About the holy man Brother Martin of Flanders, Lay Friar

Brother Martin was the companion of the venerable Father Francis Tittelmans. He took the habit of the Franciscan Order in his fatherland when he was young. Because he was illiterate he applied himself to the duties of the Lay Friars and served the Friars with marvellous humility.

However when the zealous servant of God Brother Francis Tittelmans wanted to come to Rome to become a Capuchin, he was also keen about the perfect observance of the Rule. He humble commended himself to him so that he might want to take him with him. Since the good Father knew about his firm desire and that he had always led a a very holy life in the Order, he willingly accepted him as his companion. When they came to Rome they brought with them Brother Leonard, a Priest and a very agreeable young man. The venerable Father Bernardine of Asti received them in the friary in Rome. To better mortify himself and to imitate Father Saint Francis he immediately asked for the grace to be assigned to the leper Hospital and to serve those sick people. At that time the Capuchins took care of them. When the Friars saw his firm desire and good life they granted him the grace.

In that Hospital of the Incurable he gave an example of the greatest perfection because he always did the lowliest and strenuous tasks in the Hospital with remarkable silence and incredible patience so that no one could have boasted of ever seeing him angry. He washed the bandages, swept the Hospital and took the filthy clothes of the sick to the laundry. Never an idle word came from his lips. Although many times it was necessary for him to go to Rome to quest for alms for the poor sick people, Brother Martin never stopped praying. While his companion knocked and waited at the door, he faced the wall and prayed with his face raised towards heaven. He did the same in all his duties because he always did them with his mind raised up to God.

He never wanted to wear more than one completely patched habit. He went barefoot continuously. He benefited very much from being a foreigner who knew no one and also because he did not know too much about speaking Italian. He continuously wore a rough hairshirt and always kept his mind recollected. Although it was necessary for him to be among people nearly all the time because of the task he had nonetheless because he didn’t understand the language and did not know people his mind remained quiet, as if he were in the forest. Because Tittelmans told him that in his service he perfectly observed the Rule – to eat the bread gained by his own efforts – he was so much a peace that he never asked to be transferred from it. Because of this the Lord God gave him such a clear perception about things of the next life that he could not possibly be disturbed or impeded from praying continuously.

He persevered in these tasks for about fourteen years with such example and a good life that all of Rome had the greatest devotion towards him. Then because of a grave illness, and after having received all the most holy sacraments, the servant of God passed over to his Creator. The Friars brought his body for burial in the friary of Saint Nicholas. The whole Hospital mourned and when he died a great number of people came to see him. Kissing his feet they said tearfully, “O servant of God, pray for us, because you have served Him so faithfully.”

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