Chapter XXIX

How the devil appeared many times unto Brother Ruffino in the form of the Crucified

How the devil appeared many times unto Brother Ruffino in the form of the Crucified, telling him that all the good he did zuas lost, since he was not a?no?ig those elect to life eternal. IVhereof S. Francis was ware through revelation from Gody and?nade Brother Ruffino to know his error in lending credence thereto

Brother Ruffino, one of the most noble citizens of Assisi and a companion of S. Francis, a man of great sanctity, was on a time most grievously assailed and tempted in his soul, in respect of predestination; whereby he became altogether melancholy and sad; for the devil put it into his heart that he was damned and was not of those pre- destined to eternal life; and that all that he did in the Order was lost. And this temptation continuing day by day, he for shame told it not to S. Francis, yet ceased not to observe the wonted prayers and fasts: wherefore the enemy began to heap on him sorrow upon sorrow, over and above the battle within, assaulting him also from without with lying apparitions. Wherefore on a time he appeared to him in the form of the Crucified, and said to him: ” O Brother Ruffino, why dost thou afflict thyself in penance and in prayer, seeing that thou art not among those predestined to eternal life? and believe me that I know whom I have elected and predestined, and believe not the son of Peter Bernardoni, if he tell thee the contrary, nor question him concerning this matter, for neither he nor others know, save I alone, who am the Son of God: wherefore believe me of a surety that thou art of the number of the damned: and the son of Peter Bernardoni, thy Father, and also his father are damned, and whoso follows him is led astray." And said these words, Brother Ruffino began to be so overshadowed by the prince of darkness that he lost all the faith and love he had had for S. Francis, and took no care to tell him aught thereof. But that which Brother Ruffino did not tell the holy father, the Holy Spirit revealed to him: wherefore S. Francis, seeing in spirit the great danger of the said brother, sent Brother Masseo to call him; whom Brother Ruffino answered chidingly: "What have I to do with Brother Francis.?" Then Brother Masseo, all filled with divine wisdom, perceiving the deception of the devil, said: "O Brother Ruffino, knowest thou not that Brother Francis is as an angel of God, who hath enlightened so many souls in the world, and through whom we have received the grace of God? wherefore I will that thou by all means come with me to him; for I clearly see that thou art deceived by the devil." And this said, Brother Ruffino arose and went to S. Francis, and S. Francis seeing him coming from afar off, began to cry out: ” O thou miserable Brother Ruffino, in whom hast thou believed? " And when Brother Ruffino was come up to him, S. Francis recounted to him in order all the temptation that he had had of the devil within and without, and showed him clearly that what had appeared to him was the devil and not Christ, and that he ought in no wise toconsent unto his promptings: "But when the devil should say to thee again: ' Thou art damned,” do thou answer: ' Open thy mouth, for I fain would void on thee,” and this shall be to thee the sign that he is the devil and not Christ; for as soon as thou shalt give him this answer, he will flee away incontinent. Moreover by this token shouldst thou have known that he was the devil and not Christ, in that he hardened thy heart to all goodness, the which thing is his own proper office; but Christ, the blessed One, never hardeneth the heart of the faithful, nay, rather He softeneth it, as He saith by the mouth of the prophet: * I will take away the stony heart and I will give you a heart of flesh.” " Then Brother Ruffino, seeing that S. Francis told him in order all the manner of his temptation, touched to the heart by his words, began to weep bitterly, and fell down before S. Francis and humbly confessed his fault in having kept his temptation hidden. And thus he abode altogether consoled and comforted by the admonishments of the holy father, and wholly changed for the better. Then at the last S. Francis said unto him: ”Go, my little son, and shrive thee, and relax not the zeal of thy wonted prayers: and know of a surety that this temptation v/ill bring to thee great profit and consolation, and very shortly shalt thou prove it." So Brother Ruffino returned to his cell in the wood, and continuing in prayer with many tears, behold! the enemy came to him in the form of Christ, as to outward semblance, and said to him: " O Brother Ruflino, have I not told thee that thou shouldest not believe the son of Peter Bernardoni, nor shouldest weary thyself in tears and prayers, seeing that thou art damned? What doth it profit thee to afflict thyself while yet alive, and then when thou shalt die thou wilt be damned.," And straightway Brother Ruffino made answer to the devil: " Open thy mouth, for I fain would void on thee." Whereat the devil being exceeding wroth, gat him away incontinent with so furious a tempest and shaking of the rocks of Mount Subassio, which was hard by, that the loud noise of the rocks that fell down lasted a great while; and so furiously did they strike the one against the other as they rolled down, that the valley was lit up with horrible flashes of fire: and at the terrible din that they made, S. Francis and his companions came out of the House, in great amazement, for to see what strange thing had befallen; and still to this day is seen that exceeding great ruin of rocks. Then Brother Ruffino knew of a surety that it had been the devil that had deceived him. And going back to S. Francis, he threw himself again upon the ground, and confessed his fault; and S. Francis comforted him with sweet words, and sent him back full of consolation to his cell, wherein as he was most devoutly praying, there appeared to him Christ, the blessed One, and rekindled all his soul with love divine, and said: " Thou hast done well, my son, to believe in Brother Francis, for he that made thee sad was the devil: but I am Christ thy Master; and to make thee sure thereof, 1 give thee this sign: Whilst thou dost live, thou shalt no more feel sadness nor melancholy." And this said, Christ departed, leaving him in such gladness and sweetness of spirit and uplifting of the mind, that day and night he was absorbed and rapt in God. And from that time forth he was so strengthened in grace and in certainty of his salvation, that he became altogether changed into another man; and would have continued day and night in prayer and in contemplation of the things of God, if the others had suffered him. Wherefore S. Francis said of him: that Brother Ruffino was in this life canonised by Christ, and that, save in his presence, he would not doubt to call him S. Ruffino, albeit he was still alive on earth.