About what His Holiness did regarding the Congregation of Capuchins because of the departure of Ochino

395 Ochino’s fall revealed to a novice in Foligno 396 The intention of Paul III to suppress the Congregation 397 He proposes this to the Consistory 398 The defence by the Cardinal of San Severino 399 The Cardinal Protector calls all the Vicar Provincials to Rome

(395) By means of the Supreme Pontiff the Lord God did not fail to help the poor Congregation. Nor did he fail to give warning of this tribulation since he revealed it some days before it came. For in the Province of Saint Francis, in the old Friary of Foligno there was at that time a simple novice. Because he was a lay Friar, he helping his master to exercise charity to certain Friars who had just arrived at the Friary. When his master saw that he was not doing the service well because he didn’t know how to do it, he said to him, “Leave it be. Go to the church.” The novice went and because he was accustomed not to leave until his master gave him a signal so that he may go to rest. His master forgot about him and the novice persevered in prayer until morning because all the Friars had gone to rest. As morning drew near he miraculously saw the two doors of the church open. There entered a very beautiful and honoured procession of persons all dressed in blue. One part of them was dressed in priestly vestments. They made a deep bow before the Blessed Sacrament, the tomb in front of the altar was surrounded by those Priests. Without too loud a voice, but with a mild one, they sang a beautiful Office with many lights and incense. The Novice who saw this was certain the procession was of secular Priest and other persons that had come to visit the church because of their devotion. Therefore he remained very still and staying on his knees he listened to the Office. When the ceremonies were over, the procession left while singing. One of those Priests drew near to the Novice said to him, “Simple fellow, have you seen what we have done?” the novice answered, “I have seen it, lord. But who are you?” The priest replied, “Do not be afraid. We are all dead Friars sent by the Lord our God to do this Office that you have seen. Tell the Father Guardian and the Father Vicar of the Province about it so that they may say the Office devoutly more than ever. Let them prepare themselves because very, very soon the Congregation will undergo the greatest tribulation.” So it was. Within two months, the Siena went away.

(396) Therefore, while in the city of Perugia, His Holiness heard about Ochino’s leaving the Catholic Church by means of a letter the Siena wrote to him. His Holiness was very upset. Immediately there was no shortage of evil tongues who set themselves pointed this out to him and told him that the whole Congregation was infected. In order to anticipate the danger of great evil of a bad sign throughout Christendom that could follow on from this, whenever this would be, with the opinion of some important persons he kept with him, he decided to uproot the Congregation of Capuchins completely. However, since the Holy Spirit governed him, he didn’t want to act hastily without first returning to Rome and consulting with the Scared Consistory about the matter. He gave an indication of the decision in his mind when he was passing by the city of Spoleto. When His Holiness lifted his eyes and gazed at those hermitages on the mountain he wanted to hear the name of each of them. They continued in this discussion. When they came to the house of the Capuchins visible from the road he asked which hermitage that one might be. He was told that the poor Capuchins lived there. On hearing this, raising his arm and making a circle in the air, he said with a somewhat disturbed spirit, “Away with all the Capuchins.”

There is still more. The venerable Father Jerome of Montepulciano went to visit him at Bologna. Since his blood brother was always in the presence of His Holiness, Father Jerome was well acquainted with him. After many discussions that good Father commended the poor Congregation to him. His Holiness replied, “You know that until now you all should have been disbanded. However, since I am aware that God loves and helps you, I cannot fail to help to help you. Be good and do not fail to fulfil your duty before the Lord God and you do not fail your good example to the Church.”

(397) Therefore when he arrived in Rome His Holiness convened the sacred Consistory in order to discuss the matter and give the order that our Congregation be removed. It was proposed in the senate of so many Illustrious Monsignori and the matter settled. They all decided to remove the imminent danger to the Church, since the Congregation had such a good reputation. If it was true that it had been contaminated, it was to be uprooted before it could germinate far and wide the thorns it kept hidden in its breast and would vomit the poison it had taken from Ochino. This would be ruinous to Christianity. After having weighed up all these things in the sacred Consistory they all concluded that what His Holiness proposed was right and approved his opinion and judgement that there was no better way than this to be free of the danger.

(398) It pleased the Lord our God to be present in that sacred College in support of the Capuchins. In all those things that concern the universal good of the Holy Church the Holy Spirit has never failed to be governor and guide over the tongues and decisions of the Prelates and Ministers of Holy Church, especially of its universal Head. Hence the Illustrious Monsignor Santa Severina was present in the Consistory. Having heard the acerbic words of His Beatitude against us as well as the opinion of the entire Consistory, he remained quiet and said because of the great love he bore towards our Congregation. Then God put his hand to our aid and made the Pope turn towards Monsignor Santa Severina. He said to him, “And you, Monsignor, you have not said a thing, so quiet and thoughtful! Why aren’t you saying anything? Say your opinion openly.” Showing himself moved by charity and justice together, with the formalities they use, the Cardinal answered. “Most Blessed Father. It seems to me that with our Brothers Your Holiness has already decided to uproot this Congregation of Capuchin Friars. I don’t blame this if it is true that the entire Congregation were blemished and contaminated by the cursed plague of heresy. I agree too to remove them from the body of the Church so that they not infect the others. However until now no one has proposed the way that the Congregation should be removed. I am not speaking about the other Brothers, but I see here such a great difficulty –that gives me a lot to think about. I don’t see very well how such a thing may be done without causing very great scandal and giving birth to such rumour and anger that God knows when it would ever quieten down. The reason is this. We know that at present the Congregation of Capuchin Friars has the greatest acceptance before the whole world. This is because they lead (at least in appearances) such a holy life and because their observance of the Rule is so lofty that it seems that the apostolic life in the world has been renewed and made present again through them. It seems strong to me that in leading such a life done this way externally that there are some good men among them and who go in the truth and are completely innocent. Our wanting to remove them puts us at further risk of scandal mainly by punishing the innocent. This is not only against charity but it is even against all justice. Furthermore we will give the world reason to murmur against us, saying that we can’t suffer to see before us one who lives in a holy way. Those who will say this will be Catholics. Hence there is a danger that scandalised by what we have done – and therefore this would the greatest scandal that could be given at present – that many will become heretics because of this, losing the devotion and faith that they have in this Consistory. They will say that the lax, the dissolute and the wretched are left to live without being bothered while those who want to live a strict, simple and apostolic life are extirpated by us and removed from the face of the earth. We don’t want to see them before us again because we fear the plague of heresy in them – and we are not so certain about this- so that they do not infect the others. We should also fear that with effect of annihilating them cause is not given the world to abandon the true faith of the Holy Roman Church and to draw near to the Lutheran sect. Furthermore we will give cause to the very heretics themselves in Germany to unfetter their cursed tongues in speaking evil of us for doing this thing. They already know about the life these poor fellows lead and are compelled to praise it. Now if they hear that we have removed it each of us can think what they will say and what a picture their tongues will paint of us. Now can’t if be that if Ochino is a wretch that these poor fellows may be good men? For this consequence does not necessarily follow that the Siena, the Head of this Congregation, has been discovered a heretic, therefore all the Friars are heretics. It doesn’t follow. Therefore let us be careful that in wanting to eradicate the darnel that we do not pull out the good grain. It would seem to me, that before we arrive at any resolute conclusion about this matter that a careful research be done very diligently as to whether they are heretics or innocent. If we find that they walk in the truth, let us help and support them in every way because this is the office of a good mother that the Holy Church is. But if we find that they are all culprits then we should do everything in our power to free the Church from such a danger. Thus when the world hears about our diligence we have had in this matter, they will give praise and not any blame. Therefore let us look to discover the truth and walk sure footedly so as not to stumble. For even though one hesitates, nothing is lost because of this, even if they are guilty as is feared, but this is not yet known for sure. For once their infirmity is known perhaps they ought not to be removed. We will not only be justified by this fact and be blameless, but as I have said we will be praiseworthy. Most Blessed Father and Illustrious Brothers, this is my opinion and my vote.”

(399) The Cardinal then stopped. This opinion and reasonable discourse pleased the entire sacred Consistory. Thus it was ordered that this be done. The universal Protector was called and His Beatitude ordered him to have all the Provincial Vicars and other Fathers of our Congregation come to Rome. Thus it was carried out.