Chapter I: Introduction

PAGE

(a) Editions xvii

(b) Authorship and Date xxviii

(c) Translation and Scripture References xlii

THE LADY POVERTY.

I. In Praise of Poverty 3

II. How the Blessed Francis made diligent
search for the Lady Poverty 8

III. How two old men showed the Blessed
Francis where he might find the
Lady Poverty 14

IV. Of the First Companions of the Blessed
Francis 20

V. How the Blessed Francis and his
Companions found the Lady Poverty
on the Mountain 24

VI. The Blessed Francis and his Companions,
exalting her virtues in
divers ways, beseech the Lady
Poverty to abide with them forever 28

VII. The Answer of My Lady Poverty 41

VIII. Of the Apostles 56

IX. Of the Successors of the Apostles 59

X. That Times of Peace are unpropitious
to Poverty 62

XI. Of Persecution 65

XII. Of the followers of a spurious Poverty 70

XIII. Of Avarice 73

XIV. How the Lady Poverty spoke of good
Religious 77

XV. How Avarice took the Name of
Discretion 80

XVI. How Avarice took the Name of
Prudence 84

XVII. How Avarice called in the aid of
Sloth 89

XVIII. Of the Religious who were conquered
by Sloth 92

XIX. How the Lady Poverty sorrowed
over certain Religious who were
poor in the World, and yet more
prone than others to Self-indulgence
in Religion 99

XX. How the Lady Poverty showed the
Blessed Francis the Perfect Walk
in the Religious Life 107

XXI. How the Blessed Francis made
answer to the Lady Poverty 114

XXII. How the Lady Poverty gave her
consent 118

XXIII. How the Blessed Francis thanked
God for the consent of the Lady
Poverty 119

XXIV. Of the Sojourn of My Lady Poverty
with the Brothers 121

XXV. How My Lady Poverty blessed the
Brothers, exhorting them to persevere
in the Grace which they
had received 130

On the Spiritual Significance of
Evangelical Poverty, by Father
Cuthbert, O.S.F.C 141

APPENDICES--

I. A Prayer of the Blessed Francis to
obtain Holy Poverty 183

II. Paradiso. Canto XI. (lines 28-123) 200