The Little Flowers of St Francis

Chapter I

In the name of our Lord Jesu Christ the Cruci- Jied) and of his Virgin Mother Mary. In this book are found certain little Flowers, Miracles and devout ensamples of the glorious poor little one of Christ, Saint Francis, and of certain his holy Companions, to the praise

of Jesu Christ. Amen

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AT the first, needs must we consider how the St *> glorious Saint Francis in all the acts of Francis his life was conformed unto Christ the blessed °* A53*8* one: how even as Christ in the beginning of His preaching chose out twelve Apostles, to contemn all earthly things, to follow him in poverty and other virtues; so Saint Francis in the beginning chose out for the founding of the Order twelve companions, possessors of the deepest poverty. And even as one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, rejected of God, finally hanged himself by the neck; even so one of the twelve companions of Saint Francis, whose name was John of the Chapel, fell away and finally hanged himself by the neck. And unto the elect this is a great ensample and matter for humility and fear; bearing in mind that no man is certain to persevere unto the end

The com- in the grace of God. And even as these holy panions Apostles were altogether wonderful in sanctity of St ancj humility and full of the Holy Spirit, so s these most holy companions of Saint Francis were men of such sanctity, that, from the time of the Apostles until now, the world never saw men so marvellous and so saintly; in that one of them was caught up into the third heaven, like Saint Paul, and this was Brother Giles; one of them, to wit Brother Philip Lungo, was touched on the lips by an angel with a coal of fire, as was Isaiah the prophet: one of them, and he was Brother Silvester, spake with God, as one friend doth with another, even as Moses did: one through subtlety of intellect flew up even unto the light of the divine Wisdom, like the eagle, to wit John the Evangelist, and this was the most humble Brother Bernard, who set forth clearly the deep things of Holy Writ: one of them was sanctified of God and canonised in heaven, being yet alive in the world, and he was Brother Ruffino, a gentleman of Assisi: and thuswise were they all favoured with singular marks of sanctity, as is set forth hereafter.

Chapter II

Of Brother Bernard of Quint 'avail re, Jirst companion of St Francis