Article 8

That one must neither accept nor keep superfluous gardens

Although it is not only permitted, but also very reasonable to have gardens and spacious places suitable for recollection or recreation for the Brothers, who are greatly occupied with the spiritual labors of prayer and study; and sometimes also to take bodily exercise, and to obtain from them the fruits and vegetables they need.

Nevertheless, it is against their Rule and against the purity of the Order to have gardens specifically cultivated in order to sell the herbs and other fruits that grow there; as well as to have vineyards, in accordance with the declaration of our predecessor Nicholas III, who ordered that if such things were left to the Brothers by will for these kinds of uses—that is, if a field or a vineyard were bequeathed to them to cultivate, or other similar things—they must absolutely refrain from accepting them; for to possess them in order to sell at certain times the fruits derived from them partakes greatly of the nature of revenue.