Chapter LVIII. How he caused the first New Testament that was in the Order to be given to the poor mother of two of the brethren

91. The mother of two of the brethren once came to the Saint and confidently asked for alms. The holy father, sharing her distress, said to his vicar, brother Peter Cathanii, "Can we give any alms to our mother?" (For he called the mother of any brother the mother of himself and of all the brethren.) Brother Peter answered, "There is nothing left in the house that might be given her," adding, "We have one New Testament out of which, for want of a breviary, we read the lessons at matins". "Give our mother the New Testament," said blessed Francis, "that she may sell it for her need, because by it we are admonished to succour the poor. For my part I believe that the gift of it will be more pleasing than the reading out of it." And so the book was given to the woman, and the first Testament there was in the Order was parted with through this sacred compassion.