To pick up a straw from the ground through obedience, is more meritorious than to preach, to fast, to use the discipline to blood, and to make long prayers, of one’s own will—Rodrigues

A Cistercian monk, having gathered up a few crumbs at the close of a meal, had not had time to eat them, as the signal for leaving the table was given, and grace was said.  He was unwilling to waste them, but his rule forbade him to eat anything except at the regular repasts.  He therefore went to his Superior, and kneeling, asked what he should do.  But when, at his Superior’s command, he opened his hand to show him the crumbs, they were changed into precious gems.