About the holy man Brother Joseph of Coll’Amato, Priest

Brother Joseph was from a castle called Coll’Amato and situated in the dominion of Fabriano. When this servant of God heard about the Congregation of Capuchins he was inflamed with an incredible fervour and decided to abandon the world. Because he was only a youth of about eighteen years and very simple, he did not know how to find them. In that time they did not have any established friaries but stayed in the mountains of Fabriano like fugitives. This was because of the great persecutions that they experienced from their adversaries. However, as it pleased God, one day some one told Piermatteo as he was called that the Capuchins were near a castle called Cerreto situation in the same dominion of Fabriano. Since he was near to Coll’Amato the fine youth left home. When he found the servants of God in a wood he revealed to them his good intention. The first Friar with whom he spoke was Brother Paul of Chioggia. After examining him well he said to him, “God my son. Return home and think things over a little better. Meanwhile do not fail to commend yourself fervently to the Lord God about this. If your good intention lasts, come back and you will be received. However be well aware that if you become a Friar you will need to observe the Rule, which is very strict and arduous.” He carefully explained to him all the obligations contained in the Rule and that he would need to give away his goods for the love of God. “Therefore, once you have considered these things well and you are content to do these things, come back to us so that you may be received.” The devout young man replied, “With the help of God I am happy to do what you do. About goods however I do not have any because my father is still alive.”

So he returned home. He dedicated himself to his devotions more than ever before. For by himself he made an oratory in a very remote house his father had and where no one lived. He withdrew there on feast days and occupied himself there the whole day at prayer according to his simplicity. He said many devotions that he found in a little book of Our Lady. He often stayed there at night and did the discipline. He persevered in this many months and considered his situation well. One day his father and his mother were at a large house with all the family. They had gathered for some kind of recreation. The good youth Piermateo went off into a secret place and stripped naked. He took a piece of cloth and covered his shameful parts. So swathed in that cloth and with the little book of Our Lady in his hand, like the Precursor of Christ Saint John, with great joy he went into the house where the family was assembled. Kneeling in front of everyone he turned to his father and mother. He asked them permission because he intended to leave them and go off in the service of God. “Because I am sure,” said the devout son, “that I have not been that good, obedient son as is fitting I ask your forgiveness.” Then turning to the whole family he asked the same forgiveness of them, admitting his fault to them with many tears. Then he turned to his father and said to him, “My father, give me your holy blessing. I have decided to become on of the Capuchins who have just begun in order to do penance for my sins.”

However the whole family felt his departure would be hard for them. They said, “Although Piermatteo is young, he is the light of our house and keeps us all in peace. Now he wants to abandon us all.” Turning to his father they said, “Do not let him go. Do not give him your blessing.” Taking his time, his father said to him, “In our house who has ever made you do what you do not want? We do not want you to leave us?” Piermatteo answered, “My Father, you cannot keep me back because I am more obliged to the God than to you, especially since you do not really need me any longer because there are so many in the family. I will help you more in the service of God than if I were to stay in your house.”

His father and the others of the household saw that he was determined. Even though it saddened them very much, with many tears they gave him their blessing. Once he received it he went off immediately, very happy. Because of this pious deed they went into such mourning as happens when the dearest one in the family dies. That entire multitude was so moved that those nearby thought one of them had died and almost the whole castle had gathered round at the sound. Dry-eyed Piermatteo did not worry about his father and mother. Naked and full of spirit he left the world with all its vanity without saying a single further word.

That family was the largest there was in those parts. It was so old that that all the relatives together numbered about sixty.

When he arrived at the Capuchins he was received with great joy. The venerable Father Paul of Chioggia clothed him. Thus the poor Congregation grew to the number of seven Friars. Because they didn’t have a house he did almost all his novitiate in the mountains of Fabriano. There the friars rarely had enough bread to eat, and slept as best they could in farmhouses, or in some hut or cave. They were almost continuously in great fear and dread of being captured. Hence Piermatteo’s period of probation was very harsh with every kind of suffering.

Later as the Congregation consolidated he always led an exemplary life. Everyone regarded him as a holy man. He was uneducated but he always occupied himself in charitable works. When he was in the friaries he was always the altar server for the Friars and he did all the other lowly tasks. Quite often he was Guardian and Master of Novices for whom he provided the best example. They all said, “This good Father is the epitome of faithfulness.” He showed such kindness to everyone equally so that if anyone asked of him some task he never rested until he had satisfied his brother. Although he was very harsh to himself he was nonetheless very benign towards others. When he was still young he fasted almost continuously. Invariably on the vigils of Our Lady, all the Fridays of March and other devout times he fasted on bread and water. He was also very austere in his manner of dress. He always wore old clothes that were completely patched. He couldn’t go barefoot because he had one leg shorter than the other. He always limped somewhat. However, as for everything else he was a perfect observer of the austerity that the first Capuchins observed. He was very zealous about time because he was never idle. Almost every day he said the Office for the Dead because of the extraordinary devotion with which he held it close to his heart. When he had to go on a journey he used to say it by heart. Hence he always stayed a short distance from his companion.

Once this miracle happened to him. He was coming through the Roman countryside with eight Friars who were coming from the General Chapter held in Naples. They all found themselves weak from hunger and none of them had anything to eat and they were far from any habitation. After walking so hungry for a long time they became so weak that none of them could walk any further. They were under such a shadow of gloom that none of them spoke. When the holy man Brother Joseph saw this he consoled them. He said, “Dear Brothers, God never fails anyone who trusts in his goodness, especially his servants. Let us commend ourselves to God with all our heart and not worry.” He passed before all of them with those words. It was amazing for not long after God, the supreme provider, showed that the prayer and need of those servants had arrived to the mindfulness of His Majesty. For he immediately sent an Angel in the form of a fair youth. He passed along side all those who were going along that little road. He made no indication nor manifested to them. However when the arrived to the holy man Brother Joseph he gave him two large loaves of bread, white as snow, and said to him, “Father, take the alms that God, the Lord of all, is sending you and thank His Majesty.” When Brother Joseph took the bread he immediately disappeared before him. Unaware, never the less, that he was an Angel, Brother Joseph also thought that he had been a young man and that he had given two loaves to each of them because he had seen him pass by the side of all of them. With great joy he stopped and said to his other companions, “See what the Lord God has provided for us, as I was saying to you. Let us eat joyfully.” The companions replied, “Oh how we want to eat!” Brother Joseph said, “Hasn’t that young man given you some bread?” They all answered, “I haven’t seen anyone!” Then he knew the young man had been an Angel and he related the story to them. As he took the loaves from his sleeve they all knew clearly that it was a miracle of God. Even though they had been very hungry, when they ate those two loaves they were more than enough to satisfy their hunger. Finding themselves quite comforted, they thanked God again and again. They said, “God has showed us more than one miracle at the same time. We are all sure it was a miracle of God that none of us saw the young man, and that we have all been satisfied with such a small amount of bread.” Then they continued their journey very joyfully.

Therefore the servant of God Brother Joseph persevered in the service of God for many years. He was made Guardian at Fossombrone. At that time he was accustomed to get up every night one or two hours before Matins and persevere continuously in holy prayer. When the time came to say the Office he sounded the first bell. One night while he was in the church he felt himself so overwhelmed with congestion, which took away his speech almost completely. When the Brothers got up he indicated to them that he felt ill. The sickness worsened. When he had received all the holy sacraments and was near to death he had all his sons, the Friars, called to him. With great tenderness he blessed them and gave them holy water. Shortly afterwards that soul passed away to its creator.

He was buried in a tomb the Friars had just made. Later, however, they thought it would be better to put him in the old tomb with the other holy men who were buried there. Many days later they exhumed that holy body. It was a miracle of God. They put the body on a large stone and it left there quite a fragrance. Though they knew nothing about this, when the seculars came Mass they smelled the fragrance and all ran to that stone. Amazed, they said, “What can this fragrance be?” The Friars felt this was a great vanity and because of all the chatter that the seculars were doing there they caused a great disturbance when the Masses were said because it was close to the church. To remove the fragrance had the stone completely plastered. When they opened the old tomb the very same fragrance came out. They could smell not only in the church but all around that place. Because of this the holiness of those servants of God who had been buried there earlier became well known.

To the praise of our Lord God, of His most fair Mother and of our Father Saint Francis. Amen

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