"I have no doubts that it was him who did it." said Parenti. "I know that he is in the city."
"But why would he have stolen the relics?"
"Perhaps he wants to have the assurance that the body will be transferred in the convent built by him. Many Friars are contrary to this..."
Anthony and Friar Parenti were sitting on a bench in front of the cathedral re-built after the recent fire. Just in that place once, when had burst the controversy among the Bishop and the Podesta` of Assisi, Francis had brought peace between them by singing in their presence the Chant of friar Sun. When he tuned along with the friars the words 'Laudato si, mi Signore, for those that forgive for your love and support illnesses and tribulations...' the Bishop and the Podesta` had hugged one another.
They had in front of them the work performed by Friar Elia: the Church and the Convent. On the mountain that dominated the city was elevated and enormous construction. It seemed a big cloud that was suspended over the roofs and would throw its shade on house, plazas, and little street. In front of the massive structure Assisi seemed to become benumbed and smaller. From the fresh walls emanated force and magnificence. The endless wall of arcade and of identical counterfort was loosing itself in the green. That didn’t seem to be only a convent and a church; those walls appeared as a fortress capable of defending itself from any struggle.
"What do you think of it, Friar?" asked the General of the order.
Anthony didn’t answer right away. He reflected for a moment.
"What do I think? May be you shouldn`t ask me, Friar... I am one of those who arrived by the end at the vineyard. Because of this, I look with so much admiration. But I know that Friar Leon, Friar Ginepro, Friar Matthew, Friar Rufino are crying... For them, this convent means the end of what has been. They believe that the work of Francis would have been buried under these walls similar to a flowerbed buried under a heap of stones."
"Yet, thanks to the work of Friar Elia, the thought of Francis will live for centuries..."
"Perhaps one should say, it will live in spite of this edifice..."
"Yet, it couldn’t be different. The law of the world is Death, the dissolving in ashes. Imagine, Friar Anthony, imagine if someone of our Friars would start again the work of Francis in miserable wooden huts. If his successor would not substitute these huts with buildings, all will turn into ashes..."
"If God wants it, the huts will remain. They will remain unharmed even if the earth trembled. Much
more important is man than the edifices. But even his work will live, even if he will die and even if his body will be devoured by fire, and the ashes will be lost in the wind, if God wants it. He is Lord of life as much as of death..."
They kept silent. The tepid sun of May skimmed delicately their foreheard, just as a mother’s hand caresses her son.
"He will have to give back the body." Parenti said.
"I am certain that he will do it, if you, Friar, will assure him that it will be transferred in the sepulchre that he has made."
"And if he, having the body and the convent, would demand to guide the order? Would that be the end of this abduction?"
"Only the Chapter will decide who will guide the order. You, Friar John, have been elected, and your election has been confirmed by the Holy Father."
"It is true. But that happened three years ago. The situation since then has changed. Friar Elijah has been able to convince many Friars about his projects. What can one say? The perspective of the greatness is attractive. In order to raise such a splendid building, one needs to renounce poverty."
"Francis didn’t ever want to renounce poverty. We are not allowed to renounce it either."
"Certainly. We have to defend this principle. But it won’t be easy.
The same Pontiff believes that the orders should be wealthy, so that they could erect splendid churches and have the money to perform the works of mercy."
"It is not easy to maintain poverty of a religious in a rich convent..."
"It is not easy. To be poor amidst richness is heroic. Because of this I fear for Friar Elijah. The magnificence of the convent by him raised exercises an influence on people. You know that the population of Assisi has not worried at all about the disappearance of the body. They are certain that it was Elijah, and that he did it, so that he could bring the body to the sepulchre with bigger ostentation. The city loves this kind of ceremonies."
"Ah, this being tied up to the earthly splendors! What a great revolutionary was Francis! Friar Elijah shouldn’t have acted this way. Yet, he too has his merits..."
"Are you defending him?"
"I try to value according to justice. I admire the building that he has raised, even if my heart remains at the Porziuncola, to the church of Saint Damiano... Even at the mountain of Verna... How I would like to go!"
"Go, as soon as the work of the Chapter will finish."
"I will go, seeing that you are giving me leave, Friar John."
The feasts finally arrived and the works of the Chapter started. From the very first day burst the storm. The majority of the participants demanded the presence of Friar Elijah. The shouts lasted till when Elijah appeared in the assembly. A roar of applauses and of shouts of exultation welcomed him. Parenti said:
"Welcome, Friar Elijah. Many Friars are demanding your presence. As you know, it was a desire of Friar Francis that any Friar minor take part to the Chapter. Because of this, between us, there is your place. Welcome. With the occasion, however, I want to ask you a question: as you know, the body of our Saint founder has disappeared from the sepulchre in the church of Saint George. Many suspect that it was you to give the order to bring it here. Please tell us the truth."
On the energetic face of Elijah appeared a disdainful smile.
"Yes,
Friar John" he affirmed with a sharp voice.
"It was me who gave the order to take the body. In accordance to the desire of the Pontiff, the body had to be moved to the sepulchre in the crypt of the new Church, that has been erected under my guide."
"So it has been in accordance to the will of the Pontiff. However the moving has to be done by all the Friars gathered at the Chapter..."
"The Pontiff gave me the order to move the body."
Elijah interrupted Parenti.
"I am the Minister General of the Order."
Amongst the assembly exploded some shouts:
"We do not consider you to be the Minister! Friar Elijah must be the Minister! Elijah Minister! We do not want Parenti!" Parenti raised up his hands.
"Silence Friars" he tried to calm the assembly. "Silence. You have appointed me. Does your shout mean that you want me to hand over the place to Elijah?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes.!" shouted some voices. "Friar Elijah Minister!"
But there were other voices in opposition:
"We do not want Elijah! Friar John has been elected and must remain Minister!"
In vain Parenti tried to keep silent the bystanders. The storm of the voice was growing in continuation, and in this storm his voice was fading. Hundreds of Friars sitting down in a semicircle on the ground has raised up. It was not enough to shout any longer. Here and there burst brawls. They started to push one another, to punch, to pull each other by their hoods, to hit with their ropes. There were faces full of blood. Someone had moved away to cut a big branch and armed by this kind of stick was coming back in the turmoil. The shouts and the noise were spreading all around. Some people recalled by the shouts were rushing in the direction of the Porziuncola to see what was happening.
"Down John! Elijah our Minister"
"Down Elijah! Down that Satan"
"Hit John!"
"Send away that thief!"
"Give back the body!"
"May Parenti be excommunicated by the Pope!"
"Humiliate yourself, servant of the Emperor!"
"Parenti heretic!"
"Elijah heretic!"
"Return to your Cortona!"
"Hit John!"
"Death to Elijah"
Suddenly the fight was dominated by a sonorous, magnificent voice. It was so strong that for a moment overcame the shouts.
"Stop, Friars! Come to your own senses! Silence!"
Anthony has climbed on a stool and had raised both arms up. Perhaps the vigor of his voice, perhaps the fame that surrounded him, of may be the fact that he was a different person from the adversaries, allowed silence to fall in and the brawl to cease.
"Friars" Anthony said. "We are in Francis favourite place. During his life nothing ever happened so scandalous like what I saw a moment ago. Be ashamed of yourselves. We have with our life to imitate the life of Christ, and what do we do? The population is rushing in from the city and looks at what we are doing. Beat your breast. Ask pardon to those whom you have hit. Dominate your anger…"
The charm of the words, of which he was a master, had its effect. The mass of the Friars, who were prey of anger, calmed down. Here and there they held each other hands. Easy to anger, they were also easy to forgive.
Anthony in the meantime continued to speak:
"We have come here so that we can solemnly bring the body of Francis in the new sepulchre, that Friar Elijah has prepared in the new Church. To these holy relics crowds and crowds of people thirst with holiness will arrive in pilgrimage. Friar Elijah has admitted to have taken the body and to have hid it away. We ask that he would return it so that we can place it in the sepulchre prepared for him."
"What he is saying is right. Agreed, agreed." it was heard.
"Elijah tell us where the body is hidden, and we will accompany it to the tomb."
"I agree" from the crowd raised the sharp voice of Elijah.
"I will return the body. But Parenti must go away."
"If all of you want it…" affirmed Friar John in front of the gathered crowd."
"Yes" exclaimed some.
"No" shouted others.
But the fury of before has extinguished.
"Friars" re-started Anthony "I will implore you: do not re-start the brawl. I propose that it be the Holy Father to decide who has to be the Minister. Now, in agreement, as demands the importance of the moment, let us occupy ourselves with the moving of the body, and then, tomorrow, I propose that Friar John and Friar Elia, accompanied by some Friars go to Rome. Let’s leave the decision to the Pontiff. Dear Friars, please take my advice. I am certain that Francis would have done like this…"
"Very well" said Elijah.
"Very well" echoed Parenti.
"Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ" exclaimed with relief Anthony. "Be glorified since he has granted us to stop such a terrible brawl. Forgive one another and then let`s ask Crist to forgive us…"
In order to come down from the stool on which he had climbed he had to support on the arms of some Frars. The strengths that had awaken so suddenly, had abandoned him once again. The body whose weight for a moment he had forgotten was oppressing him again. He was walking with fatigue on his trembling legs.
But in his soul he didn’t cease to thank God that had been the result of his words. "It wasn’t me, only You, only You" he kept on repeating in his soul. "Do not allow that not even for a moment I think in a different way. It is so easy to be proud of what is yours. It is so easy to forget that it is a talent given in custody. I am only a useless servant, I do only my duty..."
The body was hidden in a small Chapel. It was brought out, and firstly it was taken in the Church of Saint George. Then it moved in a procession towards the convent on the mountain. The Friars were bringing the coffin over their shoulders. The bells were ringing in all the Churches. The Bishop accompanied by the clergy guided the procession. And along the roads were hedging all the inhabitants of the city. All of them were there. The ones which were young when Francis started it all, now were mature men, the ones that were mature during Francis` golden youth, and the older ones, amongst them Francis` parents. All of which had been witnesess of the work of Francis. Every one was there. Now every one was talking about him with respect and were throwing flowers on the coffin. The prodigal son of Bernardone had become the glory of the city.
The works in the inner Church had not yet finished. The procession walked among the scaffolding. All raised with admiration the head to admire the arches of the vaults of the ceiling that were supported on the single spans of the big aisle. Then the procession descended in the crypt. The sepulchre had the form of a big severe pillar that seemed to support the whole building. Under that pillar was placed the coffin…
"We are witness of a decisive moment," thought Anthony. "The old has welded to the new. The solar legend of the vagabond in love of poverty has generated the stump which will generate new branches in the years to come…"
Chapter 33
The feasts finally arrived and the works of the Chapter started. From the very first day burst the storm. The majority of the participants demanded the presence of Friar Elijah. The shouts lasted till when Elijah appeared in the assembly. A roar of applauses and of shouts of exultation welcomed him. Parenti said:
Chapter 33
"I have no doubts that it was him who did it." said Parenti. "I know that he is in the city."
"But why would he have stolen the relics?"
"Perhaps he wants to have the assurance that the body will be transferred in the convent built by him. Many Friars are contrary to this..."
Anthony and Friar Parenti were sitting on a bench in front of the cathedral re-built after the recent fire. Just in that place once, when had burst the controversy among the Bishop and the Podesta` of Assisi, Francis had brought peace between them by singing in their presence the Chant of friar Sun. When he tuned along with the friars the words 'Laudato si, mi Signore, for those that forgive for your love and support illnesses and tribulations...' the Bishop and the Podesta` had hugged one another.
They had in front of them the work performed by Friar Elia: the Church and the Convent. On the mountain that dominated the city was elevated and enormous construction. It seemed a big cloud that was suspended over the roofs and would throw its shade on house, plazas, and little street. In front of the massive structure Assisi seemed to become benumbed and smaller. From the fresh walls emanated force and magnificence. The endless wall of arcade and of identical counterfort was loosing itself in the green. That didn’t seem to be only a convent and a church; those walls appeared as a fortress capable of defending itself from any struggle.
"What do you think of it, Friar?" asked the General of the order.
Anthony didn’t answer right away. He reflected for a moment.
"What do I think? May be you shouldn`t ask me, Friar... I am one of those who arrived by the end at the vineyard. Because of this, I look with so much admiration. But I know that Friar Leon, Friar Ginepro, Friar Matthew, Friar Rufino are crying... For them, this convent means the end of what has been. They believe that the work of Francis would have been buried under these walls similar to a flowerbed buried under a heap of stones."
"Yet, thanks to the work of Friar Elia, the thought of Francis will live for centuries..."
"Perhaps one should say, it will live in spite of this edifice..."
"Yet, it couldn’t be different. The law of the world is Death, the dissolving in ashes. Imagine, Friar Anthony, imagine if someone of our Friars would start again the work of Francis in miserable wooden huts. If his successor would not substitute these huts with buildings, all will turn into ashes..."
"If God wants it, the huts will remain. They will remain unharmed even if the earth trembled. Much
more important is man than the edifices. But even his work will live, even if he will die and even if his body will be devoured by fire, and the ashes will be lost in the wind, if God wants it. He is Lord of life as much as of death..."
They kept silent. The tepid sun of May skimmed delicately their foreheard, just as a mother’s hand caresses her son.
"He will have to give back the body." Parenti said.
"I am certain that he will do it, if you, Friar, will assure him that it will be transferred in the sepulchre that he has made."
"And if he, having the body and the convent, would demand to guide the order? Would that be the end of this abduction?"
"Only the Chapter will decide who will guide the order. You, Friar John, have been elected, and your election has been confirmed by the Holy Father."
"It is true. But that happened three years ago. The situation since then has changed. Friar Elijah has been able to convince many Friars about his projects. What can one say? The perspective of the greatness is attractive. In order to raise such a splendid building, one needs to renounce poverty."
"Francis didn’t ever want to renounce poverty. We are not allowed to renounce it either."
"Certainly. We have to defend this principle. But it won’t be easy.
The same Pontiff believes that the orders should be wealthy, so that they could erect splendid churches and have the money to perform the works of mercy."
"It is not easy to maintain poverty of a religious in a rich convent..."
"It is not easy. To be poor amidst richness is heroic. Because of this I fear for Friar Elijah. The magnificence of the convent by him raised exercises an influence on people. You know that the population of Assisi has not worried at all about the disappearance of the body. They are certain that it was Elijah, and that he did it, so that he could bring the body to the sepulchre with bigger ostentation. The city loves this kind of ceremonies."
"Ah, this being tied up to the earthly splendors! What a great revolutionary was Francis! Friar Elijah shouldn’t have acted this way. Yet, he too has his merits..."
"Are you defending him?"
"I try to value according to justice. I admire the building that he has raised, even if my heart remains at the Porziuncola, to the church of Saint Damiano... Even at the mountain of Verna... How I would like to go!"
"Go, as soon as the work of the Chapter will finish."
"I will go, seeing that you are giving me leave, Friar John."
"Welcome, Friar Elijah. Many Friars are demanding your presence. As you know, it was a desire of Friar Francis that any Friar minor take part to the Chapter. Because of this, between us, there is your place. Welcome. With the occasion, however, I want to ask you a question: as you know, the body of our Saint founder has disappeared from the sepulchre in the church of Saint George. Many suspect that it was you to give the order to bring it here. Please tell us the truth."
On the energetic face of Elijah appeared a disdainful smile.
"Yes,
Friar John" he affirmed with a sharp voice.
"It was me who gave the order to take the body. In accordance to the desire of the Pontiff, the body had to be moved to the sepulchre in the crypt of the new Church, that has been erected under my guide."
"So it has been in accordance to the will of the Pontiff. However the moving has to be done by all the Friars gathered at the Chapter..."
"The Pontiff gave me the order to move the body."
Elijah interrupted Parenti.
"I am the Minister General of the Order."
Amongst the assembly exploded some shouts:
"We do not consider you to be the Minister! Friar Elijah must be the Minister! Elijah Minister! We do not want Parenti!" Parenti raised up his hands.
"Silence Friars" he tried to calm the assembly. "Silence. You have appointed me. Does your shout mean that you want me to hand over the place to Elijah?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes.!" shouted some voices. "Friar Elijah Minister!"
But there were other voices in opposition:
"We do not want Elijah! Friar John has been elected and must remain Minister!"
In vain Parenti tried to keep silent the bystanders. The storm of the voice was growing in continuation, and in this storm his voice was fading. Hundreds of Friars sitting down in a semicircle on the ground has raised up. It was not enough to shout any longer. Here and there burst brawls. They started to push one another, to punch, to pull each other by their hoods, to hit with their ropes. There were faces full of blood. Someone had moved away to cut a big branch and armed by this kind of stick was coming back in the turmoil. The shouts and the noise were spreading all around. Some people recalled by the shouts were rushing in the direction of the Porziuncola to see what was happening.
"Down John! Elijah our Minister"
"Down Elijah! Down that Satan"
"Hit John!"
"Send away that thief!"
"Give back the body!"
"May Parenti be excommunicated by the Pope!"
"Humiliate yourself, servant of the Emperor!"
"Parenti heretic!"
"Elijah heretic!"
"Return to your Cortona!"
"Hit John!"
"Death to Elijah"
Suddenly the fight was dominated by a sonorous, magnificent voice. It was so strong that for a moment overcame the shouts.
"Stop, Friars! Come to your own senses! Silence!"
Anthony has climbed on a stool and had raised both arms up. Perhaps the vigor of his voice, perhaps the fame that surrounded him, of may be the fact that he was a different person from the adversaries, allowed silence to fall in and the brawl to cease.
"Friars" Anthony said. "We are in Francis favourite place. During his life nothing ever happened so scandalous like what I saw a moment ago. Be ashamed of yourselves. We have with our life to imitate the life of Christ, and what do we do? The population is rushing in from the city and looks at what we are doing. Beat your breast. Ask pardon to those whom you have hit. Dominate your anger…"
The charm of the words, of which he was a master, had its effect. The mass of the Friars, who were prey of anger, calmed down. Here and there they held each other hands. Easy to anger, they were also easy to forgive.
Anthony in the meantime continued to speak:
"We have come here so that we can solemnly bring the body of Francis in the new sepulchre, that Friar Elijah has prepared in the new Church. To these holy relics crowds and crowds of people thirst with holiness will arrive in pilgrimage. Friar Elijah has admitted to have taken the body and to have hid it away. We ask that he would return it so that we can place it in the sepulchre prepared for him."
"What he is saying is right. Agreed, agreed." it was heard.
"Elijah tell us where the body is hidden, and we will accompany it to the tomb."
"I agree" from the crowd raised the sharp voice of Elijah.
"I will return the body. But Parenti must go away."
"If all of you want it…" affirmed Friar John in front of the gathered crowd."
"Yes" exclaimed some.
"No" shouted others.
But the fury of before has extinguished.
"Friars" re-started Anthony "I will implore you: do not re-start the brawl. I propose that it be the Holy Father to decide who has to be the Minister. Now, in agreement, as demands the importance of the moment, let us occupy ourselves with the moving of the body, and then, tomorrow, I propose that Friar John and Friar Elia, accompanied by some Friars go to Rome. Let’s leave the decision to the Pontiff. Dear Friars, please take my advice. I am certain that Francis would have done like this…"
"Very well" said Elijah.
"Very well" echoed Parenti.
"Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ" exclaimed with relief Anthony. "Be glorified since he has granted us to stop such a terrible brawl. Forgive one another and then let`s ask Crist to forgive us…"
In order to come down from the stool on which he had climbed he had to support on the arms of some Frars. The strengths that had awaken so suddenly, had abandoned him once again. The body whose weight for a moment he had forgotten was oppressing him again. He was walking with fatigue on his trembling legs.
But in his soul he didn’t cease to thank God that had been the result of his words. "It wasn’t me, only You, only You" he kept on repeating in his soul. "Do not allow that not even for a moment I think in a different way. It is so easy to be proud of what is yours. It is so easy to forget that it is a talent given in custody. I am only a useless servant, I do only my duty..."
The body was hidden in a small Chapel. It was brought out, and firstly it was taken in the Church of Saint George. Then it moved in a procession towards the convent on the mountain. The Friars were bringing the coffin over their shoulders. The bells were ringing in all the Churches. The Bishop accompanied by the clergy guided the procession. And along the roads were hedging all the inhabitants of the city. All of them were there. The ones which were young when Francis started it all, now were mature men, the ones that were mature during Francis` golden youth, and the older ones, amongst them Francis` parents. All of which had been witnesess of the work of Francis. Every one was there. Now every one was talking about him with respect and were throwing flowers on the coffin. The prodigal son of Bernardone had become the glory of the city.
The works in the inner Church had not yet finished. The procession walked among the scaffolding. All raised with admiration the head to admire the arches of the vaults of the ceiling that were supported on the single spans of the big aisle. Then the procession descended in the crypt. The sepulchre had the form of a big severe pillar that seemed to support the whole building. Under that pillar was placed the coffin…
"We are witness of a decisive moment," thought Anthony. "The old has welded to the new. The solar legend of the vagabond in love of poverty has generated the stump which will generate new branches in the years to come…"