Of charity and compassion and loving-kindness to our neighbours

And first how he comforted a friar who was dying of hunger by eating with him, and how he admonished the friars to be discreet in doing penance

At that time, when Blessed Francis began to have friars, and lived with them at Rivo Torto, near Assisi, it happened one night when all the friars were at rest, about midnight one of them called out, “I am dying, I am dying!” At this all the friars were stupefied with fear, but Blessed Francis rising up, said, “Get up, Brothers, and kindle a light.” And when the light was kindled, he asked, “Who is it that said ‘I am dying’?” and a friar replied, “It is I.” Blessed Francis asked, “What has happened to you, Brother, and why are you dying?” He replied, “I am dying of hunger.” Immediately Blessed Francis had a meal prepared, and, like a man full of charity and discretion, sat by his side to eat with him, that he should feel no shame at eating by himself, and according to his wish all the other friars also sat down to eat. Now this friar, as well as the rest, being but recently converted to God, mortified their bodies beyond all measure, and after the said friar was revived Blessed Francis said to them all: “My best beloved, I tell you that you must each one consider your own nature, for though some of you have strength enough to do with little food, those who require more are not to imitate them, but let each one, according to his own needs, so consider the wants of the body as to be able to serve the spirit. Although we are bound not to indulge to excess in food, yet must we beware of too strict an abstinence, for the Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice.” He added: “That which I have done, dearest Brothers, in eating with this our Brother, that he might not be ashamed of eating alone, I have done out of charity and necessity; but I say to you that in the future I shall not do the like, for it would be neither religious nor seemly, but I desire and request you and all our friars to give, according to our poverty, that satisfaction to the body which is needful.”

For the first friars, and those that came after them, went to great extremes in their penances, abstaining from food and drink, by keeping long vigils in the cold, by the coarseness of their garments, and their manual labour. They wore next to their skin iron girdles, steel vests, and hair shirts, so that the blessed Father, seeing that this would injure the friars, and, indeed, in a short while several became infirm, made a clause and proclaimed it in a Chapter forbidding the friars to wear anything next to their skin except the tunic. We who were with him bear witness that, although he was ever humane and discreet towards the friars, he desired that in the use of food and all things the friars of all time should ever observe the poverty and simplicity inculcated by our Order. For this our most blessed Father, from the time of his conversion until the end of his life, treated his body with great austerity, although he was by nature slender and delicate, and had lived luxuriously in the world. When at one time he saw the friars were falling away from the virtues of poverty and simplicity in food and other things, he said in a sermon to some of the friars, intending it for all of them: “The friars consider that what I take is not sufficient for my body, but since I must be the model and example for all the friars I desire to use and be content with little and poor food, in all things detesting sumptuousness and luxury.”

How he comforted a sick friar by eating grapes with him

Another time, when Blessed Francis was living at the same place, a holy friar who had grown old in the Order fell ill there and was very weak. Blessed Francis looking at him had great compassion for him; for at that time the friars, whether well or ill, gladly observed poverty as if it were abundance, not taking medicine when sick, but rather that which was unwholesome for the body. Blessed Francis said to himself: “If that friar would eat ripe grapes in the morning I believe he would be cured.” And as he thought, so he did. Rising early in the morning he called the friar secretly, and took him to a vineyard near the place, and choosing a vine that had good grapes fit for eating, he sat down by the vine with the friar and began to eat grapes, that this friar should not feel ashamed at eating alone. And no sooner had the friar eaten than he was cured of all his ills, and both together rose and gave thanks to God. And all the days of his life this friar remembered the pity and compassion shown him by the blessed Father, and would relate what had happened, with great devotion, to the other friars.

How he despoiled himself and his Companion in order to clothe a poor woman

Near Celano, in the winter, when Blessed Francis wore a piece of cloth folded in the fashion of a mantle, which had been lent him by a friend of the friars, he met a poor old woman who begged for alms, whereupon he took the cloth off, although it belonged to another, and gave it to her saying, “Go make yourself a garment, for you need it.” The old woman laughed like one stupefied, whether from joy or fear I know not, took the cloth and ran off with it, and, lest it should be taken from her, began to cut it up with the scissors; but not finding the cloth sufficient for a dress, she again had recourse to the goodness of the blessed Father, and returning told him there was not enough cloth for a dress. The Saint then turned his eyes towards his companion who wore such another piece of cloth on his back, and said to him, “Do you hear what this poor woman says? For the love of God let us endure the cold and give that cloth, so she may have enough to make a dress.” At once his companion did as he had done. Thus they denuded themselves that the poor woman might be clothed.

How he considered it dishonest not to give to those who were in greater need than himself

One day coming back from Siena they met a poor man. Then said he to his companion: “It is fitting we should give this poor man his mantle, for it has only been lent to us till we met with some one poorer than ourselves.” His companion knowing the kind Father’s own necessity, remonstrated with him in providing for others and neglecting himself. To whom Blessed Francis answered, “I do not wish to be a thief, and I should be held for one if we do not give to those in greater need.” Therefore the blessed Father gave his mantle to the poor man.

How he gave his new mantle to another poor man, conditionally

Near Celle di Cortona, Blessed Francis wore a new mantle the friars had got for him with some trouble. To him came a poor man deploring the loss of his wife, whose death left him with a family in great poverty. The Saint pitying him, said: “I will give you this mantle on condition that you do not part with it to any, unless they give you a good exchange for it.” When the friars heard this they went to the poor man and tried to get the mantle from him; but the poor man, seeing the blessed Father, held it fast with closed hands, and defended himself. In the end the friars procured the redemption of the mantle, taking care that a good price should be paid to the poor man.

How a certain poor man, by virtue of the alms of Blessed Francis, forgave his lord the injuries he had done him, and ceased to hate him

At Colla, in the Lordship of Perugia, Blessed Francis received a certain poor man whom he had known formerly in the world, and said to him: “Brother, how does it fare with you?” He, being angry against his lord, with great bitterness of soul replied, “Thanks to my lord, on whom be the curse of God, I am in a sorry plight, for he has deprived me of all my substance.” Blessed Francis, seeing he was thus nourishing mortal hatred, had pity on his soul, and said to him, “My Brother, forgive your lord that you may save your soul, and possibly he may return you what he has taken from you, but now you are losing it and your own soul as well.” The man replied, “I cannot forgive him unless he first returns my substance.” Then Blessed Francis said, “Take this mantle which I give you, and I pray you forgive your lord for the love of God.” Then the man’s heart being touched and softened by such goodness, he forgave his lord the injuries he had done him.

How another time he gave his mantle to a poor woman who was suffering with the same complaint in her eyes as himself

A certain poor woman of Machilone came to Rieti suffering with her eyes, and sought the same surgeon who attended Blessed Francis, and who said to him, “Brother, a woman suffering with eye disease has come to me, but her poverty is so great that I shall have to pay her expenses.” He hearing this was filled with pity, and calling one of the friars who held the office of Guardian, said to him, “Brother Guardian, ought we not to return what we owe to another?” who asked, “What ought we to return, Brother, and who is the other?” And he replied, “This mantle which is lent us, ought we not to give it up to the poor sick woman?” The Guardian replied, “Brother, do as it seems best to you.” Then Blessed Francis, joyfully calling a certain holy man with whom he was familiar, said to him, “Take this mantle and twelve loaves of bread, and carry them to the poor woman who has disease of the eyes, and say to her, ‘a poor man to whom you lent this mantle returns it you with thanks, take it, for it is yours.’” He going swiftly to the poor woman told her what Blessed Francis had said. She, however, thinking they were making a fool of her, answered with fear and shame, “Go away, and leave me in peace; I do not know what you mean.” But when the messenger placed the mantle and twelve loaves in her hands, she, seeing he spoke the truth, with fear and delight accepted the gift, giving thanks to God. Then, being afraid that it would be taken back, she rose secretly in the night and joyfully returned to her own home. But Blessed Francis had arranged with the Guardian to provide for her daily as long as she remained. We who were with him bear witness to his exceeding charity and pity, not only for the friars, but also for other poor both sick and in health, depriving himself, whether he were ill or well, of the most necessary things the friars had got for him with much solicitude and trouble, first trying to coax us lest we should be disturbed thereat, and then with great inward and outward gladness giving to the poor that which himself could little spare. Hence the Minister-General and Guardian forbade him to give away his tunic to other friars without their leave. For the friars, out of devotion to him, would beg his habit, which he would give them, sometimes dividing it, giving part away and keeping a part for himself, for he never wore but one tunic.

How he gave his tunic to some friars who begged it of him for the love of God

It happened once when he was going through a certain province preaching, he fell in with two friars of France, who, after receiving much consolation from him, begged him to give them his tunic for the love of God. As soon as he heard them ask him for the love of God he at once took off his tunic and gave it them, remaining without for nearly an hour. In this way whenever he was asked anything for the love of God, whether it were his tunic or cord or anything else, he never refused, however much he needed it, though he would reprove the friars when he heard them for the most trivial matters take the Name of the Love of God in vain. He would say: “So great and precious is the Love of God that it should be named very rarely and only in great necessity.”

Then one of these friars took off his own tunic and put it on him. For when he gave away his habit or any part thereof he could never get another one quickly enough, as he would only wear an old tunic, well patched inside and out, and seldom would he wear one of new cloth, preferring that which another friar had worn for some time. Sometimes he would obtain part of his habit from one friar and the other part from another. On account of his many infirmities, and chill of the stomach and spleen, they would line his habit with pieces of new cloth. This manner of poverty in his clothing he observed until the year of his departing to God, when by reason of dropsy and his other ailments the friars made for him several tunics, so that he might have change both day and night.

How he tried to give a poor man a piece of cloth

There came one day to the place where Blessed Francis was a certain poor man, who begged the friars to give him a bit of cloth for the love of God. Blessed Francis hearing this said to one of the friars, “Search the house and see if you can find a piece of any kind of cloth, and give it to this poor man.” When he had searched through the whole house the friar said he could not find any. But in order that the poor man should not go away with his wants unrelieved, Blessed Francis secretly, so that the Guardian should not see and forbid him, took a knife and, retiring into a hidden place, tried to cut out a piece of cloth from the inside of his tunic. The Guardian, suspecting this, went to him and forbade him to give it, for it was very cold, and he was very infirm and chilled. Then Blessed Francis said to him, “If you will not let me give this piece, it is above all needful you should find another for this poor man.” Upon which the other friars gave bits of their habit to the poor man for the love of Blessed Francis.

When he went about preaching, sometimes on foot, sometimes on an ass because of his infirmities, and in case of the last necessity on horseback, but this, indeed, he never did until a little time before his death, if any friar lent him a mantle he would take it only on condition that he might give it to any poor person who came to him or whom he might meet, as long as he felt convinced he really was in want of it.

How he induced Brother Giles to clothe a poor man

At the beginning of the Order, when he was at Rivo Torto with two companions, for no others had he as yet, a certain Giles, who became his third companion, came out of the world to him, desiring to follow his way of life. When he had remained there some days in the garments he wore in the world, there came to that place a poor man begging alms of Blessed Francis. Blessed Francis, turning to Giles, said, “Give our poor brother your mantle,” who at once joyfully took the mantle off his back and gave it to the beggar. Then it seemed to him that God had given fresh grace to his heart when he so cheerfully gave his mantle to the poor. After Blessed Francis received him into the Order he grew ever in virtue until he attained the highest perfection.

Of the penance he gave the friar who rashly judged a poor man

When Blessed Francis had come to a certain place of the friars, near Roccabrizia, in order to preach, a poor infirm man came to him. With great compassion Blessed Francis spoke to his companion of his poverty and infirmity, and his companion replied, “It is true, Brother, he is poor enough, but in all the province there is none who more desires to be rich.” Then Blessed Francis severely reproving him, he confessed his fault. Blessed Francis said: “Will you perform the penance I give you?” he answered, “Willingly will I perform it.” Then said he: “Go, take off your tunic, and throw yourself barebacked at the feet of this poor man, telling him in what manner you have sinned by detracting him, and ask him to pray for you.” And he went away and did all as Blessed Francis had told him. When he had risen and put on his tunic he returned to Blessed Francis, who said to him, “Do you know how you sinned against him, or rather against Christ? When you see a poor man you should remember in Whose name he came, that of Christ, Who took upon Himself our poverty and infirmity. This man’s poverty and infirmity is for us, as it were, a mirror, wherein we can gaze and devoutly consider the poverty and infirmity of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Of the New Testament given to a poor woman, the mother of two friars

Another time, when he was living at St. Mary of the Portiuncula, a poor old woman, who had two sons in the Order, came to beg of Blessed Francis. At once Blessed Francis said to Brother Peter Cataneo, who at that time was Minister-General, “Have you anything we could give to our mother?” For he spoke of the mothers of the friars as if they were the mothers of himself and all the other friars. Brother Peter answered: “In all the house there is nothing we can give her, that is nothing that would satisfy her bodily needs. In the Church we have only one New Testament from which to read the lessons at Matins.” For at that time the friars had no Breviaries and very few Psalters. Then Blessed Francis said to him: “Give our mother the Testament that she may sell it for her needs, for I firmly believe this will be more pleasing to God and the Blessed Virgin than that we should read out of it.” And so it was given to her. Of him it might be said and written as of holy Job: From my infancy mercy grew up with me, and it came on me from my mother’s womb. But we who were with him should never end were we to relate and write all we have heard or have seen with our own eyes of his charity and pity towards the friars and the poor.