The Blessing given Friar Bernard

Write as I tell you: · The first friar, whom the Lord gave me, was friar Bernard, and: (it was he) who began and fulfilled most perfectly the perfection of the Holy Gospel by distributing all his own goods to the poor; on account of which and on account of many other prerogatives, I am bound to love him more than any other friar of (this) entire religion. Whence I want and precept, as I am able, that, whoever be Minister general, that he love and honor him as my very self, and let all the other Ministers provincial also hold him as (they would) me.