About the holy man Brother Benedict of Subiaco, lay friar

Brother Louis was from a land called Subiaco, situated in the countryside of Rome within the dominion of the Lords of the House of Colonna. He was born to parents who were not very wealthy, but were good Christians.

He came to the holy Order at about the age of twenty. Because he was unlettered he was received as a lay Friar. In that Order her applied himself according to his office in charity toward his neighbour, in fulfilling the duties customary in the Order. He was so resigned in holy obedience that there was never a time that something had to be repeated to him, no matter how harsh or difficult was the task his superior laid upon him. He went barefoot continuously both in summer and winter. He usually fasted on bread and water on all the vigils, especially those of Our Lady, Our Lord and some of the other greater saints. For a long time he wore a harsh hairshirt. Whether summer or winter he never wanted anything against his skin except a habit of natural wool and completely patched. He hardly ever spoke. Rather he observed perfectly the saying of the Lord and answered “yes” or “no.” He was a man of great prayer so that after Matins he hardly ever went to rest. It is believed that he received many consolations and visitations from the Lord.

He would have been in a friary tens years with ever asking to be removed, although within himself he may not have been amenable. He was very charitable to his neighbour. So he served the infirm with great charity and he never seemed upset. He was present when the Congregation began and for a long time it was necessary for him to be in houses that were being built. He helped very happily in everything he could. He was accustomed to say, “We can remain in these little houses with a good conscience because we have built them with our own efforts and they are according to holy poverty.” He was so glad bout this that whenever he heard it discussed it seemed that he would melt from love. When it occurred that he and the other Friars ate what they obtained with their own efforts, he often joined his hands and raised his eyes to heave. He was often seen to weep. He said, “May God be thanked! The desire I have always had to live by labour is now fulfilled.”

He was never seen to use anything other than what the Rule simply allowed for personal use. When he left a Friary at Chapter time, he would take a piece of cane because he was old, and he would go with that. He never wanted to deal with seculars. When it was necessary to speak with them a little in the time when the building was being done, he always did so with great modesty and few words. He always mixed the talk about the work at hand with some words of God. He would say a word about the matter being discussed and then he would add, “May God be thanked, and his Most Fair Mother and Father Saint Francis!”

I cannot write too much about him because although I knew him I never stayed too long with him in fraternity. Since at that time nearly all of them were holy men, the matter was not discussed much because he was not unusual in this. However I have understood from trustworthy Friars that he was one of the holiest Friars in the Province of Rome at that time.

After having carried the yoke of the Order, giving the best example to everyone for more than forty years, he passed away in the house in Rome and was buried in that house.

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