Chapter XXXIX. And Firstly how he Resigned the Office of his Prelacy and Appointed Peter of Catana General Minister

To observe the virtue of holy humility, a few years after his conversion he resigned the office of his prelacy in a certain Chapter before the friars, saying: "From henceforth am I dead to you, but behold Brother Peter of Catana, whom both I and we all will obey." And throwing himself on the earth before him, he promised him obedience and reverence. Thereupon all the friars wept, and their exceeding great grief forced from them deep sighs, when they saw themselves in a manner become orphans of such a father. But the holy Father rising, with his eyes raised to heaven and his hands joined, said, "Lord, I commend to Thee Thy family which hitherto Thou hast com mitted to me; and now on account of the infirmities which Thou knowest, 0 most sweet Lord, being unable to have the care of it, I commend it to its Ministers, who shall be held in the day of judgment to show cause before Thee, 0 Lord, if any brother should perish through their negligence, or evil example, or bitter correction."

He remained therefore from that time a subject unto the day of his death, bearing himself more humbly in all things than any of the others.