On certain revelations Our Lord Jesus Christ gave to a great servant of his called Brother John the Spaniard, Capuchin and Martyr

416 The revelations of John Zuazo on the future of the Congregation 417 On the revelations in particular: a) The Congregation is pleasing to the Lord; b) it is the worthiest, highest and most perfect state; c) no heretic will die in it; d) the conduct of the General pleases the Lord very much; e) in what consists the observance of the Rule; f) abuses displease God very much; g) regarding preaching; h) two kinds of Friars; I) divine Providence towards the Capuchin Order; j) the certainty of these visions; k) about the Brief issued against the Observants who came to the Capuchins; l) two other kinds of Friars; m) on obedience to the General of the Conventuals; n) four degrees in the observance of the Rule; o) on obedience to the Prelates of the Church; p) on Purgatory; q) criteria to knew whether these revelations are true; r) their purpose 418 Various redactions of these revelations 419 Conclusion

(416) The General Chapter had been held in Rome and it was after the election of the venerable Father Francis of Iesi as General by the whole Congregation. It pleased the Lord God to re-assure everyone with different apportions and revelations just how pleasing the Congregation of Capuchins was to him. In particular there was great servant of God called Brother John the Spaniard. He was very assiduous in holy contemplation, as will be said in his biography.

Father General enjoined him therefore to ask the Lord about some passages and some doubts that were useful to the Congregation when he appeared to him in prayer. That our Lord appeared to him in prayer was commonly known among the Friars. Although the Lord revealed many things to him, the General did not want to know about any of them unless they were useful for the Congregation.

So this servant of Christ, Brother John the Spaniard, a priest, was in the friary named Magdalene at Montepulciano. He was there in September and part of December 1543. He was there in the month of April until 10 July in 1544. In that friary this servant of God led an anchoritic life. He ate only once a day and that was just a little bread and water. He remained withdrawn in a little cell above the other cells in a corner of the Friars’ dormitory. He didn’t come to the Office or any of the other things with the other Friars except every morning he said Mass with great devotion. Then he immediately withdrew to that cell. These revelations were given to him at three times and in two particular places. One part was in that friary at Montepulciano. The other part was in the Friary at Assisi called the Carcarelle.

(417) Therefore the General was in the place at Montepulciano when this particular question occurred to him: Was this the true Reform of the Order of Saint Francis? By this he understood that the true Reform is the one prophesied by our Father Saint Francis and that had to be done in the last days. That is, it is the last Reform of the Order. He enjoined Brother John to ask the Lord about this in particular when he appeared to him as he had done at other times: if it would please him to reveal to Brother John how pleasing the Congregation was to him. And if it was for his glory and universal usefulness and if it pleased him that these things could be written down.

a) When the Lord appeared to him in the aforesaid friary, Brother John asked him saying, “My Lord, you know what has been enjoined on me by my Superior. Now if it is acceptable to you and if it results in you glory, may it please you to reveal to me how pleasing the condition of our Congregation is to you. For as you know we find ourselves amid great travail.” The first revelation lasted almost the whole month of December. During this time he appeared often with great visible splendour and spoke to him out loud. Once he spoke to him in his mind and with greater splendour, but inwardly and not visibly. He said to him, “Know my son that I have made this Congregation and it is very pleased and beloved to me. Therefore say also to the General that he can be happy because I am take special care of it and it cannot fail because of any diabolical or human malice.” Although this vision lasted for a long time and he revealed and showed to him wonderful things, nonetheless the Lord didn’t want Brother John to tell the General anything other than the things that were useful for the Congregation.

When he heard these things the Father General was felt completely re-assured within himself to not be surprised at either the struggles or travails that would happen to them, but to help the poor Congregation with zeal and all solicitude. Giving a sermon he said, “I no longer worry to much about Friars who leave the Congregation because the Lord takes care of it and he is the one who provides for it. Let each one be on his guard not to go crooked because the Lord will chase him from the Congregation immediately. As for myself I fear that the Lord may send me away for not being what he would want. Where have you ever seen greater blows than those our Lord has given to the bad Friars who were in this poor Reform? He has not only driven them from the Order also from his Church and with his permission he has let reprobates go off the heretics. There has never been a zeal so great as that which the Lord has had and still has to preserve this holy Reform.”

b) The second interval was during the following winter in the month of December, close to the Nativity of Our Lord. Brother John was more assiduous at prayer than usual when the Lord appeared to him openly. He contemplated him with his physical eyes. The first words he said to him were, “Know Brother John, just as I have said to you already, that the Congregation is the worthiest, highest and most perfect state there is. It is more acceptable and pleasing to me than any other state in the whole Church militant and in all of Christendom. Know too that I delight in this Congregation more than any other state. Repeating it often he said, “You can be certain that if there were another state or another life more perfect than this one I would have shown it to you and I would give you light and the opportunity so that you could go there and serve me. But because there is none more perfect, by persevering in this state in the true observance of the Rule until death you will be most pleasing to me and I will delight in you.”

The Lord told him that he wanted delight in him, therefore he gave him the grace to go to preach to the infidels and he flew off to heaven with the palm of martyrdom.

c) The third interval was in the following Spring, from the month of April near Easter until the 12th of July. In this one the Lord God deigned to condescend and show himself in such a kindly and familiar way to Brother John. He did not only during his continuous prayers, Masses and Divine Offices day and night, but even while he was eating and sometimes while he rested. He appeared to him with the greatest abundance, liberality and clarity. He said to him, “Know Brother John that the Congregation is very pleasing to me just as I have told you at other times. In the Congregation I do not want any Friar who has died in mortal sin. Although I may wait some time to allow for penance, nonetheless I will finally send away all the incorrigible Friars who do not amend their ways and live with malice in the Congregation.” Our Lord was referring to those Friars who have died in heresy. And the Father General understood that God would not permit any heretic to die in this holy Reform with the holy habit of Saint Francis while it did not mean that they could die there in other mortal sins.

d) The Lord revealed more to him, saying, “The General and other Superiors should not feel sad at the departure of Friars because I permit this because of my hidden judgement. However with every diligence they should maintain the others who remain in spirit and fervour, joyful and content in the true and pure observance of the Rule. It pleases me very much,” the Lord said, “that with his sermons the Vicar General enlighten, preserve, strengthen and increase the love of the Friars in their perseverance just as he has done until now.” The Lord also said, “It pleases me that he recognises this gift and benefit I have given him of being elected Prelate and Pastor of such a seraphic and evangelical flock. I grant it such perfection in all these difficult times. Therefore he should acknowledge that all good comes from me. Let him be careful not to consider himself adequate, rather let him strive to fulfil the duty his office requires and to give good example. With good example and sermons, he should enlighten his sheep inwardly and externally as is required of such a shepherd. If he feels that he does not have the strength to do this office, let him not worry and many he not lack faith. Because I will help him all the more. I will not fail to supply for him since I have chosen him and enjoined on him this burden.”

e) The revealed to him still more and said, “Know, Brother John, that true observance of the Rule consists completely in having in truth my true, living and pure Spirit as is written in the rule; just as it also says that all things must serve that Spirit. Moreover I tell you, Brother John that many Friars without this spirit and without true humility and ardent charity want to show themselves too zealous about poverty. However with that dry and cruel zeal the knock down and confound the true and pure spiritual observance of the Rule. In this they become proud, contentious, restless and unstable. Becoming restless among themselves they completely leave behind the peaceful and tranquil foundation of holy and evangelical poverty and humility, since through their continuous restlessness they drive from themselves the true, living, holy and charitable spirit, the ultimate foundation of the Rule. Know that all the other ceremonies, exercises and observances are worthwhile and please me in so far as they proceed from that Spirit and lead to holy prayer and a living love for me. Without these conditions the above mentioned things displease me, or rather, they displease me very much as things that are opposed to the true spirit. Know, Brother John, how much it has pleased me to see you – through my grace- completely stripped of all earthly things and submitted to me. You have practiced in this spirit for about fifteen years. During which time I say that you have never failed to perfectly observe the precepts and counsels of the Rule. Know that I want these things written down for universal usefulness so that the Friars may knows that true observance consists in this. Therefore I have wanted that it be written in the Rule: super omnia desiderare debent habere spiritum Domini .

Constrained by the will of the Lord, even though he in himself he recognised as very vile and completely unworthy of such a gift, Brother John would never have been aware of this perfect observance if the Lord had not revealed it to him. And the Lord commanded him that he would have all these things written down.

f) Furthermore the Lord said to him how much the observance of the holy evangelical counsels pleased him. I very much lament, “said the Lord, “over Friars of the Congregation who though they have the name and order as true observers of the gospel many of them distrust my providence. They wear pockets and carry provisions of things to eat as if they were in the land of the infidels. In the friaries they do superfluous quests and keep provisions for many days with some excuse that Friars might arrive and such similar things. These things promote laxity more and are more sensual and are not in conformity with evangelical perfection. Those who are in the truth trust in me both when on journeys and in all the other friaries. With a living and true faith they go without any provision, entrusting themselves to my providence. I have never failed these in their necessities but have provided for them abundantly.”

Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Know that the Constitutions please me very much, and much more their observance. They explain how to observe the holy gospel counsels and Rule. I lament that some Prelates break and act against these ordinances for the smallest reason that is more towards laxity than perfection. It also displeases me when they enforce the Constitutions without keeping an eye on charity towards ones neighbour. The Constitutions should be observed while keeping an eye on love for me and for ones neighbour and with spirit. Without that spirit and my love nothing pleases me.”

g) Furthermore the Lord said, “It pleases me supremely that the Friars completely submit themselves and trust in my providence and goodness and totally distrust themselves.” This was because when His Holiness took away the faculty to preach because of the departure of Ochino, the Father General enjoined on the Friars that they not preach after asking the Lord is this was his will. Then the Lord said to him, “It pleases me supremely that Friars completely submit to my will in every thing and trust in my providence as said above.”

The Lord added further, “It displeases me that Friars trust in the favours of the world or of some friend. They should neither desire nor ask of me either paradise or anything, but serve me simply for the sake of my love, casting all their cares from themselves onto me. Nor should they ask from me the favour to preach which I have taken from the Congregation by means of my Vicar because it was not expedient that they repatch. Nor should they desire anything because this is the state of perfection and these things are all unfitting because they tarnish a living hope in my providence that this state of perfection requires. However it seems to me that if they submit to my good pleasure in all things, they should not look to anything else about preaching. Rather they should fervently beg me that I make use of them and glorify myself in them and show my goodness when, how and where it pleases me and is for my greater glory.

h) Furthermore the Lord revealed to him, “Know, Brother John that there are two kinds of Friars. The first love me with a strong love. These are all those who strive to persevere in my grace and remain completely free of mortal sin. I have many of these not only in the Order but also in the world. However I am much more pleased with those in this Congregation because they are more detached from the world and who are in this grade than I am with all the others together who are outside the Congregation, that is in the world, and who practice in this degree. The second kind of Friars are those who love me with a strong and fair love. There are few of these. Nonetheless there are many more in the world than in the Order. I am not saying that they are more perfect, but they are of greater simplicity and lack malice. I am well pleased with those who are very much in this grade, the more so when I find them in true observance and in the perfect state of imitation of my gospel.”

i) “Know, Brother John, that his Congregation is much beloved to me and much loved by me. If it happened that there were only three Friars who remained in the true observance of the Rule, I would be more pleased with them than with the rest of the whole world. Know that I don’t take account of many Friars and great preachers who have little trust in me and even less observe the Rule and the evangelical perfection shown them in that Rule. However I do take account of those please me because they totally submit to me and desire nothing else as their final purpose but me. Know that even though the true and perfect observers of the Rule are few, considering the great multitude of the Order, nonetheless when it please me I will glorify my self in them. With these few I will make myself known to the world that in all the rest of the world together. Therefore I tell you I have taken away preaching from the Congregation (as I told you), for my Vicar has carried out my will, because it is not expedient for them to preach. For the world is scandalised because of Ochino, not because of hearing the preaching but by pointing them out the people would go to them. I will be glorified in you much more by your humility, you remaining patiently resigned to obedience to my Church than I would be if you preached. I want you to preach with silence and good example for preaching with example is no less important or of less merit than preaching with words. When it pleases me, I will restore preaching with greater fruit of souls and for my greater glory.

“Further I tell you Brother John that the Congregation is still not completely purged of foul-smelling heresies. Though there are no heretics, but there are some that have been infected. Therefore I do not want the Congregation to preach as long as these Friars do not review themselves, blinded as they are through the instigation of the devil. In fact if they remain obstinate I will have driven them out of the Congregation. Because they are the cause of impeding preaching, with great harm to my Church because of the fruit of souls that the good preachers would have had by preaching. I will send them away too both for having tarnished my Congregation that I love so much and also for having given scandal to the Christian people. Know that if they do not review themselves they will not only be driven from this Congregation but I will cut them off like dry branches from my Church and from me, head of the Church in this life and in the next.”

j) The Lord appeared to him for many days. He always affirmed the same, saying all the aforesaid things that will be soon fulfilled. Do not worry whether these apparitions are deceits or illusions of the enemy because divine providence never does anything in vane but orders all things to their due end. “Therefore one does not need to think whether such a Reform and Congregation is founded and ordained by my clemency and kindness. It is criterion of my work if it is known to be attacked, opposed and persecuted by the demons and their members; and if I free it from so many tempests, debilitating and confounding the power and strength of the adversaries. Now that the port of salvation is near, even though the Congregation is still travailed, nonetheless it will come to its goal by my grace. The fruit I intended to derive from it when I ordained it will follow when I it pleases me. Nor will it be impeded.”

k) Note that the Zoccolanti had obtained a Brief from His Holiness so that none of the Friars could come to the Capuchins. Father General enjoined on Brother John to ask the Lord, if it pleased him, to reveal his will on this matter and if that Brief had to be observed. When he appeared to him the Lord responded to the question. He said, “Tell the General that if any good Friar comes from the family, it pleases me that he receive him even though the Brief is to the contrary. Because the Brief was obtained by human favour and was not proposed by my Vicar himself. Furthermore the Pope cannot prohibit a non-Christian man from living in a Christian way and observing the divine law. Similarly the Pope cannot prohibit a Friar from observing his Rule and, if he is professed, he cannot prohibit him from living as a Religious if he can and wants to do so. Nonetheless, since there is the Brief, for the sake of reverence towards the authority of the Church is does not please me if the Brief be disdained. Therefore so that it does not generate scandal and look like some disdain toward the things of the Church, these Friars should be received very cautiously and without a din by sending them to the furthest Provinces. Although the Brief is of such a tenor, nonetheless it is not the will of my vicar. He granted the Brief because of their insistence. I am very pleased with some Prelates who have acted this way.”

Note that the Father General wanted to be sure and when he spoke with His Holiness regarding what his will was regarding the Brief, he found it was just as the Lord had revealed it. His Holiness said to him, “I granted them that Brief because of their insistence. However, receive the Friars still. However, so that they do not take up my ears all day, do it cautiously and transfer the Friars away.”

l) The Lord appeared to him another time. He said to him, “Know Brother John that in the Congregation there are two kinds of Friars, both blameless and pure. However the first are like dry sticks that are disposed to receive fire. They might not come to the perfect simplicity to which I have called them and to which I desire them to come. However because of the violence they do to themselves out of love for me they may yet be ready. When the time I have appointed comes I will ignite the fire of love there and with the abundance of my grace I will make use of them to my glory. The second kind are those who come to the perfect purity of a perfect life. These are completely submissive and ordered to my will in such a way that they are purged of all self-will. They desire nothing else than to be conformed to my will. These are rare. Without a living spirit it is impossible to observe the Rule meritoriously and perfectly. Know that those who truly do not seek this spirit not only do not observe the Rule but attack it in the others and destroy it as much as they can. These displease me intensely.”

m) Note that this doubt emerged among the Friars, whether the congregation stood with good conscience under the General of the Conventuals since the General of the Zoccolanti had the seals of the Order. Our General wanted to clarify this doubt. He enjoined on Brother John to ask the Lord about it. When he appeared to him, Brother John asked him about the doubt to which the Lord answered. He said, “Know, Brother John, that the Friars Minor promise obedience in three degrees and to three kinds of persons. This is contained in the first Chapter of the Rule where obedience and the observance of the Gospel are promised to me and out of love for me the authority of Holy Church is received. The second is the obedience promised to the head of the Church, which is the Pope and his successors canonically elected to whom Saint Francis promises obedience and reverence. However in the third place and degree, for the sake of my love, all the Friars of the Order promise holy evangelical obedience to Saint Francis and to the other successors. In regard to the first degree of Christ and the Church to whom they promise obedience there is no doubt because without doubt they are obliged to obey me. As for the second degree, which is obedience to my Church in her Head, there is equally no doubt. However in regard to the third degree where they promised obedience to Saint Francis and his successors, as the main head, some doubt occurs here. Therefore it is necessary to see who is the successor of Saint Francis to whom the Friars are obliged to obey because of the Rule. The Order is divided into three Congregations – the Conventual, the Zoccolanti and the Capuchins. So it has to be seen whether the successor of Saint Francis comes from the Conventuals, since they are the more ancient, or whether he comes from those who are more perfect in the observance of the Rule. If it is according to antiquity the General of the Conventuals is the successor of Saint Francis since they are the more ancient and the immediate successors and not the Zoccolanti. Regarding this first argument, according to the Rule the one who obeys their head doubtlessly observes the Rule. Therefore the successor of Saint Francis can be understood in terms of the perfection in the pure observance of the Rule. In regard to this argument then the General who imitates Saint Francis through the pure observance of the Rule is the true successor of Saint Francis and consequently is the true General. Therefore the one who obeys the General of the Capuchins is doubtlessly secure in his conscience in this matter and is acceptable to me.”

n) Appearing to him another time, the Lord said, “True observers of the Rule must have three degrees. Three are necessary and one is for perfection. The first thing necessary is that they are grateful to me for such a high vocation and for the many benefits kindly granted them by me in their vocation in these times when the whole world is deprived of all goodness and full of every malice. Therefore know that who do not acknowledge these great benefits and pay me with ingratitude. I will chase them not only from the Order but I will remove them from my Church. The second degree is purity from every sin. Although this is required of all Christians, nevertheless I require it more strictly in the Friars. I tell you that if I find some Friars tarnished by heresy, no matter how small the stain may be, I will chase them not only from the Congregation but also from my Church. Know that I will not endure for very long that in this Congregation there may be Friars corrupted by any monstrous vice. The third necessary degree is that I want the Friars to preserve peace, concord and tranquillity among them. For it is written, “The Lord shrinks back from the bloodthirsty and crafty man.” Know that if I require peace among all Christians, I require it all the more of professors of such a high state. Therefore know that if I find in them pride, the ambition to dominate and stand over others – since I didn’t endure this vice in the Angels – much less will I endure it for very long in the congregation. However those whom I have chosen to be Prelates should be humbler than the others, considering that they are the servants of all because of the office they hold. Nor do I want murmuring and persecution in the Friars. Nor do I want them tho be the occasion of disquiet. Rather may they all be submissive to me. Otherwise I will provide there if I do not find all mortification, peace, charity, sweetness, heartfelt goodwill and loving kindness. The fourth degree is that they should desire my spirit and his holy operation above all things. In that living spirit consists all evangelical perfection. Only with that can each Friar be acceptable to me and I exhort all the Friars to direct all the working to this end in order to acquire my spirit and love.

o) Another time, repeating it often he said to him, “Know that it is my will that the Friars establish themselves totally in holy mother Church and in the determinations revealed by the Holy Spirit in the sacred Councils. Let them in no way doubt any of these determinations or the doctrine of my church even if the learned of the world with reasons either by way of Scriptures or by miracle or by any other way demonstrate the contrary. I say further that if an Angel descend visibly from heaven and show the contrary to what has been revealed and determined by my saints in the Church they should in no way believe him. For in order to understand the Scriptures two things are required: that is, true and deep humility and my true spirit that gave and ordained the Scripture itself. My will is understood and known by that spirit. That spirit is not given to the proud and worldly, because it is written “You have hidden these things from the wide and prudent and revealed them to little ones.” However those who do not want to humble themselves and believe in my Church and in me and what I have said through my friends and saints are all my enemies and err like the proud, unfaithful and obstinate. Because of the temerity of their presumption, abandoned by me they have fallen in the mouth and into the claws of the infernal bargain. Everything they say, show and use they do as members of Lucifer, seduced by the subtleties and wiles revealed by the demons as punishment for their pertinacity. For my glory and the correction of my Church I have allowed them to have authority to falsely expound and explain the Scriptures. I will allow this error in so far as it pleases me. It is not fitting for you to penetrate my judgements but only to attend to the true and perfect observance of everything you have promised me through the rule. Be careful not to judge anyone even if you see many transgressions in Religious and Prelates. Rather be mindful of what is written, “They sit on the chair of Moses, etc.” But attend to what comes next; “Observe and do whatever they tell you.” Therefore believe those who as holy men, my faithful friends, have had the true spirit and who have shown and explained more with their example and my imitation that with words. Above all, believe firmly in purgatory.

p) Note that our Lord then showed purgatory amply and clearly through the authority of the Old and New Testaments. He also added other reasons which this servant of God di not want to put on paper. No one knows why. He only wrote that the Lord said to him, “Oh Brother John if to enter in this mortal life in some contemplation and knowledge of my greatness and goodness, a little stain of sin that pricks the conscience impedes you so that you cannot enter this contemplation. If great purity of mind is required for contemplation, how much more is cleanliness and purity of every stain is required in those who want to enter into contemplating my essence face to face and to be ever transformed in the abyss of my divinity! Therefore purgatory is necessary in the next life. The conclusion is this. Those who will not be purged in this life and who will die in this life will be purged in the next life. And I tell you more Brother John, that anyone who sets himself to dispute with the heretics is wasting his time and is putting himself in the greatest danger. There is no hope of converting them. For if they do not want to believe so many very wise and holy doctors and all my Church that is superior to the whole world, how can you hope that they should have to believe you with much less learning and authority. As it si written, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, etc.”

q) “And I tell you Brother John that you do not have to worry whether these things are revelations and illusions of the demon since they can easily be known by many means to be from me. First, by the interval of time because I have persevered continuously for a year, revealing to you the aforesaid things. I have always affirmed the same thing with greater light and clarity, more the last time than the earlier ones that lasted from the beginning of April almost continuously until the octave of the Visitation of my Mother. Then it stopped because you had to write down all these things for general usefulness. Second, you have to believe for this reason. These revelations are in conformity with the Scriptures and holy doctors. The doctors say that among the other characteristics that they must have to be true revelations, this is the first. When they illumine the intellect and inflame the heart and in oneself one knows by an inner light that these are revelations as true and given by God. Third, you can know from this that they are true because in the last interval I should you clearly the consciences of some of the Friars who have been in the hands of the demon for many years. When you called them in a secret place you revealed to them everything. With compunction and contrition because of your good admonitions they confessed to you and amended their ways. And I showed you that I have accepted them into my grace and want to help them in persevering in the Congregation. Furthermore, there was that other Friar. Even though you told him truth on my behalf about some error he was in, that Friar told you clearly that no one else but God could know such a thing. However since he didn’t want to accept your advice, let alone be humbled in your presence, he left the Congregation straight away. Fourth you can believe it because all the things I have shown you are catholic and in conformity with your Rule and to the evangelical imitation observed by me and by my saints. All those who observe these things, dying before the time in which they are fulfilled, will carry off the reward just like the Patriarchs and the Prophets. They acquired merit because they believed and observed what I showed them. Their reward was Messiah who was to come. And if there was something written in these revelations which they didn’t understand, let them remember that that the mysteries and revelations of God can never be fully grasped by men. These mysteries are of infinite depth although you have tried to write them according to what I have shown you and you have struggled to explain them. Know nonetheless that all the human tongues that want to tell of my mysteries become mute under the splendour and demonstrations of my high wisdom. If I have often repeated the same things I have done so for greater clarity.

r) Therefore may each Friar be attentive to these things as much as possible with the same spirit by which they were made and he will be enlightened. Know that I have done all this for the sake of my glory in order to have greater cause to glorify myself in you for you profit and to give courage the my true servants and friends. I have done all this to show you that I am taking care of this Congregation and also to make known how much merit holy obedience has before me. For you were constrained to ask me these things by obedience to the Vicar General when you were in the Fraternity of Saint Lawrence in Assisi at the time of the Indulgence. Brother John you thought nothing that the General should oblige you. Therefore when you had fulfilled the duty to obey, I did not want to fail to hear you since the requests and questions of the General for my glory and your usefulness were all just, fitting and holy. I haven’t done this for you, because you are a lowly man, though my servant by my grace. With the abundance of my revelations you have been totally ready and humbled, abandoning yourself completely to my arms.

(418) In this house the Lord commanded this servant of God, Brother John, – a Capuchin Friar then in the holy Congregation and now blessed in heaven with the palm of martyrdom – not to ask him anything else either for the Congregation or about any matter, or any person until he be told otherwise. Like an obedient son he observed this perfectly. From then on Brother John did not ask the Lord to reveal anything to him. The revelations ended here. The Father General had them copied and these corrected. However many simple persons have written them and contaminated and diminished them.

(419) Therefore this servant of God was a great benefit to the Father General since the whole Congregation was in travail. From these revelations the poor Congregation knew how much God loves it. This helped very much to confirm the hearts of the Friars in their love for the perfect observance of the Rule. Also it became known how through the prudence of His Holiness and of the entire sacred Consistory these were moved with such kindness, solicitude and charity to provide for the Congregation and to give it every possible support as will be said below. To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.