Saint Francis and His Friends Author:Francis Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: II. SAINT FRANCIS AND HIS FIRST COMPANIONS. It must be made known that our Blessed Father Francis was in all his actions conformed to Christ. For as Christ th... more »e Blessed in the commencement of His preaching chose to Himself twelve Apostles, who left all for Him, so the Blessed Francis had twelve chosen companions, all devoted to the deepest poverty. The first one chosen was Bernard of the Five Valleys. He was of great influence in Assisi. He was of a family of much repute. He was endued with wondrous prudence, and before his call was very rich in this world's goods. The second one was Peter of Catania, who along with Bernard was led by the example of Saint Francis to the adoption of evangelic poverty. Bernard and Peter both attached themselves to the life of lowliness, and to the end of their lives continued in that life patiently aiming at Gospel perfection. The third companion was Giles. He was chosen about eight days after Bernard and Peter had entered upon the new life and had distributed their possessions to the poor. Giles, seeing how these noble knights of Assisi despised earthly things, so that all around marvelled, glowing with a divine fervour, went early on the Feast of S. George to the church of S. Gregory, and after he had offered up his prayers went on to the hospital for lepers, where Saint Francis and Brother Bernard and Brother Peter were dwelling in humility most profound. Coming unto a parting of the ways, he knew not which path to take. He prayed to Christ, the loving Guide, who led him by the right way, to the hut which was the lowly hospital. As he was meditating on the purpose for which he had come, Saint Francis, who had come into the wood close by to pray, drew nigh to him. Brother Giles sank down on his knees before Saint Francis, and entreated ...« less