About the great charity they had among themselves

41 The affection of the first Franciscans 42 Fraternal charity sweetens the harshness of life 43 Fraternal correction

(41) The Three Companions tell that the love they bore each other was great. Often when on their way to unknown places, wicked persons threw stones at them. Many times, when one of them saw the stones thrown at his companion coming in the air, the servant of God would put himself in between so that they would not hit his companion. He preferred to take the impact himself, allowing the stone to roll to his brother. The ardour of the charity that burned in the hearts of those servants of God was such that when some need occurred because of illness or other things they served and loved one another so tenderly that one has never seen a mother as tender towards her child. Such was the great love which those servants of God bore for one another.

(42) By these examples therefore those early Fathers of our loved one another so tenderly that they never wanted to be separated from each other. When it happened that by temptation by the enemy that one of them left the Congregation he could not settle until he returned. These admitted frankly that every time they remembered that pleasant welcome and fond exchanges that they had had with his brothers they could not restrain their tears. Finally that fondness forced them to return. It was something amazing. In their severe suffering, that affectionate conversation sweetened all its harshness so that everything seemed to be easy. I say little about what used to happen during sickness and with just how much charity they served one another and encouraged each other in their conversation.

(43) It was a custom that talk was rare. However when they gathered together they spoke about the things of God or about the observance of the Rule. When one of them said an idle word inadvertently his companion knelt down at once and said to him, “”Father, I feel this is an idle word.” Straightaway he knelt down too and admitted his fault.

These look like unimportant things. However no tongue could express just how important these things were, because with these rules they were freed from grumbling, useless chatter and idle words. Just how much those things may soil the conscience everyone can see for himself. Unnecessary recreation and talk about vane things are the cause of great harm. Like freezing water these quell any flame of charity. When a poor Religious loses devotion and fervour of spirit he finds himself amid many dangers. He is in great danger of falling headlong into every kind of vice from which fervour of spirit usually distances him.