Saint Clare Of Assisi
Subtitle: Her Life And Legislation
Publisher: London, Toronto, J.M. Dent & Sons; New York, E.P. Dutton & Co.
Published: 1914
Language: eng
Number of pages: 305
Table of contents: title: CONTENTS; title: PART I; title: The Life of Saint Clare; title: CHAPTER I; title: Of Saint Clare's kinsfolk : the testimony of contemporary witnesses — Celano, the author of the Legenda Sanctae Clarae, Alexander IV, in the bull of canonization and in the primitive office, Cardinal Ugolino. What later mediaeval writers say — the author of the Chronicle of the Twenty-four Generals, Marianus of Florence, Pietro Rodolfi of Tossignano. Concerning the fables of Wedding and of his disciples ancient and modern . pp. i-io; title: CHAPTER II; title: Of certain noteworthy dates according to contemporary evidence : Saint Clare died on the nth of August, 1253. She began to reside at Saint Damian's in the summer of 121 1. She renounced the world earlier in the same year— on the night of Palm Sunday. She was in all probability born in 1193 pp. 11-13; title: CHAPTER III; title: Concerning the moral complexion of Christendom at the opening of the twelve hundreds. Of the cocjgfe in God's field and of the wheat; of the good work of philanthropic associations the Hospitalers of Saint Anthony, the Crutched Friars, the Noble Order of Fontevrault, Saint Norbert's White Canons, Beguines and Beghards, the Umiliati. Of the flourishing condition of the contemplative orders when Saint Francis began to preach, and of some great mystics who were likewise men of the world pp. 14-32; title: CHAPTER IV; title: Of Saint Clare's home life. Dearth of evidence concerning her childhood : Celano the only contemporary witness ; what he says. His account of her conversion to religion, wherein he contradicts himself inadvertently. His second statement corroborated by Alexander IV, Fra Salimbene and Saint Bonaventure, viz. mat Saint Clare determined to renounce the world not before, as he says in his first statement, but after she had met Saint Francis and at his suggestion. Of the cause of Celano's slip. Under what circumstances Saint Clare made the acquaintance of Saint Francis; why she wished "to see and to hear him," and why he wished her to take the veil. Of the complexity of his character and of the motives which inspired him to found a community of cloistered nuns . . pp. 33-42; title: CHAPTER V; title: Of Saint Clare's farewell to the world, according to Celano. Abridged English version. The complete Latin text. Some notes on persons and places referred to therein : Guido of Assisi, the Porziuncola, the Church of Saint Paul and the Benedictine nuns who dwelt there. Celano's strange story concerning one of them. Pope Alexander IV and Salimbene's appreciation of him. The Benedictine church and community of Saint Angelo di Panzo ; these nuns become Poor Ladies and amalgamate with the nuns of Santa Chiara. Concerning the incident of the closed door. The dramatic details of Saint Clare's farewell not fortuitous, but expressly devised by Saint Francis . pp. 43-51; title: CHAPTER VI; title: Of Pope Alexander's account of Saint Clare's farewell to the world : wherein it differs from Celano's. The Latin text. Concerning two facts therein related which are not mentioned by Celano. Reasons for thinking that Saint Clare's profession was perfectly regular. Alexander's story of the meeting of Saint Clare with her kinsfolk not the same as Celano's, and probably more trustworthy. Unlike Celano, Alexander says nothing of Saint Clare's migration to a second church. The testimony of Saint Clare's will concerning this matter. Alexander refrains from identifying alike the place of Saint Clare's profession and the place in which she afterwards took refuge. Wherefore pp. 52-56; title: CHAPTER VII; title: Of the quarrel about the making of the rule of the Friars Minor. Concerning the cause of the quarrel; and of the belligerents and their first leaders. How both sides endeavoured during Saint Francis's lifetime to obtain his support, and said after his death that their views had been his. How the Zelanti superiors, whom Saint Francis had left in charge during his absence in the East, increased the rigour of the rule and vexed the order throughout Italy with "insolent innovations," and how, warned by a secret messenger, Saint Francis returned in haste and arrived just in time to prevent a schism. How, broken in health and half blind, he named a coadjutor : one Peter Catani, a man of moderate views; and how with his help and the help of Elias and Brother Caesar of Spires he set his house in order. Some biographical notes concerning these men. Of Brother Peter's death six months after his nomination, and how his mantle fell on Elias of Cortona. Of the opinion that this appointment was dictated by Ugolino. Concerning the rule that Saint Francis made on his return from the Levant, in what it differed from the old rule, and how the " spiritual brethren" groaned at the mildness of it. How Saint Francis fell under the influence of Brother Leo, and how this man compelled him to make a new rule so strict that all his officers with one accord repudiated it. How Saint Francis stiffened his neck and refused to change one jot or tittle, and how at last, through the good offices of Cardinal Ugolino, a compromise was effected: the rule as we have it to-day pp. 57-09; title: CHAPTER VIII; title: Ugolino's compromise in respect to the rule fails to give satisfaction to any of the parties concerned. The strife between the sons of Saint Francis breaks out more fiercely than ever immediately after his death. Wherefore. Of Brother Leo's rebellion and the whipping which Brother Elias caused to be administered to him in consequence. Of the three earliest accounts that have come down to us of this affair. Of Brother Elias 's defence when later on he was accused of breaking the rule. His statement that he had the Pope's authority for all that he did in the matter of the Sacro Convento, shown to be true by Pope Gregory's own letters. An examination of these documents and of another still more important. The complete Latin text of it. Some notes on the interesting information contained in these old papers pp. 70-80; title: CHAPTER IX; title: Of John Parenti's election. Some notes concerning him. Of his fondness and his unpopularity, and how he was forced to resign, low Elias, in spite of his reluctance, was compelled to take office. How he realized the good expectations of his friends and the evil forebodings of his enemies. Of his failure to convert the spiritual men and his success in coercing them. Of the Seraphic Mother's friendship for him, and her approval of his methods of government. Celano's story concerning her in this connection. Of the restiveness of the spiritual men after Elias 's fall, and the ill-treatment which they experienced under some of his successors. How they at last obtained a general to their liking, although he was not of them : Brother John of Parma. Some notes concerning him and concerning the members of his council. Of his goodness, his brilliant abilities and his attractive personality. How Innocent IV loved him, and desired to make him a cardinal. How, accused of heresy, he was compelled to resign office, but saved from condemnation by his friend, Cardinal Fieschi. How, later on, he was offered a cardinal's hat. Of his friendship with John XXI, Nicholas IV and Cardinal Giacomo Colonna. Of two great birds who nested under his writing-table; and how an angel served his Mass when his acolyte overslept himself  pp. 81-100; title: CHAPTER X; title: A chapter of odds and ends. Celano's story of Saint Clare and the Saracens. Reasons for thinking that it is historical. The legend of the Porziuncola repast not related by Celano, nor by any other contemporary writer, and is in contradiction with his evidence and with the evidence of Alexander IV. Latin text of the earliest known version of this tale. It perhaps originally formed part of a polemical pamphlet in support of the nuns' contention that the Friars were bound to serve them, and which they denied. The similar legend concerning Saint Benedict and his sister according to the flesh. Celano's account of the passing of Saint Clare pp. 101-114; title: PART II; title: Of the Rules observed by the Poor Ladies of the Order of Saint Damian during the Lifetime of St. Clare; title: Introduction p. 115; title: CHAPTER I; title: Of the importance of the letter addressed by Gregory IX on the 9th of May, 1238, to Blessed Agnes of Prague, by reason of the information therein contained concerning the Primitive Rule and the Ugolino Rule. Some notes on Blessed Agnes : of her betrothal to Frederick II and how the contract was cancelled; how, moved thereto by the Friars Minor, she put on the Franciscan habit, and how not a few of her friends followed her example; of the convent of Poor Ladies which her brother, King Wenceslaus, founded at Prague. Of the Supreme Pontiff's approval, and how Agnes was named abbess. Of Brother John of Piano-Carpine, the nuns' director. Of the hospital which Agnes founded before she entered religion, and how it was richly endowed by Constance, Queen of Bohemia and Premislaus, Lord of Moravia. How the rope bestowed the whole of this wealth on Agnes and her sisters, and how they exchanged it three years later for a "Privilege of Poverty." How the Pope forthwith restored their estates to the hospital folk, and at their own request, and with Agnes's approval, gave them for spiritual guides Dominicans instead of Franciscans. An inquiry as to the motives which inspired this change of direction. How Blessed Agnes resigned office, but later on resumed the reins of government. Of the high esteem in which she was held within and without the cloister. Of her objection to the Ugolino Rule, and of two unsuccessful attempts she made to exchange it for a Rule of her own making . . pp. 116-132; title: CHAPTER II; title: Of the Primitive Rule. Ugolino's testimony in the bull Angelis gaudium. The testimony of Saint Clare in her own Rule and in one of her letters to Blessed Agnes of Prague. When did the Seraphic Father gfive the Primitive Rule? What Saint Clare says in this connection, and Alexander IV and Celano. Did the Primitive Rule consist of the Benedictine Rule with special constitutions? Reasons for thinking that such was the case. Some notes on Saint Francis's relations with the Black Order. Summary pp. 133-148; title: CHAPTER III; title: Of the making of the Ugolino Rule. Pope Gregory's evidence concerning this matter in the bull Angelis gaudium. Some notes on the same. Reasons for thinking that Saint Francis assisted him to draw up the Rule. What Philip of Perugia says. Latin text of his evidence. Saint Francis accepts the Rule, but is exceedingly loath to do so. Wherefore. Of the intolerable harshness of this unfortunate piece of legislation, and how Innocent IV and Clement IV denounced it in consequence. Neither Ugolino nor Saint Francis, but Saint Clare herself the cause of the severity complained of. A curious letter addressed to her by Ugolino. How she ruined her health by her excessive austerities, and afterwards counselled prudence. Of the successful attempt she made to remedy Ugolino 's lack of precision in the matter of Sublime Poverty pp. 149- 161; title: CHAPTER IV; title: Concerning Sublime Poverty. Were the privileges of exemption, which Ugolino granted in virtue of the powers conferred on him by Honorius III in his letter, Litter ae tuae, made conditional on the due observance of evangelical poverty? Some preliminary observations concerning this question. Of the kind of Poverty which the Seraphic Mother desired her children to practise as shown by her own words in the sixth chapter of her Rule. Of the poverty of the Poor Ladies of San Severino in the days when Saint Francis himself was their spiritual superior, as attested by certain contemporary documents at present laid up in the cathedral archive chamber of that city pp. 162-174; title: CHAPTER V; title: Of the privileges of exemption conferred by Ugollno in virtue of the bull Lxtttrae tuae. Four have come down to us — viz. those granted to Florence, Perugia, Siena and Lucca. A detailed account of these documents and of the property held by the convents exempted at the time that they obtained their exemptions. In no case did it exceed the limits prescribed by Saint Clare. Of the tribute of gold, why it was imposed and why it was afterwards remitted. How the Poor Ladies were compelled to abandon the observance of Sublime Poverty. Of the numerous Mendicant Orders founded in the middle of the twelve hundreds, and especially of the Friars Apostolic. Conclusions. pp. 175-190; title: CHAPTER VI; title: Of the text of the Ugolino Rule. Two copies have come down to us : one written by Ugolino himself in 1239, the other promulgated by Innocent IV in 1245. These versions differ slightly, and probably neither of them is identical with the original version, which seems to have been more rigid. Of Ugohno's alleged declaration that the Poor Ladies were not bound to observe the Benedictine Rule, save only so far as concerned Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Wherein the version of 1239 differs from the version of 1245. A brief summary of the articles of the Ugolino statutes. Some notes concerning them and some quotations pp. 191-203; title: CHAPTER VII; title: Of the relations between the friars and the Poor Ladies in Ugolino day. Celano's testimony and Saint Clare's, and the testimony of official papers. Of brother Philip of Adria, the first Visitor- General. Of Saint Clare's love of sermons. A most important footnote pp. 204-209; title: CHAPTER VIII; title: An extraordinary anecdote of Celano's touching the subject dealt with in the last chapter. Reasons for thinking that he heard it from Saint Clare herself, but did not note it down exactly as she related it Of the quarrel between the sisters and the brethren in the days of several popes pp.210-216; title: CHAPTER IX; title: Of certain diplomatic documents which throw light on Celano's strange story concerning Saint Clare's dismissal of the friars attached to her service — namely, Honorius's letter to Brother Francis and the other brethren of the Order of Minors of November 29, 1223 ; Gregory's letter to the minister-general and the provincial ministers of September 28, 1230 ; Pope Innocent's letter to the same of November 14, 1245 ; Gregory's letter to John Parenti of December 14, 1227; an undated letter from the same pontiff to the Abbess Clare and her nuns at Saint Damian's by Assisi; Pope Gregory's letters to all abbesses and sisters of the Order of Saint Damian of February 9, 1237, and May 31, 124 1. pp. 217-231; title: CHAPTER X; title: Of the death and burial of Gregory IX and the tardy election of Innocent IV in the stronghold of Anagni. Some notes concerning this Pontiff, and his kindly and intimate relations with the children of Saint Francis. Of his visits to the Seraphic Mother, and how he attended her funeral. Of his vain endeavours to heal their disputes, and of the difficulties which he encountered in his no less futile efforts to disentangle the complicated affairs of the Poor Enclosed Ladies pp. 232-246; title: CHAPTER XI; title: A description of the Rule of Pope Innocent IV, with some quotations from and notes on the text How it came about that the Poor Ladies for the most part refused to observe it . . pp. 247-257; title: CHAPTER XII; title: Of Saint Clare's attitude in respect to the Rule of Innocent IV, and some notes concerning her so-called " Privileges of Poverty." pp. 258-271; title: CHAPTER XIII; title: Of the Rule of Saint Clare pp. 272-286; title: Appendix pp. 287-305