About the holy man Brother Liberalino of Colle Vallenza, Priest and Preacher

Brother Liberalinus was from a region called Colle Vallenza situated within the domain of Florence. He was born to honest but poor parents. At an early age this servant of God attended school. However as it pleased the Lord God, since his father often visited certain Reformed Conventuals of Saint Francis at (a place) called Barbarino, the devout boy went many times with his father to that friary and the wish to become one of those Friars came upon him. His father was happy with this and so he stayed with those Friars a long time and they taught him.

When he came to about the age of twelve years, since it was his God given lot to have an innate religiosity from his infancy, he could wait no longer to be clothed with that habit and stay with the other Fratini in that friary. The Guardian of that friary clothed him (in the habit) and although it would have been difficult for his father he nonetheless did not want to stop him since he was a God fearing man. Instead with the great joy the whole family made a beautiful meal for the Friars on the day that he took the habit. When the good boy say that the Friars ate with tears and a lot of spirit, he cried allowed at the table, “Lord, preserve me in this holy Order.” At the boy’s word everyone was move to laugh and cry at the same time, seeing the simplicity, spirit and devotion of that youngster. Because one of those Fathers was from his region of Colle, he had a special love for him. He helped the boy so much that he became a good preacher.

Not long after that Reform diminished in its fervour for those first holy men had died – those who had initiated the Reform and withdrawn to that little friary out of zeal for the observance of the Rule. That Reform was ruined especially after the death of Father Francis of Montepulciano, leader and founder of that Reform.

When the Congregation of Capuchins came, Brother Liberalinus, touched by the Holy Spirit, decided with some other companions of his to come to our Congregation. There he led a very wonderful life. These were the one who gave the Friary of the Magdalen to the Capuchins. Earlier it had belonged to the Reformers.

Therefore Brother Liberalinus was very humble, so much so that he always lived as a novice. He rarely spoke with anyone and rarely conversed. He did the chores of the friary so willingly and obeyed everyone exactly as if he were a novice. He never complained about anything he suffered nor would he have ever said slightest word against his neighbour. Instead he regarded everyone as better the he. He never wanted to be Superior. He showed such gentleness that he seemed like an Angel of god. He spent the best part of the time praying or studying his sermons in the church, in the woods or in his cell. He took account of time very much. He slept little especially after Matins so that he rarely went to rest but stayed at prayer in the church. He said the Mass every morning with great devotion.

He was also austere regarding his body so he rarely ate more than once a day and on some devout vigils, especially those of Our Lady. On those he fasted on bread and water. He was small in stature and ate very little. He rarely ate meat and then only little. He was accustomed to say, “It is not without reasons that the early Monks put in their Rules not to eat meat. Know that every evil comes from the gullet and every good comes from abstinence. While Religious (Orders) practised abstinence and holy contemplation they were always full of holy men who performed miracles. However when they lacked austerity of life they lacked miracles and holiness at the same time and followed the miracles of Lucifer and countless scandals.”

He preached in the lowly places because he was not very learned and because he felt he bore more fruit preaching to simple persons. He strongly rebuked the vices and delighted in establishing some confraternities. He said, “Unless some means is given by which they may persevere in some devotion and attend the most holy sacraments, in a short time after the preacher has departed all the doctrine they got from the preaching is sent to oblivion. However in the confraternities devotion is maintained.” He preached very devoutly and most about cases of conscience and the holy virtues as is obvious even today in his Quadragesimale.

He was also very zealous about the observance of the Rule, especially holy obedience. Those who had been his familiars said that they never saw him object to holy obedience, no matter how difficult it was. He was also very zealous about holy poverty for he never wanted to use more than just one habit and one mantle in winter, both old and patched. He never wanted books except his book and the breviary. When he ate he was very content with herbs and said that these were the proper food of the servants of God. He did not like certain extreme abstinences but praised sobriety very much, eating all things but only a little and ordering his fast so that it would serve holy prayer. He said that too much and too little impede the spirit and both are deceptions of the devil. He was very zealous about holy honesty and a foremost enemy against dealings with women. He said, “We have no greater enemy in this world than the dealing with women. Anyone who likes deals too much with seculars will always find harm in it and will have wasted time, given bad example and given trouble to the Friars.”

Finally after serving Our Lord God for about fifty years in the holy Religion and about five years among the Reformed (Friars) of Saint Francis, in this time no secular or Friar ever heard any scandal about him but was always in the highest regard of everyone and after having served Our Lord with great simplicity like another Brother Leo, he fell gravely ill. After having received all the most holy sacraments that happy soul passed away to ti Creator. He was buried in the friary of the Conception near Florence.

I cannot write about any miracles of his because even though he was at the same time as I, I did not have any familiarity with him. However what I have written I have received from old Friars of Tuscany, holy and trustworthy men who were very well acquainted with him.

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