The life of the holie father S. Francis Writen by Saint Bonauenture, and as it is related by the Reuerend Father Aloysius Lipomanus Bishop of Veron. In his fourth tome of the life of Saintes.

THE THIRTENTH CHAPTER. Of his holy Stigmattes.

THIS Angelicall man Sainct Francis, * 1.1 was ne∣uer accoustomed to be idle, from doeing good but rather like to the heauenly spiritts, in Iacobs ladder, he did, either ascend, vnto God, or descend vnto his neighbour. For, the time which was graunted vnto him, for his meritte, he had learnte, so prudētly to devide, that some parte, he did with great labour bestowe vpon the commoditie of his neighbour: & the rest, he did dedicate, to the quiet aboundance of contemplation. And therefore, when, according to the necessitie of place and time he had condescended to procure the salvation, of other men, withdrawing himselfe, from the dis∣quietnesse, of the multitudes; he betooke himself, to some secrette parte, of the wildernesse, & place of rest: that, attending there more freely, vnto the service of God; if any dust had cleaved vnto him, by meane of humane conversation, he might so shake it of againe. Two yeares, therefore, before he rendred vp his soule, to heauen; he was by di∣rection

of Gods divine, providence, after many la∣bours, broughte, into a highe place aparte, which is called the Mounte of Aluerna. And whiles he did in that place, according to his wonted manner, be∣ginne to fast the lent, which he obserued in honor of S. Michael the Archangell, enioieing then, the sweetnesse of divine contemplation, more aboun∣dantly, than he had binne a foretime, accustomed, and being set on fire, with a more burning flame, of heauenly desires, he beganne, yet in a more a∣boundant measure, to feele the good guifts of God sent downe from heauen vpon him. And he verely was indeed carried vp aloft, how be••t not as a cu∣rious searcher, of the Maiesty of God, soe to be op∣pressed with his glory: but as a faithfull and pru∣dent servaunte, seeking out the good pleasure of God, where vnto, he did most earnestly desire, by all manner of meanes, to conforme himselfe. And therefore it was, by the Oracle of God inspired into his minde, that in the opening of the booke of the Ghospell, Christ would vouchsafe, to reueale, vnto him, what should be most acceptable vnto God, in him, and concerning him. Hauing therfore, formerly be taken himselfe to prayer, with much devotion, he caused, the booke of the holy Ghos∣pells, to be taken of from the Aultar, and the same, in the name of the holy Trinitie, to be opened by his companion, who also was a man of great devo∣tion and holinesse. And considering that notwith∣standing the same booke, was three times opened, yet did he alwaies light vpon the Passion of our Lorde, he therefore being ful of Gods holy spiritte

did well vnderstand, that as he had imitated Christ in the actions of his life, so ought he before his departure out of this world, to be conformable vnto him, in the afflictions and dolours of his Pa••••∣sion. And albeit that by reason of the continuall austeritie, of his life formerly past, and of his conti∣nuall bearing our Lorde his Crosse, he was nowe but weake of bodie, yet was he nothing terrified therewithall: but was more forcibly animated, to the sustaining of martirdome. For the insuperable burning loue of good Iesus, had encreased within him, to lampes of fire and flames: soe that many waters were notable to quenche his soe prevalent Charitie.

Being therefore with the Seraphicall fervour of desires borne vp alofte into God, and by the sweet∣nesse of compassion, transformed into him, who of his surpassing charitie, would vouch safe to be cru∣cified; one morning about the Feast of the Exalta∣tion of the holy Crosse, while he did pray vpon the side of the hill, he sawe a Seraphin, with six wings all fierie and full of gloriouse light, descen∣ding downe from the toppe of the heauens. And as he came with a swifte flighte, to that place of the aire which was neare to the man of God, there appeared betweene his wings, the forme of a man crucified, hauing his handes and feete stretcht out, in manner of a Crosse, and fastened also, vnto a Crosse. Two of his wings were lifted vp, aboue his heade, two were streeched forth, to flie; and two, did couer, his whole body. At the beholding wher∣of he was exceedingly amazed: and there entred

his hatte, a loy, mingled with sorrowe. For he re∣ioyced in that gracious aspect, whereby he percea∣ued himselfe to be beholden of Christ, vnder the forme of a Seraphim: but, the fastening to the Crosse, did peirce through his soule, with a sworde of compassionate greife. He marveilously wondred in the aspect of soe strange & rare a vision: know∣ing well that the infirmitie of Passion, could by no meanes agree, with the immortalitie of a Seraphi∣call spiritte. But in the end he herehence percea∣ued, our Lord reuealing the same vnto him, that therefore this manner of vision, was by the provi∣dence of God, in suche manner of wise, presented vnto his veiwe, that he the friend of Christ might thereby forknow, that he was wholy to be trans∣formed, into the likenesse of Christ crucified, not by the martir dome of his flesh, but by the burning inflammation of his minde.

The vision therefore, disappearing, did leaue be∣hinde, a wounderfull heate, in his harte: and a no lesse wonderfull impression of signes, in his flesh. For presently there beganne to appeare in his hāds and feete, the signes of nailes, euen in such manner as a litle before he had seene them, in the likenesse of the crucified man. For his hands and feete see∣med to be in the very middest, peirced with nailes: the heades of them nailes appearing, in the inner parte of his handes, and the outer parte of his feete but the pointes of them, on the contrary sides. And the heades of the nailes, in his hands & feete, were rounde and blacke: but the pointes were some∣what long and wreathed, and as it were clinched:

which rising vppe, out of the very flesh, did sticke out higher than the rest of the flesh. His righte side also, as being pearced through with a speare, was couered ouer with a redde skarre: which of∣tentimes, casting out holy bloud: did besprincle, his coate and breeches therewithall.

But the servante of Christ perceauing that those markes so plainely imprinted in his flesh could not to be hidden from his familiar companions; and fearing neverthelesse, to publishe the secrette of our Lord, was in a greate agony and doubt of minde, whether he should vtter or conceale the vi∣sion which had binne shewed vnto him. Wherfore he called together some of the brethren, & speak∣ing vnto them in generall tearmes, he proposed his doubt before them, and required their councel and advise therein. At what time one of the bre∣thren: Illuminatus by name, a man also singularly il∣luminated by grace from heauen, perceiuing that he had seene some wonderfull things, by reason that he seemed to be very greately astonished, did speake in this wise vnto the holy man: Brother, knowe it for certaine that it is not only for your selfe, but also for others, that the divine mysteries of God, are sometime shewen vnto you. Where∣fore you haue iust cause to feare, least if you shall conceale the thing which you haue receaved for the profitte and behoofe of many, you be there∣vpon adiudged reprehensible for the hidden Tal∣lent. * 1.2 At whose wordes, the holy man, being greatly moved, albeit that at other times he was wont to say; My secrette vnto my selfe; did yet nowe at this time

with much feare relate the historie of the foresaied vision: adding also therevnto that he who had ap∣peared vnto him, had told him some things which he would neuer open vnto any man, so long as he should liue. And we may very wel beleiue that the wordes of that holy Seraphin, soe admirably appea∣ring in the Crosse, were soe misticall and secrette, that haply it was not lawfull to vtter them vnto men.

And nowe after that the true loue of Christ, had transformed this his lover into the same Image with himself; having accomplished his forty daies fast in the desert according to his determination; and the solemne feast of S. Michael the Archangell being no we approached; the Angelical man S. Fran∣cis came downe from the mountaine, bearing with him the forme of the crucified; howebeit not figu∣red, in tables either of wood or stone, by the hand of the Craftesman; but expressed in his fleshly members, by the finger of the living God. And be∣cause, It is good to hide the secrette of the Kinge: * 1.3 this holy man therefore being privie of the Kings secrette Councell, did apply all his best endeauour, to hide those sacred marks. But because it is the worke of God, for his owne glories sake, to manifest the things which he doth, our Lord therefore himself, who had secrettely imprinted the marks, did open∣ly shewe certaine miracles by meane of them: that the hidden and marveilouse force of those stigmats might manifestly appeare, by the evident testimony of signes and wonders.

For in the Prouince of Reate, there raigned a very

greivous plague: which did soe cruelly consume all the sheepe and Oxen, that no manner of remedie could be applied vnto them. But behold, a certaine devout man that feared God, was by vision in the night time admonished, hastily to goe vnto the Er∣mitage of the brethren: and that taking the water, wherein the servaunte of God Saint Francis (who then remained in that place) had washed his hands and feete; he should sprinckle the same vpon al the beasts. Rising therefore earely in the morning, he came to the place: & having prively obtained this water by meane of the companions of the holy man, he sprincled the sicke sheepe and Oxen, ther∣withall. Nowe see the wonder. As soone as the sprinckling had in any small quantitie once tou∣ched the beasts, that lay before languishing vpon the ground, they presently rose vp, as hauing nowe perfectly recouered their wonted strength: and ha∣stily went, vnto their feede and pasture: as thought they had felt no harme at all. Whereby it came to passe, that by the admirable vertue of that water, which had but touched those sacred woundes, all manner of plague, did vtterly cease, & the pestilent disease, was driven quite away, from the flocks.

About the foresaid mountaine of Aluerna, be∣fore such time as the holy man, did make his a∣boade in that place, by reason of a cloude, that rose out of the very mountaine, it selfe: a violent tempest of haile, did customably distroy the fruits of the earth; but after that happy apparition, not without the great wonder of all the inhabitants, the haile did cease. So that by the very face of hea∣nen,

nowe marveilously cleared contrarie to com∣mon custome, bot•• the excellency, of that heauen∣ly vision, and the efficacie of the stigmats, in that place imprinted, was sufficiently tessified and de∣clared.

It chaunced also once, in the winter time, that being, in regard of the weakenesse of his owne bo∣dy, and of the asperousnesse also of the waies, car∣ried vpon a certaine poore mans Asse, he was infor∣ced to lodge all night vnder the edge of a certaine out bending rocke: whereby he might in some sorte avoied the inconveniences of the snowe and night which came in such manner of wise vpon him, that he could not reache to the place appoin∣ted for his lodging. But the holy man in the meane while perceaving, that the other poore man did murmure & (as it were) complaine, by his groanes, & tossing himselfe on either side, as one who having but smal & slender couering, could scarce∣ly take any rest for the extreame bitternesse of the cold: and being enkindled with the fervour of divine loue, did streech out his hand and touche the man. Marveilouse doubtlesse was the effect thereof. For presently at the touche of that holy hande, which bare in it selfe the burning heate of the Seraphicall stone, all manner of cold, being quite expelled, there came such an heate vpon the poore man, both inwardly & with out, as if a flame of fire, from with in a furnace, had breathed out vpon him. For presently being comforted both in minde and in body, he slept more sweetely among the stones and the snowe, vntill the morning, than

euer he had rested in his owne bed: as ne himselfe afterwards did affirme. Wherefore it is manifest by most certaine tokens, that those holy signes were imprinted by his vertue and power, whoe by a Se∣raphicall operation, doth purge, illuminate, and in flame, seeing that these signes did both purge from the plague, and with wonderfull efficacie conferre healthe, clearenesse, and heate vpon bodies; as also after his death it was demōstrated by most evident miracles, which heareafter we will set downe in their due place.

And though he endeavoured withall his dili∣gence, to hide the treasure which he had found in the feilde; yet could it not be soe concealed, but that some did perceaue and see, the holy marks of his hands and feete: notwithstanding that he did (in manner continually) carry his handes covered, and did also, from that time forwarde, weare shoes vpon his feete. For they were seene euen in his life time, by sundrie of his brethren: whoe albeit that for their singuler holinesse, they were in all res∣pects very worthy to be believed; yet vtterly to re∣moue all scruple and doubt, laieing their handes vpon the holy Ghospels, they did by solemne oathe avowe, that soe it was, and that they themselues had seene them. Some of the Cardinalls also, by reason of the familiaritie which they had with the holy man, did in like manner see those sacred stig∣mats: the praises whereof they haue truly inserted into Proases Himnes, and Anthemes which they haue ser forth in his honor: whoe as wel by worde, as by writing; haue given testimony vnto the

truth. The chiefe Pastor also himself. Pope Alex∣ander, preaching once vnto the people before ma∣ny of the brethren, my selfe also being then pre∣sent; did affirme that he had with his owne eies seene those holy stigmats, while the Sainte was yet aliue. And at the time of his death, they were seene and beheld, by more than fiftie of the brethren; by the most devout Virgin S. Clare, together with the rest of her sisters; and by secular parsons not to be numbred. Amōgst whom, many (as shal be shewed in place convenient) haue both kissed them, for de∣votion, and haue touched them with their handes, for confitmation of their restimony.

But the wounde of his side, he covered with so greate carefulnesse that whilst he liued, no man could come, but by stealth, to see it. For one of the brethren, whoe was woont diligently to minister vnto him, hauing out of a Godly kinde of care, vpon a time perswaded him to put of his coate, to the end it might be made cleane, watching heede∣fully with his eye, did see the wounde: wherevnto also speedily applieng three of his fingers, he did aswell by sighte as by feeling, discerne the quātity thereof. And by the like manner of heedefulnesse did that brother also see it, whoe was at that time his Vicar. But the brother that was his companion a man verely of marveilouse simplicitie, meane while that he touched his shoulders, which were fainte and weake, by reason of some infirmity, put∣ting his hand by his hood, and lefting it by chance to fall vpon the wounde, did put him to greate paine thereby. Wherefore after that time, he had

his breeches so made, that they reached vp to his arme pitts, to cover the wound of his side But the brethren who, for the time being, did wash the breeches, or had his coate to make cleane, because they founde the same to be made red with blood, did vndoubtedly, by that evident signe, come to the knowledg of that sacred wounde: which after∣wards when he was dead, they with many others besides, did in open viewe behold and reuerence.

Nowe therefore thou most hardy warriour of Christ, beare thou the weapons, of thy most invin∣sible Captaine: where with being defended & ador∣ned, thou shalt overcome all thine adverfaries. Beare thou the standard of the highest King: * 1.4 at the sight whereof, all the souldiers of the Armie of God, may be encouraged Be are thou also the seale of the chiefe Bishoppe, Christ himselfe: whereby thy wordes and deedes, may worthely be of all men accepted, as irriprehensible, and full of autho∣ritie. For nowe, because of the Stigmats of our Lord Iesus, which thou bearest in thy body, no man ought to be molestfull vnto thee: but rather everie servaunte of Christ, is bounde to be devout towards thee withal affection. Now by these most evident signes, approved not vnto two or three wittenesses, for sufficiēcy; but vnto very many, for superabundance; the testimonies of God, being in thee, & by thee, made to to much to be beleiued, doe take away from Infidells, all vaile and colour of excuse: meane while that by them, the beleivers are in faith established: by the confidence of hope borne vp alofte, and with the fier of Charitie, in∣flamed.

Nowe is in thee truly accomplished, the first vision which thou diddest see: namely, that being to be a Captaine generall, in the warfare of Christ; thou oughtest (as with fignes of thine of∣fice) to be adorned with heavenly weapons, & with the signe of the Crosse. Nowe the vision of the Crucifixe, which thou did dest see in the begin∣ning of thy conversion, striking thee through the harte, with the sworde of compassionate griefe; & the hearing also of the voice from the Crosse, pro∣ceeding as it were from the high Throane, and se∣crette Propitiatorie of Christ (according as thou hast affirmed by thy sacred speach) are vndoubted∣ly belleued, to haue binne most true and certaine. Nowe is it verely belieued and avowed, that the Crosse which (in the progresse of thy conversion) brother Siluester did see, in marveilouse manner proceeding out of thy mouth; & that the swordes, striking through thy bowells, in the forme of a Crosse, which holy Pacificus did see: and that thy being lifted vp into the aire, in the manner also of a Crosse, when blessed Anthony did preach of the title of the Crosse, according as was shewen, to the Angelicall man Monaldus, were not things of fantasticall vision, but of heavenly revelation. And nowe towards the end, whereas at once is shewen vnto thee, both the highe and loftie similitude of a Seraphin, & the humble forme of him that was cru∣cified, inwardly inflaming thee, and outwardly lea∣ving his marcks vpon thee: that like as another An∣gell ascending from the rising of the sunne, thou mightst haue in thy selfe the signe of the living

God, it doth not only giue vnto the former visions firme cause of creditte and beliefe: but receaveth also from them, vndoubted testimony of the truth. Behold nowe, in seaven apparitions of the Crosse of Christ (in thēe and about thee) according to the order and courte of times marveilously exhibited and shewen, thou art as it were by sixe degrees, nowe happily come vnto this seauenth, wherein thou makest thy final rest & aboade. For the Crosse of Christ, being in the very first beginning of thy conversion, aswell proposed vnto thee, as on thy parte also assumed, and being from thence forth, in the whole progresse of thy conversation, by thee carried, throught the course of a most approved life, as remaining in thy selfe continually, & being demonstrated vnto others, for matter of example, doth by so evident a clearenesse of certaine know∣ledg, discover thee to haue accomplished the very height of Evangelicall persection: that this soe rat•• a demonstration of Christian wisedome, figured in the dust of thy fleshe, no man that is trnly devour, may set at naught, no man that is truly faithfull, may with stand, no man that is truly humble, may lightly regard, because it is verely & truly shewen, by God himselfe from heauen; and is well worthy, of all good acceptation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Genes. 28.12.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 25.26. Esay. 24.16.
• * 1.3

  Tob. 12.7.
• * 1.4

  Galat. 6.17.