제27장 성 프란치스코가 볼로냐에 가서 학생 두 명을 회개시켜

 

 

제27장 성 프란치스코가 볼로냐에 가서 학생 두 명을 회개시켜 수도자가 되게 했고 그중 하나를 큰 유혹에서 구해준 이야기

성 프란치스코가 한번은 볼로냐에 갔는데 전 시민이 성인을 보려고 달려나왔다. 군중이 하도 많이 밀어닥쳐 제대로 걸어갈 수가 없어서 광장까지 가는 데 매우 애를 먹었다. 광장은 남자와 여자와 학생들로 꽉 들어찼으므로 성 프란치스코는 중앙에 좀 높은데 올라서서 성령이 지시해 주시는 바를 설교하기 시작했다. 성인은 너무나 놀랍게 설교하여 사람이라기보다는 천사처럼 보였다. 그 천상적인 설교는 예리한 화살처럼 듣는 이들의 마을을 꿰뚫어서 설교를 들은 많은 남녀가 회개하고 속죄생활을 하게 되었다. 그중에는 안코나주에서 온 귀족 학생 들이 있었는데 뻴레그리노와 리네리라는 사람이었다. 두 사람 다 그 설교에 깊이 감동되어 성인 앞에 와서 자기들은 세속을 완전히 떠나 형제회에 입회하고 싶다고 말했다. 성 프란치스코는 계시를 받아 그들이 하느님께서 보내준 사람들이며 형제회에서도 모범적인 생활을 할 사람인 것을 알았다. 그들의 대단한 열심을 보고 기꺼이 입회시키고는 “뻴레그리노여, 그대는 형제회에서 겸손의 길을 충실히 따르도록 하고, 리네리여, 그대는 형제들에게 봉사하는 일을 하십시오”하고 훈시했다.

사실 성인이 말한 그대로 다 되었다. 뻴레그리노 형제는 학자며 로마법의 전문가임에도 불구하고, 성직자가 되지 않고 평수사로 지내려 했다. 이 겸손의 덕으로 그는 위대한 완덕에 이르렀고 성 프란치스코의 첫 제자인 베르나르도 형제도, 뻴레그리노야말로 이 세상에서 가장 훌륭한 수도자의 한 사람“이라고 찬양했다. 훗날 뻴레그리노 형제는 성덕이 넘친 가운데 이 세상을 떠나 복된 저 천국의 생명으로 옮아갔는데, 그의 죽음 전후에 많은 기적이 일어났다.

리네리 형제는 경건하고 충실하게 형제들을 섬기며 위대한 성덕과 겸손 속에 생활하였다. 그는 성 프란치스코와 친밀하게 지내어 성인은 여러 가지 비밀을 알려주곤 했다. 그는 안코나주의 관구장이 되어 오래동안 평화롭고 현명하게 그 관구를 이끌어갔다.

얼마 후 하느님께서는 그의 영혼에 아주 어려운 시련을 내리셔서 큰 근심과 불안에 빠졌다. 밤낮을 가리지 않고 눈물과 기도 속에서 엄한 단식과 채찍으로 극심한 고행을 하였으나 그 유혹을 쫓아버릴 수 없고, 도리어 자주 큰 절망에 떨어졌다. 하느님께서 내리신 그 시련으로 자기는 버림받았다고 믿었기 때문이다. 그러한 절망에 허덕이고 있던 중 “만약 성 프란치스코를 찾아가 그분께서 평상시와 같이 인자한 얼굴과 친밀한 우정으로 대해 주신다면, 하느님께서 아직도 나를 불쌍히 여기시는 것으로 믿고 그렇지 않으면 하느님께서 나를 버리신 증거다”는 생각을 가지고, 성 프란치스코에게는 최후의 수단으로만 가기로 결심하고 마침내 성인을 찾아갔다.

성인은 그때 중병에 걸려 아씨시의 주교관에서 누워 있었는데, 하느님께서는 그에게 형제의 괴로움, 절망, 품고 있는 계획, 방문해 오는 뜻을 모두 계시해 주셨다. 성 프란치스코는 곧 레오 형제와 맛세오 형제를 가까이 불러 “사랑하는 아들들, 리네리 형제를 빨리 마중나가서 내 이름으로 껴안고 인사하고, 내가 이 세상의 어떤 형제보다도 특별히 그를 사랑한다고 알려주십시오”하고 말했다.

두 형제는 곧 길을 떠나가 리네리 형제를 만났다. 그들은 리네리 형제를 껴안고 성 프란치스코가 지시한 대로 말하고 그의 영혼은 큰 위로를 받아 미칠 정도였다. 그는 진심으로 하느님께 감사드리면서 마중나온 형제들과 같이 성인이 병으로 누워 있는 곳에 이르렀다.

리네리 형제가 왔다는 말을 듣자, 성인은 중병임에도 불구하고 벌떡 일어나서 그를 맞으러 나왔다. 그리고는 다정스럽게 그 형제를 포옹하며 “내 사랑하는 아들, 리네리 형제, 나는 이 세상 모든 형제 중에서 특별히 형제를 사랑하고 있습니다”말하고 나서, 그 형제의 이마에 십자성호를 긋고 입 맞추며, “내 아들이여, 하느님께서 이번 시련을 허락하신 것은 형제가 큰 공로를 얻게 하려 함입니다. 만약 형제가 이 공로를 더 이상 원치 않는다면, 그 유혹은 사라지고 말 것입니다‘하고 성인이 말하자 유혹은 전에 없었던 것처럼 씻은 듯이 물러갔으며 그는 천상적 위안에 가득차 있었다.

그리스도께 찬미. 아멘.

주: 이 에피소드는 1222년경 볼로냐에서 있었다.

 

The Little Flowers of St. Francis  

 

27. How St. Francis Converted Two Students in Bologna

 

At one time while St. Francis was traveling, he came to the city of Bologna. When the people heard about his arrival, they ran to see him, and there was such a crowd that he could hardly walk. For they all wanted to see him, as a new flower of the world and an angel of the Lord, so that he had a hard time to reach the city square.

And when the entire square was filled with men and women and students, St. Francis stood up on a high place in the center and began to preach what the Holy Spirit dictated to him. And he preached such marvelous and astounding things that he seemed to be not a man but an angel. And his heavenly words seemed like sharp arrows which were shot from the bow of divine wisdom and pierced the hearts of everyone so effectively that by this sermon he converted a very great multitude of men and women from a state of sin to remorse and penance.

Among them were two noble students from the Marches of Ancona. one was called Pellegrino, whose home was in Falerone, and the other's name was Riccieri from Muccia.

Among others hearts had been touched interiorly by divine inspiration through the sermon, they came to St. Francis, saying that they had an intense desire to leave the world and receive the habit of his friars.

Then St. Francis, considering their fervor, knew by a revelation of the Holy Spirit that they weresent by God, and moreover he understood what way of life each of them would find most suitable. Therefore he received them with joy, saying to them: 'You, Pellegrino, keep to the path of humility in the Prder. And you, Riccieri, serve the friars."

And so it happened. For Brother Pellegrino never wanted to become a cleric but remained a lay brother, although he was a very learned scholar and an expert in Roman law. By means of that humility he attainedto very great perfection in virtue and especially to the grace of compunction and love for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

For inflamed by the love of Christ and burning with the desire for martyrdom, he sent to Jerusalem in order to visit the Holy Places of the Savior, carrying with him the Book of the Gospels. And when he read about the sacred places where the God-man had walked, and he touched them with his feet and saw them with his eyes, he bowed down to pray to God and confidently embraced those very holy spots with his arms and lovingly kissed them with his lips and moistened them with tears of devotion, so that he inspired great devotion in all who saw him.

As Divine Providence ordained, he returned to Italy. And like a true pilgrim and citizen of the heavenly Kingdom, he very rarely visited his noble relatives. He would encourage them to despise the world, and by his serious conversation he would urge them to live God, and then, quickly and hurriedly, he would leave them, saying that Christ Jesus who makes the soul noble is not found among relatives and familiar friends.

Brother Bernard, the first-born son of our very holy Father Francis, used to say something truly wonderful about this Brother Pellegrino, namely, that he was one of the most perfect friars in this world.

And he really was a pilgrim. For the love of Christ, which he always had in his heart, did not allow him to find peace in any creature or to attach his affections to any temporal thing, but he always strove for his heavenlyhome and looked to his heavenly home, and he climbed from virtue to virtueuntil he transformed the lover into the loved one. Finally Brother Pellegrino passed, full of virtue, from this life to Christ whom he loved with all his heart, and rested in peace, with many miracles before and after his death.

Brother Riccieri, the companion of Brother Pellegrino on earth and now his fellow citizen in Heaven, led an active life, living in great sanctity and humility, traveling on foot, and devoutly and faithfully serving his neighbors, the friars. And he became very intimate and popular with St. Francis, And he became very intimate and popular with St. Francis, so that he learned many things from the Saint and under his instruction clearly grasped the truth concerning many doubtful points, and he perceived the will of the Lord in matters with which he had to deal. And as the holy Father prophesied, he served the friars. He was appointed Minister in the Province of the March of Ancona. And owing to the zeal for God which always burned in his heart, he governed the province for a long time in great peace and wisdom, following the example of Christ who preferred action to teaching.

Now after some time, for the good of his soul, Divine Providence permitted a very great temptation to come over him, so that in his intense anxiety and trouble he afflicted himself severely with abstinence and disciplines and tears and prayers day and night. But he could not free himself from that temptation. And many times he was led into intense despair, because owing to the power of the temptation he believed himself abandoned by God.

But while he was plunged into extreme desolation and desperation, he reflected in his heart and said to himself: "I will get up and go to my Father Francis. And if he welcomes me and shows himself friendly to me, as he usually does, Ibelieve that God will still be merciful to me. But if not, it will be a sign that I have been abandoned by God�

So he set out and went to St. Francis. The Saint was then lying seriously ill in the palace of the Bishop of Assisi. And while he was meditation about God, the whole matter of that friar's temptation and desperation and plan and coming was revealed to him by God.

St. Francis immediately called his companions, Brother Masseo and Brother Leo, and said to them: "Go out quickly to meet my dear son Riccieri, and embrace and welcome him for me, and tell him that of all the friars who are in the world, I have a special love for him"

Now like obedient sons they went right out to meet Brother Riccieri. And finding him on the road, as St. Francis had said. They embraced him and told him the Father's loving words, which so filled his soul with sweet consolation that he was almost beside himself with joy. How happy he showed himself, and how he expressed his joy, and how he praised and thanked God with all his heart because God had made his journey successful, can hardly be put in words. O good Jesus, You never abandon those who hope in You, but always give us strength with a temptation so that we can sustain it!

He went to the place where that angelic and godlike man Francis was lying. And although St. Francis was gravely sick, he got to his feet and went to meet Brother Riccieri. And embracing him affectionately, he said to him; "My very dear son, Brother Riccieri, among all the friars who are in the world I have a special love for you."

And after saying that, he made the Sign of the Cross on his forehead and lovingly kissed him on the same spot and then said to him: "My beloved son, God gave you that temptation in order that you might gain very great merit. But if you do not want any more of that merit, you will not have it."

It is wonderful to relate that as soon as St. Francis had said those words, all that diabolical temptation suddenly left the friar, as though he had never in his life felt it. And he remained utterly consoled in God.

To the glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.