of his Institute, and refused his brethren alms, he asked him only to
give him a loaf; and, having received it, he divided it among his
religious, and directed them to say the Lord's Prayer and the
Evangelical Salutation three times, for the person who had given it.
Their scanty meal was scarcely finished, when this man came to ask
forgiveness for the harshness he had shown them, and he was, after
that, the best friend of their convent, so good an idea of their
Institution had the saint impressed upon him.

At Terni, the bishop who had listened to one of Francis' sermons,
ascended the pulpit when he had done, and said to the people:--"My
brethren, the Lord, who has often enlightened His Church by men
illustrious for their science, has now sent you this Francis whom you
have just heard, a poor illiterate man, and contemptible in appearance,
in order that he may edify you by his word and his example. The less
learned he is, the more does the power of God shine in his person, who
chooses those who are foolish according to the views of the world, to
confound all worldly wisdom. The care which God takes of our salvation
obliges us to honor and glorify Him; for He has not done the like to
other nations."

Francis followed the prelate, fell on his knees, kissed his hand, and
said:--"My lord, in very truth, no one has ever done me so much honor
as I have this day received from you. Some attribute to me a sort of
sanctity, which noway belongs to me, and which ought to be referred
to God alone, the author of every perfect gift. But you, my lord, have
wisely separated what is valuable from what is vile, the worthy from
the unworthy, the saint from the sinner; giving the glory to God, and
not to me, who am but a miserable mortal. It is, indeed, only to God,
the King of Ages, immortal and invisible, that men should give honor