Chapter CLXII. How at the end he encouraged the brethren and blessed them
Of the Passing of the Holy Father
214. In man's end," saith the Wise Man, 1 "his works are laid bare; "which we see to have been gloriously fulfilled in this Saint. For after running the way of God's commandments with alacrity of mind, and passing by successive steps through all the virtues, he attained the highest point, and having been brought to perfection, like a plastic work, beneath the hammer of manifold tribulation, beheld every end fully attained. For then did his wondrous works shine the brightest, then did it blaze forth by the token of truth that his whole life had been divine, when having trampled on the allurements of the mortal life he took his free flight on high. For he deemed it a disgrace to live for the world; "he loved his own unto the end"; and he welcomed death with singing. For as he was drawing nigh to his last days, wherein the light perpetual was succeeding to the temporal light that had been withdrawn,1 he showed by an effectual example that he had nothing in common with the world. For, worn out as he was by that grievous sickness which was the end of all his sufferings, he bade that he should be laid naked on the bare ground, that in that last hour wherein the enemy could yet rage against him, he might wrestle naked with his naked foe. Truly the brave warrior was awaiting his2 triumph and with clasped hands was seizing the crown of righteousness. Laid thus on the ground, his garment of sackcloth having been removed, he raised his face (as he was wont) to heaven, and, wholly intent on that [celestial] glory, he covered with his left hand the wound in his right side, that it might not be seen. And he said to the brethren, "I have done my duty, may Christ teach you yours". 215. At the sight of these things the brethren poured forth streams of tears, and heaved heavy sighs from their inmost heart, overcome by their exceeding grief and compassion. Mean-time, when their sobs were somewhat abated, his warden, with truer knowledge, through Divine inspiration, of the Saint's wish, hastily rose, took the tunic, the drawers, and the little cap of sackcloth, and said to the father: "Know that this tunic, these drawers, and this cap have been lent thee by me by order of holy obedience; but that thou mayest know that thou hast no property in them I deprive thee of all power of giving them to any one". S. Francis rejoiced and exulted for gladness of heart, for he saw that he had kept faith with the Lady Poverty even to the end.
For he had done all this from zeal for Poverty; so that he would not even that his habit should be his own at the end, but as it were lent by another. (Now he wore the cap of sackcloth on his head to cover the scars which had been produced by the treatment he had undergone for the malady of his eyes; whereas he rather needed a smooth cap of the choicest and softest wool).
216. After this, the Saint raised his hands to heaven and magnified his Christ, for that now, having been discharged from all things, he was going to Him a free man. And in truth, that he might show himself a true imitator in all things of Christ his God, he loved unto the end the brethren and sons whom he had loved from the beginning. For he caused all the brethren present in that place to be called to him, soothed them with comforting words concerning his death, and with fatherly affection exhorted them to the love of God. He spoke at large concerning patience and the maintaining of poverty, putting the Holy Gospel before all other ordinances. Then, as all the brethren sat around, he stretched forth his right hand over them and laid it upon the head of each one, beginning with his Vicar, and, in the persons of those that were there, he blessed also all the brethren living everywhere in the world, and those that should come after them even until the end of the world. Let no one claim for himself this blessing which the Saint pronounced on those who were present on behalf of those who were absent. The blessing, as set forth elsewhere, had a certain special significance, but chiefly in regard to deprivation of office.1
1 Brother Elias, here referred to as the Saint's Vicar, had been deposed from the office of Minister-General in 1239, and had been excommunicated by Gregory IX. and by his successor Innocent IV. The author therefore in referring to the passage above, L, 108 (which see) here declares in effect that the special blessing on Elias was not indefeasible, but had been forfeited by him; and that the only part of the Saint's words as there recorded applicable to him now is the vague prediction of tribulation and scandal to come.
Footnotes
Chapter 181 of 186