Chapter VI. Of the image of the Crucified which spoke to him, and of the honour he paid to it

10. Seeing now perfectly changed in heart (and soon to be changed in body too) he was walking one day by the church of S. Damian, which was almost ruinous, and was forsaken of all men. Led by the Spirit, he went in to pray. He fell down before the crucifix in devout supplication, and, having been smitten by unwonted visitations, found himself another man than he who had gone in. And, while he was thus moved, straightway — a thing unheard of for ages — the painted image of Christ crucified moved its lips and addressed him, calling him by name: "Francis," it said, "go repair My house, which as thou seest is wholly falling into ruin". Francis, trembling and in no small amazement, became well-nigh deranged by this address. He prepared to obey and was wholly intent on fulfilling the commandment. But forasmuch as he felt that the change he had under-gone was ineffable, it becomes us to be silent concerning that which he himself could not express. Thenceforth compassion for the Crucified was fixed in his holy soul, and (as we may piously suppose) the stigmata of the venerable Passion were deeply imprinted on his heart though not as yet on his flesh, (n) A wondrous thing and unheard of in our times! Who is not amazed at this? Who ever heard the like? Who doubts that Francis now returning to his native land appeared crucified when, though he had not altogether set aside the world outwardly, Christ by a new and unheard-of miracle spoke to him from the wood of the Cross? From that hour therefore when the Beloved spake to him, his soul was melted: and ere long the love of the heart appeared by the wounds of the body. Thenceforth, therefore, he could not refrain from weeping, even bewailing aloud the Passion of Christ ever as it were set forth before his eyes. He filled the ways with groanings, nor would he be comforted, as he remembered the wounds of Christ. He met an intimate friend, to whom he disclosed the cause of his grief, and forthwith his friend was moved to tears of woe.

But he did not forget to take thought for that holy image, nor did he in any wise neglect its bidding. Straightway he gave money to some priest that he might buy a lamp and oil, lest the sacred image should be defrauded, even for a moment, of its due honour of light. Then he diligently hastened to accomplish the rest; and gave untiring toil to the repair of that church. For, though the Divine words addressed to him referred to that Church which Christ acquired by His own Blood, he would not reach the highest point suddenly, for he was about to pass gradually from the flesh to the spirit.