Chapter XXXVII. A brother chidden who wished to keep money on the plea of necessity

67. Once, when brother Peter Cathanii (the Saint's vicar) saw that S. Maria de Portiuncula was crowded by brethren from distant parts, and that the alms were not enough to provide them with necessaries, he said to S. Francis: "I know not, brother, what I am to do, for I have not wherewith to provide sufficiently for the crowd of brethren coming together from every quarter. I pray thee to allow somewhat of the property of novices entering the Order to be reserved, so that recourse may be had to it in time of need." The holy man answered: "Away with such piety, dearest brother, as that of acting impiously against the Rule for the sake of any one whomsoever!" "What am I to do, then? "said the other. "Strip the Virgin's altar," replied S. Francis, "and take away its various ornaments, since thou canst not help the needy in any other way. Believe me, she will be better pleased to have her Son's Gospel observed and her altar stript, than to have the altar vested and her Son despised. The Lord will send some one to restore to His Mother what He has lent us."