Chapter XVIII

Of the marvellous Chapter that S. Francis held at S. Mary of the Angels, whereat were more than five thousand brothers

The faithful servant of Christ, Francis, on a time held a general chapter at S. Mary of the Angels, at the which chapter were gathered together more than five thousand brothers; and thither came S. Dominic, head and founder of the Order of the Preaching Brothers, who was then on his way from Borgogna to Rome. And hearing of the Congregation of the chapter that S. Francis was holding on the plain of S. Mary of the Angels, he went to see it with seven brothers of his Order. There was also at the said chapter a cardinal most devoted to S. Francis, who had prophesied unto him that he would be Pope, and it so came to pass; the which cardinal had come of set purpose from Perugia, where the Court was, to Assisi; every day he came to see S. Francis and his brothers, and sometimes he sang the Mass, and sometimes he preached unto the brothers in chapter, and the said cardinal felt exceeding great joy and devotion whensoever he came to visit this holy company. And beholding the brothers sitting on the plain round about S. Mary's in companies, here forty, there a hundred, there eighty together, all busied in discourse of God, in prayers, in tears, in works of love, and all abiding in such silence and such modesty that there was heard no noise or sound of contention; and marvelling at so great a multitude so set in order, with tears and deep devotion, he said: " Of a truth this is the camp and the army of the knights of God." Nor was there heard in so great a multitude or idle speech or foolish jest, but, wheresoever a company of brothers was gathered together, they either prayed, or said the office, and bewailed their sins or those of their benefactors, or discoursed concerning the salvation of souls. In that camp were roofs of willows and rush-mats, set apart in groups according to the brothers of diverse provinces; and thereby was this chapter called the Chapter of the Trellises, or of the Rush-mats; their bed was the bare ground, and for such as had it a little straw; their pillows were stones or logs of wood. For the which cause so great devotion towards them was felt by whoso heard or saw, and so great was the fame of their sanctity, that from the Court of the Pope which was at that time in Perugia, and from the other parts of the valley of Spoleto, there came many counts, barons, and kinghts, and other gentle folk and many country folk, and cardinals and bishops and abbots with many other clergy, for to see this holy gathering, so great and so humble, such as the world had never seen before, of so many holy men together: and chiefest of all they came to see the head and most holy father of that holy band, the which had robbed the world of such fair prey, and gathered together so devout and fair a flock to follow in the foot-steps of the true Shepherd Jesu Christ. The chapter general being then all assembled, the holy father of all and minister general, S. Francis, in fervour of spirit set forth the word of God: and preached unto them in a loud voice as the Holy Spirit made him to speak; and as argument of his sermon he set forth unto them these words: " My little children, great things have we promised unto God, much greater far hath God promised unto us, if we observe what we have promised unto Him; and of a surety shall we behold what hath been promised unto us. Shortlived is the joy of the world; the pain that follows it is everlasting; little are the pains of this life, but the glory of the other life is infinite.” And on these words preaching most devoutly, he comforted the brothers and turned their hearts into obedience and reverence for holy Mother Church, and unto brotherly love, to pray God for all men, and to have patience in the adversities of the world, and temperance in prosperity, to observe modesty and angelic chastity, and to have peace and concord with God and with men and with their own conscience, and the love and practice of most holy poverty. And therewith he said unto them:

” I command you, by the merit of holy obedience, all ye who be here gathered together, that no one of you take care or thought for aught to eat or for aught of the needs of the body, but turn all your thoughts to prayer and praise of God: and cast all your care for your body upon Him, for He careth tenderly for you." And they all received this commandment with glad heart and joyful countenance, and done the sermon of S. Francis, they all fell down in prayer. Whereby S. Dominic, who was present at all these things, marvelled exceedingly at the commandment of S. Francis and deemed him indiscreet, not knowing how to think in what manner so great a multitude could live without taking thought or care for the needs of the body. But the chief Shepherd, Christ, the Blessed One, desiring to show what care He has for His sheep, and what tender love for His poor ones, straightway put it into the hearts of the folk of Perugia, of Spoleto, of Fuligno, of Spello and of Assisi, and the rest of the country round about, to bring food and drink unto this holy company. And lo! all at once from the parts aforesaid came men with sumpter beasts, horses and carts, with loads of bread, of wine, of honey-combs, and cheese, and other goodithings to eat, according as the poor of Christ had need. Besides this, brought they napkins, pitchers, cups, glasses and other vessels, to serve the needs of so great a multitude: and he deemed himself blessed whoso could bring most or serve most diligently; in such sort that even the knights and the barons and other gentle folk that came to see, did service unto them with great devotion and humility. For the which cause, S. Dominic, seeing these things, and knowing of a truth that God's Providence was working in them, humbly repented him that he had falsely judged S. Francis to be indiscreet; and coming before him, he knelt down, and humbly told his fault, and added: "Of a truth God hath especial care of these holy poor little ones, and I knew it not; and from now henceforth I promise to observe the holy gospel poverty; and in the name of God I curse all the brothers of my Order who in the said Order shall presume to hold property." So was S. Dominic much edified by the faith of the most holy Francis, and by the obedience of the poverty of so great and well-ordered a company, and by the divine Providence, and the rich abundance of all good things. In the same chapter it was told unto S. Francis that many of the brothers wore little hearts and bands of iron on their bare flesh, for the which reason many were weak and some were dying thereby, and many were let and hindered from prayer. Wherefore S. Francis, like a most prudent father, commanded by holy obedience that whoso had either a little heart or band of iron, should take it off and lay it down before him, and even so did they; and there were counted up full Uve hundred little hearts of iron; and many more bands, both for the arms and for the loins; so that they made a great heap thereof; and S. Francis let leave them there. Afterthat the chapterwas ended, S. Francis, strengthening them in good works, and teaching them how they ought to escape out of this wicked world without sin, sent them back S. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SS again unto their provinces, with the blessing of God and his own, all consoled with spiritual joy.