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“At the time when the holy man was lying ill at Rieti, a canon by the name of Gedeon, a dissolute and worldly man, became seriously ill and took to his bed. He had himself carried to Francis, and together with those present, he tearfully begged to be blessed with the sign of the cross. Francis answered: "Since you lived in the past according to the desires of the flesh, not fearing God's judgments, how will I make the sign of the cross over you? However, because of the devout requests of those pleading for you, I will make the sign of the cross over you in the name of the Lord. Nevertheless, realize that you will suffer more seriously if, after being delivered, you return to your vomit. Because of the sin of ingratitude worse things than before are inflicted." The moment he made the sign of the cross over him, the man who had lain there crippled arose healthy and broke out in praise of God, saying: "I am freed." But the bones of his loins made a noise which many heard as if dry sticks were being broken with the hand. After a short time had elapsed, forgetful of God, he gave his body again to impurity. One evening when he had dined at the home of another canon and was sleeping there that night, suddenly the roof of the house fell down on them all. The others escaped death and only that wretched man was trapped and killed. Therefore by the just judgment of God, "the last state of that man became worse than the first" (Matt. 12:45) on account of his vice of ingratitude and his contempt for God, when he should have been grateful for the forgiveness he had received. A crime that is repeated is doubly offensive.”