The Life of S.FRancis Of Assisi

Front matter

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FRANCIS UF ASSISL

Book I

PAGE, His birth—Prediction of his future greatness—His studies—He applies himself to commerce—His purity, and affection for the poor—He is taken prisoner—He falls sick—His charity increases towards the poor—He has a mysterious dream—He wishes to go to the war—Jesus Christ dissuades him—He is rapt in spirit—His conversion—He kisses a leper —Jesus Christ crucified appears to him— Salutary effects of this apparition—He goes to Rome—Mingles with the poor—Is tempted by the devil—A voice from heaven commands him to restore the Church of S. Peter Damian—His devotion to the passion of Jesus Christ—He takes some pieces of cloth from his father’s house, and sells them, to restore the Church of S. Damian— He escapes from the anger of his father, and retires to a cave— He appears in Assisi, where he is ill-treated—-His father confines him—His mother delivers him, and he returns to S. Damian—He manifests his intention to his father, who appeals to justice, and cites him before the Bishop of Assisi—He renounces his inheritance, and gives back his clothes to his father—The poverty of his clothing—He is beaten by robbers—Retires to a monastery —They give him a hermit’s habit—He devotes himself to the leprous—-Receives the gift of healing, and returns to Assisi, where he searches for stone to restore the Church of Assisi—He toils at building as a laborer— He lives on alms—His father and brother exercise his patience—The victories he gains over himself—People begin to esteem and honor him—He predicts something which is fullfilled—He restores the Church of S. Peter and that of S. Mary of the Angels, or the Portiuncula—Dwells at S. Mary of the Angels, and is favored there with heavenly apparitions—He is called to the apostolical life—Renounces money, and goes discalced—His poor and humbte habit— God inspires him to preach—He weeps bitterly over the sufferings of Jesus Christ—Receives three disciples, and retires with them to a deserted cottage—He goes on a mission, and his disciples accompany him—The way they are treated—He receives three other disciples—He makes them beg for alms—What he said to the Bishop of Assisi, on renouncing all his possessions—He predicts to the Emperor Otho the short duration of his glory—It is revealed to him that his sins are remitted—He is rapt in ecstasy, and predicts the

He

CONTENTS.

extension of his Order—He makes several other predictions, and re-

Pace ceives a seventh disciple—He proposes a new mission to them—

The address he makes them on their preparation for, and conduct during, the mission—He returns near to Assisi, where he receives four more disciples—-He assembles all his disciples—Composes a Rule, and goes to obtain the Pope’s approval—He makes a marvellous conyersion—He knows miraculously what will happen to him at Rome—He is at first repulsed by Pope Innocent III., but is afterwards received favorably—Difficulties on the approbation of his Rule—He overcomes them by an address he makes the Pope—The Pope approves his Rule, and accumulates favors on it—He leaves Rome with his friars for the valley of Spoleto—God provides for his necessities—He stops at a deserted church—Consults God on his mission, and returns to the cottage of Rivo-torto—His sufferings there—The instructions he gives—God shows him to his brethren under a most marvellous aspect—The church of S. Mary of the

Angels is given to him—He establishes himself there, with his Friars - - = = z :

Book II

receives many novices—Instructs and models them—Sends them to different provinces of Italy—What he says on this occasion—He departs for Tuscany, and passes by Perugia, where he makes a pre-

2 oi diction which is accomplished—Many young men enter his Order—

They build a house for him near Cortona—His miraculous fast durimg Lent—He commands the devils, and they obey him—He cures many miraculously—He preaches at Florence—Makes a prediction—- Preaches in various places in Tuscany—What his friars are doing in other places—He preaches the Lent at Assisi, with great fruit— He consecrates, to Jesus Christ, Clare, and Agnes, her sister—Establishes Clare and Agnes in the Church of S, Damian—He erects a monastery there, the first one of his second Order, which he then instituted—He is troubled by a serious doubt, on which he consults his brethren—His doubt is cleared up by an oracle from heaven— He goes out to preach—Restores a blind girl to sight, and converts many worldly people—He sighs for martyrdom—Asks permission of the Pope to preach to the infidels—Makes conversions at Rome, and establishes his Order there—Returns to Assisi, and leaves for the Levant—Embarks, but is obliged to put into a harbor in Sclavonia —Goes by sea to Ancona—A miracle which God performs in his favor—He converts a celebrated poet—Returns to Tuscany, and to S. Mary of the Angels—He falls sick—Wonderfully humbles himself—Tries a vocation—Falls sick again, and writes to all Christians —Writes a second letter to them—Departs for Spain and Africa, in search of martyrdom—His miracles, and other particulars of his

CONTENTS, 31

Page journey— His profound humility—He raises the dead—Count Orlando gives him Mount Alverna—God miraculously protects him— He preaches in Piedmont, and passes into Spain—Works a miraculous cure there—The king, Alphonso IX, permits him to establish his Order there—He receives houses there—A violent sickness prevents him going to Morocco—His actions whilst he is delayed in Spain—He returns to Italy—His route thither—He arrives at S. Mary of the Angels, and disapproves a building there—He goes to Mount Alverna—Is beaten by devils—Mortifies his sense, and taste —Makes water spring from a-rock—Visits the mountain—Converts there a celebrated brigand-—Leaves for Rome—Discovers some relics by revelation—Makes predictions, and performs miracles and conversions—Arrives at Rome whilst the Council of Lateran is sitting— The Pope declares to the Council that he has approved the Rule— He appoints a general chapter at S. Mary of the Angels, whither he returns—He holds the chapter, and sends his friars to various countries—He thinks of going to Paris—Reunites an illustrious family that had been divided—Rejoices in his poverty, and asks of God a greater love of holy poverty—SS. Peter and Paul appear to him at Rome—His alliance with S, Dominic—He goes to Florence, where Cardinal Hugolin dissuades him from going to Paris—He returns to the Valley of Spoleto, and sends three of his disciples to France—A celestial vision induces him to ask of the Pope a cardinal protector for his Order—What he says on this subject— He preaches before the Pope—What happened to him in the pulpit— The Pope gives him Cardinal Hugolin, as protector of the Order— He preaches in the Valley of Rieti—Delivers the country from two plagues, and makes some conversions there—The houses he builds there—He appoints a general chapter at S. Mary of the Angels, for he year 1219—What he did during the year 1218—Efficacy of his prayers—He wishes to pull down a new house which he found at

S. Mary ofthe Angels - - + + + + © © 85

Book III

He goes to Perugia, to consult the cardinal protector—His opinion on the promotion of his friars to ecclesiastical dignities—He returns to S. Mary of the Angels—His thoughts on these dignities—More than five thousand Friars Minors are present at the chapter he had appointed—He addresses the assembly, and forbids them troubling themselves about their food—Assistance comes to him from all sides—He receives more than five hundred novices during this chapter—He forbids indiscreet mortifications—The devils are incensed against him and his Order—He cautions his friars, and upon that gives them some instructions—-He humbles them to preserve them from vainglory—He confounds those who wish the Rule

CONTENTS.

mitigated—He wishes not for privileges which can engender disputes—He gives his friars instructions about their conduct to ecclesiastics— He obtains from the Pope letters apostolical, confirming the approval of the Order—What he decrees in the chapter—He sends his friars through the whole world—He writes to all the ecclesiastics in the world—And to all the temporal magistrates in the world—And to all the superiors of his Order—The travels of his Friars in various parts of the world—In Greece—In Africa—In Spain and Portugal—In France—In the Low Countries—He himself prepares to go to the Levant—His opinions on the government of the monastery of S. Damian, and other houses of the same Order—He sends six of his friars to Morocco—What he says to them—He starts on his voyage to Syria, with twelve companions— He rejects a postulant too much attached to his parents—A house at Anconais given to him—He appoints, by means of a child inspired by God, those who are to accompany him to Syria—He embarks at Ancona, and anchors at the isle of Cyprus—Arrives at Acre—Distri

butes his companions in different parts of Syria, and comes to the army before Damietta—He arrives at the camp before Damietta, and predicts the ill-success of the battle the Crusaders are about to give— His prediction is accomplished—He finds out the Sultan of Egypt— Announces to him the truths of the faith, and offers to throw himself into the fire to prove them—He refuses the Sultan’s presents—Is esteemed and respected—The good dispositions with which he inspires the Sultan—He obtains permission to preach in his States— He confounds an immodest woman by throwing himself on burning charcoal—He receives some disciples from the army of the Crusaders—Visits the holy places—Some whole monasteries of religious embrace his Institute—He returns to Italy—Establishes his Order in various places—Preaches at Bologna with great success—What he says and does on seeing a house of his Order too much ornamented—He makes a retreat at Camaldoli—Returns to S. Mary of the Angels—-Reads the thoughts of his companion—Confounds the vanity of Brother Elias—Abolishes the novelties introduced into the Order by Brother Elias—In a vision the fortunes of his Order are made known to him—Hle holds the chapter, in which he deposes Brother Elias, and in his place substitutes Peter of Catania—He renounces the generalship—Will not receive anything from novices entering his Order—He learns the news of the martyrdom of the friars he had sent to Morocco—What he says on the subject of their martyrdom—The martyrdom of these friars is the cause of the vocation of S. Antony of Padua—His friars pass into England—He visits some convents—Writes to the Vicar-General—Receives his resignation, and re-appoints, by the command of God, Brother Elias to his place —He holds a chapter, and sends missionaries to Germany - -

CONTENTS. 33

Book IV

PAGR, S. Francis begins his third Order of Penance—Draws up the rule for it—What his idea was in founding this Order—He returns to S. Mary of the Angels—Sends Agnes, the sister of Clare, to Florence, to be Abbess there—He obtains from Jesus Christ the Indulgence of S. Mary of the Angels, or of the Portiuncula—Pope Honorius UI. grants him the same indulgence—Clare and others, hearing him talk of God, are ravished in ecstasy—He cannot bear the distinction of persons which Brother Elias made—Makes a terrible prediction—He gives his blessings to seven of his brethren, to go and preach the faith to the Moors, and they are martyred—He makes a journey, which is attended with remarkable circumstances—Cures a cripple—Mixes with the poor, and eats with them—Foretells of an infant, that he would one day be Pope—He changes the bed of thorns into which S, Benedict had thrown himself, into a rose-bush, and performs other great miracles—Goes to honor the relics of S. Andrew, and those of S. Nicholas—He stands upon red-hot coals to confound a bad woman—Dascovers a trick of the devil—He visits Mount Garganus—His presence silences a demoniac—He learns at S. Mary of the Angels the success of the German mission—Bids Antony preach—Gives Antony permission to teach theology to the brethren—Alexander Hales enters the Order—Jesus Christ appoints the day for the Indulgence of the Portiuncula—He obtains from the Pope a confirmation of the same day—Promulgates it, with seven bishops— He has a revelation about his Rule—God makes known to him that he must abridge it—The Holy Spirit dictates it to him— Some entreat him to inoderate it—Jesus Christ tells him it must be kept to the very letter—His brethren receive it—What it contains— He declares it comes from Jesus Christ, and speaks in praise of it—He obtains a Bull from the Pope, in confirmation of the Rule— Is attacked by devils—Celebrates the feast of Christmas with much fervor—Our Lord appears to him as an infant—His sentiments on the celebration of feasts—Discovers a stratagem of the devil—His prophecy to Bologna-—He commands one of his dead brethren to cease working miracles—Draws up a rule for Clare and her daughters—Summary of this rule—He sends his cloak to St. Elizabeth— Appears with his arms stretched out in the form of a cross, while S. Antony was preaching—Foretells a conversion, which immediately came about—He goes into retreat on Mount Alvernus—His contemplation and raptures—Jesus Christ promises him special favors—He fasts rigorously—A piece of his writing delivers his companion from a temptation—What he had to suffer from the devil—He prepares for martyrdom—He receives extraordinary favors in prayer—His perfect conformity to the will of God—Jesus Christ crucified appears to him under the figure of a Seraphim—

CONTENTS.

Receives the impression of the wounds of Jesus Christ He composes canticles full of the love of God—Tells his brethren of the Stigmata—They are seen and touched—-He leaves Mount Alvernus, to return to S. Mary of the Angels—Cures a child of dropsy—Other

PAGE miracles which he performed on the way—He strengthens himself with new fervor in the service of God—His patience in great sufferings—His desires for the salvation of souls—His prayer in suffering—God assures him of his salvation—He thanks Him in a canticle—Makes peace between the bishop and magistrates of Assisi —He learns the time of his death, and rejoices at it—Gives himself a severe penance—He has various illnesses, and suffers extreme pain—He multiplies the grapes in a vineyard—God gives him sensible consolation—-A heated iron is applied to the temple, and he feels no pain from it—He weeps incessantly, and says he does so to expiate for his sins—He prefers the danger of losing his sight to restraining his tears—His gratitude towards his physician—A miracle is worked by some of his hair, in favor of this physician—He miraculously heals a canon—His sufferings diminish—Goes to preach

—Drives away a devil—Foretells a sudden death, and it comes about —Cures St. Bonaventura in his infancy—All his sufferings increase

—Causes to be found for the love of God what could not be found for money—They take him back to Assisi—They take him to Sienna —-He answers difficult questions, and foretells several things—He causes the blessing which he gave to his brethren to be written out —And also a letter, which he addressed to the whole Order—They take him to Celles, and thence to Assisi—The bishop has him taken to his palace—The state of his Order at the time of his last illness.