The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

another, briefer, and this was lost; afterward the one that Pope Hon- orius did confirm with a Bull, out of the which Rule were many things taken out by the ministers against the will of the Blessed Francis. But after the sec- ond Rule that the Blessed Francis made was lost, he went up into a certain mountain with brother Leo of Assisi and brother Bonyzo of Bologna, that he might make another Rule the which by Christ’s teaching he made be written. But the greater part of the ministers, assembling together unto brother Elias, who was vicar of the Blessed Francis, said unto him: “We have heard that this brother Francis maketh a new Rule, but we are afraid lest he should make it too harsh, in such sort that we cannot observe it. Wherefore, we wish that thou go unto him and tell him that we will not be bound unto that Rule. Let him make it for himself and not for us.”

Unto whom brother Elias made answer that he would not go without them, whereupon they all of them did go together. And when brother Elias was nigh the place where the Blessed Francis was standing, brother Elias called unto him. Making answer, and beholding the ministers aforesaid, the Blessed Francis said: “What would these brethren?” And saith brother Elias: “They be ministers that have heard how thou makest a new Rule, and being afraid lest thou make it too harsh, do say and protest that they will not be bound thereunto. Make it for thyself and not for them.” Thereupon the Blessed Francis did turn his face towards Heaven, and spoke unto Christ in this way: “Lord, said I not well when I told Thee they would not believe me?” Then all did hear the voice of Christ that made answer in the air: “Francis, nought is there of thine own in the Rule, but whatsoever is therein is all Mine own, and My will it is that thus shall the Rule be observed to the letter, to the letter, to the letter, without gloss, without gloss, without gloss!” He added moreover: “I know how much the weakness of men can do, and I have right good will to help them. Let them that are unwilling to keep it, therefore, depart from the Order!” Then the Blessed Francis turned him towards those brethren and said unto them: “Ye have heard! Ye have heard! Will ye that I should make you again be spoken unto?” Then the ministers, rebuking themselves, went away confounded and afraid.