The Rule Of 1221

By the spring of 1209, Francis had attracted a growing number of followers, and he realized that they should have some common rule or order of life. He wrote a short rule largely made up of biblical passages and went with his little community to Rome to seek the pope's approval, which after some delay Pope Innocent III gave him orally.

As the years passed, revisions became necessary to accommodate the growth and changes in the young community, the "Order of Friars Minor." In 1221 Francis set about revising the rule, which became the basis for a more legal and official document written in 1223. The Rule of 1221, however, remains Francis' original written expression of the way of life he would have his friars live.

Excerpts follow, taken from the English Omnibus of the Sources for the Life of St. Francis.

The Rule and the life of the friars is to live in obedience, in chastity and without property, following the teaching and the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ who says, "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21); and, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).

The friars who have already made their profession of obedience may have one habit with a hood and, if necessary, another without a hood. They may also have a cord and trousers. All the friars must wear poor clothes and they can patch them with pieces of sackcloth and other material, with God's blessing. As our Lord tells us in the Gospel, "Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in the houses of kings" (Luke 7:25).

The friars should behave towards one another the way the Lord tells us: "Therefore all that you wish men to do to you, even so do you also to them" (Matthew 7:12).

All the friars without exception are forbidden to wield power or authority, particularly over one another. Among them "whoever wishes to become great shall be their servant, and whoever wishes to be first shall be their minister" (Matthew 28:26-28), and he is their servant. "Let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest" (Luke 22:26).

We should have no more use or regard for money in any of its forms than for dust. The friars should be delighted to follow the lowliness and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ, remembering that of the whole world we must own nothing; "but having food and sufficient clothing, with these let us be content" (1 Timothy 6:8), as St. Paul says. They should be glad to live among social outcasts, among the poor and helpless, the sick and the lepers, and those who beg by the wayside.

Far from indulging in detraction or disputing in words (2 Timothy 2:14) the friars should do their best to avoid talking, according as God gives them the opportunity. There must be no quarrelling among themselves or with others, and they should be content to answer everyone humbly, saying, "We are unprofitable servants" (Luke 17:10).

The friars should have no hesitation about telling one another what they need, so that they can provide for one another. They are bound to love and care for one another as brothers according to the means God gives them, just as a mother loves and cares for her son.

The friars are bound to love one another because our Lord says, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

As they go about the country, the friars are to take nothing with them for their journey, "neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money" (Luke 9:3). When they enter a house, they are to say first of all, "Peace to this house" (Luke 10:5).

They should not offer resistance to injury; if a man strikes them on the right cheek, they should turn the other cheek also towards him (Matthew 5:39). If a man would take away their cloak, they should not grudge him their coat along with it. They should give to every man who asks, and if a man takes what is theirs, they should not ask him to restore it (Luke 6:29-30).

No matter where they are, the friars must always remember that they have given themselves up completely and handed over their whole selves to our Lord Jesus Christ, and so they should be prepared to expose themselves to every enemy, visible or invisible, for love of him. He himself tells us, "He who loses his life for my sake will save it" (Mark 8:35), for eternal life. "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).

Remember the words of our Lord, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Matthew 5:44). Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, in whose footsteps we must follow (1 Peter 2:21), called the man who betrayed him his friend, and gave himself up of his own accord to his executioners. Therefore, our friends are those who for no reason cause us trouble and suffering, shame or injury, pain or torture, even martyrdom and death. It is these we must love, and love very much, because for all they do to us we are given eternal life.

In that love which is God (1 John 4:16), I entreat all my friars, ministers and subjects, to put away every attachment, all care and solicitude, and serve, love, honor, and adore our Lord and God with a pure heart and mind; this is what he seeks above all else. We should make a dwelling-place within ourselves where he can stay, he who is the Lord God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was he who created and redeemed us and of his mercy alone he will save us.