Chapter VII

How S. Francis passed a Lent in an island in the Lake of Perugia, where he fasted forty days and forty nights, and ate no more than one half loaf

As the true servant of Christ, S. Francis, was in certain points as it were another Christ, given to the world for the salvation of men, it was the will of God the Father to make him in many of his acts conformed and like unto His own dear son Jesu Christ; even as was shown forth in the venerable company of the twelve companions, and in the wondrous mystery of the holy stigmata, and in the unbroken fast during the holy Lent, which he kept in this manner. It befell on a time that S. Francis, on the day of carnival, being hard by the lake of Perugia in the house of one of his devoted followers, with whom he had lodged the night, was inspired of God that he should go and keep that Lent on an island in the lake; wherefore S. Francis besought this devoted follower of his, that, for the love of Christ, he would carry him across in his little boat to an island on the lake, wherein no man dwelt, and that so would he do upon the night of Ash Wednesday, so that none might be ware of it; so he for love of the great devotion that he had unto S. Francis with diligence fulfilled his request and carried him across to the island aforesaid, and S. Francis took with him naught save two small loaves. And being come unto the island, and his friend parting himself to go back home, S. Francis besought him tenderly that to no man would he reveal in what guise he there abode, and that save upon Holy Thursday he would not come to him; and so he was away. And S. Francis remained alone: and sith there was no dwelling-place whereto he might betake him, he entered into a close thicket which many a thorny bush and shrub had fashioned like a cave or little hut: and in this place he gave himself up to prayer and contemplation of the things of heaven. And there abode he all the Lent, nor eating nor drinking aught save half of one of those small loaves, even as was found by his devoted follower on Holy Thursday, what time that he came back to him; who found of the two loaves one still entire, but of the other half. So men believe that S. Francis took no food from reverence for the fast of Christ the blessed one, who fasted forty days and forty nights without partaking any earthly food; but in this manner with that half a loaf chased far the venom of vain glory from him, and after the pattern of Christ kept fast for forty days and forty nights; and thereafter in that place where S. Francis had wrought such wondrous abstinence, through his merits did God work many miracles; for the which cause did men begin to build houses there and dwell therein; and in brief space uprose a hamlet fair and great and therewithal a House for the brothers, the which is named the House of the Island; and even to this day the men and women of that hamlet feel great reverence and devotion in the place where S.Francis kept the aforesaid Lent.