107. Our Father Saint Francis, aware of the Apostolic teaching, was convinced that the desire for money was the root of all evil (cf. 1 Tim. 9:10): Wishing to eradicate it from the hearts of his children, he commanded the Friars in the Rule on no account to receive money, either by themselves or through others. And the better to impress it upon their minds, as a thing he had much at heart, he repeated it three times in the Rule (cf. R.B. 2, 6, and 7). Christ, Our Lord, also said: “Beware of all covetousness” (Lk.7:14). Desiring therefore, to carry out entirely and fully the pious desire of our Father, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Friars shall in no way use, receive or have money in any form whatsoever. Nor may they have any person, by whatever name he may be called, to receive or hold money for them, either at their instigation, request, or in their name, for whatever interest or cause. The Friars shall not have bank accounts, savings or checking accounts or create any corporation to hold money for them. But our procurator and advocate shall be Jesus Christ, the Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints shall be our spiritual friends.

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108. Our sublime poverty was the chosen spouse of Christ, the Son of God, and of His humble servant, our Father Saint Francis, the Friars shall remember that they cannot injure her without highly displeasing God, and that to offend her is verily to touch the apple of His eye. The Seraphic Father was accustomed to say that his true Friars ought to value money no more than dust, and to dread it as a venomous serpent. How often our pious and zealous Father, foreseeing in spirit that many, neglecting this pearl of the Gospel (cf. Mt. 13:45), would become lax by accepting inheritances, royalties and superfluous alms, wept over their downfall, saying that the Friar was nigh to perdition who esteemed money more than dirt. In accord with this sentiment of our Seraphic Father, any inheritances or royalties from books, videos or C.D.’s produced by a Friar shall be given directly to a Catholic charitable institution at the discretion of the Definitory. (Norm IV: 1c)

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109. In order that beloved poverty, the holy spouse of Christ Our Lord, and of our Father, remains ever with us, the Friars shall dwell in areas noted for poverty or in remote places of prayer. The Friaries shall be plain, poor, simple and austere. Nevertheless, cleanliness must shine forth in our poverty.

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110. The Friars shall not allow any costliness, rarity or superfluity to appear in any of the furniture, buildings or things we use.

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111. In our Friaries there shall be one small sacristy. The Friars shall have only the vestments and Sacred Vessels necessary for the use of the Priest Friars according to the G.I.R.M.. Let them be careful in keeping the things for divine worship clean and neat; but also, without appearing irreverent, the sacred items shall be most modest. In this way, in everything we use holy poverty is seen resplendent which will make us yearn after the riches of Heaven where are all our treasures, our joys and our glory (Norms VI: 2).

 

112. In order that beloved poverty, the holy spouse of Christ Our Lord and of our Father, remain ever with us, let the Friars be careful not to allow any costliness, rarity or superfluity to appear in the things appertaining to divine worship, or in our buildings or in the furniture we use, remembering that God wishes from us rather our obedience promised in holy poverty, than sacrifices. And as Pope Clement says in his declaration, God desires a pure heart and holy deeds rather than richly adorned things.

 

113. We also ordain that in our Chapels there shall be only one small bell. In the sacristy shall be stored two small chalices. The altar linens shall be plain; the candlesticks shall be of wood. Our missals, breviaries, and other books shall be plainly bound and without any ornate bookmarks.

 

114. Experience teaches us that no sooner does a Friar drive away from himself holy poverty then he falls into every great vice. Let the Friars, therefore, after the example of the Savior of the world and His Most Beloved Mother, strive to be poor in earthly things that they may be rich in divine grace, holy virtues and heavenly treasures.

 

115. To possess more securely this precious treasure of poverty, we forbid the Friars to have recourse to spiritual friends, even for necessary things when they can be procured conveniently in some other way permitted by the Rule. In order to be less burdensome to our friends, no Friar shall buy, or cause to be bought anything of great value without the permission of the Minister General. (Norm IV:1b) Recourse to spiritual friends is not forbidden for necessary things that cannot be procured in another way. In all cases of recourse there must be a real necessity and permission of the Guardian, or Minister General (Norms IV:1).

 

116. Since we have been called to this life to mortify the outward man and to quicken the spirit, we exhort the Friars to accustom themselves to endure privations in earthly things after the example of Christ (cf. Mt. 8:20), Who though Lord of all, chose for our sakes to be poor and to suffer (cf. Phil. 2:6-11).

 

117. Let the Friars be aware of the noonday devil who transforms himself into an angel of light. This happens when the world, out of devotion, applauds us and rejoices, pampering us with earthly comforts, which were very often the cause of many evils in religion. Let them not desire to be among the number of those false poor who, in the words of Saint Bernard, wish to be poor in such a way as to want for nothing.