When the Friars gave themselves to serve the plague victims

200 The sack of Rome 201 Capuchin serve plague victims 202 The copious fruits of this apostolate 203 The Pope is told about it 204 The Friars did everything for the love of God 205 The felicitations of the Duchess

(200) From the beginning of the world there always have been and always will be many different tribulations. This is because our first father Adam corrupted the root of our nature through original sin. Because of this we have been rendered unstable. We have badly distorted the good nature that our Lord gave us to the extent that we have always known confilict, one brother against another. Like a confused Babylon throughout the whole universe little else but confusion has been seen. However when the Son of God came from heaven on high by his death he merited for his chosen ones the remedy for every evil: which was charity. In every age, wherever there was charity among his subjects, it has always been made known through their dazzling and shining acts of love towards God and neighbour. Whenever earth and heaven were so enriched by these chosen ones, wherever they were, like glowing embers they enlightened and flamed everyone in the love of God with their example and preaching. However it is quite clear when there are only a few of them in the world. This is just what happened in 1527. During the time of Clement VII the Duke of Bourbon took Rome and sacked it with a great army on the 17 May. They maltreated the Church so badly that the Supreme Pontiff and all the Prelates of the Church fled, leaving the city to the discretion of it enemies. A part of these were heretics. The sins and disgraces in that time were so many that all Italy was in chaos. From then on Italy worsened with the bad practices that those people introduced, and in the shortage of food and the things necessary for human life. This was because there was always a shortage of everything. The people had become so wicked that in 1528 and 1529 there was the most dreadful plague and a great famine. I know about this because I had the plague in my leg and remember all this things very well indeed. During these travails the only thing one saw were the dead – those died from the plague, or from the famine or had been killed either by the very worst kind of men or by soldiers. Wherever one went there were dead bodies and wolves that ate them. It was terrifying to go a journey because there were very few people. Many towns were burnt and land that was no longer inhabited.

(201) The poor Capuchins had some rest at this time because all the persecutions ceased. This happened because there were other things to think about for there were both sick and dead among the Religious. It seemed that the very sky would weep. Consequently the fire of love that burned in those servants of God could not stay hidden. Instead a murmur began among them. One would say to the other, “What shall we do? Now is the time to give our lives for Jesus Christ because so many of our poor brothers are dying like desperate men, seeing themselves abandoned by everyone and the majority without Sacraments. Let us go to find Padre Fra Ludovico. If he agrees we can go with his blessing, one here and one there, to serve those who are infected.” They made this known to the whole multitude and went off to Camerino and the place at Colmenzone. Padre Fra Ludovico knew this was a work of God, that His servants were so afire to do such a pious work where they risked their lives. He showed great joy over this and kept them with him for a night. In that time they prayed altogether very fervently. Passionately they commended themselves to our Lord Jesus Christ so that in such a difficult task He would deign to protect them and not allow them to be deceived.

The following morning Padre Fra Ludovico celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit and gave Communion to all of them. When Mass was over he gave them a most beautiful sermon. He said, “Blessed sons and brothers, before you I found myself in this task of serving the plague victims. For in 1523 a great plague came to the places around Camerino and I began to serve them. From experience I know the risks that there are. Therefore do not trust in yourselves but hope in the Lord God alone who will have to free you from every temptation of the devil. Because of this, keep an open eye to always go two by two, for you will have to work with all sorts of people and with great opportunities to do evil. However I emphasize this as I have experienced it myself: God will wonderfully help those who go with the right intention. Try to spend part of the night in the praise of God and say your Office and Mass in the morning because you won’t have time during the day. Be careful not to accept from anyone money in safe keeping nor get involved in any sort of business. Instead attend only to gain souls. Know that to lay down one’s life for the salvation of one’s neighbour is a kind of martyrdom that is very acceptable to the Divine Majesty. Therefore unite your mind with Jesus Christ. Go to this work of charity for the sake of His love alone. And if you die there be very sure of your salvation.”

When Padre Fra Ludovico said these and many other words those servants of God heaved a great sigh. Crying out they all said with a loud voice, “May it please my Lord that just as He died for me I may die now for the sake of His love so as to serve my neighbour. However so many are my sins that I do not believe to be worthy of such a great gift. My Father, pray for us that God may preserve us and that we not offend him.”

Padre Fra Ludovico replied, “It is not that right that I rest while my sons are amid such difficulties. So he accompanied them. Taling a companion he went away to serve the infected in another place. Having received the blessing, they all went off happily to where Padre Fra Ludovico sent them.

(202) When those people saw that they had two Capuchins in their land they were so happy that it seemed that everything bad would leave them. When they enetered different regions they would begin in an area and visit the infected within a short time. Weighing up their needs they then provided whatever each one required. So if someone was gravely ill they heard his confession. If some were dying of hunger the Friars went to the rich and they provided them for their necessities. They put into monasteries and other safe places many poor girls who, left without father and mother, were in danger of coming to grief. Some who were dying and had no one who would bury them because of their poverty. These servants of God buried them. When some were on the point of death, with great fervour they conforted them so that they would be contrite for their sins and hope in the mercy of God. They would make their wills. sort out their affairs and return the property of others. The poor plague victims had such faith in them as if they were Angels of God. They administered no other Sacrament to them except confession, which is necessary for salvation. Because of their good words many made restitution. Many poor people went to confession, who otherwise would have died like irrational animals without confession and other things necessary for salvation. Finding themselves in the presence of those servants of God those people had a happy death.

(203) The rumour of their fame was such that it spread throughout Italy. All those people carved those servants of God in their hearts and even remember them still today. Their fine example was a great benefit to the poor Congregation. For when this good example was reported to the Lady Duchess of Camerino, Caterina Cibo, she wrote about it to her uncle, Pope Clement. She said that the Capuchins to whom His Holiness had granted the Brief were all saints. She told him about the things they were doing. If there was an inch she took a mile in writing in support of the poor Capuchins. The Pontiff was very glad about this and within a short time granted them the Bull. It was reported that when His Beatitude was conversing with others he said, “Look how much good we have done in listening to those poor Capuchin Religious. Look at what my niece writes to me about them.” And he had it read publicly.

(204) It pleased the Lord God to preserve them as they persevered in that service, as they said this later. God so protected them that they said, “We were like so many blocks of wood. The least inappropriate thought never passed through our minds.” It was amazing. They worked with all kinds of people day and night, male and female, with girls openly or in houses where there was no one else but them. Yet it seem as though they were bodiless Angels. They said, “Whoever does not have the very best intention and is not protected by God should not begin such an undertaking. Nor would I advise anyone who has not been well proven to set himself to such a task. There are many great opportunities (to err). Some of them threw purses full of scudi at us and said, “Father, do with this as you please.” And we replied to them, “We do not have permission to keep money for anyone, let alone give it out or receive it for ourselves because our Rule does not even allow us to touch it.” Then the sick person began to call those around and exclaim, “Now these are true servants of God. In the time of plague there is a lot of thieving because those who set themselves to bury the dead and be with the infected usually do so because of greed for money. These servants of God do it for the love of God and risk their lives to help the rest of us. May you be blessed!”

Everywhere it spread that these holy Religious want nothing but do everything for the love of God. Because of this many trusted them like their own children.

It pleased the Lord God that the plagues stop in 1530. I have heard it said that more than a third of the people had died, and in many places more than half. The plague was everywhere throughout Europe and in almost the whole world.

(205) All our Capuchins returned together to Padre Fra Ludovico. They all told one another the great things God had done through them and how God had preserved them. None of them had had any headaches but were always healthy and cheerful. Many were disappointed that they hadn’t died. With great joy they all gave thanks to God. One day the Lady Duchess went personally to the place where they were and wanted to see them all. She said to them, “Now have no more fear that your Congregation be brought down because your merits are so great that it is impossible that God abandon this holy Reform.” Turning to Padre Fra Matteo da Bascio she said to him very amicably, “Padre Fra Matteo, what do you think about this fair booty gained by your example? Now you have the Bull the adversaries can no longer harm you. See poor fellow, how much good has come from your efforts and how many brothers have followed you. Be happy then because it is clear that this is a work of God.” Padre Fra Matteo replied, “My Lady, I deserve hell because I am ungrateful for all the many benefits I have received from God with the support of your Ladyship, and I praise him duly. If God has drawn some good from my efforts it is because of his mercy, not because I am worthy of any good. Totally edified, the Lady Duchess left them and sent them a lot of food. From then on she always carried them in her heart and strongly supported our Congregation.

Padre Fra Ludovico sent some Friars to stay at Camerino, some at Fossombrone, some at Montecampano and in other little friaries that they had received. They prospered still further with large numbers.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.