COLLOQUY I.
That Meekness and Patience will Soften the hardest Hearts.
When the blessed Father came once to the city of Imola, he went to the Bishop and humbly asked him to allow him to assemble the people to hear the Word of God ; but the Bishop answered him harshly : ‘It is sufficient, Brother, that I preach to my people myself.’ The truly humble man bowed his head and went away ; but after a short time he again presented himself before the Bishop, who demanded rather angrily what more he had to ask him. The Saint replied with a humble heart and manner : ‘My lord, if a father turns away his son by one door, he must return by another.’ The Bishop, overcome by this humility, embraced him joyfully, saying : ‘Henceforth I give thee and thy Brothers a general leave to preach in my diocese, for thy humility deserves this reward.’