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Chapter Eight
THE DRIVE OF PIETY AND
HOW IRRATIONAL CREATURES
SEEMED MOVED TOWARD HIM
1True piety, 1 Tm 4:8 a
which according to the Apostle
gives power to all things,
had so filled Francis's heart
and penetrated its depths
that it seemed to have claimed the man of God
completely into its dominion.
This is what,
through devotion, lifted him up into God;
through compassion, transformed him into Christ;
through self-emptying,b turned him to his neighbor;
through universal reconciliation with each thing,
refashioned him to the state of innocence.c
Through this virtue
he was moved with piety to all things,
especially to souls redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
When he saw them being stained by the filth of sin,
he grieved with such tender care
- To place this chapter into a proper historical context, it would be helpful to read André Méhat, Aimé Solignac, Irénée Noye, "Piété," Dictionnaire de Spiritualité Ascetique et Mystique, Doctrine et Histoire XII (Paris: Beauchesne, 1986), 1694-1743.
- The Latin is condescensionem [condescension], a word that has negative overtones in contemporary English. In this sense, it implies the stooping of one who is actually exalted in power, rank and dignity, i.e., Christ, so as to accommodate himself to others. Cf. Webster’s Dictionary of Synonyms, first edition (Springfield, MA: G.& C. Merriam Co., Publishers, 1951), 791.
- In his Third Book of Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Bonaventure quotes Augustine’s The City of God X, c.1, n.3: "The word ‘piety’ (eusebeia in Greek) is generally understood as referring particularly to the worship of God. But this word also is used to describe a dutiful attitude towards parents; while in popular speech it is constantly used in connection with acts of compassion . . . From this application comes the application of the epithet pius to God himself." Augustine, The City of God, translation by Henry Betterson, introduction by John O’Meara (London, New York, Victoria, Ontario, Auckland: Penguin Books, 1972), 373. Cf. III Sent. D. 35, au., q.6, concl. (III, 785b). In this passage, however, Bonaventure extends the meaning of piety to embrace reconciliation with all creation, thus introducing the Franciscan dimension of the word and extending its meaning.
Legenda Maior, Fontes Franciscani, p. 842-843
Caput VIII
De pietatis affectu
et
quomodo ratione carentia
videbantur ad ipsum affici.
1 1Pietas vera,
quae secundum Apostolum
ad omnia valet,
adeo cor Francisci repleverat
ac penetraverat viscera,
ut totum videretur virum Dei
in suum dominium vindicasse.
2Haec est, quae
ipsum per devotionem sursum agebat in Deum,
per compassionem transformabat in Christum,
per condescensionem inclinabat ad proximum
et per universalem conciliationem ad singula
refigurabat ad innocentiae statum.
– 3Cumque per hanc
pie moveretur ad omnia,
specialiter tamen animas Christi Iesu sanguine pretioso redemptas,
cum cerneret inquinari aliqua sorde peccati,
tanta miserationis teneritudine deplorabat,