They passed the night without thinking of sleep; it was a long communion of souls.

Bernardo had decided to distribute his goods to the poor and cast in his lot with Francis.

The latter desired his friend to pass through a sort of initiation, pointing out to him that what he himself practised, what he preached, was not his own invention, but that Jesus himself had expressly ordained it in his word.
At early dawn they bent their steps to the St.Nicholas Church, accompanied by another neophyte named Pietro, and there, after praying and hearing mass, Francis opened the Gospels that lay on the altar and read to his companions the portion which had decided his own vocation: the words of Jesus sending forth his disciples on their mission.
"Brethren," he added, "this is our life and our Rule, and that of all who may join us.

Go then and do as you have heard."[4] The persistence with which the Three Companions relate that Francis consulted the book three times in honor of the Trinity, and that it opened of its own accord at the verses describing the apostolic life, leads to the belief that these passages became the Rule of the new association, if not that very day at least very soon afterward.
If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.
Jesus having called to him the Twelve, gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.