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

A Prayer before the Crucifix
[OrCruc]
THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
According to the historical record, St. Francis was inspired to compose this prayer after an extraordinary
revelation that occurred in the little church of San Damiano, just outside the walls of Assisi. On that
occasion Our Lord, depicted in the large iconic Crucifix above the altar, spoke and commanded St.
Francis with the words: "Francis, go and rebuild My Church, which as you can see, is falling into ruin." 247
This was in January of 1206 A.D. and this prayer was written down shortly afterwards. 248
Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant unto me right
faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding, Lord, so that I may accomplish
Thy holy and true mandate.
The Regula Bullata
[RegB]
Of all the rules of religious orders in the Roman Catholic Church the Rule of St. Francis has been the
subject of the most controversies and the most Papal interventions and declarations. Indeed Pope
Nicholas III went so far as to censure its detractors. 249 The reason for this lies in the Rule's perfect
conformity to the highest standards of the Gospel. Yet the demands it places on the one who promises to
observe it in this life are nothing in comparison to the glory to be won by him from Christ in the life to
come.
The official text of the Rule of St. Francis was approved on November 29, 1223 A.D. by Pope Honorius III
in the Bull Solet Annuere. Hence it is customary to present the text of the Rule within that of the papal
decree (as is done below within square brackets). The original of the Bull is kept at the Sacro Convento in
Assisi. 250 K. Esser holds that, in all probability, St. Francis wrote the text of the Rule, which it requotes, in
his own hand, sometime between Pentecost and November of 1223 A.D.. 251
[Honorius, 252 bishop, servant of the servants of God, to (Our) beloved sons, Friar Francis
and the other friars from the Order of Friars Minor, health and apostolic benediction. The
Apostolic See is accustomed to agree 253 to the pious wishes and upright desires of those asking to
share in (Her) benevolent favor. On that account, beloved (dilectio) sons in the Lord, having
yielded to your pious prayers, We confirm for you, by (Our) apostolic authority, the Rule of your
247 cf. 2 Celano 10; and St. Bonaventure's Legenda maior, II,1. There is a great variety and
diversity among the ancient Italian translations of this prayer, cf. K. Esser, pp. 453-4.
248 K. Esser, p. 458. K. Esser does not divide this prayer into verses.
249 cf. Exiit qui seminat (Aug. 14, 1279 A.D.), n. 10, where the Pope declares the Rule to be
"observable, possible, licit ... meritorious and perfect."
250 K. Esser, p. 459. The text of this Bull is thus not counted in the verse structure of the Rule in
K. Esser's Latin edition.
251 K. Esser, pp. 460-1 and 476 respectively.
252 Honorius III (pope 1216-1227 A.D.).
253 lit. annuere, "to nod, to give assent by a nod."
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