Our Friend, Brother Fire
"On one occasion the doctors agreed that a cauterization would cure St. Francis's eyes, and the brothers encouraged him to have it done. The man of God humbly agreed, realizing the operation would be helpful, though very painful, too. They therefore sent for a surgeon who came and put a searing-iron in the fire in preparation for the cauterization. But Francis, in order to calm his already trembling body, talked to the fire like a friend: 'My little Brother Fire, the Most High has created you with a splendor that is the envy of all creation. He made you strong, beautiful, and useful. Be good to me now, be kind. I beg the great Lord who created you to temper your heat for me, so that you will burn gently and I may endure it.' When he had finished his prayer, he traced the sign of the cross over the red-hot poker and waited unafraid. The glowing iron was then laid into his soft flesh and drawn from his ear to his eyebrow. Then Francis said of the pain the burn inflicted. 'Give thanks to the Most High, for I can say truthfully that I never felt any heat or any pain.' He had achieved such purity of heart that his body was in perfect harmony with his spirit, and his spirt with God. And so it happened by God's dispensation that creatures, who always serve their Maker, were made subject in a marvelous way to the will and command of Francis." --St. Bonaventure, Major Life, 5:9
When we are truly, fully one with God there is perfect harmony and all things are possible.
"On one occasion the doctors agreed that a cauterization would cure St. Francis's eyes, and the brothers encouraged him to have it done. The man of God humbly agreed, realizing the operation would be helpful, though very painful, too. They therefore sent for a surgeon who came and put a searing-iron in the fire in preparation for the cauterization. But Francis, in order to calm his already trembling body, talked to the fire like a friend: 'My little Brother Fire, the Most High has created you with a splendor that is the envy of all creation. He made you strong, beautiful, and useful. Be good to me now, be kind. I beg the great Lord who created you to temper your heat for me, so that you will burn gently and I may endure it.' When he had finished his prayer, he traced the sign of the cross over the red-hot poker and waited unafraid. The glowing iron was then laid into his soft flesh and drawn from his ear to his eyebrow. Then Francis said of the pain the burn inflicted. 'Give thanks to the Most High, for I can say truthfully that I never felt any heat or any pain.' He had achieved such purity of heart that his body was in perfect harmony with his spirit, and his spirt with God. And so it happened by God's dispensation that creatures, who always serve their Maker, were made subject in a marvelous way to the will and command of Francis." --St. Bonaventure, Major Life, 5:9
When we are truly, fully one with God there is perfect harmony and all things are possible.
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