men, Francis took from him the weighty wallet, which was full of bits
of bread, placed it on his own shoulders, kissed the shoulders of him
who had carried it, and came and said publicly: "So it is that I wish
my brethren to go always on the quest, and return from it: ever gay,
and glorifying God for all the good which He does in our favor."

The blessed founder employed himself day and night unceasingly in
inspiring them with the love and practice of the most sublime virtues;
he warned and exhorted each one of them in particular, and he made
discourses to them when collected, on the most essential heads; and
this again he enforced by his own good example; knowing that they were
called by God to train up those who would embrace his rule in the
different parts of the earth, and that on the instruction of the one
depended that of the others.

Under such a master, with the powerful assistance which they received
from Heaven, they made in a short time such considerable progress,
that the latest comers were not less competent for the exercise of the
Evangelical ministry than the first. Altogether animated with the same
spirit, watching, fasting, praying, penetrated with the fear of God,
full of holy desires, they resembled in a great degree the primitive
Church confined in the supper-room. Francis, who was perfectly
acquainted with their most inward feelings, and with the intentions
of Divine Providence, thought that he ought not to delay sending them
forth on missions according to the idea of St. Chrysostom, who says
that the Apostles, who were commissioned to labor in the conversion
of the world, were necessarily separated, and that it would have been
very prejudicial to the interests of the universe had they kept together
longer.