Wisdom Vault — onlinknow.co.za

[ r 34 ] THE STIGMATA OF ST FRANCIS that the Lady Jacopa was coming to him, and was already near at hand, and that she had brought with her all the things which were asked for in the letter. Having, then, received this revelation, St.

Francis bade the brother who was writing to write no more, for it was not needed, but to lay the letter aside; whereupon the brethren greatly marvelled why he would not have it finished or sent. But a short space afterwards, there came a loud knocking at the door, and St.

Francis bade the porter open it; which when he had done, he saw the Lady Jacopa, the most noble of all the ladies of Rome, with two of her sons, who were senators of Rome, and a great company of horsemen, and they entered the house; and the Lady Jacopa went straight to the infirmary to St.

Francis felt great consolation at her coming, and she also rejoiced exceed¬ ingly to find him alive, and to speak with him. Then she declared to him how, being at Rome in prayer, God had revealed to her that his life would shortly come to an end, and that he would send for her and ask those things of her which she had now brought.

Then she brought them to St. Francis and gave him to eat; and when he had eaten, and was now much strengthened thereby, the Lady Jacopa knelt at the feet of St. Francis, and with such exceeding devotion kissed and bathed with her tears those feet, marked and adorned with the wounds of Christ, that the brethren who were standing round thought they beheld the Magdalene at the feet of Jesus Christ, and could in no way remove her from him.

At length, after a long space of time they raised her up, and, taking her aside, they asked her how it was she had come thus opportunely, and thus well provided with [ 135 ] THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST FRANCIS all things needful for St.

Francis, both in his life and for his burial. To this the Lady Jacopa answered, that as she was praying one night in Rome she heard a voice from heaven, which said: ‘If thou wouldst find St. Francis alive, go without delay to Assisi, and take with thee those things which thou hast been accustomed to prepare for him in sickness, and those which shall be needed for his burial.’ And, continued the lady, ‘ As the voice bade me do, so have I done.’ So the Lady Jacopa abode at Assisi until St.

Francis passed from this life and was buried; and she and all her company paid great honour to his burial, and bore all the cost of it. Then returning to Rome, that noble lady soon afterwards died a holy death, desiring, out of devotion to St.

Francis, to be carried to St. Mary of the Angels, and there to be buried; which was done according to her will. [ 136 ] THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED BROTHER GILES, COMPANION OF ST FRANCIS THE FIRST CHAPTER How Brother Giles, with three companions, was received into the Order of Friars Minor INASMUCH as the example of holy men serves to detach the minds of devout hearers from transitory pleasures, and to excite them to the desire of eternal salvation, to the honour of God and of his most holy Mother, our Lady St.

Mary, we will say a word con¬ cerning the graces wrought by the Holy Ghost in the soul of our holy brother Giles, who, even while he wore the secular habit, being touched by the Spirit of God, began to strive in all actions to please God alone.