since this was the first and principal place in the whole Order. Some brothers opposed him in this matter and told him that in some provinces wood is more expensive than stone. Thus it did not seem good to them that houses be built of wood and mud. But blessed Francis did not wish to argue with them because he was very sick and close to death.

This is the reason he had written in his Testament: "Let the broth- ers be careful not to receive in any way churches or dwellings or any other things built for them, unless they are according to poverty . . . as pilgrims and strangers let them always be guests there."

We who were with him when he wrote the Rule and almost all his other writings bear witness that he had many things written in the Rule and in his other writings, to which many brothers, especially prelates and the wise ones among us, were opposed. Nowadays these things would be very useful and necessary for the whole reli- gion. Because he greatly feared scandal, he gave in, although unwill- ingly, to the wishes of the brothers. But he often repeated this saying: "Woe to those brothers who are opposed to what I firmly know to be the will of God for the greatest good and necessity of the whole religion, even if I unwillingly give in to their wishes."

He often said to us, his companions: "Here lies my pain and grief: those things which I received from God by His mercy with great effort of prayer and meditation for the present and future good of the religion, and which are, as He assures me, in accordance with His will, some of the brothers relying on the authority of their knowledge and false providence nullify and oppose me saying: ‘These things must be kept and observed; but not those!'"

12
HOW HE CONSIDERED IT A THEFT TO ACQUIRE ALMS OR USE THEM BEYOND ONE’S NEED

 Blessed Francis often said these words to his brothers: "I have never been a thief, that is, in regard to alms, acquiring or using them beyond necessity. I always took less than I needed, so that other poor people would not be cheated of their portion. To act otherwise would be theft."

 Previous

Next 

eo quod erat primus et principalior locus de toto ordine, ³quidam fratres in hoc fuerunt sibi contrarii, dicentes quod in aliquibus provinciis ligna sunt cariora quam lapides; ita quod non videbatur eis bonum quod domus fierent ex lignis et luto. ⁴Sed beatus Franciscus nolebat contendere cum eis, maxime quia erat prope mortem et graviter infirmabatur.

⁵Unde tunc in testamento suo fecit scribi: « Caveant fratres ut ecelesias et habitacula et omnia alia quae pro ipsis construuntur penitus non recipiant, nisi sint sicut decet sanctam paupertatem, semper ibi hospitantes sicut advenae et peregrini ».

⁶Nos vero, qui cum ipso fuimus a quando scripsit regulam et fere omnia alia sua scripta, perhibmus testimonium quod plura fecit scribi in regula et in aliis suis scriptis in quibus multi fratres fuerunt sibi contrarii, maxime praelati et sapientes nostri, ⁷quae hodie essent valde utilia et necessaria toti religioni, sed quia ipse multum timebat scandalum, condescendebat non voluntarie voluntatibus fratrum. ⁸Saepe tamen dicebat hunc sermonem: « Vae illis fratribus qui sunt mihi contrarii in hoc quod cognosco firmiter esse de voluntate Dei pro utilitate majori et necessitate totius religionis, licet invitus condescendam voluntati eorum! ».

⁹Unde saepe etiam dicebat nobis sociis suis: « In hoc est dolor meus et afflictio mea quod in iis quae cum multo labore orationis et mediationis obtineo a Deo per misericordiam suam pro utilitate praesenti et futura totius religionis, ¹⁰et ab ipso sum certificatus quod secundum voluntatem ejus sunt, aliqui fratres ex auctoritate suae scientiae et falsae providentiae sunt mihi contrarii et evacuant ea, dicentes: Ista sunt tenenda et observanda et ista non ».

Quod reputabat furtum
acquirere eleemosynas vel uti eis ultra necessitatem.
Caput 12.

¹Dicebat beatus Franciscus ista verba frequenter fratribus suis: « Non fui latro de eleemosynis acquirendo eas vel utendo eis ultra necessitatem. ²Semper minus accepi quam me contingeret, ne alii pauperes defraudarentur portione sua, quia contrarium facere furtum esset ».