Excerpts from
LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
PART ONE:
CHAPTER I
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR, AND OF
MARY HIS VIRGIN MOTHER. IN THIS BOOK ARE CONTAINED CERTAIN LITTLE FLOWERS -
TO WIT, MIRACLES AND PIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE GLORIOUS SERVANT OF CHRIST ST
FRANCIS, AND OF SOME OF HIS HOLY COMPANIONS; TO THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF
JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.
First let us consider how the life of the glorious St
Francis was conformed in every act with that of our Blessed Lord. For as
Christ, before he began to preach, made choice of twelve Apostles, teaching
them to despise all the things of this world, to follow him in poverty and
in the practice of all other virtues, so St Francis, on the first founding
of his Order, chose twelve companions, all lovers of poverty...
CHAPTER II
OF BROTHER BERNARD OF QUINTAVALLE, THE FIRST COMPANION OF
ST FRANCIS
The first companion of St Francis was Brother Bernard of
Assisi, who was converted in the following way: St Francis had not yet taken
the religious habit, though he had renounced the world, and had so given
himself to penance and mortification that many looked upon him as one out of
his mind. He was scoffed at as a madman, was rejected and despised by his
relations and by strangers, who threw stones and mud at him when he passed;
yet he went on his way, accepting these insults as patiently as if he had
been deaf and dumb. Then Bernard of Assisi, one of the richest and most
learned nobles of the city, began to consider deeply the conduct of St
Francis; how utterly he despised the world, how patiently he suffered
injuries, and how his faith remained firm, though he had been for two years
an object of contempt and rejected by all. He began to think and say within
himself, "It is evident that this brother must have received great graces
from God"; and so resolved to invite him to sup and to sleep in his house.
St Francis having accepted the invitation, Bernard, who was resolved to
contemplate the sanctity of his guest, ordered a bed to be prepared for him
in his own room, where a lamp burned all night. Now St Francis, in order to
conceal his sanctity, so soon as he entered the room, threw himself upon the
bed, pretending to fall asleep. Bernard likewise soon after went to bed, and
began to snore as if sleeping soundly. On this, St Francis, thinking that
Bernard was really fast asleep, got up and began to pray. Raising his hands
and eyes to heaven, he exclaimed with great devotion and fervour, "My God!
my God!" at the same time weeping bitterly; and thus he remained on his
knees all night, repeating with great love and fervour the words, "My God!
my God!" and none others.
And this he did because, being enlightened by the Holy
Spirit, he contemplated and admired the divine majesty of God, who deigned
to take pity on the perishing world, and to save not only the soul of
Francis, his poor little one, but those of many others also through his
means. For, being enlightened by the Holy Ghost, he foresaw the great things
which God would deign to accomplish through him and through his Order; and
considering his insufficiency and unworthiness, he prayed and called upon
the Lord, through his power and wisdom, to supply, help and accomplish that
which of himself he could not do.
Then Bernard, seeing by the light of the lamp the devout
actions of St Francis and the expression of his countenance, and devoutly
considering the words he uttered, was touched by the Holy Spirit, and
resolved to change his life. Next morning, therefore, he called St Francis,
and thus addressed him: "Brother Francis, I am disposed in heart wholly to
leave the world, and to obey thee in all things as thou shalt command me."
At these words, St Francis rejoiced in spirit and said, "Bernard, a
resolution such as thou speakest of is so difficult and so great an act,
that we must take counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to him that he
may be pleased to show us what is his will, and may teach us to follow it.
Let us then go together to the Bishop's palace, where we shall find a good
priest who will say Mass for us. We will then remain in prayer till the
third hour, imploring the Lord to point out to us the way he wishes us to
select, and to this intent we will open the Missal three times." And when
Bernard answered that he was well pleased with this proposal, they set out
together, heard Mass, and after they had remained in prayer till the time
fixed, the priest, at the request of St Francis, took up Missal, then,
having made the sign of the holy cross, he opened it three times, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first place which he lit upon was at the answer of
Christ to the young man who asked of him the way to perfection: If thou wilt
be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come,
follow me. The second time he opened at the words which the Saviour
addressed to the Apostles when he sent them forth to preach the Word of
Truth: Take nothing with you for your journey: neither staff, nor scrip, nor
bread, nor money; wishing to teach them thereby to commit the care of their
lives to him, and give all their thoughts to the preaching of the Holy
Gospel. When the Missal was opened a third time they came upon these words:
If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me.
Then St Francis, turning to Bernard, said: "This is the
advice that the Lord has given us; go and do as thou hast heard; and blessed
be the Lord Jesus Christ who has pointed out to thee the way of his angelic
life." Upon this, Bernard went and sold all that he had. Now he was very
rich, and with great joy he distributed his wealth to widows, to orphans, to
prisoners, to monasteries, to hospitals, and to pilgrims, in all which St
Francis assisted him with prudence and fidelity.
Now it happened that a man of the name of Silvester,
seeing how St Francis gave so much money to the poor, being urged on by
avarice, went to him and said: "Thou didst not pay me enough for the stones
I sold thee to repair the church; now that thou hast money, pay me what thou
owest." St Francis, much surprised at such a demand, but, according to the
precepts of the Scriptures, not wishing to dispute with him, gave it to
Silvester, saying that, if he wanted more, he would give it to him.
Silvester, being satisfied, returned home; but in the evening of the same
day he reflected on his avarice, and on the holiness and the fervour of St
Francis. That night also he saw St Francis in a vision, and it seemed to him
as if a golden cross came out of his mouth, which reached up to heaven and
extended to the extreme east and west. After this vision he gave all he
possessed to the poor, for the love of God, and made himself a Brother
Minor. He became so holy, and was favoured with such special graces, that he
spake with the Lord as a friend speaks with a friend, of which St Francis
was often a witness, as we shall see further on. Bernard likewise received
from God many graces - he was ravished in contemplation, and St Francis said
he was worthy of all reverence, and that he had founded the Order, because
he was the first who had abandoned the world, giving all he possessed to the
poor of Christ, keeping back nothing for himself; and practising evangelical
poverty, placing himself naked in the arms of the Crucified, whom may we all
bless eternally. Amen...
OF THE SECOND CONSIDERATION OF THE SACRED, HOLY STIGMATA
...Then St Francis caused his companions to sit down, and
taught them the manner of life they were to keep, that they might live
religiously in their solitude; and among other things, most earnestly did he
enjoin on them the strict observance of holy poverty, saying: "Let not
Orlando's charitable offer cause you in any way to offend against our lady
and mistress, holy poverty. Hold it for certain that, the more we keep aloof
from her, the more will the world keep aloft from us, and the greater want
shall we endure: but if we closely embrace holy poverty, the world will come
after us, and will minister to us abundantly. God has called us into this
holy religion for the salvation of the world, and has made this compact
between the world and us - that we should give it good example, and that it
should provide for our necessities. Let us, then, persevere in holy poverty;
for it is the way to perfection, and the pledge of eternal riches." And
after many devout and holy words, he thus concluded: "This is the manner of
life which I impose upon you and upon myself; and because I behold my death
approaching, I purpose to remain in solitude to recollect myself in God, and
to weep over my sins in his sight. Therefore, when it shall so please him,
let Brother Leo bring me a little bread and water, and on no account suffer
any secular to come near me; but do you answer for me to them." And having
thus said, he gave them his blessing, and went his way to his cell under the
beach-tree; and his companions remained behind, full purposed to obey his
commands...
