Article 13

Whether the Brothers are obliged to observe the Testament of Saint Francis

It is said that the Blessed Confessor of Jesus Christ, FRANCIS, of holy memory, left to the Brothers toward the end of his life some instructions called his Testament, by which he forbids them to make glosses on the words of the Rule and, to use his own terms, to say that they must be understood in one way or another. He adds that the Brothers should not request any Letters from the holy Apostolic See in any manner whatsoever; and he includes other matters that would be very difficult to observe.

Whereupon the said Brothers, doubting whether they were obliged to follow this Testament, addressed themselves to Gregory IX, our Predecessor, to ask him to put their consciences at rest: and it is said that, considering the difficulty this might cause them and the danger it might pose to their souls, he declared, to remove all scruple, that they were not obliged to observe this Testament; because Saint FRANCIS could not oblige the Brothers, and particularly the Ministers who were all concerned, without their consent; moreover, he could not oblige his Successor, since one has no authority over his equal. For our part, we have judged it appropriate to make no change in this matter.