same earth? I hope, with God's help, to bear without much inconvenience
what my fellow-men can bear so willingly." These ideas were very
pleasing to the Patriarch, and the postulant was received. It must be
admitted that man has resources of strength which he might make use
of to imitate the saints in many things, if he were not wanting in
exertion and confidence in God.

From Monte Casale Francis passed over the Appennines, and went through
the Valley of Marecchia to reach Monte Feltro, or St. Leo. He learnt
on the road that the lord of that town was about to be knighted at his
castle, where he was giving a grand feast, accompanied by games and
theatricals, to a numerous assembly of the nobility, among whom was
Count Orlando Catanio, lord of Chiusi Nuovo, and of all the Casentino.
Being near the castle, and hearing the sound of the trumpets, which
denoted that the revelry was about to begin, he said to his
companions:--"Let us go hither also, and let us combat the devil with
all our might, who never fails in these rejoicings to lay his snares
into which many fall; for it is our duty to labor everywhere and in
all places for the salvation of souls." He went up to the castle, and
heard the solemn mass with all those who accompanied the new knight.
As soon as it was over, he took a position on a height near the church,
in order to preach from thence, and the crowd gathered round him to
listen.

He took the following Italian words for his text:--"Tanto e il ben che
aspetto, che d'ogni pena mi diletto:" which means--"the good which I
hope for is so great, that to obtain it all suffering is pleasurable."
He proved his text by this passage from St. Paul:--"The sufferings of
this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come;" by
the example of the apostles, who were filled with joy for having been