Queen of France and mother of St. Louis, then was. Francis presented
himself before the king, he showed him the rules of his Institute, and
entreated him to receive the Friars Minor into his states. This monarch,
who, in addition to his political and military talents, had a great
fund of goodness and piety, received the holy man very favorably; he
condescended to read the rules, and after having conversed with him
for some time, gave him leave to build houses in Spain.

Francis now fixed his thoughts only on advancing towards the sea-side
in order to embark for Morocco, there to suffer martyrdom, for this
was the great object of his wishes. If we only formed our opinion of
things by the ordinary rules of prudence, we should be surprised, that
a man, visibly sent by God for the institution of a new order of
religious, should leave it so short a time after its birth, to seek
for death among the infidels. But the saints only thought of following
the impulses which the Spirit of God suggested to them, with reference
to the works which they had commenced by God's order. St. Anthony,
father of a great number of Cenobites, left his monastery, and followed
at Alexandria certain confessors of the faith; he attended upon them
in prison, and exhorted them under torment to procure for himself the
palm of martyrdom. St. Dominic, animated by a similar spirit, had
formed the intention of going among the Saracens, only two years after
the institution of his order. Francis, thus inspired from above, desired
to meet death for Jesus Christ, and left to God the care of his rising
family.

This disposition, which was the fruit of ardent charity, was very
pleasing to God; it entered into the economy of His providence for the
salvation of souls and for the aggrandizement of the new Order, for
the Saint did not cease his labors when he took the route which was