But, as he had not yet heard them preach, he desired prudently to judge
by his own experience of their respective talents. Having assembled
them together, he desired Bernard de Quintavalle to speak on the
mysteries of religion. He immediately obeyed, and spoke beautifully
on the several points. Peter of Catania was directed to set forth the
greatness of God, which he did with as much facility and learning as
if he had been long perfect in the art of preaching. A third was called
upon to give an exhortation on avoiding sin, and practising virtue,
which he complied with in powerful language. In short, they all handled
the subjects which were allotted to them, so as plainly to show that
wisdom was given to them from on high.

After they had made this essay in preaching, or rather this masterpiece
of eloquence, Jesus Christ, who had inspired their thoughts and words,
appeared in the midst of them in the form of a very beautiful young
man, and gave His blessing to each of them successively, with wonderful
benignity. This astonishing vision threw them into a rapturous
transport; after which, Francis addressed them as follows:

"My brethren, and dear children, give abundant thanks to God most
powerful, and to His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for having deigned
to have communicated celestial treasures through the speeches of the
most simple of men; for it is God who causes infants to speak, who
opens the mouths of little children, and makes the tongues of the most
ignorant eloquent: His goodness renders Him compassionate to the world,
which is loaded with crime. He has resolved to warn men of the woes
into which they are plunging themselves; and in order to root out from
amongst them the works of the devil, which are sins, He has chosen
vile and despicable preachers, so that no one shall have reason to
glorify himself before Him, and that every one shall acknowledge that