Comparing St. Francis, The Immigrant, And The Saint

ST.FRANCIS, LOVER OF NATURE
SINI SEBASTIAN RESEARCH SCHOLAR DEPT.OF ENGLISH BHARATHIAR UNIVERSITY COIMBATORE. DR.C.J DAVEES RESEARCH ADVISOR DEPT.OF ENGLISH ST.THOMAS COLLEGE THRISSUR .

Humility is the guardian and the ornament of all virtues. If the spiritual building does not rest upon it, it will fall to ruin, though it seems to be growing. This virtue filled Francis in a more copious abundance, so that nothing should be wanting to a man adorned with so many gifts. In his own opinion, he was nothing but a sinner, despite the fact that he was the ornament and splendor of all sanctity. He
which is its worst offspring. On the other hand, he always had a warm welcome for humble repentance. A friar was brought before him one time who had sinned against obedience and merited just Punishment. Looking at him. Francis could see sure signs that he was genuinely sorry and he was so pleased with his humble contrition that he decided to be easy on him. At the same time, he was anxious to avoid encouraging others to revolt by letting him off too lightly and so he ordered his capuche to be taken off and thrown Into thefire. That would show all the friars the kind of punishment which disobedience deserved. Then when the capuche had been in the flames for a while,Francis ordered It to be taken out and given back to the penitent. It was taken out and there was not the slightest trace of a burn on it. With one and the same miracle God approved Francis’ holiness and the humble contrition of the delinquent. Francis’ humility, therefore, is worth imitating; it was honored even on earth, so that God inclined to his slightest wish and the citizens of Arezzo underwent a change of heart. He repulsed the presumptuous attacks of the devils by his command and tempered the heat of a fire at will. This is the humility which exalts those who possess it and is respectful towards all; and consequently it is found worthy to be revered by
It is indeed wonderful how even irrational creatures recognized his affection for them and felt his tender love for them. Once when he was staying at the town of Greccio, a little rabbit that had been caught in a trap was brought alive to him by a certain brother. When the most blessed man saw it, he was moved to pity and said: “Brother rabbit, come to me. Why did you allow yourself to be deceived like this?" And as Soon as the rabbit had been let go by the brother who held it, it fled to the saint, and, without being forced by anyone, it lay quiet in his bosom as the Safest place possible. After he had rested there a little while, the holy father, caressing it with motherly affection, released it so it could return free to the Woods. But when it had been placed upon the ground several times and had returned each time to the Saint’s bosom, he finally commanded it to be carried by the brothers to the nearby woods. Something similar happened with a certain rabbit, by nature a very wild creature,when he was on an island in the lake of