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Saint Francis, by the same measure each was clothed in darkness or light.
17 Brother John was shining with light more than all who were on the tree.a He was entirely turned toward contemplating the abyss of the true light; and he realized that a great, strong whirlwind was about to rise up against the tree.b Leaving the very great height of the branch on which he was standing, and leaving the other branches behind, he hid himself on the more solid place of the tree's trunk. And while he was directing his attention to himself, Brother Bonaventure, who had ascended to the place from which Brother John had descended and had drunk part and poured out part of the chalice given to him,c was given sharp iron fingernails like sharp-edged razors for cutting hair.d Brother Bonaventure, moving from his place, wanted to make an attack on Brother John. But Brother John, seeing this, shouted to the Lord, and at the shout of Brother John Christ called Saint Francis, and gave him a very sharp stone called a flint, and ordered him: "Go, and cut on the living stone Brother Bonaventure's nails, with which he wants to tear Brother John to pieces, so that he cannot hurt him." Saint Francis went and cut Brother Bonaventure's iron nails, and Brother John stayed in his place shining like the sun.e
23 After this a raging storm arose and rushed upon the tree and the brothers began to fall from it. The first to fall from the tree were those who poured out all of the spirit of life. But Brother John and those who had drunk all of the spirit of life were transported by divine power to the realm of life, light, and splendor. Those falling who were darkened were carried off by the ministers of darkness to places of darkness and misery.
25 He who saw this vision understood in detail all that he was seeing, so he clearly distinguished and firmly remembered the names,
- The image of John of Parma sitting on the tree of the Order is prominent in HTrb IV 174.
- In HTrb IV, Angelo Clareno presents four reasons for the persecution of John of Parma, that is, the unfolding of the Fourth Tribulation of the Order: abuses against the Rule, Joachimism, sermons written by certain brothers that were Joachimistic, and, more spiritually, the plan of God. Thus, John, a champion of the Spirituals, is presented in this most positive light to contrast the "darkness" of Bonaventure.
- Ugolino's portrait of Bonaventure is strongly influenced by Angelo Clareno. Angelo's HTrb III concludes with the statement that after he had become general minister, "the fourth tribulation began," on February 2, 1257 when at the Chapter of Rome John of Parma resigned and nominated Bonaventure of Bagnoreggio to take his place. What follows is suspect because of its prejudicial sources.
- Jacques Cambell discovered earlier texts in which Francis himself had the "fingernails like sharp edged razors" in order to defend his brothers' souls. Cf. Jacques Cambell, "Glanes franciscaines Deux Manuscrits de la Compilation Venitienee," Franziskanische Studien 49 (1967), 341.
- John of Parma went to Greccio where he stayed until 1289 prior to his death. He died in Camerino on March 19, 1289, and is buried there in the church of San Francesco. He was beatified in 1781.