The Enchantment of Youth

Earlier he had been the ringleader of Assisi's frivolous young crowd. They still invited him to their dinner parties, in which the suggestive and vulgar were always served. They chose him as their leader, since they had often experienced his generosity, and knew for sure he would pay all their expenses. They made themselves obedient so they could fill their bellies, and made themselves subject so they could gorge themselves. Not wanting to seem stingy, Francis did not reject the honor. even while meditating on sacred things, he maintained his courtly manners. He set out a sumptuous dinner, with double portions of the most elegant food, and stuffed to the point of vomiting, they dirtied the streets of the town with their drunken songs. As their lord, bearing a staff in his hands, Francis followed them. But gradually he withdrew bodily as he had already mentally turned deaf to those things, while he sang to the Lord in his heart. So much divine sweetness poured over him - as he later recounted - that he was struck dumb and could not move. A burst of spiritual energy rushed through him, snatching him into the unseen. It was so powerful it made him consider earthly things unimportant and utterly worthless.