When you see Bernardone curse me, if I say, 'Bless me, my father,' you must sign me with the cross and bless me in his stead."[25] His brother was prominent in the front rank of those who harassed him with their mockeries.

One winter morning they met in a church; Angelo leaned over to a friend who was with him, saying: "Go, ask Francis to sell you a farthing's worth of his sweat." "No," replied the latter, who overheard.

"I shall sell it much dearer to my God." In the spring of 1208 he finished the restoration of St.Damian; he had been aided by all people of good will, setting the example of work and above all of joy, cheering everybody by his songs and his projects for the future.

He spoke with such enthusiasm and contagious warmth of the transformation of his dear chapel, of the grace which God would accord to those who should come there to pray, that later on it was believed that he had spoken of Clara and her holy maidens who were to retire to this place four years later.[26] This success soon inspired him with the idea of repairing the other sanctuaries in the suburbs of Assisi.

Those which had struck him by their state of decay were St.Peter and Santa Maria, of the _Portiuncula_, called also Santa Maria degli Angeli.