Appendix

This fragment appears in only one codex available to Pobladura (namely, cod. Ro, f.88r-98v). He points out that it should be attributed to Jerome of Montefiore and his companions and not the Bernardine of Colpetrazzo.

On Brother Bonaventure of Reggio, Lay Friar

He was a man of great patience and humility and very charitable towards his neighbour. Above all he was a man of great devotion. He had the particular gift of compunction. Therefore he exercised himself very much in prayer and contemplation. He always wept when he prayed. Even when he heard the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ at table he began to weep and could no longer eat.

This venerable Father and servant of God went with a pair of oxen once to bring certain things for the construction of the friary in Reggio. As they descended an incline he went ahead to guide the oxen. Because the way was very steep the oxen fell on him along with the load that they were hauling. He should have died and the bulls lamed. However, it was a great wonder to those who were present, he came out from underneath without any injury and the oxen were unharmed. All those who saw or heard about the matter considered it a great miracle.

His death was predicted shortly before his passage from this life. When he died it was with such readiness and he left behind a reputation for holiness. His body became while and supple. It was something miraculous to see. That which most reveals just how acceptable his soul was to God was both the cell where he died and the church where his funeral was celebrated: there was a marvellous fragrance. He died in the same friary in Reggio.

To the praise of the most high God who deigns to honour his servants both on earth and in heaven.

Peter of the Quartieri

From the same Province of Calabria was another good Friar called Brother Peter of the Quartieri, a great servant of God adorned with many virtues. Among the others he had this particular grace of persevering after Matins until the morning without going back to sleep. Once when he was going along the road he met three secular men. They were very thirsty and with great insistence they asked him for something to drink. With great charity he directed his companion to give them some. His companion testified that they had a very small quantity of wine in a small gourd which would have been just enough for one person to have one drink. Nonetheless when the three men drank there was enough for them. When they had drunk, there was the same amount of wine in the gourd as there was before. The companion, as well as the Friars who heard about this, regarded it a great miracle done by God through the charity of that Father. When he came to die, the hour of his death was predicted. With the best readiness he passed from this life in the friary at Cassano.

There have been many other Friars in the same Province of Calabria who left behind them an outstanding odour of sanctity just as they had given the very best example of virtue in this life.

Brother Anthony of Malta

One Brother Anthony of Malta is commended for his great silence. It was such that at times he went two or three months without speaking except for just the necessary things. However he is praised more for his obedience because he made his profession not only to obey the Superiors but whoever commanded him. He was commanded many extravagant things in order to test him like going to the city naked, and similar things. He set to do everything without answering a word. However sometimes the Friars called him back and did lot let him fulfil such an obedience.

In the world he was the Captain of a galley. The Turks captured him three times while en route. He was often tortured to make him renounce his faith, which he never wanted to do. Hence we may think that he was half a martyr in the world earlier and in the Order he was a perfect confessor. Therefore he finished life a frail old man in a very holy way, just as he had lived in a very holy way.

Brother Bernard of Catanzaro

Brother Bernard of Catanzaro was also commended for his great humility for his perfect scorn of the world. When he lay on his death bed, as often and best he could he made certain signs of reverence to some person who was present. The Guardian, Brother Cosmo of Castelvetere, was made aware of this by the infirmarian, commanded him to say why he was making those actions. He replied, though unwillingly and only because he was compelled by obedience to reveal it, he said that at that hour Our Lady had appeared to him and revealed to him the hour of his death. Shortly after, and from the same infirmity, he rested in peace.

Brother Juniper dal Campo

Brother Juniper dal Campo was also commended for his great patience. For the whole year he was accustomed to fast three days a week and he did all the forty days of our father Saint Francis. At his death he was found to wear a very heavy iron cuirass. During his life the Friars never saw it except secretly by the Superiors. He observed very strict silence. He never spoke except about necessary things. He was very careful about prayer and very inclined to serve the sick.

Brother Anthony of Gerace

When Brother Anthonny of Gerace was approaching death in the old friary at Galatro, the old Brother Eliseus of Galatro wanted to go and visit him. As he neared his cell, he heard a very beautiful song in there that he thought was truly the song of Angles, just as he reported to most Friars.

Brother Daniel of Seminara

I do not want to be silent about the death of a Novice from Seminara. He was called Brother Daniel. After he had confessed to his Guardian who was Brother Peter of the Quartieri (mentioned above) he revealed to him that Saint Francis had appeared to him and revealed to him which day and hour he would return to him. On that day and as that very hour he passed from this life as Father Saint Francis had revealed to him.

Brother Santi of Anoia

Brother Santi was a man of great penance and prayer. He kept vigil very much. While he was in the Order he always went barefoot. He had the special grace of making peace between litigants. Once it happened to him when he was going on a journey that a hare, followed by hunters, sat in his lap. He brought it alive to the Friars place.

Brother Jerome of Paradisoni

Brother Jerome was also a man of a holy life. When he was approaching death, he was feeling good and sang certain praises of Our Lady with a Friar. He told the Friar to go and call the Father Guardian and all the Friars of the house because he wanted to ask their forgiveness. He also wanted Extreme Unction because he wanted to leave. When this was done and he had received Extreme Unction, he suddenly breathed his last. While his body was in the church the time for burial had not yet come, lights like burning torches were seen around the body although no one had put a light there.