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How S. Francis knew the secrets of the consciences of all his brothers in order
Even as our Lord Jesu Christ says in the Gospel: ” I know my sheep, and am known of mine; " even so the blessed father S. Francis, like a good shepherd, knew by divine revelation all the merits and the virtues of his companions, and in like manner their faults also. For the which cause he knew how to provide the best remedy for each, to wit, humbling the proud, and exalting the humble; reproving vice, and praising virtue; even as we read in the wondrous revelations that he had concerning his first family. Among the which we find that on a time when S. Francis was with the said family in a certain House discoursing of God, Brother Ruffino not being with them during this discourse but rapt in contemplation in the wood while they continued thus to discourse of God, behold Brother Ruffino came from out the wood and passed by at a stone's throw from them. Then S. Francis, beholding him, turned to his companions, and asked them, saying: “Whom think ye to be the holiest soul God hath in the world? " And they answering him, said that they thought it was his own; and S. Francis said unto them: ” My brothers most dear to me, I am of myself the most unworthy and vile wretch that God hath in this world, but mark ye Brother Ruffino yonder, that hath now come from out the wood? God hath revealed it unto me that his soul is one of the three most holy souls in all the world: and in very sooth I tell you that I doubt not to call him Saint Ruffino in his lifetime, sith his soul is so strengthened in grace, and sanctified and canonised in heaven, by our Lord Jesu Christ;" but these words S. Francis never spake in the presence of the said Brother Ruffino. In like manner, how S. Francis knew the faults of his brothers, is clearly seen in the case of Brother Elias, whom he ofttimes reproved for his pride; and of Brother John of the Chapel, to whom he foretold that he would hang himself by the throat; and of that brother, whom the devil held fast by the throat when he was chid for disobedience: and of many other brothers, whose secret faults and virtues he clearly knew through the revelation of Christ.