On the devout and holy woman, Martha of Spoleto

442 The reckless life of Martha Scevoli 443 One of her brothers becomes a Capuchin 444 Her radical change of life 445 Her exercises of piety Her fame grows 446 Persecutions 447 Her death

(442) Martha was from a city in Umbria called Spoleto, from the noble family of Scevoli. She was the daughter of Scipio di Donio. She was very vain in her tender years, raised by her parents with great refinement. She married a young man called Francis Angelo. Divine providence permitted that she never children. Nonetheless her consort loved her very much. She lived in a worldly way with little spirit.

(443) It pleased the Lord God that one her beloved brothers, called Salvatore, was touched by the Holy Spirit and became a Capuchin Friar. I who write this clothed him in the holy habit. However since his brothers were very displeased that he would leave the world, and knowing that he was clothed, they ran and took him when he was on a journey. They didn’t want Salvatore to return they put him by force on a horse and tied him with rope like a sack. They took him home and so that he would not return they gave him a wife of the noble family Ancagiani. However because the Holy Spirit, who already possessed the heart of the devout youth, cannot tolerate someone leaving for the world whom God had called by his grace to the holy Order, the young man returned again secretly. I clothed him again and sent him to Citta` di Castello. He persevered and died in praiseworthy manner in the holy Order. He had the name Brother Jerome. He was well instructed in sacred theology and preached for many years. The four who took him back received just punishment from God. They all died suddenly within a short time. His father, Scipio, was always very devoted to our Congregation and was very happy for him to serve God.

However when Martha heard that her beloved brother had been clothed in the Capuchin habit, she left the house. Unkempt, like a drunk and beside herself because of her great sorrow and having forgotten all modesty she went crying loudly through Spoleto. It pleased the Lord God that she was struck by fear in such a way that from then on the world became tedious for her. It the bond of marriage could have been dissolved she would have followed her brother by becoming a Nun. Nonetheless she thought to live with her husband and lead a religious life just as she did. For with a holy intention she separated with her husband. And in a holy manner both observed inviolable chastity until death.

Her husband died first and left her with sufficient means so that she was able to live honourably with a servant.

(444) When she was dissolved from marriage she dedicated herself completely to the spiritual life and contempt for the world. She frequented holy prayer that she did with many tears and contrition for the time badly spent. She dissolved so much into tears that for a space of more than forty years she always wept copiously. So whenever she heard preaching, or the Mass, or other discussions about God that holy woman always wept so that everyone concluded that they had never seen a woman that wept so copiously and long as Martha did.

She achieved such purity of spirit and serenity of mind that her conscience rarely, if ever, accused her of venial sin. She received Holy Communion of all the feast days. For many years she frequented Holy Communion at the friary of the Capuchins. Because of her holiness she was allowed to go to confession to them.

After the exercise of holy prayer she dedicated herself to works of piety in visiting the sick. Very often she spent the entire night without ever sleeping, comforting those who were in transit to pass away to the better life.

God gave her this grace that she withdrew many of both sexes from a wick life to the spiritual life and she converted many to devotion for the Capuchins.

(445) She led an austere life. Everything that came to her from her wealth she dispensed to poor and pitiful persons. She had wonderful sympathy with persons who were troubled and she consoled them as much as she could with words and by providing for them in their needs. She did this in such a way that her reputation spread throughout Italy. When Martha of Spoleto was discussed, it seemed that there was no one else like her among spiritual persons. When some important person came to Spoleto, even many Prelates of Holy Church, lords and devout ladies, it did not seem right to them to leave that city without speaking with and knowing by face the woman who with such desire and spiritual affection they had known by reputation. The spirit redounded in this holy woman so much that they all departed quite edified.

(446) Nevertheless there was no shortage of opponents in order to exercise her in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happened in particular because she converted a Jewish girl by her good instruction and took her as a spiritual daughter and nurtured her in the Christian life. However the good works we do are not pleasing to our Lord God if they are not in conformity with our Saviour. For the space of thirty-three years continuously in all his good works from the instant of his conception until on the wood of the cross he breathed out his spirit that infinite goodness was accompanied by suffering. It was the same for this servant of God with the outstanding work of having gained that little soul for Christ our Lord. Such a persecution from her relatives came from it that if God had not helped her she would have been completely desperate. Because the persecution was very fierce and shameful in front of the world and it lasted some months. However it pleased the Lord God that the whole city knew about the innocence of Martha. As the saying goes: the truth is like oil that floats on all the other liquids. That young girl married a good young citizen and Martha was praised and honoured duly.

Because of this the holy woman did not fail to detach herself even more from the world and from herself completely with her spirit transformed in God. And just as it happens to fire when it is blown by the wind, so the Martha was opposed by the enemy, the more she burned with the love of God. She decided to give herself to God completely, along with all her wealth. She even left her dowry to the poor for the love of God.

Having arrived at a mature age she could not exhaust herself any more. Nonetheless, borne by love for sons the Capuchin Friars she went to Mass at their friary nearly every morning and often went to Holy Communion there.

(447) It pleased the Lord God to reward this servant of his. When a bad influenza came to almost all of Italy in 1591, on the tenth of June Martha passed away to the better life. She was buried with much honour in Saint Isani.

It was said she had performed two very notable miracles. However since I do not have complete knowledge of them I am not putting them down.

To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, of his most sweet Mother and of our Father Saint Francis, and in memory of the holy woman Martha of Spoleto. Amen.