LETTER #3

Brescia, June 14, 1536

To Lodovico Viscardi in Bergamo

1 Sir Lodovico, dear beloved in Christ. With your patience you will save your souls. What advantage would it be to man, in fact, if he gains the entire world? I know that you can understand me: unfortunately, we are like the seed sowed among the stones, like those who believe for a certain time, yet they give up in the hour of temptation. 2 It is up to us to bear with our neighbor, excuse him and pray for him within ourselves, and without, try to talk to him with some kind Christian words; pray that the Lord may make you worthy, with your patience and gentle talking, to tell him such words that he may be enlightened about his error on the spot. The Lord permits such an error for your and your neighbor's benefit, so that you may learn to be patient and know the human frailty, and he, through you, may be enlightened, and the heavenly Father may be glorified in His Christ.

3 Be careful not to do the opposite when one of these cases occurs, that is to murmur, speak ill, become angry, be impatient, say: "I am not a saint; they are not things one can bear; these are not men of self-control," or similar things; and then to pass your responsibility to others by saying: "It would be better that that fellow would talk to him, or write to him or warn him, because he would do it better than I; he will not believe me; I am not able to do this, ect." We must think that God alone is good and that Christ works in those instruments who let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit.

4 And since I have read your letter and seen with great pleasure the zeal you have for the "work," it seemed fitting to me to send you this letter, poorly written as my usual. Anyway, being your letter addressed to Father Agostino, I rely on him to give you proper advice.

5 As to the pharmacy, it has been unwisely decided to pay month by month and to reduce the old debt by something every month. It would have been better to find the way to get the money to pay it all. 6 However, we have to accept what the Lord sends and make good use of everything. We have also to always pray to the Lord that He may teach us to bring everything to a successful conclusion. We must firmly believe that all that happens is for the best we need to pray much so that we may see and, seeing, we may do what is necessary at the moment. Shouldn't you in a month have the means to pay either the new expense or the old debt?

7 shouldn't the Lord inspire anything else, you could then call again on the friends of the "work" and remind them that it was decided by them to pay every month the pharmacy, etc., that at the present there is no way to do it, and that everybody should remember of the way to do it. 8 And if you could not find another way, remind sir Marcantonio and sir Giovanni that it has been said other times that all the "works" must be united and the begging be done unitedly, However, first we must feed the poor, then pay the debts incurred for food, then the other. Implement this and forget any other thing. Organize begging for this purpose with the best means you know, and let us pay this debt.

9 As far as the second item, we think that with three begging we will annoy the people, divide the "work," and compete against each other, and, what is worse, we will cause complaining and clash between a "work" with another. 10 About the idea that the Bishop could take upon himself the support of one "work," I do not believe that his Lordship said that, or he must have been misunderstood, because I know that his Lordship will do what he can: or half, or one, or two, or three, or all, or part, according to the strengths the Lord will give him. 11 As far as looking for chosen men, much we pray to and praise the Father that he may send workers.

12 About the third item, we know nothing of that Venetian woman. Therefore, we cannot give you any answer. 13 I am very sorry about sir priest Zanon: I will appreciate it if he could be warned and begged for God's love to stand this temptation. Blessed he will be if every kind of evil would be said about him falsely. He should bear this with great joy, awaiting a great reward in heaven. 14 Of that good person we know nothing yet; and no good news we have in our hands.

15 14^th. I warn you not only not to intrude upon these things, but also, if someone spoke of them, to interrupt the conversation. Not because working is not good, (in fact, it is written: "He who does not work, must not eat,") but because every time a good thing is proposed, but it cannot be done, it must be considered for sure to be a Lucifer-like temptation and not from God, because God does nothing in vain. This temptation is not a new temptation, but an old one. 16 About working, we are not foreigners to this desire, but we have continuously taken great effort to put it into practice. As it is publicly known, we have worked in Venice for three years publicly with the abandoned ones; for two years, (and this is the third) we have worked in the fields in the Milanese and Bergamo territory, publicly: and everyone knows that. And Lady Lodovica knows how much we have toiled in order to take home the textile art, even to the point of working for free. And now here in Brescia we have started to sow caps. I tell you this because while others grumble and have this desire in words, we have manifested it in deeds. Therefore, do not spur the running horse. 17 I say: do not do it. Not because it has not to be done or we have not to work. But, whom do you have qualified to work at home? And whom do you have who wants to teach them for the love of God? And what experience do you have in this regard? 18 I maintain that work is good and continually I am looking for it and pray to God that He may grant it to us. Yet, I do not see any way out, except one, and I think that it will certainly succeed everywhere it is set up: that is, making straw plaits for hats. Regarding this, recently we have found new methods for preparing the straw. Therefore, I ask you, with all the influence you have, to make sure that this work be started. 19 What you could do for now is to ask friends to set aside some hundreds of stalks of wheat and spelt before they are beaten. Then, at your request, we will send you adequate instructors.

20 We had much comfort from the news about Basilio. Take care of him, treat him kindly, stay near him when he sees patients; praise him for commendable things and be patient with him for other things. See to it that he be helped, so that, when he comes, everything be ready: nurses, ointments, bandages, threads, cotton, needle, thread, etc. Do not promise him anything, so that he may gain merit for what he does, but if you want to surprise him with some gifts, the Lord will inspire you. Tell him that if I find any good medicine where I am, I will send it to him, even if I should get it out from a hospital. And so, you will see the honor of God, of the hospital and Basilio increase.

21 6th. Organize the begging in the best way you can. I hope that, where we are lacking, the Lord will make up for abundantly.

22 7th. As to the cloth, I like it a lot. Is it enough for so many people? However, let us thank the Lord for everything.

23 8th. As to the priest, you have done well in reminding about him. Despite the fact that everybody looks for and needs them, you cannot find them. However, we will not stop searching.

24 9th. I do not know what to say about Romiero and Martino but that the disciples are according to the master. Therefore, pray to God that He may grant me the grace of setting for them a better example than I did so far, and that God may give a better master to them and to me better cooperators.

25 10th. As far as Ambone, keep him at this condition, agreed by him and by you; otherwise, send him to me. Tell him in this agreement: he must always sit at the end of the table, and every time he does something evil, he must not have wine; and if he does evil of greater importance, he must be disciplined. His task is to empty the night pots with someone you will assign, to sweep the entire house, get water, wood, etc., and never handle food. He must not leave the house or speak to anyone but you, to our supervisor, who is called deputy, and to the guardian. If he observes this rule for a short while, have him sit higher at the table with the others. More he improves, more this yoke of penance for his mistakes will be lifted. See to it not to spare giving him punishment every time he speaks as before, and if he knows it and does not confess it, give him the same punishment. 26 It would be better if you could have him observe this rule with kind words, without telling him that I wrote to you. Be careful and warn the porter that he may run away and take with him some of the children, because this is one of his habits, and he has said he would take Giovanni... Should he mention he would like to leave, make him happy right away and do not give him extra time.

27 11th. For now, and not as ordinary rule, but only for one time when it occurs, or more, as you may deem it, I give you permission to feed the beggars. I do not have the authority to give you a larger permission. The thing must be dealt in the chapter or our meeting; what will be agreed upon, will be communicated to you, if you would request it.

28 12th. As to the reading, do not trust the children: be vigilant, question, examine, and listen to often if they read or recite. And do not trust Bernardino either. As far as grammar, I do not know whom you have who can teach grammar; when you have somebody, notify sir priest Alessandro about who it is, his aptitude and condition, and he will answer you.

29 As to sir Giovanni, you must not speak to him with dead letters, as my letters, but you must pray for him and directly speak to him the words of life.

Written by Barili

30 Jerome, the Servant of the Poor, wrote the above.

31 Since it seems to me that sir Jerome has anwered sufficiently what you have written, I will not enlarge upon it, except that we are returning your letter so that you may compare it with this one, and with another one addressed to sir Amadeo, brother of sir Giovanni Cattaneo. See to it that he has it soon because it is important. 32 It remains for me to say that you made a great mistake in not sending a letter to that priest in Somma Campagna, although I had advised you to do so. You could have given it to sir Leone. 33 Nothing else. Be well in the Lord and pray for us all.

34 From Brescia, at the hospital of Mercy, June 14.