Chapter XLIX. Ensample of one whom the Saint rebuked for distributing his pro- perty to his relations and not to the poor

Of Those that Renounce the World

80. The Saint taught those coming to the Order previously to give a bill of divorcement to the world, by first offering outwardly their goods, and then inwardly themselves to God. He admitted to the Order none but those who had expropriated themselves and were keeping back nothing at all; both because of the word of the Holy Gospel and lest they should cause scandal by retaining a treasure-chest.

81. It happened that after the Saint had been preaching in the March of Ancona, a man came to him humbly begging for admission to the Order. "If thou wilt be joined to the poor of God," said the Saint to him, u first distribute thy goods to the poor of the world." On hearing this the man went, and being led by carnal love, gave his goods to his relations and nothing to the poor. When he came back and told the Saint of that bounteous munificence, the father laughed at him and said, "Go thy way, brother fly, for thou hast not yet come out from thy house and kindred. Thou hast given thy goods to thy kindred, and hast defrauded the poor: thou art not worthy to live with the holy poor: thou hast begun with the flesh and laid an unsound foundation for a spiritual building." This brutish man went back to his relations and recovered his goods, relinquishing his virtuous purpose the more quickly because he would not relinquish his goods to the poor.

Such a pitiful distribution [as that man made] deludes many nowadays who seek to attain the life of bliss by a worldly beginning. For no one consecrates himself to God in order to enrich his kinsfolk, but in order to gain life by the fruit of good work, redeeming his sins by the price of compassion.

S. Francis often also taught the brethren if they were in want to have recourse to strangers rather than to those entering the Order, first for example's sake, and next to avoid all appearance of base advantage.