Part 54 (1/2)

[69] _Il piu antico poema della vita di S. Francisco d'a.s.sisi scritto inanzi all' anno 1230 ora per la prima volta pubblicato et tradotto da Antonio Cristofani_, Prato, 1882, 1 vol., 8vo.

288 pp.

[70] Note, however, two articles of the Miscellanea, one on the ma.n.u.script of this biography which is found in the library at Versailles, t. iv. (1889), p. 34 ff.; the other on the author of the poem, t. v. (1890), pp. 2-4 and 74 ff.

[71] See below, p. 410.

[72] Vide Gla.s.sberger, ann. 1244; _a.n.a.lecta_, t. ii., p. 68. Cf.

A. SS., p. 545 ff.

[73] Ma.n.u.script in the Library of Turin, J. vi., 33, f^o 95a.

[74] _Plenam virtutibus S. Francisci vitam scripsit in Italia ... frater Thomas ... in Francia vero frater Julia.n.u.s scientia et sanct.i.tate conspicuus qui etiam nocturnali sancti officium in littera et cantu possuit praeter hymnos et aliquas antiphonas quae summus ipse Pontifex et aliqui de Cardinalibus in sancti praeconium ediderunt._ Opening of the _De laudibus_ of Bernard of Besse. See below, p. 413. Laur. MS., f^o 95a. Cf. Giord., 53; _Conform._, 75b.

[75] In proof of this is the circular letter, _Licet insufficentiam nostram_, addressed by Bonaventura, April 23, 1257, immediately after his election, to the provincials and custodes upon the reformation of the Order. Text: _Speculum_, Morin, tract. iii., f^o 213a.

[76] Salimbeni, ann. 1248, p. 131. The _Chronica tribulationum_ gives a long and dramatic account of these events: _Archiv._, t.

ii., pp. 283 ff. ”_Tunc enim sapientia et sanct.i.tas fratris Bonaventurae eclipsata paluit et obscurata est et ejus manswetudo (sic) ab agitante spiritu in furorum et iram defecit._” Ib., p.

283.

[77] Bon., 3. 1. At the same chapter were collected the const.i.tutions of the Order according to edicts of the preceding chapters; new ones were added to them and all were arranged. In the first of the twelve rubrics the chapter prescribed that, upon the publication of the account, all the old const.i.tutions should be destroyed. The text was published in the _Firmamentum trium ordinum_, f^o 7b, and restored lately by Father Ehrle: _Archiv._, t. vi. (1891), in his beautiful work _Die altesten Redactionen der General-const.i.tutionen des Franziskanerordens_.

Cf. _Speculum_ Morin, fo. 195b of tract. iii.

[78] The _Legenda Minor_ of Bonaventura was also approved at this time; it is simply an abridgment of the _Legenda Major_ arranged for use of the choir on the festival of St. Francis and its octave.

[79] ”_Item praecipit Generale capitulum per obedientiam quod omnes legenae de B. Francisco olim factae deleantur et ubi inveniri poterant extra ordinem ipsas fratres studeant amovere, c.u.m illa legenda quae facta est per Generalem sit compilata prout ipse habuit ab ore illorum qui c.u.m B. Francisco quasi semper fuerunt et cuncta cert.i.tudinaliter sciverint et probata ibi sint posita diligenter._” This precious text has been found and published by Father Rinaldi in his preface to the text of Celano: _Seraphici viri Francisci vitae duae_, p. xi. Wadding seems to have known of it, at least indirectly, for he says: ”_Utramque Historiam, longiorem et breviorem, obtulit (Bonaventura) triennio post in comitiis Pisanis patribus Ordinis, quas reverentur c.u.m gratiarum actione_, SUPRESSIS ALIIS QUIBUSQUE LEGENDIS, ADMISERUNT.” Ad ann., 1260, no. 18. Cf.

Ehrle, _Zeitschrift fur kath. Theol._, t. vii. (1883), p.

386.--”_Communicaverat sanctus Franciscus plurima sociis suis et fratribus antiquis, que oblivioni tradita sunt, tum quia que scripta erant in legenda prima, nova edita a fratre. Bonaventura deleta et destructa sunt_, IPSOJUBENTE _tum quia_ ...” _Chronica tribul._, _Archiv._, t. ii., p. 256.

[80] Bon., 188-204.

[81] Bon., 218.

[82] Bernardo (Bon., 28), Egidio (Bon., 29), and Silvestro (Bon., 30).

[83] Bon., 49.

[84] Bon., 112.

[85] Bon., 111.

[86] Vide Bon., 115; 99, etc. M. Thode has enumerated the stories relating especially to Bonaventura: (_Franz von a.s.sisi_, p. 535).