Chapter CIX. Of the mutual humility and charity of himself and S. Dominic

148. Those two bright lights of the world, Dominic and S. Francis, were once at Rome with the Lord Cardinal of Ostia, who was afterwards Pope. And as in turn they uttered honeyed words concerning God, the bishop at last said to them: "In the primitive church the pastors of the church were poor, and men who glowed with charity and not with greed. Why (he said) do we not make bishops and prelates of your brethren, who excel other men in teaching and example? "There was a contention between the Saints as to which of them should answer; each strove not to anticipate but to give way to the other; nay, each was urging the other to answer. Each, therefore, was foremost in respect of the other, while each paid honour to the other. At length humility conquered Francis, so that he did not put himself forward, and it also conquered Dominic so that in humble obedience he answered first. Blessed Dominic, therefore, gave this answer to the bishop: "My lord, my brethren, if they only recognize it, have been raised to a good degree, nor, so far as I can, will I allow them to acquire any other mark of dignity". After he had finished this brief reply, blessed Francis bowed down before the bishop and said: "My lord, my brethren have been styled Lesser that they presume not to become greater. Their calling teaches them to be in lowliness, and to follow the footsteps of Christ's humility, that thereby at last they may be exalted above the rest in the sight of the Saints. If (he said) you would have them bear fruit in the Church of God, hold and keep them in the state to which they have been called, and bring them back to lowliness even againt their will. Therefore, father, I pray you by no means to allow them to rise to high office, lest their pride should be proportionate to their poverty and they should wax arrogant against the rest." Such were the answers of these blessed men.

149. What say ye, sons of the Saints? Jealousy and envy prove you degenerate as much as greed of honours proves you bastards. "Ye bite and devour one another," nor do your wars and strifes arise from aught but your lusts. You have to wrestle against the hosts of darkness, you have to struggle hard against armies of devils, and you turn the points of your swords against one another. The fathers, filled with wisdom, turn their faces to the mercy-seat and look familiarly on one another; but the sons, filled with envy, are to one another grievous to behold. What shall the body do if it has a divided heart? Surely the teaching of piety would advance more fruitfully throughout the world if the bond of charity joined the ministers of God's word more firmly together; for our speaking and teaching are chiefly mistrusted because the presence among us of a leaven of hatred is shown by evident signs. I know that the good on either side are not concerned herein, but the bad, who, as I should judge, deserve to be rooted out, lest they taint the holy. What in conclusion shall I say of them who savour of loftiness? The fathers reached the kingdom by the way of humility, not of loftiness; the sons walk about in the ring of ambitious desires and ask not for the way to the city of their habitation. What remains but that we reach not the glory of them whose way we do not follow? Be this far from us, O Lord. Make the disciples humble beneath the wings of humble masters; make kindred spirits kind; "and mayest thou see thy children's children and peace upon Israel".