Chapter XLVI That even until his death he was fain to have one of his companions as warden, and to live in subjection Beingminded to persevere even to the death in perfect humility and
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter XLVI That even until his death he was fain to have one of his companions as warden, and to live in subjection Beingminded to persevere even to the death in perfect humility and
subjection, long before his death he said unto the Minister General:
“I would that thou shouldst commit thy wardership over me to one of my companions, whom I may obey in thy stead, for such is the benefit of obedience that I would thou shouldst ever abide with me, both in life and death.”
And thenceforward, even unto his death, he had one of his companions as his warden, whom he did obey in the stead of the Minister General. Yea, on a time he said unto his companions: “This grace among others hath the Lord conferred upon me, that I would as diligently obey a novice that hath only today entered Religion, had he been assigned me for my warden, as him that is foremost and ancient in life and in the Religion. For he that is subject ought not to look upon him that is set over him as a man, but as God, for whose sake he is made subject unto him.”
Afterwards he said: “None having authority is there in all the world that is so feared by his subjects, as the Lord would make me be feared, if so I would, by my brethren. But this grace hath the Lord granted me, that I am minded to be content with all, as he that is Minor in Religion.”
But we that were with him have seen this with our eyes, even as he that doth here bear witness how, when certain of the brethren did not satisfy him in his necessities, or said some word to him such as a man is apt to be offended thereat, straightway he went to prayer, and when he came back he was unwilling to remember him of aught, nor ever did he say: “Such an one hath not satisfied me,” or “Such an one spoke unto me such a word.” And thus persevering in such wise, the nearer he drew nigh unto death, by so much the more was he heedful to consider how best he could live and die in all humility and poverty and in all perfection of virtues.