The Seventh General: Brother John of Parma

59 The Election 60 The Visit of Innocent IV to Saint Clare 61 Liturgical directives 62 Activities if the General 63 Renunciation of the Office 64 His holy death

(59) The seventh General was very well educated, very holy and adorned with all good morals. The venerable Father John of Parma, a perfect imitator of Father Saint Francis, from the Province of Bologna. When he was Reader in the university of Paris, in the year of Lord 1288, he was elected in the General Chapter during the fifth year of the Pontificate of Innocent IV.

(60) In the same year, because of his devotion, Innocent IV came to the city of Assisi. With great devotion he stayed in the Convent of Saint Francis for some days. When he heard that the glorious virgin Clare, the first plant of the Seraphic Father, was gravely ill, the holy Pontiff went personally with all the Cardinals and other Prelates. They were at San Damiano and when he entered the monastery with great familiarity and devotion he visited the holy virgin Clare. He had a long spiritual discussion with her. He confirmed and approved her Rule with a Bull in his name in the tenth year of his Pontificate. He offered her privileges and asked if she wanted some subsidy for the support of her sisters. The holy virgin answered that the greatest privilege she could have was that His Holiness leave them in the pure observance of the Rule and that from then on he command the whole Order of Sisters to observe it inviolably.

The holy virgin had made the table prepared so that His Holiness might bless it. Turning to him humbly she said to him, “Holy Father, I beg you to bless this prepared table.” To this His Holiness responded, “Servant of God I would like you to bless it.” When she answered that it would be a great presumption to do this in front of the Vicar of Christ, the Holy Pontiff replied, “So that this may be imputed to you as presumption, I impose it upon you under obedience.” As the holy woman made the sign of the cross over the bread, by the will of God it appeared signed with the cross, not without the amazement of the of His Holiness and all the court. Blessed anyone who could have some of that bread out of devotion.

The holy virgin deteriorated in his here sickness and after three days that very holy soul flew to her Spouse Jesus Christ, accompanied by the Mother of virgins, with a great multitude of Angels and great company of holy virgins. At her funeral rites His Holiness wanted to be present personally for all the offices with all the Cardinals.

(61) In the Chapter gathered in the city of Metis this General forbad chanting in choir and prohibited that things be read that are not approved by Holy Church or by the General Chapter, except some antiphons of Our Lady. The same for the Mass.

(62) This Venerable Father tried as much as he could to return the Order to the perfect observance of the Rule. Blessed Giles said about this, “You have come late, though opportunely nonetheless. They have made too much ground and have increased in boldness.” He supported the zealous Friars very much. Since the many holy men who resisted them had annoyed Brother Crescentius and his followers, after his death those who were of the same opinion still hated those holy men. It happened at that time that the King of the Armenians wrote to blessed John the General to send him some holy and learned men so that they could preach in his kingdom. Since he realised that he could not free them from the hands of the persecutors, in order to distance them from the persecutors he sent four of those holy men. They were very learned and holy. The King received them with great reverence. As they preached in that kingdom with very good example and to the satisfaction of all, the Lord God did marvellous things through them so that the Armenians said, “These are Angels come from heaven. Never in our kingdom before have we ever seen holier or more learned men than these.” When the antagonists they tried to blacken their reputation with letters addressed to the King. After some years when they returned to Italy, they brought the testimony of the King and many other personages in the kingdom regarding their good service, and yet the rivals would not welcome them into the friaries.

(63) In the year of the Lord 1256 the holy general convened the Chapter in Rome. Innocent IV had already died. He passed away to the better life in 1254 and in that same year Alexander IV assumed the Papacy. He loved the Order so tenderly. Since he had been Protector of the Order he did not want to leave this protectorship after he was elected Supreme Pontiff. With great insistence the blessed John renounced the office of General in this Chapter, citing his impotence. He was unable to obtain this since the holy Pontiff was present. However on the feastday of the Purification of Our Lady he was absolved from it.

(64) For nine years the governed the whole Order in a very holy manner. When he was absolved from the Office he withdrew to the devout friary at Greccio in the Province of Rome. He stayed there thirty years, fasting continuously on bread and water. The he received the obedience to go to Greece to return the Greeks to the obedience of the holy church just as he had done on another occasion. When he had arrived in the city of Camerino God revealed his death to him. He entered the city very early one morning. Because it was foggy, no one saw him. Miraculously nonetheless the whole city was moved and assembled in different parts, gangs of boys shouted out, “A saint has entered our city. Let’s go so that he might give us his blessing.” When the servant of God entered the friary he said, Haec requies in secula seculorum, quoniam elegi eam. Within a few days he passed away to the better life. His holy body was placed in a very fitting tomb.