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The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi by Father Candide Chalippe
page 97 of 498 (19%)
discourses, that many presented themselves to join his Order, but he
declined as yet to receive them, because the hut was too small for the
twelve he had; but he availed himself of the opportunity to say to
these: "My dear brethren, God, in His goodness, has made known to me
that He proposes to increase our poor family. I cannot receive those
who wish to join us, until I have a place large enough to admit all.
We require a larger habitation, as well as a church, where we may hear
mass, say the Divine Office, and deposit in peace those of our society
who may die. Let us therefore go to our lord Bishop and the canons.
Let us earnestly entreat of them, for the love of God, to cede to us
some church near the town, and to put our rising Order under cover in
some part of their domain. If they cannot assist us, we will go and
ask the same favor of the Religious of Mount Soubazo."

The Bishop of Assisi and the Canons had it not in their power to promote
such views, having no church at their disposal; but the Abbot of Mount
Soubazo, with the consent of the community, granted him for himself
and his brethren the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, or of
Portiuncula, which he had put into repair, but he added this condition,
that, if the Institution became more extended, this church should be
always considered the place of its origin, and the chief monastery.

Francis received the present, and accepted the condition with great
thankfulness. He came and told his brethren of it, expressing the
pleasure he felt, in having, for the first church of his Order, a
church of the Blessed Virgin, very small and very poor, obtained by
begging, and in which he had first taken upon himself the Apostolic
life.

On the same day he went to St. Mary of the Angels, where a pious
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