word of the day: breviary

The word of the day is breviary:

Etymology:  < Latin breviārium ‘summary, abridgement’, from neuter of breviārius adj. ‘abridged’, < brevi-s short. 

1.a. A brief statement, summary, epitome. ? Obs. 

b. transf. and fig.; cf. epitome n. 2.

2.a. In the Roman Catholic Church, the book containing the ‘Divine Office’ for each day, which those who are in orders are bound to recite.  The Office consists of psalms, collects and ‘lections’ or readings from the Scripture and the lives of the Saints. Those who are only in ‘Minor Orders’, i.e. below the grade of sub-deacon, are not required to say Office.

 b. fig. 

c. fig. phr. matter of breviary (= matiere de breviaire, Rabelais, Pantagruel IV. viii): a thing that admits of no question or doubt. (OED)

"One medieval source records his response to a novice who asked for a psalter: “When you have a psalter, you will want a breviary; and when you will have a breviary, you will install yourself in a throne like a great prelate, and you will command your brother: ‘Bring me my breviary!’ ” He then took some ashes from the hearth and rubbed them into his body, all the while repeating, “I’m a breviary, I’m a breviary!”"

 - Joan Acocella,  "Rich man, poor man: The radical visions of St. Francis", 14 January 2013 The New Yorker

No, I don't get it.  I guess this is evidence that St. Francis was a strange guy?