Chapter Three
THE PERFECTION OF HOLY HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE IN HIM AND IN HIS BROTHERS

39
IN THE FIRST PLACE, HOW HE RESIGNED THE OFFICE OF GENERAL MINISTER AND APPOINTED BROTHER PETER OF CATANIO THE GENERAL MINISTER

In order to preserve the virtue of holy humility, a few years after his conversion, at a chapter,^a he resigned the office of prelate before all the brothers, saying: “From now on, I am dead to you. But here you have Brother Peter of Catanio; let us all, you and I, obey him.” And prostrating himself on the ground before him, he promised him obedience and reverence.

Therefore all the brothers were weeping, and sorrow drew uncontrolled deep groans from them, as they saw themselves orphaned of such a father. As blessed Francis got up, he joined his hands and, lifting his eyes to heaven, ^{Is 51:6} said: “Lord, I give back to You the family which until now You have entrusted to me. Now, sweetest Lord, because of my infirmities, which You know, I can no longer take care of them and I entrust them to the ministers. If any brother should perish because of their negligence, or bad example, or even harsh correction, let them be bound to render an account for it before You, Lord, on the day of judgment.” ^{Mt 12:36}

From that time on, he remained subject until his death, behaving more humbly in all things than any of the others.

40
HOW HE CONSIGNED HIS OWN COMPANIONS NOT WANTING TO HAVE A SPECIAL COMPANION

Another time he consigned all his companions to his vicar, saying: “I don’t want to seem singular because of this privilege of freedom to have a special companion; any brothers can go with me from place to place as the Lord inspires them.” And he added: “Why, I have seen a blind man who had no guide for his journey except one little dog,

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CAPITULUM III (IV) - DE PERFECTIONE SANCTAE HUMILITATIS ET OBEDIENTIAE IN SEIPSO ET IN FRATRIBUS SUIS.

Et primo qualiter resignavit officium praelationis et instituit generalem ministrum fratrem Petrum Cathanii. Caput 39.

¹Ad servandam sanctae humilitatis virtutem, paucis annis elapsis post conversionem suam, in quodam capitulo, coram omnibus fratribus, resignavit officium praelationis, dicens: 2 « Amodo sum mortuus vobis; sed ecce frater Petrus Cathanii cui ego et vos omnes obediamus ». Et prosternens se in terram, coram ipso, obedientiam et reverentiam promisit eidem.

³Flebant ergo omnes fratres et dolor nimius altos gemitus extorquebat, cum scilicet videbant se quodam modo orphanos fieri tanto patre. ⁴Surgens autem beatus pater, et elevatis oculis in caelum a et junctis manibus, dixit: « Domine, recommendo tibi familiam quam mihi hactenus commisisti; et nunc, propter infirmitates quas tu nosti, dulcissime Domine, curam ipsius habere non valens, eam recommendo ministris : ⁵qui teneantur in die judicii coram te, Domine, reddere rationem b, si quis frater, propter eorum negligentiam vel malum exemplum seu asperam correctionem, perierit ».

⁶Permansit ergo ex tunc subditus usque ad mortem, humilius se habens in omnibus quam aliquis aliorum.

Qualiter resignavit etiam socios suos nolens habere socium specialem. Caput 40.

¹Alio tempore, resignavit cunctos socios suos vicario suo, dicens: « Nolo videri singularis hac praerogativa libertatis ut habeam socium specialem, sed fratres me de loco ad locum associent, sicut Dominus inspiraverit e