Chapter CIII. Of his humility toward the Bishop of Terni and toward a certain peasant

141. He was once preaching to the people of Terni, and when he had finished, the bishop of that city commended him in the presence of all, saying: M At this last hour God has enlightened His Church by this man, poor and despised, simple and unlettered: wherefore we are bound ever to praise the Lord, knowing that He has not dealt so with every nation". On hearing this, the Saint took it wondrous kindly that the bishop in such plain terms should have judged him to be contemptible; and, as they entered the church, he fell at the bishop's feet and said: "Truly, lord bishop, thou hast done me great honour in that, whereas others deprive me of the things that are mine, thou alone hast kept them unharmed. Thou, I say, like a discerning man, hast separated the precious from the worthless, ascribing praise to God and worthlessness to me."

142. Not only did the man of God behave himself humbly to his superiors, but even as regards his equals and those in low estate he was readier to be admonished and corrected than to admonish. One day accordingly when he was riding on an ass (being unable to walk through weakness and infirmity) and was passing through the field of a peasant who was working there at the time, the peasant ran to him and eagerly asked whether he were brother Francis? And when the man of God had meekly replied that he was, the peasant said: "Strive to be as good as all men say thou art; for many put their trust in thee. I advise thee therefore never to come short of expectation! "Now when Francis the man of God heard this he dismounted, fell down before the peasant and humbly kissed his feet, thanking him for deigning to admonish him.

And so, though he was so famous that very many reckoned him a Saint, he deemed himself worthless before God and men, and felt no pride over his abounding fame and sanctity nor even over the great number of brethren and sons so holy that had been given him as an earnest of the reward of his merits.