Article 10

How to Receive Those Who Present Themselves to Enter the Order

Our main desire being to procure the salvation of souls for the glory of God, and to ensure that the Order of Friars Minor, which serves to continually kindle the fire of Divine Love in the hearts of Christians, increases in merit and in number: We permit and confirm by this present Constitution, that Provincial Ministers may, as well as the Minister General, receive into said Order those who wish to withdraw from the world; and it will be allowed for the Minister General to limit this power as he deems appropriate: but let the Vicars of the Provincial Ministers know that they do not have the same power by virtue of their Office, unless they have received it specifically from said Provincial Ministers, who may grant it to them and to others, as we determine.

However, let the Provincials take care not to commit the reception of Novices to all kinds of persons indiscriminately; but let them exercise such caution, and give such good guidance to the Brothers they have chosen for this purpose, that everything is done with great prudence. Furthermore, one should not indiscriminately receive into the Order all who present themselves; but only those who can be useful to it by their learning, by their good qualities, or in other ways, sanctifying themselves within it and edifying their neighbors.