Chapter CXXXIX. How he ought to bear himself toward his companions

184. Near the end of the time of S. Francis' being called to the Lord, a brother, who was always concerned for things Divine, filled with tenderness toward the Order, made request to him, saying: "Father, thou wilt pass away and the family that has followed thee will be left in the vale of tears. Point out some one, if thou knowest any in the Order, on whom thy spirit may rest, and on whom the burden of the office of Minister-General may safely be laid." S. Francis answered, accompanying all his words with sighs: "My son, I see no one sufficient to be leader of an army so manifold, and shepherd of a flock so large. But I will paint for you, and (as the saying is) fashion with my hand, one in whom it may be clearly seen what manner of man the father of this family should be. 185. He should be a man of the highest character, of great discretion, and of praiseworthy reputation: a man without private affections, lest, while he shows favour to a part, he gender scandal in the whole. A man fond of the study of holy prayer, who should assign certain hours of the day to his own soul and certain to the flock entrusted to him. For very early in the morning he should before aught else attend celebrations of mass {missarum sacramenta debet praemittere\ and in prolonged devotion commend himself and the flock to God's protection. But after prayer let him appear in public to be heckled by all, ready to give answer to all and to provide for all with meekness. He should be a man who will not commit foulness by accepting persons, and will not care less for the lowly and simple than for the wise or great. A man who, although he may be allowed to excel in the gift of learning, ought in his behaviour rather to ' bear the image ' of pious simplicity, and to foster virtue. A man who will execrate money, the chief cause of corruption in our profession and perfection, and who being the head of a poor Religion and offering himself to be copied by the rest will never make wrong use of treasure-chests. For such an one his habit and a little book should suffice as regards himself, and as regards the brethren a box of pens and a seal. Let him not be a collector of books nor much intent on reading, lest he be taking from his office what he is spending by anticipation on study. Let him be a man who, since he is the last refuge of the troubled, can comfort the afflicted; lest, if healing medicines be not found with him, the malady of despair should prevail over the sick. That he may bend the froward to meekness, let him abase himself and waive somewhat of his right, in order to gain a soul for Christ. Let him not shut up his bowels of pity towards those who have forsaken the Order, as if they were sheep who had perished, knowing that the temptations which can drive them to such a fall must be overpowering. 186. I would have him honoured by all in the stead of Christ, and provided for in all necessary things with all good-will. But he ought not to take pleasure in honours nor to delight more in being applauded than in being reviled. If through weakness or fatigue he should need more palatable food, he should not eat it in private, but in public, so as to relieve other invalids from shame in providing for their bodies. To him chiefly it belongs to examine the secrets of the conscience, and to pluck out the truth from hidden sources; but not to lend an ear to tattlers. Finally he ought to be a man who shall by no means cause the strong fabric of justice to totter through his clinging to power, and shall feel so great an office to be more of a burden than a dignity. Let not excessive gentleness, however, produce apathy, nor mistaken indulgence the breaking-up of discipline; but rather while he is an object of love to all let him none the less be a terror to them that do evil. I would also that he should have companions endowed with goodness, who, even as he himself, should set an example of all good things, men stern against pleasures, strong against hardships, and, in a becoming way, so genial in their demeanour as to welcome all comers with a holy cheerfulness. Such a man (he said) ought the Minister-General of the Order to be."