About the holy man Brother Anthony of Sicily, Lay Friar

Brother Anthony was from Sicily. I do not know which region he came from. This servant of God came to the holy Congregation of Capuchins as a youth. He was always a mirror of every virtue. When the Friars recognised his beautiful manner and great charity, he was assigned to the fraternity in the friary in Rome for the care of the sick during the time of the venerable Father Bernardine of Asti. He was a disciple of the holy man Brother Matthew of Naples from Fucino. This Brother Matthew was infirmarian in the friary in Rome and a man of great prayer and a very austere life – so much so that at no time did he ever eat more than once a day. He hardly ever ate meat. He always went barefoot both in summer and winter. He never wore more than one habit. He persevered in this austerity until he died. He passed over to the Lord in the friary of Saint Anne in Civita Castellana.

After him Brother Anthony was the infirmarian in Rome where he served with such charity, kindness and patience that despite the many labours and trials that he had no one ever saw him disturbed. Nor did he ever show the slightest sign of impatience. When he went to the butcher shops to get meat for the poor sick ones, there was one butcher who was very rich. When Brother Anthony asked alms of him, without ever saying a single good word he left in front of him and often insulted him. The servant of God delighted in the insults for the love and God and returned every time. Annoyed by this the butcher always gave him a litany of insults. Brother Anthony always laughed a little. Lowering his head with humility he said to him, “Oh well, next time!” The patience of the servant of God was not futile. This continued for many months. One day God enlightened the butcher who gave him so many insults and he said to himself, “This fellow can be none other than a servant of God. Despite all the insults I have given him I have never seen him disturbed.” Stung at heart by this the butcher said to him, “Father, I ask your forgiveness for the insults I have used with you. Now I know you that are a true servant of God. Therefore I tell you that from now on do not go anywhere else for your meat than to my butcher shop. I will give you all the meat you need for the love of God.” He became so devoted towards our Congregation that he gave as much meat that Brother Anthony needed for the sick for as long as he lived.

This servant of God had the special grace and gift of holy prayer. When he did not have to care for the sick he stayed most of the night in the church. He never ate more than once a day. He never wanted to wear more than one habit that was completely patched. He wore a rough hairshirt against his skin and always went barefoot in summer and winter. He fast one bread and water on the vigils of all the more devout feastdays. He was so kind towards his neighbour that whenever anyone asked him for something he never rested until he met his brother’s need. His conversation was so exemplary that all of Rome regarded him as holy, particularly His Holiness, who had such great devotion towards him that he often wanted to speak with him. He loved to hear him speak so simply. He was so correct in his speech that no one ever heard him say an idle word. When he heard some evil spoken of his neighbour, he would hug himself. He felt so sad at hearing his neighbour maligned and turning towards the speaker he said, “O my brother, do not speak. Do not say this. Know that the one you are speaking about is your brother and is holier than I am.” Then he would flee.

He spent all his time usefully either in serving the sick of at his holy prayers. The Lord God endowed him with a marvellous humility because he regarded himself as the greatest sinner in the world and always wanted to eat the poor crusts left over from the others. When some lowly task had to be done Brother Anthony was always there. Often when the Clerics went to sweep the friary or the refectory, they found that Brother Anthony had beaten them to it. He nearly always washed the kitchen utensils. When there was some old man who could not help himself, the holy man often visited him during the day and offered himself to him with such charity that he was like an Angel. I who write have seen all or most of these all these things with my own eyes.

It is believed that God gave him many revelations. However his humility was such that he never let a word come from his lips that might result in his praise.

It pleased Our Lord God that after having served the friary in Rome with great fidelity for nearly twenty years, he fell gravely ill. Well prepared after having received all the most holy sacraments, he passed over to his Creator and went to receive the reward of his efforts from the One who said, “That which you do to the least of my little ones, you do it to me.”

To whom always be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.