About the holy man Brother Jerome Avogadro of Novara, Priest

Brother Jerome was from a city in Lombardy called Novara. He was born to very noble parents of the Avogadro family. At an early age he applied himself to learning and became quite well instructed in positive grammar. He was tall in stature and was physically elegant. He was so delicate that he resembled a bride. He was adorned with such a fine bearing that all those who saw him regarded him to be of high blood. When he came to about the age of sixteen years he recognised the fallacies of the world by the grace of the Holy Spirit and decided to abandon it and serve God in some Order. Because his family was always especially very devoted to the Franciscan Order, the devout young man took the habit of the Zoccolanti.

Not long after when the Congregation of Capuchins emerged, when he was in the friary of Cumaccio with the venerable Father Joseph of Ferno whom we mentioned above, he came to the Capuchins. With great devotion and the desire to observe the Rule promised to God he took the habit at Milan. When our Fathers saw his irreproachable and holy life they gave him the care of the novices. As long as he lived in the Congregation he was always Novice Master. I who write spoke with him very often. About things I did not know I have been well informed by trustworthy Friars who were his disciples.

Therefore this servant of God was a very fervent zealot of the perfect observance of the Rule. He was so obedient that it was found that he never objected when his Superior imposed some task on him. He was so humble in his conversation that even though the novices tried to imitate him, nonetheless very few of them achieved the mortification of their Master. All this came about because since he was in nappies God endowed him with such an innate gentleness that it was impossible for him to get angry. He was an amazing observer of holy poverty. He wore just one old, completely patched habit. He ate a little – rough foods seasoned simply. He hardly ever ate more than once a day. He was very modest and regarded a virgin by everyone. He was so mortified in his behaviour, his speech, his gaze and conversation that he resembled an Angel. However more importantly through his great purity the Lord God gave him the gift of high contemplation. He many trustworthy Friars saw him elevated in ecstasy at prayer that he practised so perseveringly that apart from the needs of nature he spent all his time at it. Once when he was in the Friary at Monza, since he was the Guardian, it happened that a secular asked that he come to the door. Because of this the porter went to the choir where the servant of God was at prayer. The porter was called Brother Luke of Vigevano. He said to him, “Father, you are called to the door.” The servant of God was so elevated with his mind in God that when Brother Luke touched him he returned to himself and said to him, “Go, I am coming now.” After Brother Luke left he was wrapt by the Spirit again and he did not leave that place. However the one who was waiting for him at the door knocked again very quickly. When Brother Luke heard this he thought that it was someone else. Returning to the door he found it was the same person who was waiting. Surprised that the Guardian was so slow in coming, Brother Luke returned to him and found him kneeling in the same way and elevated in ecstasy. Shaking him strongly he said to him, “Father, you haven’t gone to the door. Please go so that you do not scandalise that good man.” When the Guardian said, “I am coming now” Brother Luke was not sure. He didn’t want to leave the church. Standing at the choir exit he carefully observed what he did. He saw him fall to his knees again. With his face lifted up towards heaven, he stayed motionless. Meanwhile the man knocked at the door again. Because of this Brother Luke became quite distressed for on the one hand he did not want to stop his prayer, and on the other hand he was worried about scandalizing the secular. He decided to take him to the door. When the holy man rose to his feet and came towards the choir exit. Taking some holy water Brother Luke went outside. Again the Guardian forgot and returned to his place and was lifted up in ecstasy again. So the porter was forced to lead him to the door by hand since his mind was so transformed.

This servant of God rarely spoke except about the things of God and necessary things. An idle word never came from his mouth. He celebrated Mass every day with great devotion. When he was in the friary he never failed to say the Office in the church with the others until the end of his end. Even though he could not stay on his feet because of a illness in which his leg was nearly completely ulcerated, the servant of God remained kneeling. He carried this infirmity with amazing patience for about thirty years. However for many years before that infirmity aggravated him, the servant of God always stood for the Office and for prayer without ever leaning. In his old age when he could not go to the Office by himself in the church, he had himself brought there and the venerable old Friar stayed kneeling and leant on a bench. This was because the Province of Milan does not keep anything in the oratory upon which to lean. It was something wonderful that in this infirmity of his he never wanted special treatment but always lived and led the common life. Many times he was seen rapt in the spirit at table.

His simplicity was such that he believed everything told him.

In his old age when he was in the friary at Cremona he wanted to go to the friary in Rezzato in Bresciano because it is warm. He fell ill in Brescia where our Fathers sent him from Milan and where he took the Capuchin habit. Staying there some days his illness deteriorated. Armed with all the most holy sacraments, well prepared, that very holy soul passed away to its Creator with the greatest example of holiness.

To the praise and glory of the Supreme Creator. Amen.