On the anchoritic life

24 Love for solitude 25 Advantages of solitude

(24) The principle purpose of our early Fathers was t withdraw to deserted places in order to have greater opportunity to give themselves to the contemplative life. This was the reason that they established houses far from the cities, as is manifest in all the Provinces. Many of them were three or four miles away. This was also the reason that they took the title: Capuchin Friars of the hermetical life. Still not content with the houses, not matter how solitary they were, many of them withdrew into the woods and on the site of the friary they made little cells, poorly clad and built where they led the anchoritic and solitary life. This is manifest in the friary of Saint Valentine in Foligno where the holy man Brother Anthony of Corso led a life of marvellous austerity while he was withdrawn there. He spoke little or hardly ever with anyone. For a whole year he never ate more than once a day, five ounces of soft beans or other fruit. He drank a bowl of water. During this time he never ever ate any other foods. Hence it happened that our Lord God worked very many miracles through him, showing just how acceptable his service in that austerity of life had been, as is told in its place. The same for the great servant of God Brother Vincent of Foiano who staid eight years in a separate little cell in the friary at Borgo San Sepolcro called Montecasale. For all that time he ate bread and water. He spoke little or not at all with the Friars but continuously occupied himself in holy contemplation. The same for the great servant of God the lay Friar John of Puglia. He spent close to a year in a cave at the same place at Montecasale. The cave is called “Spisciolo”, or “solitary.” During that time he never ate more than once a day: a bowl of cooked vegetables with simple water without salt or any other seasoning, and he drank water. He ate nothing else. Because of this he merited to obtain the grace of holy martyrdom which God revealed to him there. The same for the servant of God, Brother John of Spain who was in the friary of the Magdalen at Montepulciano. He was in a separate cell in the friary of the Carcere in Assisi. I heard that once he spent eleven continuous hours at prayer where Our Lord appeared to him and revealed many things to him. During this time he continuously ate bread and water once a day.

(25) It would take too long to tell about all those who led the anchoritic life because there had been someone in every Province. Because of this the Congregation was filled with such desire and fervour that if the Superiors had allowed them the majority would have led the anchoritic life. However they did not grant except to outstanding person such as the great Father John of Fano. He spent close to a year in a separate little cell where he continuously fasted on bread and water, practising holy contemplation. Then he wrote that beautiful little work divided into two books. In one he treats of the purgative life and in the other, holy contemplation. Therefore they put it into the Constitutions that whoever wanted to stay withdrawn in the woods and lead the solitary and anchoritic life it should be allowed him, although the Fathers should judge him suitable.

The example of those holy solitaries was very valuable both for the seculars as well as the Friars because the Friars loved holy prayer and desired to imitate them. Since they were not permitted to be solitaries, they led the contemplative life in the proper friaries and under obedience, eating once a day and most of the time on bread and water. In the summer, after they had heard the conventual Mass in the morning, or celebrated Mass if one was a Priest, they withdrew into the woods and continued in holy prayer until Terce. Then once they had finished the prayer of None in common, immediately after Vespers, they fled to the woods and persevered in prayer until Compline. Once Compline was said they retired to their cells. The spoke little and hardly ever with anyone.