V, who was a religious of his Order, have rendered the Basilica of St.
Peter so sumptuous and magnificent, that it is now the admiration of
the universe.

On going out of the church, he saw a multitude of poor, whom he
immediately joined, as much for the affection he had for them, as for
the love of poverty. He gave his clothes to him who appeared to be the
most necessitous. The following day, having dressed himself with
propriety, he set out on his return to Assisi, praying God to guide
him in the ways of holy poverty.

The devil, who was sensible that the young man would become confirmed
in his intention if he persevered in prayer, appeared to him under a
most terrific form, and threatened him, if he persisted, to render him
a dreadful deformity like unto an old woman of the town, who was so
hideous that he could not even look at her. But the newly-enlisted
soldier of Jesus Christ, who began to be inured to warfare, laughed
at the threats of the tempter, and was more urgent in his prayers, for
which purpose he chose underground places, where he could better defend
himself against the snares of his enemy. The fruit of these holy
exercises was a lively sorrow for the use he had made of the first
years of his youth, and a great perseverance in the mortification of
his senses, in order to bear the cross of Jesus Christ in his body,
as he bore it in his heart.

It was thus that Francis acted before having changed his habit, or
quitted the world. St. Bonaventure says that he had then no other
master from whom he received instructions than Jesus Christ;
nevertheless, an author quoted by Wading, assures us that he sometimes
consulted the Bishop of Assisi. We may here say, in order that there