Chapter 4

(85) Fully convinced that greed is, according to the expression of the Apostle¹, the root of all vices, our seraphic Father St. Francis—most zealous to uproot it from the hearts of his children—has forbidden them in the Rule to receive in any manner coins or money, whether directly or through intermediaries. And so that this principle might be more deeply engraved in our souls, and to make us understand how deeply he held it in his heart, he reiterated it three times in said Rule.

Therefore, in order to enter fully into the mind of our Father and perfectly fulfill the pious desires that the Holy Spirit inspired in him, we forbid the Brothers from having, in any way, procurators or other persons, under any name whatsoever, who hold or receive money for them or in their name, contrary to the declarations of the Sovereign Pontiffs Nicholas III² and Clement V³; being content to have as our procurator Jesus Christ our Lord, as substitute and advocate His most loving Mother, and as spiritual friends the Angels and the Saints.

(86) And since most high poverty was the cherished spouse of Christ, the Son of God, and of our Father St. Francis, His humble servant, the Brothers must firmly believe that it cannot be violated without greatly displeasing God, and that to harm it is truly to wound Him in the apple of His eye.

Our seraphic Father was accustomed to say that his true Brothers should esteem coins and money no more than dust; indeed, that they should flee from them with as much horror as from a venomous serpent. Oh! how many times did this tender Father, inflamed with a wholly divine zeal, foreseeing in spirit that a great number of Brothers, rejecting this evangelical pearl, would fall into laxity to the point of receiving and procuring legacies, inheritances, and superfluous alms, weep over them, saying that a religious is very near his ruin as soon as he esteems money more than mud.

Experience indeed proves to us that when a religious casts holy poverty far from himself, he soon falls into the most shameful and enormous vices. Let the Brothers therefore strive, after the example of Christ and His most gentle Mother, to be poor in earthly things, so that they may become rich in graces, virtues, and heavenly treasures. And above all, let them be extremely careful, when visiting the sick, not to induce them—directly or indirectly—to leave them temporal goods.

Let them, on the contrary, refuse as much as is suitably possible whatever the sick might wish to give them freely; firmly convinced that it is impossible to possess both riches and poverty at the same time; and that they must not receive legacies, contrary to the declarations of the Sovereign Pontiffs Nicholas III⁴ and Clement V⁵. Whoever violates this prohibition shall be deprived of his office if he is a local Superior, and if he were a provincial Superior, he shall be severely punished by the Minister General.

(87) And so as to understand more clearly and always keep in mind what our seraphic Father forbids us in the fourth chapter of the Rule, we remind the Brothers that, excepting a legitimate dispensation, they may in no manner have the use or civil administration of coins or money. Consequently, if a Brother dared of his own authority to procure it, receive it, dispose of it for himself or for others, or keep it in deposit at his own place or someone else’s, he would gravely violate this precept and be guilty of ownership.

If, due to the times, the Superiors must at times use particular indults from the Holy See, then in addition to the clauses contained in these indults, they must strictly observe the prescriptions of the Code of Canon Law regarding both the administration or alienation of goods and the contracting of debts or obligations⁶. Let these same Superiors receive Mass stipends with the required prudence, according to the needs of the Brothers, and faithfully observe the rules established by the Church on this point⁷.

(88) In order to preserve more securely this precious treasure of poverty, we forbid recourse to spiritual friends except for necessary things that cannot be otherwise procured; and even then, permission from the Superiors is required, unless the need is so urgent that it allows no delay. In short, for any recourse, there must always be a true necessity and permission obtained beforehand.

(89) As we have been called to this kind of life in order to mortify the carnal man and give life to the spiritual man, we exhort the Brothers to grow accustomed to the privation of worldly things, following the example of Christ, who—being the sovereign Lord of all—chose poverty and sufferings out of love for us⁸. Let the Brothers therefore beware of the noonday devil, who often transforms himself into an angel of light; this happens when the world, under the pretext of devotion, flatters us by procuring for us earthly conveniences, which often cause the greatest harm to religion.

Let them take care not to be among those false poor of whom St. Bernard said: They want to be poor, provided only that they lack nothing⁹. Let them constantly remember that evangelical poverty and its perfection consist principally in being attached to nothing on earth, using the things of this world with the greatest moderation¹⁰, reluctantly, as though forced by necessity, and solely for the glory of God ever blessed, to whom we must recognize ourselves indebted for every good.