then on the mountain near Assisi, continually intent on prayer, begging
him to consult the Lord on the subject of his doubt, and to let him
know the result. He made a similar application to Clare, recommending
her to put the same question to her sisters, and particularly to the
one who should appear to her to be the most pure and most single-minded.
The venerable priest and the consecrated virgin gave similar answers,
and pronounced that it was the will of God that Francis should go forth
to preach.

When the two religious returned, Francis received them with great
respect and affection; he washed their feet, embraced them, and gave
them their meal. He then took them into the wood, where he knelt
bareheaded and inclined, with his hands crossed upon his breast, and
said to them: "Now tell me what my Lord Jesus Christ commands me to
do?" "My very dear brother, and my Father," replied Masse, "Sylvester
and Clare received precisely the same answer from our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is, that you set out to preach; because it is not for your
salvation alone that He called you, but for the salvation of others
also; and for them He will put His words into your mouth."

Then Francis, moved by the Spirit of God, as the prophets had been,
and inflamed by the fire of charity, rose up, saying: "Let us then go
in the name of the Lord;" and he set out with two of his companions,
Masse of Marignan, and Angelo of Rieti. He walked so fast to obey the
words of Heaven, that it was easy to see that the Lord acted upon him,
and that he had received fresh strength from above for the ministry
of preaching. His companions were the more convinced of this by the
very extraordinary wonders which were worked by him on the route.

The apostolical preacher went first to Bevagna, where he pronounced