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

I be in the state that I shall tell thee. Behold, the brethren with great devotion invite me to the Chapter, and moved by their devotion I do go unto the Chapter with them. And when they be gathered together they beseech me that I shall announce unto them the Word of God and preach among them. And rising up I preach unto them as the Holy Spirit shall have taught me. Now suppose, when the preaching is ended, that all should cry out against me, ‘We will not have thee to reign over us, for thou art not eloquent, as is befitting, and too simple art thou, and an idiot, and we be sore ashamed to have a superior over us so simple and despised, wherefore henceforth presume not to be called our superior!’ And so they cast me out with contumely and disgrace. Meseemeth I am no brother Minor if I rejoice not when they should thus hold me of no account and cast me out with shame, being unwilling that I should be their superior, as gladly as when they venerate and honor me, the profit and advantage to themselves in either case being equal. For if I am glad when they do exalt and honor me on account of their own profit and devoutness, wherein nevertheless may be peril to my soul, much more ought I to be glad and joyful of the profit and salvation of my soul when they speak evil against me, wherein is the certain gain of a soul.”