will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not
be able to resist or gainsay." Meledin became so mild and tractable,
that, admiring the courage of Francis, he listened quietly to him for
some days, and invited him to stay with him. The man of God said: "If
you and your people will be converted, I will remain for the love of
Jesus Christ. And if you hesitate between His law and that of Mahomet,
let a great fire be lit up, and I will go into it with your priests,
in order that you may see thereby which is the faith to follow." "I
do not believe," replied the sultan, "that any of our priests would
go into the fire, or suffer any torments for his religion." He answered
thus because he perceived that as soon as the fire was proposed, one
of the eldest of the priests, one who was of the most considerable of
them, got quickly away. "If you will promise me," added Francis, "that
yourself and your people will embrace the Christian faith, in case I
come forth from the fire safe and sound, I will enter it alone; if I
am burnt let it be imputed to my sins; but if God preserve me, you
will then acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the true God and Saviour
of mankind."
Meledin acknowledged that he dared not accept this challenge, lest it
should be the cause of a sedition; but he offered him rich presents
which the servant of God despised from his heart as so much dirt. Such
entire disengagement from the good things of this world inspired the
prince with such veneration and confidence that he entreated the Saint
to receive his presents, and to distribute them among the poor
Christians or to the churches for the salvation of his soul. Francis
who had a loathing of money, and who did not find in the sultan any
groundwork of religion, persisted in his refusal of these offers. He,
moreover, thought it was time to leave the infidels when he saw no
prospect of effecting any good, and where he had no further chance of
gaining the crown of martyrdom; and he learnt by a revelation that
what he intended was conformable to the will of God. The sultan, on
his part, fearing that some of his people might be moved by the
discourse of Francis, and, being converted, might join the Christian
army, caused him to be escorted with marks of consideration to the
Christian camp before Damietta, after having said to him in private:
"Pray for me, that God may make known what religion is most agreeable
to Him, in order that I may embrace it."
Was it not a sight worthy of God, worthy of angels, and of men, to see
on one side Francis, clothed in sackcloth, pale, emaciated, disfigured
by his penitential austerities, pass through an army of infidels, and
present himself boldly before their sovereign, speak to him against
the law of their prophet, and exhort him to acknowledge the divinity
of Jesus Christ? and, on the other side, the Sultan of Egypt, the
mortal enemy of the Christians, elated by the victory he had just
gained over them, and anxious to shed more of their blood, suddenly
lose all his ferocity, become mild and tractable, listen attentively
to the poor one of Jesus Christ, endeavor to retain him, offer him
large presents, admire his poverty, his disinterestedness, his courage,
ask the aid of his prayers, that he might know and embrace the true
religion, and send him back to the Christian camp with honor? How
certain it is that the religion of Jesus Christ will never be made
more respectable and amiable to the infidels than by the practice of
the exalted virtues which it teaches, and by which it became established
in the world.
Another scene which is not less striking in the eyes of piety, is the
heart of Francis, burning with anxiety to shed his blood for the glory
of his Master, and not being able to satisfy that ardor. Already, in
the hope of attaining it, he had embarked for Syria, and contrary winds
had driven him back to the Christian shores. He had gone into Spain
in order to pass into Africa, when a violent illness compelled him to
desist from the undertaking. He thinks he already grasps the palm,
when he finds himself in Egypt; in order to hasten the accomplishment
of his desires, he places himself in the hands of the infidels, and
attacks the tyrant on his throne; when, instead of the opprobrium and
tortures which he sought, he finds nothing but mildness and curiosity,
attentions and honor. He seeks for martyrdom, and martyrdom flies from
him. "It was," St. Bonaventure remarks, "by an admirable disposition
of Divine Providence, who chose that the ardent desire of his faithful
servant should give him the merit of martyrdom, and that his life
should be preserved to receive the glorious stigmata which were to be
impressed on his body by a singular prerogative, in reward of his great
love for Jesus crucified, who inflamed his heart."
Wading relates, upon the authority of a religious of the Order, who
was a contemporary of St. Francis, whose name was Ugolino of St. Mary
of the Mount, corroborated by some other writers of the Order, that
the sultan was converted and baptized. Some later authors deny this,
and remark that they have mistaken the Sultan of Egypt for the Sultan
of Ieonium, who never saw St. Francis, and of whom James of Vitry says,
that he was believed to have received baptism at his death which
happened in the year when Damietta was besieged. It is admitted that
Wading was mistaken in quoting this passage to prove the conversion
of the Sultan of Egypt, but that does not weaken the evidence of
Ugolino. He says that Francis went a second time to the sultan before
his return to Italy. He urged him to be converted. The Saint, not being
able to induce him to overcome the human obstacles which stood in the
way, prayed fervently for him for several successive days, and then
felt that his prayers were heard. This he communicated to Meledin, who
imbibed still greater affection for him, and wished to detain him, but
he departed according to the command that he had received from heaven.
Some years after, this prince being dangerously ill, the Saint appeared
to two of his religious who were in Syria and ordered them to go to
him, instruct him, baptize him, and remain with him till he should
expire; all this was complied with. There is nothing in this legend
which is not very probable, and which is not consistent with
circumstances that cannot be called into question:
1. We have seen, in the narratives of James of Vitry, and of St.
Bonaventure, that Meledin said to Francis: "Pray for me, that God may
make known to me which religion is most agreeable to Him;" and that
he wished to induce him to receive his presents, in order to distribute
them to the poor Christians, or to the churches, for the salvation of
his soul.
2. After he had seen the holy man, he treated the Christians with great
humanity, and shortly after their discomfiture, he sent some of his
prisoners to their camp, to offer terms of peace. In the year 1221,
their army, which was coming to offer him battle, entangled itself
between two branches of the Nile, where it must have inevitably
perished. "He behaved to his enemies," says one of our authors, "in
such a manner as could not reasonably have been expected from a Saracen,
and which in these days would do honor to a Christian prince were he
to do it."
3. An author, whose testimony on such a point is beyond suspicion,
says, "that this sultan, being on his deathbed, caused a large sum of
money to be distributed among the poor Christians who were sick in the
hospitals, and that he left a considerable revenue for the same purpose;
that he enfranchised many slaves, that he had performed various other
acts of mercy, and that his death was greatly lamented by the
Christians, whom he spared to the utmost of his power. The Emperor
Frederic was inconsolable after Meledin's death, having had strong
hopes that he would receive baptism according to a promise he had given
him, and that he would strenuously contribute to the propagation of
Christianity in the Levant."
4. It may have happened that St. Francis who was then in heaven,
appeared to two of the religious of his Order, and that he sent them
to Meledin; that these religious instructed and baptized him; and that
the thing was done secretly from the circumstances of the times; that
the authors of those times were not informed of it, and that Ugolino
learned it from the religious themselves. In short, it is not improbable
that the conversion of this soul should have been granted to the zeal,
labors, prayers and tears of such a friend of God as St. Francis. Thus,
the baptism of the sultan is not so very uncertain, and those who have
recorded it have not given the Saint praise which may be called false,
as Wading has been acrimoniously taxed with. After all, if Meledin was
not converted, it is a judgment of God, which those must be fearful
of who recommend themselves to the prayers of the pious, forming
projects of conversion, and even doing some good works, who yet
positively resist the grace vouchsafed them, which requires an effectual
change of heart. If he was converted, which is probable, it was a great
effect of divine mercy, which sinners must not abuse by deferring their
repentance; these graces are very rarely given, and those who wait for
them run great risk of their salvation.
There is reason for thinking that Meledin gave Francis and his
companions leave to preach in his dominions, since it is well known
that the Friars Minor began from that time to spread themselves amongst
the Saracens, as James de Vitry says:--"Even the Saracens, blinded as
they are, admire the humility and perfection of the Friars Minor,
receive them well, and provide them cheerfully with all the necessaries
of life, when they go boldly amongst them to preach the gospel; they
listen to them willingly, speaking of Jesus Christ and His doctrine;
but they beat them and drive them away if they attack Mahomet, and
hold him as a liar and infidel."
An anecdote, related by St. Bonaventure, may have easily happened in
those times. A Saracen seeing some Friars Minor, was moved by their
poverty and offered them some money, which they refused to accept, and
this astonished him. Having understood that it was for the love of God
that they refused money, he conceived such a liking for them, that he
undertook to provide them with everything necessary as long as he was
able to do so. The holy doctor exclaims on this:--"O inestimable
excellence of poverty, which is so powerful to inspire a barbarian
with such tender and generous compassion!" It would be a shameful and
very criminal thing, were Christians to despise and trample under foot
this precious evangelical pearl, for which a Mahometan showed such
esteem and respect.
While Francis remained in Egypt, he did not gather much fruit from
among the infidels; but his words were a fertile seed which his
disciples reaped the abundant harvest of, when afterwards sent thither
by Gregory IX and Innocent III.
The Saracens were not the only objects of the zeal of Francis. He
labored also for the salvation of the Christians in the army of the
Crusaders, and some of them became his disciples. James de Vitry,
Bishop of Acre, writing to his friends in Lorraine informed them that
Renier, the Prior of St. Michael, had joined the Order of the Friars
Minor; and that three of the most eminent of his clergy had followed
his example, and that it was with difficulty he prevented the chorister
and several others from taking the same course, to which he adds that
this religious Order spreads fast in the world because it is an exact
imitation of the form of the primitive Church, and of the life of the
Apostles.
The most ancient records of the Order assure us that after some months'
residence in Egypt, the holy Patriarch went to Palestine, and visited
the holy places, but they enter into no particulars. What we may safely
conjecture is, that God, who led him into the Holy Land, seemed to say
to him, as He had said to Abraham: "Arise and walk through the land
in the length and in the breadth thereof, for I will give it to thee."
Rather more than a hundred years after his death, the Sultan of Egypt
permitted the Friars Minor to take charge of the Holy Sepulchre of our
Lord, and they still have the care of it in the midst of the infidels,
under the protection of the Eldest Son of the Church. This privilege,
which is so honorable for the Order of St. Francis, is justly considered
by them as the fruit of the fervent devotion of the blessed Patriarch
to Jesus Christ crucified.
From Palestine Francis went to Antioch, the capital of Syria, and
passed by the black mountain, where there was a celebrated monastery
of the order of St. Benedict. The abbot who had died only a short time
before, had foretold that a saintly man would soon come to their house,
who was much beloved by God, the Patriarch, of a great Order, who would
be poorly attired and of mean appearance, but very much to be revered;
in consequence of which the religious, hearing of his coming, went in
procession to meet him, and received him with all the honors due to
a man of God. He remained some days with them, and the holiness which
they observed in him made such an impression upon them, that they
embraced his Institute, placing all their effects at the disposition
of the patriarch of Antioch. Some other monasteries followed their
example; and, in a few years, there was a flourishing province in that
country, which continued until such time as the Saracens ravaged the
whole of Syria.
While Francis was thus employed in extending his Order in the East,
Brother Elias, who was his vicar-general in the West, was destroying
it there. He said to the religious, in their conferences, that the
life of their Founder was worthy of the highest praise, but that it
was not given to all to imitate it; that among the things which he had
prescribed for them, some appeared in the eyes of prudence very
difficult of observance, others absolutely impracticable and beyond
the strength of man; that, in the opinion of the most prudent, some
modification was requisite and some change required, some practices
necessary, which were not so strictly regular--by specious insinuations
of this nature, he brought over many to his opinions, and even some
of the provincials who ventured to represent the simplicity of their
Father as imprudent. The vicar-general, nevertheless, in conjunction
with the ministers, made some regulations for the government of the
provinces which were very useful; but, by a strange inconsistency, at
the time when they were talking of modifications, they prescribed total
abstinence from meat, and forbade its use either in or out of the
cloisters, which was a direct contradiction of the rule, which permits
the Friars Minor, except in times of fasting, to eat, according to the
terms of the Gospel, whatsoever is put before them.
All those who had the true spirit of God were greatly grieved to see
that human prudence was preferred to the divine will, and that the
vineyard of the Lord was rendered desolate by Brother Elias. They put
up fervent prayers to God for the speedy return of their pastor, so
necessary for the flock; and, after having secretly concerted together,
they sent Brother Stephen into Syria, to communicate to their Founder
what was going on. Stephen went and gave him a full detail of all
things. Francis was not cast down by this deplorable intelligence, but
he had recourse to God, and recommended to His protection the family
he had received from him. As to the regulation which prescribed entire
abstinence from meat, he, with great humility, asked the advice of
Peter of Catana, who replied: "It is not for me to judge; it is for
the legislator to decide thereon, as on all the rest." Francis deferred
the decision till his return, and embarked immediately for Italy.
His voyage was not a long one; they soon anchored at the Isle of Candia,
from whence they came to Venice where they landed. He sent circular
letters to convene the chapter which he proposed holding at the ensuing
Michaelmas, to remedy the evil which had been brought about by Brother
Elias. He built a small chapel near the Venetian lakes, (Lagunes,) in
which two of his religious were to say the Divine Office, in memory
of an extraordinary thing which happened to him at this place.
The Saint then went to Padua, Bergamo, Brescia, the island of the lake
of Garda, to Cremona and Mantua; at all these places there were convents
of his Order. We are assured that St. Dominic joined him on his way;
that they conferred together and with John of Navarra de Torniella,
Bishop of Bergamo, on the salvation of souls; that they made some pious
visits to the solitaries of the valley of Astino, and that the patriarch
of the Friars Preachers celebrated Mass there, that of the Minors being
the deacon at the service. When they were in spiritual conference at
Cremona, the religious came to request them to bless the well, and to
solicit the Almighty to purify the water which was thick and muddy.
Dominic, at the entreaty of Francis, blessed a vessel full of the
water, and caused it to be thrown back into the well, and all water
that subsequently was drawn from it was clear and wholesome to drink.
The two saints separated, but, shortly after, met again at Bologna.
Francis going to Bologna, met a woman whose son was epileptic, and who
came to beg the aid of his prayers. He wrote on a slip of paper some
short but very devout ejaculatory prayers which he thought might be
taken to the sick youth; they had no sooner been given to him, than
he was entirely cured; in gratitude whereof, he placed himself at the
service of the Friars Minor in the convent of Parma.
The reputation of the holy man was so great that, according to Sigonius,
the streets were choked with the number of students who wished to see
and hear him. It was with difficulty that way was made for him to reach
the principal square, where he preached in so sublime a manner that
they thought they heard an angel and not a man. The greater part of
the audience was converted; and many solicited the habit of the Order,
among whom were Nicholas of Pepulis, Bonizio, Pelerino, Falleroni, and
Riger or Ricer of Modena. Nicholas was that learned jurisconsult who
had been so kind to Bernard de Quintavalle in 1211, when every one had
treated him with contempt at Bologna. Bonizio excelled in the love of
holy poverty, and was very useful to the Saint in affairs of importance,
by the talent he had of managing with prudence. Pelerino and Riger
were young gentlemen from the Marches of Ancona, who were students at
Bologna--to them Francis foretold all they would do in the course of
their lives. The first would only be a lay-brother, although he was
well versed in canon-law; it was said of him that when he was in
company with men of the world, either from necessity or from charitable
motives, he left them as soon as he could; and when he was censured
for so doing as being guilty of rudeness, he replied: "When we have
sought Jesus Christ our Master, we have never found Him either amongst
relatives or amongst our acquaintances." The second attached himself
to his holy Patriarch, and strove to imitate him in all things. Although
he was eminently favored with the gift of chastity, he nevertheless
avoided with great care the conversation of females, and he said to
those with whom he was intimate, who were surprised at it: "I should
perhaps lose the gift with which I have been favored, by a just judgment
of God, if I took fewer precautions: he who loves danger will perish
in it."
Here is an authentic testimonial as to one of the sermons which Francis
preached at Bologna in the year 1220; it is taken from the Archives
of the church of Spalatro, and it is found in the history of the bishops
of Bologna, written by Sigonius:
"I, Thomas, citizen of Spalatro, and archdeacon of the cathedral of
the same town, saw, in the year 1220, on the day of the Assumption of
the Mother of God, St. Francis preach in the square in front of the
little palace where almost the whole city was collected. He began his
sermon thus: 'The angels, the men, and the demons.' He spoke of these
intelligent beings so well and with such precision, that many learned
men who heard him, were astonished to hear such a discourse from the
mouth of so simple a man. He did not diverge to draw a moral from
different subjects, as preachers usually do, but as those who dilate
upon one point, he brought everything to bear upon the sole object of
restoring peace, concord, and union which had been totally destroyed
by cruel dissensions. He was very poorly clad, his countenance was
pale and wan, and his whole appearance was uninviting; but God gave
such force and efficiency to his words, that they led to the
reconciliation of a great number of gentlemen who were greatly
exasperated against each other, and whose irritation had caused the
shedding of no small quantity of blood. The love and veneration for
the Saint were so universal, and went so far, that men and women ran
to him in crowds, and those esteemed themselves fortunate who could
only touch the hem of his garments."
The author who records this testimonial adds that he performed miracles
also in Bologna. A child of quality was taken to him, who had what is
called a pearl on his eye, which rendered his eye quite blind, and no
remedy could be found for it. Francis made the sign of the cross over
him from the head to the feet, and he was perfectly cured. Having
subsequently entered the Institute of his miraculous physician, he saw
much better with the eye on which the pearl had been than with the
other. This miracle, which was known throughout the city, increased
the zeal and respect which the Bolognese had for the servant of God
so much, that they could not tear themselves from him, and they gave
him a second house for his Institute, situated in a wood about a mile
from the town.
After these apostolical functions, he went to see Cardinal Ugolino,
who was then legate in Lombardy, by whom he was received with marks
of the most sincere affection. He proposed next to visit the convent
of his Order which was close to one of the gates of Bologna, but as
soon as he saw it, finding it much more spacious and handsome than was
requisite for strict poverty, he turned away his eyes from it, and
said indignantly: "Is this the dwelling of the poor Evangelical
laborers? Such grand and superb palaces, are they for Friars Minor?
I do not acknowledge this house as one of ours, and I do not look upon
those who dwell in it as my brethren. I, therefore, order and enjoin
all those who wish to continue to bear the name of Friars Minor, to
leave this house forthwith, and to give up to the rich of the world
buildings which are only fit for them."
He was so implicitly obeyed, that even the sick, among whom was Brother
Leo, one of his first companions, who is the relator of this
circumstance, were carried out on the shoulders of their brethren and
exposed to the air. There they all remained till the arrival of the
legate, who, having been informed of what was going on, had come and
appeased the holy man. He represented to him that it was necessary to
allow the convents to be more spacious, in order that the infirm might
have more air for restoring their health; and that such as were well
should have more room for relaxing their minds. "But as to the
property," he added, "I can assure you that your brethren have no part
in it, as it remains entirely to the founders. Moreover, if you have
any further scruples on the subject, I declare to you that I take the
whole upon myself in the name of the Holy Roman Church."
Francis could not resist the powerful reason of the prudent and pious
legate, the protector of his Order. He, therefore, consented that his
brethren should remain in the convent; he even ordered them to return
to it, but he would not go into it himself, and he chose to take the
repose which nature required, in the house of the Friars Preachers,
where he passed some days with his friend Saint Dominic.
It would appear that St. Bonaventure had this circumstance in view,
when he said: "that if it happened that St. Francis found in the houses
which his brethren occupied, anything which looked like property, or
that was too elegant, he wished the houses to be pulled down, or that
the religious should quit them, because he maintained that the Order
was grounded on Evangelical poverty as its principal foundation, so
that if this poverty was adhered to in it, it would flourish, but that
it would perish if it was set aside."
While the Saint was with the Friars Preachers, one of them, from
feelings of compassion, begged him to return to his children, and to
pardon the fault they had committed, but he replied: "Indulgence which
gives rise to an easy relapse into sin, is not be commended. I will
not sanction by my presence what has been committed against holy
poverty." This charitable religious endeavored to induce him at least
to see them, in order that they might be made aware of their fault,
and be corrected. "We will come back here together," he said, "if you
do not choose to remain there, after having performed this duty of
superior." Francis yielded to this prudent advice; he went to his
children, and seeing them grieved and repentant, and ready to receive
the penance he might inflict, he pardoned them.
His indulgence did not extend to the provincial, whose name was John
de Strachia, one of those who wished to have the rule mitigated in
1219. He censured him severely for having had so beautiful a house
built, or, at least, for having permitted it to be built. He upbraided
him in strong terms for having, without consulting him, opened a school
for the studies of the Friars Minor, and for having made regulations
for its conduct more favorable to science than to piety. He did away
with this school, because he chose that his religious should pray
rather than study, and that the other provincials might learn to be
more humble and more religious in all that had relation to studies.
And here we must advert to what happened at a later period; the
provincial had the rashness to reestablish the school after the
departure of the Founder, who, having been informed of it, and knowing
from interior revelation the obduracy of this man, cursed him publicly,
and deposed him at the ensuing chapter. The Saint was entreated to
withdraw this curse, and to give his blessing to Brother John, who was
a noble and learned man, but he answered: "I cannot bless him whom the
Lord has cursed." A dreadful reply which was soon after verified. This
unfortunate man died, exclaiming: "I am damned and cursed for all
eternity." Some frightful circumstances which followed after his death
confirmed his awful prognostic. Such a malediction which pride and
disobedience brought upon this learned man, ought to strike terror
into those vain men who forsake piety for science, and in whom great
talents have no other effect than to produce in them great attachment
to their own conceits, and proud indocility, which induces, at length,
even a revolt against the Church.
St. Francis was not averse to studies, as will be seen, when, two years
after, he caused theology to be taught. But he chose that they should
so study as not to extinguish the spirit of prayer. He approved of
science, but of that only, which the Holy Spirit calls religious, which
is sanctified by the fear of the Lord, of which St. Augustine says:
"that it is the companion of charity, and teaches humility."
Cardinal Ugolino proposed to the Servant of God that they should make
a retreat of some days together, at Camaldoli, in order to give his
body some rest, which was borne down by fatigue, and relax his mind
from the various cares which oppressed it. He willingly assented to
this, because he liked the life of a recluse. They, therefore, went
to this holy solitude, and they remained there nearly a month, solely
employed in meditation on heavenly things. The cardinal took a cell
at the entry of the desert where it is still to be seen; and Francis
took one near it, which had been inhabited by St. Romnald. It has since
taken the name of St. Francis' cell, and is only occupied by the prior,
or major of Camaldoli. The writers of the country add, that the festival
of St. Francis is celebrated solemnly there, and that it is decreed
by the statutes that the anthem which the Friars Minor chant shall be
sung on that day: Salve, Sancte Pater, &c.
The two pious solitaries went from thence to Mount Alvernia, where
they only stayed a few days. The cardinal returned to Bologna, and
Francis took the route for Assisi, in order to open the chapter at St.
Mary of the Angels, as he had given notice.
On the way, St. Bonaventure acquaints us what occurred to him. His
infirmities and fatigue having compelled him to mount on an ass, his
companion, Leonard of Assisi, who followed him on foot, and was also
very much fatigued, gave way to human feelings, and said to himself:
"His parents were not the equals of mine; yet, there he rides, and I
am forced to trudge on foot and lead him." As he was thus giving way
to these thoughts, Francis, to whom God had made known what was passing
in Leonard's mind, dismounted, and said: "No, brother, it is not fitting
that I should ride while you walk on foot, because you are better born
than I am, and are of greater consideration in the world." Leonard,
greatly surprised, and blushing for shame, threw himself at his Father's
feet, acknowledged his fault, and with tears solicited his pardon.
As soon as the holy Patriarch entered the Valley of Spoleto, his
children came in crowds from various parts to meet him, and to
congratulate him on his return. He was greatly gratified on seeing
them, and communicated freely with them, encouraging the weak, consoling
those who were in affliction, censuring such as were in fault, and
exhorting them all to adhere strictly to the rules. It was there that
he received a confirmation of the complaints which had been made to
him in the Levant, against the government of Elias, his vicar general,
and he had himself the proof of it.
Elias ventured to present himself to him, in a newer habit and one
made of finer cloth than those of the other brethren, the cowl of which
was longer and the sleeves wider, and he assumed an air little suitable
to his profession. Francis, dissembling what was passing in his mind,
said to him before the assistants:--"I beg you to lend me that habit."
Elias did not dare refuse: he went aside and took it off and brought
it to him. Francis put it on over his own, smoothed it down, plaited
it nicely under the girdle, threw the cowl over his head, and then,
strutting fiercely with his head erect, he paced three or four times
round the company, saying, in a loud voice :--"God preserve you, good
people." Then taking the habit off indignantly, he threw it from him
with contempt, and, turning to Elias, "That is the way," he said, "that
the bastard brethren of our Order will strut." After this he resumed
his usual demeanor and walked humbly with his old and tattered habit,
saying:--"Such is the deportment of the true Friars Minor." Then,
seating himself amongst them, he addressed them in the mildest manner,
and spoke on poverty and humility, of which he so forcibly pointed out
the perfection, that it seemed to them that those whom they had
previously considered the poorest and most humble, had made but small
advance in the practice of those two virtues. In fine, he annulled all
the novelties which the vicar-general had introduced into the Order
during his absence, except the prohibition of eating meat, which he
thought it necessary to retain some time longer, lest he might be
thought to encourage gluttony.
The means he had taken to curb the foolish vanity of Brother Elias,
showed both his prudence and his authority, and made such an impression
on his disciples, that there was not one of them who ventured to say
a word in favor of the vicar-general, although he had his partisans
amongst them. Some time afterwards, the Patriarch had an opportunity
of taking off the prohibition of eating meat, in consequence of a
wonderful event which is worthy of being recorded.
A young man in the dress of a traveller, came in haste to the door of
the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels, and said to Brother Masse, who
was the porter:--"I wish to speak to Brother Francis, but I know he
is meditating in the woods; call Brother Elias to me, who is said to
be learned and prudent, in order that he may satisfy a doubt which
presses upon me." The porter was turned away by Brother Elias, and was
puzzled what reply to give the stranger, not to scandalize him, and
not to say what was untrue. The young man anticipated him, saying:
"Brother Elias does not choose to come, I must therefore beg you to
go to Brother Francis, in order that he may order him to come to speak
to me." Masse went, and did as he was requested, and Francis, having
his eyes fixed on heaven, said, without changing his position:--"Go
and tell Brother Elias that I order him to speak to the young man."
This order vexed Elias, and he came to the door in great irritation,
asking what he was wanted for? "Do not be angry," said the young man,
"I ask you, if those who profess to follow the Gospel may not eat
whatever is given to them, as Jesus Christ has observed; and if any
one may rightfully direct the contrary?" Elias, seizing hastily the
door to shut it, said:--"I know all that, and have no answer to give
you but: go your ways." The young man replied:--"I cannot tell what
you would answer, but I know very well that you ought to give an
answer."
When Elias got calm in his cell, he reflected on what had passed, and
on what would be proper to say in answer to the question which had
been put to him; and, finding it difficult, and being sorry that he
had given the young man so ungracious a reception, in whom he thought
he had remarked something extraordinary, he returned to speak to him,
but he was gone and could not be found. Francis learned from God that
it was an angel, and, on his return to the convent, he said to Brother
Elias:--"You do what is not right; you turn contemptuously away angels
who come from God to visit and instruct us; I greatly fear that your
pride will render you unworthy of the humble institution of Friars
Minor, and that you will die out of that state." It was then that he
revoked the statute which forbade eating meat.
Bernard of Quintavalle returning from Spain and being on the border
of a river which he could not cross, the same angel appeared to him
in the same form, and greeted him in the Italian language. Bernard,
surprised at hearing the language of his country, and taken with the
good looks of the young man who addressed him, asked him from whence
he came. The angel then told him what had just occurred between him
and Brother Elias. He took him by the hand, carried him across the
river, and disappeared, leaving him so full of consolation, that he
had no fatigue during the remainder of his journey. When he arrived
in Italy, and had related the circumstance, with the day and hour, he
found that it was in fact the same angel.
Before the opening of the chapter, Francis, reflecting mournfully on
the relaxation which had been introduced into his Order by those who
ought to have been most zealous in promoting the purity of its
observance, had a vision which was very extraordinary. A great statue
appeared before him, and he saw it with his bodily eyes; it greatly
resembled that which Nabuchodonosor had seen in a dream, the
interpretation of which had been given him by the Prophet Daniel. God
chose to employ this mode to acquaint the holy Patriarch with the
various revolutions which would take place in his Order, and he
signified them to him by the statue itself, by the different metals
of which it was composed, either thus to modify by these humiliating
foreshowings the honor which he derived from being the Founder of so
wonderful a work as that of the establishment of his Order; or to
inspire him with the intention of sending up fervent prayers to heaven,
which should draw down graces on his flock at all times, which, in
fact, he did with a profusion of tears; or, in fine, it was a foresight
given him of the relaxations which would be introduced, to enable him
to advise his religious to be more vigilant, as St. Paul had predicted
the errors and irregularities which were to occur in the Church, in
order to excite the vigilance of the bishops.
In Nabuchodonosor's vision, a stone was separated from the mountain,
which, striking the feet of the statue, shivered it to pieces; the
statue was wholly broken, and disappeared. This did not occur in the
vision which Francis had; for the great body of religion which it
represented, which has had its vicissitudes, as all others (and with
more lustre than any, because of its more extensive and greater exposure
to the eyes of the public) has nevertheless continued to have existence,
to maintain itself, to serve the Church at all times, and to furnish
it with saints. It has even often renewed itself with features which
bring to mind its primitive beauty; by which it may be said to be a
type of the mystical body of Jesus Christ, which notwithstanding the
decay of ages, does not cease to have vigorous and healthy members who
are as fervent as those of the earliest periods.
The holy Founder having listened to all that was said against the
government of Brother Elias, and to what he had alleged in his
justification, held his chapter on the Festival of St. Michael, in the
Convent of Portiuncula. He substituted Brother Gratian, in the place
of Brother John of Strachia, as Provincial of Bologna, of which we
have spoken before; and Brother Peter of Catania, in place of Brother
Elias. Peter had been the second of his disciples, and into his hands
he committed the whole guidance of his Order, not only because he did
not think himself able to look to it in person, on account of the
multitude of religious now belonging to it, and on account of his
infirmity, but in order to improve himself in the virtue of humility,
to which he was so much attached.
He then assembled them and said:--"I am now dead to you all; there is
Peter of Catania, who is your superior, whom henceforward we must all
obey, you and I," and prostrating himself at the feet of Peter, he
promised to obey him in all things as minister general of the Order.
This title of minister general was displeasing to the religious, who
did not wish it should be given to any one during the lifetime of their
Father, and they agreed that he who took his place should only have
the title of vicar general.
Francis being on his knees, with his hands clasped, and his eyes lifted
up to heaven, said, with affecting emotion: "My Lord Jesus Christ, I
recommend to Thee this family, which is Thine own, and which up to
this moment Thou hast confided to me. Thou knowest that my infirmities
incapacitate me from having any longer the care of it; I leave it in
the hands of the ministers; if it should so happen that on their part,
negligence, scandal, or too great severity, should be the cause of any
one of the brethren perishing, they will render to Thee, O Lord, an
account of it at the day of judgement."
From that time till his death he continued as much as it was in his
power in the humble state of an inferior, although he did not fail to
communicate to the superiors the lights which God gave him for the
good government of the Order, and on several occasions he could not
avoid acting as its Founder and General.
St. Dominic, his friend, had similar feelings as to the employments
of office. In this year he held the first chapter of his Order at
Bologna, and wished to resign the station of superior, of which his
humility made him consider himself incapable and unworthy; but his
religious would not permit it. These have been the feelings of all the
saints, because they knew that, for the purpose of salvation, it is
safer to obey than to command. Eight days before the chapter, Pope
Honorious issued a bull addressed to Francis, and to the superiors of
the Friars Minor, by which he forbade them to receive any one to
profession, unless after a twelvemonth's probation, and directing that,
after profession, no one whosoever should leave the order; forbidding,
also, any persons from receiving such as should quit it. What gave
rise to this measure was that, at the commencement of the Order of
Friars Minor, and of that of the Preachers, there were some who made
their profession without a novitiate, according as the superiors thought
proper under different circumstances, and this sort of precipitate
engagement was found to have its inconveniences.
Peter of Catania, acting as vicar general, and finding that he could
not provide for the multitude of religious who came to the Convent of
St. Mary of the Angels, as to the chief monastery of the Order, thought
that, in order to provide for this, some portion of the property of
the novices might be retained; on which he consulted Francis to know
whether he thought the suggestion proper, and if he would permit it.
Francis said: "My dear brother, God preserve us from this sort of
charity, which would render us impious in respect to our rule, in order
to acquire consideration in the sight of men." The vicar then asking
what he should do for the relief of the guests; "Strip the altar of
the Blessed Virgin," replied Francis, "take away all the ornaments
which are there; the Lord will send you what is requisite to restore
to his Mother what we shall employ in charity. Believe firmly that the
Virgin will be pleased to see her altar stripped, rather than that
there should be any contravention of the Gospel of her Son;" and he
took occasion again strenuously to recommend holy poverty.
He also said many things relative to books, to science, and to
preaching, which will be recorded in another part of his life. Brother
Casar of Spires, who had been professor of theology before becoming
a Friar Minor, and who was a man of great piety, having heard all that
the Father said on the subject of science, and the learned, had a long
conversation with him on the state of his soul, and on the observance
of the rule, which he concluded thus: "My Father, I have made a firm
resolution, with God's grace, to observe the Gospel and the rule,
according to the instruction of Jesus Christ, until my death; and now,
I have a favor to ask you, which is that, if it may happen in my
lifetime that some should swerve from it, as you have foretold, you
give me your blessing from this moment, and your leave to separate
myself from such transgressors, in order that I may adhere to the rule
alone with those who have a like zeal with myself." Rejoicing at this
proposition, Francis embraced him and blessed him, saying: "Know, my
son, that what you solicit is granted to you by Jesus Christ, and by
me;" and placing his hands on his head, he added: "Thou art a priest
forever according to the order of Melchisedech"--the holy man desiring
to have it understood thereby that all the promises he had received
from Jesus Christ, would have their accomplishment to the end, in those
who adhered to the rule.
It was at this time that he addressed a letter to the religious of his
Order, and particularly to the priests, upon the profound veneration
which we ought to have for that august mystery of the Eucharist.
In the course of the year 1220, Francis received the news of the
martyrdom of the five religious whom he had sent to Morocco. We must
relate the circumstances, more at length, since they belong to the
life of the holy Patriach, who gave this mission to these valorous
soldiers of Jesus Christ, and since they are the first martyrs of the
Order.
Berardus, Peter, Otho, Ajut, Accursus, and Vital, their superior,
having left Italy for Morocco, after having received their Father's
blessing, as has already been noticed, arrived shortly after in the
kingdom of Arragon. There Vital was detained some time by a lingering
illness, which induced him to think that it was not God's will that
he should continue his journey. He therefore let the other five proceed,
who soon reached Coimbra, and were favorably received by Urraca, queen
of Portugal, the wife of King Alphonso II. This princess conceived so
high an opinion of their virtue and placed such confidence in them,
that she entreated them to pray to God to inform them of the time at
which she should die. They promised to do so, although they considered
themselves unworthy of making such a request; but they were so favorably
heard, that they foretold to the queen that they were to suffer
martyrdom with all the circumstances thereof; that their relics would
be brought to Coimbra, and that she would receive them honorably, after
which she would be called from this world. Predictions which were fully
verified. They went from thence to Alanquer, where the Princess Sancia,
sister to the king of Portugal, approving their plans, induced them
to put secular clothing over their religious habits, without which
precaution they would not have been able to pass into the territories
of Morocco.
Having reached Seville, which was then occupied by the Moors, they
remained a week concealed in the house of a Christian, where they threw
off their secular clothing. Their zeal induced them to go forth, and
they got as far as the principal mosque, which they attempted to enter
in order to preach to the infidels, but they were driven back with
loud cries and severely beaten. From thence they went to the gate of
the palace, saying that they were ambassadors sent to the king from
Jesus Christ, the King of kings. They were introduced, and said many
things relative to the Christian religion, to induce the king to be
converted and receive baptism; but they afterwards added much against
Mahomet and against his law, which irritated him to such a degree,
that he ordered them to be beheaded; but being mollified by the
entreaties of his son, he was satisfied with having them confined at
the top of a tower, from whence he had them removed to the ground-floor,
because, from above, they continued to speak of Jesus Christ, and
against the prophet, to those who entered the palace. Having caused
them to be again brought before him, he engaged to pardon them, if
they would change their religion: "Prince," they replied, "would to
God that you would have mercy on yourself! Treat us as you think proper.
It is in your power to take away our lives, but we are sure that death
will lead us to a glorious immortality." The king, seeing their
unshakeable firmness, sent them, by the advice of his council, to
Morocco, with Don Pedro Fernandas de Castro, a gentlemen of Castile,
and some other Christians.
They found there the Infant Don Pedro of Portugal, who had retired to
that country in consequence of some misunderstanding which he had with
his brother, King Alphonso, and who now commanded the troops of the
king of Morocco. This prince received them with great respect and
charity as apostolical men, and had them provided with every thing
necessary for their subsistence. Knowing what had occurred to them at
Seville, in consequence of their preaching, and seeing that,
consequently, they were still in a state of great weakness, he
endeavored to dissuade them from doing the same thing in Morocco; but
the generous missionaries, solely intent upon their pious object,
ceased not to preach without any fear, wherever they met with any
Saracens.
One day, when Berardus was giving instruction to the people and was
declaiming against Mahomet from a wagon, the king passed by, going to
visit the tombs of his predecessors, and seeing that he continued his
talking notwithstanding his presence, he thought the declaimer must
be out of his mind, and instantly directed that all the five should
be driven out of the town, and sent back to the country of the
Christians. The Infant Don Juan gave them an escort to convey them to
Ceuta, whence they were to embark. On the road, they got stealthily
away from their escort, and returned to Morocco, where they recommenced
preaching in the great square. The king, being informed of this, became
greatly irritated, and had them imprisoned, in order to starve them
to death. They were there twenty days without food or drink.
During this time the heat became so excessive and caused so much
sickness, that it was thought that the hand of God fell heavily upon
them to avenge his servants. The king became alarmed, and by the advice
of a Saracen named Abaturino, who loved the Christians, he liberated
the prisoners. They were extremely surprised to find that, after twenty
days' confinement, without any nourishment whatsoever, they came out
in full health and strength.
As soon as they had left the prison, they were anxious to recommence
their preaching; but the other Christians, who were apprehensive of
the wrath of the king, opposed themselves to it, and had them taken
to the place of embarkation; but they again made their escape, and
returned to Morocco. Then the Infant Don Pedro was induced to keep
them in his palace, and to place guards over them to prevent their
appearing in public.
This prince being obliged to set out, some short time after, to take
the command of the army which the king sent against some rebels, he
took the Friars Minor with him, as well as several other Christians,
fearing lest, during his absence, they should escape from those who
had charge of them. As he returned victorious, his army was three days
without water, and was reduced to the greatest distress. Brother
Bernardus resorted to prayer, and having made a hole in the ground
with a pickaxe, he caused a spring to flow from it, which sufficed for
the whole army, and enabled them to fill their goat-skins, after which
it dried up. So palpable a miracle procured for them from all parts
the greatest veneration. Many even went so far as to kiss their feet.
When they returned to Morocco, the Infant continued to take the same
precautions as before, to prevent their appearing in public;
nevertheless, they found means to get out secretly one Friday, and to
present themselves before the king, as he was passing, according to
his custom, to visit the tombs of his predecessors. Berardus again got
upon a wagon, and spoke in his presence with astonishing intrepidity.
The king, irritated beyond control, gave orders to one of the princes
of his court to have them put to death. This prince only had them put
in prison, because he had witnessed the miracle which we have recorded
above.
They were very ill-treated in this confinement, but continued to preach
even there, when there were either Christians or Saracens to listen
to them. All this occurred towards the end of the year 1219.
At the beginning of the year 1220, the Saracen prince who had received
the order to put them to death, having sent for them from the prison,
found them very firm in their faith, and that they spoke with the same
boldness against their prophet Mahomet. He was so enraged at this,
that, forgetful of the miracle he had witnessed on the return of the
army, he directed them to be kept separated and tortured in various
ways. They tied their hands and feet, and dragged them along the ground
by a cord fastened round their necks, and they were so cruelly scourged
that their bowels nearly protruded. Thirty men who were employed for
this cruel service did not leave them till they had poured boiling
vinegar and oil into their wounds, and rolled them upon broken pieces
of earthenware covered with straw.
Some of those who guarded them, saw a great light which came from
Heaven, and which seemed to raise these religious up, with an
innumerable number of other persons; they thought that they had left
the prison and entered it in great haste, where they found them in
fervent prayer.
The king of Morocco, informed of what had been done, desired that they
might be brought into his presence. They brought them to him, their
hands tied, and they were driven in with blows and cuffs. A Saracen
prince who met them endeavored to induce them to embrace the law of
Mahomet. Brother Otho rejected the proposition with horror and spat
on the ground, to mark his contempt of such a religion; this brought
upon him a severe box on the ear, upon which he turned the other side,
according to the direction of the Gospel, and said to the prince:--"May
God forgive thee, for thou knowest not what thou doest."
When they had reached the palace, the king said to them: "Are you then
those impious persons who despise the true faith, those foolish persons
who blaspheme the prophet sent from God?" "O king," they answered, "we
have no contempt for the true faith; on the contrary, we are ready to
suffer and die in its defence; but we detest your faith, and the wicked
man who was its author." The king, imagining that he might perhaps
gain them over by the love of pleasure, of riches or of honors, said
to them, in pointing out to them some Saracen women whom he had brought
there on purpose: "I will give you those women for wives, together
with large sums of money, and you shall be highly esteemed in my
kingdom, if you will embrace the law of Mahomet; if not, you shall die
by the sword." The confessors of the faith answered without hesitating:
"We want neither your women nor your money: keep those for yourself,
and let Jesus Christ be for us. Subject us to what tortures you please,
and take away our lives. All suffering is light to us, when we think
of the glories of heaven." Then the king, having lost all hopes of
overcoming them, took his scimitar, and with his own hand split their
skulls in two; and thus was completed the martyrdom of the five Friars
Minor, on the 16th of January, 1220.
Their bodies, having been dragged out of the town and cut to pieces
by the infidels, were collected by the Christians; and the Infant Don
Pedro took them into Spain, from whence he sent them into Portugal to
King Alphonso, not daring as yet to revisit his own country. This king,
accompanied by Queen Urraca and some of the grandees of the kingdom,
came with the clergy to meet them, and had them placed with great pomp
in the monastery of Regular Canons of the Holy Cross, at Coimbra, where
they still are. The celebrated miracles which were achieved there in
great numbers as well as those which were performed in Morocco, and
on the way to Europe, are recorded by contemporary authors, who have
written their acts. Pope Sixtus IV recognized them solemnly as martyrs,
in the year 1461, and gave permission to the religious to say their
office.
At the time of their death, the Princess Sancia of Portugal, was in
the act of prayer; they appeared to her with a bloody scimitar in their
hands and told her that by their martyrdom they were on their way to
heaven, where they would pray to God continually for her and would
thus reward the good she had done them.
What they had foretold Queen Urraca, as to the time of her death, came
to pass, and her confessor, a canon regular of Santa Cruz, a most
exemplary man, of great piety, was made acquainted with it by a very
marvellous vision. A short time after the bodies of these glorious
martyrs had been placed in the church of this monastery, he saw in the
middle of the night the choir filled with religious, who were singing
very melodiously, which surprised him exceedingly, neither knowing
what brought them there, nor how they got in. He asked one of them,
who replied: "We are all Friars Minor. He whom you see at the head,
is Brother Francis, whom you have longed so much to see; and the five
who are more resplendent than the rest, are the martyrs of Morocco,
who are honored in this church. Our Lord has sent us hither in order
to pray for Queen Urraca, who is dead, and who had great affection for
our Order; and he has willed that you should see all this, because you
were her confessor." The vision disappeared, and the confessor's door
was immediately knocked at, to communicate to him that the queen was
dead.
The severe vengeance with which God visited the king of Morocco and
his subjects was also noticed. The right hand with which this prince
had struck the holy martyrs, and the whole of his right side, from the
head to the feet, was paralyzed and became perfectly dry. During three
years, no rain fell in the whole country, and an infinity of people
died by pestilence and famine, which scourges lasted five years, God
choosing to proportion the duration of the punishment to the number
of the martyrs.
All these marvels which he wrought in their favor, and the title of
martyrs, which the Church gives them, must convince every faithful
Christian, enlightened by the wisdom which is from above, that it was
by a particular impulse from the Holy Ghost that they exposed themselves
to death with so much ardor, against the advice of the other Christians.
Human prudence is very rash when it takes upon itself to blame what
is approved by God and by His Church.
It would be difficult to express the joy which filled the heart of
Francis, when he learned that his brethren had suffered martyrdom. He
said to those who were with him:--"It is now that I can rest assured
that I have had five true Friars Minor!" and he called down a thousand
blessings on the convent of Alanquer, where they had prepared themselves
for martyrdom, which had such effect, that there have been always since
a great number of religious there, and at least one who has been
distinguished for religious perfection.
Brother Vital, who had been the superior of these generous martyrs,
was delighted on hearing of their triumph, and greatly regretted not
having shared therein. It was not in good-will that he was deficient;
he was only arrested by his illness, of which he died at Saragossa
some time afterwards.
One of the authors of the life of St. Dominic, tells us that this great
patriarch, who held his general chapter at the time, was in ecstasies
of joy, when he heard that five Friars Minor had received the crown
of martyrdom; that he looked upon it as the first fruits of the plans
of his friend Francis, and, at the same time, as a powerful incentive
for his brethren to aspire to what is most perfect, which is to suffer
for the faith of Jesus Christ. The Friars Preachers have profited by
the example, as is evinced by the great number of martyrs of their
order, by whom the Church has been enriched.
It was not without a special dispensation of Providence that the relics
of the five martyrs were deposited at Coimbra, in the Church of the
Canons Regular of Santa Cruz, since our Lord made them subserve to the
vocation of St. Anthony of Padua, who is one of the most striking
ornaments of this renowned Order.
He was a native of Portugal, of a very noble family of Lisbon, born
in the year 1195, and had received the name of Ferdinand in Baptism.
The first years of his life had been passed in innocence and piety;
the fear of being seduced by the world, and the wish to consecrate
himself wholly to God, made him take the resolution, at the age of
fifteen, to enter the Order of Regular Canons, in the Convent of St.
Vincent, at Lisbon. Two years afterwards, in order to avoid the frequent
visits of his friends, which interfere with habits of retirement, he
asked permission of his superior to remove to the convent of Santa
Cruz at Coimbra, which is of the same order. He had some difficulty
in obtaining this leave, because they had great esteem for him
personally. He made use of the quiet he now enjoyed to apply himself
to the study of sacred literature, and, as if he had foreseen what he
was to do at a future period of his life, he not only taught himself
what was requisite for his own sanctification, but also what was useful
for instructing others in the paths of virtue; he gathered also from
the Holy Scriptures, and from the study of the Fathers, what could
serve to confirm the truths of faith, and to impugn error. The assiduity
with which he pursued his studies, together with the excellence of his
memory, and his surpassing talents, with the light he received from
Heaven, rendered him in a short time very learned.
The relics of the five Friars Minor who had been martyred at Morocco,
and which were taken to Santa Cruz, at Coimbra, at that time, inspired
in his heart an anxious desire to die for Jesus Christ as they had
done, and made him entertain the thought of becoming a member of that
Order, as the school of martyrdom. Some old authors add that St.
Francis, who was then at Assisi, appeared to him, and induced him to
embrace his Institute, foretelling him what would happen.
The Friars Minor of the convent of St. Anthony of Olivares, near
Coimbra, having come to the Canons Regular of Santa Cruz to quest,
Ferdinand could not control his zeal, but taking them aside, he opened
to them the wish he had to enter their community. They were highly
pleased on hearing this, and fixed the day with him for putting his
design into execution. In the meantime, he asked leave of the Superior
of Santa Cruz to effect the change, and with great difficulty obtained
it. The Friars Minor returned on the appointed day, and gave him the
habit of the Order, in the Convent of Santa Cruz itself, and took him
back with them to that of St. Anthony. The loss of so estimable a
member was very distressing to the canons; one of them who felt it
more than the others, said to him with bitterness, as he left the
house:--"Go, perhaps you shall become a saint." To which Ferdinand
answered with humility:--"When you hear that it is so, you will
doubtless give praise to God." He was not satisfied with having changed
his order; he chose likewise to change his name, in order by that means
to disappoint those who might endeavor to seek for him; and as St.
Anthony was the titular saint of the convent, he begged the superior
to call him Anthony, which is the name he was ever after known by, and
to which was added of Padua, because his body reposes in that city,
and is there honored by the faithful.
The wish to shed his blood for the faith of Jesus Christ, which was
the source of his vocation, was constantly increasing in his mind and
gave him no rest. He solicited leave from the superiors to go into
Africa, which was granted to him, as had been promised him, when he
entered the Order. Being come into the land of the Saracens, he was
seized with a violent illness, which confined him the whole winter,
and obliged him to return to Spain in the spring for his recovery. He
embarked for this purpose, but the Almighty, who had destined him for
the martyrdom of the apostolical life, and who intended by his means
to convert an infinity of souls in Italy and France, gave him a passage
in a contrary direction. The wind drove the vessel he was in to Sicily,
where he landed, and from thence he went to Assisi, where we shall
meet him in the general chapter at St. Mary of the Angels.
It was in the year 1220, that the Friars Minor, Angelus and Albert,
both natives of Pisa, after having stayed some time at Paris in order
to arrange the first establishment there, crossed the channel to
England, whither Francis had sent them at the general chapter of 1219.
The religious of St. Dominic had already a convent at Canterbury, where
they received the two new comers with great charity. King Henry III,
who reigned at that time, settled them with royal magnificence at
Oxford. There he held his court, and he conceived so great a liking
for them that he had a lodge built near their convent, to which he
occasionally retired in order to converse with them.
The reason which primarily induced him to show them so much
consideration, was his having learnt from authentic sources what had
occurred to them on their journey from Canterbury to Oxford. The prior,
the sacristan, and the cellarer of the abbey of Abingdon, who were at
one of their farms, contrary to the usual practice of their order,
where hospitality is always given, as recommended by St. Benedict,
refused it to these poor religious, and turned them from their doors,
although it was at nightfall. A young religious, who was in their
company, seeing that they were about to pass the night in the wood,
introduced them secretly into the barn, brought them some food, and
recommended himself urgently to their prayers. In the night he had a
dreadful vision of the justice with which God visited the prior and
the two others, but which did not fall on him, because he had been
charitable. In the morning he went to them with a view of telling them
what he had seen in his sleep, and found them all three dead in their
beds. Struck with astonishment he left the farm, from whence the two
Friars Minor had departed before daybreak, and went to relate what had
happened to the abbot of Abingdon; they both had serious reflections
on this subject, which ended in their entering into the Order of Friars
Minor. So extraordinary an occurrence could not be kept secret; many
persons heard it; the king was made acquainted with it, and this caused
the favorable reception he gave to Angelus and Albert.
His open protection, with the sanctity of their lives, caused the
Institute to flourish throughout the kingdom. Several doctors of
theology embraced it; and subsequently Robert Maideston, Bishop of
Hereford, an enlightened prelate of great distinction at court, obtained
leave from Gregory IX to give up his bishopric to take the poor habit
of St. Francis, under which he became a model of humility and poverty.
Three hundred years after, King Henry VIII destroyed all these monuments
of science and religion, which his predecessor Henry III had raised
with so much zeal, and tyrannically treated the successors of those
who had been received with so much benevolence. The strange revolution
which the incontinence and heresy of this prince brought about in
England, reduced the Friars Minor, and all other missionaries, to the
necessity of running greater risks in endeavoring to maintain the
remnant of faith, than what they had to incur amongst the infidels.
We suppress all comment on so deplorable a subject, and we are satisfied
with offering up our prayers to the Almighty that He might deign to
cast the eyes of His mercy upon those islands which formerly gave so
many saints to the Church; that by His grace, the talent and learning
which are found there, may be employed in searching for the truth and
appreciating that truth which the illustrious Pope St. Gregory had
taught there in the sixth century; that these talents may be no longer
employed in the defence of a variety of sects, equally at variance
with the doctrines of antiquity, condemned by the principles of the
Christian religion, and by the rules of right reasoning; and that it
shall no longer be said that men of learning make use of the light
they have received and cultivated, to countenance every description
of falsehood; so that, as St. Leo said of idolatrous Rome, dictating
to almost all other nations, she herself was the slave of all their
errors.
Francis, having received the resignation of his vicar general, on his
return from his visitations, deferred the choice of his successor till
the assembly of the chapter which was held on Whitsunday. He consulted
God on the election, who made known to him by revelation that Brother
Elias should be restored; he communicated this to his companions, and
when the chapter met, he named Elias vicar-general.
We may feel assured that after having deposed him for laxness, he would
not again have placed him at the head of his Order, had he not been
certain that God himself had ordered it. As soon as the saints are
made aware of the will of God, they have no thought but of obeying,
whether it be that they know His reasons, or that they be hidden from
them. Thus, three hundred years before St. Francis, St. Stephen, the
third Abbot of Citeaux, did not fail sending Arnaud to Morimond to be
its first abbot, although he knew by divine inspiration, that this
post would be prejudicial to him, and that it would not turn out well:
it was enough for him that it was God's will that he should be so sent.
Thus we find in Holy Writ that Eliseus, by God's order to Elias,
consecrated Hazael King of Syria, who, he foresaw would bring such
great evils on the people of God, that the foresight moved him to
tears. Human prudence must not censure in the saints what they have
only done from supernatural views, against their own impressions, and
their own inclinations. In these extraordinary cases we must only adore
the counsels of Divine Wisdom, without endeavoring to penetrate them:
we must acknowledge, as Tobias did, that all His ways are ways of
mercy, truth, and justice; and say with one of the prophets: "Thy loss
comes from thyself."
At the chapter Francis sat at the feet of Elias and, as his infirmities
prevented him from making himself heard, it was through Elias that he
proposed all that he wished to communicate to the assembly. Towards
the close he pulled him by the tunic and told him in a low tone of
voice his intention of sending some of the brethren into parts of Upper
Germany, into which they had not yet penetrated. Elias laid the affair
before the brethren in the following terms: "My brethren, this is what
the Brother says" (for thus they designated Francis, as a mark of great
respect). "There is a part of Germany, the inhabitants of which are
Christians and devout; they go, as you know, through our country during
the heats with long staves and great jack-boots, singing the praises
of God and His saints, and thus visit the places of devotion. I sent
some of our brethren into their land, who returned often having been
sorely ill-treated. For this reason, I compel no one to go thither,
but if there are any sufficiently zealous for the glory of God and the
salvation of souls, to undertake this journey I promise him the same
merit as is attached to obedience, and even more than if he made a
voyage over the sea."
About ninety offered themselves for the mission which they considered
as an opportunity for suffering martyrdom. The chief was named with
the title of Provincial Minister of Germany, and Brother Caesar, a
German, was selected for that office. He was an ecclesiastic of Spire,
who had been drawn into the Order by the preaching of Brother Elias,
some time before, he himself having the character of a good preacher.
He had permission to select those whom he desired to take with him
from among those who had volunteered; however, he only chose
twenty-seven, twelve of whom were priests, and fifteen lay-brethren,
among whom there were some Germans, and some Hungarians, excellent
preachers. He remained nearly three months in the Valley of Spoleto,
with leave from Francis, and sent his companions into Lombardy to
prepare themselves for the great work they were about to undertake;
then they set forth dividing themselves into small groups of three and
four. We shall further on give the details of their journey, and of
their labors and success.
In the choice which Casar made of those whom he thought adapted to the
German mission, something occurred which at first was amusing, but
which turned out very serious and very useful. Some one having suggested
to him to take one of the brethren named Jourdain, he went to him and
said:--"And you Brother Jourdain, you will come with us?" "I?" replied
he, "I am not one of yours; if I rose up, it was not with any intention
of going with you, it was to embrace those who were about to go into
Germany, and who, I am certain, will all be martyred." He was so
apprehensive that the Germans by their cruelty, and the heretics of
Lombardy by their artifices, would be the causes of his losing his
faith, that he daily prayed to God for the favor of being kept away
from the one and from the other.
Casar, continuing to urge him to go with him, and Jourdain continuing
to refuse, they went to the vicar general, who, after having been
informed how the matter stood, said to Jourdain:--"My brother, I command
you, on your holy obedience, to decide absolutely upon going into
Germany or not going." This order put his conscience in a dilemma: if
he should not go, he feared its reproach for having followed his own
will, and did not like to lose a glorious crown; and, on the other
hand, he could not determine on going, thinking the Germans so cruel
as he had been led to believe. In order to come to a conclusion, he
consulted one of the religious who had greatly suffered in the first
mission, and had been stripped in Hungary no less than fifteen times,
who said to him:--"Go to Brother Elias, and tell him that you are
neither willing to go into Germany nor to stay here, but that you will
do whatsoever he shall desire you to do. You will hardly have addressed
him, then your difficulties will be done away." He followed this advice,
and Elias ordered him by the obligation of obedience to accompany
Brother Casar into Germany. He went and labored assiduously, and more
than any of the others, to extend the order throughout the country.
His obedience quieted his mind for a man is never more satisfied with
himself than when he obeys. "Experience shows," says St. Bernard, "that
the yoke of obedience is light, and that self-will is oppressive."
Anthony had heard in Sicily that the chapter was to assemble at St.
Mary of the Angels, and although he was still in a state of weakness,
he had come to it with Philippinus, a young lay brother of Castile.
When the chapter was over, the brethren were sent back to their convents
by the vicar general, but no one asked to have Anthony, because no one
knew him, and he appeared so feeble, that he did not seem fit for work.
He offered himself therefore to Brother Gratian, who was Provincial
of Bologna, or of Romagna, whom he begged as a master, to instruct him
in the rules of regular discipline, making no mention of his studies,
or of any talent he had, and showing no other desire than to know and
love the crucified Jesus. Gratian delighted with these his sentiments,
asked to have him, and took him with him into his province, with
Philippinus, who was sent to Citta di Castello, and from thence to
Columbario, in Tuscany, where he died a holy death. Anthony, who only
wished for solitude, had leave from the provincial to live at the
hermitage of Mount St. Paul, near Bologna, where he wished to have a
cell cut in the rock, which was separated from all the others; this
the brother who had cut it out for himself ceded to him. There he lived
in as much solitude as obedience allowed him, devoting himself to
contemplation, fasting on bread and water, and practising such other
austerities, as to be thereby so weakened, that, according to the
savings of his brethren, he could hardly stand when he came to them.
Although he was full of zeal, he did not dare attempt to preach; the
martyrdom which he had escaped in Africa had rendered him timid; he
abandoned himself to Divine Providence, without any other anxiety than
that of inciting himself to the more perfect love of God, and
strengthening himself in the hope of enjoying the good things of Heaven,
and resisting the attacks of the tempter, who strove to dissuade him
from the holy exercise of prayer. Living thus in great simplicity among
his unpretending brethren, he disguised under a plain exterior the
vast light he received from Heaven; but by that humility he deserved
to be brought forward for the accomplishment of the designs of
Providence, who generally prepares those in secret, whom he destines
to splendid ministrations.