SIX PRINCIPAL REASONS WHY ALMIGHTY GOD GRANTED THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR TO HIS CHURCH
The Friars Minor have been given and called by God, principally that they may represent Our Lord Jesus Christ, and may bring back to the minds of Christians His so great benefits, which are, as it were, forgotten, or despised, or neglected by the world. And for this reason have they been asked of God by His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. First, they are given that both in word and deed they may be the witnesses and imitators of His most high Poverty, by the most perfect renunciation of all property and unlawful attachment to earthly goods, and by the poor and humble use of them ; because the virtue and love of holy Poverty were, so to speak, deserted, rejected, and despised everywhere and by all, so that she could no longer find any place where she could perfectly and securely rest her foot.
Secondly, that in word and deed they may be witnesses and imitators of His most high and perfect Obedience, by which He was not only made obedient to God, His Father, even unto the death of the Cross for our sakes, and would even be subject to His parents — that is, to the most holy Virgin, His Mother, and to St. Joseph, His reputed Father, who were so far inferior to Him — but what is far more, would obey even the rulers and the priests, and taught this Obedience to others when he commanded the tribute to be paid to Caesar, and when he said of the Scribes and Pharisees who governed the people ill : ‘Whatsoever they say to you do, but according to their works do not.’ For the more unworthy is he who governs, the more pleasing is the submission of the subject, and the more meritorious is his obedience ; especially if he has had nothing to do with the appointment, or continuance in office, of such a bad and incompetent Superior. The most perfect and evangelical kind and degree of Obedience is to obey, for God’s sake, such Superiors and others, not only in those things which a Religious has promised to observe according to the Rule, but also in everything which is not contrary to the Rule and the salvation of his soul, without any other limitation or curtailing of the power and jurisdiction of his lawful Superiors.
Thirdly, that they may be the witnesses and imitators of the abjection and humility of Jesus Christ, by despising all honours and promotion, and the vanities of the world, and by a true contempt and mortification of themselves for the love of God.
Fourthly, that they may be witnesses and followers, both in word and deed, of Our Lord in His charity and love for the salvation of all mankind, by going throughout the world to preach by word and example, and to bring back to their Creator, their Shepherd and their Redeemer, the souls purchased by the Precious Blood of Christ.
Fifthly, that they may be witnesses and imitators of Our Lord’s sobriety, penance, meekness, condescension, mercy and purity, by abstinence, fasting, and labour, by a loving and charitable condescension and kindness towards the afflicted, by receiving and healing sinners, and by purity of soul and body.
Sixthly, that they may be the witnesses and the special contemplators, imitators, and preachers of His Passion, and of the many benefits bestowed on us by His blessed Incarnation, Life, and Death, and our so great Redemption ; and this not only by frequent and assiduous meditation on the bitter sufferings both interior and exterior of Himself and His Blessed Mother, but by truly and willingly bearing, for His holy Name’s sake, all contradictions, tribulations, contempt and sorrow.
Blessed, then, are those Brethren who as much as possible follow in these respects’ Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His most holy Mother, in this life ; because in death and judgment they will appear with their Divine Leader in the ranks and company of His true soldiers and special followers, and will sit with the Apostles, judging all the nations of the earth — that is, approving the sentence of the Sovereign Judge, according to His own words : ‘Amen, I say unto you, that you who have left all and followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, you shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ Therefore, most dear and well-beloved Brethren in Christ, for the love of God, see and understand well your vocation, and why you are called Minors ; because for His sake you must endeavour now not to be greater, but to be more humble, abject, and lowly than all, in order that you may be great now in grace, and hereafter in glory. Be grateful to the Lord our God Who so lovingly, and without any merit on your part, has deigned to choose and call you to such great and sublime things, and strive to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith you are called, never looking back, but proceeding from virtue to virtue, being most certain that, if here below you follow Christ, and are made partakers of His sufferings, you will partake likewise of His consolations; and for the ‘ momentary labours of this present life, you will receive a sure and inestimable reward with Christ in the next. Which may the sweet Lord mercifully grant you, by the merits of His most holy Passion, Death, and Resurrection, and by the intercession of His Blessed Mother, and of all the Saints. Amen.