About the holy man Brother Francis of Cartoceto, priest

Brother Francis was from a little castle called Cartoceto situated in the dominion of Fano in the Marches. He was born to honest farmer parents. As a boy he attended school long enough to learn how to read. Then he was put to work outdoors. Nonetheless he was a very simple child, modest and very devout about the things of God. For he often withdrew by himself to places where he could not be seen and did his devotions very devoutly, commending himself to God to give him the grace to serve Him. He often disciplined himself and how much he suffered! His simplicity set to reading ordinary devout books. He fled conversation and games with other youth at all cost. At the age of about seventeen years he decided to leave the world and he took the habit in the Franciscan Order, being clothed in the Congregation of Zoccolanti. Because he knew quite well how to read he was received as a cleric. He did his novitiate with great fervour, dedicating himself to mortification in such a way that he was a mirror for all his other companions. Because of his simplicity everyone loved him very much. When he later became a Priest he burned with an incredible fervour to do penance. He was very austere about his body for he rarely ate more than once a day. However on the forty-days that Saint Francis was accustomed to do, he fasted most of the time on bread and water as well as all the vigils of the Lord and Our Lady. He always remained withdrawn, applying himself to holy prayer or some praiseworthy exercise.

As it pleased the Lord God, one day an old book came to his hands. It spoke about Saint Francis, the Rule and about the customs and perfect observance of those early Fathers. Because of this he became inflamed with such an unutterable love of God and zeal for the true observance of the Rule. He wept continuously about not seeing in the Order the observance that he read about in the book. He became so unsettled about this that his spirit cold not accommodate the Friars’ way of life, especially when discussion began in the Order about Reform and when Fathers who had spirit and learning with who he took counsel said to him, “Know Brother Francis that we are not in the true observance of the Rule.”

The devout servant of God always sought to be assigned to the houses that were more devout, austere, poor and solitary. There he gave himself continuously to holy prayer. He composed a book of very beautiful examples of Father Saint Francis and other saints. He studied it continuously in order learn how to better conform himself with their life. When he saw that the Reform did not go ahead he asked of the venerable Father John of Fano, Minister at the time, the grace to be sent to stay in the devout friary of Saint James about two and a half miles from Matelica. No one wanted to stay in that little place because it was very harsh and in the wilds. This was the reason that house was assigned to him where he led an anchoritic life for many years, eating bread and water only just once a day almost continuously. Most of the time the servant of God remained alone. The people of those parts had a great devotion towards him. He went dressed in just one poor and completely patched habit. It pleased the Lord God that young man of his homeland was converted. Because of the great devotion he had for Father Saint Francis he took the habit of the Third Order of Saint Francis who live in community. He was called Brother Pacificus. He was a great servant of God. Because of his devotion, dressed in that habit he went off to Saint James of Galitia, since he had already become a priest. Then when he returned to the Marches he learned that Brother Francis led a holy life and stayed alone in that place at Matelica. A dream came to him and he said to himself, “You cannot serve God with greater certainty that by being close to the holy man Brother Francis of Cartoceto – and all the more so since he from his own region. On this good inspiration and wanting to obey, Brother Pacificus went immediately to find that holy man Brother Francis. After revealing to him his heart felt idea, Brother Francis received him kindly. However he did not change the habit of the Tertiary in which he lived some years while serving the holy old man in all that he could. However because he was very old and also because he had wept so much and led a harsh life for such along time he had lost his sight almost completely. Brother Pacificus used to help him say the Office. The holy old man said by heart what he knew and Brother Pacificus read to him the rest. Thus they remained in holy peace.

However as it pleased Our Lord God when the blessed Brother Matthew obtained the permission of Pope clement VII to be able to wear the capuchin habit and go around the world preaching he returned to the Marches. On the vigil of the Portiuncula, a little before dawn, Brother Pacificus went as usual to the cell of the holy old man to say the Office. He found him at prayer and said to him, “Old Father, do we want to say the Office?” With many tears the holy old man answered him, “Son, what is the date?” Brother Pacificus answered, “Old Father, today is the day of the Pardon of Assisi.” The holy old man replied, “Note this day well, my son, because today the true Reform of the Order has begun.” Brother Pacificus replied, “What do you know about it old Father?” The holy old man said, “Know that when you came to me and found me weeping it was because god had shown me a great vision and revealed to me the true Reform. I have seen a Friar hurry across a plain. He was dressed in a short habit half way down his leg and with a pointed cowl. He was barefoot with a cross in his hand. The one who showed me the vision said to me, ‘Know that in the one you see the Lord God has begun the Reform of the Franciscan Order.’” He said this at Matins. Not long after, quite early in day, Brother Matthew knocked at the door. As described in the Chronicle he went to the old man who immediately took up the Capuchin habit. He was the second Capuchin Friar.

He lived some years and delighted in that holy habit so much that even though he was very old he went out none the less in order to be seen with that habit among seculars. With great joy he said to anyone who asked him what the near style of habit meant, “Know that this is the shape of the true habit that our Seraphic Father Saint Francis wore.” When Father john of Fano heard about this, he immediately went to Matelica and said to him, “Old Father you are excommunicated for not wearing the habit of the Order.” The holy old man replied, “Those who enemies of God and the Church through mortal sin are excommunicated. I am wearing this habit by a revelation of God. Furthermore His Holiness had said to Brother Matthew that he wants the Rule to be observed to the letter and has allowed him to wear this habit.” When the Minister saw that the old man was prepared to die rather than abandon that habit, and because he was holy and old, he didn’t want to grieve him so he confirmed it for him instead.

He persevered in a very holy life and fell ill in that house and Brother Pacificus gave him all the most holy sacraments. When he was near to death he said, “Brother Pacificus, my son, remove everything from the cell and give the place to anyone who wants to enter. I see a road to heaven all adorned with gold brocade and a great throng is set in order. Don’t you see it?” When Brother Pacificus answered that he did not see it, the holy old man marvelled and with hid head, hands and mouth gave indication of a great joy. The last word he said was, “Behold the Queen of heaven!” With this joy that holy soul passed away to its creator. He was buried in that place.

However when Brother Pacificus head such praises of the Congregation of Capuchins from the holy old man, kneeling down he made a vow to God to become a Capuchin. He came to the Province of Saint Francis and Father Eusebius of Ancona received him. He was assigned to the devout place of Narni where I was in the fraternity. I was present to all these things and we were together for the whole of that winter. All these things that I have written about the holy old man I heard from Brother Pacificus.

Brother Pacificus persevered and was a very zealous observer of the Rule. He was Vicar of the Province of the Marches, which he governed with great zeal and maturity. Because he had particular devotion to the Province of Saint Francis where he had taken the habit he negotiated with the Father General to send him back to that Province where he lived giving the best example. He spent most of the time in holy prayers. He fasted most of the year and rarely spoke with anyone in order to have greater opportunity to pray.

When he was in the last days of his life in the friary at Panicale he fell gravely ill. After having received all the most sacraments in that illness, being well prepared and totally united with God, he passed away to a better life. He was buried in that place.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of his most fair Mother and of our father Saint Francis. Amen.