About the venerable Father Bartholomew of Lucignano, priest and preacher

Brother Bartholomew was from a place called Lucignano within the dominion of the city of Siena. This man of God took up the habit in the Franciscan Order when he was a boy. When the Father recognised the intelligence of this boy they sent him to the grammar school. He made marvellous progress in that study within a short time. Then he posted to the study of the sciences. His performance in these was so excellent that within a short time he became Director and Master. He was amazing in the languages of Latin and Greek and so expert in Hebrew that everyone said he was the most learned among our Conventual Fathers. That is how he was regarded. Adorned with a fine manner and so zealous in the moral life, he was like and earthly Angel. When it became obvious that held in such high regard that he should become some great Prelate, touched by the Holy Spirit, he gave the boot, as they say, to things and all human favours. Totally recollected within himself he began prudently to think about his situation and all the forms of world prosperity were conceits and great foolishness. So he decided to leave them behind, and because he was very wrapped up in such things, he applied himself to give away everything he had acquired – books and all – and he came to our Congregation.

The Most Reverend Father General, Brother Jerome of Montefiore, received him and he was sent to the Province of Genoa. The servant of God did not want to be posted to the Province of Tuscany where he was born so as not to be bothered by his relatives or by the Friars he knew. He remained in that Province and di his novitiate there with such modesty and humility that he was a very good example to everyone. The humility, modesty and holiness of this venerable Father edified everyone. It was something marvellous that such a learned man, fed on honours since he was in swaddling clothes, should dedicate himself so much to despising himself and deprive himself of everything out of zeal in the observance of the Rule. He was concerned about keeping a New Testament for his own use. He was such a zealot about observing the Rule according to the pure observance that our Father Saint Francis wanted!

He stayed a novice for some years and went unknown in that Province of Genoa. He laid the very best foundation and derived great profit in the service of God that surpassed many who had been in the holy Congregation for many years. Because of this, when our Fathers saw his good zeal and holy life they made him Lector in the Milan Province where he read with such simplicity and good example that he was an excellent guide to all the students. However when the plague came to the city of Milan that study was stopped. When he saw that he was unable to be of any use in that study, the servant of God returned to his Province of Genoa and there spent all his time in hly prayer and meditation. He mourned bitterly over the years he spent badly in the study of useless and curious knowledge. He spoke little with anyone. He led a withdrawn life and rarely ate more than once a day and then very sparingly. He dressed in the poorest and roughest cloths there were in that Province. Ordinarily everyone dressed in a rough cloth called albagio. Such hopes were had for him that everyone said, “If this Father lives, he will soon be General and will exercise all the different offices within the Order.”

He desired solitude very much and by every means he fled being recognised as learned. HE read simple and devout books from which he could derive some devotion. When the Provincial Chapter was held in Florence he was nominated as Vicar of the Province. Without a doubt the Friars would have elected him but few knew him. It pleased the Lord God to preserve him in his simplicity. What happened to the great servant of God, Enoch, also happened to him. The Sage says, God took and elevated Enoch from ordinary dealings with men and brought him to paradise so that malice would not change his heart. Thus it happened to this servant of God. So that worldly dignities might not effect his heart, God took him from the Conventuals. So that his relatives could not impede him god removed him from the Province of Tuscany. So that he would not be exalted in the Congregation God sent him that plague to prevent it happening and withdrew him into the remotest and most solitary Province in the Congregation. When in that Province he was detached from every earthly thing and quite ready God sent him colic pains. For all the remedies the doctors applied, none he helped him. This was because, as we have said, the Lord saw that within a short time some dignities would be conferred on him and they could change his heart.

After having taken all the sacraments very devoutly, he passed away to a better life. That holy soul went into the presence of his creator where he would have been given two things to read, that is, the Divine Essence and holy humanity of Ord Lord. So that entering and penetrating the divine essence with the eyes of his mind he would find the very best with which to be nourished. And after the resurrection of the dead, opening his eyes upon the humanity of Our Lord he would find the best pasture. There with all his feelings he will be eternally and perfectly happy and blessed. With the saints and blessed spirits he should always study that most holy Divinity of Our Lord Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.