goodness and the undeniable weight of evidence, became faithful heralds and promoters of his fame.

Chapter XVIII
HIS CANONIZATION

⁷¹In various parts of the world blessed Francis was becoming resplendent because of the light of new miracles. And from far and wide, those who, through his merits, enjoyed unique and extraordinary benefits from the Lord, hurried to reverence his holy remains. After consulting the cardinals and many other prelates, and approving the miracles which the Lord wrought through his intercession, the Lord Pope Gregory enrolled him in the catalog of saints, ordering that his feast be solemnly celebrated on the day of his death.

These things happened in the city of Assisi, in the presence of many prelates of the Church, an exceptionally large representation of rulers and barons, and a vast crowd of people from all parts of the world whom the Lord Pope had invited. This took place in the year one thousand two hundred and twenty-eight, the second year of the Lord Pope's pontificate.

⁷²The Sovereign Pontiff, who loved the saint very much during his lifetime, not only honored him through an extraordinary canonization, but also laid the first stone of the church to be built in his honor, enriching it with sacred gifts and precious appointments. To this new church, two years after his canonization, the saint's most sacred body was solemnly transferred from the place where it was first buried.

He sent to the church a golden cross, decorated with precious gems and containing wood from the Lord's cross. He also sent appointments, vessels, and many other furnishings for the service of the altar, together with many precious and solemn vestments.

Exempting the church from any inferior jurisdiction, the Sovereign Pontiff, by apostolic authority, proclaimed it "the Head and Mother" of the whole Order of Lesser Brothers, as is clear in an official public document that was undersigned by all the cardinals.

⁷³It would mean little to honor the saint of God with material things, had not the Lord willed to work through him, physically dead but spiritually alive in glory, numerous miracles of conversion and healing. After his death, both men and women, through his intercession, were converted to the Lord. Many nobles and their sons put on the habit of his Order, and their wives and daughters entered the monasteries of the Poor Ladies.

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bonitate Dei operante et ipsa veritate cogente, ipsius laudatores et praedicatores fidelissimi exstiterunt.

Caput XVIII
De canonisatione ipsius.

71 ¹Cum igitur in diversis iam mundi partibus nova miraculorum luce claresceret, et ad sacrum corpus eius undique concurrerent qui maxima et singularia beneficia Domini meritis ipsius experti fuerant, supradictus dominus papa Gregorius, de consilio cardinalium et aliorum praelatorum quamplurium, lectis et approbatis miraculis quae Dominus per eum fuerat operatus, ipsum in sanctorum catalogo annotavit, mandans festum eius die sui obitus solemniter celebrari.

²Facta sunt autem haec in civitate Assisii in praesentia multorum praelatorum et maximae multitudinis principum et baronum ac innumerabilium populorum de diversis mundi partibus, quos ad ipsam solemnitatem idem dominus papa fecerat convocari, anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo vicesimo octavo, pontificatus ipsius domini papae anno secundo.

72 ¹Ipse summus pontifex dictum sanctum quem viventem summe dilexerat, non solum canonisando mirifice honoravit, verum, etiam ecclesiam in honore eius constructam, in cuius fundamento ipse dominus papa primum lapidem posuit, sacris ditavit muneribus et pretiosissimis ornamentis. ²Ad quam, post duos annos a sua canonisatione, sacrosanctum corpus eius de loco ubi prius sepultum fuerat honorifice est translatum.

³Misit enim ad ipsam ecclesiam crucem auream lapidibus pretiosis ornatam in qua erat lignum crucis dominicae inclusum, atque ornamenta et vasa et plurima ad altaris ministerium pertinentia cum multis pretiosis et solemnibus indumentis.

⁴Quam quidem ecclesiam ab omni iurisdictione inferiori eximens, auctoritate apostolica ipsam caput et matrem totius ordinis fratrum minorum instituit, ut patet in privilegio publico et bullato in quo cardinales communiter subscripserunt.

73 ¹Verum quia parum esset sanctum Dei rebus insensibilibus honorari nisi per eum, corpore mortuum et spiritu viventem in gloria, Dominus quamplurimos converteret et sanaret, non solum promiscui sexus personae indifferentes post eius obitum meritis ipsius ad Dominum sunt conversae, sed etiam multi magni et nobiles cum filiis suis habitum sui ordinis susceperunt, reclusis propriis uxoribus et filiabus suis in monasteriis pauperum dominarum.