Part 48 (1/2)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Collected first by Wadding (Antwerp, 1623, 4to), they have been published many times since then, particularly by De la Haye (Paris, 1641, f^o). These two editions having become scarce, were republished--in a very unsatisfactory manner--by the Abbe Horoy: _S. Francisci a.s.sisiatis opera omnia_ (Paris, 1880, 4to).

For want of a more exact edition, that of Father Bernardo da Fivizzano is the most useful: _Opuscoli di S. Francesco d'a.s.sisi_, 1 vol., 12mo, pp. 564, Florence, 1880. The Latin text is accompanied by an Italian translation.

[2] ”_Die Briefe, die unter seinem Namen gehen, mogen theilweise acht sein. Aber sie tragen kaum etwas zur naheren Kenntniss bei und konnen daher fast ganz ausser Acht bleiben_.” Muller, _Die Anfange des Minoritenordens_, Freiburg, 1 vol., 8vo, 1885, p. 3.

[3] Pieces have been often attributed to St. Francis which do not belong to him; but those are unintentional errors and made without purpose. The desire for literary exactness is relatively of recent date, and it was easier for those who were ignorant of the author of certain Franciscan writings to attribute them to St. Francis than to admit their ignorance or to make deep researches.

[4] For example, the first Rule; probably also a few canticles; a letter to the Brothers in France, Eccl., 6; another to the Brothers in Bologna: ”_Praedixerat per litteram in qua fuit plurimum latinum_,” Eccl., ib.; a letter to Antony of Padua, other than the one we have, since on the witness of Celano it was addressed: _Fratri Antonio episcopo meo_ (2 Cel., 3, 99); certain letters to St. Clara: ”_Scripsit Clarae et sororibus ad consolationem litteram in qua dabat benedictionem suam et absolvebat_,” etc. _Conform._, f^o. 185a, 1; cf. _Test. B.

Clarae_. A. SS., Augusti, t. ii., p. 767: ”_Plura scripta tradidit n.o.bis, ne post mortem suam declinaremus a paupertate_;”

certain letters to Cardinal Ugolini, 3 Soc., 67.

It is not to negligence alone that we must attribute the loss of many of the epistles: ”_Quod nephas est cogitare, in provincia Marchie et in pluribus aliis locis testamentum beati Francisci mandaverunt (prelati ordinis) districte per obedientiam ab omnibus auferi et comburi. Et uni fratri devoto et sancto, cujus nomen est N. de Rocanato combuxerunt dic.u.m testamentum super caput suum. Et toto conatu fuerunt solliciti, annulare scripta beati patris nostri Francisci, in quibus sua intentio de observantia regule declaratur._” Ubertino di Casali, _apud Archiv._, iii., pp. 168-169.

[5] Italy is too obliging to artists, archaeologists, and scholars not to do them the favor of disposing in a more practical manner this trust, the most precious of all Umbria.

Even with the indefatigable kindness of the curator, M.

Alessandro, and of the munic.i.p.ality of a.s.sisi, it is very difficult to profit by these treasures heaped up in a dark room without a table to write upon.

[6] In particular by Ehrle: _Die historischen Handschriften von S. Francesco in a.s.sisi._ _Archiv._, t. i., p. 484.

[7] See pages 252 ff ... and 283.

[8] See pages 333 ff.

[9] See pages 259 ff.

[10] See page 325 ff.

[11] See pages 322 ff.

[12] See page 327.

[13] I give it entire: ”_Regina sapientia, Dominus te salvet, c.u.m tua sorore sancta pura simplicitate.--Domina sancta paupertas, Domimus te salvet, c.u.m tua sorore sancta humilitate.--Domina sancta caritas, Dominus te salvet, c.u.m tua sorrore sancta obedientia. Sanctissimae virtutes omnes, vos salvet Dominus, a quo venitis et proceditis._” Its authenticity is guaranteed by a citation by Celano: 2 Cel., 3, 119. Cf. 126b and 127a.

[14] See pages 304 f.

[15] I shall not recur to this: the text is in the Conformities 138a 2.

[16] The authenticity of this service, to which there is not a single allusion in the biographies of St. Francis, is rendered certain by the life of St. Clara: ”_Officium crucis, prout crucis amator Franciscus inst.i.tuerat (Clara) didicit et affectu simili frequentavit._” A. SS., Augusti, t. ii., p. 761a.

[17] It begins: _Illi qui volunt stare in heremis_. This text is also found in the Conformities, 143a, 1. Cf. 2 Cel., 3, 43; see p. 97.

[18] _Nudis pedibus incedentes, funiculis cincti, tunicis griseis et talaribus peciatis, insuto capucio utentes ... nihil sibi ultra noctem reservantes ... libros continue suos ... in forulis a collo dependentes bajulantes._ Historia Anglorum, Pertz: _Script._, t. 28, p. 397. Cf. 2 Cel., 3, 135; _Fior._, 5; _Spec._, 45b.