St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 1 : 2

“He both covered the shame of a noble knight, and relieved the destitution

 of a poor man.” St Francis giving his cape to a poor man, by Velázquez (1787).

Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great, Madrid. Public domain.

The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as Minister General in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s biography firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven years old.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes.

Chapter 1 :  His manner of life in the secular state

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1. But as yet Francis knew not the intent of God concerning him, forasmuch as he was both drawn away unto external things by his father’s calling, and weighed down toward earthly things by the corruption inborn in our nature[1], and had not yet learned to contemplate heavenly things, nor accustomed himself to taste of divine.

2. And, because the infliction of tribulation giveth understanding unto the spirit[2], the hand of the Lord was upon him[3] and the changes of the right hand of the Most High[4], afflicting his body with protracted sickness, that so He might prepare his soul for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

3. Now when he had regained his bodily strength, and had made ready suitable apparel for himself in his wonted fashion, he met a certain soldier, of noble birth, but poor and ill-clad; 

4. whereupon, compassionating his poverty, with a kindly impulse he forthwith did take off his garments and put them on him, thus in one act fulfilling a twofold ministry of kindliness, insomuch as he both covered the shame of a noble knight, and relieved the destitution of a poor man[5].

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.” Ps. L, 7; “As by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.” Rom. V, 12.

[2] Cf. “Vexation alone shall make you understand what you hear”: Is. xxviii.19. [vexātĭo, ōnis, f.: physical suffering, torment]

[3] Cf. “The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Buzi in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.” Ezech. i. 3.

[4] Cf. “And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right hand of the most High.” Ps. LXXVI, 11.

[5] Cf. “when thou shalt see one naked, cover him,”: Is. LVIII, 7; “He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none;” Luke iii, 11; “For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him? . . . If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering: If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:” Job xxxi, 14, 19-20.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 1 : 1

“He was minded to give unto all that asked of him.” 
St Francis giving his mantle to a poor man, by Giotto (1297-99).
Upper Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi. Public domain.

The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as Minister General in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s biography firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven years old.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes.

Chapter 1 :  His manner of life in the secular state

- 1 - 

1. There was a man in the city of Assisi, by name Francis, whose memory is blessed,[1] for that God, graciously preventing him with the blessings of goodness,[2] delivered him in His mercy from the perils of this present life, and abundantly filled him with the gifts of heavenly grace. 

2. For, albeit in his youth he was reared in vanity amid the vain sons of men,[3] and, after gaining some knowledge of letters, was appointed unto a profitable business of merchandise, nevertheless, by the aid of the divine protection, he went not astray among the wanton youths after the lusts of the flesh, albeit given up unto pleasures; nor among the covetous merchants, albeit intent on his gains, did he put his trust in money and treasure.[4] 

3. For there was divinely implanted in the heart of the young Francis a certain generous compassion toward the poor, the which, growing up with him from infancy,[5] had so filled his heart with kindliness that, when he came to be no deaf hearer of the Gospel, he was minded to give unto all that asked of him,[6] in especial if they pleaded the love of God. 

4. But once on a time, when he had been busied with the cares of his trading, and, contrary unto his wont, had sent empty away a certain beggar who besought an alms for the love of God, he forthwith, returning unto his pitiful mind, ran after him, and bestowed alms in merciful wise upon him; promising unto the Lord God that thenceforward he would never, while he could, refuse any that asked of him, pleading the love of God. 

5. And this promise with unwearied goodness he did observe until his death, thereby winning abundant increase of the love and grace of God.[7] 

6. For he was wont to say in after time, when he had perfectly put on Christ,[8] that, even while he was in the secular state, he could scarce ever hear words telling of the love of God, and remain unmoved in heart. 

7. Assuredly the charm of his gentleness and his courtly bearing, his submissiveness and docility surpassing men’s wont, his open-handed largesse even beyond his means, were all clear tokens of the fair disposition of the youth, 

8. and seemed to be a presage of the abundance of divine blessing that should thereafter be poured out more richly upon him.

9. A certain citizen of Assisi, a simpleton as was believed, yet one taught of God, whensoever he met Francis going through the city, would doff his cloak 

10. and spread the garment before his feet,[9] declaring that Francis was worthy of all honour, as one that should ere long do mighty deeds, and was on this account to be splendidly honoured by all the faithful.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “There was a man . . . whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.” Job i, 1.

[2] Cf. “For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness:” Ps. XX, 4.

[3] Cf. “But vain are the sons of men, the sons of men are liars in the balances: that by vanity they may together deceive”: Ps. LXI, 10.

[4] Cf. “Blessed is the rich man found without blemish: that hath not . . . put his trust in money nor in treasures.” Sir. xxxi, 8.

[5] Cf. “For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb:” Job XXXI, 18.

[6] Cf. “Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again.” Luke vi, 30.

[7] Cf. “I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.” Matt. xxv, 35-40.

[8] Cf. “For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.” Gal. iii, 27.

[9] Cf. “And as he went, they spread their clothes underneath in the way.” Luke xix, 36.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Table of Contents

St Francis of Assisi by Philip Fruytiers (1610-66).
Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. Public domain.

The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as Minister General in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s biography firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven years old.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes.

Table of Contents

Now the beginning of the life of Francis, its course and its consummation, are divided into fifteen chapters, as set down below, and thuswise described.

1. The first treateth of his manner of life in the secular state.

2. The second, of his perfect conversion unto God, and of the repairing of the three churches.

3. The third, of the founding of his Religious community and approval of the Rule.

4. The fourth, of the advancement of the Order under his hand, and of the confirmation of the Rule already sanctioned.

5. The fifth of the austerity of his life, and of how all created things afforded him comfort.

6. The sixth of his humility and obedience, and of the divine condescensions shewn unto him at will.

7. The seventh, of his love for Poverty, and of the wondrous supplying of his needs.

8. The eighth, of the kindly impulses of his piety, and of how the creatures lacking in reason seemed to be made subject unto him.

9. The ninth, of his ardent love and yearning for martyrdom.

10. The tenth, of his zeal and efficacy in prayer.

11. The eleventh, of his understanding of the Scriptures and of his spirit of prophecy.[1]

12. The twelfth, of the efficacy of his preaching, and of his gift of healing.

13. The thirteenth, of the sacred stigmata.

14. The fourteenth, of his sufferings and death.’

15. The fifteenth, of his canonisation, and the translation of his body.

Thereafter is added some account of the miracles shewn after his blessed departure.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”: Apoc. xix, 10. These are the words of the Angel of whom St John says in the same verse: “And I fell down before his feet, to adore him. And he saith to me: See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus. Adore God.” This may link to what St Bonaventure wrote in his Prologue (see 1:7-8 above): “He is thought to be not unmeetly set forth in the true prophecy of that other friend of the Bridegroom, the Apostle and Evangelist John, under the similitude of the Angel ascending from the rising of the sun and bearing the seal of the Living God. For at the opening of the sixth seal, “I saw,” saith John in the Apocalypse [Apoc. vii, 2], “another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the Living God.”

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Prologue : 4 (conclusion)

St Francis receives the Christ Child from Mary.
 by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1617). 
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Public domain.

    The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as seventh Minister General of the Franciscans in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

     I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes after each section.

Prologue

- 4 -

View of Assisi in the time of St Francis, by Providoni. From the volume
“Collis Paradisi Amœnitas” - (the Loveliness of the Hill of Paradise) - a
History of the Sacred Convent of Assisi (1704). Public domain.

1. Accordingly, in order that the true story of his life might be handed down unto posterity by me the more assuredly and clearly, I betook me unto the place of his birth[1], and there did hold diligent converse with his familiar friends that were yet living, touching the manner of life of the holy man and his passing away; 

2. and with those in especial that were well acquainted with his holiness, and were his chief followers, who may be implicitly believed by reason of their well-known truthfulness and approved uprightness. 

3. But in relating the things that through His servant God vouchsafed to work, I deemed it best to shun all fantastic ornaments of style, forasmuch as that the devotion of the reader increaseth more by a simple than by an ornate speech. 

4. Nor have I always woven together the history according unto chronology[2], so that I might avoid confusion; but rather I endeavoured to preserve a more coherent order, setting down sometimes facts of different kinds that belong unto the same period, sometimes facts of the same kind that belong unto different periods, as they seemed best to fit in together.

Footnotes

[1] Francis was born in Assisi in 1181. He was baptized Giovanni (de Pietro di Bernardone) but called Francesco by his father.

[2] For a chronological timeline life of St Francis,see sites such as: “Chronology of the Life of St. Francis” and  “Franciscan Preacher.”

[Next post: St Bonaventure’s full Table of Contents]

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Prologue : 3

St Francis receives the Christ Child from Mary.
 by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1617). 
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Public domain.

    The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as seventh Minister General of the Franciscans in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

     I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes after each section.

Prologue

- 3 -

“Snatched from the jaws of death, while yet a child, by his invocation.”
The Healing of Saint Bonaventure by Saint Francis (1628), by
Francisco Herrera. Louvre Museum. Public domain.

1. Feeling myself unworthy and insufficient to relate the life most worthy of all imitation of this most venerable man, I should have in no wise attempted it had not the glowing love of the Brethren[1] moved me thereunto, 

2. and the unanimous importunity of the Chapter General incited me, and that devotion compelled me, which I am bound to feel for our holy Father.[2] 

3. For I, who remember as though it happened but yesterday how I was snatched from the jaws of death, while yet a child, by his invocation and merits[3], should fear to be convicted of the sin of ingratitude did I refrain from publishing his praises. 

4. And this was with me the chief motive for undertaking this task, to wit, that I – who own my life of body and mind to have been preserved unto me by God through his means, and have proved his power in mine own person, 

5. and knew the virtues of his life – might collect as best I could, albeit I could not fully, his deeds and words (fragments, as it were, overlooked in part, in part scattered) so that they might not be utterly lost on the death of those that lived with the servant of God.[4]

Footnotes

[1] The Franciscan order was founded in 1209 with the oral approval of Pope Innocent III.

[2] In 1260, thirty-four years after the death of Saint Francis, the Franciscan Order held a general chapter in Narbonne. The chapter members asked St Bonaventure to write a new “Life of Saint Francis,” (the Legenda Maior Sancti Francisci) which would be used as the official and only biography of their beloved founder. St Bonaventure completed this work and formally presented it to the friars at the general chapter of Pisa in 1263.

[3] There are those who have stated that St Francis cured John (the baptismal name of St Bonaventure) as a child and thereupon exclaimed “O buona ventura!” – hence his name of Bonaventure. It is not clear from Bonaventure’s words in para. 3. whether this occurred in person before the death of Francis or afterwards through his intercession. John was born five years before Francis died so the former would have been possible.  There is no reference in either the Papal Bull of Canonisation (Superna Caelestis, 1482) or the bull of Declaration as a Doctor (Triumphantis Hierusalem, 1588). 

[4] Cf. “And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.” John vi, 12.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Prologue : 2

St Francis receives the Christ Child from Mary.
 by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1617). 
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Public domain.

    The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as seventh Minister General of the Franciscans in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

     I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes after each section.

Prologue

- 2 -

St Francis receiving the stigmata.
Giotto (1295-1300). Louvre Museum.
Public domain.

1. Now we may with full assurance conclude that this Angel[1] was indeed that messenger of God, beloved of Christ, our example and the world’s wonder – Francis, the servant of God – when we consider the heights of lofty saintliness whereunto he attained and how, living among men, he was an imitator of the purity of the Angels and was also set as an example unto them that do perfectly follow after Christ. 

2. That this belief should be faithfully and devoutly held we are convinced by the vocation that he shewed to call to weeping and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth[2], and to marking Thau[3] upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry, by the sign of his penitent’s Cross and habit fashioned like unto a Cross[4]. 

3. Moreover, it is further confirmed, with unanswerable witness unto its truth, by the seal of the likeness[5] of the Living God, to wit, of Christ Crucified[6], 

4. the which was imprinted on his body, not by the power of nature or the skill of art, but rather by the marvellous might of the Spirit of the Living God[7].

Footnotes

[1] Referring to Section 1. Cf. “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God;” Apoc. vii, 4.

[2] Cf. “And the Lord, the God of hosts, in that day shall call to weeping, and to mourning, to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth”:Is. xxii, 12.

[3] Thau: The Thau or Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In ancient times it took the form of a cross  (+, x or T). Cf. Job xxxi, 36. It was with an analogous sign that that the dwellings of the Hebrews in Egypt were marked before the passage of the “destroyer” Cf. Ex. xii, 7, 13. The holy Fathers, notably Origen, Tertullian, St Cyprian and St Jerome, did not omit to acknowledge this fact. Long before the time of Christ’s passion and death, the cross served as a sign of salvation, a coincidence that is indeed remarkable. 

[4] Cf. “And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem: and mark Thau upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the midst thereof.” Ezech. ix, 4.

[5] Cf. “Thus saith the Lord God: Thou wast the seal of resemblance, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” Ezech. xxviii, 12.

[6] Cf. “For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified”: 1 Cor. ii, 2.

[7] Cf. “Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart”: 2 Cor. iii, 3.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.

St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Prologue : 1

St Francis receives the Christ Child from Mary.
 by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1617). 
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Public domain.

    The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as seventh Minister General of the Franciscans in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

    I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, on this his feast day, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes after each section.

Prologue

- 1 -

1. The grace of God our Saviour hath in these latter days appeared in His servant Francis unto all such as be truly humble and lovers of holy Poverty who, adoring the overflowing mercy of God seen in him, are taught by his example to utterly deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live after the manner of Christ, thirsting with unwearied desire for the blessed hope[1].

2. For God Most High had respect to him as one that truly was poor and little, of a contrite spirit[2]; and this with so great condescension of His favour that not only did He raise him up in his need from the dust of his worldly way of life[3], but also made him a true professor, leader, and herald of Gospel perfection. Thus He gave him for a light unto believers[4], that by bearing witness of the light he might prepare for the Lord the way of light and peace in the hearts of the faithful[5].

3. For Francis, even as the morning star in the midst of a cloud[6], shining with the bright beams of his life and teaching, by his dazzling radiance led into the light them that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death[7],

4. and, like unto the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds[8], set forth in himself the seal of the Lord’s covenant[9], He preached the gospel of peace and salvation unto men[10],

5. himself an Angel of the true peace[11], ordained of God to follow in the likeness of the Forerunner, that, preparing in the desert the way of sublimest Poverty[12], he might preach repentance by his example and words alike[13].

6. For, firstly, he was endowed with the gifts of heavenly grace; next, enriched by the merits of triumphant virtue; filled with the spirit of prophecy[14] and appointed unto angelic ministries; thereafter, wholly set on fire by the kindling of the Seraph, and, like the prophet, borne aloft in a fiery chariot[15]; wherefore it is reasonably proven, and clearly apparent from the witness of his whole life, that he came in the spirit and power of Elias[16].

7. In like wise, he is thought not unmeetly to be set forth in the true prophecy of that other friend of the Bridegroom[17], the Apostle and Evangelist John, under the similitude of the Angel ascending from the rising of the sun and bearing the seal of the Living God.

8. For at the opening of the sixth seal, I saw, saith John in the Apocalypse, another Angel ascending from the sunrising and bearing the seal of the Living God[18].

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” Titus ii, 11-13.

[2] Cf. “My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my words?” Is. lxvi, 2. Cf. “He giveth judgment to the poor” Job xxxvi, 6; and “He shall deliver the poor out of his distress”: ibid. 15.

[3] Cf. “He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill:” I Kings ii, 8.

[4] Cf. “Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth.” Is. xlix, 6.

[5] Cf. “This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him.” John i, 7; and “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways . . . To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death:” Luke i, 76, 79.

[6] Cf. “He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud,” Sirach l, 6.

[7] Cf. Luke i, 79.

[8] Cf. “And as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds,” Sirach l, 6.

[9] Cf. “I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a covenant between me, and between the earth.” Gen. ix, 13.

[10] Cf. “And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom. x, 15.

[11] Cf. “Behold they that see shall cry without, the angels of peace shall weep bitterly.” Is. xxxiii, 7.

[12] Cf. “A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Mark i, 3; “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Luke iii, 4.

[13] Cf. “The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God.” Is. xl, 3; “And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke xxiv, 47.

[14] Cf. “And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied,” Luke i, 67.

[15] Cf. “ Behold a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” IV Kings ii, 11.

[16] Cf. “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.” Luke i 17.

[17] Cf. “He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled.” John iii, 29.

[18] Cf. “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God;” Apoc. vii, 2.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.