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

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Order, approved by Our predecessor, Pope Innocent, 254 of good memory, quoted herein, and We
thoroughly fortify it with the patronage of (this) present writing. Which is such:]
Chapter I
In the Name of the Lord! begins the life of the Friars Minor. 255
The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the Holy Gospel of Our
Lord Jesus Christ, by living in obedience, 256 without anything of one's own, 257 and in chastity. 258 ·
Friar Francis promises obedience and reverence to the lord Pope Honorius and to his canonically
elected successors and to the Roman Church. · And the other friars are bound to obey Friar
Francis and his successors. 259
Chapter II
On those who want to adopt 260 this life, and how they ought to be received.
If any want to adopt this life and have come to our friars, let them send them to their
Ministers provincial, to whom alone, and not to others, is the permission to receive friars
conceded. · Let the ministers indeed examine them diligently concerning the Catholic Faith and
the Sacraments of the Church. 261 · And if they believe all these things and want to observe them
faithfully and firmly until the end, 262 · and they have no wives or, if they do have them, their
254 Innocent III (pope 1196-1216 A.D.) had approved the first version of the Rule orally more
than a decade earlier.
255 lit. fratres minores, "the lesser brothers." St. Francis was inspired to give this name to his
Order after the saying of Jesus Christ: "Inasmuch as you did it to the least of My brothers, you
did it to Me." (Mt 28:40b)
256 The practice of obedience is counseled by Christ (Mt 16:24-25; 22:21; Jn 8:51; Lk 10:16) and
taught by His example, (Mt 26:39-42; Lk 2:51; Jn 4:34,38; 14:30-31); and also taught by the
Apostles (Rm 10:9; Ph 2:8; Heb 5:8; 10:5-7; 13:17; 1 Pt 5:5). As a vow it obliges the religious to
obey his superior in accordance with his rule; however the Rule of St. Francis obliges also
obedience in all things that are lawful and upright (cf. Chapter X).
257 The practice of poverty is counseled by Christ, (Mt 19:21,29; Lk 12:33; 14:33; 18:22); and
taught by His example, (Mt 8:19-20; Lk 2:7,12; 18:22-25; 2 Cor 8:9) and lived by the Apostles,
(Mt 19:27; Lk 18:29-30; Phil 3:8) As a vow it obliges a religious to renounce all personal
ownership; however the Rule of St. Francis also obliges the community to this same renunciation
(cf. Chapter VI).
258 The practice of chastity is counseled by Christ, (Mt 5:8; 19:12,29; Lk 16:26), taught by His
example, (Lk 9:58) and practiced by the Apostles (1 Cor 7:7-8). As a vow it obliges a religious to
forego marriage and to abstain from everything against the Sixth and Ninth Commandments.
259 This obedience to the Successor of St. Peter, the Rock upon which Christ founded His Church,
is likewise evangelical (cf. Mt 16:13-19).
260 lit. accipere, "to accept," cf. fn. 293.
261 lit ecclesiaticis sacramentis, the Sacraments as they are in the Church.
262 see fn. 84.
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