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The Second Book
HERE BEGINS THE SECOND BOOK REGARDING JUST TWO YEARS OF THE LIFE AND THE HAPPY DEATH OF OUR BLESSED FATHER FRANCIS
Chapter I
[THE CHARACTER OF THIS BOOK, THE TIME WHEN SAINT FRANCIS BLESSEDLY DIED, AND HIS ACHIEVEMENTS]a
88 In the previous book, which by the Savior’s grace we have brought to a fitting conclusion, we have written down the story of the life and deeds of our blessed father Francis up to the eighteenth year of his conversion. In this book, we shall add a brief account of his remaining deeds, beginning with the next to last year of his life, as we have been able to determine them. For now we intend to note only those things that seem more important so that those who wish to say more about them may always find something to add.
For in the one thousandth, two hundredth, and twenty-sixth year
of the Incarnation of the Lord,
in the fourteenth year of the indiction,b
on the fourth day before the Nones of October,c
a Sunday, our most blessed father Francis departed from the prison of the flesh
and soared to the dwellings of the heavenly spirits. This happened in the city of Assisi where he was born
at Saint Mary of the Portiuncula
where he first planted the Order of Lesser Brothers,
- In a number of manuscripts this explanatory heading is missing.
- An indiction was a recurring cycle of fifteen years and was spoken of as "a cycle of indiction." The number attached to it indicated the specific year within the cycle, as in this instance, the 14th year within the indiction. Thomas follows the Roman or Papal indiction according to which an indiction is determined by adding 3 to the year in question, that is, 1226 plus 3. The sum is then divided by 15. The number of the indiction, then, was 82 and within that 82nd cycle, it was the 14th year.
- Nones was the ninth day before the Ides, hence the fifth day of every month except for March, May, July and October, when it was the seventh; in this case, then, the fourth day before the Nones would be October 4. Since each day began at sunset, our modern calendar would consider it October 3.
Vita Prima, Fontes Franciscani, p. 363-364
OPUSCULUM SECUNDUM.
Incipit secundum opusculum de vita duorum annorum tantum, et de felici obitu beatissimi patris nostri Francisci.
Caput I
[De tenore huius opusculi, de tempore quo S. Franciscus feliciter obiit, et de profectibus ipsius].
88 1Superiore quidem tractatu, quem gratia Salvatoris congruo fine conclusimus, vitam et actus beatissimi patris nostri Francisci usque ad octavum decimum conversionis suae annum enarrando utcumque conscripsimus2Reliqua vero gesta ipsius a paenultimo vitae suae anno, prout potuimus recte scire, huic opusculo breviter adnectemus, et ea sola, quae necessario magis occurrunt, ad praesens intendimus adnotare, ut qui plus his dicere cupiunt, quid addant semper valeant invenire.
3Anno siquidem Dominicae Incarnationis
millesimo ducentesimo vicesimo sexto,
quarta decima indictione,
quarto nonas Octobris,
die dominico,
beatissimus pater noster Franciscus
in civitate Assisii,
de qua ortus est,
apud Sanctam Mariam de Portiuncula,
ubi ordinem fratrum Minorum ipse primo plantavit,
expletis viginti annis ex quo perfectissime adhaesit Christo,
Apostolorum vitam et vestigia sequens,
egressus de carnis ergastulo,
ad caelestium spirituum mansiones,
perfecte quae coepit consummans,
felicissime convolavit.