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

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
True God have and let there be rendered unto Him and let Him receive all honors and reverences,
all praises and blessings, all thanks and glory, of whom is every good, who alone is good. (cf. Lk
18:19).
And when we ourselves see or hear (anyone) speaking or doing evil or blaspheming God,
let us speak well and do good and praise God (cf. Rm 12:21), "who is blest throughout the ages"
(Rm 1:25).
Chapter XVIII
How the ministers are to assemble together
In any year whatsoever let the minister be able to assemble with his friars—wherever it
has pleased them (to do so)—on the Feast 418 of Saint Michael the Archangel, to treat with those
things which pertain to God. · For let all the ministers, who are overseas and beyond the Alps, 419
once in three years, and the other ministers once a year, come to the Chapter at Pentecost at the
Church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula, 420 unless it has been ordained otherwise by the Minister
and servant of the whole fraternity.
Chapter XIX
That the friars are to live as Catholics
Let all the friars be Catholic, live and speak as Catholics. · If anyone indeed has
wandered from the Faith and from Catholic life in what he has said or in what he has done and
has not amended himself, let him be entirely expelled from our fraternity. · And let us regard all
clerics and all religious as lords in those things which pertain to the salvation of the soul and do
not deviate from our religion; 421 and let us venerate their state and office and ministry in the
Lord.
Chapter XX
On (the Sacrament of) Penance and the reception of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus
Christ
And let my blest friars, clerics as much as lay (brothers), confess their sins to the priests
of our religion. · And if they have not been able (to do this), let them confess to other discrete
and Catholic priests, knowing firmly and mindful, that from whatsoever Catholic priests they
will have received Penance and absolution, they shall without doubt 422 be absolved from their
418 September 29; the end of the year in the Medieval, agricultural calendar; for annual chapters
see. fn. 321.
419 i.e. at the time of this Rule's composition this would refer respectively to the Near East and to
Northern and Western Europe.
420 This little church, a mile south of Assisi, is where St. Francis was inspired to found the Order
in 1208 A.D.; for triennial chapters see fn. 318.
421 For the use of "religion" in this and the next paragraph, see fn. 156.
422 The Latin phrase procul dubio translated here as "without doubt" means more precisely "far
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