The Little Flowers of Saint Francis (after 1337) - 639 

Father, what great good and refreshment I feel! Now I ask you to say that again." And Brother Conrad said it another time, and after he did, the soul said: "Holy Father, when you pray for me, I feel completely relieved, so I ask you not to stop praying for me." Then Brother Conrad, seeing that this soul was being helped by his prayers, said one hundred Our Fathers for him. When he finished, that soul said: "On behalf of God, I thank you, dearest Father, for the charity you have had toward me, because through your prayer I am freed from all punishment and I am now going to the heavenly kingdom." After saying this that soul departed. Then Brother Conrad, to give joy and comfort to the brothers, related that whole vision to them in detail.

To the praise of Jesus Christ
and the little poor man Francis.
Amen.

Chapter 44
HOW THE MOTHER OF CHRIST AND SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND SAINT FRANCIS APPEARED TO BROTHER CONRAD AND TOLD HIM WHICH OF THEM BORE THE GREATEST SORROW OVER THE PASSION OF CHRIST

At the time when Brother Conrad and Brother Peter, two shining stars in the Province of the March and both heavenly men, were staying together in at the place of Forano, in the custody of Ancona, there was such love and charity between them that it seemed there was one and the same heart and soul between the two of them; they bound each other to this pact: that every consolation which the mercy of God gave to them, they should both reveal to each other in charity.

Having sealed this pact, it happened one day that while Brother Peter was in prayer, thinking devoutly about the Passion of Christ, and how the most Blessed Mother of Christ and the most beloved John the Evangelist and Saint Francis were painted at the foot of the cross, crucified with Christ through suffering of spirit, a desire came to him, to know which of those three had experienced the greatest suffering over the Passion of Christ: the Mother who had given Him birth; or the disciple who had slept on His breast; or Saint Francis who was crucified with Christ. And while he was in this devout thought, there appeared to him the Virgin Mary with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Francis, clothed in the most noble clothing of

 Previous

Next 

 

Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 3, p. 639