The Life of Saint Francis by Julian of Speyer - 407 

dedicated to the honor of the holy father Francis, and in memory of the event.

56During his life, and even after his death, Blessed Francis shone in miracles so numerous and so momentous that it would require a much longer work to explain them more fully.a In addition to the other almost innumerable miracles which he worked in the alleviation of various diseases, necessities or dangers, he also miraculously brought many dead persons back to life. The exact number cannot presently be determined, but we are certain that there were very many such occurrences. We have learned from trustworthy persons that there were at least eleven.b

For now, let it suffice to have touched in one way or another upon these things concerning his miracles, lest the narration of miracles tire those who want to hear briefly the course of his life. Why should we dwell on his miracles, which manifest sanctity more than effect it, since in the interests of brevity, we are compelled to remain silent about many of the signs of his miraculous manner of life, a few of which we touch upon lightly. I think that there are very few virtues in the practice of which this blessed man did not accomplish many things worthy of note which would be more profitably related than his miracles.c




Iuliani de Spira Officium Sancti Francisci, Fontes Franciscani, p.

7Porro locus praesaepii templum Domino consecratur, et altare super ipsum praesaepe constructum ad sancti patris honorem et facti memoriam dedicatur.

56 1Tot et tantis refulsit beatus Franciscus, tum adhuc vivens in carne, tum post excessum vitae, miraculis, quod ea plenius explicare multo prolixioris est operis. 2Nam praeter alia quasi innumera, quae in diversis aegritudinum, necessitatum seu periculorum generibus gessit, multos etiam mirifice mortuos suscitavit; 3quorum, etsi de pluribus non sumus incerti, numerum tamen ad praesens certum non ponimus, nisi quod undecim esse a viris fide dignis accepimus.

4Haec igitur de miraculis eius in praesentiarum utcumque tetigisse sufficiat, ne cursum vitae eius breviter audire volentes taedio miraculorum narratus afficiat. 5Quid enim miraculis, quae sanctitatem magis ostentant quam faciunt, immoremur, cum etiam miraculosae conversationis eius insignia, quorum pauca perstringimus, plurima propter brevitatem subticere cogamur? 6Paucissimas enim arbitror esse virtutes, in quarum exercitiis vir iste beatus notabilia multa non gesserit, quae ad narrandum forent utique potiora miraculis.

Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, vol. 1, p. 407