Chapter XCIII. Against vainglory and hypocrisy

Of Foolish Joy

130. But while he welcomed spiritual joy, foolish joy he carefully avoided, knowing that that which perfects should be fervently loved, and that which infects not less watchfully shunned. His study was to crush vainglory in the seed, and not to suffer that which might offend the eyes of his God to exist even for a moment. For oftentimes when he was being extolled by the acclamations of many, he would grieve and groan over it, immediately turning his mood to sadness. Once in winter, the only covering of his holy body being a single tunic patched with very common stuff, his warden (who was also his companion) procured a fox's skin and brought it to him, saying: "Father, thou art suffering from infirmity of the spleen and stomach; I pray thee of thy charity in the Lord to allow this skin to be sewn underneath thy tunic, or, if not the whole, at least a little of it over thy¹ stomach". S. Francis replied: "If thou wishest me to have this done inside my tunic, have a piece of the same size sewn on outside, which may point out to men the skin hidden inside". The brother heard this and disapproved; he objected, but without effect. Finally the warden gave way and the pieces were sewn one over the other, that Francis might not appear outwardly other than he was inwardly.

O thou who wast the same in tongue and in life, the same without and within, the same when subject and when superior! Thou who didst ever glory in the Lord lovedst naught of outward, naught of private glory! But, lest I should offend the wearers of skins, I crave their indulgence for speaking of one piece of skin having been put on for the sake of the other: for we know that those who were stripped of innocence needed tunics of skins.