Blessed are they who suffer." The words of St.Francis are only a commentary, but this commentary is worthy of the text.
It remains to say a word concerning two disciples who were always closely united with Brother Leo in the Franciscan memorials--Rufino and Masseo.
Born of a noble family connected with that of St.Clara, the former was soon distinguished in the Order for his visions and ecstasies, but his great timidity checked him as soon as he tried to preach: for this reason he is always to be found in the most isolated hermitages--Carceri, Verna, Greccio.[33] Masseo, of Marignano, a small village in the environs of Assisi, was his very opposite; handsome, well made, witty, he attracted attention by his fine presence and his great facility of speech; he occupies a special place in popular Franciscan tradition.

He deserves it.

St.Francis, to test his humility, made him the porter and cook of the hermitage,[34] but in these functions Masseo showed himself to be so perfectly a _Minor_ that from that time the master particularly loved to have him for companion in his missionary journeys.
One day they were travelling together, when they arrived at the intersection of the roads to Sienna, Arezzo, and Florence.
"Which one shall we take ?" asked Masseo.
"Whichever one God wills." "But how shall we know which one God wills ?" "You shall see.

Go and stand at the crossing of the roads, turn round and round as the children do, and do not stop until I bid you." Brother Masseo began to turn; seized with a vertigo, he was nearly falling, but caught himself up at once.

Finally Francis called out, "Stop! which way are you facing ?" "Toward Sienna." "Very well; God wills that we go to Sienna."[35] Such a method of making up one's mind is doubtless not for the daily needs of life, but Francis employed still others, like it, if not in form at least in fact.
Up to this time we have seen the brethren living together in their hermitages or roving the highways, preaching repentance.