Prologue

Clement, Bishop, Servant of the servants of God. To preserve it in perpetual memory.

I have come forth from Paradise… I said, I will water the Garden that I have planted: thus speaks in Scripture that heavenly Husbandman, the true source of Wisdom, the Word of God, begotten from all eternity by the Father and abiding in Him; who in these latter times was made flesh in the womb of a Virgin by the operation of the Holy Spirit, and made Himself like unto men, in order to accomplish the great Work of their Redemption, and to give them in His own person the model of the heavenly Life which they must lead.

But as the cares of this mortal life, with which they are burdened, often prevent them from raising the eyes of the soul toward this divine Model: Jesus Christ, our true Solomon, has planted within the Church militant a delightful Garden among others, removed from the noise of the world, where one might apply oneself more peacefully and more securely to consider and meditate upon the actions of so perfect a Model; and He Himself has come to water it with the fruitful waters of Grace and spiritual Doctrine.

This Garden is the holy Religion of the Friars Minor, which is fortified by regular Observance, as by strong Ramparts that enclose it on all sides; and which, contenting itself with God alone, is adorned and enriched within by a great number of new plants which are its Children. It is in this Garden that the beloved Son of God comes to gather the Myrrh of mortification and penance, together with the perfumes of the virtues, which spread the sweet fragrance of a Holiness that draws all people. This is the Rule and the form of that heavenly Life which the excellent Confessor of Jesus Christ, Saint Francis, gave to his Children, having taught them by his words and by his example to observe it.

Now those who have professed this Rule, being greatly attached to it as true Disciples and Children of so illustrious a Father, have always applied themselves, as they still do with great fervor, to observe it purely, entirely, and inviolably. But having observed that there were certain Articles whose meaning could be obscure and doubtful, in order to clarify them they have already at other times very wisely had recourse to the sovereign Tribunal of the Apostolate, at whose feet they must humble themselves, as is recommended to them by their very Rule: so that, having by this means a certain knowledge of the truth, they may serve the Lord without any scruple and with an entire purity of conscience.

Wherefore several of our Predecessors, the Roman Pontiffs, one after another having favorably heard their just and pious Requests, as was fitting, clarified the matters that appeared doubtful, and made certain Ordinances and Concessions regarding other Articles, as they judged appropriate for the tranquility of the consciences of the Brothers and for maintaining their state in its purity. But because it often happens that tender and timid souls, who fear straying in the least from the path of God, apprehend sin where there is none, it has come to pass that the said Declarations have not been able entirely to calm the consciences of the Brothers; on the contrary, they have had some new doubts on points concerning their Rule and their state, as we have learned many times from various persons in our public and secret Consistories.

For this reason they have humbly entreated us to be pleased, according to the goodness of the holy Apostolic See, to make a new Declaration to remedy effectively all the doubts that have arisen and those that might arise in the future.

Therefore, since from our earliest years we have had great zeal and attachment for those who profess the Rule of the Friars Minor and for the whole Order; and since now that we are charged, though without any merit on our part, with the universal Pastoral Government, we feel ourselves inclined to show them great tenderness and to bestow many favors upon them; and this all the more as we see more clearly and more often the great fruits which they never cease to produce throughout the whole Church by their holy life and their sound doctrine. Moreover, being moved by the purity of their intentions and the justice of their requests, we have judged ourselves obliged to apply ourselves seriously to fulfilling their desire, and we have had the obscure and doubtful Articles set forth below examined by several Archbishops, Bishops, Doctors of Theology, and other learned, wise, and prudent men.