ST.FRANCIS OF ASSISI : BREAKING OF BREAD
Blessed Francis knowing that he was nearing his death, called his friar sons together to bless and strengthen them. Wishing to imitate his Lord and Master in his death as he had done so perfectly in his life, he ordered loaves of bread to be brought to him. After having blessed them, he had them broken into many fragments, for his great weakness would not allow him to break them himself. Then he took the bread and gave a piece to each of the friars, asking them to eat it. In this way as on the Thursday before His death our Lord had desired to eat with His Apostles as a sign of His love, so did His perfect imitator Blessed Francis wish to show the same sign of love to his own brethren. It is clear that he wished to do this in imitation of Christ. One of the friars preserved a piece of the bread, and after the death of the Holy Father, distributed tiny pieces of the bread to many seriously sick people. Once the sick person tasted the bread, he was immediately healed of his sickness and disease.
