Blessed Francis talked with his companion, Angelo Tancredi, one of the first twelve brothers, and said to him: "Why did the devils beat me? Why did they receive permission from the Lord to hurt me?" And he continued his reflection in this manner: "The devils are our Lord's policemen. Just as the podesta sends his policemen to punish a guilty man, so too does the Lord correct and chastise those he loves through his policemen, that is, the devils whom he permits to do this work. It often happens that a religious, even the 'perfect' religious sins through ignorance. Since he is ignorant of his sin, he is chastised by the devil, so that his chastisement may serve as a lesson to him, and he may understand and attentively consider within himself how he has sinned. For to those whom the Lord tenderly loves here on earth, nothing remains unpunished."
Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 92
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