About the joy and support which the glorious Victoria gave to the whole of our Congregation and which the reverend Fathers of Calabria had

328 General satisfaction at the triumph of the Calabrians 329 Friars who went over to the Capuchins at that time 330 Paul Pisotti of Parma, opponent to the Reform 331 Rapid propagation of the Capuchins 332 How much the coming of many famous Friars was a benefit to the Congregation 333 The Friars of Calabria were not the first Capuchins

(328) The Church of God was enlarged, made illustrious and favoured by those glorious triumphs which, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the glorious martyrs obtained against the infernal enemy throughout the whole world. The infernal enemy desired nothing else than to denigrate the name of Jesus Christ. Those valiant knights of Christ also triumph over tyrants and this was a huge undertaking since they were themselves emperors in the world. Their victory against the world and the flesh was no lesser one, gloriously overcoming love of children and of things. Therefore every year the orthodox Church celebrates their holy memories because these ignite in the hearts of every faithful Christian the will to follow them. So by the providence of God it followed on that for each one who died thousands converted. Therefore how precious was the death and suffering of those first flowers of Holy Church!

This is exactly what happened to the poor Congregation of Capuchins. The suffering of those early servants of God has be a great benefit to the world. In particular those Very Reverend Fathers of the Province of Calabria gave great joy to all the poor Congregation when it became know how valorously they fought in the depth of tribulations and how they were victorious over the schemes of the infernal enemy.

Because I was in the Province of Saint Francis at the time I was very well informed about the holiness of the Reverend Fathers. Any one who reads this should know that until that time very few learned Friars had come to our Congregation. However it was heard that in 1532 in the General Chapter at Messina that our Fathers in the Order gathered together with the intention of making every effort to remove the Congregation of Capuchins. All the lax Friars were very much expecting to persecute it. It pleased the Lord God that their plan did not succeed because in such a great multitude there is no shortage of holy men who had a conscience about impugning this work of God. So the lax Friars did not prevail. I remember a Clareni Friar returning from that Chapter. He was unaware of who we were. Near the gate of Spello my companion and eye asked him what had been decided against our Congregation.

That good Father answered, “Things have gone rather weakly. They have made a nice speech that they have decided to have them remove the cowl. But who will make you remove it? You know that now many good men have entered that Congregation. They have great credibility with the world and are greatly cherished by the Court. Therefore they no longer need to think about it.”

(329) And so it spread throughout all the Provinces and it seemed that it was the hand of God that among many outstanding men in the Order they were waiting for each other to make a move. However, when they heard about the coming of the Calabresi Fathers it seems that the Holy Spirit enlightened them. They said to one another, “What are we waiting for now? The matter is clear. This is a work of God.”

With great fervour they came from the Province of Rome. I knew them: the venerable Father Bernardine of Asti, Father Lawrence of Riete, and Father Francis of Soriano. From the Province of Tuscany came Father Jerome of Montepulciano, Father Benedict of Siena (the wretched Ochino), Father Liberius Lombard, Father Dominic of Bologna, and Father Raphael of Vuolterra. From the Province of Saint Francis came Father Francis of Iesi, Father Baptist of Norcia, Father Bartholomew of Spello, and Padre Ludovico of Foligno. From the Province of the Marches came Father John of Fano, Father Eusebius of Ancona, Father Bernardine of Monte dell’Olmo and Father Nicholas of Ancona.

(330) It would take too long to tell about all the outstanding men who came from all the Provinces to our Congregation at that time.

There was no shortage of opponents nonetheless. For once the Chapter at Messina was finished the Father General of the whole Order returned to Rome. As we have said above he was very determined and made every effort against the poor Capuchins. He obtained a Brief and called them the Apostates of Calabria. He was so rabid against those Fathers because he felt the greatest insult at their leaving the Order and joining the Capuchins. He was almost beside himself. The poor fellow was blinded by passion and so he excommunicated them in the Brief. He used his tongue to give His Holiness such a pestiferous impression that he depicted them all as destroyers of their Order. Therefore His Holiness ceded to him and granted him in that Brief for all those who were involved with them or gave them alms or who supported them in any way they be excommunicated.

Many important persons who supported our Congregation heard of this. Being completely well informed about the condition of those venerable Fathers, they bold resisted and gave the correct information too His Holiness. Once he understood His Holiness immediately revoked the Bull. Very angry, that Superior left Rome. He was very melancholic for His Holiness now having a bad impression of him. Not long after, as a just punishment from God, he was deposed from his office, as will be said in its place.

(331) Now to return to the Fathers of Calabria. Once they had obtained that victory, the Lord God gave them peace and calm. Padre Ludovico da Fossombrone accepted them all and incorporated them into the holy Congregation as legitimate sons of Saint Francis and zealous observers of the Rule.

They began to organise things in all the Provinces so that there was a Custos or another person who would represent Padre Ludovico . Then the whole Congregation clung totally to Jesus Christ. They stayed in their little friaries with great tranquillity because earlier that had little rest because of the serious tribulations.

Therefore it pleased the Lord God to increase them through these tribulations with a good number of very holy men. They organised themselves to give better order to the Congregation. When the seculars saw the good example of those Fathers, also they began to take up the holy habit, especially in Calabria. Therefore within a short time they had established many friaries. From 1532 until 1536 more than five hundred Friars came to the Congregation of Capuchins from the Order and from among the seculars. Therefore it became known that the matter had been consolidated and that His Holiness no longer listened to the adversaries, and how he had given such an authentic Bull, all those zealous for the observance of the Rule felt a great impetus. In some Provinces it happened that forty Friars left at once in such a way that the Order became completely defoliated of men outstanding in learning, renown and holiness.

So then the Congregation of Capuchins overcame it opposition completely everywhere. It was a perfect work because it was from God and not from men. It is obvious that it is from God because of the great change that the Holy Spirit did in the heart of those Fathers. First of all, almost everyone said that they never believed that the Congregation of Capuchins would make any progress. They believed it would dissolve into smoke. This was because of the little faith they had in the Founders and because of the great status which they had themselves as great preachers, educated men highly regarded by the Order and used to living well. None the less in a flash you would have seen them acquire spirit and glow with an incredible zeal for the observance of the Rule. They gave a kick to all comforts and despised honours, status as superiors, lecturing, being confessors. They also despised the comfort of beautiful friaries, rich tables, fine cells, nice habits, good shoes, boots, riding, the servants who served them as lords, good infirmaries and countless other comforts when they came to the poor Congregation to be received by those simple fellows whom earlier they had despised so much. So they began, stripped of every earthy comfort and dressed in a woollen habit. It could more be called sacking than cloth. They were barefoot with nothing on their feet for the great cold. Where they first had multiple habits, now they restricted themselves to just one habit and a poor mantle. In exchange for the libraries they used to have, among the Capuchins they were allowed the Rule and the Breviary. Anyone who could have a new Testament and some written sermons considered himself rich. I will say little about eating. A bowl of cooked bread and vegetables was regarded as great self-indulgence. I will not say anything about the austerity of their dwellings since before they built any poor places in the beginning the majority of them stayed in huts. It would take too long to tell about the austerity of the early days, especially since it will be spoken of in its own place.

Nonetheless those Reverend Fathers embraced that heavy cross with so much fervour that the one who could be humbled more and suffer more for the love of Jesus Christ considered himself blessed. They said, “This is truly a work of God, for even though I read sacred theology and other sciences to others, I none the less acknowledge sincerely now that I never understood what the Rule of Saint Francis was. However now I see how the Capuchins observe it. Nor did I ever know what the capparone was. Now I see the Capuchin novices wear it.”

It was something amazing that for they had been in the Order for such a long time without ever understanding the Rule. Therefore it is a clear sign of what the Seraphic Father Saint Francis said: the Rule is not understood except by the one who observes it.

(332) Therefore our Congregation grew to a great number in a short time. This was because men came who for a long time were practised in the spirit and who already had the stamp of religious life. For them one glance was enough to consider all the things that were observed in the Congregation. So when they understood within a few days the way of life which they had desired for such a long time they embraced it with such spirit and fervour that within a short time they were capable of walking in the perfect of observance of the Rule no only themselves. Moreover they were all capable and ready to rule and govern not only a poor Congregation but were suitable for every kind of government. When Chapters were held they did not think too much about finding Definitors and other superiors because there were a lot of eligible Friars. While those venerable Fathers lived in our Congregation they always persevered in the perfect observance of the Rule. Because of the great experience they had in religious life they were able to know prudently what was harmful and what was beneficial to maintain the Order. What happened to Noah also happened to them. Noah knew how to give account of his life before the flood and what was done after the flood. So these venerable Fathers had experience before they came to the holy Reform and equally had knowledge of what was necessary to live in the pure observance of the Rule. This understanding and ability benefited our Congregation in no small way, because they strove with good regulations to oppose all those that with time could stain it.

(333) Now to return to those early Fathers of Calabria. In those parts those holy and venerable Fathers were a great benefit. They gave a solid foundation to those southern Provinces because they were the ones who started in Sicily, founding the first friary there in the city of Messina. They greatly edified the whole Island with their preaching, particularly in the cities of Messina and Palermo. So then those Calabresi are greatly deceived who say the Reform began in Calabria at the same time as in the Marches. One can know how far this is from the truth by this. They began while the General Chapter was held in Messina. This was on the 12 May 1532. Our Congregation began in 1525. Rather, when Father George came to Rome and brought to Calabria a cowl the make known the shape of the habit which Fra Ludovico gave him, the first friary had already been established in Rome at Scandriglia and in Rieti too. Houses had also been established in the Province of Saint Francis at Foligno, Narni and Montecasale at Borgo Sansepolcro. In the Marches there were already five house and in the Province of Tuscany similarly there were at least three houses. And may they no longer say that they have been the inventors of the capuccio. However it is quite true that they were the first throughout the kingdom of Naples and in Sicily. With my own ears I have heard Father Bernardine of Asti say that those venerable Fathers of Calabria had written to him, submitting themselves with all humility to the Prelates of the Congregation. Everything they did they did it through the commission of Padre Ludovico what then rule the whole Congregation and resided in Rome. To the praise of Jesus. Amen.