68 ^fje ILtttle JFIolDccs of 



feemed as it were a great fire, which filled 

 the Church, and the place, and the wood 

 alfo ; wherefore the people of Affifi in great 

 hafte ran thither to put out the Fire, truly- 

 thinking that everything was burning. 

 But on reaching the fpot, and finding no 

 flames, they entered in, and found Saint 

 Francis with Saint Clara, and with all their 

 companions, abforbed in the contemplation 

 of God, and fitting around that humble 

 board. Whence they perceived that thofe 

 were divine and not material flames, which 

 God had caufed to appear miraculoufly, to 

 fhow forth and fignify the Fire of the Divine 

 Love with which the fouls of thofe holy 

 monks and nuns were confumed ; where- 

 fore they departed with great Confolation 

 in their hearts, and with holy Edification. 

 Then after a great fpace Saint Francis re- 

 turning to himfelf, and likewife Saint Clara, 

 together with the others, and feeling them- 

 felves much comforted by the fpiritual food, 

 they cared little for bodily fuftenance. And 

 thus, this bieffed meal being ended. Saint 

 Clara, well efcorted, returned to St. Damian ; 

 whence her Sifters, feeing her coming, re- 

 joiced greatly, inafmuch as they feared 

 left Saint Francis had fent her to rule 



over 



