The Twelfth General: Brother Matthew of Acquasparta

81 Election of the General and pontifical directives 82 Martyrs of the Order 83 The General becomes a Cardinal

(81) The twelfth General was the holy and learned man Brother Matthew of Acquasparta, from the Province of Saint Francis. He was elected in the friary at Montpellier in the year of the Lord 1287. In this time Honorius IV passed away to the better life and the Chapter was held while the See was vacant. Nichlas IV was elected Supreme Pontiff. He had been Minister General of the Order of Minors. This General had been Reader in the sacred Palace where Brother William of Sugario succeeded him. In the year of the Lord 1288 the holy Pontiff Nicholas IV ordered that in the General Chapter the votes of all to the Custodes of a Province be worth one vote only. He ordered that the number of Provinces already sanctioned by Gregory Tenth in the General Chapter with the addition of two Provinces should stand sound. He also ordered that it not be changed either by adding or subtracting under the pain of excommunication without the permission of His Holiness and of the Protector.

(82) In the same year Brother Monaldo of Ancona, Brother Francis of Fermo and Brother Atbony of Milan, very holy men, received glorious martyrdom while preaching the Christian faith with great fervour in the Saracen city of Arzenga. In the same year Brother Philip of Anisio was in the castle of Azzotto along with two thousand Christians whom he had exhorted to take up holy martyrdom. Encouraging them in that martyrdom he was beheaded and they all flew off to heaven. In the same year Brother Conrad of Saxony and Brother Stephen of Hungary were men of marvellous holiness and very marvellous Friars Minor. Out of zeal for the holy faith they were preaching it in Georgia near the Caspian Mountains. The infidels martyred them cruelly and they flew to heaven gloriously. In the same year Brother Francis of Spoleto was preaching the holy faith in the city of Damietta in Egypt. He was martyred cruelly and flew away to heaven with the pal of martyrdom.

(83) Pope Nicholas IV promoted this General to the Cardinalate in the first year of his Pontificate. However His Holiness commanded him to exercise the office of General until another was elected.