lepers. He was constantly seen in their hospitals, moving about in all
directions to aid them, preventing all their wants, showing the greatest
compassion for them, washing their feet, cleansing their sores, removing
the matter, and, by a wonderful effort of charity, kissing their
disgusting ulcers. He received from God in reward the gift of healing;
and this was a figure of the Evangelical cures, which he was soon to
apply to the diseases of the soul.

Among many proofs which St. Bonaventure adduces of his having the gift
of healing miraculously, he mentions that of a man of the Duchy of
Spoleto, whose mouth and cheeks were eaten away by a dreadful cancer,
and for whom all sorts of remedies had been fruitlessly employed. This
man met Francis returning from Rome (whither he had been to implore
the assistance of the blessed Apostles), who, out of great respect,
wished to kiss his feet; this the humble Francis prevented, but kissed
the cancerous face, which was instantaneously cured. The same saint
remarks: "I know not which is most to be admired, such a kiss, or such
a cure!"

The servant of God, who now acknowledged no other country than heaven,
and who was fearful of being the cause of some of his father's
violences, proposed to himself to take up his abode in Gubbio and
devote himself to the exercises of charity, without returning to Assisi;
but calling to mind the order which had been given him by the voice
which came from the crucifix, to repair the Church of St. Damian, he
thought himself bound to obey it, at least by "questing" for what was
requisite for working at it. The profound humility which he had acquired
by the degradations he had subjected himself to, gave him the courage
he required for begging in his native town, where he had been known
to have possessed everything in plenty. Having cast aside all