The Sixth Book

THE BROTHERS HE HAD SENT THROUGH THE WORLD
TO PREACH, ALL RETURN TOGETHER IMMEDIATELY,
IN ANSWER TO HIS PRAYER;
THE APPROVAL OF THE RULE.

Addition
⁹⁶The Pope readily grants in favor. Everything yields
Ground to the requests and nothing whatever is refused.
Indeed at first the Pope had doubts about giving his blessing
To such poverty of the most extraordinary kind.
Finally, turning towards the holy man, he said: "Pray, son,
That whatever is the divine will may be made clear to us."
Francis prayed, for what he obtained, that the Pope would kindly
Favor him and that he himself might know what would be helpful.
Hence he used a heavenly inspired parable, and said:
"A rich king, attracted by the loveliness of a woman
Who was poor as well as beautiful, took her in marriage.
By her he had children. But when they had grown, their mother
Sent them to their father to be looked after. The king, noticing
How handsome they were and bore his own likeness, lovingly
Embraced them and said: 'Have no fear, for it is you who are
My heirs; ^{Rom 8:17} and if many are the strangers that find feeding
From my table, greater is your right to be supported,
You to whom I allot my whole kingdom for your possession.'
"So," he concluded, "There is no doubting that God will feed
Those children that were borne Him by an Order that is poor.
For poor was the spouse Christ the King especially made His own,
And it was to the poor that He promised His kingdom; therefore
He will give to subjects what He denies not to enemies."

The Pope marveled at the Lord speaking in one of His servants;
Moreover a vision he himself had had at that time
He now saw, God urging him, find fulfillment in this man.
The Pope had seen in a dream, he reported, the Lateran
Basilica threatening to fall when, there placing his own
Back underneath it, was this little, poor, and humble man
Supporting it. "This is Francis," he exclaimed, "the one who
By the life he leads, together with his doctrine, will the whole
Church strengthen." From that moment the Pope was favorable, and
Approved the Order's standing and the rule of Francis; also
He charged him to preach, and on the lay brothers who followed him,

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