Chapter 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.
Chapter II.
Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the first companion of St Francis
Chapter 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.
ChapterIV.
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
Chapter V.
How the holy Brother Bernard of Assisi was sent by St Francis to Bologna,
and how he founded a convent there
Chapter VI.
How St Francis, when about to die, blessed the holy Brother Bernard, naming
him Vicar of the Order
Chapter 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
Chapter VIII.
How St Francis, walking one day with Brother Leo, explained to him what
things are perfect joy
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter XI.
How St Francis made Brother Masseo turn round and round like a child, and
then to go to Siena.
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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
Chapter XIV.
How the Lord appeared to St Francis and to his brethren as he was speaking
with them
Chapter XV.
How St. Clare ate with St Francis and his companions at St Mary of the
Angels
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter XVIII.
Of the wonderful chapter held by St Francis at St Mary of the Angels, at
which more than five thousand friars were present
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter XXI.
Of the most holy miracle of St Francis in taming the fierce wolf of
Gubbio
Chapter XXII.
How St Francis tamed the wild doves
Chapter XXIII.
How St Francis delivered the brother who, being in sin, had fallen into
the power of the devil
Chapter XXIV.
How St Francis converted to the faith the Sultan of Babylon
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter XXVII.
How at Bologna St Francis converted two scholars who became friars, and
how he delivered one of them from a great temptation
Chapter XXVIII.
Of an ecstasy which came to Brother Bernard, and how he remained from
Matins until Noon in a state of rapture
Chapter 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
Chapter XXX.
Of the beautiful sermon which St Francis and Brother Ruffino preached at
Assisi
Chapter XXXI.
How St Francis was acquainted with the secrets of the consciences of all
his brethren
Chapter XXXII.
How Brother Masseo obtained from Christ the virtue of humility
Chapter 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
Chapter XXXIV.
How St Louis, King of France, went in person in a pilgrim's garb to
visit the holy Brother Giles
Chapter XXXV.
How St Clare, being ill, was miraculously carried, on Christmas night, to
the church of St Francis, where she assisted at the Office
Chapter XXXVI.
How St Francis explained to Brother Leo a beautiful vision that he had
seen.
Chapter 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
Chapter 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.
Chapter XXXIX.
Of the wonderful discourse which St Anthony of Padua, a Friar Minor,
made in the Consistory
Chapter XL.
Of the miracle which God performed when St Anthony, being at Rimini,
preached to the fishes of the sea
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter XLV.
Of the conversion, life, miracles, and death of the holy Brother John
Della Penna
Chapter XLVI.
How Brother Pacifico, being in prayer, saw the soul of Brother Umile, his
brother in the flesh, go up to heaven
Chapter XLVII.
Of a holy brother to whom the Mother of Christ appeared when he was ill,
and brought him three vases of healing ointments
Chapter 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
Chapter XLIX.
How Christ appeared to Brother John of Alvernia
Chapter L.
How Brother John of Alvernia, when saying Mass on the day of All Souls, saw many souls liberated from Purgatory
Chapter LI.
Of the holy Brother James of Fallerone, and how, after his death, he appeared to Brother John of Alvernia
Chapter LII.
Of the vision of Brother John of Alvernia, by which he became acquainted with all the order of the Holy Trinity
Chapter LIII.
How, while he was saying Mass, Brother John of Alvernia fell down, as if
he had been dead
Forward to Chapter I
