About the holy man Brother Peter of Todi, priest

Brother Peter was from a city called Todi situated in the Province of Saint Francis and in the dominion of the Church. He was born of noble parents, of the Palamoni household. He went to school at an early age and became well instructed in positive grammar. However when he reached about the age of seventeen years he saw the great danger for his soul of falling headlong into sin, he resolved to flee the groups of this world to become a Religious. He took the habit in the Franciscan order.

However when the Congregation of Capuchins emerged, because he had desired the perfect observance of the holy rule for such a long time, he burned with an incredible fervour to do greater penance and to better observe the Rule he had promised to God. So in order not to be stopped by his companions he left secretly. Having gone to Rome, he was received by Borhter Louis of Fossombrone and clothed with the Capuchin habit. He was sent back to the Province of Saint Francis and assigned to the friary of Saint Valentine’s in Foligno. Not long after, moving from that house, the one of Saint Joseph’s was established where the servant of God became the Guardian.

In that Congregation he led a very austere life for he was very zealous about holy poverty which he marvellously observed in food, dress and dwelling. Nearly the whole time he ate only once a day. He never wanted fancy foods but greens, vegetables and other simple, poor and basic foods. He said, “Meat and other fine things are not the food of the servants of God who have promised to imitate Jesus Christ and to lead the apostolic life in the world.” He never wanted to be different from the others and ate always at the set time.

He was very zealous about holy prayer and spent all his time in it which he extended beyond the ordinary times that were customary in the Order. In order to be able to dedicate himself better to prayer he always sought to be in the more solitary and poorer houses of the Province. He often used to say, “We never read that our Father Saint Francis stayed in large friaries. Instead he stayed in Mount Alverna, Monte Casale, the Carcere of Assisi, at Farneto, at Speco di Sant’ Urbino and similar alpine, solitary and poor little places. He did this in order to observe better poverty, his beloved bride.

Even though he was very austere regarding himself, nonetheless he was very charitable toward his neighbour. Since he was Novice Master for many years, his students testify to this. He governed them with such good example that he seemed like another Saint Francis. Such was the solicitude seen in that servant of God towards his sheep, especially when the enemy tempted them. He stayed with them day and night to comfort them; the same at times of sickness. No mother was ever as tender towards her children as this servant of God was towards his ill subjects. Similarly with seculars, they had such devotion towards him that whenever some discord arose among them, no matter how serious it was, the reconciled them. Whenever he saw anyone suffering, he would dissolve into tears out of compassion.

Once a governor of Perugia, called Pitta, hung fourteen men from Bastia for whatever crime I don’t know. Because of fear towards that governor, they hung on the gallows for many days. No one had the courage to bury them. With the permission of his Superiors, one night that servant of God buried them all. For a long time, no one knew who had done it except the Friars.

He wore almost continuously a rough hairshirt against his skin. He said, “The servant of God should never be without some affliction in memory of the Lord’s passion.”

Therefore after Brother Peter had served the Lord God for about thirty-five years in the holy Order, it pleased His Majesty to take him to Himself, for he fell seriously ill in the aforementioned friary of Saint Joseph. Not long after, with much preparation and quite ready, he passed away to a better life. He was buried in that friary and he was the first Capuchin who died in the Province of Saint Francis. God revealed his death to him for when the church at Saint Joseph’s was built and the sepulchre was being built for the Friars, when he had finished it he said to all those present, “Know, my sons, that I will be the first to be place in this tomb.” This was fulfilled.

Not long after his death another holy friar died. When they opened the tomb in which there were no others except Brother Peter, such a strong fragrance came out that it seemed that all the spiceries of the world were there. This was a true sign of his holiness for the Friars and for a great number of seculars who said unanimously, “Now we see how great was the holiness of the servant of God, Brother Peter. It is clear that that holy soul is in paradise.” Weeping, they all gave thanks to God.

Another clear testimony also manifested his holiness. This servant of God had a nephew called Peter Paul of John of Gentilone. When he was a boy he was in his father’s cellar. When he saw a vase of some liquid, I don’t know which, like a boy he began to taste it with his finger. Finding it sweet, he put it to his mouth and had a good drink. When he father became aware of this, he began to cry out loudly saying, “Oh my son, you are dead!” Hurrying on foot he took him to the apothecary of one of his relatives called Attorre who was very expert in that art. He immediately ordered certain remedies against the poison and in order to make him vomit. As it pleased the Lord God, the boy was freed from that death but he always remained quite ill and never had had any colour in his face. Because the servant of God Brother Peter loved his nephew Peter Paul very deeply he advised him not to become involved in the things of the world but to always lead a spiritual life. Because of such good instruction she always lived in the fear of God. Not long after Brother Peter’s death Peter Paul was ill with a consumptive fever. He had been in been for a long time when one day when he was in bed, alone, his uncle Brother Peter appeared to him surrounded by great splendour. Startled by this, Peter Paul began to cry, “Jesus Christ help me!” Then with a pleasant voice Brother Peter called him and said, “Peter Paul, my dear nephew, do not worry. I am your uncle Brother Peter. From heaven I have seen your illness and your great need. I have brought you a vessel of precious electuary. Without taking any other this will last you until that day that will be the last of your life. Take it with devotion and wait for me because that day will come. Go to confession and receive all the most holy sacraments and prepare yourself devoutly.” And so he disappeared.

With many tears Peter Paul began to cry and call everyone in the house. They came running and he told them, “My uncle Brother Peter has visited me and has brought me this vessel of electuary. He told me to eat it until the day when he will return for me.” Although he held that beautiful vessel in his hand and they all smelled the great fragrance that came from the vessel and saw him eat it with great delight, nonetheless no one could see that vessel. From then one, for many days, he never wanted to taste anything else but that electuary. When that day came he passed away to a better life. Although he could no longer speak, with signs he indicated that he saw he could see his uncle with whom he went away in order to possess heaven.

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