Chapter XCIX. Of the Very Grave Temptation which he had for More Than Two Years

When he was staying in the dwelling of St. Mary, a very grave temptation of spirit was sent to him for the profit of his soul. Thereby he was so much afflicted in mind and body that many times he drew himself away from the company of the friars, because he was not able to show himself joyful to them as he was accustomed. He afflicted himself nevertheless by abstinence from food and drink and words; and he prayed more instantly and shed tears more abundantly, that the Lord would be pleased to send to him a sufficient remedy in such a tribulation. But when he had been thus afflicted for more than two years, it happened on a certain day, while he was praying in the church of St. Mary, that the word of the Gospel was spoken to him in his spirit: If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove. Immediately the holy Father answered to Him, "Lord, what is that mountain? "And it was answered, "That mountain is thy temptation." The holy Father said, "Therefore, Lord, it is done unto me as Thou hast said." And immediately he was so perfectly set free, that it seemed to him that he had never had any temptations. Likewise in the holy mountain of Alverna, at the time when he received the stigmata of the Lord in his body, he suffered such trials and temptations from the demons that he was not able to show himself joyful to his brethren as he was used, and he used to say to his fellows, "If the friars knew how many and what afflictions the demons cause me, there is not one of them who would not be moved to compassion and pity on me."