Testament of Saint Francis

Our Lord granted me, Brother Francis, the grace to begin thus to do penance.

When I was in a state of sin, it seemed to me exceedingly bitter to see lepers; but Our Lord Himself led me among them. I showed them all the kindness that mercy demands, and when I left them, what had seemed so bitter to me was changed into sweetness for my soul and for my body.

A short time afterward, I left the world; and Our Lord gave me such faith in the Churches where I found myself, that I would simply adore there, saying:

“We adore You, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all Your Churches that are throughout the whole world; and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.”

Afterward, Our Lord gave me, and still gives me, so much faith with regard to the Priests who live according to the form of the Holy Roman Church, and this because of their character, that if they were to persecute me, it would be to them themselves that I would wish to have recourse.

And even if I had as much wisdom as Solomon, if I should find poor secular Priests, I would not wish to preach in their Churches against their will. I desire to fear them, love them, and honor them, them and all the others, as my Masters; and I do not wish to consider their sins, because I recognize in them the Son of God, and because they are my Masters.

I act thus because, in this world, I see nothing bodily of the most high Son of God except His most holy Body and His most holy Blood, which they consecrate and which they alone administer to others.

Therefore I desire that these holy Mysteries be honored above all things, and that they be placed in fitting places. Wherever I shall find the most holy Names and the most holy words of the Son of God in unseemly places, I wish to remove them from there, and I beg that they be removed, and placed in some suitable place.

We must also respect and revere all Theologians, and all those who preach to us the most holy Word of God, since it is through their ministry that we receive spirit and life.

When the Lord entrusted me with the care of the Brothers, no one instructed me how I ought to conduct myself; but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form prescribed in the Holy Gospel.

I had it written in few words and simply, and our Holy Father Pope Honorius III confirmed it for me. Those who came to embrace this way of life gave to the poor all that they could have, and were content with a single tunic, with a cord as a belt, and undergarments. Those who wished put patches on their tunics inside and outside, and we desired nothing more.

We who are Clerics said the Office like other Clerics; the Lay Brothers said the Pater Noster. We willingly stayed in poor and deserted Churches. We acted simply, and we were subject to everyone.

I worked with my hands, and I still wish to work in the same way; and I absolutely wish that all the other Brothers occupy themselves with some honest work. Let those who do not know a work learn one—not out of a desire to receive wages, but to give good example and to avoid idleness. And if we are not paid for our work, let us have recourse to the Table of the Lord, that is, to asking alms from door to door.

The Lord made known to me that we should use this form of greeting: The Lord give you His peace. Let the Brothers take great care not to receive either Churches or Houses, nor anything that is built for them, unless it is in keeping with the holy Poverty which we have promised in the Rule; and let them never dwell there except as passersby, like strangers and pilgrims.

I strictly forbid, by virtue of obedience, all the Brothers, wherever they may be, to ask for any Letters at the Court of Rome, either by themselves or through a third person, for any Church or for any other place, under pretext of preaching or because of any persecution raised against their own person. But when they are not received in one place, let them flee to another, to do penance there with the blessing of God.

I absolutely wish to obey the Minister General of the Order and the Guardian whom it may please him to give me; and I wish to be so bound in his hands that I can neither go nor act against his will, because he is my Master.

Although I am simple and infirm, I nevertheless wish always to have a Cleric who will say the Office for me, as it is prescribed in the Rule.

And all the other Brothers shall also be strictly bound to obey their Guardians and to say the Office according to the Rule.

If there should be found some who do not say the Office according to the Rule, and who would wish to make changes to it, or who are not Catholics, all the Brothers, wherever they may be and wherever they find one of these, shall be obliged, by virtue of obedience, to bring him to the Provincial nearest to the place where they found him.

Then the Provincial shall be obliged, by virtue of obedience, to have him strictly guarded night and day like a prisoner, so that he cannot be taken away from him, until he places him in person into the hands of the Minister General.

And the Minister shall be strictly obliged, by virtue of obedience, to have him conducted by Brothers who are capable of guarding him night and day like a prisoner, until they present him to the Cardinal of Ostia, who is Master, Protector, and Corrector of this Order.

Let the Brothers not say that this is another Rule, because it is only a reminder, a warning, an exhortation, and my Testament, which I, Brother Francis, your very small servant, address to you, my Brothers who are blessed by God, so that we may observe more exactly the Rule which we have promised to keep.

The Minister General and all the other Ministers and Custodians shall be obliged, by virtue of obedience, to add nothing to these words and to take nothing away from them. Let them always have this writing with them, joined to the Rule; and in all the Chapters that they hold, let them also read it when they read the Rule.

Moreover, I strictly forbid, by virtue of obedience, all my Brothers, Clerics and Laymen, to make glosses on the Rule or on this writing, saying, “this is how it should be understood.”

But since Our Lord has granted me the grace to say and to write the Rule purely and simply, together with what is joined to it, I wish that in the same way you understand everything simply, purely, and without glosses; and that you observe it until the end by deeds that are wholly holy.

Whoever shall observe these things, may he be filled in Heaven with the blessing of the Most High Heavenly Father; and on earth, with the blessing of His beloved Son and of the Holy Spirit the Consoler, together with that of all the virtues of Heaven and of all the Saints.

And I, Brother Francis, your very small servant in Our Lord, confirm for you, as far as it is possible for me, this most holy Blessing, within and without. Amen.