The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

humble and right spiritual. And when he and the Blessed Francis had discoursed together for some little time on the words of the Lord, the master asked of him concerning that word of Ezekiel: “If thou speakest not to warn the wicked from his wicked way, his soul will I require at thine hand.” For he said: “Many, good father, do I know that be in mortal sin, unto whom I speak not to warn them from their wicked way. Will their souls be required at my hand?”

Unto whom the Blessed Francis humbly said that he was a simple man, and that therefore it was needful rather that he should be taught of him than that he should make answer as to the meaning of the Scripture. Whereupon the master added humbly: “Brother, albeit that I have heard of sundry wise men the exposition of this word, yet gladly would I learn your understanding hereof.” The Blessed Francis said therefore: “If it be that the word is to be understood generally, I take it in such wise as that the servant of God ought so to burn and shine in his life and holiness in himself, as by the example of his light and by the tongue of his holy conversation he may be a rebuke unto all the wicked. Thus, I say, the brightness of his light and the sweet smell of his good name will be a warning to all to forsake their wicked way.”

The doctor, therefore, very greatly edified, at his departure thence said unto the companions of the Blessed Francis: “My brethren, the theology of this man, upborne by purity and contemplation, is as a flying eagle, but our learning doth crawl upon its belly over the earth.”