Chapter XXII How the soldiers found things necessary by asking an alms from door to door, according to the counsel of the Blessed Francis Whenthe Blessed Francis was at the place at Bagnara, above the city of
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter XXII How the soldiers found things necessary by asking an alms from door to door, according to the counsel of the Blessed Francis Whenthe Blessed Francis was at the place at Bagnara, above the city of
Nocera, his feet began to swell grievously by reason of the ailment
of a dropsy, and sore sick was he there. But when the men of Assisi heard thereof, certain soldiers came in haste to that place that they might bring him to Assisi, fearing lest in case he should die there, others might have his most holy body. But whilst they were bringing him on the way, they rested in a certain walled town within the lordship of Assisi to dine there, and the Blessed Francis lay quiet in the house of a certain poor man that willingly did take him in, while the soldiers went about the town to buy themselves necessaries, the which howbeit they found not. Wherefore they came back to the Blessed Francis, saying unto him as it were in jest: “Brother, needs must you give us some of our alms, for here can we have nought to eat.” And the Blessed Francis, with great fervor of spirit, saith unto them: “The reason wherefore ye have found nought is that ye put your trust in your flies and your deniers”—for he was wont to call money “flies”—“and not in God. Now turn ye back to the houses among the which ye went seeking to buy, and setting aside all shamefastness, ask an alms there for the love of the Lord God, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit they will give unto you abundantly.”
They went therefore and asked an alms as he had told them, and with much gladness and abundance did they of whom the alms were asked give of such things as they had. And knowing that this by miracle had befallen them, with great joy did they return unto the Blessed Francis, praising the Lord.
Thus, verily, did the Blessed Francis hold it a high nobility both as towards God and as towards the world to seek alms for the love of the Lord God, for that all things which the Heavenly Father did create for the use of man on account of His love for His well-beloved Son, were freely granted by way of alms after sin, alike to the worthy and the unworthy.
For he said that the servant of God ought more willingly and joyfully to ask an alms for the love of the Lord God, than he that of his largesse and courtesy should go about saying: “Whosoever shall give me such a piece of money as is worth but a single penny, unto him will I give a thousand marks of gold,” forasmuch as the servant of God in asking an alms doth offer the love of God unto them of whom he asketh, in comparison wherewith all things that are in heaven and in earth be as nought. Whence before such time as the brethren were multiplied, and even after they were multiplied, when they went about the world preaching and were invited by any, howsoever noble and rich, to eat and to lodge with him, always at the hour of eating they went for alms, or ever they went into his house, as a good example to the brethren and for the dignity of our Lady Poverty. And many a time did he say unto him that did invite him that he would not go, making answer thus unto him: “I am fain not to lay aside my royal dignity and heritage, and my profession and that of my brethren, to wit, to go for alms from door to door.” And sometimes he that had invited him would go with him, and such alms as the Blessed Francis did obtain would he keep as relics on account of his devotion. He that wrote these things saw this many a time and doth hereby bear witness thereof.