although he was baptized John. Paris was one of the first objects of
his zeal; he would even have gone thither, if a cardinal had not
detained him in Italy for reasons which related to his Order. Not
having it in his power to undertake this mission, which he had much
at heart, he destined for it some of his principal followers.

There are some who affect to think that, in the Lives of the Saints,
their example should alone be proposed to the public, imagining that
the miracles they have performed can nowise contribute to the
edification of souls; and two authors of this century have ventured
to suppress all miracles in the Lives of Saints which they have
published. The Church, nevertheless, causes them to be recited in the
Divine Office, and they are carefully related by the holy fathers;
neither does any author of repute, of the centuries preceding, fail
to bring them forward. In fact, no one can deny that they add great
resplendency to the merits of the saints, and, consequently, give great
weight to the example they afford us. They uphold and increase the
idea we have of the power of God, of His providence, His justice, His
bounty, and His mercy, by which they excite us to glorify, love, and
serve Him; and, in showing His special good-will to His servants, they
induce us to invoke their mediation with confidence. Moreover, miracles
strengthen the faithful in their faith, because, being performed in
the bosom of the Catholic Church, they confirm the truth she teaches.
Now, it is not of less consequence to strengthen faith, than to propose
that which tends to the correction of morals, particularly when
incredulity makes as much progress as licentiousness. Moreover, the
miraculous actions of the saints frequently contain most salutary
instructions, and are always accompanied by virtues which may be
imitated, which will be very apparent in the Life of St. Francis.