The Testament of Saint Francis

The Lord granted me, Friar Francis, thus to begin to do penance, for while I was in sin, it seemed to me too bitter a thing to see lepers, but the Lord Himself led me among them, and I showed compassion to them. And when I left them what before seemed bitter, was changed into sweetness of soul and body; after that, I tarried yet a little, and forsook the world.

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And the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would with simplicity, thus adore and say: "We adore you Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches throughout the world, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world". Afterwards, the Lord gave me, and gives me still, such faith in priests, who live after the same manner of the Holy Roman Church, on account of their orders, that if they persecute me, I would still have recourse to them. And if I had the wisdom of Solomon, and found priests poor according to the world, I would not preach in their parishes against their will. And these priests, and all others, I am resolved to hold in respect, love and honor, as my lords; and I will not consider any sin in them, because I behold in them the Son of God, and they are my lords. I act thus, because in this world I see nothing corporally of the Most High Son of God, but His Most Holy Body and Blood, which they receive, and they alone administer to others. And these Most Holy Mysteries, I desire to venerate and honor above all things, and to reserve them in precious tabernacles. And whenever I find our Lord's Most Holy Names and written words in any unseemly place, I will gather them up, and I beg that they be gathered up, and put in a becoming place. And all theologians, and those who minister to us the Most Holy Word of God, we must honor and revere as those who minister to us spirit and life.

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Since the Lord gave me charge over the Friars,no man showed me what I ought to do, but the Most High revealed to me that I should live after the manner of the Holy Gospel; and this I caused to be written down in few and simple words, and our lord the Pope confirmed it for me. Those who came to adopt this form of life, gave all they might possess to the poor. And we were content with one tunic patched inside and out by those who wished, and with a cord and draws, and we desired nothing more. We clerics said the Divine Office like the other clerics; the lay-brothers said the Our Fathers. And we were satisfied to remain in poor and deserted little churches, and we were simple and subject to all.  

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I worked with my hands, and I still desire to work, and most earnestly do I  desire that all my Friars should employ themselves in honest work. Let those who do not know how to work learn, not from anxiety to receive wages, but for good example, and to avoid idleness. But should the wages of our work not be given us, then shall we have recourse to the table of the Lord, asking alms from door to door. The Lord revealed to me this salutation that we should say: "The Lord give you His peace."

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And the Friars shall take heed that they by no means receive churches or houses or anything else that is built for them, if these buildings be not according to that holy poverty we have promised in the Rule, and let them always dwell there as pilgrims and strangers.

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I strictly command all the Friars, in virtue of holy obedience, that wherever they are, they shall not dare, personally, or through others, to ask letters from the Roman Court, whether with regards to a church or any other place, or under the pretext of preaching or on account of bodily persecution, but wherever they are not received they shall flee into another country, and do penance there with the blessing of God.

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I am firmly resolved to obey the Minister General of this Fraternity, and that Guardian whom it shall please him to set over me; and I will so place myself in his hands that I should be able, neither to go anywhere nor do anything against his will, because he is my master. And although I am simple and infirm, I will nevertheless always have a cleric with me to say the Divine Office as directed in the Rule. And all the Friars are strictly bound to obey their Guardians, and to say the Divine Office according to the Rule, or whoever wishes to alter it in any way, or who is not really Catholic, in such case, all the Friars, wherever they are, shall be bound by obedience to bring him before the Custos of the nearest place where he is found. And the Custos is strictly obliged under obedience, to watch him as a prisoner, day and night, so that the Friar cannot be taken out of his hands, until he can personally put him into the hands of the Minister. And the Minister is strictly bound to obedience to send the Friar with others, who shall guard him as a prisoner, day and night, until they present him before the lord Cardinal of Ostia, who is the lord and protector and corrector of this Fraternity. And the Friars shall not say: "This is another Rule". For this is but a remembrance, admonition, exhortation and my Testament, which I, Friar Francis, your little one, make for you my brothers, to the end that we may in a more Catholic manner observe the Rule we have vowed to the Lord.

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And the Minister General and the other Ministers and Custodes are bound by obedience, neither to add to these words, nor to take away from them. And they shall always have this writing with them, together with the Rule. And in all the Chapters which they hold, when they read the Rule, they shall always read these words.

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And I strictly forbid under obedience, all my Friars, both cleric and lay-brothers, to put any gloss upon the Rule, or upon these words saying: "Thus they are to be understood". But as the Lord has granted me to speak and write the Rule, and these words simply and purely, may you understand them simply and without gloss, and with divine assistance, observe them to the end.

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And whoever shall keep these words, may be filled in Heaven with the blessings of the Most High and Heavenly Father, and on earth with the blessings of His Beloved Son, together with that of the Most Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, and all the Powers of Heaven and of all the Saints. And I, Friar Francis, your little one and your servant, confirm unto you all, both within and without, as far as I can, this most holy benediction, which you may have in union with all the Powers of Heaven and all the Saints, now and throughout the ages.

Amen.

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