Chapter XLV

Of the conversion and life and miracles and death of the holy Brother John of La Penna

When Brother John of La Penna was a boy in the Province of the March and still living the secular life, there appeared unto him one night a child exceeding beautiful, and called him, saying: " John, go unto S. Stephen's, where is preaching one of the Brothers Minor, in whose teaching do thou believe and give heed unto his words, seeing that I have sent him thither; and this done, thou hast a long journey to take, and then shalt thou come unto me." Whereat straightway he arose and felt a great change within his soul. And coming to S. Stephen's, he found there a great multitude of men and of women, that were gathered together for to hear the preaching. And he that was to preach was a brother, by name Brother Philip, the which was one of the first brothers that had come to the March of Ancona; and as yet there were but few Houses in the March. This Brother Philip stood up to preach, and preached exceeding devoutly, not with words of human wisdom, but by virtue of the spirit of Christ, making known the kingdom of eternal life. And done the preaching, the boy aforesaid went to Brother Philip, and said unto him: “ Father, if it please thee to receive me into the Order, I would do penance willingly and serve our Lord Jesu Christ." Brother Philip seeing and recognizing in the boy a right marvellous innocence and ready will to serve God, said unto him: ', Thou shalt come to me on such a day at Recanati, and I will have thee received: " for in this place was to be held the Provincial Chapter. Whereby the boy, being very pure in heart, thought that this would be the long journey that he was to take, according to the revelation that he had had, and that thereafter he would go to Paradise; and so he thought to do, straightway after he had been received into the Order. So he went and was received: but perceiving that his thoughts were not fulfilled at that time, and the Minister in Chapter saying that whoso desired to go into the province of Provence, for the merit of holy obedience, would have leave granted to him willingly, there came to him a great desire to go there, thinking in his heart that that would be the long journey that he must take, before he went to Paradise: but shaming to say so, at the last he confided in Brother Philip aforesaid, the which had let receive him into the Order, and besought him tenderly that he would obtain for him this favour of going to the province of Provence. Then Brother Philip, seeing his purity and his holy purpose, obtained for him leave thereto: so Brother John, with great joy, set out upon his way, bethinking him that, done this journey, he would go to Paradise. But sith it pleased God, he abode in the said province five and twenty years in that expectation and desire, shewing himself a pattern of holy life, increasing always in virtue and favour with God and the people, and was exceeding much beloved by the brothers and by those in the world. And as Brother John was praying devoutly one day, and weeping and lamenting for that his desire was not fulfilled, and that his life's pilgrimage was so much prolonged, there appeared unto him Christ, the blessed One, at the sight of whom his soul was all melted within him, and spake thus unto him: ” My son. Brother John, ask of Me whatsoever thou wilt; " and he replied: " My Lord, I know not what to ask of Thee save Thy- self alone, for naught do I desire save Thee: but for this alone do I pray Thee, that Thou forgive me all my sins, and grant me grace to see Thee yet another time, when I have the greater need thereof." Jesu said: ”Thy prayer is granted." And this said He was away, and Brother John remained altogether comforted. At length, the brothers of the March hearing of the fame of his sanctity, prevailed with the General to bid him by holy obedience return to the March; and he receiving this obedience, set out joyfully on his way, bethinking him that, done this journey, he needs would go to heaven, according to the promise of Christ. But when that he had returned to the Province of the March, he lived therein for thirty years, and none of his kinsfolk knew him again; and every day he looked for the mercy of God, that it should fulfil His promise to him. And in those days he many times filled the office of guardian with great discretion; and God wrought through him many miracles. And among the other gifts that he received of God, he had the spirit of prophecy; now on a time it befell that when he was away from the House, one of his novices was assailed by the devil and so grievously tempted that, consenting unto the temptation, he was minded to leave the Order, so soon as Brother John should have come back again; the which matter, and temptation, and the thoughts of his heart, being known unto Brother John through the spirit of prophecy, he straightway returned home, and called the said novice unto him, and bade him confess himself: but before he confessed, he told him in I30 THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF order all his temptation, according as God had revealed it unto him, and ended thus: ” My son, because thou hast waited for me and wouldest not depart without my blessing, God hath given thee this grace that never shalt thou leave this Order, but by the grace of God shalt die in the Order." Thereat the said novice was strengthened in good will, and remaining in the Order became a holy brother: and all these things were told me by Brother Ugolino. The said Brother John, who was a man of cheerful and tranquil mind, spake but seldom, and was much given to prayer and devotion, and above all after Matins he would not return to his cell, but would continue in prayer in the church until daylight; and while he was thus praying one night after Matins, the Angel of God appeared unto him, saying: " Brother John, now is finished thy journey, for the which thou hast waited so long; wherefore, in the name of God, I announce unto thee that thou mayest ask whatsoever grace thou wilt. And likewise I announce unto thee that thou mayest choose which thou wilt, — or one day in Purgatory, or seven days” pain on earth.” And Brother John choosing rather the seven days” pain on earth, straightway fell sick of divers infirmities; for a grievous fever seized him, and gout in his hands and his feet, and pains in his side, and many other ills; but what was more grievous to him was that a devil stood before him and held in his hand a great scroll, whereon were writtenall the sins that he had everdone or thought, and said to him: " For these sins that thou hast done in thought, word, and deed, art thou damned S. FRANCIS OF ASSISI ijr to the depths of hell." And he could not call to mind any good deed that he had ever done, either in the Order or elsewhere, and so he thought that he was damned, even as the devil said. Wherefore, if any asked him how he fared, he would answer: " 111, sith I am damned." Seeing this, the brothers sent for an aged brother called Brother Matthew of Monte Rubbiano, the which was a holy man and a close friend of this Brother John; and the said Brother Matthew coming to him on the seventh day of his trouble, saluted him and asked him how he fared. He replied that he fared ill, sith he was damned. Then quoth Brother Matthew: " Dost thou not remember how thou hast oftentimes confessed thyself to me, and I have wholly absolved thee of all thy sins? Dost thou not remember also that thou hast served God continuously in this holy Order many years ì Besides, dost thou not remember that the mercy of God is greater than all the sins of the world, and that the blessed Christ, our Saviour, paid an infinite price for our redemption? Wherefore be of good hope that of a surety thou art saved; " and with these words, since the time of his purification was accomplished, the temptation left him, and he was comforted. And with great joy Brother John spake unto Brother Matthew: ” Since thou art wearied and the hour is late, I pray thee go and rest thyself;" and Brother Matthew was loth to leave him; but at length, at his much urging, he left him and went to lie down: and Brother John remained alone with a brother that did him service. And behold! Christ, the blessed

One, came with great splendour and with fragrance of exceeding sweetness, even as He had promised to appear to him a second time when his need was greater, and He healed him thoroughly of all his sickness. Then Brother John with hands clasped gave thanks unto God that he had made so good an end of the long journey of this miserable life, commended his soul into the hands of Christ and gave it up to God, passing from this mortal life unto life eternal with Christ, the blessed One, whom he had so long desired and waited to behold. And the said Brother John rests in the convent of La Penna of Saint John.