forbid that I should glory save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal. vi. 14. This is to this day the
motto of the Brothers Minor.

[13] _Spec._, 182a; 200a; 232a. Cf. 199a.

[14] 1 Cel., 67.

[15] _Secundum primam regulam fratres feria quarta et sexta et
per licentiam beati Francisci feria secunda et sabbato
jejunabant. Giord. 11. cf. Reg. 1221, cap. 3_ and _Reg. 1223,
cap. 3_, where Friday is the only fast day retained.

[16] 1 Cel., 10; 22; 27; 31; 42; 80; 2 Cel., 1, 1; 3, 65-68;
Eccl., 5; 6; _Giord._, 21; _Spec._, 119a; _Conform._, 143a, 2.

[17] _Caveant fratres quod non ostendant se tristes extrinsecus
nubilosos et hypocritas; sed ostendant se gaudentis in Domine,
hilares et convenientes gratiosos._

[18] Eccl., _loc. cit._; Giord., _loc. cit._

[19] Vide _Test._; 1 Cel., 46; 62; 75; 2 Cel., 3, 129; _Spec._,
44a.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XII

THE CHAPTER-GENERAL OF 1217[1]

After Whitsunday of 1217 chronological notes of Francis's life are
numerous enough to make error almost impossible. Unhappily, this is not
the case for the eighteen months which precede it (autumn of
1215-Whitsunday, 1217). For this period we are reduced to conjecture, or
little better.

As Francis at that time undertook no foreign mission, he doubtless
employed his time in evangelizing Central Italy and in consolidating the
foundations of his institution. His presence at Rome during the Lateran
Council (November 11-30, 1215) is possible, but it has left no trace in
the earliest biographies. The Council certainly took the new Order into
consideration,[2] but it was to renew the invitation made to it five
years before by the supreme pontiff, to choose one of the Rules already
approved by the Church.[3] St. Dominic, who was then at Rome to beg
for the confirmation of his institute, received the same counsel and
immediately conformed to it. The Holy See would willingly have conceded
special constitutions to the Brothers Minor, if they had adopted for a
base the Rule of St. Benedict; thus the Clarisses, except those of St.
Damian, while preserving their name and a certain number of their
customs, were obliged to profess the Benedictine rule.

In spite of all solicitations, Francis insisted upon retaining his own
Rule. One is led to believe that it was to confer upon these questions
that we find him at Perugia in Ju