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

brother Pacifico waited for him without the choir, praying in like wise before a crucifix. And when he began to pray, he was lifted up and snatched away into Heaven, whether in the body or out of the body God only knoweth, and saw in Heaven many seats, whereof he saw one higher than the rest, and glorious beyond them all, shining and made fair with every precious stone. And marvelling at the beauty thereof, he began to think within himself whose seat it should be. And straightway he heard a voice saying unto him: “This seat was the seat of Lucifer, and in his stead shall the humble Francis sit herein.”

And when he had come back to himself, forthwith the Blessed Francis went without unto him, at whose feet the brother fell straightway with his arms set together after the manner of a cross, and conceiving him as already in Heaven abiding in that chair, said unto him: “Father, forgive me, and beseech the Lord that He have mercy upon me and forgive me my sins!” But stretching forth his hand, the Blessed Francis lifted him up and straightway knew that he had seen something in prayer. For he did seem all changed, and spoke unto the Blessed Francis not as if he were still living in the flesh, but as already reigning in Heaven.

But afterward, for that he was unwilling to tell the Blessed Francis of his vision, he began to speak words unto him, touching the matter as it were in a roundabout fashion, and among other things he said unto him: “How deemest thou of thyself, brother?” The Blessed Francis made answer and said unto him: “Meseemeth that I be the greatest sinner in all the world.” And straightway it was said unto the soul of brother Pacifico: “Hereby mayst thou know the truth of the vision thou hast seen, for whereas on account of his pride was Lucifer cast down from that throne, even so shall Francis on account of his humility deserve to be exalted and to sit therein.”