33. Wherefore even they which having relinquished or distributed their former, whether ample or in any sort opulent, means, have chosen with pious and wholesome humility to be numbered among the poor of Christ; if they be so strong in body and free from ecclesiastical occupations, (albeit, bringing as they do so great a proof of their purpose, and conferring from their former havings, either very much, or not a little, upon the indigence of the same society, the common fund itself and brotherly charity owes them in return a sustenance of their life,) yet if they too work with their hands, that they may take away all excuse from lazy brethren who come from a more humble condition in life, and therefore one more used to toil; therein they act far more mercifully than when they divided all their goods to the needy. If indeed they be unwilling to do this, who can venture to compel them? Yet then there ought to be found for them works in the monastery, which if more free from bodily exercise, require to be looked unto with vigilant administration, that not even they may eat their bread for nought, because it is now become the common property. Nor is it to be regarded in what monasteries, or in what place, any man may have bestowed his former having upon his indigent brethren. For all Christians make one commonwealth. And for that cause whoso shall have, no matter in what place, expended upon Christians the things they needed, in what place soever he also receiveth what himself hath need of, from Christ’s goods106    De Christi he doth receive it. Because in what place soever himself has given to such, who but Christ received it? But, as for them who before they entered this holy society got their living by labor of the body, of which sort are the more part of them which come into monasteries, because of mankind also the more part are such; if they will not work, neither let them eat. For not to that end are the rich, in this Christian warfare, brought low unto piety, that the poor may be lifted up unto pride. As indeed it is by no means seemly that in that mode of life where senators become men of toil, there common workmen should become men of leisure; and whereunto there come, relinquishing their dainties, men who had been masters of houses and lands, there common peasants should be dainty.

33. Quamobrem etiam illi qui relicta vel distributa, sive ampla, sive qualicumque opulenta facultate, inter pauperes Christi pia et salubri humilitate numerari voluerunt; si corpore ita valent, et ab ecclesiasticis occupationibus vacant (quanquam eis tam magnum animi sui documentum afferentibus, et ejusdem societatis indigentiae de his rebus quas habebant, vel plurimum vel non parum conferentibus, vicem sustentandae 0573 vitae eorum res ipsa communis et fraterna charitas debeat), tamen si et ipsi manibus operentur, ut pigris ex vita humiliore et ob hoc exercitatiore venientibus auferant excusationem; multo misericordius agunt, quam cum omnia sua indigentibus diviserunt. Quod quidem si nolint, quis audeat cogere? Quibus tamen invenienda sunt opera in monasterio, etiamsi a corporali functione liberiora, sed vigilanti administratione curanda, ut nec ipsi panem suum, quoniam communis jam factus est, gratis manducent . Nec attendendum est in quibus monasteriis, vel in quo loco, indigentibus fratribus quisque id quod habebat impenderit. Omnium enim Christianorum una respublica est. Et ideo quisquis Christianis necessaria ubilibet erogaverit, ubicumque etiam ipse quod sibi necessarium est accipit, de Christi bonis accipit . Quia ubicumque et ipse talibus dedit, quis nisi Christus accepit? Illi autem qui etiam praeter istam sanctam societatem vitam labore corporis transigebant, ex quorum numero plures ad monasteria veniunt, quia et in ipso humano genere plures sunt; si nolunt operari, nec manducent. Neque enim propterea in militia christiana ad pietatem divites humiliantur, ut pauperes ad superbiam extollantur. Nullo modo enim decet ut in ea vita ubi fiunt senatores laboriosi, ibi fiant opifices otiosi; et quo veniunt relictis deliciis suis qui fuerant praediorum domini, ibi sint rustici delicati.