Chapter CIV. Of the Vineyard of the Priest Spoiled on Account of Blessed Francis

Blessed Francis abode a while by reason of the weakness of his eyes at the church of St. Fabian, which is near Rieti, with a poor priest. For my Lord Pope Honorius was then at that city with all his court; whence many Cardinals and other great clerks used to visit blessed Francis almost daily, on account of the devotion which they had towards him. Now that church had a little vineyard next the house in which the blessed Francis was: and in that house was a door by which well-nigh all who visited him entered the vineyard, especially as the grapes were then ripe and the place was very pleasant; so that for that reason the whole vineyard was stripped and spoiled of its grapes. On account of which that priest began to be scandalised, saying, "Though it was a small vineyard, yet I used to collect thence as much wine as was sufficient for my need, and behold I have lost it all for this year! "Hearing which blessed Francis made 28 o The Mirror of Perfection him to be called and said to him: "Be not any further disturbed, because we cannot do anything else now. But trust in the Lord, since He is able to make up thy loss by His servant to thee in full. Tell me, how many measures of wine thou hadst, when thou hadst most from thy vineyard? "The priest answered, "Father, thirteen measures." Blessed Francis said to him, "Be no more sad, nor say any injurious word to any one on account of this, but have faith in the Lord and in my word, and if thou hast less than twenty measures of wine I will cause it to be made up to thee." And from that time forward the priest held his tongue and was quiet, and in the time of the vintage he had from that vineyard twenty measures of wine and not less. And all those who heard this wondered greatly, saying that if the vineyard had been full of grapes it would have been impossible that there should have been twenty measures of grapes there. But we who were with him bear testimony that what he said of this and of all things was fulfilled to the letter.