About the holy man Brother Peter of Portugal, priest

Just as he tole me himself, Brother Peter was from a little Island situated in the Ocean sea near Portugal. At an early age he attended school until he learned to read and write with quite a good knowledge of the Latin language. At that early age he began to want to become a Priest. Because of this he was always with Priests and religious persons. When he arrived at the appropriate age he sang his first Mass in his own country.

Not long after the desire come upon out his devotion to visit the holy places of Rome and then withdraw into some Order. Therefore he set out on a journey with this intention. When he had visited those holy places according to the desire he had, he gathered information about which Religious in Rome were more withdrawn. He was told that a reform of the Order of Saint Francis had emerged again. They were called the Capuchins and he would find them at Saint Euphemia. Because of the great devotion which they have on that Island for Saint Francis, when heard tell that they were Friars of Saint Francis, he felt completely moved and burned with an immense desire to become on of those Friars. He went off to Saint Euphemia and not long after, since Brother Louis had learned of his holy life, he was received by him and sent to the Province of Saint Francis where he led a marvellous life. For he turned his heart completely against himself to mortify the flesh and do penance for his since. So in summer and winter he used to go dressed in just one old, completely patched habit. On his bare skin he wore harsh sackcloth. He fasted most of the time on bread and water and he usually ate never more than once a day. He occupied himself in holy prayer almost continuously.

Because Our Lord is accustomed to prove his servants, He permitted a great temptation for this servant of His. For the Lord God had endowed him with the greatest simplicity. He rarely spoke of anything else except fast days and doing penance. He didn’t sleep more than three or four hours a night. The rest of the time he spent in taking the discipline or praying. Often he used to say, “The early saints did great things.” Then he would conclude, “This body is the greatest enemy I have. If I can win the battle of submitting this enemy of mine it won’t be a little thing.” He always wanted to find Superiors who would reprimand him and insult him. He said that there was no greater demon for us than our own will. So he persevered in this manner of living. The enemy who does not sleep had many battles with him. He appeared to him visibly in different forms, sometimes as a Friar, sometimes as an Angel. Once he appeared in the form of a Friar who knelt in front of him and who indicated that he wanted to go to confession. However when he became aware of the fact he turned to him and said, “I would like it very much that you be brought to penitence!” At this, he disappeared like smoke in front of him. The he changed style and began to tell him that he was a holy man and that those who appeared earlier had all been demons to deceive him. “However because the Lord God has seen that you are a valiant knight has decided that he wants to reward you. Know that I am the good Angel sent by God to show you how much merit you have before His Majesty. Know that the Lord God wants you to be Pope.” At these words, because of his great simplicity and because he wasn’t all that experienced, he began to believe him. The vision lasted for many months so that he often appeared to him and gave him great consolations and with familiarity showed him many secrets. Finally he was so tethered by the enemy that he was sure that this one was a good Angel. So one night when the enemy saw that Brother Peter believed him more than ever, he showed himself to him and said, “Know, Brother Peter, that I am the Angel sent by God to announce to you on His behalf that you are that Angelic Pope whom many holy men have spoken about and longed for. So that you may believe me, God has given you power to do miracles. If you believe me, you will experience this in the first sick person who comes before you. Make the sign of the Cross over him and he will be healed immediately.”

Brother Peter was very sad about this, and at the same time he was very joyful. He was sad because he worried becoming proud in the Papacy and he said to himself, “I am not suitable for such an office and I am quite amazed that Our Lord who knows that I am unsuitable and puts me into these intrigues.” Then he added, “He who has chosen me will instruct me.” So on the one hand he consoled himself and on the other he regretted it very much. Still he had great joy about having seen the Angel under such a beautiful form. It lasted for many days that the more the enemy captivated him, the more he did not know where he was. And his simplicity was such that he did not dare to reveal this to anyone.

When one day he was sent to the castles round about for alms, on the road he found a farmer who had one leg completely purulent. When he saw him he said to himself, “By this I will know whether the vision is good or a temptation of the enemy. If it is from God when I make the sign of the Cross the leg of this framer will he healed immediately.” Drawing nearer to him he said, “Poor fellow, your leg is in a very bad way. Allow me to make the sign of the holy Cross over you.” He said to him, “Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?” He answered, “Yes I have faith.” Brother Peter said, “Do not worry because I want to heal you.” When he made the sign of the Cross over the wound the man was perfectly healed immediately.” It was considered that this was a miracle of God through the faith of the farmer, healed by the power of the sign of the Holy Cross. Brother Peter thought that he did that sign of the Cross on the behalf of God, as the Angel had revealed to him and while thinking that the Angel was a good one.

Because of this Brother Peter was totally sure in his heart that because of what he had told him that he was a real Angel of God. So when the he appeared to him again he said to him, “Brother Peter, go to Rome because the Pope will die soon and woe to you if you do not obey God.” Because of this Brother Peter was very troubled because he did not want to go there alone much less without obedience, and Father Guardian didn’t want to send him.

Fate had it that Brother Louis Fossombrone sent Brother Joseph of Riete from Rome as Commissary and Visitator of the Province of Saint Francis because the Provinces were not yet organised. Rather, Brother Louis ruled everything. When Brother Joseph came to the friary at Coldipepo, with great joy Brother Peter knelt before him. He told him everything about the whole matter, how God had chosen him to be Pope and had revealed this to him through an Angel. He asked him permission and a companion in order to go to Rome because the Lord had so commanded him. When he heard this, Brother Joseph was very happy because he had had little experience in such apparitions. He said to him, “Thanks be to God. Now I know that He wants to magnify this Congregation. We will have a Pope revealed by God and by means of an Angel!” He gave him a companion very quickly and sent him straight to Rome. While Brother Peter knelt down in order to ask his blessing, Brother Joseph immediately threw himself down on his knees and said, “My goodness, you should be the one to bless me, since the Lord has chosen you as His Vicar.” So unawares he believed everything the dark Angel had said to Brother Peter. The reason was because he had cured the farmer of the ucler.

The simple Brother Peter went to Rome very joyfully thinking to be enthroned when he arrived. He told Brother Louis the whole happening, thinking that it would make him very glad because at that time our Congregation was in very great danger. At this, Brother Louis cried out in a loud voice, “O demon, you are not short of ways to trouble us! I know now you have found the means. If His Holiness learns that we want to usurp the Papacy he will send us to ruin.” He commanded that Brother Peter be put in prison immediately. When Brother Peter saw this he was stunned and thought to himself, “That Angel was certainly a devil. This one is a holy man and the demon cannot deceive him as he has deceived me.” He sent to Brother Louis to ask for Brother Louis because he wanted to speak with him. Immediately he humbled himself before him and said, “My Father, forgive me. I would not have believed him if there had not been the miracle. However if you tell me that that Angel was a demon I will believe you.” Seeing his simplicity, Brother Louis brought him out and sent him well instructed back to the Province of Saint Francis. Afterwards whenever he heard talk about visions he used to begin to cry, “Do not believe them because they will deceive you. The devil deceived me once. I know he will not deceive me any more. I no longer believe spirits.”

From then on he persevered in great holiness and simplicity. However when Father Bernardine of Asti heard of his holiness, he immediately sent him to the Hospital for the Incurable to serve the lepers. He served there about ten years with such good example and holiness that all of Rome was edified. The servant of God embraced all the hard work with great fervour. He was never seen to have had enough in helping those poor sick people. Nonetheless he never missed saying his Mass every morning and withdrawing to holy contemplation for the time allowed him. Nothing but edifying words were ever heard from his lips. The modesty of his conversation with seculars was such that he seemed impeccable. He was never seen bothered, rather he was always adorned with a holy modesty in all the requirements of running that Hospital.

It pleased the Lord God to reward this servant of His. For when he fell ill, ready and well armed by all the most holy sacraments, that happy soul passed away to tis Creator. He was buried in the friary of Saint Nicholas.

He gave an indication of his holiness to everyone. For when he was alive his face was dark and quite pale. However when he died, his face was so white and ruddy that he looked like a rose. Both Friars and seculars were stunned by this, and affirmed that this was unusual and a miracle.

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