The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi - + Saints' Works

things throughout the ages. Amen.
Chapter XXIV
Conclusion
THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
In the Name of the Lord! I beg all the friars, that they in addition learn the tenor and
sense of these things which have been written in this life 442 to save our soul and that they
frequently recall these to memory. · And I entreat God, that He, who is Omnipotent, Triune and
One, bless all those teaching, learning, having, remembering and putting these things into
practice as often as they return to and do those things which have been written here for the
salvation of our soul, · and I beseech all with a kiss on the foot, to love much, guard and
remember these things. · And on the part of God Omnipotent and the lord Pope and through
obedience I Friar Francis firmly precept 443 and enjoin, that concerning these things, which have
been written in this life, no one diminish or add in writing anything to what is above (cf. Dt 4:2;
12:32) nor are the friars to have another 444 rule. · Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the
Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, and (is) now, and (shall be) always and unto the ages of
ages. Amen.
The Rule given for those in hermitages
[RegEr]
St. Francis composed this brief regulation for the governance of the life of the friars who visited and/or
lived in hermitages. The eremitic life was one of the central pillars of the early Franciscan Order. St.
Francis himself is said to have spent 8 months every year in one hermitage or another. Indeed many of
the most important graces which Christ gave him were associated with hermitages (e.g. the grace of the
pardon of all his sins, the stigmata, the writing of the Regula Bullata.) And so it is not surprising that many
of the reforms of the Franciscan order have also been closely associated with a return to the eremitic life.
This reflects the predominance in the Franciscan vocation of prayer over external activity (cf. Regula
Bullata [RegB] Chapter V). This rule was written sometime between the winter of 1217-18 and Pentecost
of 1221 A.D.. 445
Let those friars, who wish to stay religiously in hermitages, be three or as much as four;
let two of these be the mothers 446 and let them have two sons or at least one. · Those two, who are
mothers, let them observe the life of Martha and let the two sons observe the life of Mary (cf. Lk
442 i.e. in this Rule; "life" is also used in this sense further on in this same paragraph.
443 see fn. 7.
444 Expecting the approval of this version of the Rule, St. Francis had added this stricture. On
account of its rambling nature, which makes it unwieldy as a tool of government, this Rule was
not approved by the Pope; however it does express faithfully the spirit and mind of St. Francis
concerning the Order, and has always been held in high regard among his sons.
445 cf. K. Esser, p. 541.
446 So called, because their duty is to attend to the domestic duties, the traditional role of mothers.
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