times. Some of them were watching and praying; the others, who were
taking a little rest, awoke. It is not to be said how great their
astonishment was when they found themselves enlightened, as well
interiorly as exteriorly, by this penetrating light, which manifested
to them the state of their consciences.

St. Bonaventure remarks on the subject of this marvellous light, on
the testimony of those who had been witnesses of it, that they
understood well, by this luminous and burning figure, God represented
to them the lively and holy flames which illuminated their Father,
who, though absent in the body, was present with them in spirit, in
order that, as true Israelites, like unto Eliseus, they might look up
to and imitate this new Elias, whom He had appointed the light and
guide for spiritual men. Doubtless, he continues, the Lord, who opened
the eyes of the servant of Eliseus, that he might see around that
Prophet, that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire,"
would also, at the prayer of Francis, open those of his disciples to
shew them the marvel which was operating in their favor.

At his return from Assisi, the Father conversed with his children on
the prodigy which they had witnessed, and took occasion from it to
confirm them in their vocation. He entered in detail as to the secret
dispositions of their consciences; he foretold them many circumstances
relative to the increase of his Order; he made known to them, in fine,
so many sublime things beyond human ken, that they became perfectly
aware that the Spirit of God rested fully on him, and that their
greatest security would be in a conformity of themselves to his life
and doctrine.

People were so greatly moved and affected by his virtues and his