Chapter L How he made answer to the brethren that would persuade him to petition for a privilege that they might be allowed to preach freely C
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter L How he made answer to the brethren that would persuade him to petition for a privilege that they might be allowed to preach freely C
ertainof the brethren said unto the Blessed Francis: “Father, seest
thou not that the Bishops at times do not allow us to preach, and
many days do they make us stand idle in a district before we be able to announce the word of the Lord? Better were it that thou shouldst obtain from the lord Pope a privilege in this matter, seeing that it would be for the salvation of souls.”
Unto whom he made answer rebuking them sore, and saying: “Ye brethren Minor, ye know not the will of God, nor will ye allow me to convert the whole world as God willeth; for I am minded first of all to convert the prelates by holy humility and reverence, so that when they shall see our holy life and our humble reverence toward them, they shall ask you to preach and convert the people, and call them together to hear your preaching better than your privileges that will only lead you on to pride. And if it be that ye hold yourselves aloof from all covetousness and persuade the people to render the churches their due, they themselves will beseech you to hear the confessions of their people, albeit hereof ye ought to take no heed, inasmuch as so only they be converted they will right easily find confessors for themselves.
“As for me, I am fain to have this privilege of the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, save only the privilege to do reverence unto all, and to convert mankind through obedience to our holy Rule rather by example than by word.”