About the holy man Brother Raniero, Lay Friar, from the Villa of Calipardi within the Dominion of Florence, near Sasso di Simone

In the beginning God created the first man innocent and placed him in that earthly paradise. He was given free will to be able to preserve himself acceptable to God in his innocence. However by sinning he lost innocence and all the free gifts for himself and for all of us. Such was the potency of the poisonous fruit that it came down to his descendents, affecting the entire human stock. Because of this it was necessary that the Son of God come down from heaven and clothed in our humanity on the wood of the Cross, wash us with His precious and blood and remove the ancient error. When he was leaving us he left us this as an everlasting covenant: whoever wants to please Him and save his soul should follow him, leading a spotless life in this world. So, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, cutting themselves of from the tumult and noise of the world, those early servants of God plunged into harsh desert and led a life that was more angelic than human. Leading there an immaculate life, they gave all their effort to regain lost innocence and simplicity of mind for since God instructed them they knew that God communicated Himself to pure minds. The simpler and purer the Holy Spirit finds our minds, the more He communicates Himself to us with greater abundance, just as we see in the Mother of God. Through her innate innocence, high purity and profound humility, being predestined from eternity as such by the Eternal Father, she merited to become Mother of the Son of God. Also the virginity and simplicity of John the Evangelist meant that as a special privilege he was called the beloved of the Lord. Therefore in order to regain innocence and simplicity the early holy Religious abandoned the world and began religious life and attained it greatest possible height. The fervour of those servants of God was such that when we read in books about the magnificent things they did we can hardly believe how marvellously they triumphed over the world, the devil and themselves – spending all their lives in fasting, silence and other afflictions in order to come to that quietness of mind so that they could give God the appropriate fruit of contemplation.

Therefore the precious gem which adorned the great servant of God Brother Raniero was an innate simplicity that made him so acceptable to Our Lord God, as will be said below.

Brother Raniero was from a area called Calipardi near Sasso di Simmone, from a little Villa called Ruffelle, in the diocese of Borgo San Selpocro. However before he was born a war broke out between the Republic of Florence and Francis Mary, the Duke of Urbino. Because of this war the Urbinese imprisoned Brother Raniero’s grandfather, called Julian. Brother Raniero’s father, called Novello, as a God fearing son, sold everything he had in this world in order to ransom his father. This was the reason that he left the area he was born and came to live on the mountain of Battuta. There in a village called Prato, about five miles from Borgo San Sepolcro, Novello married a very good woman called Gentile.

It pleased the Lord God that the devout servant of God Brother Raniero was born to Novello and Gentile in 1504. His baptismal name was Santi. Novello was a simple man, poor in goods but very God fearing. His family was that of the Sfaldelli. Gentile’s was that of the Carlucci. They raised their son in the fear of God, instructing him according to their simplicity to walk along the way of the commandments of God and especially to be careful that he should never steal from others. Because of these sound instructions the devout youth always led an irreprehensible life. Everyone loved him very much and had compassion on him in his poverty. The well-off helped him. In his youth and since his childhood he tried himself just as we read from Saint Ambrose that Saint Nicholas began to fast while he was a tot. So once Santi was in a vineyard and a bunch of grapes was cut for him. He set to work and from his labours he earned the equivalent of what had been cut for him and he gave that to the owner.

It pleased the Lord God that from 1528 until 1530 there was a very bad plague in which Santi’s parents died. The only other remaining with him was his little sister called Maria. Having fled from the plague they found themselves in a forest. With many tears the devout young man commended himself to God so that He might take care of his little sister. It was amazing. The tears had no sooner come to the eyes of the poor Santi than they arrived to the ears of God and to the Mother of most holy mercy and who appeared to him in an oak tree dense with branches and leaves and said to him, “Take courage, my son Santi. I will take care of your little sister. Serve me faithfully and I will always be with you.” Then she immediately disappeared. I heard this from Brother Raniero himself. From then on he was always very devoted to the Mother of God. When he felt indisposed because of some physical accident that happened to him, or through some other travails which usually happen to us wretched mortals, he would kneel very devoutly and commend himself with many tears to the Mother of God.

Therefore once when he felt that he was seriously ill he did not go to the doctor as is usually done. Instead, as soon as felt ill and could not earn any bread for himself and his little sister, with great faith he appealed to her who promised so sweetly to help him. He made a vow during all that time that Our Lord had kept him infirm that if He gave him his health, he would serve Him for a month in the Holy House at Loreto for the love of His most fair Mother. It was marvellous because he immediately felt free from all infirmity and devotedly fulfilled the vow.

He then returned to the mountain of Battuta and considered how difficult it was to support himself and his little sister he began to work for a rich man Jerome Mancinelli of Villa Santo Angelo. There he worked as a farmer. He served him so faithfully that all the people loved him very much. He never missed his usual devotions and being unable to do them during the day he did them at night. He had a particular devotion each day of saying five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys in the church of Santo Angelo with his arms in the form of a cross, remembering the passion of Our Lord. It rarely happened that he did not pour out many tears. One morning he was at this devotion he remembered a bull belonging to his master. It was so wild and fiery that he threw people into the air with his horns. Because of this they always led him around with a piece of rope. He worried that the bull would do some harm and left that church very quickly without finishing his devotion. He ran back for a distance of a mile to the bull and when he arrived he took hold of it by the halter. However that extremely fiery and terrible animal turned on him. Lifting him with his horns he threw him high into the air and gored him slightly. Then he began to bellow so much that everyone was amazed. It seemed that he must have hurt the devout and simple fellow. Santi took everything as from the hand of God and felt sure this had happened because he had not finished his devotions. The simple fellow said to himself, “O Santi, you are a fine one. If you had finished the five Our Fathers God would not have let the bull hurt you. You have trusted more in you own strength than in the providence of God.” Then lifting himself up as best he could he took himself of to a little church nearby and with great devotion said the five Our Fathers. He prayed to His Majesty to tame the bull. He returned boldly and took hold of the bull. He led him home as tamely as if the bull were a gentle lamb. From then on the bull harmed none but tamely allowed everyone to handle him. Everyone thought that this was a miracle of God and they still talk about it today.

No less important was the time he was handling a rather malicious mule. He was trying to put a load of firewood on the mule and the animal threw the load to the ground as many as ten times. Santi did not fail to have recourse to his usual refuge of prayer. So when he had given up being able to load the mule with his own efforts, with many tears he commended himself to the Lord God so that He might give him the grace that the mule would tamely allow him to place the load. With great faith he got up and said, “Stay still, creature of God so that with His help you will be able to carry this load. And you, the devil in this animal – go away and never come back to him.” It was amazing. Just like a very tame animal he allowed himself to be loaded. From then on he was always tame and never kicked again.

He stayed with this Jerome for six years and served him with great faithfulness. It pleased the Lord God in His mercy to give peace and abundance to the world, for at that time there had been many tribulations brought by the plague, wars and great famines. Then Santi decided to leave the world, as his sister had already married.

By the providence of God the community of Borgo had a showing of Blessed Raniero. This Blessed was from the city of Borgo and from the Strafolati family. His holy body, which was intact, was exhumed from beneath the altar of the church of Saint Francis and shown to all the people. He was Friar Minor and died before the Order had abandoned the habit that Father Saint Francis gave to the Order – a habit of poor, rough cloth and with a pointed cowl. The habit of Blessed Raniero was like that and it was used as a relic. Anyone could see it that is exactly like the habit that the Capuchin Friars wear today. Blessed Raniero of Borgo died on 1 November 1304 and this is obvious from a public instrument done by the hand of a notary. He did many miracles. Among these was this one. The community wanted to embalm that holy body and sent some men to a Cardinal in Rome who kept the balsam. The night before they arrived, he appeared to that Cardinal and revealed he had died and asked him to supply the balsam for the love of God. And so he did and from then on he was very devoted towards Blessed Raniero.

The showing took place on the 19 May 1532 lasted three continuous days. The devout young Santi wanted to be there and derived such devotion from it that he decidedly to leave the world completely. He was 28 years old and although he was full of fervour so that night and day he could think little else than of becoming a Religious, nonetheless his simplicity was such that he didn’t know how to go about it. One of his close neighbours often told him about a very holy man whom God endowed with a prophetic spirit. His name was Piersadoccho. Often he had heard this holy man say, “Know that soon, from the Order of Saint Francis, will emerge a Reform by a certain kind of Friars who have not been seen for a long time, dressed in a rough habit with a pointed cowl. They will have such and inestimable perfection. They will suffer great persecutions but God will free them from every evil. They will re-establish the friary at Monte Casale and not long after there will be a great persecution. A schismatic Pope will do this and he will do as much as he can to uproot this Reform. If you are around then, do not believe that Pope because he won’t have been canonically elected.” When the simple Santi heard these things he waited to see these Friars in the friary at Monte Casale and cloth themselves in the habit of Father Saint Francis.

His desire was not in vane because if 1533 Brother Angelicus came form Fratta di Perugia who on his own authority clothed himself in the Capuchin habit and had also clothed others. Shortly after taking up the friary at Monte Casale, he received a good young man called Brother Tullio of Potenza who was in the Friary at Borgo. He preached the coming Lent in the Cathedral of Borgo with such acclaim that set the whole region abuzz. When Santi heard those sermons he became so fired up that he said to him, “Why are you waiting, and not go to Monte Casale?” The providence of God guided this. Because Brother Angelicus was not incorporated into the Congregation of Capuchins he could not receive Friars.

When Father Louis Fossombrone heard about this disorder he sent Father Louis of Capranica there from Rome to tell Brother Angelicus to submit to the Congregation or abandon the habit and the friary. At that time Santi went to Monte Casale and Father Louis of Capranica received him. He did his novitiate with great fervour. The infernal enemy tried him so hard that if God had not helped him he would have gone mad. I saw this with my own eyes because we were in the same fraternity for an entire winter in the devout friary at Narni. He made his profession in spring and the poor fellow was so overwhelmed that he did not know how to speak or walk or do anything. Instead he always wept. This was something ordained by the providence of God who is like the one who wanted to build another palace. The higher he wanted to make it, like a wise architect, the deeper he tried to make the foundations. The Lord God wanted to raise this servant of His to such heights so that well founded upon deep humility and well practised in the holy virtues the ancient serpent would not elevate him in pride which is at such enmity with Our Lord God.

He was very austere with regard to his body. For many years he dressed in just one habit and always went barefoot in summer and winter. Although he very strictly observed the forty day fasts practised by the Order, nonetheless he always fasted on bread and water on the vigil of the feastdays of Our Lady as well as other more devout feastdays.

It pleased the Lord god try this servant of His with a very serious illness for such a terrible malady affected his neck that it seemed that it would eat it all away. Our Fathers sent him to Rome. However, after being treated by many very sound men it could not be healed. However, when he turned to the Lord God, a surgeon healed him with cornel oil. Then because he had not moved his bowels someone told him that colocynth was good. Being simple he took a good dose and swallowed it. Because that medicine is poisonous it purged him so that when there was nothing left in his body he began to pass blood, so that little remained in his veins. From then on the poor fellow was so weak that he could no longer persevere in his usual austerity.

However he did not fail to do as much as he could. For since the Friars at that time had no houses they took up many little places which the poor fellows built with their own hands. The servant of God Brother Raniero laboured faithfully and God blessed his hands so that all the things he made were done so properly and well that our Fathers sent him to almost all the friaries that were being built in the Province. He laboured during the day and spent most of the night in holy prayers. Our Lord God visited him many times.

His humility and his holy devout conversation were such that everyone sought him. He was made Guardian often. He exercised this office with very good example and great peace for his subjects. Although he was a Lay Friar he governed so prudently that all the Friars everywhere wanted to be with him.

It pleased the Lord God that as our Congregation grew, the servant of God was freed from this burden. It seemed that this was the hand of God because he no sooner saw himself free and he dedicated himself to contemplation. It seemed as though he had completely changed into another man. He achieved such purity of mind and inward tranquillity that he seemed continuously to be among the choirs of Angels. He conversed little and spoke little. It was understood from his own mouth that Our Lord often appeared to him in the shape of a baby whom he received into his arms. When he heard the child named, he felt such fervour in his soul that he jumped and staggered about like a drunk man since human weakness cannot endure such a burning love. His soul was so attached to Our Lord God by the bond of love and it seemed that he always had Him before his eyes.

The Holy Spirit enlightened him so amply that he knew how much love of neighbour pleased God and so it seemed that all people were his dear brothers. He loved everyone so tenderly and without distinction that he had all his neighbours engraved in his heart. Whenever someone commended himself to him so that he might prayer for him or make the sign of the holy cross over some infirmity that he suffered, he immediately threw his arms around his neck and kissed him so tenderly and without distinction, whether the person was male or female, a youth or a girl or old woman, like an innocent and simple boy, without remembering religious modesty. These things seem unfitting and should not be done by a Religious. When his companion said to him, “Brother Raniero, you have done something wrong!” the servant of God replied, “Forgive me, I was unaware of it.” This came about from his great purity of heart that God had given him. So that everyone would know that this business was of God, His Majesty very often cooperated by giving perfect health to the majority of those whom the holy man signed with the sign of the cross.

For many years he was in the fraternity in our place near the city of Gubbio and his reputation for holiness began to spread about in such a way that there were few in the city who encountered some sickness or in some trouble who did not send straightway for the holy man Brother Raniero. There were very few whom he did not satisfy since the Lord God worked many miracles through this servant of his.

His fame spread everywhere so that throughout all the cities in the Province of Saint Francis that they all sought him out. One heard that he had performed miracles in almost all the cities, especially in Gubbio and Todi. His fame came to the ears of the Cardinal Monsignor Santa Severina, the Protector of our Congregation. He wanted to ascertain whether the things told him were true and had him go to Rome where he staid for some months to the great satisfaction of all so that it was necessary to keep him hidden in the house. He commanded him not to speak with anyone without his permission because the gathering of people was such that the poor fellow didn’t even have time to tend to the necessities of nature.

It pleased the Lord God that when he was returning he staid in our friary near the city of Todi. There the Lord God wanted to bring to an end the course of the life of this servant of His and to reward his many labours. For on the 21 August 1589 he fell seriously ill. He endured it very patiently for four days and then, full of merits, he went to the better life on 25 August, the feastday of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. It was between the 23rd and 24th hour. He had served the Lord god for fifty six years with the very best example.

Just as I heard from the Father Guardian of that house and from many others who were present at his death, Brother Raniero said little or nothing during all the time of his sickness. However after having received all the most holy sacraments and completely recollected in God, he practised as much as he could at keeping his mind at contemplating his beloved Jesus Christ whom he had loved so much in this world. He waited from hour to hour for the Spouse of his soul to come to the door of his heart in order to welcome his soul into the arms of His mercy. He still thought that he had not done the necessary preparation for such a journey from this world to the tribunal of Jesus Christ. He believed that he had not done everything required of a true servant of God and that he didn’t have that wedding robe with which he had to stand before the judgement seat of the Divine Majesty. Although he was visited a lot, he spoke few words to them, but indicated to the Father Guardian to send them away. When they left he turned on his side and stayed with his beloved Spouse.

Because of the great devotion the entire city had for him, after that holy soul had flown to heaven, some citizens came forward and with the consent and good grace of the Bishop and also with the agreement of the Father Vicar of the Province, they decided to embalm that holy body. It was amazing because they found three stones in his gall. The first was cube shaped, the size of half a chestnut. On one of the faces Our Saviour Jesus Christ could be seen against a black mountain. He was young with a green diadem. His face and chest were white and he had tunic the same colour as the stone, that is, a bright, shiny green. He only appeared from the torso up. On the other surface, that is, on the opposite side, Father Saint Francis could be seen with the pointed cowl on a mountain as when he received the sacred stigmata. The second stone was like the first in size, material and shape and had the same colour. However no image appeared on it except mountains of different sizes could be seen on each surface, one bigger than the other. They weren’t green like the stone but black. The third was the size of half a hazelnut and shaped like half moon. Like a knife it was coarse on one side and fine on the other. On one side one could see the impression of Our Lady and on the other side a blood coloured burning column. You should know that the images of Our Lady and the Saviour too were concave like a seal. Those who were present when the stones were found testify to this. The Monsignor Bishop saw them with great wonder and so did many gentlemen. By order of the Cardinal Protector they were sent to Rome. His Holiness Sixtus V saw them with many Cardinals and lords and now they are in our friary in Todi.

The gathering of people to see the body of this holy man was such that out of their great devotion they cut two habits and other garments to pieces. They cut off nearly all his beard. One thought he had a great treasure if he could have a little strip.

At this time he did three miracles which were written down by trustworthy witnesses. However, in so far as we can know, it is believed that the miracles he did during his life number more than two hundred. However because they have not been examined and proven by a Prelate of Holy Church I am not writing them down – also because it would be too long.

It is enough that the great servant of God Brother Raniero departed this world and left behind a great odour of sanctity. In all piety one may hope that that now in the blessed life he prays for us. May he lead us all to that life through his mercy and give us the grace to follow him with good works.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His most holy Mother. Amen.

On the miracles that Our Lord God did through the merits and intercession of the servant of God, Brother Raniero, a Lay Capuchin from the Villa called Calipardi

Divine Providence never fails to show to the world those things which redound to the glory and honour of His Majesty and for the benefit of all of us. As Providence permitted and ordained, Cardinal Santa Severina the Protector of the Congregation of Capuchin Friars heard about the miracles that Our Lord God worked through the merits of the Capuchin Brother Raniero del Borgo (as he is called). Like a zealous shepherd he gave the order and commissioned Monsignor Bernardine Falconi of Todi to initiate the process of these miracles. This man was Canon in the cathedral of Todi and a gentleman of His Lordship and was very dear to him as well as very faithful and diligent in everything. He collected all the reliable witnesses he could find. With his customary prudence Monsignor Bernardine has diligently written down on paper the miracles and presented it to His Lordship. With great pleasure he has commanded that this be noted. Since such a worthy Prelate of the Holy Church has written these down, I am confident in petting them in this book and numbering them among the true things said about this great servant of God Brother Raniero. Since these miracles have already been authenticated by worthy witnesses, I will write succinctly about how and when and to whom they were done in order to be brief and not bore the reader. The miracles are those which follow.

Mr Alexander Sabbini of Todi had a ruptured vein in his breast. Doctors did a lot for his deadly infirmity. However since he did not benefit from the many treatments he then had recourse with great faith to the servant of God Brother Raniero. He made the sign of the most holy cross over him and he was completely healed straightaway. Mr John Paul Crispoldi of Bevagni had a daughter who was almost totally blind. With great faith he had her brought on a stretcher to Spoleti and presented there before the holy man Brother Raniero. He asked him insistently to pray to Our Lord God for her so that He might deign to restore the sight of his daughter. He made the sign of the holy cross over her with saliva from his mouth and her sight was restored completely. Mr Guido dell’Atti of Todi had a cousin, Mr Joseph Carduini, who was at the point of death. The Priest had already commended him, the candle lit and he was in his last agony. Mr Guido had recourse to Brother Raniero. After praying for some time he then got up and spoke to the sick man, “This time the Lord has forgiven you.” He touch the man who immediately came to his senses and with a short while got up safe and well from the bed. Lady Lucretia Toseroni of Gubbio had a natural sister at the point of death. She had recourse to Brother Raniero. He went to the church and immediately prayed for her to God. When he returned to the sick woman he said, “Take courage because Our Lord God has lengthened your life by three years.” And so it was because within two days she got up from bed completely healed. And exactly at the end of three years she passed to a better life as Brother Raniero said. The Lady Hippolita, the wife of Count Bald0 Fallucci of Gubbio was at the point of death. She sent for Brother Raniero who prayed for her insistently to the Lord and he said to her, “My Lady, are you content to die? I assure you of your salvation. However if you are not, I will pray to God for you and He will give you your health. However I will not assure you of salvation.” She desired to die in the grace of God and was content to do so and thus she passed over to the better life. When Medoro, the tanner of Gubbio, was reviewing the tannery he found all the skins ruined. Because he was poor, with great sorrow he went like a desperate man to find Brother Raniero. After telling him the situation with many tears, he asked him to pray to God for him because he was obviously totally ruined. With great insistence Brother Raniero prayed for this poor fellow before the Blessed Sacrament. Knowing that God had heeded him he returned to the tanner and said to him, “Have faith in Jesus Christ and give him thanks because he has looked upon your poverty. Go. May you be blessed. There is nothing wrong.” When the returned to the tannery he found all the skins were fine and perfect. Since the wife of Mr Gabriel Pelloni of Gubbio was gravely ill, he quickly sent for Father Raniero at the house of the Friars. Taking his time somewhat he found the woman in her final agony. The candle was already lit and she was about to die. When the servant of God saw her in such danger he approached her with great fervour. He embraced her and kissed her mouth. It was amazing. She immediately came to her senses and said, “May the Lord God be blessed who through the merits of this servant of his has given back my life with perfect health. When he kissed me on the mouth I felt something let go inside of me.” She was perfectly healed. Lady Visolina, the wife of Mr Benedict Marioni of Gubbio, had been full of aches for many years. When Brother made the sign the cross over her she was completely healed. The Capuchin Father John Lombard, Guardian in the friary at Norsia tells that in his presence Brother Raniero, with the sign of the cross, healed a young girl of a great wound she had beneath her breast. She was married but had not yet gone to her husband. The lord Angelus of Oddi from Perugia did not have children and commended himself to the holy man. After praying for him he said to him, “Go, and you will have a son.” So it was. His wife conceived and gave birth to a son. He gave him the name Francis and always called him the son of Brother Raniero. Paris of Peter da Montecchio, a farmer in Todi, had been ill for a long time with a pain in the side. When Brother Raniero came to the castle he made the sign of the holy cross on him and he was completely healed. Lady Mitilla of Stephan of Montecchio had dropsy for many years. When Brother Raniero was in that castle she had recourse to him with great faith. When he made the sign of the holy cross on he she was entirely healed. Francis, from that same castle, had suffered pain for many years, especially headaches. When Brother Raniero touched him he was completely healed. When Lady Madeline Carofani of Perugia came to visit the tomb of Brother Baniero she related how she had been present when the Lady Luderina Montesperelli had an abscess on her throat for a long time. Treatments had used for a long time had not helped. However with great faith she had recourse to the holy man Brother Raniero. When he made the sign of the cross over the effected area she was completely healed and went home on foot, because she had been carried there in the arms of her relatives. When Mr Alphonsus Franchi, a Perugia was very ill, sent his wife to Brother Raniero who, after he prayed for him, said to her, “Go back because your husband is no longer ill.” And it was, because she found him completely healed. In our friary at Acquasparta the companion of the Capuchin Father Lupo was sick with an acute fever. He was unconscious and it was thought that he would die. Father Raniero happened to be there and after he had prayed for some time he made the sign of the holy cross on his head. Immediately he came to hi senses and got up a little later. The Roman Lady Faustina Lampadia had a sister called Dionora who suffered from epilepsy and had seizures three or four times a day. When the holy man signed her with the holy cross she was healed completely. Mr Francis of Perugia, the brother of Bechetti the innkeeper, suffered from such pain that he could not move and had been in bed for about two months. He had recourse to the holy Father who signed him with the holy cross. The following day he got up from bed completely healed. Lady Maria of Benedict of Montecchio, a castle in Todi, was covered entirely with something like leprosy. With great faith she had recourse to the holy Father Raniero. When he made the sign of the cross over her she was healed immediately. She never felt such a sickness again. It was treated continuously before but this did not help. In that castle was Lady Esmerelda di Clemente who had a paralysed hand that was completely withered. With great faith she commend herself to Father Raniero. Taking that hand, he rubbed it with his hand and then made the sign of the holy cross over it and it was healed immediately. One of our Capuchins, Brother Jerome of Montefalco, had a niece who was mad because of a sickness and was almost completely lost. She continoulsy sat and ate her own clothes. When the holy saw this, with great faith he made the sign of the holy cross over her and she was healed at once. Mr Joseph de Lodolo of Spoleto had his only son at the point of death. With great faith he sent a message to our Friary in Spoleto where the holy FatherRaniero was to pray for the sick boy. When he heard this he went into the church. After he had prayed he had the messenger called who had already left and said to him, “Tell Mr Joseph that God has heeded us and you will find the boy healed.” When the messenger returned he found him healthy and well – him for whom they had already lit the candle and he was about to expire. Our Capuchin Father Urban of Manfedonia was Guardian at Gubbio at the time. The Friars had finished the forty-days of the Blessed and they were all going to choir after Compline according to the custom of the Order and asked the blessing of the Father Guardian. With his bodily eyes Brother Raniero clearly saw the crucified, which is very prominent there, take his right hand from the nail and bless all the friars and then return it to its place. The Capuchin and Guardian of our friary in Bevagna, Father Michael of Castello, had been in bed for about fifty days because of a fall. He could not move. When the holy Father Raniero arrived he made the sign of the holy cross over him. He immediately got up from the bed and went completely healed to the refectory. Lady Argia d’Amelia of Nacci was totally cramped up and had herself brought to our friary in Todi where Father Raniero was. With great faith she commended herself to him to pray for her. When he made the sign of the holy cross over her she was freed right away. She returned home healthy and robust. Lady Maria Antonia, the wife of Mr Caesar Oddo, doctor of law in Todi, had an abscess for three years and all the doctors had given up. With great faith she commended herself to Brother Raniero and he answered her, “Do not worry. You have nothing wrong with you.” It was something amazing because the following morning at dawn the abscess ruptured and poured out a lot of puss and blood. Thinking that she was lost, the husband sent for Brother Raniero again. He made the sign of the cross over her and she got up at once healthy and well and never experienced that sickness again. The maid of Lady Tarquinia, wife of Mr Braviero Urbeni of Todi, had been troubled by a bad fever for a long time. With great faith Lady Tarquinia commended herself at our friary to the holy Father Raniero so that he might pray for this servant of hers. When she returned home she found her completed healed and was doing the house work. Lady Sabatine of Basil of Todi suffered severe headaches for many years. When she heard about the death of Brother Raniero she went personally to his body before it was entombed. She placed her head under his hands and was completely healed. Lady Sapphira of Mr. Juliantonio Stefanucci of Todi had a bad illness in her stomach and throughout her body for more than twelve years. After having treatment for a long time she was never healed. When she touched the body of Brother Raniero she was completely healed. Lady Julia de Pellegrino, from Bologna, lived in Todi. She had an illness for many years that hindered her entire body. She felt as though she had and unbearable weight in her nose which always kept her stooped. It was believed that evil spirits possessed her. With great faith, when she heard about the death of Brother Raniero, she placed her head under the hands of the holy man and was healed at once. Aquilante of John Augustine of Todi was in the Villa in the countryside of Todi. She was sick with a very bad fever. With great faith she put on a small piece of the tunic and other relics of the holy man. She was healed completely. Francis, from the same Villa, was troubled with incredible tooth aches. With great faith Mr Nino touched the teeth with one of the stones found in the gall of the holy man. He was healed at once. Mr Claude Ceccholini of Todi found himself ill with a very bad fever and especially in the middle of the night the pain became so bad that he could no longer bear it. His wife remembered that she a small piece of Brother Raniero’s tunic. With great faith she put it on him while saying the Our Father and Hail Mary. He was healed immediately. Don Caesar Fabeni from Todi, Rector of the Parish of San Silvestro de Fiore, from the countryside of Todi, had for four years continuously felt such a great catarrh in his back that he could not bend over and he went about with a stick like a cripple. With great faith he went to the friary of the Capuchins in Todi and lay down on the little bed where the holy man had slept. He was completely healed and never experienced any such pain again. Lady Samia of Romulus, d’ Amelia heard of a womn who could not give birth and was in danger of death. With great faith she put on her the chord of Father Raniero. The woman held it close and gave birth safe and sound. Mr Denis Compagni of Todi for many years had a pain in the kidneys that kept him crippled up. With great faith he went to lie on the bed of the holyman. However since he could do this because of the crowd of people, he pulled himself onto the table where the holy body had been. He got up healthy and well without ever feeling that trouble again. Captain Anthony Lioncini of Todi had been ill for a long time with catarrh in the head. The doctors had given up on him and was almost about to die. With great faith he put on the rosary of the holy father Raniero. At one he felt a blow to the head, as if a hazel nut had been fired and he said, “Thanks be to God! I am no longer sick.” A lot of muck came out and after a little while he got up from bed healthy and well. Don Dominic, Rector of the parish of Ripabianca, from the country side of Todi, was deaf in one ear for many years. With great faith he touch it with a small piece of the tunic of the holy man and was completely healed immediately. Lady Usebia, the servant of Bravieri Urbeni of Todi had a very bad fever. With great faith she put on a little cross of the holy Father Raniero and was healed straight away. Lady Tarsia of Paoletti, a worker of Sir Chrisonio of Todi was ill to the point of death. With great faith they touched her forehead with a small piece of the heart of the holy man. At once she regained her senses and said, “That thing that touched my forehead has healed me.” And so it was because in a short while she got up from the bed healthy and well. I felt I should write about these miracles that the Lord God worked through the merits and intercession of the holy man Brother Raniero for the glory of God and inspire devotion in the reader towards this holy Father. I have left out many that I could have written about. The Lord God worked almost countless miracles at different times before and after his death in order to show how acceptable this servant of His was to Him. They also show how acceptable are the lives of the saints so that each of us may strive to follow in the footsteps of the servants of God whom He honours so much in this world. Since he makes them illustrious with miracles we should hold with doubtless faith that He will reward them even more in paradise. Even though the works of holy men may be few, He Majesty has deigned to reward them so abundantly in this life and in the next.

Let all of us give infinite thanks that since the beginning of the world He has always deigned from time to time to reveal His servants to us. So then we may have them to imitate. With great humility and faith we commend ourselves to the glorious saints canonised by the Holy Church so that they may pray for us. So then we who have received so many benefits in this world should hope to receive even grater ones in the presence of His most high and divine Majesty.

To whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. In memory of the holy Father Raniero, Capuchin, true servant of God in the Seraphic Order of Father Saint Francis. Amen.