About the holy man Brother John Baptist of Terni, Priest

Brother John Baptist was from a city in Umbria called Terni, in the dominion of the Church and the Province of Saint Francis. He was born to honest parents, citizens of that city. At an early age he attended school, however when he reached the age of about twelve years, inspired by God the youngest decided to leave the world and enter the Franciscan Order. When saw other youngsters in that friary of Saint Francis he liked that Order very much. He hung around with those little Friars from some days and revealed to them his good desire. These little Friars made him known to a very good and venerable Father and Master called Mastro Nuntiangelo. When he heard this he called the devout youngster and said to him, “My son, if you want to be a Friar I will cloth you at my expense. If you want to learn I commit myself to make you a man.” When the youngster heard these words he was very happy. Within a few days he was clothed. He behaved so well that the Master had a great love for him and watched over him so jealously that he could not associate with anyone. He gave him a separate room and had him sleep alone. It was an amazing thing. Guided by God and on his own initiative he fasted on all the forty-days that the Rule imposes. He was a mirror to all those venerable Fathers. His Master said to him, “Brother John Baptist, you are doing too much by wanting to fast on all the forty-days. You’ll quickly get sick.” The devout child answered him, “It is better that the body become infirm than the soul die through mortal sin. I am obliged to fast.” Amazed at these words his Master grew even more devoted towards him and gave him every opportunity to be able to fast. He heard from the Friars that Saint Francis wore hairshirt. They told him how it was made from horsehair. Immediately Brother John Baptist secretly procured one of them by means of his mother and wore it and no one knew about.

It happened that the venerable Father Francis of Iesi, Capuchin, preached the Lent in the church of that convent with great approval. When Brother John Baptist heard that preaching he became very fervent. Since that Father had his room in the convent Brother John Baptist took up friendship with his companion. One day he asked him, “Which friars are you?” He answered that they were Friars of Saint Francis. He replied to him, “Well, why don’t you dress like Friars of Saint Francis?” The fellow answered, “Son, you are mistaken. Saint Francis never wore that habit but he always went dressed like us. However when the Order grew lax, the friars abandoned the habit of Saint Francis and took up the one that you are wearing. Even the Rule is not observed among you. As for the truth, you can read it for yourself.” Taking the Rule out of his sleeve, he gave it to him. Full of joy then the devout boy retired in his room and read it during that Lent many times. When the Father Preacher left that Easter, without saying anything to anyone, he set off after him and found that the Father Vicar of the Province was in the friary of Narni. He presented himself before him and on bended knee asked him to be received. The Father Vicar told him that he was too young. Brother John Baptist answered him, “Father, I am sixteen years old and I do not want to go back to that friary convent any more.” He replied to him, “You won’t be able to fast.” Brother John Baptist said, “I began to fast when I was twelve and in that friary I have always fasted for all the forty-days which the Rule imposes. Won’t I be able to fast now that I am sixteen years old?” The Father Vicar felt that those replies were those of a mature man and not a boy. He realised that God endowed the boy with a good understanding and so received him. He sent him to the novitiate in the friary of the Carcerelle in Assisi.

This boy was so frail and striking in appearance that the Master was ashamed to let the seculars see him. The Father Vicar wanted him to spend two years in the novitiate. He behaved in such a holy way that he amazed everyone. He always fasted with more austerity than the others. He was so mortified and shy towards the friars that if he was not at Office or called by his Master, he never let anyone see his eyes nor to hear him speak. Because he was so frail and young, his Master worried that the sharp air during cold times would make him sick. He always had him wear a piece of woollen cloth on his head. By the grace of God he bore up very well and at the end of the year made his profession. He always behaved like an Angel.

He had his mother who was a holy woman who practised holy prayer very much. The poor woman always tormented by one of her sons who had become quite wild. Some said he was lunatic or truly possessed because sometimes when he was sensible he suddenly erupted into a dangerous rage. Once it happened that when came home he found his mother kneeling in prayer. He thrust his hands to the sword and clean cut her throat. He was then taken by the court and sentenced to the gallows. No one knows what happened to him after that. When Brother John Baptist’s Master learned of this for many days he did not want to say anything. However when he reconsidered that he also needed to know, he was speaking to him one day and said to him, “My son, you know the goodness of your mother. Because she was such a holy woman she lacked nothing but martyrdom in order to be exalted in heaven. God has given this to her now. Know that your mad brother, when he found her praying, cut her throat with a sword.” Amazing! As moved as he was, he gave no sign of sadness. He was like a stone. He only said, “Nothing else was expected of the poor fellow.” His Master said to him, “These are not things to worry about but to rejoice over very much because God has allowed such a good and holy woman to go to the Lord with the palm of martyrdom. We have no surer way of dying in the grace of God than martyrdom. Therefore son, thank God and be glad because your mother is in paradise.”

He became a Priest and always lived in great austerity. Though he was very gentle by nature, nonetheless he was very inclined towards abstinence and suffering fro the love of God. More importantly, he was very humble, to the extent that everyone loved him very much. While he was young few if any at his sage could equal him in the virtue of humility. He was so resigned in the virtue of obedience that he was like an Angel of God.

He was Guardian and Novice Master for many years. He governed them with great simplicity and prudence and with such charity that he had more love for them than if he had been their father himself. He said that above all the Novice Master should behave in such a way that through visible signs the Novices are sure that he carries them all in his heart and they have great confidence in him. For when they lose confidence, they are finished.

God enlightened him very much at prayer and I believe that in part his great purity and simplicity heart came from this. Such was the purity of his mind that it was a great effort for him to think ill of anyone. God disposed him when he was a child to begin to serve God and he always maintained that purity. Just as I heard from his own mouth, God gave him and preserved in him the precious gift of virginity. Just as his mother gave birth to that virginity, so he preserved it with out staining it in anyway until he died. Therefore from this came the keenness of his intelligence in holy contemplation with a great peace of mind that made him so familiar with God that it showed externally. He always appeared joyful and loving towards everyone. Many times God enlightened him so that he could tell things that were about to happen. Once he was in the friary at Terni when it was being built. He went to the city and asked for a cask of wine from a very rich citizen. He said to him, “Brother John Baptist, I want to give it to you but I don’t have time now.” The servant of God replied to him, “Give it to me now because you won’t have it next time.” The citizen replied, “Yes, I will have time.” It was amazing. Not long after he was walking through his garden with some friends of his when a cloud appeared and a flash of lightning came down and hurt no one but him. It struck him so violently that one could not tell his head from his feet. He was like a burnt tree stump.

At other times he also predicted other things, but because I don’t remember them I will leave them out.

It pleased the Lord God that he became Guardian in the old friary at Todi where, because of his great purity, the Lord God sent him the greatest trial without any flaw on his part. His Majesty allowed that it would he a great struggle for him to put up with it because since he was close to death He wanted to purify him in this world. This was not enough. When he fell ill with a very serious sickness, he endured it with amazing patience. He always thanked God who had deigned to visit him. He showed very gladly that he passed to the better life quite willingly since he knew that while we are in this world we are always in danger of damning ourselves. “Now that I am ready I am happy to die. I only regret that I did so little good in the holy Order.” While preparing himself still with prayer and by receiving al the holy sacraments, the servant of God was assailed by a great temptation. Almost beside himself he battled inwardly with the infernal enemy. Some words were heard that he said while he clashed with the enemy. However the Friars could not understand them. They only knew that the temptation changed several times. This lasted for some days and nights. They only understood the servant of God when he said, “When will this trial finish?!” Such was the fearful violence that the enemy brought against him that he split his eye. The Friars were all terrified and helped him with their prayers. However when the trial was over, in a flash he returned to himself with such a completely joyful and flushed face that he looked like a heavenly Angel. He only offered a few words, saying, “Thanks be to God! We have won!” Immediately that blessed soul passed away to its Creator, leaving all the Friars happy about the victory had against the enemy.

He was buried in that friary and for more than twenty years that holy body has been seen entire and sound, as if he had just died. Now that servant of God enjoys heaven. On earth he strove to serve his Creator from childhood and without doubt that holy soul prays for us.

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