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

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
putting the hand to the plow and looking backwards is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Lk 9:62). · If
however anyone has come who cannot give his own (possessions) without impediment 362 and he
has a spiritual will, 363 let him forsake 364 these, and (this) suffices for him. · Let no one be received
against the form and arrangement of Holy Church. 365
Indeed let the other friars, who have promised obedience, have one tunic with a capuche
and another without a capuche, if the necessity has arisen, 366 and a cord and breeches. · And let
all the friars wear cheep vestments, and let them be able to patch these with sacks and other
pieces (of cloth) with the blessing of God; because the Lord says in the Gospel: "Those who are
in precious garments and among delights" (Lk 7:25) and "those who are dressed in soft (clothes),
are in the houses of kings" (Mt 11:8). · And though they be called hypocrites, let them not
however cease doing good nor seek costly clothes in this world (saeculum), so that they can have
(their) raiment 367 in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Chapter III
On the Divine Office and fasting
The Lord says: "This kind" of demon "cannot go forth except in" fasting and prayer (cf.
Mk 9:28); · and again: "When you fast do not make yourselves sad like hypocrites" (Mt 6:16).
On this account let all the friars, whether clerics or lay, perform 368 the Divine Office, 369
the praises and the prayers, 370 in the manner they ought to perform it. · Let the clerics perform the
Office and say on behalf of the living and the dead (what) is according to the custom of the
clergy. · And for the failing and negligence of the friars let them say every day a Miserere mei
Deus (Ps 50) with a Pater noster; 371 · and on behalf of the departed friars let them say the De
profundis (Ps 129) with a Pater noster. · And let them be able to have only the books necessary to
fulfill their office. 372 · And let it be licit for the lay (brothers, who) know how to read the Psalter,
to have 373 one for themselves. · Indeed let it not be licit to the other (brothers, who) do not know
how to read, to have a book. · Let the lay (brothers) say the Credo in Deum 374 and twenty-four
362 e.g. in those cases in which property rights were shared with others.
363 i.e. good will.
364 i.e. renounce his own rights to them.
365 i.e. against ecclesiastical law.
366 St. Francis uses the perfect subjunctive si necesse fuerit, here translated as "if the necessity has
arisen," to indicate that the second tunic should not be granted in view of future necessity, but
only after such necessity has occurred.
367 A reference to the white stole of glory worn by the Saints in heaven (cf. Apoc 7:9-10,13-17).
368 see fn. 277.
369 see fn. 278.
370 A reference to the customary prayers of the Order, e.g. "The Praises to be said at every hour"
[LaudHor].
371 i.e. the Our Father.
372 Whether that be only for the liturgical Office or also for the duties of preaching, teaching, or
hearing confession, etc. is not clear; the use of eorum, (translated here as "their") in this context
implies the latter.
373 i.e. to have the use of one; for the meaning of "Psalter" see fn. 280.
374 The Apostles Creed.
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