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

that he was still in the said palace, and did feel that he was evermore waxing worse and that his bodily strength was failing, did make him be borne in his bed to S. Mary of the Little Portion, that he might end the life of the body there where he had first begun to experience the light and life of the soul.

But when they that did carry him had come as far as the Hospital that is in the road halfway betwixt Assisi and S. Mary’s, he bade the bearers that they should set the bed on the ground, and because by reason of the long and passing sore infirmity of his eyes, he could as it were no longer see aught, he made the bed be turned round so as that they might set his face toward the city of Assisi.

And lifting him up a little in the bed, he gave his blessing unto the said city, saying: “Lord, whereas this city of old was, as I believe, the place and habitation of wicked men, so now do I see that by reason of Thine abundant mercy, in Thine own good time, Thou hast shown forth the multitude of Thy mercies therein above all other cities, and by reason of the goodness thereof alone hast chosen her unto Thyself to be the place and habitation of them that in truth should acknowledge Thee and give glory to Thy holy Name, and make manifest unto all Christian people the sweet smell of good report, holy life, and Gospel perfection. Wherefore I beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, father of mercies, that Thou remember not our ingratitude, but ever bear in mind the abundant pity that Thou hast shown forth in her, that she may be forever the place and habitation of them that do truly acknowledge Thee and glorify Thy blessed and most glorious Name from everlasting unto everlasting. Amen!”

And when he had spoken these words he was carried unto S. Mary’s, wherein in the forty-first year of his age and after he had fulfilled twenty years of perfect repentance, in the year of Our Lord 1227,1on the fourth of the Nones of October, he passed away unto the Lord Jesus Christ, whom with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength he loved with the most ardent desire and with the fullest affection, following Him most perfectly, running after Him most swiftly, and in the end most gloriously overtaking Him that with the Father and the Holy Ghost ever liveth and reigneth from everlasting unto everlasting. Amen.

All praise, all glory be unto God the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost. Honor and thanksgiving unto the most Blessed Virgin Mary and unto Her holy martyr Kunera; magnificence and exaltation unto Her most Blessed servant Francis. Amen.