Solet annuere
The Bull of the Lord Pope Honorius III
on the Rule of the Friars Minor
November 29, 1223 A. D.
Honorius
Bishop, Servant of the servants of God,
to our beloved sons, Friar Francis
and the other friars of the Order of the Friars Minor,
greetings and apostolic Benediction:
The Apostolic See is accustomed to grant the pious wishes and the upright
desires of those petitioning to share in her benevolent favor. Wherefore,
beloved sons in the Lord, having yielded to your pious entreaties, We confirm by
Our apostolic authority the Rule of your Order, approved by Our precedessor,
Pope Innocent, of good memory, quoted herein, and We thoroughly fortify with the
partronage of this present writing that, which is as follows:
Chapter I
In the name of the Lord begins the life of the Friars Minor.
The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the Holy
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by living in obedience, without anything of
one's own, and in chastity.
Friar Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius and his
canonically elected successors, and to the Roman Church; and the other friars
are bound to obey Friar Francis and his successors.
Chapter II
Concerning those who wish to adopt this life, and how they should be received.
If any would desire to adopt this life and would come to our brothers, let them
send them to their Ministers provincial, to whom alone, and not to others, is
the permission to receive friars conceded. Let the ministers indeed examine them
diligently concerning the Catholic Faith and the sacraments of the Church.
And if they believe these things and want to observe them faithfully and firmly
unto the end, and they have no wives or, if they do, their wives have already
entered a monastery, or having taken a vow of continence, permission [to enter
one] has been granted to them by authority of the bishop of the diocese, and the
wives are of such an age that suspicion cannot arise concerning them, let them
say unto these the word of the Holy Gospel (cf Mt 19:21), that they should go
and sell all that is their own and strive to give it to the poor. But if they
cannot do this, a good will suffices for them.
And let the friars and their ministers beware, lest they be sollicitous
concering their temporal things, so that they may freely do with their own
things, whatever the Lord will have inspired them. If however counsel is
required, let the ministers have permission to send them to other God fearing
men, by whose counsel their goods may be spent [erogentur] on the poor.
Afterwards let them grant them the clothes of probation, that is, two tunics
without a capuche, a cord [cingulum] , breeches, and a caparone [extending] to
the cord, unless it seems to the same ministers [that it should be] otherwise
according to God. Having truly finished the year of probation, let them be
received to obedience, promising to observe always this life and Rule.
And in no manner will it be licit for them to go forth from this religious
institute [de ista religione exire], according to the command of the Lord Pope,
because according to the Holy Gospel "No one putting hand to the plow and
turning back is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Lk 9:62)
And let those who have already promised obedience have a tunic with a capuche,
and if they wish to have it, another without a capuche. And let those who are
driven by necessity be able to wear footwear. And let all the friars wear cheep
clothing and be able to patch these with sack-cloth and other pieces with the
blessing of God. I warn and exhort them, not to despise nor judge men, whom they
see clothed with soft and colored clothes, using danty food and drink, but
rather let each one judge and despise his very self.
Chapter III
Concerning the divine office and fasting; and in what manner the brothers ought
to go through the world.
Clerics are to perform [faciant] the divine office according to the Ordo of the
Holy Roman Church, except for the psalter, for which they can have beviaries.
Let the laymen indeed say twenty-four "Our Fathers" for matins; for lauds five ;
for prime, terce, sext and none, for each of these seven, for vespers, however,
twelve; for compline seven; and let them pray for the dead.
And let them fast from the Feast of All saints until Christmas. Indeed may those
who voluntaritly fast the holy lent, which begins at Ephiphany and for the forty
days that follow, which the Lord consecrated with His own holy fast, be blessed
by the Lord, and let those who do not wish [to do so] not be constrained. But
let them fast the other [lent] until the [day of the] Resurrection of the Lord.
At other times however they are not bound to fast, except on fridays. Indeed in
time of manifest necessity the friars are not bound to the corporal fast.
Indeed, I counsel, warn and exhort my friars in the Lord Jesus Christ, that when
they go about through the world, they are not to quarrel nor contend in words (cf
2 Tim 2:14), nor are they to judge others, but they are to be meek, peacible and
modest, meek and humble, speaking uprightly to all, as is fitting. And they
should not ride horseback, unless they are driven [to do so] by manifest
necessity or infirmity.
Into whatever house they may enter, first let them say: "Peace to this house." (cf
Lk 10:5) And according to the Holy Gospel it is lawful to eat of any of the
foods, which are placed before them. (cf Lk 10:8)
Chapter IV
That the brothers should not receive money.
I firmly command all the friars, that in no manner are they to receive coins or
money through themselves or through an interposed person. However for the
necessities of the infirm and for the clothing of the other friars, only the
ministers and the custodes are to conduct a sollicitous care, by means of
spiritual friends, according to places and seasons and cold regions, as they see
expedites necessity; with this always preserved, that, as has been said, they do
not receive coins nor money.
Chapter V
On the manner of working.
Let those friars, to whom the Lord gives the grace to work, work faithfully and
devotedly, in such a way that, having excluded idleness, the enemy of the soul,
they do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, which all other
temporal things should serve zealously [deservire]. Indeed concerning the wages
of labor, let them receive for themselves and for their friars what is for the
necessity of the body, except coins or money, and this [they should do] humbly,
as befits the servants of God and the followers of most holy poverty.
Chapter VI
That the Friars are to appropriate nothing for themselves, and concerning the
begging of alms and sick friars.
Let the Friars appropriate nothing for themselves, neither house nor place, nor
any thing. And as pilgrims and exiles (cf 1 Pt 2:11) in this age let them go
about for alms confidently, as ones serving the Lord in poverty and humility,
nor is it proper that they be ashamed [to do so], since the Lord made Himself
poor in this world (cf 2 Cor 8:9) for us. This is that loftiness of most high
poverty, which has established you, my most dear Friars, as heirs and kings of
the Kingdom of Heaven, making you poor in things, it has raised you high in
virtues (cf Jm 2:5). Let this be your "portion", which leads you "into the land
of the living" (cfr Ps 141,6). Cleaving totally to this, most beloved Friars,
may you want to have nothing other under heaven in perpetuity, for the [sake of]
the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
And, wherever the friars are and find themselves, let them mutually show
themselves to be among their family members. And let them without fear manifest
to one another their own need, since, if a mother nourishes and loves her own
son (cf 1 Th 2:7) according to the flesh, how much more diligently should he
love and nourish his own spiritual brother?
And, if any of them should fall into infirmity, the other friars should care for
him, as they would want to be cared for themselves.
Chapter VII
On the penance to be imposed on Friars who are sinning.
If any of the friars, at the instigation of the enemy, should sin mortally, for
those sins, concerning which it has be ordained among the friars, that one have
recourse to the Ministers provincial alone, the aforesaid friars are bound to
have recourse to them as soon as they can, without delay. Indeed let the
Ministers themselves, if they are priests, with mercy enjoin upon them a
penance; if indeed they are not priests, let them have it enjoined by other
priests of the order, as it will seem to them to better expedite [the matter]
according to God. And they should beware, not to grow angry and be distressed on
account of the sin of another, since anger and distress impede charity in
themselves and in others.
Chapter VIII
On the election of the Minister general of this fraternity; and on the Chapter
at Pentecost.
All the friars are bound to have always one of the friars of this very same
religion as Minister general and servant of the whole fraternity and they are
bound firmly to obey him. When he dies, let an election of a successor be made
by the Ministers provincials and the custodes in the Pentecost Chapter, in which
the ministers provincial are bound to convene at once [or at the same time],
wherever it will have been determined by the minister general; and this once
every three years or at another interval greater or less, as it will have been
ordained by the aforesaid minister.
And if at any time it may appear to all the Ministers provincial and to the
custodes, that the aforesaid minister is not sufficient for the service and
common utility of the friars, the aforesaid friars, to whom the electing has
been given, are bound in the Name of the Lord to choose another another as their
guard [in custodem]. Indeed, after the Pentecost Chapter, let the ministers and
custodes each be able, if they want and if it will seem to be expedient for
them, once in the same year to call their friars together in chapter in their
own custodies.
Chapter IX
On preachers.
Le the friars not preach in the diocese of any bishop, when he has spoken
against their [preaching]. And let no friar at all [penitus] dare preach to the
people, unless he will have been examined by the minister general of this
fraternity and approved, and there be conceded to him by the same the office of
preaching.
I also warn and exhort these same friars, that in preaching, that they do, their
expressions be considered and chaste (cf Ps 11:7; 17:21), for [sake of] the
utility and edification of the people, by announcing to them vices and virtues,
punishment and glory with brevity of speech; since a brief word did the Lord
speak upon the earth. (cf Rom 9:28)
Chapter X
On the admonition and correction of the friars.
Let the friars, who are ministers and servants of the other friars, visit and
warn their friars and humbly and charitably correct them, not commanding them
anything which is contrary to their soul and our Rule. Indeed let the friars,
who are subjects, remember, that for the sake of God they have renounced their
own wills. Whence I firmly command them, to obey thier ministers in all things
which they have promised the Lord to observe and which are not contrary to their
soul or to our Rule. And wherever the friars are, who know and understand, that
they themselves are not able to observe the rule spiritually, they should and
can have recourse to their ministers. Indeed let the ministers receive them
charitably and kindly and be so familiar with them, that they can speak to them
and act as lords with their servants; for so it should be, because the ministers
are the servants of all the friars.
Indeed I warn and exhort the friars in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they beware
of all pride, vain glory, envy, avarice (cf Lk 12:15), care and sollicitude for
this age, detraction and murmuring, and that those who are ignorant of letters
not care to learn letters; but let them strive, so that above all things they
should desire to have the Spirit of the Lord and His holy operation, to pray
always to Him with a pure heart and to have humility, [and] patience in
persecution and in infirmity, and to love those who persecute and correct and
accuse us, because the Lord says, "Love your enemies, pray for those who
persecute and calumniate you" (Mt. 5:44). "Blessed are those who suffer
persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:10).
"He who has persevered until the end, however, will be saved" (Mt. 10:22).
Chapter XI
That the brothers should not enter the monasteries of nuns.
I frimly command all the brothers not to have suspicious company or conversation
with women, and not to enter the monasteries of nuns, except those [friars] to
whom special permission has been conceded by the Apostolic See; neither are they
to be godfathers of men or women [so that] scandal may not arise on this account
among the friars nor concerning them.
Chapter XII
Concerning those going among the Saracens and other infidels.
Let whoever of the friars who by divine inspiration wants to go among the
saracens and other infidels seek permission for that reason from thier minister
provincial. Indeed the ministers are to grant permission to go to none, except
those whom seems to be fit to be sent.
For which sake I enjoin the ministers by obedience, to seek from the Lord Pope
one of the cardinals of the Roman Church, who is to be the govenor, protector,
and corrector of this fraternity, so that always subject and prostrate at the
feet of this same Holy Church, stable in the Catholic Faith (cf Col 1:23) we may
observe, what we have firmly promised: the poverty and humility and the Holy
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Confirmation of the Rule
Let it not be in any way licit to anyone among men to infringe this page of our
confirmation, or to contravene it with rash daring. If anyone however would
presume to attempt this, let him know himself to have incurred the indignation
of the Omnipotent God and of Blessed Peter and Paul, His Apostles.
Given at the Lateran, on the third day of the Kalens of December, in the eight
year of Our Pontificate.
This translation has been released to the public domain by its author.
Left most text pertains to the Papal Bull, Solet Annuere, which confirmed the
Rule of St. Francis on Nov 29 1223 A.D. The red text did not form part of the
original. This translation has been made from the latin text found in Fr. K.
Esser's critical edition of the Writings of St. Francis.