Crescentius (Bull _Is qui ecclesiam_, March 6, 1245), the
Basilica of Assisi was substituted for Santa Maria degli Angeli
as _mater et caput_ of the Order. Vide _Spec._, 32b, 69b-71a;
_Conform._, 144a, 2; 218a, 1; 3 Soc., 56; 2 Cel., 1, 12 and 13;
Bon., 24, 25; see the Appendix, the Study of the Indulgence of
August 2.

[38] 2 Cel., 108. As will be seen (below, p. 367) the remainder
of Celano's narrative seems to require to be taken with some
reserve. Cf. _Spec._, 115b; _Conform._, 225a, 2; Bon., 211.

[39] _Non sum cuculus_, in Italian _cuculo_.

[40] _Spec._, 136b; _Fior. iv. consid._ It is to be noted that
Guido, instead of waiting at Assisi for the certainly impending
death of Francis, went away to Mont Gargano. 2 Cel., 3, 142.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XX

FRANCIS'S WILL AND DEATH

End of September-October 3, 1226

The last days of Francis's life are of radiant beauty. He went to meet
death, singing,[1] says Thomas of Celano, summing up the impression of
those who saw him then.

To be once more at Portiuncula after so long a detention at the bishop's
palace was not only a real joy to his heart, but the pure air of the
forest must have been much to his physical well-being; does not the
Canticle of the Creatures seem to have been made expressly to be sung in
the evening of one of those autumn days of Umbria, so soft and luminous,
when all nature seems to retire into herself to sing her own hymn of
love to Brother Sun?

We see that Francis has come to that almost entire cessation of pain,
that renewing of life, which so often precedes the approach of the last
catastrophe.

He took advantage of it to dictate his Will.[2]

It is to these pages that we must go to find the true note for a sketch
of the life of its author, and an idea of the Order as it was in his
dreams.

In this record, which is of an incontestable authenticity, the most
solemn manifestation of his thought, the Poverello reveals himself
absolutely, with a virginal candor.

His humility is here of a sincerity which strikes one with awe; it is
absolute, though no one could dream that it was exaggerated. And yet,
wherever his mission is concerned, he speaks with tranquil and serene
assurance. Is he not an ambassador of God? Does he not hold his message
from Christ himself? The genesis of his thought here shows itself to be
at once wh