Saint Francis Repairs Saint Damian's Church

While Francis was diligently working at the repair of the church of Saint Damian, desiring that the lights in the church should be continually burning, he went about the city to beg for oil; but when he was come near a certain house he saw some men gathered together for play, and being ashamed to beg for alms before them, he turned back. But on reflection within himself he was convinced that he had sinned, and ran to the place where the game was going on, and owned himself guilty before all the bystanders for having been ashamed to ask alms because of them. Then with fervent spirit he went to that house and asked alms in French for the love of God to provide for the lights of the aforesaid church. And whilst he was engaged with others in the work of repairing it, he used to cry aloud in French to the passers-by: 'Come and help me in the work of the church of Saint Damian, which shall be the monastery of Ladies by whose fame and life our heavenly Father shall be glorified in the Church universal.' See how, being filled with the spirit of prophecy, he truly foretold what was to be!

- text taken from Franciscan Days: being selections for every day in the year from ancient Franciscan writings, translated and arranged by Alan George Ferrers Howell