Saint iFpancis of Assist, 147 



bread, to the end that the Holy Father 

 might blefs it ; whence, her fpiritual dif- 

 courfe completed, Saint Clara, kneeling 

 with exceeding great reverence, prayed him 

 that it might pleafe him to blefs the bread 

 upon the table. The Holy Father replied : 

 " Sifter Clara, moft faithful among women, 

 I defire that you do blefs thefe loaves, 

 making above them the fign of Chrift's 

 Holy Crofs, to which you have given 

 yourfelf entirely, body and foul." Saint 

 Clara faid : " Pardon me, Moft Holy Father, 

 for I fhould be worthy of great reproach 

 if before the face of Chrift's Vicar on 

 earth, I, who am but a vile and filly 

 woman, fhould venture to give fuch bleff- 

 ing." And the Pope made anfwer : " To 

 the end that it be not reputed prefump- 

 tion, but merely righteous fubmifTion, I 

 charge you, by your facred vow of Obedi- 

 ence, to make the fign of the moft Holy 

 Crofs above thefe loaves, bleffing them in 

 the name of God." Then Saint Clara, like 

 a true daughter of Obedience, did devoutly 

 blefs the bread with the fign of the moft 

 Holy Crofs. Wonderful to relate ! Sud- 

 denly upon all thofe loaves appeared the 

 fign of the Crofs moft beauteoufly carven. 



Then 



