Chapter 11

1I strictly command all the brothers not to have any suspicious dealings or conversations with women, and they may not enter the monasteries of nuns, etc.

2Saint Francis, aware through the Holy Spirit of the fragility and weakness of his body and soul and accepting from above the clearest knowledge of human corruptibility, fortified his brothers from every side by the example of his life, of continuous exercises of a humble and rigid penance, and protected them by the strictest precept of obedience lest they allow the brightness of unstained purity to be in any way dirtied or defiled. 3Nothing overcomes the spirit of fornication more than perfect obedience, genuine and deep humility, a real and verbal acknowledgment and confession of one’s weakness and fragility, the mind and flesh crucified with Christ by sorrowful acts of penance, acts necessary for everyone through the whole of life for salvation. 4A spirit of uncleanness cannot remain in a truly humble mind or in a body mortified and configured to the death of Christ; it is burnt by the force of its wickedness and while it looks at the Christ like affections of the saints and sees in their mortal flesh a life consecrated to sharing in the passion of Christ, they experience by virtue of the cross the destruction of their own wickedness.

5He knew that our first parent, with the help of Eve, was seduced, he in whom shone the image of the one and triune God; 6he knew that the wonderful prophet, already destined by a promise to be the father of Christ, he who brought down Goliath, was laid low and overcome by desire for a woman; 7and he knew that the most wise Solomon even after the awesome falls of Adam, Samson, who was so strong and a Nazarene from the womb, and of his own most loved father, was darkened and ensnared from desire for a woman.

8Moreover, in the eleventh chapter, lest they incur the curse and fault of an excessive transgression such as caused the fall and corruption of holiness, innocence, fortitude, patience, the original world, five towns and so many fathers, he places a firm and salutary command, 9namely, that their way of life before God and men be holy, pure and clean and far from every stain of flesh and spirit. 10And he wants them by a careful custody to be cautious and to be protected by a sure mortification in speech, senses and actions, lest they be ensnared and submerged in the snare and abyss of such evil, where innumerable people have run and perished, even holy, strong, outstanding and most wise men. 11This is why Saint Francis, so that his brothers might take an example from him, said when dying that from his conversion to Christ and his renunciation of the world, he looked on the face of no woman other than the faces of his mother and Saint Clare.

12There are innumerable examples in the Saints, such as Saints Nicholas, Basil, Anthony, Sysonis, Pachomius, Benedict, Augustine, Bernard and all the others who founded orders, who teach and direct us, servants of God, to avoid the sight, familiarity and suspicious conversations with women and not to enter the monasteries of nuns. 13It is most sure that the statutes, traditions, and rules of all the holy fathers, the sacred canons of the Councils, and the Catholic doctors agree on this. 14The sacred canons decree that no cleric should approach or enter the place of nuns, excepting only those whom the bishops have proven suitable for their necessary visitation and those who are ordered to go by an obedience of bishops to instruct them.

15On this the Earlier Rule reads:

Wherever they may be or may go, let all the brothers avoid evil glances and association with women. No one may counsel them, travel alone with them or eat out of the same dish with them. 16When giving penance or some spiritual advice, let priests speak with them in a becoming way. 17Absolutely no woman may be received to obedience by any brother, but after spiritual advice has been given to her, let her do penance wherever she wants.

18Let us all keep close watch over ourselves and keep all our members clean, for the Lord says: Whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 19And the Apostle: Do you not know that your members are a temple of the Holy Spirit. 20Therefore, whoever violates God’s temple, God will destroy.

21Suspicious dealings and conversations mean, as Saint Jerome writes Ad Nepotianum when instructing him on this:

Avoid all suspicion and whatever can with probability be so represented; avoid it before it is so represented. 22Holy love does not send frequent small presents, press ribbons and clothes to the mouth, offer foods already tasted, or use flattering and friendly letters. 23All the charms and graces, things worthy of ridicule, elegance and other follies of lovers, things we are ashamed of in the comedies and that we detest in men of the world, how much less should they be in clerics and monks!

24In a particular way he forbids entry and approach to monasteries, especially of the sisters of Saint Clare, lest under the pretext of divine love, a secret carnal love, coming from a subtle working of demons, binds the unwary indissolubly. 25Once seduced, they would be taken and overcome from accepting illusions and spiritual affections that display a false likeness to holiness, from boldness in new things and in an abyss of error, just as happened in his time to Almaricus Parisius and the followers of both sexes of his wickedness.

26He foresaw and preached that, as the final trouble drew near, the gravest evils would be stirred up, especially in religious, when the spirits of wickedness, set free, would be allowed to attack viciously the holiness of the life of Christ. 27Hence, they will be truly blessed who are found to be remote in action and heart from carnal affections and sensual dealings and conversations with women, especially with nuns, lest they be caught in the nets of the evil spirits; 28wisely and cautiously, they will be on guard against the iron shackles of sensual affections, and they will abhor and reject the delights of life by a love for the pains of penitence and the harshness of poverty.

29He forbade them, also, to be godfathers to men or women, a relationship arising in two sacraments, namely in baptism and confirmation, and this both in giving and receiving the sacrament. 30He forbids them from being godfathers of men to avoid this leading to familiarities with women. 31Likewise, the fathers forbade religious men from becoming godfathers, and for this reason, wary of the cunning of the enemy, of occasions of scandals that come from jealousy, they are to avoid dishonour, scandals and many disturbances that can arise from this. 32Just as most perfect charity resides in a heart of most perfect chastity, so most perfect chastity rests in a heart and body of most perfect charity. 33And just as perfect charity excludes all hate and all discontent from a heart genuinely loving Christ, so perfect charity includes always and everywhere complete modesty of the senses, thoughts, speech and actions in a person who is completely pure. 34Hence, the pure and simple understanding of the Rule is that all the brothers are to abstain completely from entering monasteries, from looking, speaking, watching and having suspicious familiarity with women and from being godfathers, 35and that only those may enter and go to the monasteries of nuns to whom special permission has been granted by the Apostolic See.

36Saint Basil says:

For if it happens that you go away from your cell for some reason, clad in the armour of the fear of God and with the love of Christ clasped in your hand, you will fight with full abstinence against the assaults of pleasures, 37and, with the work completed, return, do not delay, using a swift wing for the return, like some innocent dove returning to the ark from which it was sent, with the mercies of God in its mouth, and so convince your inner thoughts that saving rest is inaccessible in any place other than in the ark.

38There is nothing more important than to guard the soul, for which Christ died, from the death of sin. 39Do not believe anyone being deceitful by suggesting to you that such glances and conversations can be without scandal, and by so doing he makes it clear that it is a scandal. 40Let the broad experience of those who fell teach you, so that you do not have to endure the same struggle. 41Therefore, with all watchfulness keep your heart. 42As thieves search for gold without ceasing day and night, but it is stolen unexpectedly, when you are unaware,

so the demons unceasingly and deceitfully try to plunder the treasure of purity and chastity from the servants of God.

43The words of Saint Basil.