24

“Once when he was suffering more intensely than usual, a certain friar in his simplicity told him: "Brother, pray to the Lord that he treat you more mildly, for he seems to have laid his hand on you more heavily than he should." At these words, the holy man wailed and cried out: "If I did not know your simplicity and sincerity, then I would from now on shrink from your company because you dared to call into judgment God's judgments upon me." Even though he was completely worn out by his prolonged and serious illness, he threw himself on the ground, bruising his weakened bones in the hard fall. Kissing the ground, he said: "I thank you, Lord God, for all these sufferings; and I ask you, my Lord, to increase them a hundredfold if it pleases you, for it will be most acceptable to me. 'Afflict me with suffering and do not spare me' (Job 6:10), since to do your will is an overflowing consolation for me." So it seemed to the friars as if they were seeing another Job, whose vigor of soul increased with the increase of his bodily weariness.”

“When the hour of his passing was approaching, he had all the friars who were there called to him and, consoling them for his death with words of comfort, he exhorted them with fatherly affection to love God. He long continued speaking about practicing poverty and patience and about keeping the faith of the Holy Roman Church, and he recommended the Gospel to them before any other rule of life. While all the friars were sitting around him, he extended his hands over them, crossing his arms in the form of a cross-for he always loved this sign-and he blessed all the friars, both present and absent, in the name and power of Christ crucified. Then he added: "Farewell, all my sons, in the fear of the Lord; remain in it always! Temptation and tribulation are coming in the near future, but happy are they who will persevere in what they have begun. I am hastening to God, to whose grace I commend you all." When he finished this gentle admonition, the man beloved of God ordered the book of the Gospels to be brought to him and asked that the Gospel according to John be read to him from the place that begins: "Before the feast of Passover" (John 13:1). He himself, insofar as he was able, broke out with this psalm: "I have cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I have implored the Lord" (Ps. 141:2); and he finished it to the end: "The just will await me until you have rewarded me" (Ps. 141:2, 141:7).”

“In his blessed hands and feet could be seen the nails that had been miraculously formed out of his flesh by divine power. They were so embedded in the flesh that when they were pressed on one side, they immediately stuck out the other, as if they were continuous hardened sinews. Also the wound in his side could be clearly seen, which was not inflicted on his body nor produced by human means; it was like the wound in the Savior's side, which brought forth in our Redeemer the mystery of the redemption and regeneration of the human race. The nails were black like iron; the wound in his side was red, and because it was drawn into a kind of circle by the contraction of the flesh looked like a most beautiful rose. The rest of his skin, which before was inclined to be dark both naturally and from his illness, now shone with a dazzling whiteness, prefiguring the beauty of that glorious second stole.

His limbs were so supple and soft to the touch that they seemed to have regained the tenderness of childhood and to be adorned with clear signs of his innocence. The nails appeared black against his shining skin, and the wound in his side was red like a rose in springtime so that it is no wonder the onlookers were amazed and overjoyed at the sight of such varied and miraculous beauty. His sons were weeping at the loss of so lovable a father but were filled with no little joy when they kissed on his body the seal-marks of the supreme King. This unprecedented miracle turned their grief into joy and transported into amazement their attempts at comprehending it. So unique and so remarkable was the sight to all who observed it that it confirmed their faith and incited their love. It was a matter of amazement to those who heard of it, and aroused their desire to see it.”