Article 4

How one must maintain the prohibition against receiving money

SAINT FRANCIS, who desired above all things that the Brothers be entirely removed from possessing either money or coin, having strictly forbidden them all to receive any, whether by themselves or through a third person, and our Predecessor having set forth in the clarification of this Article such cases and means that, if the Brothers observe them, one cannot and must not say that they receive money either by themselves or by others, contrary to the prohibition of their Rule and the purity of their Order.

We say that they are obliged to take great care not to address themselves to those who give them money, or to those appointed for this purpose by Benefactors, except in the cases and in the manner prescribed by the aforesaid Declaration; lest, if they attempt to act otherwise, there be just cause to regard them as persons who transgress a precept and violate their Rule.

For when a thing is generally forbidden to someone, everything that is not granted to him is considered to be refused. Therefore, to make collections of money of whatever kind; to receive monetary offerings and alms in Churches or elsewhere; to have boxes or chests to put them in; to use money or to apply for it to those who are its custodians, in whatever manner it may be, except as permitted by the aforesaid Declaration—all these things are simply and absolutely forbidden to the Friars Minor.

And even, as the Rule allows them to have recourse to these spiritual friends only in two cases, namely, to be clothed and to assist the sick, which our Predecessor has piously and reasonably judged should be extended to their other present or imminent needs, supposing that alms are lacking, taking into account the necessities of human life.

The said Brothers must carefully note that it is not permitted to them, for any other reasons than those specified, or others similar, to address themselves, in their journeys or elsewhere, to these kinds of spiritual friends; whether they themselves give the money, or have commission from Benefactors, or come on their behalf to give it, or are its custodians, or whatever other title they may have, even if all the other conditions prescribed by the said Declaration concerning money are observed.

Finally, as the Blessed Confessor of JESUS CHRIST, Saint FRANCIS, had supremely at heart that those who would profess his Rule should be entirely freed from the love and desire of earthly things, especially that they should have no money and make no use of it, as is seen by the prohibition against receiving it, which is often repeated in the Rule.

When the Brothers are obliged, in the cases and by the means indicated above, to have recourse to those who have the money intended for their needs, whether they are its owners or keep it by commission from Benefactors, the said Brothers must take great care to act in such a way that they make it known to all that they have no right over this money, as indeed they have none.

Therefore, they must know that it is forbidden to them to order that the money be used, or how it should be used; to ask for it back in any manner whatsoever; to place it or have it placed somewhere; to have the cash box or the key to the cash box where it is kept; to require an account of what is spent; and other similar things: for it belongs only to those who are the masters of the money, or to the persons they have designated to take care of it.