ragon: the humble religious man was not
able to avert the storm, as he called it, by tears and entreaties; but
at length fell sick through anxiety and fear. To restore him to his
health, his Holiness was obliged to consent to excuse him, but required
that he should recommend a proper person. The saint named a pious and
learned canon of Gironne. He refused other dignities with the like
constancy.

For the recovery of his health he returned to his native country, and
was received with as much joy as if the safety of the whole kingdom, and
of every particular person, had depended on his presence. Being restored
again to his dear solitude at Barcelona, he continued his former
exercises of contemplation, preaching, and administering the sacrament
of penance. Except on Sundays, he never took more than one very small
refection in the day. Amidst honors and applause he was ever little in
his own eyes. He appeared in the schools like a scholar, and in his
convent begged the {202} superior to instruct him in the rules of
religious perfection, with the humility and docility of a novice.
Whether he sung the divine praises with his brethren, or prayed alone in
his cell, or some corner of the church, he poured forth an abundance of
tears; and often was not able to contain within himself the ardor of his
soul. His mildness and sweetness were unalterable. The incredible number
of conversions of which he was the instrument, is known only to Him who,
by his grace, was the author of them. He was employed frequently in most
important commissions, both by the holy see and by the king. But he was
thunderstruck by the arrival of four deputies from the general chapter
of his order at Bologna, in 1238, with the news that he was chosen third
general, Jordan of Saxony being lately dead. He wept and entreated, but
at length acquiesced in obedience. He made the visitation of his order
on foot, without discontinuing any of his penitential austerities, or
rather exercises. He instilled into his spiritual children a love of
regularity, solitude, mortification, prayer, sacred studies, and the
apostolical functions, especially preaching. He reduced the
constitutions of the order into a clearer method, with notes on the
doubtful passages. Thus his code of rules was approved in three general
chapters. In one held at Paris in 1239, he procured the establishment of
this regulation, that a voluntary demission of a superior, founded upon
just reasons, should