Article 2

Whether the Friars might licitly receive from the goods of those entering religion, if they are given by him. Cautions to be observed by the Friars about the reception of the offering from those entering religion.

Because the aforesaid Confessor of Christ said in the rule, proffering a means to the Ministers and Friars, concerning all those things to be done and observed about those who were to be received into the Order, that the Friars and their Ministers should beware, lest they be solicitous concerning their temporal things, so that they may freely do with them whatever had been inspired in them by the Lord: the Ministers however may have license to send them to other God fearing men if counsel is requires, by whose counsel they may bestow their goods to the poor: many Friars have doubted and doubt still, whether it is licit for themselves to receive anything from the goods of those entering if it is given: and if they might induce them to give to persons and convents without fault: if the Ministers or Friars ought even to give counsel to arranging the distribution of such things, where others, to whom they may send those who will enter, might be found conveniently.

We, however, considering that Saint Francis attentively considered to distance especially and totally the professors of his rule, whom he had founded in the greatest poverty, from the affection of the temporal things of those very ones entering by the said words, as much as on the part of the Friars themselves, the reception into the Order might appear holy and most pure, and lest by any means they seem to have an eye to their temporal goods, rather than to free them for the same divine service:

We say concerning all of this that the Ministers just as the Friars ought themselves to abstain giving both persuasions and also counsels concerning the distribution to the said inductees, since for this they ought to be sent to God fearers of another state, not to Friars: that they may appear before all truly to be very studios zealots, assiduous and perfect, of the salvific, paternal plan.

When truly doing with his own things what the Lord will inspire him, the self same rule desires him to be free from those receiving him, it does not seem even licit to receive these, namely having considered their necessities and the directions of the declaration already spoken of; if the one entering wishes freely to give of his goods just as to other poor by means of almsgiving: it befits however the Friars in accepting such offerings to beware, lest from a notable quantity of received goods, ill repute might befall them.