Search this book
How S. Clare ate with S. Francis and the brothers, his companions, in S. Mary of the Angels
How S, Clare ate zvtth S. Francis and the brothers, his companions, in S. Mary of the Angels
Whenas S. Francis was at Assisi, oftentimes he visited S. Clare and gave her holy admonishments. And she having exceeding great desire, once to break bread with him, oft-times besought him thereto, but he was never willing to grant her this consolation; wherefore his companions, beholding the desire of S. Clare, said unto S. Francis: ” Father, it doth appear to us that this severity accordeth not with heavenly charity: since thou givest not ear unto Sister Clare, a virgin so saintly, so beloved of God, in so slight a matter as breaking bread with thee, and above all bearing in mind that she through thy preaching abandoned the riches and pomps of the world. And of a truth, had she asked of thee a greater boon than this, thou oughtest so to do unto thy spiritual plant." Then replied S. Francis: '* Doth it seem good to you that I should grant her prayer.? " Replied his companions: " Yea, father, fitting is it that thou grant, her this boon and consolation." Then spake S. Francis: ” Since it seems good to you, it seems so likewise unto me. But that she may be the more consoled, I will that this breaking of bread take place in S. Mary of the Angels; for she has been long time shut up in S. Damian so that it will rejoice her to see again the house of S. Mary, where her hair was shorn away and she became the bride of Jesu Christ; and there let us eat together in the name of God." When came the day ordained by him, S. Clare with one companion passed forth from out the convent, and with the companions of S. Francis to bear her company came unto S. Mary of the Angels, and devoutly saluted the Virgin Mary before her altar, v/here she had been shorn and veiled; so they conducted her to see the House, until such time as the hour for breaking bread was come. And in the meantime S. Francis let make ready the table on the bare ground, as he was wont to do. And the hour of breaking bread being come, they set themselves down together, S. Francis and S. Clare, and one of the companions of S. Francis with the companion of S. Clare, and all the other companions took each his place at the table with all humility. And at the first dish, S. Francis began to speak of God so sweetly, so sublimely, and so wondrously, that the fulness of divine grace came down on them, and they all were rapt in God. And as they were thus rapt, with eyes and hands uplift to heaven, the folk of Assisi and Bettona and the country round about, saw that S. Mary of the Angels, and all the House, and the wood that was just hard by the House, were burning brightly, and it seemed as it were a great fire that filled the church and the House and the whole wood together: for the which cause the folk of Assisi ran thither in great haste for to quench the flames, believing of a truth that the whole place was all on fire. But coming close up to the House and finding no fire at all, they entered within and found S. F'rancis and S. Clare and all their company in comtemplation rapt in God and sitting around that humble board. Whereby of a truth they understood that this had been a heavenly flame and no earthly one at all, which God had let appear miraculously, for to show and signify the fire of love divine wherewith the souls of those holy brothers and holy nuns were all aflame; wherefore they gat them gone with great consolation in their hearts and with holy edifying. Then after some long space, S. Francis and S. Clare, together with all the others, returning to themselves again and feeling of good comfort from the spiritual food, took little heed of the food of the body. And, that blessed feast thus ended, S. Clare, escorted well, returned unto S. Damian, whereby the sisters, beholding her, had joy exceeding great; for they feared lest S. Francis should have sent her to rule some other convent, even as he had already sent Sister Agnes, her holy sister, as abbess to rule the convent of Monticelli at Florence: and S. Francis on a time had said to S. Clare: ” Be thou ready, if so be that I needs must send thee to some other House; " and she, as a daughter of holy obedience, had made answer: ” Father, I am at all times ready to go whithersoever thou mayest send me." Wherefore the sisters rejoiced exceedingly when they saw her face again: and thenceforward S. Clare abode in much consolation.