About the holy man Brother Matthew of Leonessa, priest and preacher

Brother was from a region named Leonessa situated within the dominion of Aquila. He was born of honest parents who were good citizens in that land. At an early age he worked at his education and became a very good grammarian. He was always devout and quite inclined towards the things of God. He went to confession often, attended the Fraternity, and almost always dealt with honest and religious persons. One never saw in this devout youth the carelessness one usually sees in young people his age. Everyone regarded him as a virgin. No one ever heard a dishonest word come from his mouth. Being this way, everyone loved him very much.

When he came to about eighteen years of age he studied the art of medicine and quickly became a good doctor. Having become a doctor he returned to his home region after his study, however according to his custom, he attended even more to the spiritual life. Quite often he went to a Church about three miles away and there he used to discipline himself. He liked that Church so much because it was isolated and very devout that he went there almost every night as secretly as he could. Very often he was seen to carry a large piece of wood on his shoulder in order to mortify himself. When this began to become widely known, some devout persons who knew about this began to observe him. One devout woman saw him accompanied miraculously by two lights that went ahead of him. When he had spent the greatest part of the night at his holy prayers in that church, he always returned before daylight in order not to be seen. Very often drops of blood were found on the snow along the road. They came from his own flesh because of the severity of his discipline. Or they came from his feet because he always went barefoot. The woman who saw these things most was called Lady Julia. She also used to apply herself to the spiritual life.

The young man considered that it would be no small benefit to his land if he persevered in a good and holy life with out distancing himself in other regions. To better and more expeditiously serve God he decided to take up the habit of the Third Order of Saint Francis with the intention of being ordained a Priest and to remain in that habit as a hermit and be granted permission to be able to preach. This was the reason that he was clothed in the habit worn by the Tertiaries who live in the Congregation. So everyone thought that he had been clothed as a Conventual since the habit is very similar. However just as I have been very well informed, he never wore the Conventual habit. His plans to help his neighbour were not succeeding. Instead he was impeded from his devout and holy prayers because of the many occupations he had in this father’s house. He quickly began to be concerned that the world was drawing him, rather than he drawing others to the service of God. So he decided to become a Capuchin. His relatives and friends opposed this very much. Nonetheless he left his homeland and went to Rome where the venerable Father Bernardine of Asti received him. When he saw himself clothed with the habit that our Father Saint Francis wore, for many months he could not contain his tears of devotion and joy.

In his novitiate this servant of God acted like the wise architect who builds the palace upon deep and solid foundations. Because like a man who understood this both by learning and from being well instructed in the spiritual life, he established all his building on the surest foundation of holy humility. It makes known to everyone that his leaving the world was not done by whim or for vanity but only through an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He derived so much profit from subjection and mortification during the year of novitiate that for as long as he lived he kept the same ways neither more nor less as if he were a novice. Although he was often Guardian he was not known in any other way than this, that he was humble and despised by others.

He always went barefoot both in summer and in winter even though his constitution was quite weak. He rarely ate more than once a day and most of the time he fasted on bread and water. For a long time he wore rough sackcloth. He always dressed in only one habit. However after he had persevered some years in this kind of austerity, he fell gravely ill. From then on he was forced to moderate himself and to wear sandals and mantle. However he never left abstinence. Father Bernardine of Asti said, “I have never seen a Friar as disposed to suffering or so dedicated to contemplation like Brother Matthew.”

When he became a preacher, more than the usual forty-days he preached nearly all the feasts of the year. The Lord God worked a great harvest of poor souls through this servant of his. He had received from God the great grace to conclude reconciliations. He did this in such a way that people from all parts sought him out and he had to do these things nearly all year. It seemed that he did not take count the cost of any effort when he saw that he was able to benefit his neighbour. By nature he was pleasant and so loving and compassionate to his neighbour that it seemed that for him everyone was his child. On the other hand the secular had such devotion towards him that he could do whatever he wanted to do. After Matins he rarely and hardly ever slept. Rather, he spent all that time in prayer. He said his Mass early every day. No one ever heard an idle word come from his mouth. He was always recollected, fleeing every occasion of useless conversation.

When he was guardian at the friary in Aquila he fell gravely ill. With great patience he persevered in that illness for many days. It pleased the Lord God to want to reward this man who had been his servant amid so many efforts. For after he had received all the most holy sacraments that happy soul passed away to its creator. He was buried in that friary.

In order to show how pleasing this servant of his was God worked many miracles through him, just as his companion Father Raniere of Borgo testifies. Once he became very enthusiastic about imitating Father Saint Francis by doing the forty-days of the Blessed without eating just as he did. Once he began to fast with great fervour and he persevered for seventeen days without eating anything. He said Mass alone every morning with great devotion. He would have finished the fast except an illness overwhelmed him. He so nourished his soul with holy contemplation and mental transformation in God that even his body was sustained and kept robust and lively as if he had eaten many dishes.

The Lord God worked another miracle in the Cathedral at Narni. While this servant of God was celebrating Mass he was in rapture, taken up in ecstasy at the Memento for half an hour, much to the great admiration of the people. A gentleman called Mr. Theodore, who was present at that Mass, testified to this.

He did another miracle when he was Guardian in the friary at Tivoli. A gravely ill Friar was there and there was not a drop of wine in that region because hail had destroyed the vintage. The sick Friary had a great desire for a little bit of wine. The Friars did not have any. The holy man Brother Matthew asked them to bring him a vessel of water, then taking a pomegranate he squeezed its juice into the vessel. When he made the sign of the cross over the vessel it became excellent wine. All the Friars of the house were present for this and they all regarded it as a miracle.

He did another miracle. He was on his way to his homeland of Leonessa and in the area of Antredoco he visited a woman called Santella who was a great devotee of his. When he found her ill he ordered a little medicine and although he lived not far away the apothecary forgot to give her the medicine. So when the holy man found her still ill the next day, with great fervour and faith to took a piece of bread and dipped it into the oil-lamp that burned in front of the image of Our Lady and had the sick woman eat it. She ate it with devotion and was perfectly cured immediately.

He did another miracle. A man, a great devotee of his in the city of Aquila, was in very great danger of drowning in a river below the city, called the Rivera. When he saw himself in such great, he cried aloud, “O Brother Matthew, servant of God, help me!” Because of this, in a flash he found himself miraculously put on the other side of the river, out of the water. This man enthusiastically told the story of the miracle openly to everyone.

He did another miracle. The son of a poor old widow had died and out of compassion the servant of God went to console her. As soon as he entered the house where the deceased lay, with great devotion the woman threw herself down on her knees before him. She said, “O Father Matthew, I have so much faith in your prayers that if you prayed for my son, without doubt the Lord will raise him up.” The servant of God answered, “Woman I am a great sinner. I am not worthy to beg something so great as to lead the dead back to life,.” The woman replied, “Father, do not despise my prayers. Consider the pain of the poor mother who has no other child than this one.” Still Brother Matthew refused, regarding himself as unworthy. However the great insistence of the woman constrained him to set himself to prayer. After persevering for some time, with great faith he turned towards the deceased and made the sign of the cross over him. Wonderful God! For straightway the dead young man sat up and said, “Know that God has raised me up through the merits of this servant of his, Brother Matthew.” This caused such amazement that all those who were present, both men and women, began to cry out with a loud voice and thank God so unrestrainedly from devotion and with many tears that all the people round about came running to the miracle. News of it spread throughout the region. His companion told this to the lord Knight of Pompei Mr. Gallo of Leonessa and to many others.

He did another miracle when he arrived at Antredoco in the house of a very devout widow called Lady Clare. She did not have any wine in the house and took a flask to go and buy some. This was because hail had ruined the whole region and wine could not be found. When Brother Matthew saw that she wanted to buy some he said to her, “I do not want you to buy any. Go to your cask and you will find some there.” The woman replied, “Father, we haven’t had a drop of wine in our casks now for many days.” The man of God said, “Have faith, woman. Go in the name of the Lord because you will find some there.” At these words the woman sent her son. When he tapped the barrel excellent wine came from it that lasted all that family until the harvest. Brother Matthew commanded that they make an alms of it to all those sent to them on behalf of the poor who were sick, and they gave some to all those who for the sick asked if for the sick and for the love of God. Such a large number had some of that wine that everyone knew that is was multiplied continuously by the merits of that holy man. The women, her son and that entire region testified to this. The son is called Luke and still lives with his widowed mother. This was when Brother Matthew was guardian in the house at Aquila.

This servant of God did another stupendous miracle in 1541 when he was in that friary at Aquila. Mr Paolo of Aquila was very devoted towards our Congregation. His very young son died. His death caused so much sorrow to his mother and father. Completely desperate because of their great sorrow they did not eat and neglected them themselves. Beside themselves, as if intoxicated, they did nothing else but weep. Because of this it was decided to send for this holy man in whom they had great faith so that he might encourage them to patience. However, as it pleased the Lord God, instead of patience, great joy and wonder resulted for everyone. For when the man of God arrived in the house he imposed silence upon everyone. Then withdrawing to a room he remained there at prayer for a good while. Then he came out with a very happy face because he knew God had listened to him. Approaching the dead boy he embraced him with great love. He held him in his arms for some time and put him back on the bed. Then he made the sign of the cross over him and immediately he opened his eyes. He gave him back alive to his mother. More than fifteen persons were present at this and news of it spread throughout all those parts. Then his father sent the young person to study, since he was healthy still, and he became very learned.

Not long after he did another miracle. The son of Mr Ranaldo was dying in the same city of Aquila. Because he was very devoted towards our Congregation he immediately sent word to the friary at Aquila so that the Friars might pray God for his health. However the Lord God want to draw from it greater honour for himself. Like another Lazarus he permitted the child to deteriorate and pass from this life. When the father saw that the child had already died he remembered the miracle that the holy man Brother Matthew had done and a great faith came to him that he would also raise up his son. He sent word to him to ask him that for the love of God he come all the way to hi shouse because his son was dead. When the servant of God heard this he was moved with compassion. Taking his companion he went straight away. He had no sooner entered the house and Mr. Ranaldo and all his family threw themselves upon their knees. With many tears and he said to him, “Father, I have great such faith in your holy prayers that if you pray for this son of mine, His Majesty will give him back to me alive.” When the servant of God heard these words he was overwhelmed and with tears said to him, “Mr. Ranaldo, let us pray to God for his soul. It is not necessary to pray for his body. He was payed what he had to pay. He has gone a step ahead of us, having paid the debt that we still have to pay. Therefore, let us prepare ourselves, for all of us too have to come to this step.” Mr. Ranaldo replied to him, “I am departing from the will of God, Father. I beg that you may pray with this condition, that God may make him well if it is for the best. I am certain Jesus Christ will heed you.” When the servant of God saw their great faith and insistence, he withdrew in the same way. After praying for some time he again approached the dead child. Making the sign of the cross over him with great faith he said, “Lord God, look upon their faith.” Immediately the youngster returned to life, as if he were waking from sleep. News of the miracle spread throughout the whole city of Aquila.

A great miracle occurred also at his death. Many, many persons saw a lot of lights in the tribune at Saint Bernardine’s. The gathering of people to his holy body after his death was such that his habit was nearly totally in shreds. They cut up a mantle he wore when he was alive and sewed them like relics and wore them. After already knowing about and understanding Brother Matthew’s fame, When the castellan of the Fortress saw this, out of his devotion he had an arm cut off (from the body). With great devotion he kept it as a relic with the intention of spending as much as he could to have him canonised. However as it pleased the Lord God that he pass away a short time later and no more was done.

To the praise of Our Lord Jesus Christ and his servant blessed Bother Matthew.