Había en él una igualdad de espíritu muy constante, a menos que fuera movido por la compasión y la misericordia. Y así como el corazón alegre alegra el rostro, el sereno equilibrio del hombre interior aparecía hacia afuera en la manifestación de su bondad y en la placidez de su rostro. Tenía tal firmeza de ánimo en aquellas cosas que razonablemente entendía debían llevarse a cabo de conformidad con la voluntad de Dios, que rara vez o nunca aceptaba cambiar una decisión tomada después de una deliberación madura. El testimonio de su buena conciencia, como se dice, brillaba siempre en la serena placidez de su semblante, sin que la luz de su rostro palideciera.

Por todo esto, el amor de todos se atrajo fácilmente; en cuanto lo vieron, entró sin dificultad en su corazón. Dondequiera que estuviese, viajando con sus compañeros, en alguna casa con el posadero y otra familia, entre la gente noble, príncipes y prelados, Le vinieron en abundancia palabras edificantes y multiplicó los ejemplos con los que guió las mentes de sus oyentes al amor de Cristo y al desprecio del mundo. En su hablar y actuar siempre se mostró un hombre evangélico. Durante el día nadie fue más afable con los frailes o compañeros de viaje; nadie estaba más alegre.

During the night, no one else persevered in keeping vigil in prayer. At night he would stop in tears, and in the morning, he would be filled with joy. He consecrated the day to his neighbor, and the night to the Lord, convinced as he was that the Lord had sent his mercy during the day and his song at night. He wept abundantly and often, and tears were for him his bread day and night. By day, especially when he celebrated, frequently or daily, the solemn mass; by night, when he watched more than anyone else in constant watches.

He had the habit of staying very often in the Churches, to the point that it hardly or very rarely seems that he had a certain bed to rest on. He prayed at night and stayed awake as long as he could tear off his fragile body. When, at last, fatigue came, and his spirit was relaxed, reclaimed by the need to sleep, he rested a little before the alter, or anywhere else, and he also rested his head on a stone, after the example of the patriarch Jacob. Again, he returned to the vigil and resumed his fervent prayer.

He accommodated all men in his abyss of charity; as he loved all, so he was loved of all. He made his own the motto of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. Flooded as he was with piety, he lavished himself on his neighbor and on compassion for the needy. Another trait was very pleasing to all: that of advancing along a path of simplicity, without ever showing any trace of duplicity or fiction, both in words and in deeds.

A true lover of poverty wore cheap dresses. His moderation in food and drink was very great; he avoided the exquisite and was content willingly with a simple meal. He had a firm dominion over his body. He drank the wine so mixed with water that, while satisfying his bodily need, it never weakened his delicate and fine spirit.

Blessed Jordan of Saxony

Origins of the Order of Preachers, p.117-119