About the holy man Brother James of Reggio, Lay Friar

Brother James was from the city of Reggio in Calabria. He was born to honest parents. When he was young he applied himself to manual things. He was raised with great simplicity, doing devout exercises since he was a tot.

It pleased the Lord God to call him to the Capuchin Congregation when he was about sixteen years old. He was one of the first Capuchins. Those first Fathers who began the Reform of that Province received him. In the Congregation he led an ordinary life in clothing and food. However he received from the Lord God a special gift for holy prayer. This was because of his great purity and simplicity. He was naturally endowed with great simplicity and with it he applied himself completely to holy contemplation and he derived the greatest profit from this. Apart from the needs of nature and when it was necessary to labour out of charity for his neighbour, he spent all the rest of the time in holy prayer. He was very enlightened. Because he was a Lay Friar and didn’t know how to read, out of the desire to understand something of the Scripture, out of devotion he had someone read the bible to him. Once he asked a cleric to read to him. Opening the Bible at random he came across that sentence of Solomon, “Weep for the dead.” Behold, some one knocked at the door straightaway who brought news that the natural brother of that Cleric had died. It was considered miraculous that God had revealed the death of that secular to the holy man.

This servant of God was also marvellous in the charity he had for his neighbour. For when some Friar fell and ill and the Guardian did not place him in his care, he felt very sad. When he was given to his care he served him with as much diligence as if he were Jesus Christ. During that time he slept very little so as not to leave his sick brother.

It happened once that a great plague came to the city of Reggio. For many days the holy man laboured at holy prayer more than he usually did. He begged the Lord God to inspire the heart of the Guardian to have him go to serve the plague victims. And what he desired is just what happened for the Guardian called him one day and said to him, “Brother James, where is your fervour? How many poor men are dying who do not have a drop of water! Up now, I have decided for you to go to serve them.” When the servant of God heard this, he was inspired with as great fervour that he was beside himself. Kneeling down he kissed the hands of the Father Guardian. He said to him, “May God reward you Father because you have deigned to give this reward to me – I who am the lowest and most useless friar of them all.” He called a particular Friar with whom he used to speak confidentially. He said to him in secret, “Know, my brother. Ever since I heard that the plague was in the city of Reggio, I have wearied myself with the Lord begging Him insistently that He would give me this grace which He has kindly granted me and He has revealed to me that I must die there.”

So it was, for after serving some days with great charity, the servant of God fell mortally ill. Having received all the most holy sacraments he happily passed over to the Lord. He was one of those who spoke with the holy man Brother Anthony after his death and death the blessing of the Father Guardian, when he flew off to heaven. It was right that in giving his life for his neighbour that the Just Judge gave him eternal life. His is the honour and the glory. Amen.