COLLOQUY XVII
Some Things must be Borne with on account of Circumstances.
Brother Leo, the companion and confessor of the blessed Father, seeing that in some places grand and spacious Monasteries were erected, not becoming the poverty of the Friars Minor, wished very much to know what St. Francis thought of the matter, and spoke to him about it in presence of the other Brethren. The holy Father thus answered him : ‘ My Brethren, listen. Some of our Order even now build many and large Monasteries, and after our time others will erect such grand houses that they would be quite suitable for the great ones of the world, and they will wear habits of fine cloth. But at that time it will be a great thing if my Brethren keep themselves from mortal sin.’