Chapter CXVI. Of some who set a bad example: of the Saint's curse upon them, and of his grievous displeasure thereat

156. So also any one who dishonoured the holy Religion by wicked deeds or example incurred the terrible sentence of his curse. Thus one day when he was told that the Bishop of Fondi had said to two brethren who had come before him, and by way of showing greater contempt for themselves allowed their beards to grow to excessive length: "Beware that the beauty of the Religion be not smirched by such presumptuous innovations"; the Saint arose forthwith, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and in a flood of tears broke out into words of prayer, or rather of imprecation, after this manner: "O Lord Jesu Christ, who didst choose the Apostles twelve in number, and though from this number one fell, the rest clave to Thee, and preached the holy Gospel, being filled with one spirit, Thou, Lord, in this last hour, remembering Thy mercy of old, hast planted the Religion of the brethren to prop Thy faith, and that the mystery of Thy Gospel might be fulfilled by their means. Who, then, shall make satisfaction for them before Thee, if not only do they not display examples of light to all men (for which purpose they have been sent forth), but rather show forth works of darkness? Let them who by their evil example confound and destroy that which Thou hast built up in the past by the holy brethren of this Order, and dost not cease to build up — let them be cursed by Thee, most holy Lord, by all the Court of Heaven, and by me, thy little servant."

Where are they who proclaim themselves happy in his blessing and boast that they had gained his intimacy as fully as they chose? If (which God forbid) they shall be found to have displayed in themselves the works of darkness to the peril of others, without having repented, woe unto them, woe of eternal damnation!

157. "The best brethren," he would say, "are put to confusion by the works of the bad brethren, and are under judgment through the example of the wicked, even in that wherein they have not sinned themselves. Wherefore they are piercing me with a cruel sword and are plunging it into my bowels all day long." Wherefore, chiefly on this account, he withdrew himself from the brethren's company lest he might chance to hear anything unfavourable concerning any one of them, to the renewing of his grief. And he would say: "The time will come when through evil examples the Religion be- *9 loved of God shall be so ill spoken of that it shall be ashamed to show itself in public. But those who at that time shall come to enter the Order shall be led by the operation of the Holy Ghost only, nor shall flesh and blood put any stain upon them, and they shall be truly blessed of the Lord. And although, as charity grows cold, which makes the saints work fervently, meritorious works be not found in them, unbounded temptations shall come upon them, and those who in that time shall have been found approved shall be better than their predecessors. But woe to them who while hugging themselves on the mere show of religious conversation shall be numbed in sloth and shall not sted-fastly resist the temptations that are permitted for the trial of the elect: for they alone who shall have been approved shall receive the crown of life: and meanwhile the wickedness of the reprobate is tasking them."