Eloquence of the Light

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

“Although he tried his best to hide the "treasure found in the field" (Matt. 13:44), he could not prevent at least some from seeing the stigmata in his hands and feet, although he always kept his hands covered and from that time on always wore shoes. A number of the friars saw them while he was still alive. Although they were men of outstanding holiness and so completely trustworthy, nevertheless to remove all doubt they confirmed under oath, touching the holy Gospels, that this was so and that they had seen it. Also some of the cardinals saw them because of their close friendship with the holy man; and they inserted praises of the sacred stigmata in the hymns, antiphons and sequences which they composed in his honor, and thus by their words and writings gave testimony to the truth. Even the Supreme Pontiff Lord Alexander, in a sermon preached to the people at which many of the friars and I myself were present, affirmed that he had seen the sacred stigmata with his own eyes while the saint was still alive. More than fifty friars with the virgin Clare, who was most devoted to God, and her sisters, as well as innumerable laymen saw them after his death. Many of them kissed the stigmata out of devotion and touched them with their own hands to strengthen their testimony, ...”

“Now fixed with Christ to the cross,

“In order that his merits might increase - for these are brought to perfection in patient suffering-the man of God began to suffer from various illnesses, so seriously that scarcely any part of his body remained free from intense pain and suffering. Through varied, prolonged and continual illness he was brought to the point where his flesh was already wasted away, as if nothing but skin clung to his bones. But when he was tortured by harsh bodily suffering, he called his trials not by the name of torments but sisters.”

“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.”

“And he said to his friars: "I have done my duty; may Christ teach you yours.’”