RUFINO
He came from:
Assisi, from one of the noblest families there, a relation of Clare’s
Character and characteristics:
A man of God of angelic purity, he talked little and was a contemplative
Of him St Francis said:
In his description of the ideal friar he said he should possess “the
virtuous and incessant prayer of Rufino, who prayed even when he slept and
in anything he did he incessantly held his spirit in union with the Lord…”
(Speculum Perfectionis 85/1782 .
And “St Francis used to say of him that Brother Rufino had been canonized in
Heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ while he was still alive and that he would
not hesitate to say “St Rufino” (except in his presence) though he was still
living on earth” (The Little Flowers, Chap XXIX p.115).
His life:
He did not like to preach and once, when he had refused to do so, Francis
said: “Because you did not obey me at once, I also command you under holy
obedience to go to Assisi naked – wearing only your breeches – and to go
into some church and preach to the people naked like that”. Rufino obeyed
and at that point St Francis, thinking of the prompt obedience of Rufino,
one of the gentlest men in Assisi and of his harsh command, started to
reproach himself saying: “How can you, the son of Peter Bernardone, you vile
little wretch, order Brother Rufino, who is one of the noblest citizens of
Assisi, to go naked and preach to the people like a madman? By God I am
going to see to it that you yourself experience what you order others to
do”. And having said that, in the fervour of the Holy Spirit, he too
immediately took off his habit and went to Assisi naked, accompanied by
brother Leo, who very discreetly carried along the Saint’s habit and Brother
Rufino’s (The Little Flowers, Chap XXX p. 116).
Rufino is also the protagonist of a very touching episode: his encounter
with the devil in the form of a crucifix that reduced him to a state of
confusion and doubt, both towards Francis and about his own path so that he
no longer wished to see Francis. Masseo stood by him, but it was Francis who
put an end to Rufino’s crisis, after the spirit had revealed the condition
in which the friar found himself. “Oh Brother Rufino, you naughty boy, whom
have you believed?” When he came the saint told him in detail all about the
temptation, exterior and interior, which he had suffered from the devil, not
from Christ, and therefore he should in no way consent to his suggestions.
“But when the devil says to you again: ‘You are damned’, you answer him
confidently: ‘Open your mouth and I will shit in it’, and let it be a sign
to you that he is the devil that when you say those words, he will
immediately go away… Brother Rufino, seeing that St Francis had told him in
detail all about his temptation, and being moved to remorse by his words,
began to weep bitterly and knelt before him and humbly acknowledged his
fault in having concealed his temptation from him. And he remained greatly
consoled and comforted by the advice of the holy Father and completely
changed for the better.
Finally St Francis said to him: ‘Go to confession, son. And do not stop
devoting yourself to your usual prayers. And know for sure that this
temptation will be helpful and consoling to you, as you will find out in a
short while’… (The Little Flowers, Chap XXIX p. 113-4). The Devil returned
but could accomplish nothing and fled away causing a great fall of rocks
from mount Subiaso and a real vision of Christ consoled poor Rufino (The
Little Flowers, Chap XXIX p. 114-5).
He touched Francis’ wound in his side, hurting him, while he was massaging
him; for Francis never showed anyone his stigmata. “‘For this reason our
Lord suffered greatly’ and removing his hand, he prayed groaning that God
should forgive him” (T. Celano, Trattato dei miracoli Chap II/829). With
Leone and Angelo, Rufino is supposed to have written the Legenda Trium
Sociorum, which begins: “To the reverend father in Christ, Brother
Crescenzio, by the grace of God our General Minister, Brother Leo, Brother
Rufino and Brother Angelo, who in the past were the companions, without
merit, of our blessed Father Francis, express their dutiful and devoted
reverence for our Lord…”
He died:
at the Portiuncola, probably in 1270
He is buried:
in the crypt of St Francis with three companions: Masseo, Leo and Angelo, as
well as Brother James dei Settesoli.