On the servant of God Brother Matteo da Bascio. How he visited the holy old man at Cartoceto

111 Fra Francesco da Cartoceto 112 His companion Pacifico da Fano 113 In a vision he ponders the origin of the Reform 114 He too adopts the Capuchin habit

(111) When the servant of God Fra Matteo left Lady Caterina he returned to Matélica. As he was passing through Fabriano, and since he knew that holy old man very well, he wanted to visit him while on the journey. It was the feast day of the Porziuncola, that is, the second of August. However he was not aware that God was guiding the whole matter. His Majesty usually guides his servants severely one moment and gently the next. On the one hand he guides them along the way of the holy cross. Then again, so that they do not grow faint half way because of our debilitating weakness and fragility, God mixes in some spiritual delights to comfort them. Therefore, since Fra Matteo had been long suffering, the good God wanted to reassure him through a new revelation that this was His doing. So just as the Lord gave the Samaritan and the Canaanite women the opportunity to convert when He came to them, He did the same by means of Fra Matteo. His Majesty knew about the great desire that the holy man Fra Francesco da Cartoceto di Fano had to observe the Rule. That same night Our Lord revealed to him the arrival of Fra Matteo, as well as the beginning of the Capuchin Reform. Therefore when he arrived at the place, Fra Matteo talked very warmly with that holy old man.

(112) This holy old man had as his companion a Friar from the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was called Fra Pacifico da Fano. For the sake of the observance of the Rule and with the permission of the Minister, the old man had withdrawn to that little house in Matélica called Saint James. There he lived in rigorous poverty. Due to his advanced years and because he had wept so much over the passion of Our Lord, he had lost his sight almost completely. Having no other companion in that friary he had received the above mention Frate Pacifico, who served him compassionately in all his needs. Because he was blind, before dawn Fra Pacifico brought him a light and they said matins. The old man said all that he knew by heart and listened to Brother Pacifico for all the rest.

(113) And so Brother Pacifico went to him and found the holy old man at prayer. Turning towards him the elderly man said with many tears, “Know, my son, that last night I received a wonderful revelation from God.” “What revelation was that, Father?” replied Fra Pacifico. The holy old man answered, “In a vision I saw a barefoot Friar dressed in an austere and short habit which came to about half way down the leg. And he had a pointed cowl on his head. With the cross in his hand he was hurrying across a plain. The one who showed me said, ‘Know that this is the beginning of the true reform of the Order of Saint Francis.’” Then the old man then asked, “Which month is it? What day?” Fra Pacifico answered, “Father, today is the Pardon of Assisi, the second of August, the feast of the Porziuncola.” The holy old man replied, “The Porziuncola?! Take note, my son. This is mysterious indeed; that the reform begin on this sacred day.”

(114) Having said Matins and after a clear dawn someone hastily knocked at the door. Fra Pacifico went to open the door. There he saw Fra Matteo before him. He did not know him, but he did recognise the shape of his clothing, just like the one the holy old man had seen. Amazed at this and without saying anything to Fra Matteo, he went back to the old man and called out, “Father, the Friar you saw in the vision is down at the front door!” The old man said, “Have him come to me, son.” As soon as Fra Matteo arrived he embraced the holy old man. They loved each other so much that they said nothing for a good while because of the quantity of their tears. After regaining his breath somewhat Fra Matteo told the holy old man about all he had done: about the time he had spent in prison; about how His Holiness told him that his intention was that the Rule be observed literally; and how His Holiness allowed him to wear the habit that saint Francis wore. When the holy old man heard this and understood the will of His Holiness, and because he could not see, he began to handle that cowl. Then weeping he kissed it. Turning the Fra Pacifico he said to him, “Take that little piece of cloth you see and make me a cowl like this one. Nothing else is necessary here. If the Holy Father’s will is that the Rule be observed literally, that is enough for now. Someone will obtain a Bull for it, because God will make this Congregation go ahead. Blessed are you, sons, to be part of this beginning.”

So after much discussion the holy man Fra Matteo departed from the holy old man, leaving him dressed in the Capuchin habit. He was the second Friar of the Congregation, as will be shown more amply in his life.