Chapter III. How a band of youths made him their master of the revels, so that he might feed them: and of the change that came over him

7. He began to be changed into a perfect man and to become other than he had been.

So on his return home the children of Babylon followed him and dragged him, now that he was tending elsewhither, to other pursuits even against his will; for a band of young fellows of Assisi, whose leader he had formerly been in their vanity, still continued to invite him to share their feasts, which always ministered to wantonness and buffoonery. They made him their chief, for, having often experienced his liberality, they knew without doubt that he would pay the expenses of them all. They yielded him obedience that they might fill their bellies, and endured subjection that they might be able to glut themselves. He did not refuse the proffered honour, that he might not be taxed with stinginess, and amid his holy meditations was mindful of good-fellowship. He prepared a sumptuous banquet and doubled the dainties, and his guests, filled with them even to vomiting, polluted the streets of the town with their drunken songs. Francis followed them carrying a staff in his hands as master of the revels; but by degrees he withdrew from them in body, being already in mind become deaf to such things, as he sang in his heart to the Lord. Then (as he himself related) he was filled with such Divine sweetness, that he became speechless and was quite unable to move from the spot. Then a kind of spiritual affection pervaded him, carrying him away to things invisible, by virtue whereof he judged all earthly things [not only] of no moment but entirely worthless. Amazing indeed is the condescension of Christ Who gives to those that do the least things the greatest gifts, and in the overflowing of waters preserves and advances those that are His! For Christ fed the crowds with bread and fish, nor did He repel sinners from His feast. When they sought to make Him their king He fled and went up into a mountain to pray.

It was God's mysteries that Francis was finding out, and even in ignorance he was being led to perfect knowledge.