Chapter XXVI. How it was Revealed by Tee Lord that they should be Called Friars Minor to Announce Peace and Salvation

ON a certain day blessed Francis said, "The order and life of the Friars Minor is a certain little flock which the Son of God in these last times asked of His Heavenly Father, saying, ' Father, I would that Thou shouldst make and give to Me a new and humble folk in these last times, unlike to all others who have gone before them, in humility and poverty, and content to possess Me alone.' And the Father said, having heard the Son, ' My Son, that which Thou hast asked is done.' '' Whence the blessed Father used to say that for this reason God willed and revealed to him that they should be called Friars Minor, because this is that poor and humble folk which the Son of God demanded of His Father. Of which folk the Son Himself speaks in the Gospel, Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And again, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. And the Lord understood this of all spiritual poor men, yet He spake it more especially of the Order of Friars Minor, which was to be in His Church. Whence, as it was revealed to blessed Francis that it should be called the Order of Friars Minor, so he made it to be written in his testament and the first Rule which he took to the Lord Pope, Innocent III., who approved and conceded it, and afterwards announced it to all in Consistory. Likewise the Lord revealed to him the salutation which the friars should use, as he caused to be written in his testament, saying, "The Lord revealed to me that I should say for a greeting: The Lord give thee peace." Whence, in the first days of the Order, when he would go with a certain friar who was one of the first twelve, he saluted the men and women on the road, and those who were in the fields, saying, "The Lord give you peace." And for that men had not heard up to then such a salutation from any religious they wondered greatly. Nay, some used to say to them with great indignation, "What does this salutation of yours mean? "So that that brother began to be ashamed of it, whence he said to blessed Francis, "Let me use another greeting." And the holy Father said to him, "Let them talk, since they perceive not those things which are of God. But be not ashamed, because from henceforth the nobles and princes of this world shall show reverence to thee and other friars for this salutation. For it is no great thing if the Lord should wish to have a new and little flock, singular and unlike all those who have come before them in life and work, a folk which should be content to have Him alone most sweet."