About the holy man Brother Bernard of Fossombrone, a lay friar

Brother Bernard was from the city of Fossombrone situated in the dominion of the Duke of Urbino. His baptismal name was Jerome Scorzuolo, a good person of good standing with the world. When he heard that Father Louis and his other companions had taken up the capuchin habit and such an austere life, an incredible fervour ignited within him to follow them and to serve God in that holy Congregation. So that he could better serve God and do it as quickly as possible he began to lay a good foundation while still in secular dress. He dedicated himself to works of piety and wanted to enter the Association of Our Lady. He exercised himself at great length in holy prayers and giving his goods to the poor. He grew so much in fervour that before he entered the Order he wanted to go to Jerusalem to visit the holy places. After he had visited those places and returned he was even more inflamed with the love of God to follow Jesus poor and naked in this world. Hence he went to find Father Louis. On telling him about his good intention Father Louis received him. Father Louis told him the words of the Holy Gospel that he should give his goods to the poor. Before he was clothed in the habit he returned to Fossombrone and divided his goods with his brother who has the only one he had in the world. Once he had sold his part, in the Association of Our Lady he gave it all to the poor for the love of God. Once he had given everything away completely he returned to Father Louis and was clothed in the Capuchin habit. Because he was among the first who came to the Congregation, Brother Louis gave him the name Brother Bernard, after Blessed Bernard because he was the first he received in his office from his region.

He came to the Congregation in 1526. He was the sixth Friar of the Congregation. Although he knew how to read somewhat, nonetheless he wanted to be a lay Friar and to serve his brothers in the Order by ding humble tasks, working in the kitchen or the garden, collecting alms, and serving the poor sick with the great humility. Because of this our Lord adorned him with many virtues. He was very zealous in the observance of the Rule especially holy poverty that he had carved into his heart of hearts. He was its most faithful observer until his death. When he spoke about things pertaining to the Rule, he used to say with great fervour, “We Friars Minor should rather lose our lives than offend our profession. For we know how solicitously our Lord God cares for us in order not to break the promises he gave to our Seraphic Father. For when he was at Fonte Palombo and he told him that he wanted the Rule observed to the letter, he added, ‘I know how much human frailty can do, and I also know how much I want to provide for their needs.’ There has never been a time when his goodness has failed to keep that promise. For no matter how big the Order may be, or wherever the Friars are, His Majesty always takes care of them. He provides for all their needs either by means of seculars or truly miraculously through the holy Angels. The Order is full of examples of this. Now if God does not break his promises, it would be great madness on our part and a sign of great infidelity if we do not observe what we have promised him.”

Because of this the servant of God always wanted to dress roughly in cloth made from what is called arabesque. Brother Louis made him that habit and it lasted many years since he repaired it with patches. He put all sorts of patches on it. He never wanted to wear any other habit. On a journey he used to wear a little mantle that only just covered his arms and leaving his hands uncovered. He never wanted to have the use of anything that the Rule did not allow him. He always carried the Rule in his sleeve and never read anything other than the Rule. He used to speak about the Rule with such fervour that when he discussed it with the Friars it seemed as though he was in heaven. He always went barefoot. He never wore any sole until the day he died. He was also most austere in food for he hardly ate more than once a day, and mostly it was bread with raw vegetables. He hardly ever drank wine. When someone said to him, “What does it mean that you do not drink wine?” he answered, “I am too hot blooded. Wine is not good for me.” With this holy caution he concealed his abstinence.

At certain devout times like the Lent of Saint Michael, Holy Week and similar times, it was his custom to always remain withdrawn either in the forest or within his cell, eating only once a day bread and water. Usually he said spoke little or nothing with anyone, practising holy contemplation. He merited to receive from God especially the gift of tears and since e always carried the passion of Christ carved in his heart, he wept almost continuously. When he went on a journey he always went a little ahead of his companion. Sometimes he lagged so far behind his companion that he was often reprimanded. This happened because he would withdraw in to some little woods or somewhere that he could not be seen whenever his fervent moments came to him, driven by the overflowing with the spirit. There he wept so copiously over the passion of Our Lord that often the seculars who were there ran to see what it was. When Brother Bernard saw them, still weeping he began to speak highly of the passion of Christ that all the seculars dissolved into tears with him. On one occasion when he was in Assisi for the time of the Indulgence one of our skilful preachers gave a sermon in that city’s Cathedral called Saint Rufino. As that Father increased in fervour he spoke in the form of a dialogue about the virtues of Saint Francis and the opposite virtues of the city, saying, “Saint Francis was humble. And you, Assisi are proud.” These comparisons lasted a long time. When Brother Bernard heard the virtues of Saint Francis named he began to weep so copiously that the sound stopped the people from hearing the preacher. Although he was aware that the he was doing the wrong thing nonetheless the impetus of the spirit was such that he was not able to hold it back. I was present for this. These fervent episodes were seen in him continuously. The judicious Friars said that this came about because he was completely detached form the world and kept his mind purified of every earthly affection. Through this he always kept himself prepared to receive d the inspiration of God. This was obvious in that every time Friars or seculars said something worldly I understand that he never answered them, but immediately initiated some spiritual discussion. For almost as long as he lived he was tempted to abandon completely conversation with anyone and to hide himself away in some great solitude and live the anchoritic life like the early Fathers, living on herbs and fruit. However under the prompt of holy obedience he never wanted to consent to this.

There was one thing he had – that he liked wandering very much. He did this because he said, “It is a difficult thing to stay in friaries and not to have there any disordered affection. It is difficult to be able to avoid holding some dealings with either Friars or seculars. These things are a great detriment to the spirit and to the perfect observance of the Rule.”

This servant of God was accustomed two or three times each year in certain devout times to do the discipline of Our Lord that is, to give one self as many blows it is said that Our Lord received in his holy humanity. This was the disciple that the great servant of God Brother Anthony Corso had taught. The discipline was done with this rule. When they wanted to do it they withdrew to some secret place. Removing all their clothes they were completely naked. For a period of five hours they beat their bodies everywhere. Therefore when this servant of God, Brother Bernard, was in Macerata in Montefeltro, for many days he begged the Lord God with great insistence that he make him suffer something for his love. When Holy Week came he wanted to do the usual discipline of the five hours. Because it was extremely cold at the time and Brother Bernard was older, through that long discipline the Lord allowed that he become gravely ill. He bore that illness for many months since the Lord wanted to hear him and make him a sharer in his passion.

When he came to the end of his life, with great fervour and spirit and took a crucifix in his hand. Kissing the holy wounds he said, “My Lord, receive my spirit into the arms of your mercy. I give you infinite thanks that you have deigned in my infirmity to make me a sharer in something of your most holy passion and that for us sinners you have wanted to suffer on the cross. With this fervour he rendered his spirit to his creator after having received all the holy sacraments with great devotion.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.