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The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul
Prologue
IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
TO THE GENERAL MINISTER OF THE ORDER OF THE LESSER BROTHERS HERE BEGINS THE PROLOGUE
1 The holy gathering of the last general chapter and you, most reverend father,a chose to charge us, insignificant as we are, to write down the deeds as well as the words of our glorious father Francis, for the consolation of our contemporaries and the remembrance of future generations.
We, more than others, learned these things through constant living together and mutual intimacy with him over a long time.b We hastened with humble devotion to obey this sacred command: it would be wrong to neglect it in any way. But on further considering the weakness of our capacities we are struck with a justified fear that such a worthy topic, handled in an unworthy manner, should be tainted by our efforts and become distasteful to others. We fear that, like food full of delicious flavors, it may be rendered tasteless by incom-
- For information on the request for information on Francis of the previous General Chapter of Genoa and the General Minister, Crescentius of Iesi, in 1244, see supra, 15-18. This text of The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul was presented to Crescentius of Iesi before the General Chapter of 1247, when John of Parma was elected in his place. The translation is based on the critical text of the AF X, 129-268.
- This first number echoes the letter dated August 11, 1246, from Greccio attached to L3C, cf. L3C 1, supra 67-68. See conclusion of the whole work, 2C 221-224, infra, 392-393 the Prayer of the Companions.
Vita Secunda Sancti Francisci, Fontes Franciscani, p. 443-444
VITA SECUNDA SANCTI FRANCISCI
PROLOGUS.
In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi. Amen.
Generali ministro ordinis fratrum Minorum. Incipit Prologus.
1 1Placuit sanctae universitati olim capituli generalis et vobis, reverendissime pater, non sine divini dispensatione consilii, parvitati nostrae iniungere, ut gesta vel etiam dicta gloriosi patris nostri Francisci nos, quibus ex assidua conversatione illius et mutua familiaritate plus caeteris diutinis experimentis innotuit, ad consolationem praesentium et posterorum memoriam scriberemus.
2Obedire propterea iussionibus sanctis, quas fas non est ullatenus praeterire, supplici devotione concurrimus; 3sed, virium nostrarum propensiore meditatione infirmitatis, iusto timore percutimur, ne tam digna materia, non prout exigit pertractata, contrahat a nobis quod displiceat caeteris. 4Haec enim, quae totius suavitatis sunt digna sapore, formidamus ne ministrantium indignitate reddantur insipida,