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son from the ship, a God-fearing man. "Take with you all these things," he said, "and in their time of need Sir 8:12 faithfully give them to those poor men hiding on your ship."
A great storm arose and they had to spend many days laboring at the oars. Mk 6:48 They had used up all their food. Only the food of the poor Francis remained. Owing to divine grace and power, his food multiplied so much that, although there were still many days of sailing remaining, it fully supplied the needs of them all until they reached the port of Ancona. When the sailors realized that they had escaped the dangers of the sea through God's servant Francis, they gave thanks to almighty God, Sir 50:19 who is always revealed through his servants as awesome and loving.
56 Francis, the servant of the most high, Dn 3:93 left the sea and began to
walk the earth. Furrowing with the plough Dt 21:3 of the word, he sowed the seed of life, bearing blessed fruit. Mt 13:3 Soon many good and suitable men, cleric and lay, fleeing the world 2 Pt 1:4 and courageously escaping the devil, by the grace and will of the Most High, followed him devoutly in his life and proposal.
Though the shoot of the gospel was producing choice fruit in abundance, it did not stifle his highest purpose, the burning desire for martyrdom. Not too long after Mt 25:19 this, he began to travel towards Morocco a to preach the gospel of Christ to the Miramamolin and his retinue.b He was so carried away with desire that he would sometimes leave behind his companion on the journey 2 Cor 8:19 and hurry ahead, intoxicated in spirit, in order to carry out his purpose. But the good God, out of pure kindness, was pleased to be mindful of me and many others.c After he reached Spain God withstood him to his face, Gal 2:11 striking him with illness, and called him back from the journey he had begun.d
- To go to Morocco, Francis most likely followed the route to Santiago de Compostella. See Map B, p. 208. Morocco, during Francis’s time, was ruled by the reformist movement of the al-Muwahhidun. From this Arabic term is derived the name "Almohads" by which they are designated in western literature. Their military occupation of North Africa was begun in 1129. They seized Tunis and Tripoli in 1159 and created for the first time in North Africa a single state. During these years of Francis’s life, under the reign of Muhammad al Nasir (1199-1213), the Almohad army was invincible and the empire at its zenith of material and cultural success.
- "Miramamolin" refers to "Amir al-Mu’minin," which translates as "Commander of the Believers." It is a religious title somewhat parallel to "sultan," which is a title for one who holds political power. "Miramamolin" can serve as a protocol title for a caliph
- In this passage Thomas makes a rare, personal reference to himself and to his own relationship to Francis.
- Thomas does not provide information about the nature of this illness. Later, in The Treatise on the Miracles 34 (hereafter 3C), he says that it was "a very grave illness." "For after suffering privation and weakness," he writes, "and having been driven from a lodging place by the incivility of the host, he lost his speech for three days." But Thomas says little else.
Vita Prima, Fontes Franciscani, p. 329-331
qui quemdam Deum timentem de navi ad se vocavit et ait ad eum: Tolle tecum haec omnia, et pauperibus his in navi latitantibus necessitatis tempore fideliter exhibebis ».
7Sicque factum est ut cum, tempestate nimia exorta, per multos dies laborantes in remigando, cibaria omnia consumpsissent, sola pauperis Francisci cibaria superessent. —8Quae in tantum divina gratia et virtute multiplicata sunt ut, cum adhuc plurium dierum forent navigationis itinera, ex sui copia usque ad portum Anconae omnium necessitatibus plenissime subvenirent.9Videntes itaque nautae se per servum Dei Franciscum maris pericula evasisse, gratias egerunt omnipotenti Deo, qui semper in servis suis mirabilem et amabilem se ostendit.
561Servus Dei excelsi Franciscus, relinquens mare, terram deambulat, eamque verbi vomere scindens, seminat semen vitae, fructum proferens benedictum.2Statim namque quamplures boni et idonei viri, clerici et laici, fugientes mundum et diabolum viriliter elidentes, gratia et voluntate Altissimi, vita et proposito eum devote secuti sunt.
—3Sed licet electissimorum fructuum evangelicus palmes copiam ex se producat, martyrii tamen sublime propositum et desiderium ardens in eo nullo modo frigescit.4Post non multum enim temporis versus Marrochium iter arripuit, ut Miramamolino et complicibus suis Christi Evangelium praedicaret.5Tanto namque desiderio ferebatur, ut peregrinationis suae quandoque relinqueret comitem, et ad exsequendum propositum spiritu ebrius festinaret. 6Sed bonus Deus, cui mei et multorum sola benignitate placuit recordari, cum iam ivisset usque in Hispaniam, in faciem ei restitit , et ne ultra procederet, aegritudine intentata, eum a coepto itinere revocavit.