"My dear children," he said, "your life appears to me too severe; I see indeed that your fervor is too great for any doubt of you to be possible, but I ought to consider those who shall come after you, lest your mode of life should be beyond their strength."[18] Adding a few kind words, he dismissed them without coming to any definite conclusion, promising to consult the cardinals, and advising Francis in particular to address himself to God, to the end that he might manifest his will.
Francis's anxiety must have been great; he could not understand these dilatory measures, these expressions of affection which never led to a categorical approbation.

It seemed to him that he had said all that he had to say.

For new arguments he had only one resource--prayer.
He felt his prayer answered when in his conversation with Jesus the parable of poverty came to him; he returned to lay it before the pope.
There was in the desert a woman who was very poor, but beautiful.

A great king, seeing her beauty, desired to take her for his wife, for he thought that by her he should have beautiful children.

The marriage contracted and consummated, many sons were born to him.