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A Letter to the Custodian and the Guardian of Pisa (1271) Once again, we have a letter illustrating Bonaventure's concern with his brothers' ministry to their Franciscan sisters. It illustrates that relations between the Friars Minor and the Poor Clares still continued to be matter of some concern. Certainly, a basic policy h a d been enunciated in 1263: the friars would accept responsibility for t h e spiritual care of the Clares, if the sisters made a public declaration that such services were done solely out of the generosity of t h e brothers. But what exactly were the services the friars would render? In this letter, Bonaventure is asking his brothers in Pisa to supply considerably more than the basic 'customary services' to the Clares in that city. We do not know the background which occasioned it; Bonaventure was in Italy at the time, and the sisters apparently made this request while he was staying in Pisa.1 The letter was published in the Quaracchi edition (VIII, 471); the manuscript, still kept in that city, is believed to be original, containing Bonaventure's own signature.2 Brother Bonaventure, General Minister and servant of the Order of Friars Minor, to his dearly beloved brothers in Christ, the Custodian and the Guardian of Pisa:3 greetings and everlasting peace in the Lord! I wish to do a special favor for the sisters of the monastery of the Order of St. Clare at Pisa for the welfare of their souls.4 Therefore, I am granting that through you the following services will be carried 1See Lazzeri, "Documenta," p. 90-91. The 1263 Letter to the Minister of Aragon outlines such basic services. Perhaps the provisions listed here might have been customary at the Pisa monastery in the past, and the local friars were reluctant to continue providing them, so the sisters appealed to Bonaventure. On his activities during these years, see Bougerol, Introduction, p. 176. 2Distelbrink, p. 38 [but who repeats the errors of the Quaracchi edition regarding the date and place of this letter; cf. n. 6 below]. I have altered only slightly the translation of Canisius Connors in The Cord 35 (1985): 312-13. 3The identity of these friars is unknown. 4The Poor Clare monastery in Pisa was established in 1232 (Moorman, Medieval Franciscan Houses, p. 648; AM, 2: 359). 248 / Dominic Monti, O.F.M. out for them by brothers suitable for the purpose. On the feasts of All Saints and St. Clare, and whenever one of the sisters of the monastery departs this life, send six suitable brothers there, including the sisters' confessor and his companion, to preach and celebrate the Office.5 But only the sisters' confessor and his companion should actually enter the monastery for the funeral rites of the deceased sisters. When it happens that servants or lay sisters of these sisters are ill or have died, the confessor and his companion should go there to administer the necessary sacraments or conduct the funeral rites. I also grant that from Advent to Christmas the confessor of the sisters and his companion should dwell for that time at the said monastery for the celebration of the divine services. On the feast of Christmas and during the whole of Holy Week, you should send two other suitable brothers, in addition to the confessor and his companion, who are to remain there for these times. The same should be done on the solemnities of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost and their octaves for the purpose of celebrating the divine services. I also grant that when grave danger threatens the monastery, you send brothers there who are prudent and discreet, in order to give the sisters necessary words of counsel. These brothers can also stay there for the purpose of giving aid and assistance to the sisters in time of danger. Moreover, brothers who are master carpenters and stonemasons can enter the monastery to design and execute appropriate work. You, the Custodian, if you are present, and you, the Guardian, when the Custodian is absent, should see that the above are carried out for the sisters in the form I have prescribed by brothers suitable for the purpose. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me. Given at Pisa on the 16th of May, 1271.6 5All Saints' Day was the patronal feast of this monastery. The presence of the extra friars would provide a more solemn celebration of the liturgy for these very special occasions; the sisters...

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