Chapter I. How he was first called John and afterwards Francis. How his mother prophesied of him, and how he himself also foretold what would come to pass concerning himself; and of his patience in imprisonment

Of his Conversion

3. Francis, the servant and friend of the Most

JL High (to whom Divine Providence gave this name in order that a singular and unusual designation might make the rumour of his ministry the more¹² quickly known to all the world) was called by his mother John when, being born again by water and the Holy Ghost, he a child of wrath became a child of grace. The conduct of this woman (a friend of all goodness) was characterised by a certain token of virtue, for she was in some sort privileged to resemble the holy Elizabeth, both as regards the giving of a name to her son, and as regards the prophetic spirit. For while her neighbours were wondering at Francis' noble bearing and courteous ways she would say (as though prompted by a Divine oracle); "How think you that this son of mine will turn out? Be assured that he will become a son of God by his merits." Such indeed was the opinion of some who were very much pleased with Francis when a stripling because of his zeal for good. He always avoided every word which might give pain to any one, and the youth's manners were so refined that he seemed to all as if born of other parents than those from whom he was said to have sprung. Now his name of John has reference to the work of the ministry which he took up, while that of Francis to the spread of his fame, which after his full conversion to God soon reached every place. Accordingly he thought that among the feasts of all other saints that of John the Baptist was pre-eminent, the dignity of whose name had imprinted on him a trace of mystic virtue. Among those born of woman none has arisen greater than John: among the founders of Religions none has arisen more perfect than Francis. An observation surely worthy to be heralded!

4. John prophesied shut up within the secret place of his mother's womb; Francis confined in a worldly prison foretold the future while still ignorant of the Divine counsel. For once when there was a bloody battle between the citizens of Perugia and those of Assisi, Francis with several others was taken, and being put in chains with the rest endured the horrors of imprisonment. His fellow-captives, absorbed in sadness, bewailed their wretched plight: Francis, exulting in the Lord, laughed at his chains and despised them. His doleful companions rebuked him for making merry in his chains, and deemed him mad and demented. Francis answered prophetically: "Wherein think you that I exult? Another thought is with me: I shall yet be worshipped as a Saint all the world over." (And so indeed it is: all he said has been fulfilled.) Among his fellow-prisoners was a knight, a very proud and unbearable man: but, while all the rest determined to shun him, Francis' patience did not fail. He endured the unendurable knight and induced the others to make it up with him. Capable of every grace the chosen vessel now pours forth unctions of virtue everywhere! l

Footnotes

1. The writer here plays on the derivation of the name Crescentius from crescere, to increase. ↩

2. See Isaiah xxvi. 8. ↩