[26] _a._ _Sanctus Dominus Deus noster._ Cf. _Spec._, 126a; _Firmamentum_, 18b, 2; _Conform._, 202b, 1. _b._ _Ave Domina sancta._ Cf. _Spec._, 127a; _Conform._, 138a, 2. _c._ _Sancta Maria virgo._ Cf. _Spec._, 126b; _Conform._, 202b, 2. [27] Vide S. Francois, in 4to, Paris. 1885 (Plon), p. 233. The authenticity of this benediction appears to be well established, since it was already jealously guarded during the life of Thomas of Celano. No one has ever dreamed of requiring historical proof of this writing. Is this perhaps a mistake? The middle of the sheet is taken up with the benediction which was dictated to Brother Leo: _Benedicat tibi Dominus et custodiat te, ostendat faciem suam tibi et misereatur tui convertat vultum suum ad te et det tibi pacem._ At the bottom, Francis added the letter _tau_. ~[Greek: Tau]~, which was, so to speak, his signature (Bon., 51; 308), and the words: _Frater Leo Dominus benedicat te_. Then when this memorial became a part of the relics of the Saint, Brother Leo, to authenticate it in a measure, added the following notes: toward the middle: _Beatus Franciscus scripsit manu sua istam benedictionem mihi fratri Leoni_; toward the close: _Simili modo fecit istud signum thau cum capite manu sua_. But the most valuable annotation is found at the top of the sheet: _Beatus Franciscus duobus annis ante mortem suam fecit quadragesimam in loco Alvernae ad honorem Beatae Virginia Mariae matris Dei et beati Michael archangeli a festo assumptionis sanctae Mariae Virginis usque ad festum sancti Michael septembris et facta est super eum manus Domini per visionem et allucotionem seraphym et impressionem stigmatum in corpore suo. Fecit has laudes ex alio latere catule scriptas et manu, sua scripsit gratias agens Domino de beneficio sibi collato._ Vide 2 Cel., 2, 18. [28] Wadding gives the text according to St. Bernardino da Siena. _Opera_, t. iv., _sermo_ 16, _extraord. et sermo feriae sextae Parasceves_. Amoni: _Legenda trium sociorum_, p. 166. [29] Wadding has drawn the text from St. Bernardino, _loc. cit._, _sermo_ iv., _extraord._ It was also reproduced by Amoni, _loc. cit._, p. 165. Two very curious versions may be found in the Miscellanea, 1888, pp. 96 and 190. [30] 2 Cel., 3, 35. This took place under the vicariat of Pietro di Catania; consequently between September 29, 1220, and March 10, 1221. * * * * * II BIOGRAPHIES PROPERLY SO CALLED I. PRELIMINARY NOTE To form a somewhat exact notion of the documents which are to occupy us, we must put them back into the midst of the circumstances in which they appeared, study them in detail, and determine the special value of each one.