Chapter LXI. Of his time and place of prayer and of his earnestness in prayer

Of S. Francis' Zeal in Prayer

94. Francis, the man of God, though absent in body from the Lord, strove to make his spirit present in heaven, and having already become a fellow-citizen of the angels, was separated from them by the wall of the flesh only. His whole soul thirsted for his Christ, to Whom he devoted not only his whole heart, but his whole body.

We relate, as we have seen with our eyes (so far as it is possible to convey them to human ears), a few of his achievements in prayer, for posterity to copy. Of his whole time he made a holy leisure wherein to write wisdom on his heart, for fear that unless he were continually advancing, he might seem to be falling short.

If invaded by visits from lay-folk, or by any business, he would cut them short unfinished, and go back to his inward musings. The world had no savour for him who was fed with heavenly sweetness, and Divine delights made him revolt from the gross concerns of men. He always sought out a hidden place wherein he might make not only his spirit but his every member fit for his God. When in public he felt himself suddenly visited by the Lord, in order that he might not lack a cell, he made a little cell of his cloak: and sometimes if he had no cloak, he covered his face with his sleeve, that he might not disclose the hidden manna. He always put something between him and the bystanders, lest they* should be aware of the Bridegroom's touch, so that he might pray unseen [even] when at close quarters with many on ship-board. Finally, when he could do none of these things, he made a temple of his breast. There was no spitting nor groaning, for he was unconscious of self; no hard breathing nor outward motions, for he was absorbed in God.

95. Such was his behaviour in inhabited places, but when praying in the woods and in solitary places he would fill the grove with sighs, water the ground with tears, smite his breast with his hands, and having there discovered, as it were, a secret hiding-place, he would often speak with his Lord in words. There he would make answer to his Judge, there entreat his Father; there he would converse with his Friend, there rejoice with the Bridegroom. And in order that he might make of the whole marrow of his being a whole burnt-offering in manifold ways, he would set before his eyes in manifold ways Him who is supremely simple. Often with lips unmoved he would ruminate within, and, drawing outward things inward, would uplift his spirit on high. And so the whole man, not so much praying, as having become a [living] prayer, concentrated his whole attention and affection on the one thing which he was seeking from the Lord. With what sweetness, think you, was he encompassed as he became accustomed to such intercourse? He knows: for I can but wonder. Knowledge will be given to him who has experience: it is not granted to those that have none. So, boiling in fervour of spirit, piercing in utterance, his aspect and his whole soul liquefied, he was even now abiding in the supreme commonwealth of the heavenly kingdom.

The blessed father was wont never to pass over negligently any visitation of the Spirit; but when it was offered, he followed it up, and, so long as the Lord permitted, he enjoyed the sweetness thus offered. If therefore while he was being pressed by any business, or was on a journey he gradually became aware of the touch of grace, he would taste that sweetest manna by frequent snatches here and there. For as he was on his way he would allow his companions to go on ahead and himself stand still; and so, converting the new inspiration into enjoyment, he received not the grace in vain.