weakness of human nature was enabled to sustain by virtue of the Spirit
of God, which supported them. The fruit which they were to derive from
it, was to animate the faithful to keep, with as much exactness as was
in their power, the fasts prescribed by the Church, and particularly
the fast of Lent, which many principal motives of religion render so
venerable.

On Wednesday in Holy-Week, the boatman went to fetch Francis and bring
him back to Crotona. On the passage the Saint stilled a storm, by
making the sign of the cross on the waves; and as soon as he had landed
he went to the Convent at Celles, where he passed the remainder of the
Holy-Week with his brethren. His confidant did not think it necessary
to keep the secret of the marvellous fast. The rumor spread, and many
persons went to the island to see and venerate the hut in which he had
lived. The miracles which were wrought there by the merits of the
Saint, induced some persons to build there; and gradually a small town
arose, where later a church was built, with a convent of his Order,
near a spring at which he had drunk; sick were afterwards cured there.

After the Easter solemnities, he placed a superior in the convent;
then having tenderly embraced the religious, he made the sign of the
cross on them, and separated himself from them to go to Arezzo.

This town was at that time greatly agitated by internal dissensions,
which were likely to bring on its entire ruin. Francis being lodged
in the suburbs, where he had been hospitably received, saw over the
town, with the penetrating sight which the Almighty had given him,
devils who excited the citizens to massacre each other, and who appeared
to be transported with joy. To put these evil spirits to flight, he
sent Sylvester, as his herald, and gave him this command: "Go to the