The First Chapter of Mats
St. Francis called a General Chapter to meet on the plain of St. Mary of the Angels. There were over 5000 who attended that first Chapter of Mats.
Among those who attended was St. Dominic, with seven of his friars, who were on the way from Bologna to Rome. They stopped by to see what it was all about.
Another one of those who came was Cardinal Hugoline of Ostia. Francis had predicted that one day he would become Pope. And, so it was, he later became Gregory IX.
Those present were quiet and meek, praying and doing deeds of charity. The Groups made tents covered with mats all around, on the top and sides, and with rushes, and so it was called the Chapter of Mats. They slept on the ground or on straw.
Noblemen came and ordinary people, too; cardinals and bishops came to see the very holy and large gathering of saintly men; but, especially, they came to see Francis.
Francis greeted them and explained the word of God in a loud voice “As clear as a bugle,” preaching whatever the Holy Spirit inspired him to say. He encouraged them to have reverence and obedience to Holy Mother Church; to have brotherly love; to pray for all the people of God; to have patience in adversity and temperance in prosperity; to be figures of chastity and to be at peace with God and all men; to love poverty and express humility and meekness, and have contempt for worldly things.
Under obedience he commanded them to have no care concerning anything to eat or drink, but to concentrate on praying and praising God and leave worldly worries to Christ who would take care of them.
St. Dominic felt consternation at this and thought his words imprudent. But soon people from Perugia, Spoleto, Foligno, Spello, Assisi and others from the surrounding countryside came with donkeys, mules and wagons loaded with bread and wine, beans and cheese and all good things to eat. They also had among them those who were concerned for their brothers and sisters; they too brought things like pitchers, dishes, glasses and tablecloths and all such helpful items.
Knights and nobles went humbly about serving, so reverently it seemed as though they were serving, not the poor friars, but the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Dominic saw all this, he was overcome with remorse and begged Francis to forgive him.
When it was over, Francis sent them all back to their provinces comforted and filled with spiritual joy, with God’s blessing and his own. To this day Franciscans hold this Chapter of Mats.
“To the glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May He be blessed! Amen.”
