About the holy man Brother Bernardine of Monte del Olmo, priest and preacher

Brother Bernardine was from a land situated in the Marches of Ancona called Monte del’Olmo. He was born to honest parents, well off in goods. When they saw their son gifted with such a fair intelligence they sent him to school. However because the boy visited the friary of the Conventual Fathers, he was attracted so much by the boy friars there that he took up the habit in that Convent. Even though his father would not have liked it, he took the habit in that friary. He was under one of the masters in that region who kept him at study continuously. Within a short time he became very well educated and instructed in all the sciences, especially the teaching of Scotus. Because of his fair mind and great learning he became a reader in the best Universities of Italy. Everyone called him the ‘soul of Scotus.’ That was his second name.

However, as it pleased our Lord God, one day when he was Reader in the friary of Pisa, he had taken off his habit because of the great heat. He was on his bed in his cell. In order to pass the time he took up the Conformities of the Order. It happened by divine providence that he found the example of those four Friars, that is, one was a Custos, another a Reader, another a Preacher who had litigated in the secular courts, and another who had observed the Rule fully. Father Saint Francis condemned the first three to hell. With great joy he embraced the one who had observed the Rule and led him into paradise.

Frightened by this example the servant of God Brother Bernardine said to himself (just as I heard from his own mouth at Montecasale), “Oh Brother Bernardine. You are puffed up to the eyes with those sins that sent these three to hell. If you want to save yourself you must change your life.” From then on, rethinking his life, he could no longer be a peace until he finished reading and returned to the Marches and became a Reformed conventual Friar. He was the one who established and built the Friary in Sant’Angelo in Vado that our Capuchins now have. He dwelled there with much holiness and strictness of life for some years with some Friars also from that Reform.

Not long after when the Capuchin Reform came along, he and all those Friars took up the capuchin habit while remaining in that friary. He persevered in the Congregation with a wonderful observance of the Order. Although he had a feeble constitution, according to the custom of those early Fathers, he went barefoot for many years, dressed in the one coarse habit that was completely patched. He did all the forty-day fasts of Father Saint Francis with the greatest devotion. However for many he fasted on bread and water for the forty days of Saint Michael. As he grew older he began to stop going barefoot. Wearing sandals and mantle, he confined himself to eating once a day. He persevered in this way of life until he died.

Once I found my self in the friary of Monte Casale. Wanting to enjoy his company I went to find him in the above-mentioned friary at Santi’Angelo. To my great satisfaction I was with him many days. By his kindness I talked with him for at least two hours each day. He informed me about many things that happened in the beginning in the Province of the Marches. It was a great benefit for me to see the ways of that servant of God. Once, when he was so emaciated, I said to the cook, “In your charity, make something for this poor Father.” He answered me, “He does not want it. He is a man who is so very mindful and zealous about giving good example that he has never wanted special treatment in anything.” I said to him, “Trick him and put a little meat in the bowl of soup so that he doesn’t know. For he is a rare man and when this holy man dies he will be a great loss to our Congregation.” That simple Father did as I told him. However when he found the meat in the bowl, because he was the Vicar of the house and the Guardian was not there, he had the cook called. As the cook knelt in the refectory he said to him, “My son, do you want me to act like a hypocrite. I would have preferred that you put a snake in my bowl rather than to have put meat in it. Make sure it does not happen again.” Seizing the opportunity he gave a beautiful sermon with great fervour for half an hour, showing the significance of trying to be different in the Order. He said, “Divisions within the Order are born from this. For the Friars not only become divided but cut themselves off from mutual love. Despising one another they, they are compelled to separate from each other and to make other sects. If the Order would maintain unity in everything and not descend to individualism, although there would be some imperfections, still the opportunity to serve God and observe the Rule would remain for anyone who wants to do the right thing. However when some poor fellows seem to be downtrodden and not provided for in their needs while some, on the other hand, are extolled, favoured and well provided for in all their needs it is something intolerable and cannot be endured. Nothing but grumbling occurs.” Turning towards us who were young he repeated often, “My sons, avoid individualism like damnation.”

This servant of God practised mortification of his own will quite wonderfully. I was keen to ask him often about the different virtues. One day he answered me, “My Brother Bernardine, without humility all our works are counterfeit. Anyone who is not founded on self-mortification and does not achieve this beautiful degree of holy humility can never be regarded as having spirit. As long as there is a single gram kept of self-love, no matter which strict Reform someone goes to and he can do whatever abstinence he likes – if he does not mortify himself he is wasting his time. He does not abandon himself totally to the governance of God who with his providence guides all things to their due end. Nothing honours God more than the abandoning of oneself into the good will of God. Our Seraphic Father Saint Francis founded his entire Order on this. He wanted his Friars to put their hope entirely in His providence regarding their physical needs and that they avoid the long term storage of those who do not trust in his goodness. In faith live in the hope of enjoying those things that we do not see. Thus in faith we should live and hope that he will provide for us and care for us as his own self, and that he will lead us on the way to heaven. Those who entrust themselves to be governed by God and not by men, will own great peace in the Order, peace that is very necessary for contemplation. Therefore it happens that there few contemplatives because few try to mortify themselves. What makes us wander from place to place, Province to Province – to go around all day long – except our own desires? I tell you that for a long time in the Order I have fought with four enemies. By the grace of God I have almost defeated the gullet and luxury. As for pride, even though I have mortified it mostly nonetheless I do not feel as happy about being reviled as I do about being praised, although with my reason I rejoice more in slights than in praises. I often feel that I am lost in a labyrinth of my own opinion. Often, without wanting it, I am not out of it because of bad habit. Here is the whole matter and inward reform consists in this. While the habit and external way of life of the Order may be quite good, this inner (Reform) is more important. In the main we have not yet arrived at it. Also in the spiritual things because of little mortification we often think we are praying and loving God very much. However we are loving ourselves and following our own desires. We think we are doing a beautiful contemplation, but in fact we are just having good thoughts. For just as someone who does not know how to speak French cannot express anything at all in that language, so the one who does not have the love of God cannot love Him. Nor can the one who loves himself love God, because they are opposites like fire and water. The one who loves God more has les self love. On the other hand, the one who loves himself more has less love of God. If we want all the things we practice in the Order to be meritorious it is necessary that they be ordered unto the love of God. Otherwise they have no purpose. The majority of our Friars are deceived who content themselves only in saying Mass and the Office and saying the usual prayers. All the rest of the time they spend in worthless things. I have always had an anxiety in my heart. I have a fear about being damned. No do I feel as though I am doing all that I can.”

This is just what I saw. After he said Mass in the morning he went off straight away into the woods. Wanting to observe him, I once went secretly to see what he did. I saw him walk along a little path. He walked four or six steps. Then eh stopped with his arms raised to heaven for a space of a quarter of af hour. The he continued walking. Sometimes he knelt down and sometimes I heard him say vocal prayers. He spent three or four hours at a time praying in this way. He slept little at night. Rather he was heard to have had a little rest then he knelt down by his litter and stayed there until the bell rang for Office.

A trustworthy friar told me that Brother Bernardine said, “Helped by learning my mind will consider more in an hour than one that knows nothing would do in thirty years. I have such a voracious mind that always keeps me alert. It is necessary not to rely a little on prayer just because our mind is capable of more. I doubt that many trust that the ordinary things in the Order are enough for them, which are not rewarded in this world, because they do them without spirit.”

No one ever heard an idle word come from his mouth, he was so careful in his speech. When he heard talk about ones neighbour he either fled or raised his voice, saying “Let us speak of something else!” The was first thing he let cautioned me about when he said, “Never speak to me except about the things of God and cases of conscience, to which I will always reply. I wish that all the young Friars who have some intelligence would study cases of conscience. There is nothing one can study that is more useful for his neighbour.” When I asked him if he thought I should study, he answered, “You have the faculty to calculate. Take up a book of sermons, study that and preach. Seek nothing else. Know that when you see a Congregation that imposes ordinary studies that you can also say it is declining from the spirit. If the Father General commanded me to read in cases of conscience, I would read them; but not if he commanded me to read in Logic. It is not as if the sciences are not good, but because they are not in conformity with our habit because we have promised God to be humble. The one who promises the Rule of Saint Francis promises humility, which is founded, completely on simplicity. As good as the sciences may be, because we are inclined towards sin, most of the time they are the greatest cause of pride. In the beginning I preached a sermon that was called The Disciple. God collaborated with it so much that I bore the greatest fruit. Now because of the heretics I have begun to preach a little doctrine. God has punished me. When I preached simply I always had a full church. Now I have three persons there. Know that God has chosen this Congregation to preach to the simple, teaching them the commandments f God and what a Christian need to do to save himself. Nor will we have to worry about preaching in the cities that want learning because they are not short of learned men who preach there. However, preachers abandon the poor farmers because the farmers can’t afford to pay them. The Lord has sent us for them!”

The servant of god preached not only the forty-days but on all the feasts of the year. The Lord God produced many good fruits. Among these was this one. While he was preaching in the state of Urbino it happened that a butcherer from Baglioni called Bascio Stella often heard his preaching. He had killed more than one hundred men. In his heart he felt such compunction over his sins that he said to himself, “If I knew that God would forgive me, no matter how heavy the penance given me would be, I would do it for the love of God. However I have done so much evil that God would never forgive me.” One day, as it pleased the Lord God, he went to find this holy man and said to him, “Father, I am that great sinner Bascio Stella. Now the Holy Father has banished me from the state of the Church. I have heard your sermons often. If you tell me that God may forgive me and that I may find pardon for my sins before His Majesty, I promise to do all the penances that you impose on me.” When he heard this, without saying a word, he embraced him. He kissed his forehead and with tears then said to him, “God not only wants to forgive you. Rather, when you desired that he forgive you He had already forgiven you. This was the reason He called you to penance. Among all the gifts that we received from God, this is the greatest, that when we are in his disgrace he calls us to penance. If He does not call us it would never be possible to be able to convert. Therefore do not worry about anything. Go confess your sins.” Bascio replied, “I want to confess and do all that I can.” The servant of God answered, “I wish to hear your confession.” When he had heard his confession the great change in the sinner was so obvious that it gave the hope of salvation to everyone who knew him. He lived about four months. He wept continuously. Once when he had been to Holy Communion the enemy appeared to him in a horrible form and said to him, “You traitor! How long I have served you and now you have abandoned me! At least give me something of yours.” Bascio replied, “Go away, you enemy of humanity because from me you will nothing but this.” Taking a slipper off his foot he threw it at his head. The enemy caught the slipper and disappeared. Not long after, after have made a good confession on many occasions, he passed away to a better life, as everyone had hoped.

The kindness of this holy many was such that although he was often Vicar in the Province of the Marches and Naples, no one could ever boast of having seen him angered. The occasion occurred many times as is usual for the office of a Prelate. He said, “If I was General I would ruin this Congregation because I am so worthless for I do not know how to reprimand.” Nonetheless he bore great fruit through his kindness that do those who are feared for their harshness for everyone loved him. He was obeyed much more because of his loving kindness. This good shepherd gave such hope to culprits that the enemy rarely ever could snatch any sheep from his hands. This happens to cruel shepherds. When the sheep enter some defect, because they have no security in the shepherd, they quickly dart off and become the prey of Lucifer who goes ahead of the cruel shepherd.

He said, “The Superior cannot govern well without spirit. Nor can he have spirit if he does not practise holy prayer. The learned Superiors usually think they can keep the Friars in the observance of the Rule with many comprehensive rules. However, if they give it careful consideration, these are nothing more than ties that lash down their poor subjects. It seems that our Father Saint Francis did not take much account of anything else except prayer, as appears in the Legend of the Three Companions. A Friar asked him if Francis thought him worthy to be General. Francis answered, “I don’t know anyone in the Order who may be suitable. However I will describe how he should be. The General should be a perfect observer of the Rule and preach more with example than with words. As the noblest time of day, he should spend the morning completely in prayer, saying or hearing Mass, until dinnertime. Then he should rest a little and once Vespers is said he should listen to the Friars. He should be very zealous about all the virtues, above all holy poverty and be happy with a little paper and an inkwell. He should avoid going on journeys with his pockets full. He should be so kind that if a culprit comes before him seven times a day, he receive him with a welcoming face and never appear angry. And if he should then come before countless times he should welcome him the same way. And when the sheep does not seek mercy, he should offer it to him. Therefore,” the holy man said, “our Father does not want many rigours but that the Friars practise holy prayer with a living and true faith from which they learn all the holy virtues. With all kindness the Superiors should be careful to withdraw themselves from many occupations from which all imperfections come because these things distance them from prayer. And the Superiors should be very careful about keeping themselves calm and devout in the true observance of the rule. These are the real rules since the Friar with the spirit walks easily in the holy virtues. Lacking it he does no good work without difficulty. For he does everything good with effort and, as the saying goes, the things done with effort aren’t worth a scrap. Therefore the spirit is what checks the Friars in every vice and disposes them towards every virtue. What else does the Apostle Paul teach us but to walk by the spirit in the way of God? All rebellion comes from the flesh. All good comes from the spirit. Therefore if you want the Friars to obey easily, do everything that they may devote themselves to prayer.”

Hence this servant of God was so resigned to the Providence of God that care nothing about himself, letting himself be governed by his superiors when he was not Superior. He never objected to any obedience given him, no matter how hard or wearying it would have been for him. He told this example. Once he was in the Friary at Monte Olmo. Because most of the Friars were ill, it was necessary for him to depart on his own. On the way there was such a cloudburst that rivers were impossible to cross. It was still raining when the poor fellow arrived completely soaked at the Piastra River near to where it flows into the River Chiento. When the servant of God arrived there it was already night and he was totally soaked, covered in mud. The river was very wide and deep, impossible for a horse to cross because of the floodwaters. He was there engrossed in this thought, “There is no other remedy than to have recourse to God.” Trustingly commending himself to God he said, “My Lord. You see my need. Do not fail in your promises. You promised to our Father Saint Francis to take particular care of the Friars Minor. Even though I am not a true Friar I pray that you may want to help me through the merits of our Father Saint Francis, your faithful servant.” What an amazing thing! While he was there in this thought, behold there was a large man was ready nearby. He could not know from whence he came. With a joyful face he greeted him and said, “Father, do you want to cross the river?” The holy man answered, “Yes, I would like to cross but it looks impossible to me because of the flooding. If we go in we will go under from the momentum of the river.” The young man replied, “All things are possible to our Lord. Come. I want to take you across.” Thinking him to be a farmer, he said, “You should not put yourself in danger.” The young man answered, “Don’t worry!” Coming up to him he pick him up on his shoulders as if he were a child. Without knowing how he found himself on the other bank of the river, crossing as quickly as one would cross a piazza. Having put him down, the holy man turned to thank him for the favour but could no longer see him. He thought that it had all happened by the providence of God and that the young man had been and Angel.

He told this story to an acquaintance of his to show how much we should trust in the providence of God. He added, “The Lord God has never failed the Friars in their need. When we cannot provide for ourselves by human means, God provides miraculously. Therefore great harm is done if, after so many examples, one does not trust in His goodness.”

Therefore this servant of God persevered with still greater fervour in the friary at Macerata. After having spent his lifetime from childhood in the holy Order, about sixty years, he fell ill with a grave sickness. It was reported to me by trustworthy persons that when he was close to death Our Lord appeared to him, accompanied by many saints, as in a procession. Passing by his side he made no gesture nor did he turn towards him. The servant of God commended himself to him with many tears. When the Lord returned with that beautiful procession again, the servant of God, frightened by the poor recognition that the Lord showed him, commended himself again with trembling. Then with a joy face the Lord turned to him. Without saying a single word he was felt sure within himself of the full remission of all his sins and of having been received in the number of the chosen ones of God. Not long after, after having received all the holy sacraments with great devotion and having revealed the vision to his confessor, that holy soul passed away to its Creator. His body was buried in that same friary.

God wanted to show with miracles how pleased he was with his soul. For on one occasion while on a journey he met Cardinal Gaddi. He had a large ulcer on one leg and had been in the hands of doctors for a long time. He was still getting worse to the extent that all the doctors considered it incurable. Now he was going about very painfully on a sedan chair. However, as it pleased the Lord God, he met this holy man, although he did not know who he was. However when he saw the two Capuchins he had them called to him and with great faith he said to the holy man, “I want a favour from you.” the servant of God replied, “Speak your Eminence and whatever is possible will be done.” The Cardinal replies, “I want you see an ulcer that I have had on my leg for a long time.” Lifting the bandages he showed him the ulcer and with great faith said to him, “Father, I have great faith in this habit. I ask that you would pray to God for me and that you make the sign of the cross over this leg.” Kneeling down on the ground the servant of God replied, “My Lord, I am a great sinner.” “That is not important,” said the Cardinal. “Do this to please me.” When the holy man saw his great devotion he lifted his eyes to heaven. After praying silently for a little while, he made the sign of the holy cross with great humility. “Wonderful God!” The leg immediately appeared healthy and fine as if it had never had any trouble. The Cardinal’s devotion towards the Congregation of Capuchins was enhanced so much by this that for as long as he lived he was very devoted to them, telling about the miracle to anyone who wanted to listen. All his court was present at this miracle.

The Lord God worked another miracle through this servant of his. He was passing through a region of the Marches called Montecchio in order to go and preach the Advent at Racanati. He stayed in the house of a friend called Mr. Acchille. Because there had been a hailstorm he had no wine except two casks with some dregs that were all vinegar. AS he was taking a jug because he wanted to go and buy some the holy man said to him, “I do not want you to buy wine. Bring me the wine in your cask.” Mr Acchille answered, “Father, there isn’t any. The two little casks I have I have already stood up and there is nothing but dregs of cloudy, spoiled vinegar.” The holy man said, “Go, because there is some. Hope in the Lord.” Therefore Mr. Acchille went in person with two jugs and drew wine from both casks and bringing it to him found that it had become very good wine. And there was so much of it. When the holy man went to preach at Racanati, and finding there that he was preaching another series of Saint Augustine, in order not to lose time he went back to Montecchio and preached the whole of Advent. He never needed other wine for himself or his companion. News of the miracle spread and out of devotion the whole castle wanted some of the wine. Mr Acchille gave it away with great joy to all the sick of the castle who wanted some out of devotion. Mr Achiile, who is still alive, bore witness to this to anyone who wanted to hear about it.

The Lord God worked another miracle through this servant of his. It happened when he on visitation as Vicar in the Province of Naples he once stayed in an area called Montesarchio, in the house of a Neopolitan lady. When he asked her for a lamp in order to say the Night Office she replied, “Father, forgive me. I have no oil in the house.” The holy man answered, “Go to the vessel in which you keep it because there is some there.” When the lady went she found a vessel full of oil where before there hadn’t been even a single drop. The lady bore witness to this as the greatest miracle.

The Lord God worked other miracles through this servant of his. Since I am not well informed about them I shall not put them down on paper. These are enough in order to know about which merits Brother Bernardine of Monte del Olmo had before God.

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