Chapter LXIX How he foreknew and foretold that knowledge should be the occasion of ruin to the Order, and how he forbade one of the companions to devote himself to the study of preaching TheBlessed Francis sorrowed sorely to see the knowledge that puffeth
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter LXIX How he foreknew and foretold that knowledge should be the occasion of ruin to the Order, and how he forbade one of the companions to devote himself to the study of preaching TheBlessed Francis sorrowed sorely to see the knowledge that puffeth
up sought after to the neglect of godliness, and more especially if
any should persevere not in the vocation wherein he was called at the beginning. For he would say: “Those brethren of mine that are led away by curiosity of knowledge in the day of tribulation will find their hands empty. Therefore would I that they should rather be corroborated in godliness, so that, when the time of tribulation shall come, they may have the Lord with them in their straits, for verily tribulation shall come, such as that books useful for nought shall be cast aside into lockers and dark corners.”
This he said not because the reading of Holy Scripture was displeasing to him, but that he might withdraw all from overmuch care for learning. For he would rather that they should be good brethren in charity than smatterers in the curiosities of knowledge.
He also scented aforehand the times that in no long space were to come wherein he foreknew that the knowledge which puffeth up should be the occa- sion of falling, whence after his death he did appear to one of the companions that on a time was over-intent upon the study of preaching, whom he did rebuke and warn, bidding him take good heed to walk in the way of humility and simplicity.