Christ is so blessed, that not to rejoice continually in it,
betokens some failure in obedience and love. Many have
approved this Christian logic; but to realize it in one's
heart and manifest it in one's life, was the more singular
grace of Francis of Assisi. His heart sang always unto
the Lord; his love flowed out in gladness to his fellows;
his enchanted spirit rejoiced in every creature. The gospel
of this new evangelist awoke the hearts of men to love and
joy. Nothing rejoiced him more than to see his sons rejoice
in the Lord; and nothing was more certain to draw forth
his tender reproof than a sad countenance.
^III.Soe.iSL 5o» 51.
^Spec, perf, z8; d. a CeL ifi. ao.
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''Once while the blessed Francis was at the Portiuncula, a
certain good beggar came along the way, returning from alms-
begging in Assisi, and he went along praising God with a high
voice and great jocimdity. As he approached, Francis heard him,
and ran out and met him in the way, and joyfully kissed his
shoulder where he bore the wallet containing the gifts. Then he
lifted the wallet, and set it on his own shoulder, and so carried it
within, and said to the brothers : 'Thus I wish to have my brothers
go and return with alms, jo3rful and glad and praising God.'" ^
"Aside from prayer and the divine service, the blessed Francis
was most zealous in preserving continually an inward and outward
spiritual gladness. And this he especially cherished in the
brothers, and would reprove them for sadness and depression.
For he said that if the servant of God would study to preserve,
inwardly and outwardly, the spiritual joy which rises from purity
of heart, and is acquired through the devotion of prayer, the devik
could not harm him, for they say : So long as the servant of God
is }oyivl in tribulation and prosperity, we cannot enter into him
or harm him. ... To our enemy and his members it pertains
to be sad, but to us always to rejoice and be glad in the Lord." *
Thus the glad temper of his young unconverted days
passed into his saintly life, of which Christ was the primal
source of rapture.
"Drunken with the love and pity of Christ, the blessed Francis
would sometimes act like this, for the sweetest melody of spirit
within him often boiling outward gave sound in French, and the
strain of the divine whisper which his ear had taken secretly,
broke forth in a glad French song. He would pick up a stick and,
holding it over his left arm, would with another stick in his right
hand make as if drawing a bow across a violin (viellam), and with
fitting gestures would sing in French of the Lord Jesus Christ
At last this dancing would end in tears, and the jubilee turn to
pity for the Passion of Christ. Thereupon sighing continuously
with redoubled groans, forgetting what he held in his hand, he
would be drawn up to heaven." '
Francis had been a lover from his youth ; naturally and
always he had loved his kind. But from the time when
Christ held his heart and mind, his love of fellow-man was
1 Spec. perf. 25 ; 2 Ccl. iii. 22.
*Spec. perf. 95; 2 Cel. iii. 65. But Francis condenmed aU vain and foolish
words which move to laughter {Admon. zxi. ; Spec, perj. 96).
•Spec, perf, 93; 2 Ccl. iii. 67
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CHAP. XDC SAINT FRANCIS 449
moulded by his thought and love of Christ. Henceforth
the loving acts of Francis moving among his fellows become
a loving following of Christ. He sees in every man the
character and person of his Lord, soliciting his love, com-
manding what he should do. He never refused, or per-
mitted his followers to refuse, what was asked in Christ's
name; but it displeased him when he heard the brothers
ask lightly for the love of God, and he would reprove them,
saying: "So high and precious is God's love that it never
should be invoked save with great reverence and under
pressing need." ^
Such a man felt strong personal affection. Pure and
wise was his love for Santa Clara;* and a deep affection
for one of his earliest and closest followers touches us in his
letter to brother Leo. Not all of the writings ascribed to
Francis breathe his spirit; but we hear his voice in this
letter as it closes: "And if it is needful for thy soul or for
thy consolation, and thou dost wish, my Leo, to come to
me, come. Farewell in Christ."
Francis's love was unfailing in compassionate word and
deed. Although cold and sick, he would give his cloak
away at the first demand, till his own appointed minister-
general commanded him on his obedience not to do so
without permission; and he saw that the brothers did not
injure themselves with fasting, though he took slight care of
himself. On one occasion he had them all partake of a
meal, in order that one delicate brother, who needed food,
might not be put to shame eating while the rest fasted.
And once, early in the morning, he led an old and feeble
brother secretly to a certain vineyard, and there ate grapes
before him, that he might not be ashamed to do likewise,
for his health.'
The effect of his sweet example melted the hearts of
angry men, reconciling such as had been wronged to those
who had wronged them, and leading ruffians back to ways
of gentleness. His conduct on learning of certain dis-
sensions in Assisi illustrates his method of restoring peace
and amity.
» Spu, p«rf, 34. • Cf. Spec, perf, io8; 2 Cd. 13a.
•Spec, peff, 27, 2%, 33; d. 2 CeL i. 15; ibid. iH. 30 and 36.
VOL. I 2 G
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4SO THE MEDIAEVAL MIND book m
''After the blessed Frands had composed the Lauds of the
creatures, which he called the Canticle of Brother Sun, it happened
that great dissension arose between the bishop and the podestSt of
the City of Assisi, so that the bishop exconununicated the podestit,
and the podestiL made proclamation that no person should sell
anything to the bishop or buy from him or make any contract
with him.
*'When the blessed Francis (who was now so very sick) heard
this, he was greatly moved with pity, since no one interposed
between them to niake peace. And he said to his companions:
'It is a great shame for us servants of God that the bishop and the
podestit hate each other so, and none interposes to make peace.'
"And so for this occasion he at once made a verse in the Lauds
above mentioned and said :
'Praised be thou, O my Lord, for those who forgive from love of thee,
And endure sickness and tribulation.
Blessed are those who shall endure in peace.
For by thee. Most High, shall they be crowned.'
"Then he called one of his companions and said to him : 'Go
to the podestit, and on my behalf tell him to come to the bishop's
palace with the magnates of the city and others that he may bring
with him.'
"And as that brother went, he said to two other of his com-
panions : 'Go before the bishop and podestiL and the others ^o
may be with them, and sing the Canticle of Brother Sun, and I
trust in the Lord that He will straightway humble their hearts,
and they will return to their former aflfection and friendship.'
"When all were assembled in the piazza of the episcopate, the
two brothers arose, and one of them said: 'The blessed Francis
in his sickness made a Lauds of the Lord from IDs creatures in
praise of the Lord and for the edification of our neighbour.
Wherefore he begs that you would listen to it with great devout-
ness.' And then they began to say and sing them.
"At once the podestiL rose, and with folded hands listened
intently, as if it were the Lord's gospel; this he did with the
greatest devoutness and with many tears, for he had great trust
and devotion toward the blessed Francis.
"When the Lauds of the Lord were finished, the podesti said
before them all: 'Truly I say to you that not only my lord-
bishop, whom I wish and ought to hold as my lord, but if any one
had slain my brother or son I would forgive him.' And so saying,
he threw himself at the bishop's feet, and said to him: 'Look,
I am ready in all things to make satisfaction to you as shall please
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CHAP. XK SAINT FRANCIS 451
you, for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and His servant the
bk^ed Frands.'
''The bishop accepting him, raised him with his hands and
said : 'Because of my office it became me to be humble, and since I
am naturally quick-tempered you oug^t to pardon me.' And so
with great kindness and love they embraced and kissed each other.
"The brothers were astounded and made glad when they saw
fulfiUed to the letter the concord predicted by the blessed Francis.
And all others present ascribed it as a great miracle to the merits
of the blessed Francis, that the Lord suddenly had visited them,
and out of such dissension and scandal had brought such concord." ^
It would be mistaken to refer to any single pious
sentiment the saint's blithe love of animals and birds and
flowers, and his regard even for senseless things. It is right,
however, for Thomas of Celano, as a proper monkish
biographer, to say:
"While hastening through this world of pilgrimage and exile
that traveller (Francis) rejoiced in those things which are in the
world, and not a little. As toward the princes of darkness he
used the world as a field for battle, but as toward the Lord he
treated it as the brightest mirror of goodness; in the fabric he
commended the Artificer, and what he found in created things,
he referred to the Maker; he exulted over all the works of the
hands of the Lord, and in the pleasing spectacle beheld the life-
giving reason and the cause. In beautiful things he perceived
that which was most beautiful, as all good things acclaim. He
who made us is best. Through vestiges impressed on things he
followed his chosen, and made of all a ladder by which to reach
the throne. He embraced all things in a feeling of \mheard-of
devotion, speaking to them concerning the Lord and exhorting
them in ELis praise." *
This was true, even if it was not all the truth. Living
creatures spoke to Francis of their Maker, while things in-
sensible aroused his reverence through their suggestiveness,
their scriptural associations, or their symbolism. But beyond
these motives there was in this poet Francis a happy love
of nature. If nature alwa3rs spoke to him of God, its loveli-
ness needed no stimulation of devotion in order to be loved
by him. His feeling for it found everywhere sensibility and
^ Spec. perf. loi. This is one of the apparently unsupported stories of the Specu-
lum, that none would like to doubt.
* 2 Cd. iii. cap. zoi.
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452 THE MEDIAEVAL MIND book m
responsiveness. He was as if possessed by an imaginative
animism, wherein every object had a soul. His acts and words
may appear fantastic ; they never lack loveliness and beauty.*
"Wrapped in the love of God, the blessed Francis perfectly
discerned the goodness of God not only in his own soul but in
every creature. Wherefore he was affected with a singular and
yearning (viscerosa) love toward creatures, and espedaUy toward
those in which was figured something of God or something per-
taining to religion.
''Whence above aU birds he loved a little bird called the lark
(the lodola capeUata of the vulgar tongue) and would say of her :
'Sister lark has a hood like a Religious and is a himible bird,
because she goes willingly along the road to find for herself some
grains of com. Even if she find them in dung she picks them out
and eats them. In fl3ring she praises the Lord very sweetly, as the
good Religious look down upon earthly things, whose conversation
is always in the heavens and whose intent is always upon the
praise of God. Her garments are like earth, that is, her feathers,
and set an example to the Religious that they should not have
delicate and gaudy garments, but such as are vile in price and
colour, as earth is viler than other elements.' " *
The unquestionably true story of Francis preaching to
the birds is known to all, especially to readers of the
FioreUL Thus Thomas of Celano tells it: As the blessed
Father Francis was journeying through the Spoleto Valley,
he reached a place near Mevanium, where there was a
multitude of birds — doves, crows, and other kinds. When
he saw them, for the love and sweet affection which he
bore toward the lower creatures, he quickly ran to them,
leaving his companions. As he came near and saw that
they were waiting for him, he saluted them in his accustomed
way. Then wondering that they did not take flight, he
was very glad, and humbly begged them to listen to the
word of God; among other things he said to them: "My
brothers who fly, verily you should praise the Lord your
Maker and love Him always, who gave you feathers to
i One is tempted to amuse oneself with paradooc, and say : Not he of Vauduse,
who ascended a mountain for the view and left a record of his sentiments, but he of
Assisi, who loved the sheep, the birds, the flowers, the stones, and fire and water, was
<'the first modem man." But such statements are foolish ; there was no "first modem
man."
*Sp$e.perf. 113.
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CHAP. XDC SAINT FRANCIS 453
clothe you and wings to fly with and whatever was necessary
to you. God made you noble among creatures, prepared
your mansion in the purity of air; and though you neither
sow nor reap, nevertheless without any solicitude on your
part, He protects and guides you."
At tUs, those little birds as he was speaking, mar-
vellously exulting, began to stretch out their necks and
spread their wings and open their beaks, looking at him.
He passed through their midst, sweeping their heads and
bodies with his mantle. At length he blessed them, and
with the s^[n of the cross gave them leave to fly away.
Then returning gladdened to his companions, he yet blamed
himself for his neglect to preach to the birds before, since
they so reverently heard the word of God. And from that
day he ceased not to exhort all flying and creeping things,
and even things insensible, to the praise and love of their
Creator.^
Thomas also says that above all animals Francis loved
the lambs, because so frequently in Scripture the humility
of our Lord is likened unto a lamb. One day, as Francis
was making his way through the March of Ancona he met
a goat-herd pasturing his flock of goats. Among them,
humbly and quietly, a little lamb was feeding. Francis
stopped as he saw it, and, deeply touched, said to the
brother accompanying him: ''Dost thou see this sheep
walking so gently among the goats? I tell you, thus our
Lord Jesus Christ used to walk mild and humble among
Pharisees and chief priests. For love of Him, then, I beg
thee, my son, to buy this little sheep with me and lead it
out from among these goats."
The brother was also moved with pity. They had
nothing with them save their wretched cloaks, but a merchant
chancing to come along the way, the money was obtained
from him. Giving thanks to God and leading the sheep
they had bought, they reached the town of Osimo whither
they were going; and entering the house of the bishop,
were honourably received by him. Yet my lord bishop
wondered at the sheep which Francis was leading with such
tender love. But when Francis had set forth the parable
iCel. zxL5&
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454 THE MEDIAEVAL MIND book m
of his sermon, the bishop too was touched and gave thanks
to God.
The following day they considered what to do with the
sheep, and it was given over to the nuns of the cloister of
St. Severinus, who received it as a great boon given them
from God. Long while they cared for it, and in the course
of time wove a cloak from its wool, which they sent to the
blessed Francis at the Portiuncula at the time of a Chapter
meeting. The saint accepted it with joy, and kissed it,
and begged all the brothers to be glad with him.^
Celano also tells how Francis loved the grass and vines
and stones and woods, and all comely things in the fields,
also the streams, and earth and fire and air, and called
every creature "brother";* also how he would not put
out the flame of a lamp or candle, how he walked rever-
ently upon stones, and was careful to injure no living
thing.*
1 X Cd. cap. zzviiL * i CeL cap. zzix.
• a CeL ill. xox. These matters are set forth more picturesquely in the Specmkim
perfeclwms; if authentic, they throw a vivid Ught on this wonderful person. Here
are eiamples:
"Francis had come to the hermitage of Fonte Palumbo, near Riete, to cure
the infirmity of his ^es, as he was ordered on his obedience hy the lord-cardinal
of Ostia and hy Brother EUas, minister-general. There the doctor advised a
cautery over the cheek as ^ as the eyebrow of the ^e that was in worse state.
Frauds wished to wait till brother Elias came, but when he was kept from coming
Francis prepared himself. And when the iron was set in the fire to heat it, Frands,
wishing to comfort his spirit, lest he be afraid, spoke to the fire: 'My Brother
Fire, noble and useful among other creatures, be courteous to me in this hour,
since I have loved and will love thee for the love of Him who made thee. I also
beseech our Creator, who made us both, that He may temper thy heat so that I
may bear it.' And when his i»ayer was finished he made the sign of the cross over
the fire.
"We indeed who were with him then fled for juty and compassion, and the
doctor remained alone with him. When the cautery was finished, we returned,
and he said to us: 'Fearful and of little faith, why did you flee? I tell you
truly I fdt no pain, nor any heat of the fire. If it is not well seared he may sear it
better.'
"The astonished doctor assured them all that the cautseiy was so severe that
a strong man, let alone one so weak, could hardly have endured it, while Fhuicis
showed no sign of pain" {Spec, peff, 115). "Thus fire treated Francis courteously;
for he had never failed to treat it reverently and respect its ri^ts. Once hit
dothes caught fire, and he would not put it out, and forbade a brother, saying:
'Nay, dearest brother, do no harm to the fire.' He would never put out fire,
and did not wish any brother to throw away a fire or push a smoking log away, but
wished that it shouki be just set on the ground, out of reverence to Him whose creature
it is" (ibid. 116).
"Next to fire he had a peculiar love for water, wherein is figured holy penitence
and the tribuktion with which the soul's unckanness b washed away, and because
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CHAP. XDC SAINT FRANCIS 455
There are two documents which are both (the one with
much reason and the other with certainty) ascribed to
Francis. Utterly different as they are, eadi still remains
a clear expression of his spirit. The one is the Lauds,
commonly called the Canticle of the Brother Sim, and the
other is the saint's last Testament. One may think of the
Canticle as the closing stanza of a life which was an enacted
poem:
Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, thine is the praise, the
glory, the honour and every benediction ;
To thee alone. Most High, these do belong, and no man is
worthy to name thee.
Praised be thou, my Lord, with all thy creatures, especially
nulord Brother Sim that dawns and lightens us ;
And he, beautiful and radiant with great splendour, signifies
thee, Most High.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars that thou
hast made bright and predous and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Wind, and for the air and
the first washing of the soul is through the water of baptism. So when he washed
his hands he would choose a place where the water whidi fell would not be trodden
on. Also when he walked over rocks, he walked with trembling and reverence for
the love of Him who is called the ' Rock ' ; and whenever he repeated that psalm, 'Thou
hast exalted me upon a rock,' he would say with great reverence and devotion : 'Under
the foot of the rock thou hast exalted me.' "
"He directed the brother who cut and fetched the fire-wood never to cut a whole
tree, so that some part of it might remain untouched for the love of Him who was
willing to work out our salvation upon the wood of the cross.
"Likewise he told the brother who made the garden, not to devote all of it
to vegetables, but to have some part for flowering plants, which in their seasons
produce Brother Flowers for k>ve of Him who is called the 'Flower of the field
and the Lily of the valley.' He said indeed that Brother Gardener always ought
to make a beautiful patch in some part of the garden, and plant it with all sorts of
sweet-smelUng herbs and herbs that produce beautiful flowers, so that in their
season th^ may invite men seeing them to praise the Lord. For every creature
cries 4loud, 'God made me for thy sake, O man.' We that were with him saw
that inward^ and outwardly he did so greatly rejoice in all created things, that
touching or seeing them his q)irit seemed not to be upon the earth, but in heaven"
(jOnd. 113).
"Above all things lacking reason he loved the sun and fire most affectionately,
for he would say : ' In the morning when the sun rises every man ought to praise God
who created it for our use, because by day our eyes are illumined by it ; in the even-
ing, when night comes, every man ought to give praise on account of Brother Fire,
because by it our ^es are flhimined by night. For all of us are bUnd, and the Lord
through those two brothers lightens our eyes; and therefore for these, and for other
creatures which we daily use, we ought to praise the Creator.' Which indeed he did
himself up to the day of his death" {ibid, no).
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4S6 THE MEDIAEVAL MIND book ni
doud and the dear sky and for all weathers through ^diidi thou
givest sustenance to thy creatures.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water, that is very useful and
humble and predous and chaste.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire, through whom thou dost
illumine the night, and comdy is he and glad and bold and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister, Our Mother Earth, that doth
cherish and keep us, and produces various fruits with coloured
flowers and the grass.
Be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for love of thee,
and endure sickness and tribulation ; blessed are they who endure
in peace ; for by thee, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, for our bodily death, from which no living
man can escape ; woe unto those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are they that have found thy most holy wiU, for the
second death shall do them no hurt.
Praise and bless my Lord, and render thanks, and serve Him
with great humility.^
The self-expression of the more personal parts of the
Testament supplement these utterances :
''Thus the Lord gave to me. Brother Frands, to begin to do
penance : because while I was in sins, it seemed too bitter to me
to see lepers ; and the Lord himself led me among them, and I did
mercy with them. And departing from them, that which seemed
to me bitter, was turned for me into sweetness of soul and body.
And a little afterwards I went out of the world.
"And the Lord gave me such faith in churches, that thus
simply I should pray and say: *We adore thee. Lord Jesus
Christ, and in all thy churches which are in the whole world, and
we bless thee, because through thy holy cross thou hast redeemed
the world.'
''Afterwards the Lord gave and gives me so great faith in
priests who live after the model of the holy Roman Church ac-
cording to their order, that if they should persecute me I will still
turn to them. And if I should have as great wisdom as Solomon
had, and should have found the lowliest secular priests in the
parishes where they dwell, I do not wish to preach contrary to
their wish. And them and all others I wish to fear and
honour as my lords ; and I do not wish to consider sin in them,
because I see the Son of God in them and they are my lords.
^ Translated from the text as given in E. Monad's CresUmaaia iiaUama dei primi
secoli. Substantially the same text is given in Sp€e, per/, lao.
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CHAP. XDC SAINT FRANCIS 457
''And the reason I do this is because corporeally I see nothing
in this world of that most high Son of God except His most holy
body and most holy blood, which they receive and which they
alone administer. And I wish these most holy mysteries to be
honoured above all and revered, and to be placed together in
precious places. Wherever I shall find His most holy names and
His written words in imfit places, I wish to collect them, and I
ask that they be collected and placed in a proper place ; and all
theologians and those who administer the most holy divine words,