The Story of Brother Bernard and His Sack of Money

The first companion of Francis was Brother Bernard of Assisi. This Bernard was one of the most rich. most noble, and most learned young men of the town. And it came to pass in the days that Francis walked the streets and by-ways as an outcast, that he watched him.

Now it was some two years since Francis, having left his home, had shown his change of heart by his quiet, yet joyful manner, his shabby threadbare clothes, and his love for the poor and the lepers. But the men of Assisi did not yet understand that he had heard the call of God, and they still mocked at him at times and stoned him as he passed by, and jeered at him as though he had lost his wits.

When Bernard saw all this, and marked how patiently Francis bore their ill-usage, he began to think and to say within himself:

"This young man must have great grace from God. And I, too, would gladly follow his example and give up all for the sake of the Lord Jesus if I were truly sure that he is a saint"

So one evening he bade Francis come to sup with him and stay the night; and as they sat at meat he watched him. But Francis would make no outward show of his saintliness, and laughed and talked with him all the while in sheer gladness of heart.

When it was time to go to rest, Bernard had a bed prepared for him in his own bed-chamber, where there was always a light burning, and there again he watched him to see if he would spend the night in prayer. But Francis, in his humility, would not let him know what he meant to do, but at once threw himself upon the bed and pretended to sleep soundly.

Then Bernard also lay down and snored loudly, as though he, too, were fast asleep.

And when Francis thought he slept, he rose immediately from the bed, and, kneeling before the figure of Christ Crucified, he began to pray aloud, saying over and over again:

"My God! My God!"

And so he prayed all night, being lost to all but the thought of Him who had stooped down from Heaven to rescue the soul of His little son Francis, and being filled with love of Him so that he thought not of rest or sleep, but only how he might in return help to save the souls of others.

And Bernard watched and wondered till the daylight dawned. When morning was fully come he went straightway to Francis, saying: "Brother, I have determined to give up the world and to follow you in all that you command me."

Then was Francis very glad, but with that wisdom and prudence which is the mark of a true saint, he bade him consider the matter well, seeing that he was a man of great worldly wealth. So they decided to hear Mass together at the Bishop's house, and afterwards, by thrice opening the Missal, to learn thereby what might be the will of God in this matter.

Now when they had heard Mass, they begged the good priest to open the Missal at hap-hazard, and these were the words they read:

"If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and follow Me."

Then he opened it a second time, and these were the words they read:

"Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money."

Then he opened it a third time, and these were the words they read:

"If any man will follow Me, let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow Me."

So they departed in great joy to carry out these commands. And Bernard hastened to sell all his goods, and he put the money in a sack, and, with the help of Francis, he distributed it to the sick, to widows and orphans, to prisoners, to monasteries, and to pilgrims, whenever he found them in need.

Now there was in Assisi a certain man named Silvester, from whom Francis had once bought a load of stones wherewith to build up the ruined church of which you have read and heard.

When this man saw that Francis was giving money so freely to the poor, and helping Bernard to do likewise by finding out those who were in distress, he was moved with avarice.

So he sought out Francis in the by-ways where he was distributing money to the starving lepers, and said to him:

"You did not pay me enough for those stones which you bought of me for the repair of yonder church. And now, since you have so much money, you shall pay me a fitting price."

When Francis saw his avarice, he was amazed, but without a word of dispute, he put both hands into Bernard's sack, and, filling them with coins, placed the money in the bag which Silvester held out, saying that if he wished more he could have it.

Now it came to pass, as Silvester sat at home that night and thought of the gentleness with which Francis had made answer to him, that he was filled with shame and began to blame himself bitterly for what he had done. And as he sat and mused, there came to him thrice over, on three successive nights, a vision from God. He saw Francis stand upon a hillside, and from his lips there stretched a golden cross, the top whereof touched Heaven and the arms whereof reached from East to West.

So Silvester, too, was touched by the Grace of God, and, following the example of Brother Bernard, sold all his goods and became a Friar Minor. And so holy was his life within the Order of Saint Francis, that it was seen that he spoke with God as one friend speaks with another.

Yet might this never have happened had it not been for Brother Bernard of Assisi and his sack of gold.

- text taken from A Little Book of Saint Francis and His Brethren, by Ethel Mary Wilmot-Buxton