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Once he took up the Franciscan habit, Brother Bernard of Quintavalle became known for his soaring contemplation. On one occasion while he was at Mass, he became so absorbed in contemplating divine things that he failed to kneel when the Body of Christ was elevated. He also did not pull his cowl back as the others all did, and he sat completely still, without expression, unaware of anything around him from morning until midafternoon.
After None was over, he returned to his senses.* He then walked all over the friary, shouting to the others, “Brothers! Brothers! There is no man anywhere, no matter how great, no matter how much he was promised in riches, who wouldn’t happily carry a bag of dung to win this amazing treasure!”
For fifteen years Bernard went everywhere with his mind and countenance turned like this toward heaven. He never ate until he was satisfied at meals, but would consume as little as was necessary and nothing that tasted good. He also became a man whom the scholars consulted for help in answering confusing questions and untying the notes of understanding that sometimes come with passages of Scripture.
Because Bernard’s mind was free, he soared like a swallow. On occasion, for twenty or thirty days at a time, he would remain on a mountaintop in divine contemplation. For this reason, Brother Giles would sometimes say of Brother Bernard that his gift was so unusual that perhaps he should take his food while flying in the air.
It was because of these graces given to Bernard that St. Francis would often talk with his brother both day and night. They were known to spend an entire evening in contemplation together in the woods, where they had gone to talk about our Lord.
[#28 of 53]
* The liturgical hour known as “None,” the ninth hour of prayer (nine hours from the time of dawn), traditionally at about 3 PM.