The holy man Matteo da Bascio and how he suffered great difficulties; and how he received permission miraculously from His Holiness

92 “Servants of some Religious” discover Matteo on his journey Matteo and treat him badly 93 He arrives in Rome after many difficulties 94 His prayer in Saint Peter’s 95 Miraculously he is led into the presence of the Pope 96 He receives everything he wants from Clement VII

(92) The servant of God Fra Matteo had left the aforesaid friary of Montefalcone already dressed in the Capuchin habit when the Lord God wanted to let him know that He had called him to a new undertaking in His service. That is just what happened to the Apostle Paul. No sooner had he become one of Christ’s disciples when a mass of troubles came to him. The Infallible Truth said to His disciple Ananias, “I will show him how much he will have to suffer for my name.” He did the same with his servant Fra Matteo. First of all His Majesty wanted him to enter a sea of troubles. By being better purged in this he could hear better the utterances of the Lord that called him to be numbered among all His servants, who in His service have followed Him with the cross. The very next day the poor man, barefoot and with that altered habit, which was quite an innovation at the time, met the errand boys of some of Religious who knew him. Considering him to be a fugitive they began to shout oout after him, “Hurry everyone! This fellow is a sneak because he has left such and such friary.” And they also named the kind of Religious at that place. At all the shouting many people gathered from everywhere and began to be quite hostile towards him.

Fra Matteo wanted nothing other than to suffer for the love of Jesus Christ. He had no desire to defend himself at all against the insults. The people believed what the errand boys of the Religious said. Consequently the people took him and bound him tightly, pledging to deliver him into the hands of justice. Those who accused him knew quite well however that he was innocent. They only did all this to please the Religious and didn’t want to hand him over to justice. While he was still tied up they tried to take him to the aforementioned friary. Fra Matteo knew that if were put into the hands of those Religious his purpose would be thwarted, the very purpose to which God had called him. So he resolutely resisted. Since they could not get Matteo to budge the message boys began to yell at Fra Matteo and a lot of people gathered again. Some defended him, others accused him. Nonetheless they left him in the hands of those boys. What happened to Our Lord when He was atrociously mocked in the palace of Caiphas also happend to Matteo. They punched, hit and beat him. Then to avoid making further ruckus they let him go in his mistreated condition.

(93) Though he had been treated so badly the servant of God took up the journey to head straight for Rome. In the same way many mishaps befell him on his journey. When people saw him the pointed cowl they thought he was mad. They swore at him and children ridiculed him. He could not find anyone who would give him lodging in their home. Consequently he often had to find shelter as best he could under trees, or in a cave, a barn or refuge. He found little to eat. When he finally arrived in Rome he hurried to visit the basilica of Saint Peter’s. He wanted to commend himself to God so that through the merits of the holy Apostles, His Most High Majesty might deign to make his journey successful and help him in this demanding enterprise. When he reached the steps that rise from the square in front of the church of Saint Peter’s and climbed them, the Lord God wanted to show him again that this was His work.

(94) Well, as the servant of God was walking up the steps he met a well-dressed young gentleman with a remarkable in appearance. Fra Matteo did not know him and had never seen him before. This gracious young man watched Fra Matteo. As soon as he saw him from a distance he approached him slowly. Stretching out his arms as if to stop Fra Matteo the young man said, “Father, do you want to speak with His Holiness?” Astonished by this and gazing at the face of the young man, he humbly answered. “My lord, that is the reason I have come. I very much need and desire to speak with His Holiness.” The gentleman answered, “Come back tomorrow morning at the third hour to the sacred palace. I will arrange for you to speak there at your convenience.” Fra Matteo took great heart at the proposal. To him this was like a miracle from God. It was as if the young man really knew his intention and so made that proposal. Fra Matteo humbly thanked him for his offer and kindness. Without asking who he was or what was his name the unpretentious servant of God went inside the church. He knelt before the Blessed Sacrament. With heartfelt tenderness he thanked God who already had provided him with such an opportunity for him to fulfil all he wanted with His Holiness. As he thought over the encounter with the young man he said to himself, “This is a miracle of God. There was an army of people on the steps but the young man made that offer to no one else but me. How did he know I wanted to speak with His Holiness? This is your favour, My Lord. It could easily have been an angel. This gives me courage now. I feel surer that this endeavour is yours.”

He prayed all day in that sacred temple. Still he begged our Lord God to take care of his soul and not let him sin, for the servant of God was terrified about going about in that way outside the Order. On the other hand he was very eager about the perfect observance of the Rule. Even so he worried about going astray and finding himself in the clutches of Lucifer. Because of this he was hesitant. However, when he saw how God had helped him and freed him miraculously from so many difficulties, his hope that it was all a work of God was validated. Since he desired nothing but to know God’s will, these miraculous signs were no small help.

(95) As he had agreed with the gentleman, the next day Fra Matteo went to the steps of the sacred palace at the third hour, intending to find that man. Not knowing who to ask for, poor Fra Matteo was like a lost sheep. However, as Divine Providence would have it, when he began to look for the fellow God displayed another miracle. Fra Matteo wandered through the palace without knowing where he was going. He passed all His Holiness’ guards without anyone saying a word. He entered an antechamber and, without anyone to make an introduction, he came upon His Holiness walking there. When he saw him Fra Matteo was totally dumfounded. Very humbly he knelt at those sacred feet. Somewhat astonished, His Holiness asked, “Well now, who brought you in?” Trembling all over, the servant of God answered, “No one, Holy Father.” The Pope replied, “Aren’t there any guards? How did you manage to come here without a guide?” Fra Matteo answered, “There are guards Holy Father but no one said anything to me.” His Beatitude asked, “What do you want of Us?” Fra Matteo answered, “Your Beatitude must know that our Father Saint Francis wore the same kind of habit with the pointed cowl that I wear. We know this from the Chronicles of the Order. We see from the habit kept as a relic kept in the Convento of Assisi that his is like the one I am wearing now. I am a Friar of the Zoccolanti. I know for sure that the Rule is not observed as literally as the early Fathers first observed it. As a good son of Saint Francis I want to observe the Rule to the letter and wear the correct habit of Saint Francis. Therefore I have come to Your Holiness to receive your permission to observe the Rule literally, just as I have promised the Lord.”

(96) His Holiness recognized in this servant of God an innate simplicity and someone quite eager to suffer for the love of God. He asked him many things about life in the Order. Since His Holiness gave him the boldness to speak, Fra Matteo informed him about many things. He said, “Holy Father, you should know that in these times the Rule goes unobserved everywhere. I desire to observe it to the letter. Therefore I humbly beg that you allow me to wear this habit and observe the Rule to the letter. Since our Fathers would not want this habit worn among them, I beg you to allow me to go throughout the world preaching the commandments of God, more by example than words, according to my simplicity, and exhort everyone to God’s way and to good works.” His holiness answered, “Our will and intention is that the Rule be observed to the letter according to the will of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of Saint Francis. Therefore, we very gladly grant everything you ask of me for the observance of the Rule. However, as a sign of obedience you are to present yourself to the Minister of the Zoccolanti once a year at Chapter time in the Province where you are. To fulfil your desire more surely and so that no one impedes you, come back tomorrow morning and we will give you a Brief. Pray to God for me and for the state of the Holy Church.”

After kissing the Pope’s feet and receiving a blessing from His Holiness, he left joyful and happy since, through the many signs God gave him, he felt sure that our Lord God was calling him to this state.

From then on, just as he told anyone who would listen, he certainly believed that the gentleman had been an Angel sent him by God so that God might speak to him visibly. God then inspired his heart invisibly and made him invisible to the guards of His Holiness.

So that he could thank God more ardently he went around that day to all the main Churches of Rome and returned that night to Saint Peter’s.