About the holy man Brother Bernardine of Reggio, called George, priest and preacher

Brother Bernardine was from the aforesaid city of Reggio. He was called the George because he was very learned just like the great Venetian called Georgione. He was born to noble parents. At an early age he gave himself to learning in a short time became an excellent humanist. When he came to the age of eighteen years he desired very much to dedicated himself to learning. In order to become learned, he became a Friar Minor in the Congregation of Zoccolanti Fathers. When they saw his fine intelligence and his good introduction to learning he was set to study with great expectations of everyone. In a short time he became very learned, well instructed in all the sciences. He possessed an excellent grasp of the Greek language. He was a great theologian. He cared as much for this as he did about learning as such. He was made a preacher and he preached in all the main cities of Sicily and Calabria with great approval. He was very careful about politeness of speech and because of this he was very acceptable. However he did not show much spirit. He preached more for show than for usefulness. The venerable Father Louis often reprimanded him gently about this since he was his compatriot and very close to him. It pleased the Lord God that when he came to the age of discretion and natural maturity he began with grow close to Father Louis and to visit him. Through his instruction the hand of God was laid upon him. For when the more zealous Fathers were undertaking the Reform, enlightened by God, Father George was one of the most zealous who dedicated themselves to that Reform. Because he was a man of great authority, he was a great benefit to the Reform. However when he saw that his plan could not come about, he heard on the hand that Father Louis of Fossombrone had obtained the Bull about the Capuchin Reform from His Holiness Clement VII. Because of other matters of his own he came to Rome. When he heard that Father Louis Fossombrone lived in a little place with some of his other companions, situated near the People’s Gate called Saint Mary of Miracles, and anxious to know about the Reform, he went to find Brother Louis and revealed to him the desire of his heart, that he was about to become a Capuchin along with his many companions. Father Louis informed him well and exhorted him with many persuasive words to join this Reform. He gave him a cowl so that when they took up the habit they should know the shape of the cowl and the habit. He was the one who that cowl in Calabria. When about fourteen of those Fathers who desired the Reform gathered with Father Louis in a secret place he gave them a beautiful sermon. In it he proved that the Capuchin habit was the true habit that our Father Saint Francis had worn. When he showed them the cowl with great joy they all tried it on their head. With the strongest arguments he proved to them that the shape of the habit that Saint Francis describes for us in the Rule and that all the ancient Monks and holy Fathers wore depended upon the cowl. He proved how taking up that cowl was not something new. Rather it was a renewal in the world of the habit that was very common among the Religious of ancient times and how by the will of God this habit was the occasion of many Reforms both in Holy Church as well as in particular Orders. For God gave the Order of Saint Francis as a support and help to the Holy Church, the first religion and universal mother of all. His words were so inspired that they all burned with an incredible fervour to want to take up the Capuchin habit. Experience has made it clear that god spoke through the mouth of this holy man. For from the Congregation of Capuchins preaching of the Gospel and the Sacred Scripture began and discussion about a Sacred Council began among the Prelates of the Church in order to start the Reform of Holy Church. Countless good things have come from this. I maintain that the example of the Capuchins was a good cause of the very noble Congregation of the Priests of Jesus and the universal rejection of the licentious life by many religious.

When this venerable Father took up the habit and had begun the Capuchin Reform in Calabria he began to preach with such fervour that he set all of Calabria and Sicily abuzz. He was the one who wore the Capuchin habit in Sicily. The first friary was established in Messina where he preached with great approval. However when he went preaching in Palermo he was still unknown and so was the habit he wore. It had never been seen in the city of Palermo. Because of this he endured great hardship because the Jurors togther with the Clergy contested him preaching in the Cathedral. They though he was some vagabond. However with great humility, affirming that he was a Friar of Saint Francis, the Servant of God commended himself to them so that they might allow him preach. They let him give the first sermon. As it pleased the Lord God who wants nothing from His servants except humility, that sermon was a flop. When sermon was finished the Jurors sent him a messenger who told him on their behalf, “Father, it would be better if you went to preach in some villa or castle because Palermo is not ready to hear sermons of the kind that you have given this morning.” The Servant of God replied, “By your kindness I beg you to say to the Lord Jurors on my behalf that by their courtesy they may deign to hear another sermon. And if they are not happy with this one I will go to preach in those villas that they wish.” It pleased the Lord God that they were happy to hear another sermon from him. He gave it with so much fervour and with such a depth of beautiful concepts and doctrine that the Jurors and all the people were quite edified. They judged that he was a repository of knowledge a holy man of great valour. From then on he preached to them with the greatest approval.

The servant of God used to go dressed in one coarse habit that was completely patched. We went barefoot summer and winter. Usually he ate once a day and with such austerity and paucity that it was amazing how he was able to endure so much effort amid such suffering. He was a man of continuous prayer for although he preached continuously, because he was very learned he did not need to study much. In this way he spent most of his time in holy prayers during which he wept continuously, weeping for time spent badly. He often said to the Friars, “Oh how blind I was spending time in such vane and useless sciences and I observed so little that which I promised to God. What a great boon we have received from God who gives us light and the opportunity in this holy Congregation to observe that which we have promised to God. We are obliged to lay down our lives to defend it.”

He was the one who always defend it. Once he was in the house of certain religious. They put him in a very dark and strong prison with the intention that he should die there. However, that prison had a very small window that faced the forest. As it pleased the Lord God, one Sunday morning he saw a young man through the window as he went to hunt birds with a cross-bow. Calling to him from the balustrade, he said to him, “Son, will you do me a favour and take a letter to the Viceroy of Naples?” The young man replied, “Gladly, I will take it immediately.” He usually carried paper and inkhorn in his sleeve. In great haste he wrote to the Viceroy about how he was in prison. When the young man took the letter it arrived in the study of the Viceroy in a flash. Because the Viceroy loved him very much, he set out on the journey immediately. When he arrived at that house he released him from prison and dressed down those Religious quite severely. And everyone regarded the young man to have been and Angel.

It pleased the Lord God to want to reward this servant of His, for falling ill and well prepared, he passed away. Amen.