About the holy man Brother Louis of Stroncone, priest

This holy man was born in the area of Stroncone, situated in the dominion of the Church, in the Province of Saint Francis. His parents were nor very rich in temporal goods but were very devout and faithful Christians. They raised their son to be well instructed as a boy in the principles of the Christian life. He went to school until he learned to read. Because all his family was always very devout towards Saint Francis, they fostered in their son devotion towards the Saint and his Order. When he reached about sixteen years of age his parents devoutly offered the devout young man to the Order of Saint Francis. He made his novitiate with great fervour. He persevered with great fervour and was zealous about the perfect observance of the Rule. Because he was not very well educated he was never set to study. Instead he always practised holy prayer. He was Novice Master for many years, governing them with the best example. Moreover he taught them to practise holy contemplation, saying to them, “It is not possible to be brought to the true port of salvation with the perfect observance of the Rule nor acquire true perfection without attendance to holy prayer.”

Father Louis of Fossombrone received him and he was almost among the first Capuchins. He was so in love with the observance of poverty that he only gave his body what was strictly necessary, as weak as he was, eating almost always only once a day. He said this was the best abstinence and it fostered good bodily health and gave him ample scope to be able to practice holy contemplation with greater sobriety. He said, “By not eating in the evening I gain two hours of time per day of which the evening meal would deprive me.” Because of this, the servant of God willingly stayed in solitary friaries. Without fail he fasted on bread and water for the vigils of Our Lady. Of the forty-days that our Father Saint Francis was accustomed to do, he did the one of Saint Michael the Archangel and during which he led a life that was more angelic than human, applying himself more strictly than usual to holy contemplation. He said that our Father Saint Francis had high regard for that holy forty-days in which he merited to receive from Jesus Christ the sacred stigmata through the intercession of Angel Michael. We must conform ourselves to that Father of ours. When he heard that the Capuchins had taken up the running of Saint James’ Hospital for the Incurable, in order to conform himself to Father Saint Francis, with great insistence he begged Father Louis so that it might please him to put him at the service of the poor lepers where he intended to carry out the lowliest tasks for the love of God. On the other hand when he reconsidered the matter he began to doubt and said to himself, “I do not know if God is calling me to this task. I have made a mistake to ask for such a thing. For in such undertakings it is necessary to search out the will of God.” Because of this he wrote again, “Venerable Father, my intention was to apply myself to mortification when I wrote to you about the Hospital. Now I withdraw myself and with all subjection I submit myself to your will.” However when it pleased the Lord God that his superiors assigned him there, he lifted his hands to heaven. Thanking God he said, “Now I see that the Lord wants me to apply myself to the virtue of charity towards my neighbour.” In that hospital he wanted to vilest task there was for he prepared the bandages for the lepers. The holy man was always with his apron on and with scissors in his hand cutting, sewing and adjusting the bandages in such a way that while that care lasted the poor sick in that Hospital called for no one except Father Louis. When he had distributed the bandages he went with a joyful face comforting them one by one, asking them if they had any needs. It was a marvellous thing that because of the charity he exercised in that Hospital the number of sick doubled as the good governance and charity of this holy man and the other Capuchins became known. Many gentlemen and important persons had themselves brought to that Hospital to be well looked after in their infirmity. Just as the Lord God multiplied the number of infirm, so on the other hand He also multiplied materials. Just as I heard form the mouth of this holy man, the Hospital was often in debt by six or eight thousand scudi because of the great expenditure caring for the sick and also because of the great expenditure it had because of the many staff there: mule drivers, barbers and others who served. When the matter came out, the holy man revealed to great persons – Cardinals, Lords and other important persons – how the Hospital was in debt. Within a very short time it received fifteen, twenty and thirty thousand scudi as alms each time.

The servant of God Brother Louis persevered in this act of charity about twelve years with the best example. Then the notion came to him, because he was old, to return to the Province of Saint Francis to have some respite from such heavy work. He obtained this permission thus with much difficulty both from the Guardians of the Hospital and from the Superiors of the Order. Because he was so well known and regarded as a holy man by everyone, his departure would hurt the Hospital very much both for the governance of the sick and also for the alms. Nonetheless they had compassion for his old age. Having returned he was assigned to friary of the Carcerelle of Assisi. I was in that fraternity with him for many months and from his own mouth I got all these things that I am writing. When they saw the great harm of the Hospital, the Guardians and supervisors by way of Cardinals had our Father General forced to have him return. The servant of God rejoiced over this very much. This was because he felt it had been his own idea to have himself moved the Hospital. So kneeling down, with tears he thanked God who, against his wish and through holy obedience, had him return to die among those poor ones.

When he returned he was there about two year, but then both because of his old age as much as well as being quite ill there was little more service that he could do. After deteriorating and having received all the most holy sacraments, well prepared he passed away to a better life. There was lament by all those poor ones of the hospital, and all Rome sorrowed about his death and said with a loud voice, “The great servant of God Brother Louis of Stroncone is dead! No man has ever serve in the Hospital with such charity. We hope that just as he has helped us in this world, from now oh he will help us much more in heaven near Our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he served so many years so faithfully.”

To whom be honour and glory forever. Amen.