The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-08

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~ his sanity career by leaving
home quite naked in order to feel
that he had Invested himself entire
ly of his possessions; but like most
interesting stories, this is beyond
verification.
Certainly he pledged himself now
to a life of simplicity and peace; his
marriage with poverty took on
with him the character of ro-
nance, and poverty became his
lady" whom he served with all the
ardor and verse of chivalry.
He remained faithful to the end
to his new love, and always free
from our instinct for possession; al
though cold and sick he would give
his cloak away at the first request,
so that his brother monks had to
keep mendicantS at a distance from
him.
He denied himself in a variety of
ways that ranged from the sublime
to the ridiculous; he ate cakes
cooked in lard because everything so
cooked violently upset him; and
then he accused himself of eating
cakes during Lent.
While very i'll he rose. shaking
with fever, and strengthening him
self with a trifle more Of food than
he had allotted himself by his rule,
he went out to preach to the people.
When the sermon was over he threw
off his cloak, tied a rope around
his waist, and commanded the
monks to drag him naked before
the people, and TO cast ashes into
his face. The weeping monks
obeyed, and before all he confessed
his violation of the rule.
lie had found certain kindred
l. Il souls who loved him so much
that they we're willing to accept
the hardships of his way of life for
the privilege of participating with
him in his mission.
That MISSION was to restore Christ
to the church; to ignore theology, to
forget orthodoxy and heresy to put
off the garment Of wealth and lax
ity which had clothed the now
powerful Church, and to show by
his life what Christ had been and
wished his followers to be.
He did not care for disputation,
for any achievements of science, or
any triumphs of knowledge: to be
good was better, he thought, than
to be learned.
my brothers, who are led by the
curiosity Of knowledge, will find
their hands empty in the day of
tribulation. I would wish that they
be strengthened by virtue"
He was Mortified at the develop
ment Of worldlineSs. immortality
and crime among the clergy; but he
would denounce none, he would
only live his life as purely as he
could, and trust in the power of
example as the greatest reforma-
ton.
He solaced himself against the
imperfections Of men with the beau
ty that greeted him as he wan
dered along the road. He held the
sun as his brother and sang to it
his lovely Canticle:
Most HIGH. onnnipotent, good
Lord. thine is the praise, the
glory. the honor and every bene-
diction.
To thee alone, Most High. these
do belong. and no man Is worthy
to name thee.
Praised he thou, my Lord. with
all thv creatures. especially my
lord Brother Sun that dawns and
enlightens.
And he. beautiful and radiant
with great splendor. signifies thee,
Most High.
BE praised. my Lord, for Sister
Moon and the stars that thou
hast made bright and precious
and beautiful.
Be praised. my Lord. for
Brother Wind. and for the air and
cloud and the clear sllv and for
all weathers through which thou
givest sustenance to thv creatures.
Re praised, my Lord. for Sister
Water. that is very useful and
humble and precious and chaste.
Re rraieed. nv Lord, for
Brother Fire. throuoh whom thou
dost iIlIimine the night. and
conelv is he and glad and bold
and strong.
Be nraised. nv Lord. for Sister,
= orr Mother Earth, that doth cher