One day, in the monastery of Anagni, St. Columbanus and his disciples had nothing to eat but wild herbs and the bark of trees. Moreover, one of the religious was sick, and they had nothing suitable to offer him. Yet in this dire need, the good monks maintained trust in their Heavenly Father; and God did not forget them in their poverty.

On the third day afterwards, a stranger came to the gate of their monastery. He was leading two horses laden with food. This man informed the brothers that he had suddenly felt an urgent impulse to carry provisions to them. He then unloaded his burden of bread, vegetables, and the other things he had brought.

All the religious then gave thanks to God for the assistance He had given them in their great necessity. As for the generous donor, the only thing he asked in return was that they would pray for his wife. She had been seriously ill for twelve months, and he had nearly lost all hope for her recovery. Columbanus gave the good man his blessing, and scarcely had an hour passed when the pious woman was entirely restored to her former health.