Chapter CXVIII. A revelation made to him as to when he was God's servant and when not

Against Idleness and the Idle

159. From the time when this man began to cleave to God after casting away transitory things he scarce allowed an instant of time to pass unoccupied. Indeed, though he had already brought a great store of merits into the treasure of God, he remained ever fresh, and ever more ready for spiritual employments. He deemed it a grave offence not to be doing some good thing, and judged that not to be always going forward was to be going back. So one night while he abode in a cell at Siena he called his sleeping companions to him and said: "Brethren, I asked the Lord that He would deign to show me when I am His servant and when not. For (said he) I would be naught else but His servant. And Himself the most gracious Lord has now deigned to give me this answer: ' Know that thou art then truly My servant when thou thinkest, speakest, and doest holy things '. And therefore I have called you, brethren, because I would be ashamed in your sight if ever I fail to do any of these things."