Chapter XVI. Of his foreseeing the future. How he committed the Religion to the Church of Rome: and of a certain vision

23. As the holy father continued to profit in virtue and in the merits of his life, while the stock of his sons was now spreading everywhere and multiplying in numbers and grace, and was stretching forth branches wondrous for their fertility in fruits, he began often to ponder anxiously how that new planting might be preserved and increase, bound together by the bond of unity. At that time he saw very many raging like wolves against the little flock, and men grown old in evil taking occasion from the mere fact of its youth to do it harm. He foresaw that even among his sons things contrary to holy peace and charity might occur, and he doubted that (as often happens among the elect) some, puffed up by carnal feeling, and in spirit quarrelsome and prone to discord, might rebel. 24. And while the man of God was often meditating on these and similar things, one night he saw this vision in his sleep. He beheld a little black hen, like a tame dove, whose legs and feet were feathered all over. She had countless chicks which pressed eagerly round her but could not all be gathered under her wings. The man of God arose from sleep, recalled his meditations, and himself be-came the interpreter of his vision. "I am this hen," said he, "small in stature and black by nature, who ought through innocence of life to be attended by that dove-like simplicity, which wings its rapid flight to heaven, even as it is most rare in the world. The chicks are the brethren, multiplied in number and in grace, whom Francis' strength suffices not to defend from the disturbance of men and the gainsaying of tongues. I will therefore go and commend them to the holy Church of Rome, that by the rod of her power the ill-disposed may be smitten and the children of God enjoy full freedom eveiywhere, to the increase of eternal salvation. So shall the sons acknowledge their mother's loving-kindnesses and ever attend her reverend footsteps with peculiar devotion. With her to protect it, no evil shall befal the Order, nor shall a son of Belial pass through the vineyard of the Lord unpunished. Herself, our holy mother, shall be jealous for the glory of our poverty, nor will she suffer the fame of [our] humility to be darkened by the mists of pride. She will preserve inviolate in us the bonds of charity and peace and strike the froward with her sternest censure. The holy observance of Gospel purity shall flourish in her sight continually, nor will she suffer the fragrance of [her children's] life to vanish even for an hour." This was the whole intention of the Saint of God when he determined so to commend himself. These were the holy teachings of the man of God's foresight concerning the necessity for such a measure against the time to come.