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

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Pater Nosters with a Gloria Patri 375 for Matins; 376 indeed for Lauds five; for Prime the Credo in
Deum and seven Pater nosters with a Gloria Patri; for Terce, Sext and Nones and for whatever
hour (of these) seven; for Vespers twelve; for Compline the Credo in Deum and seven Pater
nosters with a Gloria Patri; on behalf of the dead seven Pater nosters with the Requiem
aeternam; 377 and for the failing and negligence of the friars three Pater nosters every day. 378
And similarly let every friar fast from the Feast of All Saints until Christmas and from
Epiphany, when Our Lord Jesus Christ began to fast, until Easter. 379 · Indeed at other times let
them not be bound to fast according to this life, except on Fridays. · And let it be licit for them to
eat of all the foods, which are placed before them, according to the Gospel (cf. Lk 10:8).
Chapter IV
How (things) are to be arraigned concerning the ministers and the other friars
In the Name of the Lord! · Let all the friars, who are constituted ministers and servants of
the other friars, in the provinces and places in which they have been, arrange 380 their own friars,
whom they are to often visit and spiritually warn and encourage. 381 · And let all my other blest
friars diligently obey them in those things which pertain to the salvation of the soul and are not
contrary to our life. 382 · And let them act among themselves as the Lord says: "Whatever you
want men to do to you, do also to them" (Mt 7,12); · and: What you do not want to be done to
you, do not do to another. 383 · And let the ministers and servants remember, what the Lord says:
"I have not" come "to be ministered unto but to minister" (Mt 20:28) and that there has been
committed to them the care of the friars' souls, of which, if any were lost on account of their fault
and bad example, it will be proper that they "render an account on the Day of Judgement" (cf. Mt
12:36) before the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter V
On the correction of the friars in their failings
And for this reason guard your souls and those of your friars; because "it is a dreadful
thing to fall into the hand of the living God" (Heb 10:31). · If, however, any of the ministers of
375 The doxology: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and shall be unto the ages of ages. Amen."
376 For an explanation of these liturgical hours, see fn. 283.
377 i.e. the prayer for the faithful departed: "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let
perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen."
378 It is part of Catholic belief that the fulfillment of one's daily duties are a moral obligation,
something that God expects of every individual. Thus the necessity of making satisfaction even
for such sins of omission.
379 November 1 and January 6 respectively; cf. RegB III,5-7.
380 i.e. assign them to the local houses.
381 lit. confortent, "to strengthen, uphold."
382 i.e. this Rule and the duties of a religious vocation.
383 cf. Rule of St. Benedict IV,9; LXI,14 and LXX,7; compare also Tob 4:16(15).
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