chapter vi

. of the Rule granted to the Clarisses of St. Damian, August 9, 1253, by the bull _Solet annuere_. Potthast, 15,086. But this chapter has been completely changed in many editions. The text of the _Speculum_, Morin, Rouen 1509, should be read. _Tract_ iii., 226b. The critical study to be made upon this text by comparing the indications given by the bull _Angelis guadium_ of May 11, 1238, Sbaralea, i., p. 242, is too long to find a place here.

[16] 2 Cel., 3, 132. Cf. _Test. B. Clar._

[17] _In illa gravi infirmitate ... faciebat se erigi ... et sedens filabat._ A. SS., 760e. _Sic vult eas [sorores] operare manibus suis._ Ib. 762a.

[18] _Fior._ 33.

[19] Rule of 1221, chap xii. _Et nulla penitus mulier ab aliquo frater recipiatur ad obedientiam, sed dato sibi consilio spirituali, ubi voluerit agat penitentiam._ Cf. below, p. 252, note 1, the remainder of this chapter and the indication of the sources. This proves, 1, that the friars had received women into the Order; 2, that at the beginning they said The Order in the singular, and under this appellation included Sisters as well as Brothers. We see how far the situation was, even at the end of 1221, from being what it became a few years later. It is to be noted that in all the reforming sects of the commencement of the thirteenth century the two sexes were closely united. (Vide _Burchardi chronicon_, Pertz, 1, 23, p. 376. Cf. Potthast, 2611, bull _Cum otim_ of Nov. 25, 1205.)

On the 7th of June, 1201 (bull _Incunubit nobis_), Innocent III. had approved the Rule of the Humiliants. This was a religious association whose members continued to live in their own homes, and who offer surprising points of contact with the Franciscan Order, though they took no vow of poverty. From them issued a more restricted association which founded convents where they worked in wool; these convents received both men and women. Vide Jacques de Vitry, _Hist. Occidentalis_, cap. 28. _De religione et regula Humiliatorum_ (Douai, 1597, pp. 334-337). The time came when from these two Orders issued a third, composed solely of priests. These _Humiliati_ are too little known, though they have had a historian whose book is one of the noble works of the eighteenth century: Tiraboschi, _Vetera Humiliatorum monumenta_ (Milan, 3 vols., 4to, 1766-1768). Toward 1200 they had monopolized _l'arte della lana_ in all upper Italy as far as to Florence; it is evident, therefore, that Francis's father must have had relations with them.

[20] The bull approving the Rule of St. Damian is of August 9, 1253. Clara died two days later.

[21] 1 Cel., 122. Cf. Potthast, 8194 ff.; cf. ib., 709.

[22] A. SS., _Vita Cl._, p. 758. Cf. bull of canonization.

[23] _Vit. S. Clar._, A. SS., p. 758. This petition was surely made by the medium of Francis; and there are several indications of his presence in Perugia in the latter part of the life of Innocent III. _In obitu suo [Alexandri papæ] omnes familiares sui deseruerunt eum præter fratres Minores. Et similiter Papam Gregorium et Honorium et Innocentium in cujus obitu fuit præsentialiter S. Franciscus._ Eccl. xv. _Mon. Germ. hist. Script._, t. 28 p. 568. Sbaralea puts forth doubts as to the authenticity of this privilege, the text of which he gives; wrongly, I think, for Clara alludes to it in her will, A. SS., p. 747.

[24] He was born about 1147, created cardinal in 1198. Vide Raynald, _ann._, 1217, § 88, the eulogy made upon him by Honorius III. _Forma decorus et venustus aspectu ... zelator fidei, disciplina virtutis, ... castitatis amator et totius sanctitatis exemplar_: Muratori, _Scriptores rer. Ital._, iii., 1, 575.

[25] 1 Cel., 74.

[26] The bull _Litteræ tuæ_ of August 27, 1218, shows him already favoring the Clarisses. Sbaralea, i., p. 1. Vide 3 Soc., 61. _Offero me ipsum, dixit Hugolinus, vobis, auxilium et consilium, atque protectionem paratus impendere._

[27] In the Conformities, 107a, 2, there is a curious story which shows Ugolini going to the Carceri to find Francis, and asking him if he ought to enter his Order. Cf. _Spec._, 217.

[28] He succeeded so well that Thomas of Celano himself seems to forget that, at least at St. Damian, the Clarisses followed the Rule given by St. Francis himself: _Ipsorum vita mirifica et institutio gloriosa a domino Papa Gregorio, tunc Hostiensi episcopo._ 1 Cel. 20. Cf. _Honorii Opera_ Horoy, t. iii., col. 363; t. iv., col. 218; Potthast, 6179 and 6879 ff.

[29] This privilege is inserted in the bull _Sacrosancta_ of December 9, 1219. _Honorii opera_, Horoy, t. iii., col. 363 ff.

[30] G. Levi, _Registri dei Cardinali_, no. 125. Vide below, p. 400. Cf. Campi, _Hist. eccl. di Piacenza_, ii., 390.

[31] See, for example, the letter given by Wadding: Annals, ii., p. 16 (Rome, 1732). _Tanta me amaritudo cordis, abundantia lacrymarum et immanitas doloris invasit, quod nisi ad pedes Jesu, consolationem solitæ pietatis invenirem, spiritus meus forte deficeret et penitus anima liquefieret._ Wadding's text should be corrected by that of the Riccardi MS., 279. f^o 80a and b. Cf. Mark of Lisbon, t. i., p. 185; Sbaralea, i., p. 37.

[32] Bull _Angelis gaudium_ of May 11, 1238; it may be found in Sbaralea, i., p. 242. Cf. Palacky, _Literarische Reise nach Italien_, Prague, 1838, 4to, no. 147. Potthast, 10,596; cf. 11,175.

[33] A. SS., _Vit. Clar._, p. 762. Cf. _Conform._, 84b, 2.

[34] A. SS., _Aprilis_, t. iii., p. 239a; _Conform._, 54a, 1; 177a, 2.

[35] A. SS., _Vit. Clar._, p. 764d.

[36] The bull of canonization says nothing of the Saracens whom she put to flight. Her life in the A. SS. relates the fact, but shows her simply in prayer before the Holy Sacrament. Cf. _Conform._, 84b, 1. Mark of Lisbon t. i., part 2, pp. 179-181. None of these accounts represents Clara as going to meet them with a monstrance.

[37] Bon., 173; _Fior._ 16; _Spec._, 62b; _Conform._, 84b, 2; 110b 1; 49a, 1. With these should be compared _Spec._, 220b: _Frater Leo narravit quod Sanctus Franciscus surgens orare_ (sic) _venit ad fratres suos dicens: "Ite ad sæculum et dimittatis habitum, licentio vos._"

[38] 2 Cel., 3, 134.

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