Chapter LII. How Christ Complained to Brother Leo, of the Ingratitude and Pride of the Friars

ON a certain time the Lord Jesus Christ said to Brother Leo, the fellow of blessed Francis, "Brother Leo, I lament for the friars." To Whom answered Brother Leo, "Wherefore, O Lord? "And the Lord answered, "For three things: namely, because they do not recognise My benefits which so largely and abundantly I shower on them, as thou knowest; while they sow not neither do they reap. And because the whole day they murmur, and are idle. And for that they provoke each other often to anger, and do not return to love, and do not forgive the injury they receive,"