The cell was bigger than the previous one, but the pallet was the same as at Montesanpaolo. There was however a table, two stools, and in the angle a small shelf. On it Anthony saw, not without amazement, books.
Brother Elijah Bombarone was sitting on a stool and he was looking at Anthony who was sitting in front of him. Anthony could see how Elijah was pleased about him. He had a big and bold head. From his black eyes emanated energy and inflexibility. He had a strong and robust body. His phlegmatic movements followed by a sudden impulse were becoming lightning like those of a bird of prey.
"So, Friar, you have studied at the canonical regular?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Did you want to keep it hidden?"
"Nobody ever asked me. However amongst the Friars there was the talk about the contempt and aversion of those who were learned. I heard that even Friar Francis…"
"Eh!" Friar Elijah interrupted him.
"The friars talk about many things. They are fools and want to say that friar Francis is like them. Let’s not criticize Friar Francis. He is not like the others. He is allowed to behave differently…" the sharp voice of friar Elijah acquired an almost affectionate intonation. "But the order is different. It is a work that has a great future. And it is necessary to the church. We are living in new ages, in an age of great changing. The people are dominated by the greed of wealth, possession, and power. But at the same time, the people aspire for knowledge and science. Its possession is not bad in itself. Overdoing is what becomes a sin. With wealth one can do magnificent things. One can elevate a building to the glory of God. By building hospitals one can help better the needy better than giving them alms. And in order to make wise decisions it is necessary to use knowledge and science. What do you think?" he asked Anthony. Anthony reflected for a short while before he answered:
"I do not know..." he replied. "I have studied for eight years at the canonicals and I imagined that with my knowledge I would have been able to serve God better. But when I became Friar minor, it seemed to me that I had to renounce to all my knowledge and to serve with humility, in poverty of spirit and of body... Friar Francis said..."
He was interrupted with impatience.
"I told you that Francis is a Saint. The Saints are capable of seeing the most minuscule speck… But we need to understand in the right way the words of Francis. If these simpletons would achieve in their lives what Francis says, they would ruin the order. Already amongst them it is difficult to distinguish between our Friars and heretical sects which invite rebellion against the Church. It is not only my opinion. The protector or our order, the most reverend cardinal Ugolino, thinks this way as well. Knowledge is necessary to our Friars. Knowledge such as the one that you have Anthony. "
He cleared his throat and fell silent. Anthony kept quiet as well. Without having received a syllable of answer by Friar Anthony, Friar Elijah continued:
"In our order we multiplied and multiplied. We began just a few years ago and now we are thousands and thousands. You may have heards that Friar Guzman proposed to Francis to unite the two orders. Francis refused and he was rights. We can be superior to the order of the Dominican preachers by importance and capability of persuation. This could effectuate only is we have knowledge. The Dominicans, not only study at Universities, they have also founded their own athenaeum. There, the students learn the theological sciences. A few of our Friars studied there. Friar Peter Stacia, Friar Cattani, Friar John Parenti. I have also studied there for three years. Why shouldn`t have a similar University: A certain teacher of the law, named Accurse, told me that in order to be able to study there, he is able to forgo his house. The venerable cardinal Ugolino expressed his approval and his readiness to help us. Friar Francis is occupied with other things. He is writing a new rule for the order. And furthermore he has problems with his health. At the moment he is at the Carceri. He is losing his sight. With great problems, along with friar Caesar and friar Peter Cattani, we have been able to bring him back from the Holy Land…"
He stood up, the he went close to Anthony, he placed his hands on Anthony`s shoulders.
"Listen to me Friar. When I learned about your splendid sermon at Forli` I have thought right away that you can be useful to the order not as a Friar who runs from one village to the other and speak to ignorant farmers, but as a learned man who will educated our Friars making them the highest intellectuals of our times. I have decided: you will not go back to Montesanpaolo. It is not a job for you. In the future I see you in Bologna, at our university, that as soon as we can, with the help of God, we will open. And in the meantime, I have decided to send you to Rimini. Have you ever been there? "
"No. I have never been there."
"The whole city is dominated by an heretical sect, which proclaims that our Lord is not present in the Eucharist. They have many skilled preachers. In the city there are some of our Friars, but they are not able to oppose them. It seems that they are even afraid to show themselves, so strong and menacing are those heretics. I would like you to try your strengths in Rimini."
"I will do what you command me to do,
Friar. When do I have to go?"
"Have a rest in Assisi for a couple of days. Pray here, in the city in which was born our order. Recover your strengths. And then go. I bless you."
Friar Elijah made the sign of a cross on Anthony`s forehead who was kneeling at his feet."
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The cell was bigger than the previous one, but the pallet was the same as at Montesanpaolo. There was however a table, two stools, and in the angle a small shelf. On it Anthony saw, not without amazement, books.
Brother Elijah Bombarone was sitting on a stool and he was looking at Anthony who was sitting in front of him. Anthony could see how Elijah was pleased about him. He had a big and bold head. From his black eyes emanated energy and inflexibility. He had a strong and robust body. His phlegmatic movements followed by a sudden impulse were becoming lightning like those of a bird of prey.
"So, Friar, you have studied at the canonical regular?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Did you want to keep it hidden?"
"Nobody ever asked me. However amongst the Friars there was the talk about the contempt and aversion of those who were learned. I heard that even Friar Francis…"
"Eh!" Friar Elijah interrupted him.
"The friars talk about many things. They are fools and want to say that friar Francis is like them. Let’s not criticize Friar Francis. He is not like the others. He is allowed to behave differently…" the sharp voice of friar Elijah acquired an almost affectionate intonation. "But the order is different. It is a work that has a great future. And it is necessary to the church. We are living in new ages, in an age of great changing. The people are dominated by the greed of wealth, possession, and power. But at the same time, the people aspire for knowledge and science. Its possession is not bad in itself. Overdoing is what becomes a sin. With wealth one can do magnificent things. One can elevate a building to the glory of God. By building hospitals one can help better the needy better than giving them alms. And in order to make wise decisions it is necessary to use knowledge and science. What do you think?" he asked Anthony. Anthony reflected for a short while before he answered:
"I do not know..." he replied. "I have studied for eight years at the canonicals and I imagined that with my knowledge I would have been able to serve God better. But when I became Friar minor, it seemed to me that I had to renounce to all my knowledge and to serve with humility, in poverty of spirit and of body... Friar Francis said..."
He was interrupted with impatience.
"I told you that Francis is a Saint. The Saints are capable of seeing the most minuscule speck… But we need to understand in the right way the words of Francis. If these simpletons would achieve in their lives what Francis says, they would ruin the order. Already amongst them it is difficult to distinguish between our Friars and heretical sects which invite rebellion against the Church. It is not only my opinion. The protector or our order, the most reverend cardinal Ugolino, thinks this way as well. Knowledge is necessary to our Friars. Knowledge such as the one that you have Anthony. "
He cleared his throat and fell silent. Anthony kept quiet as well. Without having received a syllable of answer by Friar Anthony, Friar Elijah continued:
"In our order we multiplied and multiplied. We began just a few years ago and now we are thousands and thousands. You may have heards that Friar Guzman proposed to Francis to unite the two orders. Francis refused and he was rights. We can be superior to the order of the Dominican preachers by importance and capability of persuation. This could effectuate only is we have knowledge. The Dominicans, not only study at Universities, they have also founded their own athenaeum. There, the students learn the theological sciences. A few of our Friars studied there. Friar Peter Stacia, Friar Cattani, Friar John Parenti. I have also studied there for three years. Why shouldn`t have a similar University: A certain teacher of the law, named Accurse, told me that in order to be able to study there, he is able to forgo his house. The venerable cardinal Ugolino expressed his approval and his readiness to help us. Friar Francis is occupied with other things. He is writing a new rule for the order. And furthermore he has problems with his health. At the moment he is at the Carceri. He is losing his sight. With great problems, along with friar Caesar and friar Peter Cattani, we have been able to bring him back from the Holy Land…"
He stood up, the he went close to Anthony, he placed his hands on Anthony`s shoulders.
"Listen to me Friar. When I learned about your splendid sermon at Forli` I have thought right away that you can be useful to the order not as a Friar who runs from one village to the other and speak to ignorant farmers, but as a learned man who will educated our Friars making them the highest intellectuals of our times. I have decided: you will not go back to Montesanpaolo. It is not a job for you. In the future I see you in Bologna, at our university, that as soon as we can, with the help of God, we will open. And in the meantime, I have decided to send you to Rimini. Have you ever been there? "
"No. I have never been there."
"The whole city is dominated by an heretical sect, which proclaims that our Lord is not present in the Eucharist. They have many skilled preachers. In the city there are some of our Friars, but they are not able to oppose them. It seems that they are even afraid to show themselves, so strong and menacing are those heretics. I would like you to try your strengths in Rimini."
"I will do what you command me to do,
Friar. When do I have to go?"
"Have a rest in Assisi for a couple of days. Pray here, in the city in which was born our order. Recover your strengths. And then go. I bless you."
Friar Elijah made the sign of a cross on Anthony`s forehead who was kneeling at his feet."