Chapter IX

How S. Francis taught Brother Leo how to answer him; and how he could never say aught save the contrary of what S. Francis wished

It befell on a time in the beginning of the Order thatS. Francis was with Brother Leo in a place where they had not books to say the divine office withal; when the hour of matins came, said S. Francis to Brother Leo: ” Dear son, we have no breviary wherewith to say matins; but to the end that wc may spend the time in praising God, I will speak and thou shalt answer as I shall teach thee: and take good heed that thou change not the words to other than I shall teach thee. I shall say thus: O Brother Francis, so many sins and evils hast thou done in the world that thou art deserving of hell; and thou, Brother Leo, shalt answer: Sooth is it thou meritest the lowest depth of hell." And Brother Leo with dove-like simplicity replied: ” Right willingly, father; begin, in the name of God." Then began S. Francis to say: ” O Brother Francis, so many sins and evils hast thou done in the world that thou art deserving of hell." And Brother Leo made answer: ” God will work through thee so much of good that thou v/ilt go to paradise." Quoth S. Francis: " Nay, say not so, Brother Leo; but when I shall say: Brother Francis, so many iniquities hast thou done against God that thou art worthy to be accursed of God, do thou answer thus: In very sooth art thou worthy to be set among the accursed ones." And Brother Leo replied:”Right willingly, father." Therewith S. Francis with many tears and sighs and beating of thebreast cried witha loud voice: ” O my Lord of heaven and earth, I have done againstthee so manyiniquities and so many sins that I am altogether worthy to be accursed of Thee;" and Brother Leo made answer: ”0 Brother Francis, God will do so unto thee that among the blessed shalt thou above all be blessed." And Brother Francis marvelling that Brother Leo answered to the contrary of what he had laid upon him, reproved him saying:,'Wherefore dost thou not answer even as I teach? I command thee by holy obedience that thou answer as I shall teach thee. I shall say thus: O Brother Francis, vile wretch, thinkest thou that God will have mercy on thee, seeing thou hast committed so many sins against the Father of mercy and God of all consolation, that thou art not worthy to find mercy? And thou Brother Leo, little lamb, wilt answer: In no wise art thou worthy to find mercy." But whenas S. Francis said: ” O Brother Francis, vile wretch " and the like. Brother Leo made answer: ” God the Father, whose mercy is infinitely greater than thy sin, will show thee great mercy, and, more than this, will pour upon thee many graces." At this reply S. Francis being sweetly angered and patiently disquieted, said unto Brother Leo: "And wherefore hast thou had the boldness to do against obedience, and now so many times hast answered to the contrary of that which I laid upon thee? " Replied Brother Leo right humbly and reverently: " God knows, my father, that each time I set it in my heart to answer as thou hadst bid me; but God makes me speak as it pleaseth Him and not as it pleaseth me." Whereat S. Francis marvelled, and said to Brother Leo: " I pray thee most lovingly that this time thou answer me as I have told thee." Replied Brother Leo: “ Speak in the name of God, for of a surety will I this time answer as thou wishest." And S. Francis weeping said: '* O Brother Francis, vile wretch, thinkest thou that God will have mercy upon thee? " Replied Brother Leo: " Nay, rather great grace shalt thou receive of God and He shall exalt thee and glorify thee for ever, for every one that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and naught other can I say since God speaketh through my mouth." And thuswise in this humble strife, with many tears and much spiritual consolation, they kept watch until the day.