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

feeble. Taking note of whom, the Blessed Francis was moved to pity over him, but forasmuch as that time the brethren, both they that were healthy and they that were sick, did with great cheerfulness use poverty as if it had been abundance, and in their ailments made no use of medicines, nor did even ask for them, but did rather take more willingly such things as were unwholesome to the body, the Blessed Francis said within himself: “If that brother would eat ripe grapes the first thing in the morning, I do believe it would do him good.” And as he thought even so did he.

Whereupon one day he arose early in the morning and called the brother secretly, and led him into a certain vineyard that was near the place. And he chose a vine whereon were grapes good to eat, and seating himself near the vine with the brother, he began to eat of the grapes, lest the brother himself should be ashamed to eat alone. And while they were yet eating, the brother was delivered of his ailment, and both together alike praised God.