On the holy man Brother Matthew of St. Leo Priest and Preacher

Brother Matthew was from a city called St. Leo situated in the dominion of the Duke of Urbino. He was born of noble parents. At the beginning of his life he applied himself to learning and succeeded in acquiring a good introduction to grammar. When he was about seventeen years old he decided to leave the world and serve God in some Order. And as it pleased divine providence the devout youth was received into the Congregation of Zoccolanti. When he made profession those Fathers recognised his good mind. Since he had had a good introduction they judged that he would derived great profit from learning. So they promoted him to study and within a short time he turned out to be a very good preacher, quite well instructed in scholastic doctrine.

However the Order found itself completely confused because of the Reform. Burning with an immense desire to do penance and to observe his profession perfectly, Brother Matthew did all he could to be put into that Reform. However since those Fathers saw he had such a good mind and that he was endowed with every good manner, it seem wrong to them that he should study. They hoped that he would one day become a great man. Because there was not study in the Reform they didn’t want to send him to it. However they said to him, “Do not worry. Study a little because you what you desire will be granted to you.” Finally he let it be understood that he had not come to the Order in order to become learned but to observe the Rule of Saint Francis and to serve God, as is fitting. He used many means so that he was granted the grace and was put into the Reform.

However his heart was not very satisfied because he saw the Reform always attacked. Seeking advice sometimes from some holy men, for whom he had devotion he said, “Father, I feel as though we are not within the perfect observance of the Rule. Seeing the Reform so troubled disturbs my spirit. Advise me about what I may do to quieten my spirit because I desire to do penance for my sins.” Those good Fathers said to him, “Be calm my son. Troubles are always found in the service of God because the devil never stops impeding anyone who wants to do good. Instead this is a very good sign that you are so attacked when you want to serve God. Give yourself to holy prayer because of one of two things: either this Reform will go ahead or God will truly provide another better than this one. The Order of Saint Francis cannot fail because the Lord God promised this to our Father Saint Francis. And if God did not provide and did not reform it, it would have been completely ruined before today. However we see that the Order makes some change every fifty years. WE have seen this in the past with the many Reforms that have arisen. And I have just heard that Brother Matthew of Bascio has obtained from His Holiness (permission) to be able to reform. He has taken up that Father Saint Francis and the whole Order wore of old. This troubles the Father Minister and the whole Order very much. Therefore in a little while we will see. Let us give ourselves to prayer and ask the Lord specifically that what is best will result from this. Our Fathers do not want a Reform done, thinking it would give them some trouble. They are not aware that another will emerge that will give them much more trouble than what ours gives them.”

When Brother Matthew saw this, an incredible fervour ignited within him. For many months he persevered in the greatest abstinence. He continuously commended himself to God so that he might give him the grace and the opportunity to be able to follow Brother Matthew of Bascio. He waited for someone else to join him and a small start be given to the Capuchin Reform. From day to day he was like a cat on a hot tin roof about going to locate the Capuchins. When he heard that Brother Louis of Fossombrone along with some others had taken up the Capuchin habit and that they numbered seven Friars, this servant of God could no longer resist the Spirit. Leaving one night he went to find the Capuchins. Because there was as yet no formal leader among them, he was accepted with great joy by them all. He was the eighth Friar and Brother Louis put the Capuchin habit on him.

Since they didn’t have preachers this servant of God immediately began to preach with such fervour that he set the entire of the Marches abuzz. This was because he preached in the city and he was very successful. Because he did not have his letters, Brother Matthew could not preach usually. Hence since they were so few the poor fellow went off preach, very often on his own. After he had preached he begged a piece of bread and withdrew to some place, persevering continuously in holy prayer. At night he withdrew to some farmhouse, though often he stayed under a tree in the woods in the countryside.

His preaching in a capuchin habit inflamed their adversaries when thy learned of it so that the poor fellows were not safe anywhere. Because of this he was always in great fear of being taken and having to die in some prison. He always went barefoot, both in summer and winter and almost continuously sustained his life with a little bread and water. Since he often had no bread he ate herbs and fruits and whatever he could. He went with just one totally patched habit and a poor mantle.

This was the reason that the Congregation did not grow very much for ten years, because there were few who had the courage to suffer what those servants of God suffer in the midst of so many persecutions. None the less it was a great gift of God that all those who joined them entered into such fervour in that suffering that they would have preferred to die rather than leave that habit. What happened among them was like what happens to someone who holds a warm ball in his hand. The ball warms the hand and the hand keeps the ball warm. So suffering inflamed this servant of God, Brother Matthew, in the love of God and that love warmed and comforted him.

I was informed that this servant of God was so dedicated to holy prayer that is he had not been interrupted by the needs of nature he would have persevered in prayer continuously. Therefore he delighted in solitude so much that he rarely let himself be seen. When he went to preach the greatest trouble he suffered was to answer those persons who asked him to which Order he belonged. The conversation of this servant of God was a great benefit to the poor Capuchins because he explained to many the reason why they had left the Congregation of Zoccolanti and that they were not excommunicated as many said. Such devotion towards them grew because of this that anyone who could hear his preaching and be blessed by him regarded himself as truly blessed.

When the poor fellow went for alms he always went to unknown villages and places in order to avoid adversaries. Because of this he did not find much except bits and pieces, such as are given to the poor. For he was not known or considered a Religious. Hence he hardly ever ate anything other than morsels. He never saw soup or other things to eat.

This was the reason the poor fellow, because he had such a feeble constitution, lived only for a short time. This was something wonderful. He became ill in a village near Camerino. A farmer welcomed him into his house. However, since he felt his lengthy sickness was a nuisance, he begged the farmer to take him to the city. When he took him there with great charity, the devout servant of God no longer wanted to stay in anyone’s house. He had himself put in a little house situated in the villa San Valentino. The servant of God stayed there in a derelict house where there was a little straw. Although certain good persons wanted to give him cloth he did not want to accept anything but a poor and simple blanket. Putting his mantle on the straw he covered himself with the blanket. Evening and morning some devout persons brought him food. There the loving servant of God remained in the greatest and extreme poverty, awaiting the final hour to render his spirit to his creator. His fervour was such that although he was gravely ill he nevertheless prayer assiduously. With many tears he prayer to God in particular those who persecuted the poor Congregation so viciously.

Many times he spoke with some devout persons whom he knew understood. He said, “I have not other delight that to see….his adversaries in charity….and since they do not want to do good, they do not allow the one who wants to do good to live in peace.”

The servant of God persevered many days in this grave illness within that house which was next door to the house of some Friars called the Apostolini. He was given all the holy sacraments. Shortly afterwards that holy soul passed away to its creator without anyone knowing. However the Lord God did not want for this servant of his that his holy life go to the tomb in silence. Instead his Dive Majesty wanted the death of his servant broadcast with the trumpets of holy church. For the bells of Saint Francis rang by themselves for him, without any hand ringing them. Because of this miracle there was such a hullabaloo and gathering of people that the whole city was moved, asking what this meant. Those people who had been present gave them various replies and began to say, “See whether that servant of God has died, the one who was sick in house.” After running to that house they found him dead with his hands joined. This came to the ears of the Duke and all the leaders in the town. It was ordered that he be buried in the same church. All the clergy, the Duke and almost all the people went in procession. With great honour they brought the holy body and buried it in that church. Everyone said, “Now the merits of these Capuchin servants of God are obvious. The bells moving by themselves make this manifest. They are thus honoured by God.”

To the praise and glory of our Lord God, his most fait Mother and of Father Saint Francis. Amen.