The Saint who forbade make miracles

Serafin the Montegranaro

The Saint who forbade make miracles

It was on July 16, 1967, when fray Seraphim of Montegranaro, lay brother, the Capuchins of the brands, he was proclaimed Saint at the same time as Juan Cancio, José Calasanz, José Cupertino, Gerónimo Emiliano and Juana Chantal.

A constellation of selected, arose when the Protestant trastornaba to Europe, and florecida on the same day, in the wake of the French Revolution, when jansenist and philosophers were busy dethrone santos: response of the sky to the proud human wisdom.

That day, the boorish habit of the humble Capuchin not desentonó with the light of the founder of the Visitadinas tunic, nor was the misplaced his little science, certainly less than Joseph of Calasanz, founding schools and religious congregations. Serafin had "learned to read and understand the big book of life which is our Lord Jesus Christ: for this title deserves to count among his major disciples", will tell Pope Clement XIII in the Bull of canonization.

Seraphim was born in Montegranaro in 1540. Second of four children, his name was Felix. His father was a bricklayer, trade that Félix was not attractive, so was sent to a peasant that it assist with the care of the flock. Ex officio that Felix was pleased much because it had enough time for prayer, it lasted until long hours of the night.

It was precisely this his passion for prayer and silence which circulated the first voices of admiration towards him: an admiration which became enthusiasm and devotion when it was learned that the sky responded with the grace of the miracles in the life of this child. He was, therefore, that on a pilgrimage to Loreto, while their compaisanos were on the shore of Potenza, in hopes that reduce the flow, he entered the water and became the River enjuto foot. These events in the life of Felix will be repeated throughout his life.

When his father died, his brother called him home so that help you in the issue of the construction and masonry as he and his father. Felix despite the reprimands, didn't give one. He felt that life was not for him. He dreamed of deserts, fasts, penances prayer. I wanted to live a hermit life. But Luisa Vannucci, young noble said: "it is not necessary, I want you to show a holy religion in which you can make Holy". And I am talking about the Capuchin.

Felix went immediately to Tolentino and was presented to the Capuchins, hoping to be received that same day. It was not possible. Meanwhile was able to see what Louise told her: the Capuchins were truly Holy and with them he would have found paradise.

"I have nothing: I only have a crucifix and a rosary;" "but they help the Friars and make me Holy hope," said Felix entered the novitiate of Jesi. Now his name will be Serafin. Externally not changed, but in the soul it cultivated great strengths that it endeavour to hide, and that Dios disclose the grace of the miracles. Surprised by their number and greatness, the same superior force a day by obedience to ensure secrecy and he candidly confess:

When was the convent a poor pawn without ability and skills. I have remained as it was then. And this was reason for so many humiliations and homea on which appeared the devil, by introducing the temptation to leave the convent and retire to a desert in my heart. I encomendé to the Lord, and one night I heard a voice from the Tabernacle: "to serve God is necessary to die himself and accept adversity, they are of the genus that are". I accepted them and promised to pray a rosary which had sought them. The same voice of the same Tabernacle assured me: "your prayers for those who cringe you me are agradabilísimas." "I, the other hand, am ready to give you all the graces".

They were so many miracles rather than to justify the adjectives which gave contemporaries Friar Serafin, called: the Holy, the Thaumaturgus, the profeta… testimony lists are endless. Just a kiss to his cloak, a touch of their hands and until only the invocation of his name so that chronic illnesses disappear and desperate cases were resolved. Everything was prodigious in his hands: bread, oranges, grass, grain, the pumpkin seeds. People had more confidence in him in all the doctors of the city.

HIS LIFE OF PRAYER

Fray Seraphim is her move almost overnight with the Tabernacle is a noted fact. The friars who lived with him testified how, after retiring to the cells, felt the accelerated steps of Friar Serafin that descended into the Church for nocturnal adoration, kneeling before the altar of the sacrament, without support never. Ever no it got up to spy on him from any angle, but he is apercibía almost always, and then pretending to sleep and "snoring" loudly.

THE WISDOM OF THE SAINTS

To the astonishment of the men that they were wondering what doctor was that Atlantic Puffin unpretentious, he responded with a sign of the cross, miraculous still made at a distance. Certainly it was not a fanaticism of the townspeople, as him writing and coming personalities from anywhere, such as the Duke of Bavaria, Duke of Parma, the Pepoli Lords of Bologna and Cardinal Bandini sent him letters. However our santito had so much humility that even said: "Out of purgatory!" "I am a sinner". And, to avoid that they she's-much-prettier-in-real-life of the hand or the robe, will be always at hand a crucifix (conserved until today), offering him the kiss of all. He spent almost by all the convents of the Marche, claiming, invoking, disputing, sow everywhere the pure wheat of the Franciscan spirit; but Ascoli will only have the good fortune to have longer, experiencing the benefits of his exceptional Holiness. The population shall enjoy with without equal devotion, each House will have its image, printed even in front of public buildings, as an emblem of religious nobility; devotees visit knees the last 300 meters before his tomb and ayunarán the vigil of his party.

AUSTERE AND HUMAN

It was perfect in obedience. Countless facts to demonstrate. There are no shadows in his chastity, although this was a very painful conquest. His confidants them revealed that he spent evenings in the church because he felt terribly tempted in the cell. Even in advanced old age was heard screaming during sleep: "Oh traitor, outside, that you do not consent!". Achieved a perfect mastery of the senses "with angelic modesty and gentleness conversed with women, by which, with familiarity, young maidens ran all him, with such submission and devotion, as if it had been so much and more than his carnal mother".

Simposi, only once and by obedience, clothe a new habit; and with him it will make a walk through the city, saying humbly that also he should "leave the rags, because it is the time to do a little Lord". But it was hardly possible, it will return to the usual tunic, annoying cloth. The thing that will think less is in the eating: an aging stew or salad will be food for 40 continuous years.

His beloved passion will serve the masses, to the point of repeating many times who gladly would have gone to Rome or Loreto to help the greatest possible number. Did it with such devotion that a witness will assert: "often failed to attend the mass looked you at him, attracted by one his great devotion, which seemed as if it were out of it".

THE SAINT HAS DIED

"Children" will effectively be which announced the city seráfica death, which occurred in the early hours of the afternoon of October 12, 1604. Warned by a mysterious voice, hormiguearán surprised streets shouting at full voice: "the Holy dead, dead the Holy".

Still not had been buried when the first biographer pulled the feather to convey the example.

Indescribable scenes around his body guarded by secrets and soldiers and exhaling velvety scent. Humble people intuitively believe it perfume of heaven; the authority ecclesiastical, prudent and wise, you'll want to make sure there is no "artifice or any deception" by the religosos and inquire diligently unique. A Dominican father and close the inquiry: "I have done many checks to see if it was artificial, but I have convinced me that it is divine." "If we would have had us a brother as well, we would have done one major exhibition and what we would have had more days without bury for edification of the faithful". And a Canon added: "It is exactly which emanated the body of St. Felix of Cantalicio, I was here".

But the most beautiful commentary on his extraordinary life will always be that of the anonymous crowd, one that almost guided by particular revelation, immediately captures the essence of Holiness: "never knew it the slightest imperfection"; "any Christian or any other religious has given me ever so great and good example as Friar Serafin"; "no one complained never he".

This is the life of a poor Capuchin Franciscan Friar who knew how to discover the treasure of life and the eternal bliss in poor Christ crucified and humble. For you and for me awhile as Christians of the twenty-first century.

The story about the life of Fray Seraphim of Montegranaro and data were taken from the book "the Lord gave me brothers, T. 1." Pp 51-63.

By: Fray Pablo Capuchin missionary

Peace and good.