos servos peccati et dyaboli debeat francos et liberos facere, Quarto ratione magnanimitatis in corde, nam Franci a ferocitate sunt dicti, quia iis inest nalnralis veritas et magnanimitas animorum. Quinto ratione virtuositalis in sermone, quia ejus sermo instar securis vitia incidebat, Sextoratione terroris in daemonum fugatione, Septimo ratione securitalis ex virtute et operum perfectione et honestatis in conversatione. Ajunt enim franciscas dici signa quaedam instar seeurium, quae Romae ante consules ferebantur, quae erant in terrorem, in securitatem et in honorem.
Franciscus servus et amicus altissimi in civitate Assisii ortus el negotiator effectus fere usque ad vicesimum aetatis suae annum tempus sunm vane vivendo consumsit. Quem dominus infirmitatis flagello corripuit et in virum alterum subito transformavit, ita quod jam spiritu prophetico pollere coepit. Nam eum quadam vice ipse um plurimis à Perusinis captus diro fuisset carceri mancipatus, dolentibus aliis hic solus exsultat et redargutus super hoc a concaptivis respondit: ideo me exsultare noveritis, quia adhne sanctus per totum seculum adorabor, Quadam vice Romam causa devotionis proficiscens vestimenta sua deposuit et pauperis cujusdam vestimenta induens ante ecclesiam sancti Petri inter pauperes sedit el cum iis velut unus ex illis avide manducavit, et saepius simile fecisset, nisi notorum verecundia impedivisset. Antiquus hostis eum a salubri proposito conabatur avertere et feminam quandam suae civitatis gibbosam cordi ejus immittit, et nisi resipiscat a coeptis, similem se facturum minatur, sed a domino confortatus audivit: Francisce, amara pro dulcibus sume ette ipsum contemne, si me cupis agnoscere, Quendam igitur leprosum obvium habens, cum hujusmodi homines rogat, ut, cum pater ejus maledicta congemiret, ipse sibi e converso benedicat. Frater ejus carnalis hyemali tempore Franciscum vilibus panniculis tectum orationi vacantem et tremebundum videns ait cuidam: dic Francisco, ut de sudore suo unam tibi nummatam vendat. Qnod ille audiens alacriter respondit: revera ergo hanc domino meo vendam, Quadam die dum audiret ea, quae dominus discipulis suis ad praedicandum missis locutus est, statim ad universa servanda tota virlute consurgit, solvit caleeamenta de pedibus, tunica una, sed vili induitur et pro corrigia mutavit funiculum, Tempore nivis per silvam ambulans à latronibus capitur et ab iis, quis sit, requisitus praeconem Dei se esse asseruit. Quem illi arripientes in nivem projiciunt dicentes: jace, rustice praeco Dei. Multi nobiles et ignobiles clerici et layei spreta seculari pompa ejus vestigiis adhaeserunt, quos pater sanctus docuit evangelicam perfectionem implere, paupertatem.
apprehendere et per viam sanctae simplicitatis incedere, Scripsit praeterea evangelicam regulam sibi et suis fratribus habitis et habendis, quam dominus papa Innocentius confirmavit, Coepit extune ferventius verbi Dei semina spargere et civitates et castella fervore )mirabili circuire. Frater quidam erat, quantum à foris videbatur, eximiae sanctitatis, sed tamen admodum singularis, qui tanta districtione silentium observabat, ut non verbis, sed nutibus confiteretur, cumque sanctas ab omnibus landaretur, vir Dei illuc adveniens dixit: sinite, fratres, nec mihi in eo dyabolica figmenta laudate; moneatur semel vel bis in hebdomada confiteri, quod si non fecerit, dyabolica tentatio est et deceptio fraudulenta, — Monentibusque illum fratribus digitum ori suo imposuit et caput concutiens se nullatenus confessurum innuit, Non post multos dies ad vomitum rediit et in facinorosis actibus vitam finivit, Fatigatus in itinere servus Dei dum asinum equitare, socius ejus frater Leonardus deAssisio similiter fatigatus intra se coepit cogitare ac dicere: inquisivit, Et illa: ora pro me, pater, quia salubre propositum, quod concepi, viro impediente non exsequor, sed in servitio Christi mihi plurimum adversatur. Cui ille: vade, filia, qula cito de eo sonsolationem recipies, et ex parle Dei omnipotentis et mea sibi denunties, quod nunc est tempus salutis, postmodum aequitatis. Qua denuntiante vir subito immutatur et continentiam pollicetur. Cuidam rustico in quadam solitudine siti deficienti fontem aquae ibidem 'suis orationibus impetravit. . Cuidam fratri sibi admodum familiari secretum hoc sancto instigante spiritu retulit dicens: hodie est aliquis servus Del super terram, propter quem, quamdiu vixerit; non permiltet dominus famem super homines desaevire. Sed sic procul dubio fuisse narratur.
Sed illo sublato tota in contrarium conditio permutatur, nam post ejus felicem transitum praedicto fratri apparuit dicens: ecce jam venit fames, quam, donec viverem ego, venire super terram dominus non permisit. In festo paschae cum fratres in eremograeci mensam accuratius solito albis et vitreis praepararent et vir Dei hoc conspexisset, protinus gressum retrahens capellum cujusdam pauperis, qui tunc aderat, capiti suo imponit et baculum manu gestans foras egreditur et ad ostium praestolatar. Manducantibus igitur fratribus clamabat ad ostium, ut amore Dei peregrino pauperi et infirmo elemosinam largiantur. Vocatus pauper ingreditur et in terra solus recumbens discum ponit in cinere. Quod videntes fratres stupore nimio sunt repleti, Quibus ille ait: mensam vidi paratam et ornatam et pauperum ostiatim euntium unicum non esse cognovi. Paupertatem in se et aliis adeo diligebat, nt paupertatem dominam suam semper vo caret, sed quando pauperiorem se ipso videret, protinus invidebat et se ab alio vinci timebat. Nam et cum die quadam paüperculum quendam obviam habuisset, ait socio suo: magnam verecundiam intnlit nobis hujus inopia et nostram paupertatem plurimum reprehendit. Nam pro meis divitiis meam dominam paupertatem elegi et ecce amplius relucet in isto.
Dum quidam pauper coram co transiret et vir Dei intima fuisset compassione commotus, dixit ei socius: etsi hic sit pauper, sed forsitan in tota provincia non est eo ditior voluntate, Cui vir Dei dixit: cito tunicam tuam exue ot pauperi tribue et ad ejus pedes prostratus culpabilem te clama. Cui ille protinus obedivit, Quadam vice tres mulieresfacie per omnia et habitu similes obvias habuit, quae eum taliter salutaverunt: bene veniat domina paupertas, el continuo disparuerunt et ultra visae non sunt. Cum ad civitatem Aretii deyenisset et ibi bellum intestinum commotum fuisset, vidit vir Dei de burgo super terram illam daemones exsultantes vocansque socium suum nomine Silvestrum dixit ei: vade ad portam civitatis et daemonibus, ut civitatem exeant, ex parte Dei omnipotentis praecipe. Qui festinans ante portam valenter clamavit: ex parte Dei et jussu patris nostri Francisci discedite, daemones universi, sicque omnes cives post modicum ad concordiam redierunt. Praedictus autem Silvester dum adhue sacerdos secularis esset, vidit in somnis crucem auream de ore Francisci prodeuntem, cujus summitas coelos tangebat, cujus brachia protensa latus utramque mundi partem amplexando cingebant, GCompunctus sacerdos protinus mundum deserit et. viri. Dei perfectus imitator efficitur, Exsistente viro Dei in oratione dyabolus ter eum proprio nomine vocavit. Cui cum sanctus respondisset, adjecit: nullus est adeo in hoc mundo peccator, cui, si conversus fuerit, non indulgeat dominus, sed quicunque semet ipsum poenitentia dura necaverit, misericordiam in perpetuo non- inveniet.
lontinuo servus Dei per revelationem cognoyit hostis. fallaciam, quomodo nisus fuerit eum ad teporem reducere, Gernens autem hostis antiquus, quia sic non praevaluit, gravem carnis tentationem eidem immisit; quod vir Dei sentiens veste-deposita cordula durissima se verberat dicens; eya, frater asine, sic te manere. decet, sic subire flagellum. Sed cum tentatio nequaquam. discederet, foras exiens in magnam nivem se nudum demersit accipiensque nivem in modam pilae septem glebas compingit, quas sibi proponens coepit alloqui corpus: ecce, inquit, haec major. uxor tua, istae quatuor duo sunt. filii et duae filiae tuae, reliquae dnae sunt servus et ancilla, festina ergo omnes induere, quoniam frigore moriuntur, si autem etrnm multiplex solicitado te- molestat, uni domino sollicitus servi. Illico dyabolus confusus abscessit et vir Dei Deum glorificans in cellam rediit.
Cum apud dominum. Leonem cardinalem sanetae crucis ab eo rogatus aliquamdiu moraretur, nocte quadam daemones ad ipsum venientes eum gravissime verberarunt, vocansque socium et rem sibi aperiens ait: daemones sunt Castaldi domini nostri, quos destinat ipse ad puniendos excessus, ego enim offensam non recolo, quam per misericordiam Dei et satisfactionem non laverim, sed forte ideo Gastaldus suos in me permisit irruere, quia: maneo in euriis magnatum, quod forsitan fratribus meis pauperculis bonam suspicionem non generat, quia forte me existimant deliciis abundare, Et surgens summo mane inde recessit. Exsistente aliquando eo in oratione audit snper domus tectum catervas daemonum discurrentes cum strepitu. Qui concitus foris exiens et crucis signum sibi imprimens dixit: ex parle omnipotentis Dei vobis dico, daemones, ut, quidquid vobis permissum est, in meo corpore faciatis; libenter enim omnia sustinebo, quia, cum majorem inimieum non habeam corpore, vindicabitis me de adversario meo, dum im ipso vice mea exercebitis ultionem. Confusi igitur daemones evanescunt, Frater quidam socius viri Dei iu exstasi factus inter caeteras coeli sedes vidit unam dignissimam et nobili gloria praefulgentem. Qui cum miraretur, cuinam tam praeclara sedes servaretur, audivit: sedes ista unius de rnentibus principibus fuit et nune humili Francisco paratur, Et exiens ab oratione virum Dei interrogavit dicens: quid de te opinaris, pater? Et ille: videor mihi maximus peccator. Statimque in corde fratris spiritus dixit: cognosce,quam vera fuerit visio, quam vidisti; quoniam ad sedem per superbiam perditam humilitas levabit humillimum.
n visione servus Dei supra se seraphin crucifixum adspexit,' qui crucifixionis snae signa sic ei evidenter impressit, ut crucifixus videretur et ipse. Consiguantur manus et pedes et latus crucis charactere, sed diligenti stadio ah omnium oculis ipsa stigmata abscondebat. Quidam tamen haec in vita viderunt, sed in morte plurimi conspexerunt. Quod autem haec stigmala per omnia vera exstiterint, multis miraculis ostensum est, quorum duo, quae post ejus obitum contigerunt, hic insernisse sufficiat, In Apulia vir quidam nomine Rogerus ante imaginem sancti Francisci stans coepit cogitare dicens, essetne hoc verum, ut tali clarnisset miraculo an pia fuisset illusio sive snorum (fratrum simulata intentio. Quod dum mente revolveret, subito audivit sonum, qnasi spiculum prosiliens de ballista sensitque se in sinistra manu graviter vulneratum, sed cum in chirotheca nihil laesionis appareret, chirothecam de manu extraxit et grave vülnus quasi sagittae in palma conspexit, ex quo tanta vis procedebat ardoris, ut totus ex dolore et ardore deficere videretar, cumque poeniteret et se beati Francisci stigmata credere veraciter festaretur, post duos dies, dum sanctum Dei per sua stigmata exorasset, fuit continuo liberatus. In regno quoque Castellae, cum quidam vir sancto Francisco devotus ad completorium pergeret, ab insidiis ad mortem alterius ibi paratis ex errore impetitur et letaliter vulneratus semivivus relinquitur. Deinde gladium in gutture crudelis lictor infixit et extrahere non valens recessit. Fit undique concursus et clamor et ab omnibus plangitur mortuus.
Cum autem nocte media campana fratrum ad matutinas pulsaretur, uxor clamare coepit: mi domine, surge et vade ad matutinas, quia campana te vocat, Statim ille manum elevans videbatur alicui innuere, ut gladium extraheret, et ecce videntibus omnibus gladius, quasi validissimi jaetatus manu pugilis, eminus prosiluit, statimque ille perfecte sanatus se erexit dicens: beatus Franciscus ad me veniens suaque stigmata meis vulneribus apponens eorum suavitate cnncta vulnera delinivit et contactu mirifice solidavit; qui cum vellet discedere, sibi innuebam, ut gladium abstraheret, quia loqui aliter non valebam. Quem apprehendens valide projecit statimque stigmatibus sanctis vulneratum guttur demulcens perfecte sanavit, In urbe Roma clara luminaria orbis scilicet beatus Franciseus et beatus Dominicus coram domino Hostiense, qui postea fuit summus pontifex, aderant dixitque iis episcopus: cur non facimus de vestris fratribus episcopos et praelatos, qui doeumento et exemplo caeteris praevalent. Fit inter sanctos de respondendo longa contentio: vicit tandem humilitas Franciscum, ne: se praeponeret; vicit et Dominium, ut primus respondendo humiliter obediret. Dixit ergo beatus Dominicus: domine, gradu bono, si cognoscunt, sublimati sunt fratres mei nec pro meo posse permittam, ut aliud assequantur specimen dignitatis, Post hoc respondens sanctus Franciscus dixit : domine, minores ideo vocati sunt fratres mei, ut majores fieri non praesumant, Igitur beatus Franciscus columbina simplicitate plenus omnes creaturas ad creatoris hortatur "amorem, praedicat avibus, auditur. ab iis, tanguntur ab ipso mee nisi licentiate recedunt; hirundines, dum eo praedicante garrirent, ipso imperante protinus conticeseunt. - Apud Portiunculam juxta ejus cellam cicada in ficu residens frequenter canebat, quam vir Dei manum extendens vocavit dicens: soror mea cicada veni ad me. Quae statim obediens super ejus manum adscendit. Cui ille: canta, soror mea cicada, et dominum tuum lauda, Quae protinus canens nonnisi licentiata recessit, Parcit lucernis, lampadibus et candelis nolens sua manu detarpare fulgorem.
Super petras reverenter ambulabat intuitu ejus, qul dicitar petra, legit de via vermiculos, ne transeuntium pedibus coneulcentur, et apibus, ne media pereant glacie hyemali, mel et optima vina jubet apponi, fraterno nomine animalia cuncta vocabat. Miro et ineffabili gaudio replebatur ob creatoris amorem, eum solem, lunam et stellas intaebatur, et eas ad creatoris amorem invitabat, Coronam sibi magnam fieri prohibebat dicens: volo, quod fratres mei simplices partem habeant in capite meo. Vir quidam admodum saecularis, cum seryum Dei Franciscum apud sanctum Severinum praedieantem invenisset, vidit Deo sibi revelante sanctum Franciscum duobus transversis ensibus valde fulgentibus in modum. crucis signatum, quorum unus à capite usque ad pedes, alius a manu in manum per pectus transversaliter tendebatar. Quem cum nunquam vidisset, tali judicio recognoscens compunctus ordinem introivit et vitam feliciter consummavit. Cum infirmitatem oculorum ex fletu continuo incurrisset, suadentibus, quod abstineret a lacrymis, sic respondit: non est ob amorem luminis, quod habemus commune cum muscis, aeternae lucis visitatio repellenda, Qum autem a fratribus urgeretur, ut pateretur infirmitati visus remedíum adhiberi et chirurgicum instrumentum ferreum igne caudens in manu teneret, vir Dei ait: mi frater ignis, esto mihi in hac hora propitins et curialis; precor dominum, qui te creavit, ut iuum mihi calorem temperet. Et haec dicens signum cracis coutra illud edidit profundatoque illo in tenera carne ab aure usque ad supercilium nullum, ut retulit, dolorem sensit. Apud eremum sancti Urbani servo Dei aegritndine validissima laborante, cum ipse defectum naturae sentiens vini poculum postulasset nihilque adesset, allatam sibi aquam signo crucis edito benedixit; mox in optimum vinum conversa est.
Quod deserti loci paupertas impetrare non potuit, viri sancti pnritas impetravit, ad cujus gustum subito convaluit, Malebat de se vituperium andire quam laudem et ideo, cum populi merita in eo- sanctitatis extollerent, praecipiebat alicui fratri, ut verba ipsum vilificantia suis auribus conculcando proferret, cumque frater ille, licet invitus, eum. rusticum et mercenarium imperitum et inutilem diceret, exhilaratus dicebat: benedicat tibi dominns, quia tu verissima loqueris, et talia me decet audire. Non tam servus Dei praeesse voluit quam subesse nec tam praecipere quam peragere. Idcirco generali cedens officio guardianum petiit, cujus per omnia voluntati subjaceret. Fratri quoque, cum quo solitus erat ire, semper promittebat obedientiam et servabat. Cum fratet quidam contra legem obedientiae aliquid fecisset et poenitentiae signa haberet, vir tamen Dei ad aliornm terrorem ejus capucium in ignem projiei jussit, cumque per moram capucium fuisset in medio ignis, praecepit ipsum extrahi et fratri restitui. Extrahitur igitar capucium de medio flammarum nullum habens adustionis vestigium. Quodam tempore per paludes Venetiarum ambulans invenit maximam avium multitudinem cantantium in palude dixitque ad socium: sorores aves laudant creatorem suum, eamus in eorum medio, horas canonicas domino decantemus, Quibus intrantibus aves motae non sunt, sed quia ob nimium garritum so ad invicem audire non potuerunt, ait: sorores aves, a cantu cessate, donec laudes debitas domino persolvamus, Quibus statim tacentibus finitis laudibus licentiam cantandi dedit et statim snum cantum more solito resumserunt, Invitatus devote a quodam milite, dixit ei: frater hospes, meis monitis acquiesce et peccata tua confitere, quia cito alibi mandacabis.
-. Qui statim acquiescens domui suae disposuit et poenitentiam. salutarem accepit. Cum ergo ad mensam intrassent, hospes subito exspiravit. Cum quandam avium mnultitudinem reperisset. et eas velut rationis participes salutasset, dixit: fratres mei volucres, multum. debetis laudare creatorem vestrum, qui plumis vos indmit, pennas ad volandum tribuit, aéris puritatem concessit et sine vestra sollicitudine vos gubernavit. Aves autem coeperunt.
versus eum extendere colla, protendere alas, aperire rostra et in illum attente respicere. llle vero per medium earum transiens tunica perlingebat easdem. nec tamen aliqua de loco est mota, donec licentia data omnes insimul avolaverunt. Cnm apud. castrum. Almarium praedicaret, propter garritus- hirundinum ibidem — nidificantium- audiri. non poterat. Quibus ille: sorores meae hirundines; jam tempus est, ut loquar ego, quia vos salis dixistis, tenete silentium, donec verbum domini compleatur, Gui continuo obedientes.
protinus conticuerunt. Transeunte aliquando viro Dei per Apuliam, unam bursam magnam reperit in via denariis tumescentem, quam socius videns accipere voluit, ut pauperibus erogaret, sed- ille. nullatenus permisit dicens: non licet, fili, alienum auferre, Sed cum illo vehementer instaret; Franciscus paululum orans jubet, ut bürsam tollat, quae jam colubrum pro pecunia continebat. Quod videns frater timere coepit, sed obedire volens et implere mandatum bursam manibus capit et inde magnus serpens protinus cxilivit-- Et ail sanctus: pecunia servis Dei nihil aliud est quam dyabolus et coluber venenosus, Cum frater quidam graviter tentaretur, cogitare coepit, quod, si aliquod scriptum de manu patris haberet, ipsa protinus tentatio fugaretur, sed cum rem sibi nullatenus aperire auderet, quadam vice vir Dei vocavit eum dicens: porta mihi, fili, chartam et atramentum, quia laudes quasdam Dei scribere volo. Quas cum scripsisset, ait: accipe chartam hanc et usque ad diem mortis tuae custodias diligenter. Statimque omnis tentatio ab eo recessit. Idem quoque frater, dum sanctus infirmus jaceret, cogitare coepit: ecce morti appropinquat pater et quamplurimum consolarer, si post mortem haberem (unicam patris mei. Post modicum sanctus Franciseus vocat eum dicens: tibi trado tunicam istam et post mortem meam ipsam habeas pleno jure.
Cum apud Alexandriam Lombardiae cnm quodam honesto viro hospitatus fuisset, ab eo rogatur, ut propter evangelii observantiam de omni apposito manducaret. Qui cum ejus devotioni assentiret, ille accurrens caponem septennem praeparat mauducandum. Manducantibus illis infidelis quidam amore Dei elemosinam petiit, Mox vir Dei nomen audiens benedictam, membrum sibi transmittit caponis. Reservat infelix datum et in crastinum, dum sanctas praedicaret, ostendit dicens: ecce, quales carnes comedit iste frater, quem t sanctum honoratis, nam mihi hoc in sero tribuit. Sed cum membrum caponis ab omnibus piscis videretnr, velut insanus ab omni populo inerepatur. Quod cum ille didicisset, erubuit et veniam postulavit redieruntque carnes ad sui speciem, postquam rediit praevaricator ad mentem. Daum quadam vice ad mensam sederet et de paupertate beatae virginis et filii ejus collatio fieret, protinus vir Dei a mensa surgens singultus ingeminat dolorosos et perfusus lacrymis super nudam humum reliquum panem manducat. Sacerdotalibnus manibus, quibus conficiendi dominici corporis saeramentum est collata potestas, magnam volebat reverentiam exhiberi.
Unde et saepe dicebat: si autem saneto cuiquam de coelo venienti et pauperculo alicui sacerdoti me contingeret obviare, ad sacerdotis manns deosculandas citius me conferrem et sancto dicerem: exspecta me, sancte Laurenti, quia mams hnjus verbum vitae contreetant et ultra humanum aliquid possident. Miracnlis multis in vita clarnit, ram panes ci ad benedicendum oblati multis infirmis atfnlere salutem, Aquam in vinum convertit ot inde aeger quidam gustans protinus sanitatem recepit, et multa alia miracula fecit, Cum vero ad dies jam appropinquaret extremos, longa infirmitate confectus super nudam humum poni se fecit fecitque emnes fratres ibidem assistentes ad se vocari et manus singulis imponens omnibus ibi praesentibus benedixit et instar coenae dominicae singulis bucellam panis divisit. Invitabat, ut moris sui erat, omnes creaturas ad laudem Dei; nam et mortem ipsam cunctis terribilem et exosam hortabatur ad laudem eique laetus occurrit et ad suum invitabat hospitium dicens: bene veniat soror mea mors. Ad extremam igitur horam veniens dormivit in domino. Cujus animam quidam frater vidit in modum stellae similis lunae in quantitate, soli in splendore, Minister fratrum in ferra laboris nomine Augustinus in hora jam ultima positus, cum diu jam amisisset loquelam, subito clamans dixit: exspecta me, pater, exspecta; ecce jam venio tecum. Quaerentibus fratribus, quid diceret, ait: non videtis patrem nostrum Franciscum, qui vadit in coelum? Et statim in pace obdormivit et patrem secutus est. Cum quaedam domina, quae beato Francisco devota exstiterat,- viam universae carnis fuisset ingressa, et clerici et presbiteri feretro exsequias celebrantes adstarent, subito se mulier erigit super lectum.
et unum de adstantibus sacerdotibus vocat dicens: volo, pater, confiteri; ego enim, pater, mortua. fueram et diro eram. carceri mancipanda, quoniam peccatum, quod tibi pandam, neodum confessa fueram, sed orante pro me sancto Francisco ad corpus mihi redire indultum est, ut illo revelato peccato veniam merear; statimque, ut istud manifestavero, in pace cernentibus vobis quiescam. . Gonfessa igitur et absolutione recepta mox in. domino obdormivit. Cam fratres de Vicera plaustram quoddam a quodam viro mutuo peterent, ille indignatus respondit: ego- potius duos. ex vobis cum sancto Francisco excoriarem, quam plaustrum meum.
vobis accommodarem. Sed in se reversus semet ipsum redarguit et blasphemiae poenituit iram Dei formidans, moxque filius. ejus infirmatur et. ad extrema deducitur, Qui filium defunctum videns in terra volutabatur et flens et sanctam Franciscum inyocans dicebat: ego sum, qui peccavi, me. flagellare debuisti; redde, sancte, jam devote precanti, quae abstulisti impie -blasphemanti, Mox filius ejus surrexit et planctum prohibens ait: cum mortuus essem, sanctus Franciseus per quandam viam longam et obscuram me ducens in quodam tandem me viridario pulcherrimo collocavit ac deinde dixit mihi: revertere ad patrem tuum, nolo te amplíus detinere. Pauper qnidam cuidam diviti debens quandam pecuniae quantitatem rogavit, wt sancli Francisci amore sibi terminum prolongaret. Cui ille superbe respondens: tali, inquit, loco te recludam, ubi nec Franciscus nec aliquis poterit te juvare. Moxque illum vinculatum in carcerem obscurum inclusit, Paulo post sanctus Franciseus affuit et fracto carcere ruplisque vinculis hominem incolumem reduxit ad propria.
Quidam miles sancti Francisci operibus et miraculis detrahens, cum quadam vice luderet ad taxillos, vesania et incredulitate plenus circumstantibus ait: si Franciscus est sanctus, XVIII veniant in taxillis. Mox in iis senarius triplicatus apparuit et usque ad novem vices quolibet suo jactu tricenos accepit. Sed insaniam addens insaniae ait: si verum est, quod Franciscus iste sit sanctus, cadat hodie corpus meum gladio, si vero sanctus non est, evadam incolumis. Ludo finito, ut ejus oratio fieret in peccatum, cum nepoti suo inferret injuriam, ille gladium accipiens in viscera patrui transfixit et protinus interfecit, Vir quidam crure sic perdito, ut nullatenus se movere posset, sanctum Franciscum talibus vocibus inclamabat: adjuva me, sancte Francisce, memor devotionis et servitii, quod tibi impendi; nam in asino meo te portavi, sanctos pedes tuos et manus osculatus fui et ecce morior doloris hujus durissimo cruciatu, Moxque ille sibi apparens cum parvulo baenlo, qui Thau in se figuram habebat, locum doloris tetigit et fracto apostemate sanitatem protinus recepit, sed Than signum super locum remansit. Hoc signo sanctus Franciscus litteras suas consueverat consignare. Cum in castro Pomereto in montanis Apuliae puella quaedam et patri et matri unica fuisset defuncta et mater sancto Francisco devota nimia tristitia fuisset absorpta, apparuit ei sanctus dicens: noli /fleré, quia lucernae tuae lumen, quod deploras exstinctum, mea est tibi intercessione reddendum. Mater igitur sumta fiducia corpus exstinctum non permisit efferri, sed saucti Francisci nomen invocans et mortuam filiam apprehendens eam incolumem allevavit, In urbe Roma, cum puer parvulus de fenestra palatii cecidisset et penitus exspirasset, beatus Franciscus invocatur et vitae protinus restituitur. In civitate Suessa eum quaedam domus corrnens quendam juvenem exstinxisset et cadaver jam in lecto ad sepeliendum posuissent, mater beatum Franciscum tota devotione, qua poterat, invocabat, et ecce circa mediam noctem puer oscitavit et sanus surrexit et in landis verba prorupit.
Frater Jacobus Reatinus, cum in navicula parva fluvium quendam cum fratribus pertransiisset et sociis jam snper ripam positis postremo se ad navis exitum praepararet, revoluta nave ipse in profundum fluminis est demersus. Fratribus igitur pro liberatione submersi beatum Franciscum invocantibus, ipso etiam corde, ut poterat, beati Francisci auxilium implorante, ecce praedictus frater per profundum sicut per aridam ambulabat et demersam naviculam capiens cum ea pervenit ad littus. Vestimenta autem ei madida non sunt nec aquae gutta proximavit ad tunicam,
Scripture echoes
- ↩Exod.14.22 — And the sons of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right and on their left.
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day
Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive
The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm
- A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
- 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
- Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks