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

devil, in such sort as that he was brought as it were into the very depth of despair. And every day he was so sore stung thereby that he was shamed so often to confess the same, and for this reason did he afflict himself overmuch by abstinence and vigils and tears and disciplines.

And it came to pass by divine dispensation that the Blessed Francis did go unto that place, and on a certain day, when that brother was walking with the Blessed Francis, the Blessed Francis did perceive by the Holy Spirit his tribulation and temptation, and withdrawing him a little from the brother that did also go with them, he joined himself unto that sore troubled one, and said unto him: “My best-beloved brother, I will that henceforth thou be not bound to confess these suggestions of the devil, and fear not, for that no hurt have they done unto thy soul, but by my leave say thou sevenPater Nosters so often as thou shalt be in tribulation.”

And the brother did rejoice greatly of this word that he spoke, to wit, that he should not be bound to confess these things, for that hereby was he most afflicted. Nevertheless, however, exceeding greatly was he amazed, seeing that the Blessed Francis had thus perceived that which was known only unto those priests unto whom he had confessed the same.

And forthwith he was delivered from that tribulation in such sort that by the grace of God and the merits of S. Francis, he did abide thenceforth in the greatest peace and quiet; and because the saint had hoped it would be so, he had without peril absolved him from confession.