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To the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
XVI
GOD REVEALS TO SAINT CLARE AND BROTHER SYLVESTER THAT SAINT FRANCIS MUST PREACHa
1 In the beginning of his conversion, at a time when Saint Francis had already gathered several followers, he found himself struggling with a great doubt: should he spend his time in constant prayer, should he sometimes go out preaching. He very much wanted to know what would best please the Lord Jesus Christ. And holy humility would not allow Saint Francis to decide this in advance for himself; he turned to the safe haven of others, so that by their prayers he might discover God's good pleasure. So he called Brother Masseo, and said to him: "My dear brother, go to Clare, and tell her for me that she, along with one of her spiritual companions should beg God on bended knee to show me whether I should sometimes preach, or constantly spend time in prayer. Go also to Brother Sylvester who is staying on Mount Subasiob and tell him the same thing." This was that same Lord Sylvester who saw a gold cross coming from the mouth of Francis as high as the heavens and as wide as the ends of the earth. He was a man of such great holiness and grace that whatever he asked was immediately granted. The Holy Spirit had made him uniquely worthy of conversation with God, and for this reason Saint Francis held him in great devotion and had great faith in him. This saintly Brother Sylvester was staying by himself in that place. 6 As he had been ordered by Saint Francis, Brother Masseo first brought the message to Blessed Clare, and then to Brother Sylvester. Brother Sylvester immediately went to pray, and when he prayed, he immediately received an answer from God. He quickly came out to Brother Masseo and said: "God says this: 'You tell Brother Francis I did not call him only for himself, but so that he might produce a harvest of souls and that through him many might be won.' " After this, Brother Masseo went back to Saint Clare to find out what she had received from the Lord. She said that both she and her companion
- This story is an embellishment of LMj XII 2.
- A reference to Sylvester's stay in the hermitage of the Carceri. See Marcella Gatti, "A Historical Look at the Carceri in the Pre-Franciscan and Early Franciscan Period," in Franciscan Solitude, ed. André Cirino and Josef Raischl (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 1995), 128-38.