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22 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 3 : 3

The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as Minister General in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s biography firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven years old.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes.

Chapter 3 : Of the founding of his Order, and the sanction of the Rule

- 3 -

“The first of these was that venerable man, Bernard.”
Blessed Bernard of Quintavalle, companion of Holy
Father Francis. 19th century print. Public domain.

1. Accordingly, as many remarked in the man of God both the truth of his simple teaching and of his life, certain of them began by his example to turn their thoughts unto penitence, and, renouncing all[1], to join themselves unto him in habit and life.

2. The first of these was that venerable man, Bernard, who, being made a partaker in the divine calling[2], earned the title of the firstborn son of the blessed Father, both by being first in time, and by being of an especial holiness.

3. For he, having ascertained the saintliness of the servant of Christ, was minded after his example to utterly despise the world, and sought counsel from him how he might accomplish this.

4. Hearing this, the servant of God was filled with consolation by reason of his first offspring conceived of the Holy Spirit. “From God,” saith he, “it behoveth us seek this counsel.”[3]

5. Forthwith, when it was morning, they entered into the church of Saint Nicholas[4], and, having first prayed, Francis, the worshipper of the Trinity, did thrice open the book of the Gospels, seeking by a threefold witness from God to confirm the holy purpose of Bernard.

6. In the first opening of the book was discovered that saying: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.”[5]

7. In the second: “Take nothing for your journey.”[6]

8. And in the third: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”[7]

9. “This,” saith the holy man, “is our life and Rule, and that of all that shall be minded to join our fellowship.

10. Do thou go, then, if thou wilt be perfect[8], and fulfil that which thou hast heard.”

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him”: Luke v, 11; “And leaving all things, he [Levi] rose up and followed him”: Luke v, 28.

[2] Cf. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus”: Hebr. iii, 1.

[3] We must seek counsel from God. The servant of God, Francis, does not wish to rely only upon human wisdom but determines to ask God directly for guidance.

[4] The church of San Nicolò was first documented in 1097 and it was listed as a parish church in 1227.

[5] “Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.” Matt. xix, 21.

[6] “And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey; neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats.” Luke ix, 3.

[7] “Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. xvi, 24.

[8] “Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect…”: Matt. xix, 21.

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

21 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 3 : 1-2

Chapter 3 : Of the founding of his Order, and the sanction of the Rule

- 1 -


“This is what I desire, yea, this is what I long for with my whole heart.” Francis esposing poverty. Andrea Sacchi (1633). Galleria Nazionale d'Arte, Rome. Public domain via Wiki Commons.

1. Now Francis, the servant of God, abiding at the church of the Virgin Mother of God, with continuous sighing besought her that had conceived the Word full of grace and truth[1] that she would deign to become his advocate; and, by the merits of the Mother of Mercy[2], he did himself conceive and give birth unto the spirit of Gospel truth.

2. For while on a day he was devoutly hearing the Mass of the Apostles, that Gospel was read aloud wherein Christ gave unto His disciples that were sent forth to preach the Gospel’s pattern for their life : that they should possess neither gold, nor silver, nor money in their purses, nor scrip[3] for their journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves[4].

3. Hearing this, and understanding it, and committing it unto memory, the lover of Apostolic poverty was at once filled with joy unspeakable. “This,” saith he, “is what I desire, yea, this is what I long for with my whole heart.”

4. Forthwith he loosed his shoes from off his feet[5], laid down his staff, cast aside his purse and his money, contented himself with one scanty tunic, and, throwing aside his belt, took a rope for girdle, applying all the care of his heart to discover how best he might fulfil that which he had heard, and conform himself in all things unto the rule of Apostolic godliness.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John i, 14.

[2] Advocata nostra / most gracious advocate and mater misericordiae / Mother of mercy are two titles from the Salve Regina (Herman Contractus, 1013-54). “This hymn is said to be a favourite of our Lady herself by testimony of those who have reportedly seen her in visions. One account concerning this claim relates a vision of St. Dominic (1170-1221). He was entering a corridor of the monastery to resume his midnight prayer vigil when he chanced to raise his eyes and see three beautiful ladies approach him. He knelt before the principal lady and she blessed him. Even though St. Dominic recognized her, he begged her to tell him her name. The lady replied: ‘I am she whom you invoke every evening: and when you say, ‘Eia ergo, advocata nostra,’ I prostrate myself before my Son, entreating Him to protect this Order.” (From the Life of St. Dominic, Lacordaire). See Preces Latinæ (© Michael Martin).

[3] “scrip” refers here to a small bag or satchel (Lat. pēra, ae, f.).

[4] Matt. x, 9-10.

[5] Cf. “And he [the Lord] said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground”: Exod. iii, 5; “And he [John the Baptist] preached, saying: There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.”: Mark i, 7.

- 2 -

1. From this time forward, the man of God began, by divine impulse, to become a jealous imitator of Gospel poverty and to invite others unto penitence.

2. His words were not empty, nor meet for laughter, but full of the might of the Holy Spirit[1], penetrating the heart’s core, and smiting all that heard them with a mighty amazement.

3. In all his preaching, he would bring tidings of peace, saying: “The Lord give you peace,”[2] and thus he would greet the folk at the beginning of his discourses.

4. This greeting he had learnt by revelation from the Lord, even as he himself did afterward testify.

5. Whence it befell, according unto the prophet’s words, that he – himself inspired by the spirit of the prophets – brought tidings of peace, and preached salvation[3],

6. and by salutary admonitions allied many unto that true peace who previously were at enmity with Christ and far from salvation.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert”: Luke iv, 1.

[2] Cf. “Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thess. Iii, 15.

[3] Cf. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace”: Is. lii, 7.

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

20 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 2 : 8

Chapter 2 : Of his perfect conversion unto God and of the repairing of three churches

- 8 -

St Francis had an ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin,
here portrayed as Our Lady of the Angels. The Vision of
St Francis, by Vincenzo Carducci (1631). Museum of Fine
Arts, Budapest. Public domain (Wikimedia Commons).

1. When this church too was at length finished he came unto the place that is called the Portiuncula (the Little Portion[1]), where a church had been built in days of old in honour of the most Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, but which was then deserted and cared for by none.

2. When the man of God beheld it thus abandoned, by reason of the ardent devotion that he had toward the Sovereign Lady of the world, he took up his abode there, that he might diligently labour to repair it.

3. Perceiving that Angels oft times visited it – according unto the name of that church, that from old time was called Saint Mary of the Angels – he abode there by reason of his reverence for the Angels, and his especial love for the Mother of Christ.

4. This place the holy man loved before all other places in the world; for here he began in humility, here he made progress in virtue, here he ended in happiness, and, dying[2], commended it unto the Brethren as a place most beloved of the Virgin.

5. Concerning this place a certain devout Brother, before his conversion, beheld a vision right worthy to be recounted.

6. He beheld a countless host of men stricken with blindness, with their faces uplifted unto heaven, on bended knees[3], encircling this church,

7. and they all, stretching out their hands on high[4], cried unto God with tears[5], beseeching His mercy and light[6].

8. And lo, there came a great radiance from heaven, illumining all, and this gave light unto each one of them, and granted the longed-for salvation.

9. This is the place wherein the Order of Friars Minor[7] was begun by Saint Francis according unto the impulse of divine revelation.

10. For at the bidding of divine providence – by which the servant of Christ was guided in all things – he built three physical churches before, instituting the Order, he preached the Gospel;

11. thus not only did he make progress in an ordered course from things perceived by the senses unto things perceived by the understanding, and from lesser things unto greater, but he did also prefigure in mystic wise by his material labours the work that should be wrought thereafter.

12. For, like the thrice-repeated repairing of the material fabric, the Church, under the guidance of this holy man, was to be renewed in threefold wise, according to the pattern, the Rule, and the teaching of Christ; and a triple army of such as should be saved was to be triumphant, even as we now perceive to be fulfilled.

Footnotes

[1] Lat. portĭuncŭla, ae, f. (a diminutive of portĭo, ōnis, f). meaning a small portion of land. According to a legend, the little chapel of Portiuncula was erected under Pope Liberius (352-66) by hermits from the Valley of Josaphat, who had brought thither relics of the Blessed Virgin. The same legend relates that the chapel later passed into the possession of St. Benedict in 516. It was known as Our Lady of the Angels – a title referring, according to some, to Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven accompanied by Angels ; another opinion attributes the name to the singing of Angels which had been frequently heard there.

[2] St Francis died in the evening on the 3rd of October 1226.

[3] Cf. “[Solomon] then kneeling down in the presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands towards heaven, he said: O Lord God of Israel . . . fulfil to thy servant David my father, whatsoever thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail thee a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel”: 2 Par. vi, 13-16.

[4] Cf. “The priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner: Thou, O Lord of all things . . . O Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled”: Mach. xiv, 34-36.

[5] Cf. “I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me”: Ps. LIV, 17.

[6] Cf. “Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”Is. xxxv, 5; “John [the Baptist] called to him two of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus, saying: Art thou he that art to come; or look we for another? . . . And in that same hour, he cured many of their diseases . . . and to many that were blind he gave sight.” Luke vii, 21; “The multitudes marvelled seeing the dumb speak, the lame walk, and the blind see: and they glorified the God of Israel.” Matt. xv, 31.

[7] The official name, Fratres Minores (Ordo Fratrum Minorum – O.F.M.), or Friars Minor, was variously translated into the popular speech of the Middle Ages. In England the Friars Minor were commonly known as the Grey Friars from the colour of their habit. This name corresponds to the Grabrodrene of Denmark and Scandinavia. In Germany they were usually known as the Baarfüsser (Baarfuozzen, Barvuzen, Barvoten, Barfüzzen, etc.), that is, Barefooted (wearing only sandals). In France they were usually called the Cordeliers from their rope-girdle (corde, cordelle) but were also known as the Frères Menous (from Fratres Minores). Their popular name in Italy was the Frati Minori or simply the Frati. See Order of Friars Minor in Cath. Encyclopedia.

[End of Chapter 2]

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

19 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 2 : 7

“Francis... recalled unto mind the obedience laid upon him by the Crucifix.”
The Miracle of the Crucifix from the Legend of St Francis by Giotto (1297-99).
Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi. Public domain.

Chapter 2 : Of his perfect conversion unto God and of the repairing of three churches

- 7 -

1. Francis, now established in the humility of Christ, recalled unto mind the obedience laid upon him by the Crucifix as to the repairing of the church of Saint Damian[1], and like one truly obedient returned unto Assisi, that he might, if even by begging, obtain means to accomplish the divine behest.

2. Laying aside all shamefastness for the love of the Poor Man Crucified, he went about begging from those who had known him in his affluence, bearing the loads of stones on his frail body[2] and worn with fasting.

3. When the aforesaid church had been repaired – the Lord helping him and the devotion of the citizens coming unto his aid – in order that his body after its toil might not relax in sloth, he then turned to repair the church of Saint Peter, at some distance from the city, by reason of the especial devotion that in the purity of his sincere faith he had for the Prince of the Apostles[3].

Footnotes

[1] A third century physician who, with his brother Cosmas, was martyred for his Christian faith under the persecutions of Diocletian in 287 AD. Their feast is celebrated on the 27 September.

[2] Cf. “Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” Matt. xi, 28.

[3] It is worth recalling that Francis’ earthly father was also called Peter: Pietro di Bernardone.

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

18 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 2 : 5-6

Christ heals the ten lepers. Luke xvii, 11-19. James Tissot (1886–1896).
Brooklyn Museum, NYC. Public domain.

Chapter 2 : Of his perfect conversion unto God and of the repairing of three churches

- 5 -

1. Thereafter, this despiser of the world, loosed from the bonds of worldly desires, left the city and, glad and free, sought a secret solitude where he might hearken in loneliness and silence unto the hidden treasures of divine conversation.

2. And while the man of God, Francis, was making his way through a certain wood, chanting praises unto the Lord in the French tongue[1], and rejoicing, it chanced that some robbers rushed out on him from their hiding-places.

3. With fierce mien they asked the man of God who he was and he, full of confidence, gave a prophetic answer, saying : “I am a herald of the great King.”[2]

4. Then they fell upon him, and cast him into a ditch full of snow, crying: “‘Herald of God?’ Lie there, churl!”

5. But he, on their departure, climbed out of the ditch and, uplifted with exceeding gladness, in a yet louder voice began to make the woods echo with praises unto the Creator of all.

Footnotes

[1] Catholic and Franciscan tradition records the maiden name of Francis’ mother as Pica de Bourlemont, identifying her as a French noblewoman from Provence or the Languedoc region in the South of France. This would explain Francis’ fluency in French and perhaps his father’s insistence on calling him Francesco, the French one.

[2] The city of Jerusalem is called the city of the great King (Ps. XLVII, 3); see too Matt. v, 35.

- 6 -

1. When he came unto a neighbouring monastery, he asked an alms as a beggar, and received it as one unrecognised and despised.

2. Departing thence, he came unto Gubbio, where he was recognised and entertained by a friend of former days, and was clad by him with a poor tunic, such as became the little poor one of Christ.

3. Thence that lover of utterest humility betook himself unto the lepers, and abode among them, with all diligence serving them all for the love of God.

4. He would bathe their feet, and bind up their sores, drawing forth the corrupt matter from their wounds, and wiping away the blood;

5. yea, in his marvellous devotion, he would even kiss their ulcerated wounds, he that was soon to be a Gospel physician.

6. Wherefore he obtained from the Lord such power as that he received a marvellous efficacy in marvellously cleansing both soul and body from disease.

“Be thou cleansed. And immediately the
leprosy departed from him.” Luke v, 13.
James Tissot (v. supra.)

7. I will relate one instance out of many, whereby the fame of the man of God was afterward bruited abroad.

8. A man in the county of Spoleto had his mouth and jaw eaten away by the ravages of a loathsome disease, and received no succour from any remedy of the physicians.

9. It chanced that, after visiting the shrines of the holy Apostles to implore their merits, he was returning from his pilgrimage, and met the servant of God.

10. When out of devotion he was to kiss his footprints, Francis in his humility would not brook it, but kissed on the mouth him that had been fain to kiss his feet.

11. Lo, as in his wondrous goodness the servant of the lepers, Francis, touched that loathsome sore with his holy lips, the disease utterly vanished, and the sick man at once regained his longed-for health.

12.I know not which of these twain is the more rightly to be marvelled at, the depth of humility in such a gracious embrace, or the excellence of power in such an astounding miracle.

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

17 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 2 : 4

“The Bishop, marvelling at such exceeding fervour in the man
of God...covered him with his own cloak.” St Francis renounces
his earthly father, by Sassetta (1437-44). National Gallery, London.
Wikimedia Commons. Sailko: CC BY 3.0 Unported license.

Chapter 2 : Of his perfect conversion unto God and of the repairing of three churches

- 4 -

1. Then this father according unto the flesh was fain to take this son of grace, now stripped of his wealth, before the Bishop of the city, so that into his hands he might resign his claim unto his inheritance and render up all that had been his.

2. This that true lover of poverty shewed himself right ready to do, and coming into the Bishop’s presence, he brooked no delays and was kept back of none, tarried for no speech nor spake himself, but at once took off all his garments and restored them unto his father.

3. Then was the man of God seen to have a hair-shirt next his skin under his rich apparel.

4. Yea more: as one drunk with wondrous fervour of spirit he threw aside even his underwear and stood up naked in the presence of all, saying unto his father: “Hitherto I have called thee my father on earth, but henceforth I can confidently say ‘Our Father, who art in heaven,’[1] with whom I have laid up my whole treasure[2], and on whom I have set my whole trust and hope.”

5. The Bishop, seeing this and marvelling at such exceeding fervour in the man of God, rose forthwith and, weeping, put his arms round him; then, devout and kindly man as he was, covered him with the cloak wherewith he himself was clad, bidding his servants give him something to clothe his limbs withal.

6. Then there was brought unto him a mean and rough overcoat of a farm-servant of the Bishop. This Francis gladly received, and with a piece of chalk that he chanced upon, he marked it with his own hand with the sign of the Cross, thus making it a garment meet for a man crucified, poor and half naked.

7. Thus, then, the servant of the Most High King was left naked, so that he might follow the naked and crucified Lord Whom he loved[3].

8. Thus was he fortified with the Cross, so that he might entrust his soul unto that wood of salvation that should bring him forth unscathed from the shipwreck of the world.

Footnotes

[1] Matt. vi, 9-13.

[2] Cf. “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.” Matt. vi. 19-21.

[3] Cf. “And [Job] said: ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.’” Job i, 21.

+ + +

The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

16 October 2026

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 2 : 2-3

“When his father heard these outcries, he ran out at once.”
From the Legend of St Francis by Giotto (1297-99).
Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi. Public domain.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904. I have added footnotes with Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments.

Chapter 2 : Of his perfect conversion unto God and of the repairing of three churches

- 2 -

1. But when his father learnt that the servant of God was tarrying[1] with the aforesaid priest, he was sore vexed in spirit, and ran unto the place.

2. And Francis, being yet but a newly-recruited soldier of Christ[2], when he heard the threats of them that pursued him, and knew beforehand of their coming, was fain to give place unto wrath[3] and hid himself in a certain secret pit;

3. therein for some days he lay concealed, beseeching the Lord without ceasing, and with floods of tears, that He would deliver his soul from the hands of them that pursued him[4], and would by His gracious favour fulfil the holy purposes wherewith He had inspired him.

4. Then, filled with an overflowing joy he began to blame himself for his craven sloth; leaving his hiding-place and casting aside his fear, he made his way toward the city of Assisi.

5. But when the townsfolk beheld him unkempt in appearance, and changed in mind, and on this account deemed him to have lost his senses, they attacked him with mud from the streets and stones[5], and mocked him with loud shouts as a fool and madman.

6. But the servant of the Lord, not moved or overborne by any insults, passed through all as one deaf unto them.

7. When his father heard these outcries, he ran out at once, not to deliver him but rather to destroy him; laying aside all compunction, he dragged him into the house, and there afflicted him first with words, then with stripes and bonds.

8. But Francis was thereby rendered but the more eager and valiant to carry out that which he had begun, remembering that saying of the Gospel:

9. “Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”[6]

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And the bridegroom tarrying” (Vulgate: Moram autem faciente sponso): Matt. xxv, 5.

[2] Cf. Catechism of Council of Trent (1566) : The person receiving the sacrament of Confirmation “becomes a perfect soldier of Christ.” St Bonaventure uses the Latin expression “athleta Christi” which can mean “Champion of Christ.” Cf. “Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.” Eph. Vi, 11.

[3] Cf. “Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath”: Rom. xii, 19.

[4] Cf. “My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me”: Ps. XXX, 16; “Because he hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from persecutors”: Ps. CVIII, 31.

[5] Cf. “I shall beat them as small as the dust of the earth: I shall crush them and spread them abroad like the mire of the streets”: II Kings xxii, 43.

[6] Matt. v, 10.

- 3 -

1. After a little space of time, on his father’s departure from the country, his mother – who misliked her husband’s dealings, and deemed it hopeless to soften the unyielding constancy of her son – freed him from his bonds and let him go forth.

2. Then he, giving thanks unto the Lord Almighty, returned unto the place where he had been afore.

3. When his father returned and found him not in the house, heaping reproaches on his wife, he ran in fury unto that place intending, if he could not bring him back, at least to drive him from the province.

4. But Francis, strengthened by God, of his own accord came forth to meet his raging father, crying aloud that he cared naught for his bonds and stripes; yea more, protesting that he would gladly endure all hardships for the sake of Christ[1].

5. Accordingly, when his father saw that he could not bring him back, he turned his thoughts unto the recovery of the money;

6. the which, when he had at length found it on the window-ledge, somewhat soothed his rage – the thirst of avarice being relieved, as it were, by a draught of money.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. When St Paul complains: “there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me,” the Lord replies to him: “‘My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity.’ Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ.” 2 Cor. xii, 7. 9-10; and “For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?” Hebr. xii, 6-7.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

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