Chapter XVIII. Of the fiery chariot; and of blessed Francis' knowledge of things absent

47. At that time the brethren, walking before God with simplicity and before men with confidence, were deemed worthy to be gladdened by a revelation from God. For whilst, kindled by the fire of the Holy Ghost, not only at the appointed hours but also at every hour (since earthly solicitude and troublesome anxious cares had little hold on them) they chanted "Our Father "in melody of the spirit with suppliant voice, one night the most blessed father Francis absented himself from them in body. And lo! about the hour of midnight, while some of the brethren were at rest and others were praying earnestly in silence, a fiery chariot of dazzling brightness came through the door of the house and turned about this way and that two or three times within the dwelling. Above it rested a huge globe, like the sun, which lit up the night. The watchers were dazed, the sleepers were startled: and they felt a clearness of heart not less than of body. They all came together, and began to ask one another what this might be: but by the power and grace of that great light the conscience of one was disclosed to another; and finally they understood and knew that it was the soul of their holy father which had shone with such dazzling radiance, and that for the grace of his special purity and the great tenderness of his care for his sons he had been found worthy to obtain from the Lord the blessing of so great a gift.

48. And indeed they had often had proof of this by manifest tokens and had found that the secrets of their hearts were not hidden from the most holy father. O how often, not by any man's teaching, but by revelation of the Holy Ghost did he know what absent brethren were doing, did he open the hidden things of their heart and explore their conscience! O how many did he admonish in dreams ordering them what they were to do and forbidding what they were to avoid! O of how many did he foretell evil whose present conduct was good in appearance! So also, forecasting that the wickednesses of many would end, he announced that the grace of salvation would come to them. Nay more, if any one for his spirit of purity and simplicity deserved to be distinguished, he enjoyed the singular consolation of beholding S. Francis in a way of which the rest had no experience. I will relate one instance, known to me by the report of faithful witnesses. Once when Brother John of Florence had been appointed by S. Francis Minister of the brethren in Provence and had been holding a chapter of the brethren in that same province, the Lord God of His wonted mercy opened to him the door of utterance and made all the brethren well disposed and attentive to hear. Among the brethren was a priest named Monaldo (renowned by report but yet more renowned in life) whose virtue was founded on humility, fostered by frequent prayer and preserved by the shield of patience. Brother Antony was also present at that chapter, whose mind the Lord opened, so that he might understand the Scriptures, and utter among all the people words sweeter than honey and the honeycomb concerning Jesus. While he was most earnestly and devoutly preaching to the brethren on the text, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," brother Monaldo looked toward the door of the house wherein the brethren were assembled, and there saw with his bodily eyes blessed Francis raised up in the air, with his hands stretched out as on a cross, blessing the brethren. All who were present seemed to be filled with the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the saving joy which they experienced availed to render credible to them what they were told concerning the sight and presence of their most glorious father.

49. As to his knowledge of the secrets of other men's hearts, among many cases in which experience of this was had, let one be quoted concerning which no doubt can arise. A brother named Ricerio, noble by birth but nobler by conduct, a lover of God and a despiser of himself, was led, by the eager wish of a dutiful spirit, perfectly to attain and possess the favour of holy father Francis; but he greatly feared that in consequence of some hidden judgment S. Francis shrank from him and therefore made him a stranger to the favour of his love. That brother considered (being a God-fearing man) that if S. Francis loved any one with the deepest charity, such a one would also be worthy to deserve God's favour, but that, on the other hand, any one to whom S. Francis did not show himself well disposed and benign would fall under the wrath of the Judge on high. These thoughts the said brother kept turning over in his mind, of these things did he frequently hold silent converse with himself, disclosing the secret of his cogitation to none. 50. But one day, when the blessed father was praying in his cell, and Ricerio was come to that place distressed by his wonted cogitation, the Saint of God both knowing of his arrival, and understanding his thoughts at once sent for him and said: "Let no temptation disturb thee, my son; let no cogitation afflict thee, for thou art most dear to me; and know that among those specially dear to me thou art worthy of my affection and intimacy. Come in to me confidently whenever thou wilt, and let my friendship give thee confidence to speak." Ricerio wondered with the utmost amazement, and thenceforward, having become more reverent, as he increased in the holy father's favour, so he began to have a larger trust in God's mercy.

O holy father how must those grieve for thy absence who have no hope at all ever to find thy like on earth! Help, we pray, by intercession those whom thou seest to be wrapped in the contagion of sin. Though thou wast already filled with the spirit of all the righteous, foreseeing the future, and knowing the present, thou didst ever bear the image of holy simplicity, that thou mightest fly from all boastfulness.

But let us resume the thread of our story and return to the foregoing matter.