Saint iFvanci.a oC 'JXmini. 35 



Bernard." Then Brother Bernard went and 

 ftood by his left hand ; and Saint Francis 

 ftretching forth his arms in the form of 

 a Crofs, laid his right hand upon the 

 head of Brother Bernard and his left hand 

 upon the head of that fame Brother Elias, 

 and faid to Brother Bernard : " May God 

 the Father and Our Lord Jefus Chrift blefs 

 thee with every fpiritual bleffmg, and may 

 Chrift grant thee all celeftial bleffings, even 

 as thou art the Firftborn, chofen into this 

 Holy Order to give a godly example, to 

 follow Chrift in Chriftian poverty ; inaf- 

 much as thou haft given not only all that 

 which was thine, dividing it wholly and 

 freely among the poor for the love of 

 Chrift, but alfo haft given thyfelf a free-will 

 offering unto God in this Order, a facrifice 

 pleafing in His fight. Receive, therefore, 

 the bleffingof Our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of 

 me. His poor fervant, bleffings everlafting, 

 whether walking, ftanding, waking, fleep- 

 ing, living, or dying ; and all who fliall 

 blefs thee fliall themfelves be filled with 

 bleffing. They who curfe thee fhall not 

 go unpunifhed. Thou art chief among all 

 thy Brethren, and all the Brothers (hall bow 

 to thy will. Thou haft my leave to receive 



into 



