Chapter LXXXVII. Of the Three Sayings which he Left to the Friars to Preserve their Perfection

ON a certain time when on account of the weakness of his stomach he desired to vomit, on account of the great violence he did to himself, he vomited blood for the whole night until the morning. And when his companions saw him ready to die, through his great weakness and affliction, they said to him with the greatest grief and shedding of tears, "Father, what shall we do without thee? Thou wast ever our father and mother, begetting and bringing us forth in Christ. Thou wast a leader and a shepherd to us, a master and a corrector, teaching and correcting us more by example than by word. Whither therefore shall we go, sheep without a shepherd, orphans without a father, rude and simple men without a leader? Where shall we go to seek thee, 0 glory of poverty, praise of simplicity, and honour of our vileness? Who shall show us, blind ones, hence forth the way of truth; where will the speaking mouth be, and the tongue that counselled us? Where will be the fervent spirit, directing us in the way of the cross; and strengthening us to evangelical perfection? Where wilt thou be that we may come to thee, light of our eyes; that we may seek thee, consoler of our souls? Behold, Father, thou diest; behold, thou desertest us thus desolate, leaving us thus sad and bitter; behold, that day, the day of weeping and bitterness, the day of desolation and sadness draweth near! Behold the bitter day which we have always been fearing to see since we have been with thee; even when we were not able to think of it. Nor is it strange, truly, because thy life is a continuous light to us, and thy words were torches, burning and guiding us continually to the way of the cross and evangelical perfection, to the love and imitation of the most sweet Crucified One! And therefore, Father, forthwith bless us and thy other friars whom thou hast begotten in Christ; and leave to us some memorial of thy will; that thy brethren may have thee always in memory, and that they may say, ' These words our Father left to his brethren and his sons at his death.' "Then the most pious Father, turning his paternal eyes on his sons, said to them, "Call to me Brother Benedict of Pirato." For that brother was a priest, holy and discreet, who celebrated for blessed Francis while he lay there infirm (because always when he was able, he wished to have or hear a mass as long as he was sick). And when he had come to him, he said to him, "Write how I bless my brethren who are in the Order, and who shall come, unto the end of the world. And since on account of my weakness and the pain of my infirmity I may not speak, in these three words I make plain my will and intention briefly to all my brethren, present and to come; namely, that in token of my memory and benediction and will, they should always love one another like as I have loved and do love them; that they should always love and observe our Lady Poverty, and always remain faithful subjects to the prelates and clergy of holy Mother Church."

For thus in the Chapter of the friars our Father had always been anxious at the end of the Chapter to bless and absolve all friars present and to come in the Order, and even out of Chapter he did the same many times in the fervour of his charity. But he used to warn the friars, that they should fear and guard themselves from evil example; and he cursed all those who by evil example provoked men to blaspheme the Order and life of the friars, because good and holy poor men are shamed by this and much afflicted.