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BIBLIOTHECA ANGELICA /. How the glorious Francis got the Church of S. Mary of the Angels without Assisi The glorious father Francis, seeing that the Lord God willed to increase and multiply the number of his brothers, began to speak, and said: ” Most dear my little brothers and sons in Christ Jesu our blessed Lord willeth to multiply this our poor little company. Wherefore it meseemeth it would be well that we should ask for a church from my lord the bishop, or from the canons of S. Ruffino, or else from the abbot of S. Benedict together with a little house of mud and clay or of osiers and lime, to the end that the brothers may take rest there and do whatsoe'er be needful for them, and give thanks unto our Lord God and say the office, and devoutly mourn over our sins and pray to God for sinners. And likewise that we may pray and chasten this our flesh, and do some good for the salvation of souls, and please God thereby with the increasing of this our company. In this place we are not in good case, nor doth it seem to me fitting, sith the place that is called Rivo Torto is small, and the brothers cannot turn themselves, and we have no church wherein we may say the office and give praise to God and His most holy Mother, to whom we ever pray that she may be our advocate. And so I command all my brothers the which are or shall be in time to come, that they ought always to honour and magnify her in every manner and way that may be possible unto them, and have her in utmost devotion and reverence. Also I desire that we be always her faithful servitors. And if we were to pass away from this present life, how should we bury the dead? or take the sacraments of our holy Church ì for the which cause, my little brothers most beloved, how seemeth it good to you to deal with this our case set forth to you, " Straightway the brothers having heard the glorious Francis, said: " Let it be done even as it pleaseth thee ”; rendering thanks to God for all that He gave them. Then the blessed Francis arose with some of his companions and went to the Bishop of the city of Assisi, and spake to him the words that he had spoken to the brothers: to the which straightway the Bishop made answer that he had not any church to give away. Whereby S. Francis, understanding that he had the good will of the Bishop, asked of him his blessing, and went his way to the lord canons of S. Ruffino, and spake to them the words aforesaid, who proudly making answer bespake him: " Go in peace, for we wish not that thou shouldest have or church or any place; so go and serve the hospitals, wherein are sick folk in great number." S. Francis departing from the canons, went straightway to the abbot 3o6 THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF of S. Benedict of Monte Subasio, who, seeing S. Francis so mortified, felt great devotion for him, and knowing that he had left such vast possessions for to serve God, began to weep for compassion and devotion's sake. Thereafter the abbot asked him what it was he went seeking, whereunto the blessed Francis answered that he had been to the Bishop and the lord canons to get him a church and had not been able to come by one. ” For the which cause we pray you that you be pleased to grant us one, to the end that we may serve God in all humility." Hearing this the abbot said: " Wait here, my little brothers; for that I will summon the chapter for this matter, and thereafter will give you answer." Hearing the which words, the blessed Francis prayed unto God together with his brothers that He would accomplish their desire. The chapter being gathered together, the abbot set forth unto the monks the petition of the servant of God, and besought them to grant him that ruined church which was called S. Mary of the Angels, about two miles without Assisi. The monks hearing the which matter, and understanding the sanctity of the blessed Francis, spake all with many tears unto the abbot: '* Father, do whatsoever is pleasing unto thee; sith we are content with this condition, that if God should multiply this Order, S. Francis should promise that this church be always called the head of his Order and be always above all others." The chapter being finished, the abbot called S. Francis, and after many words granted to him the church of S. Mary of the
Angels of the Portiuncola, the which was poorer than any in the land of Assisi, and told him the wish of the monks, to wit, that they desired that that church should be the head of all the others. Francis, being right joyous at this matter, promised them the things aforesaid. And sith that church was called S. Mary of the Portiuncola, as was said above, whereof the name is exceeding old, the blessed Francis said: ”Thereby God willed not that any church should first be granted to the Brothers Minor, nor that they should build one anew, to the end that at their coming the prophecy might be fulfilled, that they should be poor and under the name of the Queen of Heaven."
//. How S. Francis had a vision in S. Mary of
Having taken leave of the abbot, the blessed Francis said unto Brother Masseo of Marignano: " Let us go together to see this place which the abbot hath now given unto us." And when they were come thither, they saw around the church many nettles and thorns, and in front thereof was the trunk of a fig-tree neath the which S. Francis rested himself a while and began to sleep. Thereon as he seemed to stand in prayer to him appeared Christ with His Mother and spake unto him: "My Francis, the land that is over sea, to wit, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and all those countries of the holy land wherein I was born, the which are the heritage of my Mother, — it is 3o8 THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF long time since that the Saracens possess and hold it for the sins of the wicked Christians. And sith it is just that she should have her heritage, I desire that thou rebuild this house and have good care of it, to the end that my Mother be honoured of all faithful Christians by means of your good offices." This heard, S. Francis had exceeding great consolation therein. And returning unto himself again forthwith he called Brother Masseo, who was at prayer in the wood hard by thereto, and told him that vision with great joy, at the which Brother Masseo marvelled much. Thereafter quoth the blessed Francis: '* Go quickly unto our brothers, and tell them that we should abide in this place by commandment of God and of His Mother the Virgin Mary." This said, Brother Masseo was away and told all to the brothers, at the which they being right glad departed thence and hied them with all their little things to the place where was the glorious Francis, even as their father had bidden them. Brother Masseo revealed this apparition unto Brother Marino, his nephew. And next thereafter Marino told it, even as it hath been written. The brothers in S. Mary of the Angels began straightway to increase and multiply in numbers, and the fame of them spread through all the city and through the country of the valley of Spoleto. And beholding the sanctity of these brothers, the folk of that country began to well intreat them and to rebuild the church in such fashion that the brothers were in right good case therein. And albeit the abbot had given this place freely to the blessed Francis without any payment, none the less he wished that the church aforesaid should be subject to the abbot, paying unto him every year a porringer or bucket of fish, the which are called mullets, to the end that the brothers might not be able to have anything of their own which was not subject to others. And when the brothers brought these things aforesaid to the monks, they would give them bread and wine and likewise oil, so that if in time to come they should have need of aught, they might know where to go for alms. For the which cause high laud and praise is due to this most holy Order of S. Benedict, which was the first stay to the Brothers Minor, to wit, by giving them alms and other things whereof they stood in need.
///. How God revealed unto S. Francis that he should go to Pope Honorius the Third for the indulgence.
As the blessed Francis was one night in S. Mary of the Angels, it was revealed to him from Messer the Lord God that he should go to the was at that time in Perugia, for to obtain the indulgence for the said church which he had just repaired. And rising betimes in the morning, he called Brother Masseo of Marignano by Assisi, and told him all the vision aforesaid, and then he spake these words: ” Most Holy Father, sith 3 IO THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF
1 have just now. let build a church to the honour of the glorious Virgin Mary here in the plain of Assisi, I pray your Holiness to deign amore Dei to grant a plenary indulgence without any offering." Hearing this the Pope replied: ” This may not be, for whoso asketh for an indulgence must needs merit it, by stretching out the hand of merit, id est doing alms. Nathless for how many years dost thou desire this indulgence? ” Replied the servant of God, Francis: ” Most blessed Father, may it please your Holiness not to give me years but souls." And the Pope saying, '* I wot not what thou wilt," S. Francis bespake him: '* I desire, if it please you, that whosoever shall come to this church, confessed and contrite, be absolved from all his sins, from fault and chastisement, in heaven and on earth, from the day of his baptism even unto the day and the hour in the which he shall come into the said church." Then said the Holy Father: " A great matter is this that thou hast asked, Francis, and it is not the use in the Court of Rome to grant such indulgence." Replied the blessed Francis: ” What I ask, I ask not of myself, but on behalf of Him that hath sent me, to wit, our Lord Jesu Christ." Thereat the Pope, inspired of God, spake forthwith and said: " It is our pleasure that thou have it." Hearing this the cardinals that were there present said: '* Look to it, Holy Father, if you give such an indulgence unto him, you spoil that over-sea.", And he 1 i.e. do away with one of the inducements to embark on a crusade.
answered: " We have given and granted it, therefore we will not and cannot undo what has been done, but let us moderate it, that it may suffice for only one natural day in every year." And then he called the blessed Francis and said unto him: ” Ere this we granted that whosoever shall come and enter into the said church well confessed and contrite shall be absolved from fault and chastisement. And this is our will, that it hold good once every year for ever, for one natural day only, to wit, from vespers on the first day of August including the night, up to vespers of the day following." Having obtained this indulgence, S. Francis bent his head unto the Pope by way of thanksgiving and to take leave. The Holy Father seeing him depart called him, saying: " O simpleton, where goest thou? What dost thou take with thee of this indulgence?" (,uoth the blessed Francis: " Your word sufficeth for me. And if this is the working of God He will show forth His work. And of this matter I desire no other privilege save that the Virgin Mary may be the scroll, Christ the notary, and the Angels the witnesses." And so said he departed from Perugia and turned his steps towards Assisi. In the middle of the way, as he rested awhile, he and his companion, in a house that was there, and is still an abode of lepers, he slept, and waking, after prayer, called his companion and said: " Brother Masseo, I tell thee in the name of God that the pardon which confirmed in heaven." And this was told by
Brother Marino, nephew of the said Brother Masseo, who oft-times heard it from the lips of his uncle. The aforesaid Brother Marino passed from this present life in 1308, full of years and of sanctity. Amen.
FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN FLORENCE /. How S. Francis appeared unto Brother Leo
G a time, when S. Francis had already passed away from this life, there came unto Brother Leo a longing to see that sweet father whom in life he had loved so tenderly, and through this longing he strove beyond his wont to afflict his body with prayer and fastings, and besought God with great fervour, to fulfil his desire. While he was thus kindled in that prayer, S. Francis appeared unto him all glorious with wings and with claws of gold upon his hands and feet, like an eagle. And Brother Leo being all refreshed and consoled with this so marvellous an apparition, said wondering: " Wherefore, my Father most worshipful, hast thou appeared unto me in a form so marvellous? " Replied S. Francis: " Among the other graces that the divine pity hath given and granted me, are these wings, so that being summoned I may straightway succour the devout ones of this holy Order in their needs and tribulations, and bear their souls and those of my brothers, as it were flying, unto the heavenly glory: and these claws so great and strong and gilded have been given to me against the devil, against the persecutors of my Religious against the reprobate brothers of this holy Order, to the end that I may punish them with scratchings hard and sharp, and bitter punishments. To the praise of Christ. Amen.
//. How Brother Leo saw a terrible vision in a
On a time, Brother Leo saw the judgment of God set forth in the vision of a dream. He saw the angels playing on trumpets and divers instruments, and calling a marvellous company together in a meadow. And on the one side of the meadow was set a ladder all vermeil that reached from earth to heaven; and on the other side of the meadow was set another ladder all white that was let down from heaven to earth. On the top of the vermeil ladder appeared Christ, like a Lord offended and exceeding wroth. And S. Francis was some steps below near to Christ; and he went further down the ladder, and with a loud voice and great fervour spake and called out: " Come, my brothers, come boldly, fear not; come, draw nigh unto the Lord, for He calleth you." At the voice of S. Francis the brothers came, and began to climb up the vermeil ladder with great confidence. When all had clomb thereon, one fell from the third step, another from the fourth, and others from the fifth and sixth; and all fell down one after the other, so that none remained upon the ladder. S. Francis being moved to compassion at so great a downtall of his brothers, like a pitying father, besought the Judge for his little sons that He might receive them into His mercy. And Christ showed His wounds all stained with blood, and said to S. Francis; ” This have thy brothers done unto Me." And then as he thus prayed he went down a step or two and called to the brothers that had fallen from the vermeil ladder and said: ” Come, stand up, my little sons and brothers; take courage and be not downcast; run to the white ladder and climb up, for thereby shall ye be received into the kingdom of heaven; run, brothers, as your father monisheth you, to the white ladder."
And at the top of the ladder appeared the glorious Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesu Christ, all pitiful and kind; and received those brothers, and without any toil entered they into the realm eternal. To the praise of Christ. Amen.