The Deeds of Pope Innocent III

[Works of Piety: The Gift List]

of his predecessors had dared to do for otherwise he would get into a predicament from which he could not easily escape. This was the principle reason why he himself raised the above-mentioned scandal against the Supreme Pontiff. But the same generous pope, lest he should seem to be a dumb dog, not healthy enough to bark, solemnly excommunicated him on the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Peter in the presence of a great multitude. Therefore, although there was grumbling, he swore to stand by his contract, and thus stood absolved. And presently, when he was dying, because the pope was not yet satisfied, warned his heirs that if they did not swear to obey his instructions , when he should die, he would forbid him a Christian burial. But when they had sworn oaths and shown him fidelity, he allowed the dead man to be buried according to the custom of the Church. However, just as the Lord Pope had predicted, the senators behaved so badly in the running of affairs that both within the city and without many evils were committed with impunity by anybody, while peace and justice had been thoroughly banished. Therefore, the people began to curse to such an extent that the pope had to bend to the common petition for a single senator, although it much displeased the troublesome nobles who, at the time of upheaval, were boasting amongst other things that the Lord Pope would never be able to appoint a single senator in the city. But the Senator, presented by the Pope, immediately brought the city back to peace and justice, suppressing rebellions and uprisings. No one dared to utter anything against him, dreading the power of the Supreme Pontiff. [Works of Piety: The Gift List] CXLIII. In the meantime, Innocent, trusting in the Lord, was pressing on with works of piety. For when a great famine prevailed with such rumors that a rublum241 of grain sold from twenty to thirty solidi, [Works of Piety: The Gift List] 257 241. A large dry measure for grain. he was then staying in Anagni; he returned to the city right away and began to pay out liberally the necessary alms for needy people. Moreover , he ordered them to be distributed so that those who were afraid to beg in public might receive money in secret, from which they might be supported a whole week, but those who were begging publicly would receive bread for each day sufficient for everyone, of whom there was a huge crowd of every condition, that surpassed the number of eight thousand persons. Moreover, some received food in the alms house and so he freed the starving people from immediate danger , exhorting the rich and powerful equally by word and example to give alms. Indeed, how much money he spent on this work, no one knows. From the beginning of his reign, in fact, he set aside the entire income belonging to him from the offerings to the basilica of St. Peter for alms. In addition, he ordered a full tenth of his entire income to be set aside for the work of alms, and from the rest, he very often gave large alms, although in secret. The almoner received all the offerings of those coming to his feet according to the ancient custom and paid them out. He, therefore, ordered the hungry to be fed, the naked to be clothed, poor virgins to be provided with dowries, and exposed children to be nursed. He frequently supported indigent monks and nuns, recluses and hermits, and he often visited religious houses and freed them from their debts. His almoner went about and investigated diligently the poor and weak, especially nobles, and he gave them seals so that each week he might send money for food for those who brought them back, and quite often he was spending fifteen pounds a week for such persons, not counting those who daily received food or money or clothes. The very generous pontiff also allowed poor children to come to the table at the end of the meal for food and he gave them what remained before him. On Saturdays, he made the mandatum , washing and wiping, and kissing the feet of twelve poor people and giving twelve coins to each, ordering refreshment for everyone. CXLIV. Also, at his own expense, he built the hospital of the Holy Spirit at St. Mary in Sassia for the needs of the sick and...