How because of a grave persecution the Capuchin Friars were evicted from the city of Rome at the time of Clement VII

276 Padre Ludovico calls to Rome some of the more illustrious Friars 277 They are accused before the Pope 278 Inconsistencies in the accusations 279 The Capuchins are chased away from Rome 280 They stop in Saint Laurence outside the Walls 281 The effective defence of their supporters with the Pope 282 They return to the Friary in Rome 283 The sword

(276) The rational creature was created by the Most High God in pure and true freedom. God gave him power to do good and evil. However, using this freedom for evil he fell into the power of Lucifer. It pleased the Supreme Creator to restore his creature again to a better state. In that state he can ascend to heaven not only with his own merits but clothed and adorned with the glorious Christ, glorifying His Majesty and accepting as due all the pains that he suffers in this world. As the Apostle Paul says, to those who love God all things are turned in the favour.

This is just what happened to the Capuchin Friars. When Padre Ludovico had taken the place at Saint Euphemia as a dwelling for the poor Friars, they stayed there in the greatest poverty, in continuous contemplation and prayer. Seculars rarely saw them and when they did see them they were dumbfounded to see such poor, austere men, all barefoot. They were emaciated because of their many fasts and the tears that they poured out continuously in holy prayer. For they had a great fear of being torn away from one another and that the poor Congregation would be annihilated because of the many threats that the adversaries let fly from their lips against them. The Capuchins heard that the adversaries had arranged letters against the poor Congregation to come to His Holiness from all the Christian Princes, even from Charles V. We have mentioned this already. So Padre Ludovico made it known in all the Provinces that some of the eldest Fathers, men of good order, should come to Rome. Since the Congregation had grown to a good number, he wanted to organise a Custos and Visitator for each Province. This he did. About one hundred and fifty friars met in Rome. It didn’t seem to him to be a good thing that the Friars been seen for too long through Rome. However since they all wanted to visit the holy places, he made a procession. Altogether with their head those servants of God went off to Saint Peters. They were barefoot and with such mortification that all Rome ran to see them. It was such a novelty that it set the whole city abuzz; not only the city but it was written about throughout all Christendom. Such devotion grew towards he Capuchins generally that anyone who saw them thought himself blessed.

(277) When the adversaries heard all this, their desire grew to make an ultimate effort to disperse the Capuchins. So they set about with great insistence to visit their friends, especially persons of importance. The filled their heads with the idea that the Capuchins made procession because of hypocrisy, to have themselves regarded as holy. However, intrinsically they were hypocrites. “Because,” they said, “we know them. They are superficial men who do not want to stay under obedience. They everything in order to live in their own way. They have divided our Order. Thinking it is the true Reform, many good Friars have gone over to them. With the departure of the good Friars we are ruined. Now can you see that what is at issue is the ruination of a poor Order? Therefore you can gain a crown before God in repairing the ruin which we clearly see will become of us.”

They insisted so much with these and similar persuasive words that all those persons came together and made an effort that all of them come to the feet of His Holiness at the same time. All those who knew the best way and could do it best had His Holiness see that the sojourn of these madmen was such a great novelty that the whole world was confused. “Judicious persons are all amazed at Your Holiness; that you would have granted them that Bull which will be the reason why all the holy Order of Saint Francis will be turned upside down. Because devotion towards the other Friars is diminishing and they lack alms a great deal and they will loose even more. This is because in general the people think that the Capuchins are holy. There will be so much confusion that one day it could come to blows to the dishonour of Your Holiness and of the Holy See. Now while they are so few it can be remedied very easily and you would do something pleasing for all of us who have been familiar with this holy Order for so many years and we have never seen anything in it but good. We know how bad this aberration is because those poor Fathers have truly come to us with tears in their eyes to beg us to meet with Your Holiness to remedy the situation.

His Holiness loved the poor Congregation tenderly and enlightened by God he didn’t believe any of those evil things said to him about the poor Capuchins. Therefore he replied to them, “We have granted that Bull with great maturity. Therefore it is not fitting that we revoke it. Rather we want it to be well received and that those poor fellows rejoice in it. For the great saint himself submitted and assigned the holy Religion of Saint Francis to our protection and we know how great is the need in the Order for this Reform. I am very amazed at those Fathers who have made this commotion.”

When those personages heard these words they didn’t dare to reply to His Holiness about the Bull. Rather with much humility and in awe of the Congregation they begged His Holiness to test them and humble them in order to have the hypocrisy used by the Friars disclosed to everyone. With one voice they all strongly insisted with His Holiness that he should not fail to give this satisfaction at least to those venerable Fathers.

His Beatitude thought to himself that the poor Capuchins would benefit from being humiliated and of suffering for the love of God. Therefore he yielded so that test they Friars be tested, though it was of little moment as will be said.

(278) The calumnies had no place in the presence of His Holiness or with the ordinary people because no one could say anything but good of the Capuchins. Because of this the complaints had little effect. Instead the Congregation received greater support and devotion from everyone because when they left the house, as will be said, many personages hurried to the place in order to see how they ate and how they slept – those persons who had spoken against the Congregation with His Holiness. Searching throughout the place they saw that the poor fellows all slept on bare boards with a block of wood for a pillow. At the fire they found a pot of cooked bread and near by a table set with a little tablecloth with two loaves. In the whole house they found neither meat, nor eggs nor cheese, but some gourds of wine and a small jug of oil. All these adversaries became fond of the Capuchins and told everything throughout all of Rome.

(279) Therefore, as was said above, Padre Ludovico decided on a certain solemnity to have all that fair Company see Rome. Therefore taking the side of the adversaries His Holiness sent out an edict that all the Capuchins leave Rome under holy obedience. When he heard this Padre Ludovico wanted to know how it came about how His Holiness now hunted them from Rome, when before he had always cherished them. “We wanted to know what we had done,” he said to some acquaintances of His Holiness. One of the Pope’s friends answered, “My Father, have patience. His Holiness likes you, as he has already shown and will show again in the future. But you will see how it goes. It is necessary that the take the side of those who don’t want you seen anywhere. Everything will work out well. Do this sign of obedience. God will help you.”

Padre Ludovico returned to his sons and gathered them all together. At the time the poor fellows had said the Office and had to go to eat that small amount of bread. He had them all sit down and gave them a very beautiful sermon. He said, “Sons and brothers. May our Lord God be blessed who still visits us with the usual tribulations. The greatest sign I have had while exerting myself for this poor Congregation that is from God is this: that he has always accompanied us with the cross like all the other Orders which are pleasing to his goodness. This has given me great hope that our Lord God will bring a great good from this Reform. Therefore blessed sons do not be dismayed by the corrections that our Lord send us like a good father. Rather, you should rejoice for having this clear sign that we are sons of God who corrects our negligence with great kindness so that like good sons we may take courage and grow in greater fervour. His Holiness is sending us from Rome not because he dislikes us but in order to take the side of those who do not want us in this city. Therefore do not doubt that we will have to suffer shame and reproach but as the greatest honour just like all the other troubles that we have received. Therefore I want us to obey with making any reply to His Holiness. Therefore everyone take the Breviary. I don’t want anything else to be taken and let us go away from here because this I sour crown.”

It was a wonderful thing, because such a great joy came upon those poor fellows that with one voice they all burst into Te Deum laudamus. They lined up. A lay friar with immense fervour and a bigger beard than anyone else took the large wooden cross that they had already carried to Saint Peter’s. Singing the Te Deum and united all together they came out of the place with lowered eyes. All were barefoot. When the people asked them, “Where are you going, my Fathers?” they answered, “We are like sinners, cast out from Rome. Because of our sins we are not worthy to dwell in this holy city. Therefore, please pray to God for us.”

(280) It pleased the Lord God that once the poor fellows arrived outside Rome at Saint Lawrence outside the Walls and not knowing where to go, it was by his providence that they Friars were offered accommodation by the Fathers there and that every kindness would be shown them there. They accepted the offer with great thanksgiving. For Padre Ludovico saw that it was a work of God who had prepared a place for them where they could stay and be able to negotiate with His Holiness. Those Fathers assigned them rooms to be able to fulfil all their needs. And kindly they also gave them to eat. That accommodation was not vain because, just as I have heard from the same Reverend Fathers in Gubbio, they were so edified by the conversation of those servants of God that wherever they were found speaking with seculars they exalted the Friars as high as heaven. They had never seen such humble Religious, of good disposition and holy. The testimony of those good Religious was of great benefit among the ordinary people.

(281) News of their tribulation spread finally to the ears of the Lady Marchioness of Pescara, Victoria Colonna. Straight away she was so animated that those poor fellows had been so maltreated that she put the whole House of Colonna into upheaval with letters. Still unsatisfied she rode in person to Rome, leaving from San Marino. First of all she wanted to see them all and speak with Padre Ludovico . I remain silent about what she did with His Beatitude except that she informed him about the holiness of those servants of God so that he remained satisfied about the matter. She so confirmed him in his devotion towards the Congregation that he never again acted against the Capuchins again for any reason.

What can we say about that early mother, the Lady Duchess of Camerino? She rode in person immediately but when she arrived, His Holiness had already allowed the Capuchins to return because of Lord Camillo Ursino. When he heard that the poor Capuchin fugitives were in Saint Lawrence outside the Walls, with great displeasure and quite furious, he went straightaway to His Holiness. When His Beatitude saw the Lord in before him he began to laugh, seeing that his face was so transformed. For by nature he was jovial and kind. He said to him, “What is the matter, Lord Camillo, that it seems to you that we have chased your Capuchins out of Rome?” The kind Lord answered, “Holy Father, I believe that you were aware that I am very angry. To tell the truth, it seems to me I am justified in part. I know very well that His Holiness has done this in order to appease certain ones except it would not be fitting for the profession they make to use such terms. Forgive me Your Holiness. This is one of the great scandals that have taken place many times in Rome. Because there is not doubt that the life of this poor fellows is beyond reproach, because I know as much as can be known about their life. Among the ordinary people they are venerated as saints. Nonetheless they have been hunted from Rome so disdainfully. They can be accused of nothing else except going in procession to visit the sacred temple of Saint Peters. And to punish a multitude so unjustly in this way – I will leave Your Beatitude to consider the scandal that will come from this.”

When the Pope heard that Lord speak so angrily he had compassion for him. Wanting to calm him, he answered him lovingly, “All that you say is true. I am also aware of it. Nonetheless, since the edict has gone out we cannot do anything else while preserving the honour of the Holy See because we would show imprudence. However, go and say to them that I am happy for them to return to Saint Euphemia. With my blessing they may stay there in peace and pray to God for me so that I may not fail them whenever I may be of assistance to them. Tell them also to be careful not to complain about anyone, but to tell Your Lordship everything that happened to give occasion to their adversaries. So that this may not appear trivial, leave them be for some days, according to your judgement. Without saying anything more to me, the task to have them return is yours.”

(282) Lord Camillo left His Holiness and went directly to Saint Lawrence with the good news. In an instant you would have seen those servants of God all gathered together weeping and going in procession into the Church. In front of the Blessed Sacrament they gave boundless thanks to His Majesty who had prospered them so kindly.

After staying there some days they returned joyfully two by two to Saint Euphemia. The majority of the notable persons who supported them visited them. It was something marvellous. Before they could say a single word they burst into tears. Such was their compassion for the Friars.

(283) While they were staying at Saint Lawrence, a grumbling arose among all the people against those who had been the cause to the point where they could not show themselves in Rome. There was nothing else to say. But what was more important was that Brother Meo Sanese, called the Brandano and who was a sackcloth hermit regarded by all Italy as a holy man, when he heard about the poor Capuchins, with great fury he walked night and day until he arrived in Rome. When he arrived at the People’s Gate he began to cry in a loud voice, “Come to Rome all kinds of rogues, gamblers, blasphemers, spies, thieves, fools, traitors, ruffians and whores of every sort. Because here they will find a home and will be cherished along with all the other people who do evil. Only the servants of God cannot have a home here and stay. Woe to you Rome! You who kill the prophets and persecute the servants of God! You cannot bear the light but, like bats, you seek out nothing but darkness. You give no abode except to rogues! Friend of darkness, you have chased out and sent away the poor Capuchins who gave you light.” This tedious ballad and great fervour lasted three days and ploughed up all of Rome. It was so effective on the furore of the people that those adversaries couldn’t appear anywhere. It was necessary that if they didn’t want to die of hunger they had to petition His Holiness to have the Capuchins return.