Table of Contents: The Little Flowers of St.
Francis
IN THE FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION REVISED AND EMENDED
BY DOM ROGER HUDLESTON WITH AN AN INTRODUCTION BY ARTHUR LIVINGSTON
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTERS:
PART I
I.
In the name of Jesus Christ our crucified Saviour, and Mary his Virgin Mother. In this
book are contained certain Little Flowers - to wit, miracles and pious examples of the
glorious servant of Christ St Francis, and of some of his holy companions; to the glory
and praise of Jesus Christ. Amen.
II.
Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the first companion of St Francis
III. How St
Francis, having allowed an evil thought to arise in his mind against Brother Bernard,
ordered him to place his foot three times upon his neck and his mouth.
IV. How the
angel of God put a question to Brother Elias, guardian of Val di Spoleto, and how, when
Brother Elias answered proudly, the angel departed from him, and took the road to San
Giacomo, where he met Brother Bernard and told him what follows
V. How the
holy Brother Bernard of Assisi was sent by St Francis to Bologna, and how he founded a
convent there
VI. How St
Francis, when about to die, blessed the holy Brother Bernard, naming him Vicar of the
Order
VII. How St
Francis passed the time of Lent in an island, on the lake of Perugia, where he fasted
forty days and forty nights, eating no more than half of one loaf
VIII. How St
Francis, walking one day with Brother Leo, explained to him what things are perfect joy
IX. How St
Francis would teach Brother Leo what to answer, and how the latter could never say aught
but the contrary to what St Francis wished.
X. How
Brother Masseo told St Francis, as in jest, that the world was gone after him; and how St
Francis answered that it was indeed so, to the confusion of the world and through the
grace of God.
XI. How St
Francis made Brother Masseo turn round and round like a child, and then to go to Siena.
XII. How St
Francis gave to Brother Masseo the office of porter, of almoner and of cook; and how, at
the request of the other brethren, he afterwards took these duties from him.
XIII. How
St Francis and Brother Masseo placed the bread they had begged upon a stone near a
fountain; and how St Francis praised the virtue of holy poverty, praying St Peter and St
Paul to make him love holy poverty greatly. And how St Peter and St Paul appeared to him
XIV. How the
Lord appeared to St Francis and to his brethren as he was speaking with them .
XV. How St.
Clare ate with St Francis and his companions at St Mary of the Angels .
XVI. How St
Francis, having been told by St Clare and the holy Brother Silvester that he should preach
and convert many to the faith, founded the Third Order, preached to the birds, and reduced
to silence the swallows.
XVII. How a
little child who had entered the Order saw St Francis in prayer one night, and saw also
the Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and many other saints talk with him.
XVIII.Of the
wonderful chapter held by St Francis at St Mary of the Angels, at which more than five
thousand friars were present .
XIX. How the
vine of the priest of Rieti, whose house St Francis entered to pray, was trampled under
foot by the great numbers who came to see him, and how it yet produced a greater quantity
of wine than usual, as St Francis had promised; and how the Lord revealed to the saints
that heaven would be his portion when he left this world .
XX. Of a
beautiful vision which appeared to a young man who hated the habits of St Francis so
greatly, that he was on the point of leaving the Order.
XXI. Of the
most holy miracle of St Francis in taming the fierce wolf of Gubbio.
XXII. How St
Francis tamed the wild doves.
XXIII.How St
Francis delivered the brother who, being in sin, had fallen into the power of the devil.
XXIV. How St
Francis converted to the faith the Sultan of Babylon.
XXV. How St
Francis healed miraculously a leper both in his body and in his soul, and what the soul
said to him on going up to heaven.
XXVI. How St
Francis converted certain robbers and assassins, who became friars; and of a wonderful
vision which appeared to one of them who was a most holy brother.
XXVII. How
at Bologna St Francis converted two scholars who became friars, and how he delivered one
of them from a great temptation .
XXVIII. Of
an ecstasy which came to Brother Bernard, and how he remained from Matins until Noon in a
state of rapture.
XXIX. How
the devil often appeared to Brother Ruffino in the form of a crucifix, telling him that
all the good he did was of no avail, seeing he was not of the number of the elect of God;
which being revealed to St Francis, he made known to Brother Ruffino the error into which
he had fallen.
XXX. Of the
beautiful sermon which St Francis and Brother Ruffino preached at Assisi .
XXXI. How St
Francis was acquainted with the secrets of the consciences of all his brethren .
XXXII. How
Brother Masseo obtained from Christ the virtue of humility.
XXXIII. How
St Clare, by order of the Pope, blessed the bread which was on the table, and how on each
loaf appeared the sign of the holy cross.
XXXIV. How
St Louis, King of France, went in person in a pilgrim's garb to visit the holy Brother
Giles .
XXXV. How St
Clare, being ill, was miraculously carried, on Christmas night, to the church of St
Francis, where she assisted at the Office .
XXXVI. How
St Francis explained to Brother Leo a beautiful vision that he had seen.
XXXVII. How
Jesus Christ, the blessed one, at the prayer of St Francis, converted a rich nobleman who
had made great offers to St Francis, and inspired him with a wish to become a religious.
XXXVIII. How
it was revealed to St Francis that Brother Elias was damned, and was to die out of the
Order; and how at the desire of the said brother he prayed to Christ for him, and how his
prayer was granted.
XXXIX. Of
the wonderful discourse which St Anthony of Padua, a Friar Minor, made in the Consistory .
XL. Of the
miracle which God performed when St Anthony, being at Rimini, preached to the fishes of
the sea .
XLI. How the
venerable Brother Simon delivered a brother from a great temptation, on account of which
he was on the point of leaving the Order.
XLII. Of
several wonderful miracles which the Lord performed through the means of Brother Peter of
Monticello, and Brother Conrad of Offida. How Brother Bentivoglio carried a leper fifteen
miles in a very short time; how St Michael spoke to another brother, and how the Virgin
Mary appeared to Brother Conrad and placed her divine Son in his arms.
XLIII. How
Brother Conrad of Offida converted a young brother, who was a stumbling-block to the other
brothers; and how after death his soul appeared to Brother Conrad, begging him to pray for
him; and how through his prayers he was delivered from the great pains of Purgatory.
XLIV. How
the Mother of Christ and St John the Evangelist appeared to Brother Conrad, and told him
who had suffered the greatest sorrow at the Passion of Christ .
XLV. Of the
conversion, life, miracles, and death of the holy Brother John Della Penna .
XLVI. How
Brother Pacifico, being in prayer, saw the soul of Brother Umile, his brother in the
flesh, go up to heaven.
XLVII. Of a
holy brother to whom the Mother of Christ appeared when he was ill, and brought him three
vases of healing ointments.
XLVIII. How
Brother James Della Massa saw in a vision all the Friars Minor in the world in the form of
a tree; and how the virtues, the merits and the vices of all were made known to him .
XLIX. How
Christ appeared to Brother John of Alvernia.
L. How
Brother John of Alvernia, when saying Mass on the day of All Souls, saw many souls
liberated from Purgatory.
LI. Of the
holy Brother James of Fallerone, and how, after his death, he appeared to Brother John of
Alvernia
LII. Of the
vision of Brother John of Alvernia, by which he became acquainted with all the order of
the Holy Trinity
LIII. How,
while he was saying Mass, Brother John of Alvernia fell down, as if he had been dead .
LIV. How a
holy friar, having read in the legend of St Francis of the secret words spoken to him by
the seraph, prayed so earnestly to God that St Francis revealed them to him.
LV. How St
Francis appear, after his death, to Brother John of Alvernia, while he was in prayer,
LVI. Of a
holy friar who saw a wonderful vision of a companion who was dead.
LVII. How a
noble knight who was devout to St Francis was assured of his death and of the sacred
stigmata
LVIII. How
Pope Gregory IX, who had doubted of the stigmata of St Francis, was assured of their truth
PART II:
THE LIFE OF BROTHER JUNIPER
I. How
Brother Juniper cut off the foot of a pig to give it to a sick brother
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