Some may, perhaps, think that his virtues are too transcendent for
imitation, and content themselves with admiring them, without gathering
any fruit from them. A celebrated heresiarch admired them in this
manner, in the last century. Bossuet remarks, in his excellent "History
of the Variations," that "Luther reckoned among the saints not only
St. Bernard, but also St. Francis, St. Bonaventure, and others of the
thirteenth century; and that St. Francis, amongst all the rest, appeared
to him to be an admirable character, animated with wonderful fervor
of mind." But the faithful in admiring his virtues, must not think
them not to be imitated, for they consisted in following the Gospel;
and they are all obliged to live according to the precepts of the
Gospel.

REV. CANDIDE CHALIPPE, O.F.M.





CONTENTS

BOOK I

His birth--Prediction of his future greatness--His studies--He applies
himself to commerce--His purity, and affection for the poor--He is
taken prisoner--He falls sick--His charity increases towards the
poor--He has a mysterious dream--He wishes to go to the war--Jesus
Christ dissuades him--He is rapt in spirit--His conversion--He kisses
a leper--Jesus Christ crucified appears to him--Salutary effects of
this apparition--He goes to Rome--Mingles with the poor--Is tempted