On the great support that Paul III’s Bull gave to our Congregation

357 The doubts and anxieties of the first years 358 The Bull Expone nobis 359 How Francis of Iesi announced it to the Friars of Foligno

(357) While their beloved Master was present with them the Apostles of Christ were never perfectly enlightened and completely convinced that he was the true Messiah. Doubts always remained. If on seeing the miracles their Master did they strengthened their belief that he was the true Son of God, none the less in his passion they all lost faith. If the Lord had not confirmed them for forty days with many appearances they would have been completely desperate. Therefore it was necessary that our Lord confirm the Holy Church with every degree of perfection after his death and before he ascended into heaven.

So it was with the Congregation of Capuchin Friars. There was little with which to begin. However if then God and those first Fathers of ours had not helped it, it would have been completely ruined. For there was always a doubt in the hearts of the Friars that it would arrive safe and sound to its safe harbour. This lasted for ten years in which time the poor Reform suffered so many shipwrecks that everyone often thought if had to go to ruin. This was because there was no other authentic Bull obtained from His Holiness except the one Padre Ludovico obtained from Clement VII in 1528. However because the Pontiffs were dying there were not many that with great difficulty could obtain their Bulls. Therefore there was a lot of doubt. For on the one hand there were very powerful persecutors who always had the ear of His Holiness. And on the other hand the Congregation was small, with many weak and simple Friars. They could not come from the Order because there was the Brief that excommunicated them if they did. As for the seculars, when they saw such an austere life, although many had the desire, they were none the less frightened by that austerity of life. The poor fellows stayed in those little houses in deserted places so that they were rarely seen. However like solitary sparrows abandoned by everyone they stayed under the wings of Our Lord, waiting on his mercy so that one day he would consolidate their poor Reform, they sought nothing else except to be able to serve Jesus Christ.

Hence all day, when they had said their office they abandoned their dwelling and fled into woods to pour out their tears. They were so inflamed in the love of God that they seemed to be like so many Seraphim. Then when they emerged from the wood they were so much like Maccharius, Anthony and Hilary. This was the reason that those servants of God always remained steadfast amid so much suffering in the Congregation. For even though they lacked many diversions for the maintenance of human life, their love of God was such that it kept them happy and fed their bodies. This was the real foundation that was given to our Congregation -–suffering with spirit. When comforts came and peace was given to the Congregation, the same thing happened as it did to the early Church when it received peace under Constantine the Great. Christians gave themselves more surely to the comforts of the body. However as long as persecution lasted the Church was always full of holy martyrs who fill heaven. In this way war benefited them more than peace. Thus it was with the poor Congregation of Capuchins. For when Paul III gave us the Bull the external persecutions partly ceased. All the Friars were overjoyed, as it occasioned great joy among them.

(358) Hence when the Friars from the Chapter they said with great joy, “Let us rejoice brothers because the Lord God likes us for when we wondered if the Congregation would be ruined, then the Lord God exalted it more. He has consolidated it so that now there is no more danger that it will go to ruin. The adversaries who bit at it have been struck with such a bite that they no longer dare to speak about it. Now we are glad and let us make use of this possibility that we have received from God to perfectly observe the Rule we have promised to God. Let us be careful not to use this benefit badly because our Lord God would deprive us of it. Let us strive,” said those holy old men, “to avoid wasting time and from too much conversation with seculars and with Friars because it cools the spirit very much. From this emerge idle words and countless disturbances. But let us all dedicate ourselves to holy contemplation that our Father Saint Francis and all the Order at that time practised so much. Because of this the Rule tells us: ‘May those who do not know letters care to learn them, but above all they should desire to have the Spirit of the Lord and his holy operation, which is all those things which make us suitable for prayer, to pray always to God with a pure heart. Although all these things that our Father put in the Rule may be very important and if observed well dispose us marvellously to holy contemplation, none the less it shows nothing was closer to his heart than holy contemplation. It is the ain of all the other things. Therefore the venerable the venerable Father Bernardine of Asti said, “As long as the Friars observe the Rule God will always defend the Congregation. Yet they will not be able to observe the Rule unless they dedicate themselves to pray because the aim of the entire Rule is nothing else but holy contemplation. Therefore let us established ourselves well in holy humility, the most stable foundation of all the virtues. And let us enjoy this beautiful gift that God has given us.”

This Bull was the reason that many came to the Congregation both from the Order and from among seculars. Then the Congregation held it head high. Many houses were established in all the Provinces of Italy. When they used to go on a journey and met with Religious, with great joy they used to tell them, “I don’t know if you know our Friars are no longer thinking about coming to your Order as you told your friends. Instead our Congregation has received many of your Friars. It would be much better to speak well of your Friars than to go around telling seculars that we are finished. Have patience. Our Congregation has never been better than today. May God forgive us everyone.”

Brother Angelo da Collescipuli, a very simple old lay Friar, when he came across certain friends of his, said, “Rejoice brothers because His Holiness supports our Reform. He has given us all his blessing and such an authentic, favourable and complete Bull whose like has never been received before.”

(359) When the venerable Father Francis of Iesi was in the friary at Foligno he gave a very beautiful sermon to the Friars. He was bring the news about the Bull just received. “You know beloved brothers that the first sons and the last sons are dearest to their Father. We have seen this spiritually in the Holy Church. For in the early Church those early saints were so cherished by His Majesty that he granted them with great kindness whatever they asked of him. It was well known that they were dear sons because he was so familiar with them by appearing to them and working such stupendous miracles through the Apostles and Martyrs. This is just how it was at the beginning of our Order. He was so familiar with our Father Saint Francis and all those early Fathers that he has never since shown so much love to anyone else. The same today because we see in our Congregation that we can say that we are the youngest sons because we are closer to the day of judgement. Even though many Reforms have been done, nonetheless there has never been one so cherished and favoured by God and by Holy Church like our Congregation today. When the Reform of the Zoccolanti Fathers began they were unable to obtain anything for many years until the gathering of the Council of Constance. When the Blessed John of Capistrano obtained a declaration he wanted it read publicly with great solemnity from the pulpit for it seemed to him that had received some great benefit. Today we have obtained from Holy church all those favours that we wanted like the last sons of the Eternal Father. I say youngest because in all the world there are few who have not turned their backs on Jesus Christ. We are the vilest men in the whole world. Because of a little good will in us, our Lord cherishes us so much that there was never a Congregation so cherished by the Church and its Prelates. But what will say about the world? Was there ever an Order more cherished than us? On the one hand we should rejoice about it and on the other we should fear that if we are not grateful to him, God will need to make another hell more horrendous and more painful that the one he has made and where he may put us. There is no sin in the world that displeases God more than ingratitude. Therefore with all the opportunities we have to serve God, if we are not all saints we will be the unhappiest creatures to be found in the world. If God will have some compassion on the other Religious, and they will be very much excused because they did not have the opportunity, what excuse however will we have? We deserve our venial sins be imputed to us a mortal sins. As Religious we are more detached from the world than many others since we don’t have confessions and other involvement with seculars. We will live on alms, unlike those who live off their income. It is necessary for them to take care of possessions and of taking collections at the proper time and make other efforts that are necessary before the fruits of the earth may be enjoyed. We however, without any effort, enjoy cooked bread, filtered wine and ripe fruit. The Holy Spirit could not have given us could not have given us a more expedite way to have the necessities of nature than to live by begging so that we might have more time to be able to attend to divine worship and to mental prayer in particular. Therefore Our Lord does not lack those who strive to gain things. However he has very few in the world who praise him and who afire with his love through holy contemplation. Therefore our Father Saint Francis say our Lord revealed to him, “Know, Francis, that I have asked from my Father a people who are only happy with me. Therefore I have chosen you along with all those who want to follow you as my special servants, and I will provide for them in all their needs.”

“Therefore, my sons and brothers, behold the promises of Our Lord. Just as he cares for us so he provides for us. Who would ever have hoped to receive these favours from the Holy Pontiff? It is for no other reason except the will of Our Lord who inspires the Holy Pontiff and all the Prelates of Holy Church and the whole world to always do us good, so that we may be the means between God and sinners. If they continually offend him, we continually praise him and placate the anger of his Majesty. The whole world cries, ‘Pray! Pray for us!’ Therefore what are we to do if not to completely strip ourselves of ourselves and give our heart to God? This is what he wants from us. Who would be so wicked then to want to do something other than praise his Majesty who has placed us in such a noble state where we do on earth what the blessed spirits do in heaven?”To the praise and glory of his Majesty. Amen.