Chapter CVII Of these things that he foretold as concerning brother Bernard, and how all thereof were fulfilled as he said Whenabout the time of his death a certain dainty dish had been made
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter CVII Of these things that he foretold as concerning brother Bernard, and how all thereof were fulfilled as he said Whenabout the time of his death a certain dainty dish had been made
ready for him, he remembered brother Bernard, that was the first
brother he had, and saith unto his companions: “This dish is good for brother Bernard.” And straightway he made him be called unto him. Who, when he came, sat upon the bed whereon the saint was lying. And saith brother Bernard: “Father, I do beseech thee that thou give me thy blessing, and show love for me, seeing that if thou show fatherly affection toward me, I do believe that God Himself and all the brethren will love me the better therefor.”
The Blessed Francis could not see him, for that by the space of many days before he had lost the sight of his eyes, but stretching forth his right hand, he set it upon the head of brother Egidio that was third brother, believing that he had set the same upon the head of brother Bernard that sat next him. And straightway perceiving the same by the Holy Spirit he said: “This is not the head of my brother Bernard.”
Then brother Bernard drew himself nearer yet, and the Blessed Francis, setting his hand upon his head, gave him his blessing, saying unto one of his companions: “Write that which I shall say unto thee. The first brother that the Lord did give unto me was brother Bernard, that did first begin and did most perfectly fulfill the perfection of the Holy Gospel by giving all his goods unto the poor, by reason whereof and by reason of many other prerogatives I am bound to love him better than any brother in the whole Order. Whence I will and enjoin so far as I am able, that whosoever shall be Minister General shall love and honor him as myself. Let the ministers, moreover, and all the brethren of the whole Religion hold him in my stead.”
And hereby were brother Bernard and the other brethren much com- forted. For the blessed Francis, having regard unto the exceeding great perfec- tion of this same brother Bernard, did prophesy concerning him in the pres- ence of sundry brethren, saying: “I say unto you that unto brother Bernard have been given certain of the great and most subtle devils to exercise him, the which do send upon him manifold tribulations and temptations. But the merciful Lord nigh upon his end will take away from him all tribulation and temptation, and will set his spirit and his body in so passing peace and comfort as that all the brethren who shall see these things shall marvel greatly, and hold it for a great miracle; and in this quiet and with the consolation of every man shall he pass over unto the Lord.”
But all these things, not without passing wonderment of all the brethren that did hear them from the Blessed Francis, were thereafter fulfilled to the letter in brother Bernard himself. For brother Bernard, being sick unto death, was in so great peace and comfort of spirit that he was fain not to lie down, or if he lay, he lay as it were sitting, and not the lightest fume arising to his head did hinder his meditation on God by sleep or by reason of any illusion.
And if at any time this did befall him, straightway he would rise up and smite himself, saying: “What was it? Wherefore did I think thus?” Nought would he take by way of medicine, but would say unto him that offered it: “Hinder me not!”
And that he might die even yet more freely and peacefully he did transfer all care for his body from himself into the hands of a certain brother that was a leech, saying: “I am fain to have no care of eating nor of drinking, but I commit everything unto thee. If thou givest it unto me I will take it, if not, I will not ask for it.”
From the time that he began to be sick, he wished always to have a priest near him until his dying hour, and whensoever aught did come into his mind that was a burden to his conscience, he did straightway confess him.
But after his death he did become white and his flesh soft, and he did seem as though he smiled. Whence comelier was he dead than alive, and more delighted were all to look upon him dead than alive, for that he did seem verily a saint that smiled.