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Nous&et&Logos.&Wenn&die&Philosophie&ihr&Grau&in&Grau&malt,&dann&ist&eine&Gestalt&des&Lebens&alt&geworden,&und&mit&Grau&in&Grau&l?sst&sie&sich&nicht&verjüngen,&sondern&nur&&die&Eule&der&Minerva&beginnt&erst&mit&der&einbrechenden&D?mmerung&ihren&Flug.&
Regula non bullata or Earlier Rule (1221) &
Regula bullata, or Later Rule (1223)
Writings of St. Francis
Introduction
A chronological ordering of the various writings of St. Francis is not agreed upon indeed it is rather difficult to date a good number of the writings.&&(The following pages have been compiled from different sources. The major sources are: Internet Sacred Text A The Franciscans & website of T.O.R; The Classics of Western Spirituality - Francis and Clare - Translation and Introduction by: Regis J. Armstrong, OFM, Cap. and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM; Introductions are adapted from: The Franciscan Experience - website of FIOR).There is no fixed rule regarding the best classification of the writings of Francis or of Clare. However we shall follow a classification based on the style of writings because it helps best to assimilate their contents.&Accordingly we could classify the writings into:(1) Rules, Testament and A (2) L (3) Prayers.&A complete list would be as follows:&Rules, Testament and Admonitions&
(1221) RegNB - ER&Fragmenta alterius Regulae non bullatae, or Excerpts from another Earlier Rule&
(1223) RegB - LR&
- RegEr - RH&
(1226) Test&
- Form Viv - Form Life &
- UltVol - Last Will&Letters&
- EpAnt - LtAnt&
- EpCler - LtCl&
- 1EpCust - 1LtCus&
- 2EpCust - 2LtCus&
- 1EpFid - 1LtF&
- 2EpFid - 2LtF&
- EpLeo - LtL&
- EpOrd - LtOrd &
- EpMin - LtMin &
- EpRect - LtR &Prayers&
- CantSol - CtC&
- BenLeo - BlL&
- OrCruc - PrCr&
- ExhLD - Exhp&
- LaudHor - PrH&
- ExPat - PrOF&
- OffPass - OfP&
- SalBVM - SalBVM&
- SalVirt - SalV&Dictated Writings&
- TPJoy&Another manuscript was discovered in 1976 by Giovanni Boccali OFM in a manuscript of the 14th century in the Poor Clares monastery of Verona, Italy. It is in the original Umbrian dialect, called "Audite poverelle". According to the Legend of Perugia, 45, Francis wrote this song and dedicated it to Clare and her sisters of San Damiano when he spent a period of time at this place in the autumn of 1225.&The Earlier Rule, which did not receive papal approval, is the fruit of a long reflection on the part of the Order during the crucial period between 1209 and 1221, that is, between the oral approval of the primitive Rule or "Propositum Vitae" by Pope Innocent III (text lost) and the General Chapter of 1221 in which the Regula non bullata (RegNB) was approved. The Rule also indicates a preoccupation to adapt to the post-conciliar reform after the IV Lateran Council of 1215.The formation of the RegNB can be outlined in three stages, namely (1) the oral approval of the "Propositum Vitae" in 1209/10, which was mainly composed of the Gospel texts which were instrumental in indicating Francis' (2) the decisions taken by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, and by the General Chapters, especially from 1217, in particular regarding the missions of the O (3) the final draft of the RegNB approved by the Order in 1221.According to the analysis of David Flood OFM and Thadee Matura OFM, "The Birth of a Movement: A Study of the First Rule of Saint Francis", Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1975, the Earlier Rule can be divided into two sections. The first section (chapters 1-17) reflects the state of the Order before 1215, while the second (chapters 18-24) is an answer to the new needs of the Church and the Order after the Lateran Council, especially regarding the territorial expansion of the Order, the constitution of provinces (1217) and the missionary expeditions to northern and central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.According to what Giordano of Giano says in his Chronicle, 15, Francis asked Caesar of Speyer to help in the final draft of the Rule, especially regarding the numerous quotations from Scripture. It is a known fact that Caesar was a biblical scholar. For a thorough analysis of Scripture texts in the RegNB, cfr. Dino Dozzi OFMCap, "Il Vangelo nella Regola non Bollata di San Francesco d'Assisi", Istituto Storico dei Cappuccini, Rome, 1989.Some chapters are worthy of particular attention. Chapter 16 speaks about missionaries among non-believers. It is the first of its kind in the legislation of religious Orders in the Church. Chapter 21 is an example of the Franciscan style of preaching. Chapter 23 is a long prayer of praise and thanksgiving.PROLOGUE&1. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.&2. This is the life of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which Brother Francis asked the Lord Pope to be granted a and he granted and confirmed it for him and his brothers present and and to come. Brother Francis and whoever will be the head of this Order promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Innocent and to his successors. 4. And all the other brothers are bound to obey Brother Francis and his successors.&CHAPTER IThe brothers must live without Anything of their own and in chastity and in obedience&1 The rule and life of these brothers is this: to live in obedience, in chastity, and without anything of their own, and to follow the teaching and the footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who says: 2. If you wish to be perfect, go (Mt 19:21) and sell everything (cf. Lk 18:22) you have and give it to the poor, and you will hav and come, follow me (Mt 19:21). 3. And, If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mt 16:24). 4. Again: If anyone wishes to come to me and does not hate father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:26). 5. And: Everyone who has left father or mother, brothers or sisters, wife or children, houses or lands because of me, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life (cf. Mt 19:29; Mk 10:29, Lk 18:30).&&&CHAPTER IITHE RECEPTION AND THE CLOTHING OF THE BROTHERS&1. If anyone, desiring by divine inspiration to accept this life 7 should come to our brothers, let him be received by them with kind, ness. 2. And if he is determined to accept our life, the brothers should take great care not to become involved in
but let them present him to their minister as quickly as possible. 3. The minister on his part should receive him with kindness and encourage him and diligently explain to him the tenor of our life. 4. When this has been done, the aforesaid person&if he wishes and is able to do so spir. itually and without any impediment&should sell all his possessions and strive to give them all to the poor. 5. The brothers and the minister of the brothers should take care not to become involved in any way in
6. nor should they accept any money either themselves or through an intermediary. 7. However, if they are in need, the brothers can accept instead of money other things needed for the body like other poor people. 8. And when he has returned, let the minister give him the clothes of probation for a whole year, namely, two tunics without a hood, a cord and trousers, and a small cape reaching to the cord. 9. When the year and term of probation has end&ed, let him be received into obedience. 10. Afterward he will not be allowed to join another Order or to "wander outside obedience" ac&cording to the decree of the Lord Pope and according to the G for no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom Of God (Lk 9:62).&But if someone should come who cannot give away his posses&sions without an impediment and yet has the spiritual desire [to do s0] let him leave and this suffices for him. 12. No one should be accepted contrary to the form and the prescription 0f the holy Church. 13. The other brothers who have already prom&ised obedience should have one tunic with a hood and another with&out a hood, if that is necessary, and a cord and trousers. 14. And all the brothers should wear poor clothes, and they can patch them with sackcloth and other pieces with the blessing of G for the Lord says in the Gospel: Those who wear costly clothes and live in luxury (Lk 7:25) and who dress in soft garments are in the houses of kings (Mt 11:8). 15. And although they may be called hypocrites, nonetheless they should not cease doing good nor should they seek costly clothing in this world, so that they may have a garment in the kingdom of heaven.&CHAPTER IIITHE DIVINE OFFICE AND FASTING&1. The Lord says: This kind of devil cannot come out except by fast&ing and by prayer (Mk 9:28); 2. and again, When you fast do not become sad like the hypocrites (Mt 6:16).&3. For this reason all the brothers, whether clerical or lay, should celebrate the Divine Office, the praises and prayers, as is required of them. 4. The clerical [brothers] should celebrate the office and say it for the living and the dead according to the custom of the clergy. 5. And for the failings and negligence of the brothers, they should say daily the Miserere mei, Deus (Psalm 50), with the Our F 6. and for the deceased brothers let them say the De Profundis (Psalm 129) with the Our Father. 7. And they may have only the books necessary to fulfill their office. 8. And the lay [brothers] who know how to read the psalter may have it. 9. But those who do not know how to read should not have any book. 10. The lay [brothers] should say the I Be&lieve in God and twenty-four Our Father's with the Glory to the Father&for M for Lauds,
for Prime, the I Belies God and seven Our Father's with the Glory to the F for each of th hours, Terce, Sext, and None, for Vespers, for Com pline, the I Believe in God and seven Our Father's with the Glory to the F for the deceased [brothers], seven Our Father's with the Eternal R and for the failings and negligence of the brothers three Our Fa&ther's every day.&11. Similarly, all the brothers should fast from the feast of All Saints until Christmas, and from the Epiphany, when Our Lord Jesus Christ began to fast, until Easter. 12. At other times, however, they are not obliged to fast according to this life except on Fridays. 13, And they may eat whatever food is placed before them, according to the Gospel (cf. Lk 10:8).&CHAPTER IVTHE MINISTERS AND THE OTHER BROTHERS: HOW THEY ARE RELATED&1. In the name of the Lord. 2. All the brothers who have been established as ministers and servants of the other brothers should as&sign their brothers to the provinces and to the places where they are to be, and they should visit them frequently and spiritually admonish and encourage them. 3. And all my other blessed brothers should diligently obey them in those matters which concern the well-being of their soul and [which] are not contrary to our life. 4. And among themselves let them behave according to what the Lord says: Whatever you wish that men should do to you, do that to them (Mt 7:12); 5. and, That which you do not wish to be done to you, do not do to another (Tb 4:16). 6. And let the ministers and servants remember what the Lord says: I have not come to be served, but to serve (Mt 20:28); and because the care 0f the souls of the brothers has been entrusted to them, if anyone of them should be lost because of their fault or bad example, [these min&isters and servants] will have to render an account before the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of judgment (cf. Mt 12:36).&CHAPTER VThe correction of brothers who are At fault&1. Therefore, guard your soul and those of your brothers, since it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31). 2. But should any of the ministers command any of the brothers to do something contrary to our life or against his conscience, he is not bound to obey him, since that is not obedience in which a fault or sin is committed. 3. Nonetheless, all the brothers, who are subject to the ministers and servants, should reasonably and diligently consider the actions of the ministers and servants. 4. And if they should see that any of them is living according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit&[as demanded] for the integrity of our life&if he does not amend his way, after a third admonition they should inform the min&ister and servant of the whole fraternity at the Chapter of Pentecost without any interference or opposition. 5. If, moreover, among the brothers anywhere there should be some brother who wishes to live according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit, the brothers with whom he is [living] should admonish, instruct, and correct him humbly and diligently. 6. But if, after the third admonition, he should refuse to change his ways, as soon as they can they should send him or report him to their minister and servant, and the minister and servant should deal with him as he considers best before God.&7. And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many thro 8. but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17).&9. Similarly, all the brothers in this regard should not hold power 0r dominion, least of all among themselves. 10. For, as the Lord says in the Gospel: The rulers of the peoples have power over them, and leaders rule over thetn (Mt 20:25); it shall not be like this among the h ers (cf. Mt 20:26a). 11. And whoever among them wishes to become greater should be their minister (cf. Mt 20:26b) and servant. 12. And whoever is the greater among them should become like the lesser (cf. Lk 22-la&13. Nor should any brother do evil or say som 14. on the contrary, through the charity of the Spirit, th should voluntarily serve and obey one another (cf. Gal 5:13). 15. Anj this is the true and holy obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. 16. And all the brothers, as often as they have turned away from the commands 0 the Lord and wandered outside obedience, as the prophet says (Ps 118:21), should know that they are cursed outside obedience as long as they knowingly persist in such sin. 17. And when they have perse&vered in the commands of the Lord, which they have promised through the holy Gospel and their life, they should know that they are standing firm in true obedience and that they are blessed by the Lord.&CHAPTER VIThe recourse of the brot no brother should be called prior&1. If the brothers, in whatever places they are, cannot observe our life, they should have recourse as quickly as possible to their minister and report this to him. 2. The minister, on his part, should be eager to provide for them as he would wish to be done for him were he in a similar position (cf. Mt 7:12). 3. And no one should be called Prior, but all generally should be called Friars Minor. 4. And the one should wash the feet of the others (cf. Jn 13:14).&CHAPTER VIIThe manner of serving and working&1. None of the brothers should be administrators or managers in hatever places they are staying among others to serve or to work, should they be supervisors in the houses nor should they accept any office which might generate scandal or be harmful to their souls (cf. Mk 8:36); 2. instead, they should be the less&er ones and subject to all who are in the same house.&3 And the brothers who know how to work should do so and should exercise that trade which they [already] know, if it is not against the good of the soul and can be performed honestly. 4. For the prophet says: You shall eat the f you are blessed and it will be well for you (Ps 127:2). 5. And the Apostle [says]: Whoever does not wish to work shall not eat (cf. 2 Thes 3:10); 6. and, Everyone should remain in that skill and office in which he has been called (1 Cor 7:24). 7. And they may receive for their work everything necessary except money. 8. And when it should be necessary, let them seek alms like other poor people. 9. And they may have the tools and instruments suitable for their trades.&10. All the brothers should always be intent on good works, for it is written: "Always do something good so that the devil will find you occupied." 11. And again: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul." 12. Therefore, the servants of God must always give themselves totally to prayer or to some good work.&13. The brothers should beware that, whether they are in hermit&ages or in other places, they do not make any place their own or con&tend with anyone about it. 14. And whoever comes to them, friend or foe, thief or robber, should be received with kindness. 15. And wher&ever the brothers are and in whatever place they meet other brothers, they must greet one another wholeheartedly and lovingly, and honor another without complaining (1 Pet 4:9). 16. And they must beware n&t to appear outwardly sad and li but let them show that they are joyful in the Lord (cf. Phil 4:4) and cheerful and tru ly gracious.&Chapter VIIIThe brothers are not to receive money&1. The Lord commands us in the Gospel: Watch, be on your guard against all malice and greed (cf. Lk 12:15). 2. Guard yourselves against the preoccupations of this world and the cares of this life (cf. Lk 21:34)&3. Therefore, none of the brothers, wherever he may be or wher&ever he goes, should in any way carry, receive, or have received [by another] either money or coins, whether for clothing or books or pay&ment for any work&indeed, for no reason&unless it is for the evi&dent need
for we must not suppose that money or coins have any greater value than stones. 4. And the devil would like to blind those who desire it or consider it better than stones. 5. Therefore, let us who have left all things behind (cf. Mt 19:27) take care that we do not lose the kingdom of heaven for so little. 6. And if we were to find coins in any place, let us give them no more thought than the dust which we for all [this is] vanity of vanities, and all is vanity (Eccl 1:2). 7. And if by chance&which God forbid&it should happen that some brother has collected or is hoard&ing money or coins, with the sole exception of the needs of the sick as mentioned above, all the brothers are to consider him as a false broth&er and an apostate, and a thief and a robber, and as the one who held the purse (cf. Jn 12:6), unless he has truly repented.&8. And in no way may the brothers receive [money] or arrange to have it received, or beg money or arrange to have it sought as alms or coins for
and they may not go with a person who is begging money or coins for such places. 9. But the brothers may perform for these places other services which are not contrary to life, with the blessing of God. 10. Nevertheless, at times of the & dent necessity of the lepers the brothers can beg alms for them. 11. Nonetheless, they should beware of money. 12. Likewise, all the brothers should beware of running around the world for filthy gain.&CHAPTER IXBegging alms&1. All the brothers should strive to follow the humility and the poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ and remember that we should have nothing else in the whole world except, as the Apostle says, having something to eat and something to wear, we be content with these (cf 1 Tim 6:8). 2. And they must rejoice when they live among people [who are considered to be] of little worth and who are looked down upon, among the poor and the powerless, the sick and the lepers, and the beggars by the wayside. 3. And when it may be necessary, let them go for alms. 4. And they should not be ashamed, but rather recall that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living and all-powerful God (cf. Jn 11:27), set His face like flint (Is 50:7) and was not ashamed. 5. And He was a poor man and a transient and lived on alms, He and the Blessed Virgin, and His disciples. 6. And should people shame them and re&fuse to give them alms, let them give thanks to God for this, since from such insults they will receive great honor before the tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. And let them know that such shame is cred&ited not to those who suffer it but to those who caused it. 8. And alms are a legacy and a just right due to the poor, which our Lord Jesus Christ acquired for us. 9. And the brothers who labor to acquire them will receive a great reward and [at the same time] enable those who give [such alms] to gain and acquire [that reward] in return, for every&thing that people leave behind in the world will perish, but for the charity and the almsgiving which they have done they will receive a reward from the Lord.&10. And each one should confidently make known his need to the &ther, so that he might find what he needs and minister it to him. 11. And each one should love and care for his brother in all those things ln which God will give him grace, as a mother loves and cares for her son (cf. 1 Thes 2:7). 12. And he who does not eat should not judge the one who does (Rom 14:3 b).&13. And whenever necessity should come upon them, all the brothers, wherever they may be, may eat all foods which people can eat, as the Lord says of David who ate the loaves of proposition (cf. Mt. 12:4) which no one was permitted to eat except the priests (Mk 2:26). 14. And let them recall what the Lord says: Be on your guard that your hearts do not become bloated with self-indulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this life, for that day will come u 15. for like a trap it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the earth (Lk 21:34-35). 16. Like&wise, even in times of manifest necessity, all the brothers should take care of their needs, as the Lord gives them the grace, since "necessity knows no law."&CHAPTER XThe sick brothers&1. If any of the brothers shall fall ill, wherever he may be, the other brothers should not leave him behind unless one of the broth&ers, or several of them if that be necessary, are assigned to serve him as they would wish to be served themselves (cf. Mt 7:12); 2. but in case of grave necessity, they can entrust him to some person capable of taking care of him in his illness. 3. And I beg the sick brother to give thanks to the Cr and whatever the Lord wills for him, he should desire to be that, whether healthy or sick, since all those whom God has predestined for everlasting life (cf. Acts 13:48) He instructs by means of the afflictions of punishment and sickness and the spirit of repentance. As the Lord says: I correct and punish those whom I love (Rev 3:19).&4. And if anyone should be disturbed or become angry at God or at [his] brothers, or if by chance he persistently asks for medicines vvith a great desire to free the flesh which is soon to die and is the enemy of the soul [remember:] All this comes from the evil one. [Such 3 person] is totally caught up with the flesh and he does not seem to ke one of the brothers, since he loves his body more than his soul.&CHAPTER XIThe brothers are not to blaspheme or detract but should love one another&1. And all the brothers should beware that they do not slander or engage in disputes (cf. 2 Tim 2:14); 2. rather, they should strive to keep silence whenever God gives them [this] grace. 3. Nor should they quarrel among themselves or with others, but they should strive to respond humbly, saying: I am a useless servant (cf. Lk 17:10). 4. And they should not become angry, since everyone who grows angry with his brother shall b and he who has said to his broth&er "fool"shall be liable to the C whoever has said "idiot"shall be lia&ble to the fires of hell (Mt 5:22). 5. And they should love one another, as the Lord says: This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you (Jn 15:12). 6. And let them express the love which they have for one another by their deeds (cf. Jas 2:18), as the Apostle says: Let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth (1 Jn 3:18). 7. And they should slander no one (cf. Tit 3:2). 8. Let them not murmur nor detract from others, for it is written: Gossips and detractors are de&testable to God (Rm 1:29, 30). 9. And let them be modest, by showing meekness toward everyone (cf. Tit 3:2). 10. Let them not judge or con&demn. 11. And as the Lord says, they should not take notice of the little defects of others (cf. Mt 7:3; Lk 6:41). 12. Rather they should re&flect much more on their own [sins] in the bitterness of their soul (Is 38:15). 13. And let them strive to enter through the narrow gate (Lk 13:24), for the Lord says: Narrow is the gate and hard the roa and there are few who find it (Mt 7:14).&CHAPTER XIIImpure glances and frequent association with women&1. All the brothers, wherever they are or go, should avoid impure &lances and association with women. 2. And no one should counsel them or travel alone [with them] or eat at table [with them] from the same plate. 3. The priests should speak honorably with them when giving them [the sacrament of] penance or some spiritual advice. 4 And absolutely no woman should be received to obedience by an brothers, but once she has been given spiritual advice, let her perform a penance where she will. 5. And all of us must keep close watch over ourselves and keep all parts of our body pure, since the Lord says. Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mt 5:28); 6. and the Apostle says: Do you not know that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit? (cf. 1 Cor 6:19); therefore whoever violates God's temple, God will destroy him (1 Cor 3:17).&CHAPTER XIIIThe avoidance of fornication&1. If any brother, at the instigation of the devil, commits a sin of fornication, he should be deprived of the habit, which he has lost through his wickedness, and he should put it aside completely, and be totally expelled from our Order. 2. And afterward let him do penance for his sins (cf. 1 Cor 5:4-5).&CHAPTER XIVThe manner of brothers' conduct in the world&1. When the brothers go about through the world, they should carry nothing for the journey, neither (cf. Lk 9:3) a knapsack (cf. Lk 10:4), nor a purse, nor bread, nor money (Lk 9:3), nor a staff (cf. Mt 10:10). 2. And into whatever house they enter, let them first say: Peace to this house (cf. Lk 10:5). 3. And, remaining in that house, they may eat and drink whatever [their hosts] have offered (cf. Lk 10:7). 4. They should not offer resistance to evil (cf. Mt 5:39), but if someone should strike them on one cheek, let them offer him the other as well (cf. Mt 5:39; Lk 6:29). 5. And if someone should take away their clothes, they should not deny him also their tunic (cf. Lk 6:29). 6. They should and if anyone takes what is theirs, they should not demand that it be re&turned (cf. Lk 6:30).&CHAPTER XVThe brothers are not to ride horses&1. I enjoin upon all my brothers both cleric and lay that, when they g& through the world or stay in places, they should in no way have any animal either with themselves or in the care of another or in any other way. 2. Nor may they ride horses unless they are compelled by sickness or great necessity.&CHAPTER XVIThose who are going among Saracens and other non-believers&1. The Lord says: Behold, I am sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves. 2. Therefore, be prudent as serpents and simple as doves (Mt 10:16). 3. Therefore, any brother who, by divine inspiration, desires to go among the Saracens and other nonbelievers should go with the per&mission of his minister and servant. 4. And the minister should give [these brothers] permission and not oppose them, if he shall see that the for he shall be bound to give an account to the Lord (cf. Lk 16:2) if he has proceeded without discretion in this or in other matters. 5. As for the brothers who go, they can live spiritually among [the Saracens and nonbelievers] in two ways. 6. One way is not to engage in arguments or disputes, but to be subject to every hu&man creature for God's sake (1 Pet 2:13) and to acknowledge that they are Christians. 7. Another way is to proclaim the word of God when they see that it pleases the Lord, so that they believe in the all-powerful God&Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit&the Creator of all, in the Son Who is the Redeemer and Savior, and that they be baptized and become C because whoever has not been born again of water and the Holy Spirit cannot enter into the kingdom of God (cf. Jn 3:5).&8. They can say to [the Saracens] and to others these and other things which will have pleased the Lord, for the Lord says in the Gos&pel: Everyone who acknowledges me before men I will also acknowledge be&fore my Father Who is in heaven (Mt 10:32). 9. And: Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His majesty and that of the Father and the angels (Lk 9:26).&10. And all the brothers, wherever they may be, should remem&ber that they gave themselves and abandoned their bodies to the Lord Jesus Christ. 11. And for love of Him, they must make themselves vulnerable to their enemies, both visible and invisible, because the Lord says: Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (cf. Lk 9:24) in eternal life (Mt 25:46). 12. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs (Mt 5:10). 13. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you (Jn 15:20). 14. And: If they perse&cute you in one city, flee to another (cf. Mt 10:23). 15. Blessed are you (Mt 5:11) when people shall hate you (Lk 6:22) and malign (Mt 5:11) and perse&cute you and drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as evil (Lk 6:22) and utter every kind of slander against you because of me (Mt 5:11). 16. Rejoice on that day and be glad (Lk 6:23) because your reward is very great in heaven (cf. Mt 5:12). 17. And I say to you, my friends, do not be frightened by these things (Lk 12:4) 18. and do not fear those who kill the body (Mt 10:28) and after that can do no more (Lk 12:4). 19. Take care not to be disturbed (Mt 24:6). 20. For through your patience, you will possess your souls (Lk 21:19); 21. and whoever perseveres to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22; 24:13).&CHAPTER XVIIPreachers&1. No brother should preach contrary to the form and regula&tions of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his min&ister. 2. And the minister should take care not to grant [this permission] to anyone indiscriminately. 3. All the brothers, however, should preach by their deeds. 4. And no minister or preacher should appropriate to himself the ministry of the brothers or the office of preaching, but he should set it aside without any protest whenever he is told.&5. Therefore, in the love which is God (cf. 1 Jn 4:16), I beg all my brothers&those who preach, pray, work, whether cleric or lay&-10 strive to humble themselves in all things 6. [and] not to take pride in themselves or to delight in themselves or be puffed up interiorly about their good works and deeds&in fact, about any good thing that God does or says or sometimes works in them and through them. [This is] in keeping with what the Lord says: Yet do not rejoice in this: that the spirits are subject to you (Lk 10:20). 7. And we should be firmly convinced that nothing belongs to us except [our] vices and sins. 8. Rather we must rejoice when we would fall into various trials (Jas 1:2) and endure every sort of anguish of soul and body or ordeals in this world for the sake of eternal life.&9. Therefore, all [of us] brothers must beware of all pride and vainglory. 10. And let us keep ourselves from the wisdom of this world and the prudence of the flesh (Rm 8:6). 11. For the spirit of the flesh desires and is most eager to have words, but [cares] little to car&ry them out. And it does not seek a religion and holiness in the interi&or spirit, 12. but it wishes and desires to have a religion and holiness outwardly apparent to people. 13. And these are the ones of whom the Lord says: Truly I say to you: They have received their reward (Mt 6:2). 14. But the Spirit of the Lord wishes the flesh to be mortified and despised, worthless and rejected. 15. And it strives for humility and patience, and the pure and simple and true peace of the spiritual per&son. 16. And above all things it always longs for the divine fear and the divine wisdom and the divine love of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.&And let us refer all good&to the most high and supreme lord God,&and acknowledge that every good is His,&and thank Him for everything,&[He] from Whom all good things come.&And may He,&the Highest and Supreme, Who alone is true God, have and be given and receive&every honor and reverence, every praise and blessing, every thanks and glory, for every good is His,&He Who alone is good.&19. And when we see or hear an evil [person] speak or act or blas&pheme God, let us speak well and act well and praise God (cf. Rm 12:21), Who is blessed forever (Rm 1:25).&CHAPTER XVIIIHow the ministers meet together&1. Once a year each minister can come together with his brothers wherever they wish, on the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel to treat of the things which refer to God. 2. All the ministers who are in those parts which are overseas and beyond the Alps may come to&gether once every three years, and the other ministers once each year, to the Chapter of Pentecost at the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, unless it has been decided otherwise by the minister and ser&vant of the entire fraternity.&CHAPTER XIX&The brothers are to live as catholics&1. All the brothers must be Catholics, [and] live and speak in a Catholic manner. 2. But if any of them has strayed from the Catholic faith and life, in word or in deed, and has not amended his ways, he should be completely expelled from our fraternity. 3. And we should regard all clerics and all religious as our lord in those things which pertain to the salvation of the soul and who have not deviated from our religion, and, in the Lord, we should respect their order and their office and government.&CHAPTER XXPenance and the reception of the body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ&1. And my blessed brothers, both the clerics as well as the lay, should confess their sins to priests of our Order. 2. And if they should not be able to do so, they should confess to other prudent and Catholic priests, knowing full well that when they have received pen&ance and absolution from any Catholic priests, they are without doubt absolved from their sins, provided they have humbly and faith&fully fulfilled the penance imposed upon them. 3. But if they have not been able to find a priest, they may confess to their brother, as the apostle James says: Confess your sins to one another (Jas 5:16). 4. De&spite this let them not fail to have recourse to a priest, since the power of binding and loosing is granted only to priests. 5. And thus contrite and confessed, they should receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ with great humility and reverence, remembering what the Lord says: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life (cf. Jn 6:55); 6. and: Do this in memory of me (Lk 22:19).&CHAPTER XXIThe praise and exhortation which all the brothers can offer&1. And whenever it may please them, all my brothers can proclaim this or a like exhortation and praise among all the people with the blessing of God:&Fear and honor, praise and bless, give thanks and adore&the Lord God Almighty in Trinity and in Unity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit the Creator of all.&Do penance, performing worthy fruits of penance&since we will soon die.&Give and it shall be given to you.&Forgive and you shall be forgiven.&And if you do not forgive men their sins,&the Lord will not forgive you your sins. Confess all your sins.&Blessed are those who die in penance, for they shall be in the&kingdom of heaven.&Woe to those who do not die in penance, for they shall be the&children of the devil whose works they do, and they shall go into the eternal fire.&Beware and abstain from every evil and persevere in good till&the end.&CHAPTER XXIIAn admonition to the brothers&1. Let us pay attention, all [my] brothers, to what the Lord says: love your enemies and do good to those who hate you (cf. Mt 5:44), 2. for our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose footprints we must follow (cf.l Pet 2:21), called His betrayer "friend" (cf. Mt 26:50) and gave Himself willingly to those who crucified Him. 3. Our friends, then, are all those who unjustly afflict upon us trials and ordeals, shame and inju&ries, sorrows and torments, 4. we must love them greatly for we will possess eternal life because of what they bring upon us.&5. And we must hate our body wit because, by living according to the flesh, the devil wishes to take from us the love of Jesus Christ and eternal life and to lose himself with everyone in hell. 6. For through our own fault we are rotten, miserable, and op&posed to good, but prompt and willing to [embrace] evil, for as our Lord says in the Gospel: 7. From the heart of man come forth and flow evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, avarice, wantonness, deceit, lewdness, evil looks, false testimonies, blasphemy, foolishness (cf. Mk 7:21-22; Mt 15:19). 8. All these evil things flow from within, from the heart of a person (cf. Mk 7:23) and these are the things that make a person unclean (Mt 15:20).&9. And now that we have left the world, we have nothing else to do except to follow the will of the Lord and to please Him. 10. Let us take great care not to be earth along the wayside, or among the rocks, or among thorns, as the Lord says in the Gospel: 11. The seed is the word of God (Lk 8:11).&12. But that which fell along the wayside and was trampled under foot (cf. Lk 8:5) are those who hear (Lk 8:12) the word and do not understand it (cf. Mt 13:19). 13. And immediately (Mk 4:15) the devil comes (Lk 8:12) and snatches up (Mt 13:19) what was planted in their hearts (Mk 4:15) and takes the word out of their hearts, otherwise believing they might be saved (Lk 8:12).&14. But that which fell upon stony ground (cf. Mt 13:20) are those who, once they have heard the word, at the outset receive it with joy (Mk 4:16). 15. But when tribulation and persecution overtake them because of the word, they falter at once (Mt 13:21) and they have no roots in them, but last only for a time (cf. Mk 4:17), because they believe for a time and in time of temptation they fail (Lk 8:13).&That which fell among thorns are those (Lk 8:14) who hear the word of God (cf. Mk 4:18) yet anxiety (Mt 13:22) and the worries (Mk 4:19) of this world and the lure of riches (Mt 13:22) and other inordinate desires come in to choke the word and they remain without fruit (cf. Mk 4:19).&But that which is sown on good soil are those who hear the word with a good and noble heart (Lk 8:15) and understand it and (cf. Mt 13:23) keep it and bear fruit in patience (Lk 8:15).&And so we brothers, as the Lord says, should leave the dead to bury their own dead (Mt 8:22).&And let us be very careful of the malice and the subtlety of Satan, who wishes that a man not raise his mind and heart to God. 20. And as he roams about he wishes to ensnare the heart of a person un&der the guise of some reward or help, and to snuff out our memory of the word and the precepts of the Lord, and wishes to blind the heart of a person through wordly affairs and concerns, and to live there, as the Lord says: 21. When an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wan&ders through dry and waterless places (Mt 12:43) and not find&ing any, says: 22. I will return to the house which I left (Lk 11:24). 23. And coming to it, it finds it empty, swept, clean, and tidied (Mt 12:44). 24. And it goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last condition of the person is worst than the first (cf. Lk 11:26).&25. Therefore, all [my] brothers, let us be very much on our guard so that we do not lose or turn away our mind and heart from the Lord under the guise of [achieving] some reward or [doing] some work or [providing] some help. 26. But in the holy love which is God (cf. 1 Jn 4:16), I beg all [my] brothers, both the ministers and the oth&ers, as they overcome every obstacle and put aside every care and anx&iety, to strive as best they can to serve, love, honor, and adore the Lord God with a clean heart and a pure mind, for this is what He de&sires above all things.&27. And let us make a home and dwelling place (cf. Jn 14:23) for Him Who is the Lord God Almighty, Father and Son and Holy Spif' it, Who says: Watch, therefore, praying constantly that you may be consid&ered worthy to escape all the evils that are to come and to stand secure before the Son of Man (Lk 21:36). 28. And when you stand to pray (Mk 11:25) say (Lk 11:2): Our Father Who are in heaven (Mt 6:9). 29. And let us adore Him with a pure heart, because we should pray always and not lose heart (Lk 18:1); 30. for the Father seeks such worshipers. 31. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (cf. Jn 4:23-24).&32. And let us have recourse to Him as to the shepherd and guardian of our souls (1 Pet 2:25), Who says: "I am the good shepherd who feeds my sheep and I lay down my life for my sheep." 33. All of you are brothers. 34. And do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is Your Father, the One in heaven. 35. And do not let yourselves be called teachers, for your teacher is the One Who is in heaven (cf. Mt 23:8-10). 36. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you will and it will be done for you (Jn 15:7). 37. Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them (Mt 18:20). 38. Behold I am with you until the consummation of the world (Mt 28:20). 39. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life (Jn 6:64). 40. I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6).&41. Let us, therefore, hold onto the words, the life, and the teach&ing and the Holy Gospel of Him Who humbled Himself to ask His Father for us and to make His name known to us, saying: Father, glori&fy Your name (Jn 12:28a) and glorify Your Son so that Your Son may glori&fy You (Jn 17:1b). 42. Father, I have made Your name known to the men whom You have given to Me (Jn 17:6). The words which You have given to Me I and they have accepted them and know truly that I came from You, and have believed that You sent me (Jn 17:8).&43.1 pray for them, not for the world, 44. but for those whom You have given Me, because they belong to You and all I have is Yours (Jn 17:9-10). 45. Holy Father, protect those in Your name whom You have given to Me, so that they may be one as We are (Jn 17:1 lb). 46.1 say these things while still in the world that they may have joy within them. 47.1 gave them Y and the world hated them because they do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. 48. I am not asking that You remove them from the world, but that You protect them from the evil one (Jn 17:14b&15).&49. Sanctify them in the truth. 50. Your word is truth. 51. As You have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 52. And for their sake I sanctify Myself so that they may be sanctified in truth.&53. I pray not only for these, but also for those who because of their words will believe in me (cf. Jn 17:17-20), so that they may be completely one, and the world may know that You have sent Me and that You have loved them as You have loved Me (Jn 17:23). 54. And I shall make Your name known to them, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them and I may be in them (cf. Jn 17:26). 55. Father, I wish that where 1 am those whom You have given Me may be with Me, so that they may see Your glory (cf. Jn 17:24) in Your Kingdom (Mt 20:21). Amen.&CHAPTER XXIIIPrayer and thanksgiving&All-powerful, most holy, most high and supreme God&Holy and just Father Lord, King of heaven and earth we thank You for Yourself for through Your holy will and through Your only Son with the Holy Spirit&You have created all things spiritual and corporal and, having made us in Your own image and likeness, You placed us in paradise.&And through our own fault we have fallen.&And we thank You&for as through Your Son You created us so also, through Your holy love, with which You loved us You brought about His birth as true God and true man&by the glorious, ever-virgin, most blessed, holy Mary and You willed to redeem us captives&through His cross and blood and death.&And we thank You&for Your Son Himself will come again in the glory of His majesty to send the wicked ones&who have not done penance and who have not known You into the eternal fire,&and to say to all those who have known You and have adored You&and have served You in penance: "Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom, which has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world." And because all of us wretches and sinners are not worthy to pronounce Your name, we humbly ask that our Lord Jesus Christ Your beloved Son&in whom You were well pleased&together with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,&give You thanks&as it pleases You and Him&for everything,&[He] Who always satisfies You in everything through Whom You have done such great things for us. Alleluia!&And through Your love we humbly beg&the glorious Mother, most blessed Mary ever-virgin, Blessed Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael and all the blessed choirs of seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations, principalities, powers, virtues, angels, archangels, blessed John the Baptist, John the Evangelist,&Peter, Paul,&and the blessed patriarchs, prophets,&the Innocents, apostles, evangelists, disciples,&martyrs, confessors, virgins, the blessed Elijah and Henoch,&and all the saints who were, who will be, and who are to give You thanks for these things as it pleases You, the supreme and true God eternal and living&with Your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.&And all of us lesser brothers, useless servants (Lk 17:10), humbly ask and beg all those who wish to serve the Lord God within the holy, catholic, and apostolic church, and all the following orders: priests, deacons, subdeacons, acolytes, exorcists, lectors, porters, and all cler&ics, all religious men and all religious women, all lay brothers and youths, the poor and the needy, kings and princes, workers and farm&ers, servants and masters, all virgins and continent and married wom&en, all lay people, men and women, all children, adolescents, the young and the old, the healthy and the sick, all the small and the great, all peoples, races, tribes, and tongues, all nations and all peo&ples everywhere on earth who are and who will be&that all of us may persevere in the true faith and in penance, for otherwise no one will be saved.&Let us all love the Lord God with all [our] heart, all [our] soul, with all [our] mind and all [our] strength (cf. Mk 12:30) and and with for&titude and with total understanding (Mt 12:33), with all of our powers (cf. Lk 10:27), with every effort, every affection, every emotion, every de&sire, and every wish (Mt 12:30). He has given and gives to each one of us [our] whole body, [our] whole soul, and [our] whole life. He creat&ed us and redeemed us, and will save us by His mercy alone (cf. Tob 13:5). He did and does every good thing for us [who are] miserable and wretched, rotten and foul-smelling, ungrateful and evil.&Therefore&let us desire nothing else&let us wish for nothing else&let nothing else please us and cause us delight&except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,&the one true God,&Who is the Fullness of Good&all good, every good, the true and supreme good Who alone is Good&merciful and gentle delectable and sweet Who alone is holy just and true holy and right Who alone is kind innocent pure&from Whom and through Whom and in Whom is all pardon all grace all glory&of all the penitent and the just&of all the blessed who rejoice together in heaven.&Therefore&let nothing hinder us&nothing separate us or nothing come between us.&Let all of us&wherever we are in every place at every hour at every time of day everyday and continually believe truly and humbly and keep in [our] heart&and love, honor, adore, serve praise and bless glorify and exalt magnify and give thanks to the most high and supreme eternal God Trinity and Unity&the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Creator of all&Savior of all who believe in Him and hope in Him and love Him Who is&without beginning and without end unchangeable, invisible, indescribable, ineffable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, blessed, worthy of praise, glorious, exalted on high, sublime, most high, gentle, lovable, delectable and totally desirable above all else forever.&Amen.&CHAPTER XXIVConclusion&1. In the name of the Lord! I ask all the brothers to learn the ten&or and sense of these things which have been written in this life for the salvation of our souls, and to call them frequently to mind. 2. And I ask God that He Who is All-powerful, Three and One, bless all those who teach, learn, retain, remember, and put into practice all these things, each time they repeat and perform what has been writ&ten here for the salvation of our soul, 3. and, kissing their feet, to love deeply, to guard and cherish [them], 4. And on behalf of Almighty God and the Lord Pope and by obedience, I, Brother Francis, firmly command and decree that no one remove anything from what has been written in this life or make any written addition to these things (cf. Dt 4:2); nor should the brothers have any other rule.&5. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.--------------------------------&
The text of the Later Rule or Regula bullata (RegB) was officially approved by Pope Honorius III on 29 November 1223. The RegB is the Rule which all male Franciscans of the OFM, OFMConventual and OFM Capuchin families of the First Order profess.The original of the RegB is treasured as a precious relic in the lower basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. The text is a proof that this Rule is included in a papal Bull, thus indicating that the Church considers the Franciscan way of life as wholly Catholic.The circumstances which refer to the writing of this Rule are given by various sources. St. Bonaventure (Legenda Maior IV,11) says that Francis withdrew to a high place and dictated the Rule. Elias, his vicar, later said that he lost the Rule, and so Francis retreated again to this lonely spot (hermitage of Fontecolombo) to write the Rule all over again. The symbolism Moses-Christ-Francis, and Commandments-Beatitudes-Rule, is evident. Later sources went even so far as stating that the Rule was personally dictated to Francis by Christ himself.Francis asked two friars to help him to write the Rule, namely Leo and Bonizo from Bologna, an expert in canon law. The Rule also betrays the influence of Cardinal Hugolino.The RegB is divided into 12 chapters, even though this division is not found in the original version. It is altogether a concise document, in which the trend at forming a legislative code for the Order is not absent. The first chapter simply states that the Rule and Life of the Friars Minor is that of living the Gospel. For Francis these words were more than enough to express his ideals.(Chapter I)In the name of the Lord, the life of the lesser brothers begins.&The rule and life of the lesser brothers is this: To observe the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, living in obedience without anything of our own, and in chastity.Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius and his canonically elected successors, and to the Roman C and the rest of the brothers are obliged to obey Francis and his successors.&(Chapter II)&Concerning those who wish to adopt this life.&If someone should wish to adopt this life and should come to our brothers, they must send them to their provincial ministers to whom alone is granted the right to receive brothers. The ministers should examine them carefully regarding the Catholic faith and sacraments of the church. If they believe all these things, wishing to confess them faithfully and observe them dili and if they have no wives, or their wives have entered a convent, or permission has been given to them by authority of their bishop, a vow of chastity having been taken and their wives being of such an age a then let them go, sell all they have, and attempt to give it to the poor. If they cannot do so, their good intention will suffice.Let the brothers and their ministers beware of becoming concerned about the new brothers' temporal possessions, for they should freely dispose of their belongings as God inspires them. If they ask advice, the ministers may refer them to some God-fearing brothers through whose counsel their possessions may be distributed to the poor.Later, let them concede clothing of probation to the new brothers: Two tunics with hoods, belt and trousers, and a chaperon reaching down to the belt, unless the minister decides according to God that something else should be done. When the year of probation is over, let them be received into obedience, promising to observe this
and, according to the command of the lord pope, it will be absolutely forbidden to them to leave the order, for according the holy gospel "no one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."And let those who have promised obedience take one tunic with a hood, and let those who wish it have another without a hood. And those who must may wear shoes. All the brothers are to wear inexpensive clothing, and they can use sackcloth and other material to mend it with God's blessing.&(Chapter III)&Concerning the divin and how the brothers ought to travel through the world.&Clerics are to perform the divine office according to the rite of the Roman Church, except for the Psalter, and they can have breviaries for that purpose. Laymen are to say twenty-four "Our Fathers" seven each at prime, terce, and seven at compline. They should also pray for the dead.They should fast from the feast of all saints until Christmas. Those who voluntarily fast at Quadragessima, those forty days after Epiphany which the Lord consecrated with his own holy fasting, will themselves be blessed by the L yet they are not required to do so if they do not want to. They must fast during Lent, but they are not required to do so at other times except on Fridays. In case of obvious necessity, however, they are excused from bodily fasting.I counsel, admonish and beg my brothers that, when they travel about the world, they should not be quarrelsome, dispute with words, or criticize others, but rather should be gentle, peaceful and unassuming, courteous and humble, speaking respectfully to all as is fitting.They must not ride on horseback unless forced to so by obvious necessity or illness. Whatever house they enter, they are first to say, "Peace to this house" (Lk. 10:5). According to the holy gospel they can eat whatever food is set before them.&(Chapter IV)&That the brothers should not accept money.&I strictly forbid the brothers to receive money in any form either directly or through an intermediary. Nevertheless, the ministers and custodians can work through spiritual friends to care for the sick and clothe the brothers, according to place, season and climate, as necessity may seem to demand. This must be done, however, in such a way that they do not receive money.&(Chapter V)&On their manner of working.&Those brothers whom the Lord favors with the gift of working should do so faithfully and devotedly, so that idleness, the enemy of the soul, is excluded yet the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, which all other temporal things should serve, is not extinguished. As payment for their labor let them receive that which is necessary for themselves and their brothers, but not money. Let them receive it humbly as befits those who serve God and seek after the holiest poverty.&(Chapter VI)&That the brothers should appropriate no and on how a and concerning sick brothers.&The brothers should appropriate neither house, nor place, nor any and they should go confidently after alms, serving God in poverty and humility, as pilgrims and strangers in this world. Nor should they feel ashamed, for God made himself poor in this world for us. This is that peak of the highest poverty which has made you, my dearest brothers, heirs and kings of the kingdom of heaven, poor in things but rich in virtues. Let this be your portion. It leads into the land of the living and, adhering totally to it, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ wish never to have anything else in this world, beloved brothers. And wherever brothers meet one another, let them act like members of a common family.And let them securely make their needs known to one another, for if a mother loves and cares for her carnal son, how much more should one love and care for his spiritual son? And if one of them should become ill, let the other brothers serve him as they themselves would like to be served.&(Chapter VII)&On the penances to be imposed on sinning brothers.&If any of the brothers should sin mortally at the instigation of the enemy, they should recur to their provincial ministers without delay if the sin is one of those for which such recourse is required. The ministers, if they are priests, should mercifully prescribe a penance for them. If they are not priests, they should see that it is prescribed by others in the order who are such, as seems best to them according to God. They should be careful not to become angry and upset over someone's sin, for anger and perturbation in oneself or others impedes love.&(Chapter VIII)&On the election of the general minister and on the chapter at Pentecost.&The brothers are always bound to have a brother of the order as general minister and servant of the entire brotherhood, and they are strictly bound to obey him. When he dies, his successor is to be elected by the provincial ministers and custodians during the Pentecost chapter, at which provincial ministers are always to assemble in the place designated by the minister general.The general chapter should meet every three years, or sooner or later if the minister general should so ordain. If at some point it should appear to the provincial ministers and custodians that the minister general is incapable of serving the brothers properly, the aforesaid brothers to whom election is entrusted should, in the name of God, choose someone else.After the Pentecost chapter, the ministers and custodians may call their brothers to a chapter in their own custody's once in the same year, if they wish and it seems worthwhile.&(Chapter IX)&On preachers.&The friars must not preach in the diocese of any bishop if they have been forbidden to do so by him. And no brother should dare preach to the people unless he has been examined and approved by the minister general of his brotherhood and the office of preaching has been conceded to him.I also admonish and exhort the brothers that in their preaching their words be studied and chaste, useful and edifying to the people, telling them about vices and virtues,
and they ought to be brief, because the Lord kept his words brief when he was on earth.&(Chapter X)&On the admonition and correction of brothers.&Brothers who are ministers and servants of other brothers must visit and admonish their brothers, and they should correct them humbly and lovingly, prescribing nothing against their soul or our rule.Brothers who are subject to authority must remember that they have surrendered their own wills for the sake of God. Thus I strictly order them to obey their ministers in all those things which they have promised the Lord to observe and which are not contrary to the soul and to our rule.And wherever there are brothers who know they cannot observe the rule spiritually, those brothers should and may recur to their ministers. The ministers should receive them lovingly and generously and treat them so intimately that the brothers can speak and act as lords do with their servants. For that is the way it ought to be. The ministers should be servants of all the brothers. I admonish and exhort the brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ to beware of all pride, vainglory, envy, avarice, worldly care and concern, criticism and complaint.And I admonish the illiterate not to worry about studying but to realize instead that above all they should wish to have the spirit of the Lord working within them, and that they should pray to him constantly with a pure heart, be humble, be patient in persecution and infirmity, and love those who persecute, blame or accuse us, for the Lord says, "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute and accuse you" (Mtt. 5:44). "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mtt. 5:10). "He who has persevered until the end, however, will be saved" (Mtt. 10:22).&(Chapter XI)&That the brothers should not enter the convents of nuns.&I strictly order all the brothers to avoid suspicious meetings or conversations with women and to stay out of the convents of nuns except in cases where special permission has been granted by the Holy See.Nor should they be godfathers of men or women, lest it lead to scandal among or concerning the brothers.&(Chapter XII)&Concerning those who go among the Saracens and other infidels.&Whoever should, by divine inspiration, wish to go among the Saracens and other infidels must ask permission from their provincial ministers. The ministers should grant permission only to those whom they consider qualified to be sent.I enjoin the ministers by obedience to ask the Lord Pope for a cardinal of the Holy Roman Church to serve as governor, protector and corrector of their brotherhood so that we servants and subjects at the feet of holy church, firm in faith, will always observe the poverty, humility and holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which we firmly promised.
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