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The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi by Father Candide Chalippe
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retired to Florence. There he saw Francis, examined his conduct, admired
his virtues, and felt himself called by God to imitate him. An only
son of his had a similar vocation. The father and the son divided their
all among the poor, and became disciples of the Saint, whose prophecy
began thus to be fulfilled: that the wise and learned of the world
would enter into his Order.

Such a conversion sets before us this important truth: that the Spirit
breatheth where He will; that the Lord gives His grace sometimes to
what is most common, most simple, and even most base, according to the
notions of the world; that it is necessary to be attentive, that we
may not receive the grace of God in vain; and that, little as it may
seem at first, by being carefully attended to, it may have the most
beneficial results. Not to be thankful for it, to neglect it, to resist
it, is a heavy loss.

While Francis was at St. Gall, he foretold a thing which the event
justified a few years afterwards. Three men at Florence brought each
a child to receive his blessing. As soon as he was apprised of it, he
went into the garden and gathered five figs, then he came in, and gave
one to the first of the children, one to the second, and three to the
third, to whom he addressed the following words: "You will be my dear
child." That one, when he had attained the proper age, took the habit
of the Friars Minor, and was called Brother Angel, which he deserved
by his angelic life, which was the fruit of his great devotion to the
Blessed Virgin, from whom he received very marked favors.

From the month of October, 1211, to the beginning of 1212, the man of
God visited the Towns of Pescia, Pisa, San Miniato, Sarthiano, Cetona,
and other places in Tuscany, where he made many wonderful conversions,
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